The Tacoma chapter of Trout Unlimited and Puyallup River Watershed Council have announced plans for an April 17 clean up on the Puyallup River.

The event, scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to noon, will be part of Global Day of Service.

Looks like first cleanup scheduled for earth week April 17th on the Puyallup,

The cities of Sumner and Puyallup have agreed to support the effort so far, said Rosendo Guerrero, conservation director for the chapter and head of the Sportsmen for the Preservation of our Rivers and Streams.

Guerrero led a volunteer clean up last fall that …

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Here is a press release about guns in the parks the staff at Mount Rainier National Park just released.

A change in federal law effective Monday allows people who can legally possess firearms under federal, Washington state, and local laws to possess those firearms in Mount Rainier National Park.

The new federal law makes possession of firearms in national parks also subject to the firearms laws of the state and communities where the parks are located.

“We have been working closely with local, state, and federal officials to ensure that we clearly understand the provisions of the laws that will

…

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Volunteers are needed Saturday to work with Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and its conservation partners on a long-term project to restore a 10,000-year-old marshland.

Northwest Trek, the South Sound Salmon Enhancement Group, the Nisqually Indian Tribe and Nisqually Land Trust are working together to restore the Ohop Valley Creek on the northwest border of Eatonville to its original meandering pathway. Volunteers will continue the data collection and wildlife monitoring survey of the restoration site.

Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to noon. If you are interested, you can register here. There will be three more Ohop field trips, …

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Thirteen native fishers will be released Saturday the last release in a three-year effort to reintroduce the species to Olympic National Park.

The animals will be let go in the Elwha and Quinault valleys, and bring the total of reintroduced animals to 90. Seven males and six females will be released.

“As we complete the reintroduction phase of this project, we celebrate the many partners who have and will continue to make fisher restoration possible,” superintendent Karen Gustin said in a prepared statement. “Together we’ve come very close to reaching the original goal of releasing 100 fishers in the park, …

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The U.S. Forest Service has closed Tinkham Road (Forest Service Road 5500) at milepost .5 for logging 8 a.m. Mondays through noon Fridays until mid-March.

Tinkham Road parallels the south side of Interstate 90 from exit 42 to 47. The road will open for traffic Fridays at noon through Sunday and holidays. Hikers can still reach Asahel Curtis and McClellan Butte trailheads.

“Tinkham Road is narrow with limited turnarounds. The area is not safe for public access with timber equipment that includes a loader, yarder, log decks and skyline cables,” Jim Franzel, Snoqualmie District Ranger for the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie …

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The situation on Mount St. Helens is grim as rescuers struggle with bad weather today as they try to reach a climber who fell 1,500 feet into the dormant crater. According to the latest story from Associated Press, prospects are uncertain after observers in helicopters reported seeing no movement by the man.

Two attempts to reach climber Joseph Bohlig, 52, of Kelso by helicopter were turned back Monday by winds and fading daylight.

“There was no movement of the head, no attempt to signal,” said Lt. Brooks Crawford, the pilot of a Coast Guard helicopter, said in the story. He …

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Poor steelhead returns are forcing the state to close fishing on more rivers. Five major systems around Puget Sound will close on Thursday, including the Puyallup River.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife said the closure also will affect the Nooksack, Stillaguamish, Samish and Snohomish rivers and their tributaries.

Pre-season estimates developed by the department indicate that returns of wild steelhead will fall far short of target levels in all five river systems, said Bob Leland, WDFW steelhead manager.

“This is the fourth straight year that we’ve seen a downward trend in wild steelhead returns,” Leland said in a …

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The state Fish and Wildlife Commission this afternoon issued a statement opposing Senate Bill 6813.

The bill would transfer natural resources management duties currently managed by Fish and Wildlife and Parks and Recreation to the Department of Natural Resources. The bill is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Natural Resources committee Wednesday at 8 a.m.

Click here for information on the hearing and bill’s text.

The commission discussed the bill during its regular montly meeting last week and again during this morning’s conference call.

Audio recordings of the meeting and this morning’s discussion will be available for listening …

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