Metropolitan King County Councilman Reagan Dunn went before Congress today to support federal legislation that would expand the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and designate the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River and the Pratt River as wild and scenic rivers.

Speaking to the House Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation in support of H.R. 361, the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act, Dunn said the proposal would have regional impact.

“We will protect rare low level forests, preserve important recreational opportunities, protect wildlife and by designating the Middle Fork Snoqualmie and Pratt Rivers as scenic and/or wild rivers, guarantee clean water and downstream fisheries for generations to come,” said Dunn.

Introduced by Congressman Dave Reichert, H.R. 361 would expand the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area by 22,100 acres of already existing federal land within the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Washington. It would also designate the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River and the Pratt River as wild and scenic rivers. Dunn has been working with Congressman Reichert to craft this legislation since 2007.

“Most folks who don’t live in Washington don’t realize that less than 50 miles outside of Seattle is both wilderness and other forested lands to hunt and fish in,” said Dunn. “As a resident who lives in the in the shadow of the Alpine Lakes wilderness Area, I fully support the actions of this legislation and thank Congressman Reichert for his leadership on this issue.”