The feat of this salmon surviving to adulthood and then a 200 mile journey up the Klamath River is no small one, but is mirrored in this case by the feat of removing the Klamath River dams. I won’t attempt to summarize the enormous, decades-long organizing, advocacy, and political campaign to accomplish it here (check out some of the links below for that context), but this story highlights the tenacity of both people and nature.

For example, it is the Tribal nations and peoples in the Klamath region who lost the most during the era of the dams, and who stand to benefit most from this new era for the Klamath River’s restoration. The people of the Klamath, Shasta, Yurok, Hoopa, and Karuk tribes were not only instrumental in the effort to remove the dams, they are also now playing a major role in the restoration of the river, the salmon, and their ancestral homelands.  

Many voices from tribes who call the Klamath watershed home are highlighted in news stories and documentaries, and we urge you to seek these out. Some can be found linked here:

• OPB: After a century of displacement, Shasta Indian Nation sees hope in dam removal
• Ridges to Riffles: Indigenous Conservation Group working on Klamath restoration 
• Undammed: Amy Bowers Cordallis and the fight to free the Klamath
• Oregon Field Guide: “After the dams: What’s next for the Klamath River?”
• Underscore Native News: Klamath River Ecosystem is Booming One Year After Dam Removal
• OPB: Indigenous kayakers traverse 6 dam sites on the Klamath River and head for the ocean
• The Guardian: One year after a historic dam removal, teens inspire river restoration worldwide: ‘It turns out you can win’

My visit to the Klamath was organized by friends with the Great Old Broads for Wilderness, and facilitated by staff of Resource Environmental Solutions (RES), the contractor in charge of restoration post-dam-removal. (More about their work on their Klamath River Restoration Story Map) We learned from them and from the president of the Klamath River Renewal Corporation about  the political and policy context that led to the agreement to remove the dams, the actual project of taking them down, and the ongoing restoration work in the footprint of the dam and reservoir sites. 

On one day, our group worked with RES staff to harvest acorns from native oak trees and then plant them in a part of the reclaimed land behind the removed Irongate dam. A dozen bright orange vests dotted the hillslope, stooping to dig out a spot for a cluster of acorns every 6 feet or so. It was hopeful work. At one point, as I scooped another hole into the old reservoir sediment and poked an acorn into the ground, I glanced up to see a pair of bald eagles landing in a juniper tree across the river. I pointed them out to the wildlife biologist with us and she wisely said, “Look at that. The eagles know the fish are coming back.”

The salmon’s return to the Klamath River was no guarantee, but the careful planning and implementation of dam removal and restoration projects and the innate resiliency of these fish has led to a timeline that has exceeded expectations. Not only did fish show up just days after dam removal was completed, when biologists thought it could take a year, but they are also swimming farther into the watershed. This year, salmon returned to the upper Klamath headwaters, above two more existing dams and through Upper Klamath Lake. (See New York Times “A River Restoration in Oregon Gets Fast Results: The Salmon Swam Right Back“)

“A hundred and fifteen years that they haven’t been here, and they still have that GPS unit inside of them,” said the visibly giddy Klamath Tribal Chair William Ray, Jr. “It’s truly an awesome feat if you think about the gauntlet they had to go through.”
– OPB: Salmon clear last Klamath dams, reaching Williamson and Sprague rivers

For decades, Oregon Wild has advocated for water quality and quantity in the upper Klamath, for conservation efforts to benefit Klamath sucker fish and Chinook salmon,  and for protecting the spring-fed headwater rivers of the Williamson and Sprague – where salmon have now returned. And while we share the excitement of Chair Ray (quoted above), many challenges to these goals remain. The upper Klamath basin is still limited by water quality and quantity. As the tenacious salmon begin to explore these upper reaches, can their growing population be sustained? What work, and what changes in policies and practice need to be done and made to help them thrive? Do we (collectively) have the willingness and resources to do that work as federal funding and staff cuts take hold, and agency direction changes? I hope so.

Like the eagles, I hope to return to this newly freed stretch of river to look over the hillsides dotted with young oak trees, native wildflowers in bloom, families floating by in kayaks, and salmon returning to their streams of origin. This landscape still needs time to heal towards that vision, but if the Klamath dam removal project has taught us anything, it is that persistence over time does make a difference, and that this river, the landscape it flows through, the people who call it home, and the salmon and other wildlife that live here are remarkably resilient.

The post Resilience and hope for the Klamath River appeared first on Oregon Wild.

The unique hydrology and geology of this watershed have helped support diverse ecosystems, sustained human civilizations since time immemorial, and made the growth of the central Oregon cities of today possible. Today, the area is a beloved outdoor recreation destination. However, with accelerating climate change and overuse, the future of the Deschutes and all that rely on it is uncertain.

The River Democracy Act would protect over 3200 miles of streams across Oregon for the important values they provide, including dozens within the upper Deschutes River basin. Read on to learn more about this key watershed and how the River Democracy Act would safeguard it and the communities that rely on it for generations to come.

Outdoor Recreation

The upper Deschutes River and its tributaries flow through the Deschutes National Forest, one of the most visited National Forests in the state, which provides opportunities for year-round recreation. The river itself is renowned for its fishing and paddling opportunities, and hikers, mountain bikers, and cross-country skiers have a wealth of trails to explore nearby. Campgrounds and day-use areas can also be found all along the various streams that comprise the Deschutes watershed. 

Some can’t-miss activities include fly fishing the Fall River, paddling Hosmer Lake, and hiking the Tumalo Falls area.

Recreation Spotlight: Tumalo and Bridge Creek Loop

This 7.2-mile loop hike follows multiple proposed Wild & Scenic Rivers and brings hikers up close to dozens of spectacular waterfalls flowing through a mixed conifer forest full of lodgepole pine, mountain hemlock, Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, and white fir. The best waterfall hike near Bend!

Learn more about this hike and other hikes near River Democracy Act streams in our River Democracy Act Hiking Guide

Wildlife Habitat

The meadows, forests, high desert, and subalpine environments of the upper Deschutes River provide a diversity of important habitat for a wide range of wildlife species, including listed species like bull trout and Oregon spotted frog. 

Bald eagles, osprey, and other birds of prey are commonly spotted along the river corridor. Mule deer and elk are also abundant, beaver and river otters are found in both the Deschutes and its tributaries, and two known wolf packs have become established in the basin in recent years (wolves are native to this area, but were eradicated for decades before returning to their former habitats in recent years).

Species Spotlight: Redband trout

Redband trout are a subspecies of rainbow trout that have adapted to the drier climates east of the Oregon Cascade Range. They are similar in appearance to a rainbow trout, but can be distinguished by larger, more rounded spots and a rosy red stripe along their side. Currently, redband trout occupy approximately 42% of their historic range. Primary threats to redband populations include habitat degradation and fragmentation, impacts from climate change including drought, and introduction of nonnative species.

Geology

The upper Deschutes River has a fascinating geologic history and a unique hydrology. Volcanic activity has shaped the region and this river, creating massive underground aquifers, springs that carry cold, clean water back to the surface, and lava flows that stretch for miles and construct the many falls and whitewater rapids of the Deschutes and its tributaries. Despite its location in the semi-arid climate of central Oregon’s high desert, the Deschutes once had some of the most stable year-round flows in the world. It is also the world’s largest spring-fed river.

However, due to the increasing impacts of climate change, development, and overuse, the river’s streamflows and course have been modified, leading to negative impacts on water quality and quantity, fish and wildlife, and downstream communities.

Learn more about the geologic history of the upper Deschutes River and the current threats to it by watching our past webcast, “A River Through Time: The Geologic History of the Upper Deschutes River Basin.”

Drinking Water

Over 100,000 people in Bend rely on Bridge Creek, in the Tumalo Creek watershed–a major tributary of the upper Deschutes, for clean drinking water. Bridge Creek is another spring-fed stream that originates near Broken Top mountain in the Three Sisters Wilderness and joins Tumalo Creek below the scenic Tumalo Falls before flowing towards the Deschutes. Tumalo Creek is one of the few but critical tributaries providing a steady flow of cold, clean water to the upper Deschutes. 

Intact, forested watersheds, especially those flowing through public lands, play a vital role in ensuring the quality and quantity of our water sources. These natural ecosystems act as invaluable sponges, absorbing, filtering, and gradually releasing water, contributing to the consistent flow of clean water to downstream communities. The streams of the Tumalo Creek watershed flow through designated Wilderness areas, Roadless Areas, and mature and old-growth forests, depositing consistent, cold, clean water into the taps of Bend’s residents and the Deschutes River.

Threats to this watershed

Each fall, the river’s flow out of Wickiup Dam is reduced dramatically to store water over the winter for the next year’s irrigation season. When the agricultural season begins the next spring, flows are increased once again to levels much higher than they naturally would be. 

For a river system that has evolved with historically stable streamflows, this annual reduction and increase has led to more bank erosion, water quality issues, and has negatively impacted native species like trout and Oregon spotted frog. Streamflow gets so low so quickly in the fall that thousands of fish end up trapped on the bank within days of the flow reductions. Fortunately, most of these fish are saved by volunteers in an annual fish rescue event outside of Bend, but more work is needed to protect water quality and quantity in the Deschutes. 

This watershed is also experiencing more frequent and prolonged drought from the accelerating impacts of climate change on precipitation, snowpack, and annual temperatures. All of these factors translate to less cold, clean water in the upper Deschutes basin.

River Democracy Act

The River Democracy Act, co-sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, would designate the headwaters of the upper Deschutes River and other important tributaries in the watershed as Wild & Scenic Rivers, providing additional safeguards for water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation opportunities. 

In total, the River Democracy Act would protect over 3,200 miles of streams all across Oregon.

Destructive activities like mining and dam building are prohibited in and along Wild & Scenic Rivers, and other projects like commercial logging and road-building that negatively impact the landscape are tightly regulated so as to not degrade the river and river values. The River Democracy Act extends these safeguards a half-mile from each river bank, offering enhanced protections for critical waterways and watersheds.

Streams in the upper Deschutes basin proposed for protection include essentially all the major tributaries in the watershed, such as Bridge Creek and Tumalo Creek, the Fall River, Paulina Creek, the Little Deschutes River, and Quinn Creek, which flows into Hosmer Lake. These are the streams that provide refuge for fish and wildlife, cold, clean water to the Deschutes, and help mitigate the impacts of drought, climate change, and overuse. 

Take Action

The River Democracy Act is currently making its way through Congress, but it needs your help getting across the finish line! Senator Ron Wyden developed and championed the bill, and Senator Jeff Merkley has co-sponsored it. The upper Deschutes watershed falls within Congresswoman Janelle Bynum’s district, and we need her to support this important legislation and protections for the Deschutes. 

Take action today and help protect the Deschutes River watershed and hundreds of other Oregon waterways by signing on as a Citizen Co-sponsor and urging your members of Congress to pass the River Democracy Act!

The post River Democracy Act Highlights: Upper Deschutes River appeared first on Oregon Wild.

This recent NBC article summarizes the study’s findings.

A new analysis of nearly 1,500 river locations over more than 40 years found that the frequency, intensity and duration of heat waves is increasing in streams across the country, posing a threat to many species that are adapted to cooler temperatures.

Many aquatic species native to Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, such as salmon and trout, rely on cold-water habitat. Increased stream temperatures can be deadly to these species, impacting native fish and wildlife populations, as well as the communities, cultures, and industries that rely on them. 

Higher stream temperatures can also lead to more severe drought conditions and water quality issues that impact clean drinking water supplies and outdoor recreation opportunities.

According to the article,

The authors found that human-caused climate change is the primary driver of the trend, as snowpack dwindles and streams flow more slowly.

Other human factors also affect the trend. Dams slow the flow of water downstream. Buildings and pavement absorb heat that warms the air and then the water.

When combined with all the other impacts facing our rivers and native species, this is a disturbing trend.

So what’s the solution?

Protecting healthy waterways that still provide cold clean water is a great starting place. For waterways that have been logged or degraded, active and passive restoration efforts will be needed.

Trees and vegetation in riparian areas shade and cool rivers. Studies also show that older and larger trees suck up less water than younger ones that are replanted after logging operations, leaving behind more cold water in the stream and the water table. Additionally, mature and old-growth forests in Oregon are climate regulators, creating their own microclimates that are significantly cooler than adjacent logged or developed areas. These same forests also help fight and slow climate change–the primary driver of these heat waves–by sequestering and storing immense amounts of carbon.

The River Democracy Act: hope for our watersheds

Fortunately, there is a proposal to provide widespread protections for rivers across Oregon. Senator Ron Wyden’s River Democracy Act would protect over 3200 miles of waterways across the state, including a half-mile-wide buffer on either side of each stream.

This bill would add these streams to the National Wild & Scenic Rivers System, safeguarding the important values each river provides–whether it’s fish and wildlife habitat, clean drinking water, outdoor recreation, cultural, or others. It would also prohibit new dam construction on designated rivers, limit development and harmful activity within the protected buffer, and preserve the forests and riparian areas alongside streams that act as a natural climate solution.

Included in the River Democracy Act are the headwaters of critical salmon-bearing rivers in Oregon, such as the Rogue, Deschutes, McKenzie, Clackamas, Grande Ronde, John Day, and others. These are the streams that are the source of clean, cold water for these river systems, and where salmon spawn and give life to the next generation. These headwaters and tributaries are vital to protect as the harms there are felt–and compounded–downstream.

Take action today

Our rivers, and all who depend on them, need your help. Join the movement to protect Oregon rivers by becoming a Citizen Co-sponsor of the River Democracy Act. Reach out to your members of Congress and urge them to pass this bill before it is too late.

The post New study finds U.S. rivers are warming at alarming rates appeared first on Oregon Wild.

The River Democracy Act would protect these values, and more, for over 3200 miles of rivers across Oregon, including dozens within the McKenzie River basin. Read on to learn more about this key Oregon watershed and how the River Democracy Act would safeguard it and the communities that rely on it for generations to come.

Outdoor Recreation

Whether it’s rafting or fishing on the river itself, mountain biking the famous McKenzie River Trail, or enjoying the view of one of the river’s many waterfalls during a hike, there’s no shortage of outdoor adventure to be had here.

Recreation Spotlight: McKenzie River Trail

The McKenzie River Trail is a 24-mile-long trail that starts near the headwaters of the McKenzie River at Clear Lake and ends just upstream of the community of McKenzie Bridge. The trail is popular for both hiking and mountain biking. 

Mountain bikers will find technical riding over sharp lava rock, flowing downhill single track through old-growth Douglas fir forests, and dazzling views of waterfalls and the aquamarine waters of the McKenzie. Most of the trail is located within the current McKenzie River Wild & Scenic corridor, but the last 5 miles of the trail is unprotected. When passed, the River Democracy Act would add protections to these last 5 miles. 

Popular hikes include the 4-mile round-trip hike to Blue Pool/Tamolitch Falls and the 2.4-mile Sahalie and Koosah Falls loop.

Wildlife Habitat

The McKenzie River watershed is home to a wide variety of native species, including threatened and endangered species such as Chinook salmon and steelhead, northern spotted owls, and bulltrout.

Wildlife Spotlight: Bull Trout

Bull trout, like many other members of the salmonid family, begin their lives in cold, clear streams, feeding on small aquatic invertebrates. As these fish mature, they either migrate out of their home stream to larger streams and rivers or lakes and reservoirs, or remain in the stream where they hatched. The migratory bull trout tend to become much larger than their resident counterparts—sometimes growing as long as 40 inches and heavier than 30 pounds. Unlike Pacific salmon species that spawn once and die, bull trout will spawn multiple times in their lifetime. Migratory bull trout may migrate multiple times between spawning streams and their large river rearing habitats. Bull trout can be recognized by their particularly large, broad head and their dark olive or brown color with lighter yellowish spots. In Oregon, bull trout were historically found in streams in the Klamath basin, the Columbia and Snake Rivers and their major tributaries, and the Willamette River and its major tributaries on the west side of the Cascades.

This threatened fish has some very specific habitat requirements, and when they aren’t met, it can be disastrous for bull trout populations. Their physiology dictates that they need cold water (no higher than 60° F) to survive, as well as for the survival of their eggs. A river environment with low silt is equally important, with a gravelly bottom and plenty of protective habitat such as overhanging brush. Unfortunately, human activities such as logging have been steadily spoiling prime bull trout habitat. Logging and road building lead to siltation in rivers, lowering stream quality and raising water temperature, both of which lower the viability of eggs and hatchlings. Other threats, such as impassable dams, sometimes keep bull trout from spawning at all. Non-native brook trout also present a threat due to competition for food. In order to ensure the survival of this sensitive fish, it’s necessary that roadless areas be maintained and the fight for clean water continues.

Drinking Water

Over 200,000 people living in the Eugene-Springfield area rely on the McKenzie watershed for clean drinking water. 

Intact, forested watersheds, especially those flowing through public lands, play a critical role in ensuring the quality and quantity of our water sources. These natural ecosystems act as invaluable sponges, absorbing, filtering, and gradually releasing water, contributing to the consistent flow of clean water to downstream communities.

The McKenzie River watershed is an excellent example of this natural phenomenon in action. At its headwaters, snowmelt, glacial thaw, and underground springs merge to form the mountain streams that feed the McKenzie. These streams flow through designated Wilderness areas, Roadless Areas, and mature and old-growth forests, depositing consistent, cold, clean water into the mainstem McKenzie River.

On the other hand, researchers have documented a direct correlation between industrial logging and increased flooding and peak flows.  Without a healthy forest ecosystem in place to absorb and slow the release of water, rain and melting snow tend to run off of heavily logged forests much faster. That run-off causes erosion, carrying with it large quantities of sediment and debris that reduce water quality and can cause problems for water filtration systems and fish habitat further downstream. 

The quick run-off during winter and spring storms also means there is less water available during the dry summer months when water demand is higher and supplies are lower. Oregon State University scientists have found that clear-cut plantation forestry can reduce water levels during summer months by 50% when compared to adjacent, unlogged old-growth watersheds.

Threats to this watershed

Despite the importance of intact, mature and old-growth forests for outdoor recreation, wildlife habitat, and clean drinking water, much of the forests in the McKenzie River watershed have been heavily logged and remain open to logging.

Aggressive commercial logging projects, such as the planned (and withdrawn) Flat Country timber sale, pose a significant threat to the mature forests and headwater streams of this area and all the important values they provide. 

The Flat Country sale was withdrawn due to widespread public opposition and potential devastating environmental impacts. This project would have logged 1,000 acres of trees between 98-170 years old within the vicinity of important McKenzie watershed headwater streams such as Anderson Creek and Olallie Creek. Without permanent protections, these forests and streams remain at risk. 

The Trump Administration has also recently announced that it aims to roll back the 2001 Roadless Rule, jeopardizing 58 million acres of intact, backcountry National Forest lands. In Oregon, the rule protects nearly 2 million acres of Oregon’s forests from destructive logging, road building, and development. In the McKenzie watershed, this includes thousands of acres of wild, old-growth forest surrounding the river’s headwaters.

The River Democracy Act

The River Democracy Act, co-sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, would designate dozens of miles of the McKenzie River and other important tributaries in the watershed as Wild & Scenic Rivers, providing additional safeguards for water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and backcountry recreation opportunities. 

Streams in the watershed proposed for protection include the 15 miles of the mainstem McKenzie River, the South Fork McKenzie River, Blue River, Horse Creek, Lost Creek, Deer Creek, Olallie Creek, and Anderson Creek. 

Destructive activities like mining and dam building are prohibited in and along Wild & Scenic Rivers, and other projects like commercial logging and road-building that negatively impact the landscape are tightly regulated so as to not degrade the river and river values. The River Democracy Act extends these safeguards a half-mile from each river bank, offering enhanced protections for critical waterways.

Take Action

The River Democracy Act is currently making its way through Congress, but it needs your help getting across the finish line! Take action today and help protect the McKenzie River watershed and hundreds of other Oregon waterways by signing on as a Citizen Co-sponsor and urging your members of Congress to pass the River Democracy Act!

The post River Democracy Act Highlights: McKenzie River Watershed appeared first on Oregon Wild.

A biological wonder

Rough and Ready Creek is one of the most extraordinary watersheds in Oregon. It is a biodiversity hotspot for rare and endemic plants found nowhere else on earth. In fact the area has more plant diversity than anywhere else in Oregon. The waters here run crystal clear, even during winter storms and high flows. 

This impressive botanical biodiversity and water quality are thanks to the area’s unique geology and hydrology. When you first lay eyes on the Rough and Ready floodplain, you will find it almost desert-like with shrubs, bunchgrasses, a variety of wildflowers, and a few sparse pine trees scattered about. You may be surprised to learn that this area often receives over 100 inches of annual rainfall! Moist Douglas fir forests can be found just a few hundred yards away.

The floodplain is characterized by serpentine soils, which quickly drain (leaving the soil very dry relative to the amount of rainfall it receives) and contain heavy metals and low nutrient availability. As a result, highly specialized plant species have adapted to survive here, including many that are not found anywhere else in the world. This geology, combined with the area’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean, has resulted in an exceptional diversity of one-of-a-kind landscapes, ancient wetlands, and some of the last native grasslands on the West Coast.

In addition to rare and endemic plant species, fish and wildlife also thrive here. Native chinook salmon, steelhead, and cutthroat trout have adapted to the creek’s naturally high summer water temperatures, and rare yellow-legged frogs flourish in this pristine habitat.

Siskiyou Mat, Azure Penstemon, and Scytheleaf Onion are among the unique plant species that have specialized to thrive in the serpentine soils of Rough and Ready Creek in southern Oregon.

Threats to this watershed

However, the watershed’s unique geology has also made it a target for the mining industry, threatening its water quality and ecological integrity. The soils here contain low-grade nickel laterite, which, if mined, would result in irreparable harm from smelter construction and operation, water pollution, road building, and surface and strip mining. It would devastate the many values of this watershed and impact nearby communities downstream along the Illinois River.

Rough and Ready Creek could also be degraded by the invasive Port Orford Cedar root disease if roads and mining are allowed. Rough and Ready Creek is one of the few watersheds in southern Oregon that is not yet infested with this disease, and its high botanical diversity values remain intact.

Proposals to protect Rough and Ready Creek

The River Democracy Act, co-sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, would designate 13 miles of streams in the Rough and Ready watershed as National Wild & Scenic Rivers, protecting important values such as biological diversity, fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, and outdoor recreation opportunities. 

The Oregon Recreation Enhancement (ORE) Act, also co-sponsored by Senators Wyden and Merkley, is another bill that would protect Rough and Ready Creek and other nearby watersheds from new destructive mining claims. The bill would also expand the Wild Rogue Wilderness. 

Both of these bills are making their way through Congress and need your help to get across the finish line! Take action for Rough and Ready Creek and other watersheds across Oregon by signing on as a Citizen Co-sponsor of the River Democracy and urging your members of Congress to pass the ORE Act.

If you visit

The easiest way to visit Rough and Ready Creek and experience its unique wonders is to walk the short trail at the Rough and Ready Botanical Wayside, located off the Redwoods Highway a few miles south of Cave Junction. Here, you will find many of the rare and endemic plants the area is known for. This is a great spot to stop for a short walk on your way to visiting the Redwoods in California.

Rough and Ready Creek is also a popular whitewater kayaking stream for experienced paddlers during high flows in the winter and early spring.

In addition to the Redwoods, other nearby attractions include the Oregon Caves National Monument, Smith River National Recreation Area, the Kalmiopsis Wilderness, and the Wild & Scenic Illinois River.

The post River Democracy Act Highlights: Rough and Ready Creek appeared first on Oregon Wild.

BEND, OR — As the busy summer season kicks off over Memorial Day weekend, outdoor recreation businesses, guides, nonprofits, and industry leaders across Oregon have come together in a unified show of support for the River Democracy Act, legislation that would add over 3,200 miles of Oregon rivers and streams to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

According to a recent poll, 71% of Oregonians support additional Wild & Scenic River designations like those proposed in the River Democracy Act. 

In a letter sent today to Oregon’s congressional delegation—Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Cliff Bentz, Maxine Dexter, Val Hoyle, Janelle Bynum, and Andrea Salinas—these businesses and organizations highlighted the critical importance of Oregon’s rivers to the state’s economy, culture, and environment.

“Outdoor recreation is one of Oregon’s premier economic drivers,” the signers wrote. “In 2022 alone, spending on outdoor recreation in Oregon exceeded $16 billion and supported 192,000 jobs. Many of these jobs exist in rural communities where iconic rivers like the Rogue, Deschutes, and McKenzie attract visitors from around the world.”

The River Democracy Act, championed by Senators Wyden and Merkley, seeks to safeguard thousands of miles of river segments across the state by granting them Wild and Scenic designation—offering permanent protections against damming, pollution, and development. 82% of Oregonians think Wild & Scenic designations are very important or somewhat important for protecting community drinking water.

The proposal comes at a time of increasing threats to public lands and water resources, both from climate impacts and shifting federal priorities.

“Our way of life in Oregon is deeply connected to our rivers and public lands,” the letter states. “Whether we’re fishing, guiding, paddling, or simply enjoying the natural beauty, these rivers power both our economy and our identity as Oregonians.”

The signatories—from fly fishing guides in Madras to eco-tour companies in Gold Beach—are calling on Congress to pass the legislation and provide adequate resources to the federal agencies charged with protecting these waters, such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Even as we work to enact strong, permanent protections for these rivers, it’s vital that we support the people on the ground—the federal land managers who safeguard these places every day,” the letter notes.

The coalition praised the efforts of Senators Wyden and Merkley in advancing the legislation and urged the full Oregon delegation to prioritize passage of the River Democracy Act as a critical investment in the state’s recreation economy and natural legacy.

Signatories include:

• Fishing and hunting groups like Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and Trout Unlimited Chapters across Oregon
  
• River guides and outfitters from Bend, Eugene, Roseburg, La Grande, and more
  
• Lodges, tour companies, outdoor brands, recreation organizations, and trail alliances from across the state
  

Full list of signatories:

The post Oregon Outdoor Businesses and Recreation Leaders Rally Behind River Democracy Act appeared first on Oregon Wild.

Of course, there are many more rivers and streams in Oregon that are deserving of Wild & Scenic River protection. The River Democracy Act, one of Oregon Wild’s priority campaigns, would protect an additional 3,215 miles of Wild & Scenic Rivers across the state. Developed with an extensive public process, Senator Ron Wyden first introduced the bill in Congress in 2021. Under the Act, each Wild & Scenic River segment would gain a protected buffer of ½ mile on each side – enhancing the recreation experience, as well as safeguarding fish and wildlife habitat, clean drinking water, and preventing reckless and exploitative development like logging and mining. 

At a time when we are seeing unprecedented attacks on public lands and waters, protections for Oregon’s rivers and streams are more important than ever.

Let’s get hiking!

Many of the waterways proposed as Wild & Scenic Rivers in the River Democracy Act feature trails that wind through the wild forests and meadows along their shores. Want to experience some of these places for yourself? We’ve developed a trail guide to 20 streamside hikes (plus suggestions for 16 more) to help you explore, enjoy, – and most importantly – advocate for these special places all across the state. 

Download the RDA hiking guide here!

Before you head out on a hike, be sure to download a good map, and be well prepared. Check out Oregon Wild’s resource library for what you need to know!

Oregon Wild staff also lead guided hikes throughout the year, including some in this guide. Check here for upcoming guided hikes.

Learn more and take action

• Learn more about the River Democracy Act here.
• Read our report on how the River Democracy Act protects drinking water sources in Oregon.
• Want to do more? Become a citizen co-sponsor of the River Democracy Act and contact your Congressional representatives about supporting the Act.

The post Explore and Speak Up for Oregon’s Rivers With Our New Hiking Guide! appeared first on Oregon Wild.

EUGENE, OR — Today, conservation organizations filed suit against the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB) alleging ongoing violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). For over sixteen years, the public utility has been out of legal compliance with federal requirements to provide proper fish passage for ESA-listed Chinook salmon and bull trout at the Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project and Trail Bridge Dam on the famed McKenzie River. 

EWEB’s failure to provide adequate fish passage has resulted in killing and injuring Chinook salmon and bull trout as the fish try to migrate up and downriver, a violation of the ESA’s prohibition on “take” — including harming, harassing, wounding, and killing— of listed species. EWEB’s inaction also prevents the fish from accessing important spawning, rearing, and feeding areas. 

“For nearly two decades, Upper Willamette River Chinook salmon and bull trout have paid the price for EWEB’s chronic non-compliance,” said Peter Jensen, an attorney with Cascadia Wildlands. “Accountability for the serious harm to protected fish species is needed to correct course and ensure the health of the river and persistence of these iconic fish species.”

EWEB’s dam license at the Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project (issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC) is conditioned on the construction of fish passage at Trail Bridge Dam. EWEB initially agreed to install a fish ladder at the dam, but later scrapped this plan for an inferior proposal for a trap-and-haul system based on an updated economic analysis. The National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service consented to the less effective plan largely because EWEB promised to build that facility quickly. EWEB then missed multiple deadlines and has yet to even break ground on a trap-and-haul facility that was required to be completed n in 2022. Moreover, EWEB has publicly admitted that its temporary mitigation efforts have either entirely or nearly completely failed.

In 2023, on-the-record statements from a former EWEB employee-turned-whistleblower came to light, alleging that EWEB never intended to implement fish passage and that its excuses for delays were not valid. Both the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service then withdrew from the 2018 joint settlement agreement with EWEB and other stakeholders. The expert fish agencies also notified FERC that EWEB could no longer rely on their 2018 Biological Opinions and Incidental Take Statements without reinitiating consultation under the ESA. 

“EWEB is blatantly disregarding federal law,” said Hannah Goldblatt, staff attorney at Advocates for the West. “Short of a court requiring it to do so, it appears the public utility will continue to delay its commitments to complete adequate fish passage, at the expense of threatened Chinook salmon and bull trout.”

The Upper Willamette River Chinook salmon subpopulation, long seen as a stronghold for this threatened species, has further declined over the past 16 years with known salmon deaths occurring at the Trail Bridge Dam due to the lack of passage. The dam is also a full barrier to genetic exchange between bull trout populations below and above the dam. 

“The McKenzie River and the threatened salmon and trout that call it home belong to all of us, but for years EWEB has failed to keep its promise to help fish get around Trail Bridge Dam to spawn,” said John Persell, staff attorney for Oregon Wild. “We are going to make them fulfill that promise and protect the McKenzie.”

In addition to the ongoing harm caused to Chinook salmon and bull trout, the myriad delays have likely increased costs to ratepayers and the overall expense of bringing the project into compliance with federal law. Cascadia Wildlands brought their concerns to EWEB’s board of commissioners in May 2024 in both oral and detailed written comments. 

“Salmon and bull trout have an extraordinary capacity to recover when we simply fulfill our responsibility to provide effective and safe fish passage to and from high-quality habitat like we have in the upper McKenzie River,” said Jennifer Fairbrother, legislative and policy director for the Native Fish Society.

The organizations bringing suit are Cascadia Wildlands, Willamette Riverkeeper, Native Fish Society, and Oregon Wild. They are represented by attorneys at Public Justice, Advocates for the West, Cascadia Wildlands, and Willamette Riverkeeper.

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Additional background:

Tribal entities and regional conservation groups have long engaged in advocating for fish passage at the Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project and Trail Bridge Dam. In 2008, EWEB filed a settlement agreement with the Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission (FERC), conservation organizations, and Tribes in which EWEB agreed to construct new state-of-the-art volitional fish passage measures (a fish ladder) to allow fish access to miles of pristine river habitat above the Carmen-Smith Project. This never occurred.  

In 2018 a new settlement agreement was reached with FERC, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Fish and Wildlife Service to implement inferior trap-and-haul facilities in lieu of volitional passage within three years. These lessened standards prompted Cascadia Wildlands and Oregon Wild to leave the settlement. 

Cascadia Wildlands works on behalf of its over 15,000 members and supporters to defend and restore Cascadia’s wild ecosystems in the forests, in the courts, and in the streets. 

Oregon Wild represents 20,000 members and supporters who share our mission to protect and restore Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife, and water as an enduring legacy. Our goal is to protect areas that remain intact while striving to restore areas that have been degraded.

Willamette Riverkeeper is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1996 with thousands of members in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Willamette Riverkeeper focuses on protecting and restoring the resources of the Willamette River Basin in Oregon and works on programs and projects ranging from the Clean Water Act compliance and river education to Superfund cleanup and restoring habitat.

The Native Fish Society is a conservation nonprofit with a mission to restore abundant wild fish, free-flowing rivers, and thriving local communities across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.

Advocates for the West is a non-profit, public interest environmental law firm that works to defend public lands, water, fish, and wildlife throughout the American West.

Public Justice takes on the biggest systemic threats to justice of our time – abusive corporate power and predatory practices, the assault on civil rights and liberties, and the destruction of the earth’s sustainability. We connect high-impact litigation with strategic communications and the strength of our partnerships to fight these abusive and discriminatory systems and win social and economic justice. For more information, visit www.PublicJustice.net.

The post Conservationists Challenge Eugene Water and Electric Board with Violating Endangered Species Act appeared first on Oregon Wild.

View the full PIELC program and schedule

Friday, Feb. 28

Saturday, March 1

Sunday, March 2

Bryce Wade

The post Oregon Wild at PIELC appeared first on Oregon Wild.

Also a part of this series:
North Fork Umatilla Wilderness: Saved by a Trout?
Saving the Big Trees of Badger Creek as Wilderness – A Lucky Break
Hardesty Mountain Roadless Area: Vigilance, Close Calls, & Heroes
Lookout Mountain: Roadless Beacon of the Ochocos
Beloved Metolius River
Every Wild Place Has a Story

“Our responsibility as life tenants is to make certain that there are wilderness values to honor after we have gone.” – William O. Douglas

Snap snap, SNAP! Then came the whooooooosh and a thud that shook our popup camper by the Imnaha River in the predawn. Wes and I felt the reverberation from 150 yards away. Later, we found the Douglas-fir bridging a river channel near a beaver dam. The gunfire-like snaps were roots popping as the living tree tipped over and pulled up a wall of soil and roots 20 feet high, plus shaking loose a snaking section of the bank.

Curious to look at the tree’s crown, we waded across the frigid waters to the other side (with the help of two beaver-chewed sticks for balance). Among a whorl of green needles, I spotted something bizarre— brown fur, dainty hooves, and a skull. How had an elk calf ended up draped over a branch way up high in the fir?

Did a cougar climb to the topmost branches with his or her prey?

This tree had stories to tell. The Imnaha, too, whispers of wolf howl, salmon splash, and kingfisher plunge. The river runs through one of the largest intact wildlands remaining in the Pacific Northwest. It’s here  where one of the world’s most famous wolves—OR-7 or Journey—romped as a pup with his Imnaha pack in 2009. He would head across Oregon tracing wildlands wherever he could all the way to California to find a mate.

Rob Klavins, eastern Oregon field representative for Oregon Wild, calls the Imnaha River a microcosm for all that’s at stake in the region—from habitat connectivity to big wildlands. The first moose spotted in Oregon was on the Imnaha River in 1960. The first wolf returning to Oregon crossed the Snake River in the vicinity. If grizzly bears find their way into the Wallowas, the Imnaha corridor beckons.

Threatened chinook salmon still spawn in the upper Imnaha after swimming some 550 miles from the ocean and navigating eight dams. White-headed woodpeckers nest in centuries-old ponderosa pine snags.  Black bears feast on summer huckleberries. Bull elk bugle in fall when larches flame golden on steep hillsides. The lone wolverine of the Wallowas (named Stormy) roams the Imnaha country seeking a mate.

Within the homeland of the Nimiipuu, the Nez Perce, the Imnaha River flows 77 miles from headwaters at 8,000 feet within the Eagle Cap Wilderness (Oregon’s largest) to 950 feet at the confluence with the Snake River in Hells Canyon, deepest gorge in North America.

Designated a Wild and Scenic River in 1988, the Imnaha crosses boundaries of Wilderness, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, and some private lands in the lower stretch. Passaging east and then north down through every ecosystem in the region, the Imnaha serves as a vast climate refugia in a warming world.

Threatened Wildlands

Not all the wildlands of the Imnaha country are protected.  Sadly, the Imnaha also is a microcosm for the increasing logging threats across the region under the guise of “restoration.” Logging and roading frays and fragments climate refugia.  The key to cold, clear waters, biodiversity, wildlife corridors, and carbon storage of large trees is to keep wildlands intact.

The Morgan Nesbit timber project covers a staggering 87,000 acres adjacent to the Eagle Cap Wilderness and intruding into the Imnaha River wilds. Half the proposed commercial logging is within the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. But thanks to organizing by Greater Hells Canyon Council and Oregon Wild in 2023, the offices of the Wallowa Whitman National Forest were flooded with comments opposing the logging. The planning process is ongoing, and activists know it’s not over while the trees still stand.

Take action on this project! Comments are due December 19.

The fate of the Imnaha’s unprotected roadless areas buffering the Wilderness and the river is in our hands.

Contemplating the high stakes today, it helps to turn to the past and be reassured. It’s always been hard, yet there’s camaraderie among all who stand shoulder to shoulder protecting wildlands and rivers. The wins of the past should give us hope for the future—no matter what the politics.

Past Successes Inspire: Oregon’s Biggest Wilderness

Without tireless advocacy, the 359,991-acre Eagle Cap Wilderness we know today would have been far smaller. In 1930, the  alpine meadows, lakes, and peaks  garnered recognition as a primitive area. In 1940, the Forest Service designated the area as wilderness with a small “w”, meaning that status could be lifted if political winds shifted to favor development. The Wilderness Act of 1964 assured  protection under the National Wilderness Preservation System, but only for the Eagle Cap core. In 1972, Congress added the Little Minam River and expanded some of the Wilderness perimeter. However, those 73,419 acres came at a price—with certain lands declassified from an earlier protective status. The crown jewel of the Lower Minam was handed over to the Forest Service to study for potential Wilderness.

Enter the grassroots group “Save the Minam,” led by the inimitable Loren Hughes (worthy of an entire book!).  The group prevailed. Congress added the Minam’s 67,711 acres under the Oregon Wilderness Act of 1984. The victory was far from easy. For example, Boise Cascade timber company put out a full-page ad focusing on northeast Oregon, calling the House Bill “An ‘Un-Natural’ Disaster! We can do without.”

Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas

One famous champion of the Minam and Eagle Cap Wilderness was William O. Douglas who served longer than any other chief justice on the U.S. Supreme Court (from 1939-1975). He summered on the Lostine River, one of the main entryways to hike to the lakes basin and Eagle Cap.

It was  Douglas who ultimately saved the Snake River from a dam that would have flooded Hells Canyon. He wrote the majority opinion for the 1967 Supreme Court favorable ruling on a Sierra Club challenge represented by a young lawyer named Brock Evans (still championing the wilds from La Grande). The fight to stop the High Sheep Mountain Dam led to the formation of Hells Canyon Preservation Council in 1967.  Now the Greater Hells Canyon Council (GHCC), the grassroots group works to save wildlands throughout much of the Blue Mountains.

Seven years later, in 1974, Oregon Wild entered the scene as Oregon Wilderness Coalition, a scrappy group fighting for the wilds and taking on big timber—as they do today—50 years and many wins later and now with thousands of members. (Check out this video celebrating the anniversary!)

Hells Canyon: Troubled Waters, Threatened Forests

Both groups (now GHCC and Oregon Wild) worked hard for the passage of the 1976 Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Act that covers 652,488 acres with the deep gorge as the centerpiece.  However, the first signs marking entries to the National Recreation Area (NRA) were not put up until 1984. In the intervening years, the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest’s most visible early management in the NRA was logging. From 1976-1986, the agency sold 78.6 million board feet of timber. Considering only a third of the area is forested, that’s a heavy dose. In 1982, loggers dragged trees through Lick Creek, a tributary of the Imnaha, right as salmon tried to spawn. In fact, the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission filmed logging in spawning grounds of the Imnaha protected by 1855 treaty rights.

When researching my investigative journalism thesis  (Troubled Waters, Threatened Forests, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, 1988), I interviewed Allen Pinkham, then chairman of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee. “The treaty is very strong,” Pinkham said. We need to exert that power to preserve the fishing—not just the right to fish, but the right to have the fish back.”

Today, those words are more relevant than ever as the future of chinook salmon depends on removing the four dams on the lower Snake River and keeping spawning habitats safe from logging and other degradations.

Back in 1986 and ’87, perhaps the most egregious timber sale in the recreation area was called “Skook,” located above the upper Imnaha River area. Boise Cascade hauled out 3.2 million board feet on roads built at twice the width specified in the contract. They cut giant ponderosa pines, western larch, and standing dead trees. Environmentalists and tribes fought to save  big trees , but it was a tough time. Hiking the hillsides above Imnaha near Skookum Creek today, there are still beautiful pines and larches remaining, even as stumps tell the story of what was lost.

Enter Mike Higgins: Friends of Lake Fork

Close to the Imnaha River is the Lake Fork Roadless Area, not far from Pine Valley, where Mike Higgins lived for decades before moving to Baker City in the summer of 2023. Higgins serves on the GHCC advisory board.  In the summer of 1986, Mike and his wife Donna Higgins hosted a small group of like-minded folks at their home in Halfway.

 While the subject was serious, the proposed logging of wildlands around Lake Fork Creek, there’s a humorous story that Mike Higgins likes to share about Tim Lillebo (eastern Oregon field representative of what was then Oregon Natural Resources Council), who initiated the gathering that would lead to a lasting environmental movement in Pine Valley.

“With an enthusiasm never before witnessed in the environmental community, the step that Tim took from the front porch of the Higgins home to the front yard, in pursuit of yet another map, imprinted an indelible mark on the Friends of Lake Fork Group,” Higgins wrote. Lillebo failed to notice a screen on the door and fell right through it, taking the screen with him.

Friends of Lake Fork convinced the Pine Ranger District to stop their logging plans, citing harm to elk and to late-season flows for irrigation, since unlogged forests hold and slowly release water.  It was a great victory for the roadless area outside of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. However, within the boundary where protecting natural values was supposed to take precedence, the Forest Service continued to log and propose new sales.

I joined Higgins when he led a 1988 field trip to see freshly torn up muddy meadows, stumps, and slash in the aftermath of the Cold Grave timber sale, which cut down large spruce and grand fir growing among bogs and springs by Duck Lake Campground (just outside Lake Fork). Even the timber sale project officer Gerald Magera admitted they failed to protect the bogs as heavy logging equipment churned through delicate sphagnum wetlands within a forest of ideal habitat for lynx and fisher. Despite the damage, what remained of the delicate area would be designated a Research Natural Area in 2010.

Three environmental groups (Friends of Lake Fork, then Hells Canyon Preservation Council, and Oregon Natural Resources Council) sued the Forest Service to stop the next sale called Duck Creek and within the recreation area’s part of Lake Fork roadless area. That lawsuit went to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and, in 1989, the ruling in favor of the appellants set a precedent. The Court found the agency negligent in writing rules and regulations governing timber cutting in the recreation area, and gave environmental groups the right to file for injunctions to stop sales until new rules were in place. Unfortunately, the agency logged Duck Creek as the case went through the courts.

Making Progress

In the intervening decades, conservationists have achieved impressive feats in safeguarding this wild part of the region. For example, in 1994, Greater Hells Canyon Council  (GHCC) won a lawsuit validating the ecosystem and wilderness protection priority of the recreation area. Other 1990s wins included protecting bighorn sheep from lethal diseases by eliminating domestic sheep grazing within Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.  GHCC also defeated legislation that would have allowed unlimited jet boat use on the Wild and Scenic parts of the Snake River. A 2014 Snow Basin court case saved more than 40,000 large trees from being logged adjacent to the Eagle Cap Wilderness and led to strengthening the East Side screens to better protect trees 21 inches and larger.

Rallying for Wilds Today

As we prepare for this next Trump presidency and an all-out attack on the environment, we can take heart by looking to the past. The Imnaha River country holds immense promise if we can keep the wilds intact and enough people come to know and love this place to speak up for the future.

Returning to the Douglas-fir that fell across the Imnaha River on a July day and nourished the wild waters, I would add this reminder. Go out in the wilds. You never know what drama will unfold. Feel the power of wind, water, thunderstorm, and ancient forests exhaling oxygen. No matter where you live, become an activist. Every little bit we do matters, from saving trees in a local park to joining forces with Oregon Wild and local grassroots groups in defending wildlands.

See it for yourself:

Take the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Scenic Corridor linking Joseph to Halfway.  Stay in one of several campgrounds on the upper Imnaha River corridor. Hike the trail from Indian Creek Campground into the Eagle Cap Wilderness—also a section of the Blue Mountains Trail.  Along the two miles leading to the Blue Hole, notice the way wildfire in the Wilderness has renewed meadows favored by hundreds of elk. This hike (as well as others in this Wallowas region) is featured in Oregon’s Ancient Forests, a Hiking Guide, by Chandra LeGue, Oregon Wild (Buy it here!)

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