2007 issue #1 bird's eye view newsletter washington audubon society

8/8/2019 2007 Issue #1 Bird's Eye View Newsletter Washington Audubon Society

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URGENT ACTIONLegislative Hotline:

1-800-562-6000Call and ask your legislators

to read Bird's Eye Viewand support Audubon's

2007 legislative priorities.

Contact our staff for assistance.

2007 Legislative Newsletter December 14, 2

Olympia Wednesday, December6, 2006. The beleaguered NorthernSpotted Owl population inWashington and its Audubonadvocates continue the perennial owlrecovery struggle with the US Fishand Wildlife Service (USFWS),

Federal Courts and state rules.

The timber industry sued the USFWSa couple years ago in hopes theservice would de-list the owl fromits threatened status under theEndangered Species Act. Studiesfound Washingtons owl is in aprecipitous declinefaster thanscientists projected under owlprotections established in the 1990s.

Audubon Washington and ourchapters have worked to improve thestates forest practice rules forNorthern Spotted Owls. Last year we

Pacific Flyway,in PolarRegions andacross theglobe.RememberKatrinasdevastatingimpacts towetlands and healthy communitiesOnly by acting swiftly to reducecarbon emissions can we guaranteethat our grandchildren have theopportunity to watch the diversity birds and wildlife that our

(Continued on page 6.)

On Election Day over 18,000Audubon members, their friends,

families and communities spokeresolutely for birds and conservationby passing I-937 and defeating I-933.

Audubon is already looking ahead toeffective implementation of Initiative937, which called for increasedelectricity sales from appropriatelysited renewable energy sources.Climate destabilization, from recordgreenhouse gas emissions, is

impacting bird species along the

asked the Forest Practice Board(FPB) to implement policy changeour scientists said were requisite toprotect owl habitat.

The FPB delivered on the easiest othese requests, ignoring the mostsignificant. So, Seattle and KittitasAudubon Societies have asked aFederal judge to bar logging on50,000 acres of owl habitat on privlands, citing state rules allow harmto owls. A ruling on this logginginjunction (only 0.3% of forests inowls range) is expected this month

(Continued on page 6.)

Audubon Washingtonbelieves in balance and

responsibility, findingcommon ground,andinvolving all citizens in

protecting the natural worldand our quality of life.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Breaking NewsPage 1

Policy Directors CornerPage 1

Audubon PrioritiesPage 2-3

Priorities for a Health WAPage 4-5

Budget PrioritiesPage 5

Other Issues and PrioritiesPage 6

Chapter SpotlightPage 7

Hot Tips for AdvocacyPage 7

BREAKING NEWSFeds, Courts Strugglewith Owl Recovery

Audubon Votes Count inNovember!Heath Packard, Policy Director

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:LOBBY DAY, Feb. 14, 2007!Go to www.pugetsound.org/index/lobbyday.


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Drive throughthe Skagit orStillaquamishRiver Deltasthis time ofyear and youcan see

thousands ofTrumpeterSwans, SnowGeese andother bird

species that rely on Washingtons farms. Go to the annualHazel Wolf Wenas Creek Campout on Memorial Day andyou can witness the migratory song birds that utilize ourworking forests.

Sprawl and population growth imperil these working

landscapes, our quality of life and bird habitat. Sprawlfrom increasing population and poorly-planneddevelopment is destroying our working forests andfarmlands. Washingtons population doubled in the past50 years. Our population will double by 2050 likeadding 29 more cities the size of Tacoma or Spokane. In20 years we could lose 1.3 million acres of privateworking forests and farms.

Economic pressures leave few alternatives for forestersand farmers who want to stay in business. Lack of

innovative financing, regulatory efficiencies and targetedmarketing undermines the efforts of these land-owners tostay in business, and maintain this bird habitat.

The solution is curbing sprawl and keep our working landsthrough strong growth management and planning, andthrough voluntary options to counter economic pressureson family farmers and foresters. Audubon and othershave been working to develop a package of tools to helpsupport working lands and curb sprawl.

The Keep our Working Lands Proposal focuses on

voluntary options to counter the economic pressures onfarmers and foresters by: implementing and replicating100-year, community-consensus land-use agendas (e.g.Cascade Agenda); promoting strong and healthy urbanand community forests through forests of long-termcommunity significance and community forestmanagement plans; providing incentives for cities to

establish receiving areas for Transfer of DevelopmentRights programs; establishing a revolving Fund for locagovernment community forest/agriculture acquisition.

Audubon will continue to ensure no rollbacks to theGrowth Management Act and other land use protectionFarmers and foresters need support in identifying waysthat GMA can beimproved toensure theircontinued

livelihood as wellas ensuringhealthy, well-planned urban andsuburban growth.We will continueour constructiveapproach to addressing the legitimate issues brought forby those interests.

The Keep our Working Lands proposal also positions

Audubon and other conservation groups in support of anumber of good and reasonable ideas advanced byreasonable interest groups like the WA Farm ForestryAssociation, and WA State Dairy Federation. Theseinclude long-term forest practice permits and investmenin agriculture preservation strategies respectively. Watcthis column in future issues of BEV to learn more.

December 14, 2006 Page 3

Legislative Hotline: 800-562-6000

Ask your Legislators to help Audubon keep ourworking lands safe from sprawl.

Audubons 2007 Legislative PrioritiesKEEP OUR WORKING LANDS AND MAINTAIGROWTH MANAGEMENT

Trumpeter Swans

Working Farm in Washington


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The WashingtonWildlife andRecreation Program(WWRP) providesfunding for local andstate parks, wateraccess sites, trails,

critical habitat, naturalareas, riparian andurban wildlife habitat,and farmlandpreservation.

Since beginning in 1990, the program has awarded nearly$452 million for nearly 780 projects statewide.

A complete listing of current grant applications and allprojects funded in this program can be accessed at http://www.iac.wa.gov/iac/grants/wwrp.htm.

This legislative session we are asking for an additional$100 Million for Parks and Wildlife.

This will preserve 130 places for parks and wildlife acrthe state by increasing our two-year investment to $100million. As our states population grows, so too does thneed for recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, and

farmland. We have an opportunity in 2007 to protectthose places that make Washington special and enhanceour much-envied quality of life.


Ask your legislators to fund the Washington Wildland Recreation Program at $100 Million

Priorities for a Healthy Washington$100 MILLION FOR WILDLIFE ANDRECREATION PROGRAM

Puget Sounds water and wildlife are in trouble. Morethan 100 species of birds inhabit Puget Sound; 42 of theseare considered vulnerable, and 29 are listed as Species ofGreatest Conservation Need in WashingtonsComprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Specieslike the western grebes suffer a 95% population-decline.

The inland marine waters and estuaries of Puget Soundare among the highest priorities for conservation action inWashington. These habitats support a complex food chainvital to our wildlife resources. One-third of our shorelineshave been damaged, with one-third of our eelgrassmeadows and 75% of watershed wetlands destroyed.

We want to leave our children the legacy of a clean andhealthy Puget Sound, but that takes money and clout. Weneed increased funding and a new Puget Sound agency

created in 2007 thatwill take leadership,maintain oversight,and hold accountablethose responsible forresults over the longterm. And we need

bold action this yearto prevent and cleanup water pollutionand protect and restore habitat. Stay tuned for details onthe Save Our Sound priority.


Ask your legislators to Save Our Sound and suppall of the priorities for a Healthy Washington.

Priorities for a Healthy WashingtonSAVE OUR SOUND

Sharp-tailed Grouse

Western Grebe


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Audubon advocates for sustained funding andrevenue streams to support regulations andprograms that protect birds, wildlife and theirhabitat. We do this not only to benefit birds, cleanair and water but also to benefit our economy byinvesting in our natural assets so residents andnature tourists alike can enjoy our birds andwildlife and spend money doing so.

Capital BudgetInteragency Committee for Outdoor Recreation

$100 Million for Parks & Wildlife (WWRP - see page 4)

Operating BudgetDepartment of Natural Resources

Natural Heritage Increased Capacity ($1.25 Mil - 7.9FTEs)This includes funding for implementation of the 2004 Bird Billintegrating the Important Bird Area into the Natural Heritage Programsuch that state conservation efforts can benefit from the information.

Upland Wildlife Assessment ($1.8 Milllion?)Forest Practice Board Upland Species work plan implementation.

Urban & Community Forestry ($100k grants)

Small Forest Landowner Services ($3.17 Mil 9.1 FTEs)

5% Admin Fee Increase RMCA (see page 2)

Aggregate Resource Maps ($626K 3.1 FTEs)

Department of Fish and Wildlife

Technical Assistance for Wind Power, Renewable & NewEnergy Tech ($270K 1 FTE)

Eco-tourism Infrastructure Initiative ($350K)

Puget Sound Conservation & Recovery* Puget Sound Bird Monitoring ($220K) Burrow-Nesting Seabirds in Puget Sound Citizen Science and Education for Puget Sound ($400

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Environmental Education & Community Connections($1.5Mil 3.75 FTEs)



Ask your legislators to support all of Audubon'sBudget Priorities for 2007.

Priorities for a Healthy WashingtonSupport Clean AirClean Fuels Eliminate Toxic Flame Retardants

Audubons 2007 Budget Priorities

Background:Washington can become adynamic, competitive leaderin growing the clean fuelindustry. The 2007 CleanAir/Clean Fuels packageencourages energyindependence by providing

incentives for Washingtonfarmers to produce the mostpromising new biofuelfeedstocks; reduce fuelconsumption and costs forstate fleets; protect our kids by cleaning up dirty dieselschool buses; promote advanced vehicle technology; andhelp the state guard against health threats from globalwarming.

Background:Serious health concerns - forchildren and wildlife- are linkedto industrial chemicals used asflame retardants known asPBDEs. High levels of thesechemicals have been found inWashington residents, Puget

Sound orcas, bald eagles, salmon, and the Spokane RivThese chemicals should be banned in favor of safereffective alternatives already in use so we can have fireprotection without poisons.

For more information abouteach of these priorities visit:

www.environmentalpriorities.org

Bald Eagle


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Watchable Wildlife (see page5) Audubon Washingtoncontinues to be a lead advocatefor nature tourism in the statelegislature. We are supportinga budget request from theDepartment of Fish and

Wildlife to implement theWatchable Wildlife work planand MOU.

Environmental Education (see page 5)Audubon Washington continues to be a leader inadvocating for Environmental Education. We aresupporting a bill to create a new fund to provide moreopportunities for underserved and inner-city youth to learnin outdoor settings. We are also supporting a series of

environmental education funding requests at multipleagencies (see page 5).

Surface Mining ReclamationAudubon Washington has served on the Surface MineReclamation work group in 2006. We have worked witagencies and the industry to design improved statuary

enforcement tools for the Department of NaturalResources to curb illegal surface mining. We expect tosupport legislation approved by the committee.

Meanwhile, Audubon Washingtonsstaff serves on the Federal OwlRecovery Planning Team along siderepresentatives of Governor Gregoireand Federal Agencies. A draftRecovery Plan was recently rejected

by the Bush Administration whotasked the Team with designing amore flexible plan. We continue towork toward a science-based recoveryplan.

Stay tuned, Audubon will continue tolead the charge to protect Owls and theold forests on which they rely.

grandparents enjoyed generations ago.

Thats why Audubon has taken up global climate change as a priority areaby playing an instrumental role in the passage of I-937. We will continue teffort by ensuring proper placement of wind turbines and transmission linto minimize impacts to birds, wildlife and habitat and by supporting the

community priority for clean air and clean fuels (read more on page 5).

Forward thinking solutions are the order of the day with Audubon when itcomes to our role in the defeat of the irresponsible developers Initiative933.

Audubon advocates for reasonable policies to protect birds, habitat andpeoples livelihoods. Consequently, we have been spearheading efforts toensure that our working lands (i.e. farms and forests) are protected fromrampant, sprawling development. One of our 2007 legislative priorities is work directly with those interests to create incentives and tools to protect

these working landscapes from our sprawl (see page 3).


Ask your legislators to support all ofAudubons 2007 legislative priorities.

Other Issues and Priorities

Breaking News contd. Audubon Votes Count in November contd.

Whooping Crane


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Follow all the legislative action in the Birds EyeView newsletter!

Read about recent activities of the legislature Learn the details of legislation and track bills Receive action alerts to voice your opinions

about key decisions

This important publication is FREE of charge when

you subscribe via email, (www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/myregistration.asp) but in order for us tocontinue to provide this important publication, we askthat you consider MAKING A DONATIONTODAY! Even a gift as small as $15 will help!

If you would like to continue to receive BEV in hard-copy, we will print, fold, and mail it to you with thehelp of our dedicated volunteers for the low price ofonly $20 per year!

Session is fast approaching, and it isimportant to know a head of timewho represents you, and whatcommittees they are on.

Our state is divided into 49legislative districts. Check out the

statewide district map at http://www1.leg.wa.gov/common/maps/statewide.

You can find your district,legislators, and theircommittees by visitinghttp://www.leg.wa.gov andtyping in your address. Ifyou do not have internetaccess you can call theLegislative Info Center at

1-800-562-6000.

On December 2nd, all eyes were on chapter award recipieas they received special recognition for their many yearssupporting science, conservation and education projectsacross the state. Award recipients included:

Science award: Mike Denny - Blue Mountain Audubon

Conservation award: Gene Bullock - Kitsap Audubon

Education award: Charlotte Reep - Lower Columbia BasinAudubon

There are 26 Audubonchapters across the staterepresenting over 18,000members. Each chapterspends countless hoursworking to conserve andrestore natural ecosystems,focusing on birds, other

wildlife, and their habitats.

Session beginsMonday,

January 8th. Doyou

know who

represents you?

Follow the 2007 Legislative Session With Birds Eye View

Hot Tips for AdvocacyKnow Your District and its LegislatorsLisa Remlinger, Field Coordinator

Chapter SpotlightHats off to East Lake WA and Seattle Audubon for heprotecting the Arctic

Donation or subscription form for A Birds Eye View ofthe 2007 Legislative Session

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Lisa Remlinger andNancy Ladenberger

Burrowing OwlOne of Charlotte Reepmain birds!


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Audubon Washington is a partnership of the Washington state office of theNational Audubon Society and Washington's 26 independent Audubon Chapters.

Audubon Washington Policy Staff:

1063 Capitol Way S; Ste 208Olympia, WA 98501(360) 786-8020

Mission of the National Audubon SocietyTo conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing onbirds, other wildlife and their habitats for the benefit ofhumanity and the earths biological diversity.


Admiralty Audubon

Black Hills Audubon

Blue Mt. Audubon

Central Basin Audubon

Discovery Coast Audubon

East Lake Audubon

Grays Harbor Audubon

Kitsap Audubon

Kittitas Audubon

Lower Columbia Basin Audubon

North Cascades Audubon

North Central Washington Audubon

Olympic Peninsula Audubon

Palouse Audubon

Pilchuck Audubon

Rainier Audubon

San Juan Islands Audubon

Seattle Audubon

Skagit Audubon

Spokane Audubon

Tahoma Audubon

Vancouver Audubon

Vashon-Maury Isle Audubon

Whidbey Audubon

Willapa Hills Audubon

Yakima Valley Audubon

Heath PackardPolicy Director(360) 786-8020 Ext [email protected]

Lisa RemlingerField Coordinator(360) 786-8020 Ext [email protected]

Miguel Perez-GibsonPolicy Consultant(360) [email protected]

Share BEV with your friends and legislators by directing them to:wa.audubon.org/conservationpolicy_BirdsEyeViewNewsletter.html

Or sign-up for a free electronic version of BEV at:www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/myregistration.asp

2007 issue #1 bird's eye view newsletter washington audubon society

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