LEWIS & CLARK BICENTENNIAL: 8,000 MILES OF STORIES

On Jan 18, 1803, President Thomas Jefferson sent Captains Meriwether
Lewis
and William Clark to explore the uncharted areas of the West. Two
hundred
years later, government agencies, tribal organizations, and
environmental
groups are using the bicentennial of that 8,000-mile journey to
celebrate,
educate and highlight the changes of the past two centuries.

The 3-year event offers many opportunities for environmental,
historical, and
outdoor stories. Environmental issues are rife along the route, ranging
from
endangered species and wildlands to river development and dams. (ENS
story:
http://ens-news.com/ens/jan2003/2003-01-16-10.asp) Author Elizabeth
Grossman's book, Adventuring Along the Lewis and Clark Trail, comes out
in
April (Elizabeth Grossman, 503-233-2558, [log in to unmask])

Government agencies and others are planning numerous events, coordinated
by
the National Council of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial: Karen Goering,
3
14-361-9031, [log in to unmask],
http://www.lewisandclark200.org

The US Geological Survey, for instance, has abundant information about
changes along the river. USGS: Jon Campbell, 703-648-4180,
[log in to unmask], http://www.usgs.gov/features/lewisandclark.html

The Sierra Club is running a 5-year campaign focusing on protecting 56
million acres of remaining wildlands along the trail, including lands in

Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Idaho.
(http://www.sierraclub.org/lewisandclark/campaign.asp). The organization

reports that at least 40 percent of the 122 animals documented by the
1803
expedition are in poor shape, and several are already extinct.

American Rivers is running similar campaign looking at the state of the
rivers (http://www.americanrivers.org/feature/exhibit.htm).

Indian tribes along the route are highlighting several issues, including

dams. (Charles Hudson, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission,
503-731-1257, [log in to unmask]; Sammye Meadows, tribal liaison for the
National
Council, 970-641-1355, [log in to unmask]).

-- US Fish & Wildlife Service: Susan Saul, 503-872-2728,
[log in to unmask],
dealing with FWS sites on the trail west of the continental divide;
national
HQ: Kevin Kilcullen, 703-358-2382, [log in to unmask]

National Park Service: Gerard Baker, 402-514-9311.




Erin E. Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
[log in to unmask]

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