To all you butterfly and bird enthusiasts. It is the last minute. But
better last minute than too late. Your voice / e-mail could be the one that
makes the critical mass to save an important remaining piece of shrub-steppe
habitat for butterflies, birds, wildflowers, elk, etc. east of Elenspurg
called "Whiskey Dick". The deadline for comments is today, so if you don't
get this until after 5:00 pm or so you might skip it. Otherwise read on:

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-wnpsmail at tardigrade.net
[mailto:owner-wnpsmail at tardigrade.net]On Behalf Of Stewart Wechsler
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 7:46 AM
To: WNPS listserve
Subject: RE: WNPS: Comments still possible on Whiskey Dick Grazing Plan
- Last Call


All,

Last call to submit the comments (due by today) that will hopefully add up
to
save this critical piece of wildland from irrepairable damage that herds or
heavy, hooved, hungry bovines would do to this rare rich natural area and
the species for whom this area may be critical to their survival.

For those who haven't submitted
comments yet:

You can send your comments in one (or more) of 3 ways (too late for U.S.
mail):

Comments can be submitted directly to SEPA/NEPA Coordinator Teresa A.
Eturaspe (SEPA/NEPA Coordinator Regulatory Services Section). Include the
name of proposal ("WHISKEY DICK GRAZING PERMIT")in your comment letter:

e-mail - mailto:SEPAdesk at dfw.wa.gov ( SEPAdesk at dfw.wa.gov )
fax - (360) 902-2946

or form letter or personalized letter submitted through Conservation
Northwest's website
<http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/Conservationnw/campai
gn.jsp?campaign_KEY=11373>:

If you have questions about details of the proposal, contact: Cindi Confer,
Wildlife Area
Manager -Ph # (509-925-6746)
If you have questions about this action, please contact:
Teresa A. Eturaspe Phone: (360) 902-2575 Fax: (360) 902-2946 or
email: SEPAdesk at dfw.wa.gov


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-wnpsmail at tardigrade.net
[mailto:owner-wnpsmail at tardigrade.net]On Behalf Of Mike Marsh
Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2007 2:18 PM
To: WNPS e-mail list
Subject: WNPS: Comments still possible on Whiskey Dick Grazing Plan


I've written earlier about this plan. Domments are due by May 29, so
there is still time to write if yo havenl;t yet. I cared enough not only
to write (too extensive to put here), but went out with Brett Johnson
and Don Knoke to establish baseline plant diversity measures in case
they do introduce animals next spring.
Plrase add your voice. I think the State needs to write an Environmental
Impact statement under SEPA if they are going to have grazing on public
Wildlife land.
Mike

164 WILD NORTHWEST, May 24, 2007

A Message from Conservation Northwest

=====Keeping the Northwest Wild=====



Keep State Wildlife Areas Protected for Wildlife Help ensure that

Washington's shrub steppe habitat remains ungrazed.





The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to open up a number
of state wildlife areas to cattle grazing, beginning with Whiskey Dick
in the

Columbia Basin east of Ellensburg. Whiskey Dick's shrub steppe habitat
has been ungrazed for a quarter century and today is home to elk, mule
deer, and

several extremely rare plants and animals, including the beleaguered
western sage grouse. Ninety-five percent of Washington's shrub steppe
has already

been developed for agricultural production or has been degraded by past
overgrazing by cattle.



Our wildlife areas contain some of the best remaining shrub steppe
habitat in the state and they are vitally important for the survival and
health of

native plants and animals. These public lands also offer recreation
opportunities for hikers, hunters, rare plant enthusiasts, and bird
watchers. Unfortunately, grazing in these areas can harm sensitive
wildlife and their habitat. Studies have shown that cattle spread
noxious weeds in their manure and eat the very grasses that sage grouse
and other ground nesting birds depend upon for cover and protection from
predation. Cattle also trample streamside habitat, and degrade creeks
and springs with sediment and pollution.



Please comment by Monday, May 29, 2007, at our action

_http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/Conservationnw/campai
gn.jsp?campaign_KEY=11373_
center. Tell the Washington Department of Fish

and Wildlife that, while working with ranchers to develop sustainable
grazing practices is a worthy and important goal, our wildlife areas are not

appropriate places for risky experiments and should be kept protected
for Washington's wildlife. Request that grazing not be allowed on these

recovering lands.



Or contact:

Teresa A. Eturaspe

SEPA/NEPA Coordinator, Regulatory Services Section Department of Fish and

Wildlife 600 Capitol Way North Olympia, WA 98501

Fax: (360) 902-2946

SEPAdesk at dfw.wa.gov



Read more in the Yakima Herald, Whiskey Dick

http://www.yakima-herald.com/page/dis/288529707207709 grazing plan
under fire.

You can also see a map and review the agency's
http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/r3quilmn.htm grazing plan.



Thank you for keeping the Northwest wild!



Erin Moore

Publications Coordinator

Conservation Northwest

1208 Bay Street #201

Bellingham, WA 98225



Visit us online at

http://www.conservationnw.org/

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