Today the House of Representative passed the Natural Resources Management Act, (S.47) which includes more than 100 public land, natural resource and water bills, including the permanent withdrawal of 340,079 acres in the Methow Headwaters from new mineral exploration and mine development.

The public lands package passed the U.S. Senate on February 12 with a near unanimous  92-8 vote, and passed today in the House. It is the most significant and comprehensive collection of public lands bills passed by Congress in a decade.

Also included in the lands package is the permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, one of our nation’s most successful conservation programs, bringing over $700 million in funding to Washington State over the past five decades.

In response to the vote today, Methow Valley Citizens Council releases the following statement:

“This is an incredible success story of coming together around a shared vision for our community,” said Jasmine Minbashian, executive director. From a local valley to the halls of Congress, great things can happen when we work together.”

“Our deepest gratitude goes to our Congressional leaders, especially Congressman Dan Newhouse, Senator Maria Cantwell and Senator Patty Murray, for having the foresight and determination to see this through. This would not have happened without their support.”

“We’d especially like to thank the thousands of people who made their voices heard at this important moment for the Methow. A thoughtful and committed group of concerned citizens can indeed make all the difference. We’re proud to work alongside inspiring members of our community such as MVCC Board Chair Maggie Coon and Methow Headwaters Campaign Coordinator Hannah Dewey. Their talent and tireless effort were instrumental in the success of this campaign.”

For the last five years, the Methow Valley Citizens Council has been a proud local partner in the Methow Headwaters Campaign, a community-wide effort to bring together Methow Valley businesses, area residents, civic leaders and local organizations concerned about the threat an industrial-scale copper mine poses to the region’s economy, waters and rural character. The area is located in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and is surrounded by lands that include North Cascades National Park, the Pasayten Wilderness and the North Cascades Scenic Highway. The headwaters are the source of water that sustain the fish, farms and communities of the Methow Valley, provide critical habitat for the state’s largest mule deer population, and offer an unparalleled landscape for world-class outdoor recreation.