02.20.04

Cantwell Works to Expand Mount Rainier National Park with New Senate Legislation

Greatest expansion in over 70 years will save taxpayer money, increase public access, protect environment

SEATTLE, W.A . - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced this morning that she will introduce a bill to expand Mount Rainier National Park by roughly 800 acres. The expansion will improve access for visitors, allow for a new campsite to be built, and save taxpayers money that will no longer be needed to repair a frequently washed out road.

"This bill will make Mount Rainier safer and more accessible for families and outdoor enthusiasts. A new reliable campsite will ensure steady use of the Carbon River entrance closest to Seattle and Tacoma and encourage more families to visit this beautiful mountain that far too many people only see from I-5," Cantwell stated.

"Many people may not realize that not only is this expansion good for the park and environment, but it will be a boon for our economy too," Cantwell explained. "Outdoor recreation is more than an activity; it is also a key part of our Northwest economy. Having reliable access to campsites attracts more visitors. Those visitors buy gas, food, and pay for other services in surrounding communities."

Cantwell’s legislation, which she will introduce next week, will extend Mount Rainier National Park’s northwestern boundary for three miles along the Carbon River, adding about 800 acres to the park. It would be the largest expansion of the park in more than 70 years.

The expansion is necessary because the northwest entrance road accessing Mount Rainier continues to get washed out by seasonal fluctuations of the glacier-fed Carbon River. The river, which now flows at a higher elevation than the roadbed, has blocked visitors from accessing the Ipsut Creek campground and several splendid trails including the only day-hike accessible glacier in the continental United States.

In addition, annual repairs to the Carbon River road has proven costly and put a strain on Mount Rainier’s limited maintenance budget. Repairs costing over $700,000 in 1999 lasted only several months and the road washed out again just last February. Not having to constantly rebuild the road will save taxpayers money in the long run.

Working with local conservation groups and multi-year federal appropriations, the proposed extension area will be purchased from the two families and Plum Creek Timber that currently own the property. The current landowners have been actively participating and enthusiastically supporting this legislation and are eager to sell their land so that it will become permanently protected for the enjoyment of future generations of visitors.

The bill enjoys regional support, including that of senior Senator Patty Murray who stated, "I am proud to support this legislation to preserve, protect and expand access to one of our state’s most treasured symbols - Mount Rainier. This bill is a win-win for our environment, our economy and local communities."

The area Cantwell’s bill would set aside for park protection contains one of the last inland old-growth rainforests in the country, as well as habitat for endangered salmon and several other threatened species. It will also link Mount Rainier National Park to Pierce County’s Fairfax Forest, creating a corridor that can be used by migrating elk and other animals.