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Regulatory Brief
Lake Isabel, Washington
Contents:
- The Issue
- Why Its Important
- SPA's Position
- Current Status
- What You Can Do
- Reference Material
The Issue:
Legislation before Congress proposes to encorporate Lake Isabel, a popular subalpine lake seaplane destination,
in a new wilderness area. Absent special provisions, this legislation will prohibit seaplane operations on Lake
Isabel. The legislation introduced in the 108th Congress would not have closed the lake by default, but would have
given the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture sufficient authority to close the lake to seaplanes in the future.
The legislation was approved by the Senate, but not the House in the 108th Congress. Reintroduction in the 109th Congress
is assured.
Washington State has more than 4.6 million acres of designated wilderness areas, but the vast
majority of those wilderness areas are at high elevations. If approved, the "Wild Sky
Wilderness" would provide rare protection for lower elevation forests and watersheds.
The last time a new wilderness area was established in Washington State was in 1984.
Logging is one of several issues being pushed as justification for the new wilderness area. A
wilderness area designation precludes resource extraction (including logging), and would protect
swaths of old and second growth forests.
Protection of salmon habitat and watersheds is another a key issue. Chinook Salmon are now listed
as an endangered species, and proponents of the wilderness argue that the watersheds in the area
are crucial to the protection of the fish. Seaplane activity at Lake Isabel has no destructive
impact on the watershed. Air and water pollution from the infrequent seaplane operations at the
lake is negligible. Ironically, the hiking and horseback riding forwarded by proponents as
suitable uses promote erosion that degrades watershed quality.
Recreation (of the non-motorized variety) and its associated boost to the local economy is named
by proponents as a major benefit of wilderness designation. However, the area has few maintained
trails, and the wilderness designation would preclude establishment of new trails, thus severely
limiting recreational access to the proposed wilderness. Snowmobiles and seaplane provide the
most practical access to the area today, but both would be prohibited if the area is declared
wilderness.
Wildlife habitat, like salmon habitat, has been named as an asset worth protecting. Seaplanes
have no impact on wildlife habitat and no proven impact on wildlife.
Motorized access (in general) is not acceptable to wilderness area proponents. Were wilderness
proponents to consider the merits of seaplanes, as opposed to motorized access in general, we
are confident they would agree that seaplanes are suitable for use in the wilderness.
Why Its Important:
Lake Isabel is one of the few mountain lakes open to seaplane pilots in Washington State, and offers seaplane
pilots a remote destination where seaplane operations are not generally in conflict with recreational, residential, or
environmental ideals.
SPA's Position:
The Seaplane Pilots Association supports the Wild Sky Wilderness Proposal generally, but seeks firmer assurance of
continued seaplane access at levels consistant with past utilization.
Current Status:
| 9/2001 |
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SPA President Volk meets with Rep. Rick Larsen's staff to encourage floatplane access provisions in the developing Wild Sky Wilderness concept. |
| 5/23/2002 |
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S.2565 and H.R.4844 introducted in the 107th Congress with no provisions for floatplane access. |
| 7/30/2002 |
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S.2565 hearing held in committee. |
| 9/12/2002 |
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H.R.4844 clears committee with provision for continued floatplane access subject to "reasonable restrictions the Secretary of Agriculture deems desireable." |
| 10/3/2002 |
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S.2565 clears committee with no provisions for floatplane access. |
| 11/19/2002 |
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S.2565 approved by the Senate with no provisions for continued floatplane access. |
| 11/22/2002 |
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107th Congress adjourns without passing H.R. 4844 and thus without enacting the Wild Sky Wilderness in any form. |
| 2/13/2003 |
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H.R.822 and S.391 introduced in the 108th Congress with provision for continued floatplane access subject to "reasonable restrictions the Secretary of Agriculture deems desireable." |
| 2/24/2003 |
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H.R.822 referred to USDA for executive comment |
| 6/4/2003 |
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S.391 hearing held in committee |
| 7/23/2003 |
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S.391 clears committee with provision for continued floatplane access subject to "reasonable restrictions the Secretary of Agriculture deems desireable." |
| 11/24/2003 |
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S.391 approved by the Senate with provision for continued floatplane access subject to "reasonable restrictions the Secretary of Agriculture deems desireable." |
| 7/22/2004 |
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H.R.822 hearing held in committee. |
| 9/15/2004 |
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H.R.5093 introducted by Nethercutt (R-WA) with provision for continued floatplane access subject to "reasonable restrictions the Secretary of Agriculture deems desireable" and removing some lowland forest in an attempt to satisfy the desires of Committee Chair Richard Pompo (R-CA). |
| 9/22/2004 |
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H.R.5093 pulled from consideration in committee by Pompo (R-CA) due to lack of support. |
| 12/7/2004 |
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108th Congress adjourns without enacting the Wild Sky Wilderness in any form. |
What You Can Do:
Write to your Senator of Representative and encourage them to seek greater protection for seaplane access to Lake Isabel.
Reference Material:
SPA Comment Letter to Senator Murray's Office (PDF, 93KB)
SPA Comment Letter to Congresswoman Dunn's Office (PDF, 23KB)
SPA Endorsement Letter to Senator Patty Murray (PDF, 25KB)
SPA Endorsement Letter to Congressmen Rick Larsen (PDF, 25KB)
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