Leadership Letters
Jasmine Vilar
Federal Funding: Because You Asked

TLC’s Board President Kate Vanskike addresses questions about federal funding impacts.

Federal Funding: Because You Asked

Chris Cooper Hawk

Chris Cooper Hawk

On April 18, I made a quick stop at the office to pick up some materials for a grant proposal. The building was closed due to the pandemic, so I popped in quickly.

After exiting the building and entering the alley behind the Saranac Building, I spotted a Cooper’s Hawk stumbling on the ground, dragging its left wing. Cooper’s Hawks have beautiful plumage, which is what caught my eye immediately. Pigeons are commonly spotted in this location, and while beautiful in their own right, they are not as striking as a Cooper’s Hawk. I initially thought the bird of prey had broken its wing, possibly by flying into the building while in hot pursuit of a pigeon (Rock Dove). The bird couldn’t fly, but made its way to the top of the fence surrounding the fire station parking lot.

Wolves, Wine, and Whiskey

Wolves, Wine, and Whiskey

You're invited to join us (virtually) for Wolves, Wine, and Whiskey - a Zoom happy hour on the wolf-human coexistence in Washington. Topics will include wolf recolonization, recovery, and impediments to coexistence. Join us to hear from multiple conservation groups on efforts to mitigate risk to wolves and hear from range rider Daniel Curry about on the ground efforts to protect wolves and cattle.

Thursday, May 14th at 6:00 pm on Zoom
Meeting ID: 869 4812 2757

Thoughts From Our Executive Director | May 2020

The Lands Council has been staying busy. Cleaning up our Spokane River is a key part of our work. I recently took part in a virtual conference for the annual National River Rally. My topic was reducing inadvertent PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). The Spokane River Regional Toxic Task Force is leading the country in investigating these man-made chemicals that are contaminating the Spokane River. They come from inks, paint, and pigments that are produced with chlorine. Think of that yellow stripe in the road as it washes into the storm water - it contains a certain variety (congener) of PCB Even the newsprint in recycled paper has inks that contain PCBs.

Sustainability Bingo

Join The Lands Council for Sustainability Bingo!

  1. Encourage others to join - tag 3 friends!

  2. Complete 5 in a row and take pictures along the way.

  3. Share on Instagram or Facebook and tag @thelandscouncil.

  4. Complete all 25 and we’ll send you a TLC sticker!

Bingo.jpg

What Bills Passed in Our State Legislature and What Didn't?

What Bills Passed in Our State Legislature and What Didn't?

The Lands Council is a part of the Environmental Priorities Coalition. Each year, the Executive Directors of the NGO members come together and set priorities. Two of the four priority bills passed. The two that passed were SB5323 (Reduce Plastic Pollution - a bill for a statewide ban on plastic bags) and HB2311 (Climate Pollution Limits - a bill that uses current science to set greenhouse gas limits). The Climate Pollution Limits Bill uses natural solutions, that The Lands Council has been doing for years, to mitigate climate change.