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] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp