Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Emily Randall (D-WA-06) reintroduced the Wild Olympics Wilderness & Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, legislation that would permanently protect more than 126,500 acres of Olympic National Forest as wilderness and 19 rivers and their major tributaries—a total of 464 river miles—as Wild and Scenic Rivers. Designed through extensive community input to conserve ancient forests and pristine rivers, protect clean water and salmon habitat, and enhance outdoor recreation, the legislation would set aside the first new wilderness on Olympic National Forest in over four decades and the first-ever protected wild and scenic rivers on the Olympic Peninsula. With a strong foundation of overwhelming local support, the bill has made steady progress each successive Congress—passing the House with bipartisan support twice before and passing out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last Congress for the first time in the bill’s history.

American Whitewater has been a member of the locally-based coaliltion who has worked to permanently protect the Olympic Peninsula's free-flowing rivers for over a decade. These spectacular rivers and the ancients forests they flow through are a resource enjoyed by whitewater paddlers but they also provide clean drinking water for local communities and critical habitat for salmon and steelhead.
 
“Every year the movement behind our Wild Olympics legislation grows stronger—and last year we got closer than ever to passing our bill through the Senate,” said Senator Murray. “The Olympic Peninsula, from its old growth forests and free-flowing rivers to its diverse ecosystems and beautiful landscapes, is a crown jewel of Washington state and our legislation would permanently protect key areas for generations to come. This bill also supports the Peninsula economy, ensures continued access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Olympic Peninsula, and conserves critical habitat and water sources for salmon and steelhead recovery. Wild Olympics is a true grassroots effort that’s been in the works for over a decade—including collaboration from sportsmen, shellfish growers, conservationists, Tribes, local leaders in business and government, timber communities, and more—and I’m proud to be partnering with my friend Representative Randall this Congress to carry it forward. I’m going to keep doing everything I can to build the support and momentum we need to get Wild Olympics passed into law.”
 
“The forests, rivers, and wilderness of our region shape how we live, work, and play. And for communities around the Olympic Peninsula, access to these resources can make or break local economies,” said Representative Randall. “This bill protects the remote wilderness we treasure while ensuring access where it is essential for livelihoods, recreation, emergency response, and cultural practices. Protecting our natural resources also means protecting local economies, livelihoods, and Tribal Sovereignty. I’m grateful to all who have shaped this bill and Senator Murray for her leadership to secure the future of the community we proudly call home.”
 
Senator Murray and former U.S. Representatives Norm Dicks and Derek Kilmer spent years gathering extensive community input on the Olympic Peninsula to craft the carefully balanced legislation, which was first introduced in 2012. It would permanently preserve ancient and mature forests, critical salmon habitat, and sources of clean drinking water for local communities, while also protecting and expanding world-class outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking, camping, boating, hunting, and fishing. No roads would be closed, and trailhead access would not be affected.