History Alpine Lakes Wilderness

mount stuart, 9,415 feet (2,870 m), highest point in wilderness area

after exhausting debates, public meetings , request forest service veto, president ford signed alpine lakes area management act law on afternoon of july 12, 1976, reportedly saying “anywhere beautiful should preserved.” following designation 4 properties in alpine lakes area listed in national register of historic places: stevens pass historic district, salmon la sac guard station, blewett arrastra , townsite of liberty.

expansion

on december 12, 2014, congress passed legislation expanding alpine lakes wilderness 22,000 acres in middle fork snoqualmie valley , granting national wild , scenic river status sections of middle fork snoqualmie , pratt rivers. legislation included part of package of 100 public lands bills attached 2015 national defense authorization act. president obama signed legislation law on december 19, 2014, marking first major wilderness area designation in washington state since addition of wild sky wilderness in 2008.

on august 8, 2007, u.s. representative dave reichert (r-wa-08), king county executive ron sims, , others announced proposal expand alpine lakes wilderness 22,000 acres (89 km) include pratt river valley on west side of wilderness near town of north bend , give pratt river national wild , scenic river status. rep. reichert stated, “when (king county) sheriff, area stolen cars , meth labs existed; garbage dump. we’ve cleaned up, , it’s beautiful , pristine area. bill did not come vote during 110th congress.

on march 26, 2009, reichert , u.s. senator patty murray, d-wash., announced intention reintroduce legislation, adding proposal wild , scenic river status middle fork snoqualmie river. u.s. house of representatives voted expand alpine lakes wilderness on march 18, 2010. sen. patty murray , sen. maria cantwell, d-wash. introduced companion legislation in senate, republicans blocked measure @ end of 111th congress in late 2010. legislation introduced again in february, 2011.