Bipartisan Public Lands Package Re-introduced

January 18, 2019

Share this article

Picture
Package includes bills to designate wilderness and wild and scenic rivers in Oregon and to honor two legendary stewards of the North Umpqua Basin
Salem, OR (January 11, 2019) ​ – Two Oregon conservation bills championed by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley were part of a larger ​ public lands package introduced this week by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, a senior Republican from Alaska. The bill includes the Oregon Wildlands Act (S. 1548), the Frank and Jeanne Moore Wild Steelhead Special Management Area Designation Act (S. 513/H.R. 1308), the reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and dozens of other bipartisan public lands bills. The package, was ​ ​ thwarted by a single U.S. Senator​ from Utah during the waning days of last Congress, despite strong support from Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and the majority of their colleagues.
However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer pledged to bring the lands package up for a vote “ ​ shortly after the upper chamber returns in January​ ,” and given that it was just reintroduced, a broad coalition is asking that Congress pass the bipartisan public lands package now.
“Oregon’s craft brewers support the Oregon Wildlands Act because it protects the outdoor spaces that make Oregon special and that provide us with the clean water we need to make world class beer,” said ​ Ross Putnam, Co-Founder and General Manager of Base Camp Brewing. ​ “Thanks to Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Representatives Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader for fighting for Oregon’s wild lands and rivers. I am hopeful that Congress follows their lead and invests in small businesses that rely on protected public lands by passing this legislation.”
The Oregon bills have been pending in Congress for years despite broad public support from Oregonians across the state, including hunters and anglers, small business owners, veterans, community leaders, and conservationists. The bills will protect some of Oregon’s most unique lands and rivers that are t ​ reasured by Oregonians as sources of clean drinking water, for their economic benefits derived from outdoor recreation, and for their wilderness ​ characteristics that provide a unique backcountry experience.
Erin Gaines, Advocacy Manager at KEEN ​ , added, “As a Pinnacle Member of The Conservation Alliance, KEEN has dedicated significant resources for more than a decade towards efforts to protect public lands and waters here in Oregon, and across North America. Passing the Oregon Wildlands Act and the Frank and Jeanne Moore
Wild Steelhead Special Management Area Designation Act would be a huge victory for all Oregonians. I hope Congress sees what we see in our natural treasures, and moves quickly to pass this important package.”
The Oregon Wildlands Act was introduced by Senators Wyden and Merkley and will designate the approximately 30,000-acre Devil’s Staircase Wilderness in the Oregon Coast Range northeast of Reedsport and safeguard 303 miles of rivers, including nearly 256 miles as Wild and Scenic Rivers, including the Molalla and Elk Rivers and tributaries to the lower Rogue River. The bill will also permanently withdraw the salmon-rich Chetco River, the drinking water source for the City of Brookings, from mining claims. U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader have also been steadfast champions of the protections in the reintroduced bill located within their congressional districts.
The legislation ​ included in the public lands package did not include the 56,000 acres of wilderness protections for the Rogue River long championed by Representative DeFazio and Senators Wyden and Merkley or the establishment of two Recreation Areas within the Rogue and Molalla River watersheds totalling 128,000 acres. The coalition is hopeful that these important areas receive the protections they deserve.
The Frank and Jeanne Moore Wild Steelhead Special Management Area Act would permanently safeguard an area in the North Umpqua basin that contains some of the best wild steelhead spawning areas in the Pacific Northwest and honor Frank Moore, a World War II veteran and his wife of over 70 years who are both legendary stewards of the North Umpqua River.
“Thank you very much ​ Senator Wyden, Senator Merkley, and Representative DeFazio for working to protect some of Oregon's most vital salmon and wildlife habitat in the Umpqua River watershed for and ​ ​ Oregon legend and World War II hero. Passage of this bill would honor Frank and Jeanne’s legacy and their lifelong commitment to conserve salmon and steelhead. Our leaders in Congress must uphold their promise and bring this legislation to a vote now, ” ​ ​ said C ​ hris Daughters of the Caddis Fly Shop.
Western Oregon boasts some of the most biologically diverse and undeveloped lands in the nation. From free-flowing rivers teeming with salmon to deep ancient forests to serpentine soil that feeds plants seen nowhere else on the planet, the area offers people a place to relax and listen to hidden waterfalls, hike within towering redwood cathedrals, and raft and fish in wild rivers.
​
Passage of these bills will boost the local economy. Visitors from across the country and around the globe come to explore and enjoy the area’s outstanding fishing, rafting, hiking, and other outdoor recreation opportunities. The ​ ​ Outdoor Industry Association recently found​ that outdoor recreation in Oregon generates $16.4 billion in consumer spending, 172,000 jobs, $5.1 billion in wages and salaries and $749 million in state and local tax revenue.
< Older Post Newer Post >

Recent Posts

Court Hits Pause on Termination of Harmful Hatchery ProgramODFW Rolls the Dice on Wild Fish Safety

June 13, 2022
PORTLAND, Ore – On May 18, 2022, a Marion County Circuit Court judge granted a preliminaryinjunction that pauses the elimination of the Rock Creek Hatchery summer steelhead program pendingthe Court’s ultimate decision on the merits of the case. The injunction also directs the OregonDepartment of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to release hatchery summer steelhead smolts this year toprevent alleged harm to the plaintiffs while the case proceeds. The judge directed the plaintiffs andODFW to d [...]

Regional Conservation Groups Resolve Litigation Over Water Quality Impacts Caused by the Hells Canyon Complex

September 3, 2021
For Immediate Release  September 2, 2021Media Contacts:Greg Haller, Pacific Rivers: greg@pacificrivers.org and (208) 790-4105Nic Nelson, Idaho Rivers United: nic@idahorivers.org and (208) 343-7481Regional Conservation Groups Resolve Litigation Over Water Quality Impacts Caused by the Hells Canyon ComplexThe settlement forces the state of Oregon to develop a plan to limit dangerous methylmercury pollution and accelerate critical remediation of water temperature impacts at the Hel [...]

Conservationists Urge the Biden Administration to Reinvigorate Columbia River Treaty Negotiations by Increasing Transparency and Regional Collaboration for Climate Resilience and Salmon Recovery

June 30, 2021
Mica Dam north of Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada U.S. Treaty Conservation Caucus  For Immediate Release: June 30, 2021 Media Contacts:Greg Haller, Pacific Rivers: greg@pacificrivers.org and (208) 790–4105.Joseph Bogaard, Save Our wild Salmon: joseph@wildsalmon.org and (206) 300-1003. (Portland, Oregon) While much of the Pacific Northwest is suffering under record-breaking heat and expanding drought, a coalition of leading conservatio [...]

Protecting Our Treasures: The New Film From Pacific Rivers Celebrates Senator Ron Wyden’s River Democracy Act

June 1, 2021
(Portland, OR) Launched on the first day of National Rivers Month, Pacific River’s inspiring new video River Democracy celebrates Senator Ron Wyden’s River Democracy Act, pending legislation that would add nearly 4700 miles of river segments nominated by our fellow Oregonians to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.  These new designations build upon Senator Wyden’s life-long commitment to protecting Oregon’s free-flowing rivers and will include 800 [...]

The New Film From Pacific Rivers Celebrates the Collaboration Between the Nez Perce Tribe and the Wolfe Ranch to Restore Salmon in Oregon’s Lostine River

April 20, 2021
(Portland, OR) Lostine, the new short film from Pacific Rivers highlights the powerful story of collaboration and salmon recovery in Northeast Oregon’s Lostine River and points towards the urgent need and opportunity to breach four federal dams  on the lower Snake River to restore the basin’s salmon runs before it is too late. Lostine will be released online on Tuesday, April 21 at Pacific River’s homepage: www.pacificrivers.org By the late 1990s, the Chinook S [...]

Tester in Bozeman to Introduce Montana Headwaters Legacy Act on the Banks of the Gallatin River

October 27, 2020
New legislation will permanently protect 336 miles of rivers across Southwestern Montana; Most significant wild and scenic river designation in state in nearly 45 years (Bozeman, Mont.) – On the banks of the Gallatin River, U.S. Senator Jon Tester will introduce his Montana Headwaters Legacy Act TOMORROW, TUESDAY, October 27th at 1:30 pm MT alongside conservation advocates and representatives from the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, American Rivers, an [...]

Wyden Announces Statewide Effort for Wild and Scenic Rivers

October 2, 2019
On anniversary of Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, Senator asks fellow Oregonians to nominate new rivers and streams for protection​Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he is taking nominations from Oregonians through Jan. 20, 2020 for rivers in the state that deserve addition to the national Wild and Scenic Rivers list. “Whether you are a whitewater rafter, an angler or simply an Oregonian who believes strongly in protecting the river or st [...]

Pacific Rivers files suit against Oregon over the issuing water quality certification for the Hells Canyon Complex

August 13, 2019
Press Release: Pacific Rivers, Idaho Rivers United File Petition Challenging Clean Water Act Certification for the Hells Canyon Complex by Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Media ContactsGreg Haller, Pacific Rivers, (503) 228-3555, (208) 790-4105, greg@pacificrivers.org Nic Nelson, Idaho Rivers United, (208) 343-7481, nic@idahorivers.org Portland, OR (July 22, 2019) Today, conservation [...]

President Signs Bill to Protect Lands and Rivers in Oregon!

March 12, 2019
Measures will designate wilderness and wild and scenic rivers in Oregon and honor legendary stewards of the North Umpqua River Contacts:  David Moryc, American Rivers, 503-307-1137Joseph Vaile, KS Wild, 541-488-5789Greg Haller, Pacific Rivers, 208-790-4105 Portland, OR (March 12, 2019) – The President today signed into law the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act, a public lands package that includes the Oregon Wildlands Act (S. 1548) and [...]

Help Secure Oregon’s Drinking Water Supplies

March 7, 2019
Hearing on Safe Waters Act of 2019 (HB 2656)House Committee on Energy and EnvironmentMarch 12, 2019, 1:00pmHearing Room HR DPortlanders are rightly proud of their water supply, which produces some of the cleanest drinking water in the United States. It’s also one of the most protected watersheds in the country. The protections in place for the Bull Run ensure it will remain clean and plentiful, protected from the effects of climate change for generations of Portlanders to come. [...]
Show More