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

A Letter to Our Members

Dear Lands Council Members and Supporters,

Our hearts have been hurting for the last two weeks as police brutality has once again exposed the deep-rooted systematic racism that is so prevalent in this country. We are outraged by the racial injustices occurring and we are frustrated with the response from our leaders and the media. It is heart-wrenching to watch police brutalize black and indigenous people, and those who are standing up to racialized oppression. Our hearts go out to all who are hurting, grieving, angry, and exhausted during this time.

Social Distanced River Clean-Ups

Social Distanced River Clean-Ups

Like most organizations and people, The Lands Council is feeling the far-reaching effects of the fight against Covid-19. While all of our face-to-face programs and events have been canceled at this time to help “flatten the curve”, we are still dedicated to finding ways to improve our region’s environment.

Join us in mini, socially distanced river clean-ups - we can all make a big difference as individuals!

Spokane Water Conservation Master Plan

Spokane Water Conservation Master Plan

The Lands Council recently weighed in on the Spokane Water Conservation Master Plan. Climate models indicate that the Spokane area will have warmer summers, combined with less moisture. Less snowpack in the Coeur d’Alene and Clark Fork watershed are predicted, which will lead to less flow into the aquifer. This will impact summer aquifer levels, as well as Spokane River flows. This will also increase the need for outdoor watering. A water conservation plan is critical to prepare for the future of our city and river!

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.