A new law conserving local wild lands, including the Snoqualmie River’s Middle Fork, has cleared the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and the Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act passed in the House on Thursday, March 18. The legislation would protect 2,000 acres of wilderness adjoining the existing Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area and would add 10 miles of the Pratt River and nearly 30 miles of the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River to the National Wild and Scenic River System.

A companion bill is now being considered by the U.S. Senate.

Congressman Dave Reichert and Senator Patty Murray are supporters.

“This is a great day for wilderness and wild and scenic rivers in our beautiful North Cascades,” said John Chelminiak, North Cascades Initiative director for The Wilderness Society. “We thank Congressman Reichert for his continued leadership to build legislation on bipartisan and strong local support and to preserve these amazing places for all Washingtonians to experience and enjoy.”