Alerts from LWV WA Legislative Newsletter…

FORESTS & RIVERS

Measures for the preparation for and prevention of wildfires, made great progress last session. Combined with bills from the 2018 session, there has been significant progress towards wildfire preparation in integrated training and deployment among the various firefighters. More DNR firefighters, helicopters and other equipment have been secured, and on the ground pre-planning included. DNR has a twenty year forest health program to help prevent wildfires especially focused on at risk forests treatments of prescribed burning and thinning.

River protection has not benefited from such forward thinking. Years of drought impacting the orchardists with junior water rights are being addressed in Yakima Basin Integrated Plan which continues to receive both state and federal funding. The operating budget also included funding for a study regarding preparing for the outcome of the lower Snake River dams breeching or removal.

Read more about our environmental advocacy here.