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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Field reports: Organizers reshape Ski to Sea race after lack of snow

MULTISPORTS – There’s been so little snow in the Cascade Mountains that Bellingham organizers of the annual 94-mile Ski to Sea race have been forced to drop two skiing events.

Whatcom County’s annual spring relay race from Mount Baker to Bellingham Bay will still go on, just without the cross-country skiing and downhill skiing events.

The Bellingham Herald reports the race has been reorganized to start with mountain running at Mount Baker Ski Area and finish with mountain biking. In between, the traditional downhill running, road biking, canoeing, cross-country biking and sea kayaking legs will continue.

About 500 eight-person teams are signed up for the May 24 race.

Leopold film to screen

ENVIRONMENT Green Fire, a full-length documentary film about conservationist Aldo Leopold, will be screened at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Community Building Lobby. Admission is free.

The film showing sold out when it debuted in 2013 at the Riverfront IMAX Theater.

The late Leopold, known as the father of modern wildlife management, shares highlights from his extraordinary career, explaining how he helped shape conservation and the modern environmental movement.

Leopold is the author of A Sand County Almanac.

After the screening, Kirk and Madeline David will lead a discussion about Leopold and his conservation ethic.

RSVP not required, but helpful: (509) 328-2939.

St. Joe ranger named

FORESTS – Matthew Davis has accepted the St. Joe National Forest district ranger position on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest starting May 31 based out of St. Maries. 

Davis has been the district ranger for Priest Lake.

Davis has a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology and a master’s degree in fisheries management.

The Forest Service is working on filling the Priest Lake Ranger position.

Get Nine Mile updates

RIVERS – With a 6-foot drawdown of Nine Mile Reservoir planned for May, landowners, anglers and boaters can sign up for email notifications from Avista related to dam operations, reservoir levels and other Spokane River information. Email request to spokanerivernews@ avistacorp.com.

River access funded

BOATING – A new Spokane River boat access with take-out capability for drift boats appears to have received the financial nudge it needed, thanks to an evening of fishing films at the Bing Crosby Theater last month.

More than 425 people turned out for the second annual International Fly Fishing Film Festival, an event started by Silver Bow Fly Shop to boost Spokane River projects.

In addition to enjoying edited versions of eight excellent films, guests also purchased raffle tickets that helped the evening raise more than $10,000. Proceeds from the festival go to the Spokane River to improve access and support its native fishery, said Bill Abrahamse local Trout Unlimited chapter chair.