Oregon Wild Spring/Summer 2015 Volume 42, Number 2

Down with King Clearcut And introducing the Brewshed® Alliance Working to protect and restore Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife, and waters as an enduring legacy.

Main Office Western Field Office INSIDE THIS ISSUE 5825 N Greeley Avenue Portland, OR 97217 P.O. Box 11648 Eugene, OR 97440 Phone: 503.283.6343 Fax: 503.283.0756 Phone 541.344.0675 Fax: 541.343.0996 Overthrowing Oregon’s King Clearcut {4-7} www.oregonwild.org Conservation & Restoration Coord. Doug Heiken x 1 The e-mail address for each Oregon Wild Western Oregon Field Coord. Chandra LeGue x 2 A pint runs through it — protecting staff member: [email protected] Oregon beer at its source {10} (for example: [email protected]) Northeastern Field Office P.O. Box 48, Enterprise, OR 97828 Wilderness Campaign Organizer Bridget Callahan x 203 Phone: 541.886.0212 Stand by your land {back cover} Outreach & Membership Coord. Marielle Cowdin x 213 Development Coordinator Jonathan Jelen x 224 NE Oregon Field Coordinator Rob Klavins Finance Director Laura Mears x 219 Central Oregon Field Office Office Manager Christie Moore x 200 2445 NE Division St, Bend, OR 97701 Conservation Director Steve Pedery x 212 Phone: 541.382.2616 Fax: 541.385.3370 COVER PHOTO: BRETT COLE The archaic practices of clearcut logging are regretfully alive Wildlife Coordinator Quinn Read x 226 and well across many of Oregon’s forestlands. The stark visual contrast between forest and an adjacent clearcut is aptly representative of public values facing off against the political Communications Coordinator Arran Robertson x 223 Ochoco Mountains Organizer Sarah Cuddy muscle of an aging, cantankerous industry. Executive Director Sean Stevens x 211 Wilderness Coordinator Erik Fernandez Central Oregon Field Coordinator Pam Hardy

Oregon Wild Board of Directors Southern Field Office Daniel Robertson, President Hillary Barbour Phone: 541.366.8623 Brett Sommermeyer, VIce Megan Gibb President Danielle Grabiel Wildlands Interpreter Wendell Wood Vik Anantha, Treasurer Nathan Kennedy Kate Blazar, Secretary Colin Rath

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Spring/Summer 2015 Volume 42, Number 2 2 From the Director’s Desk The Wild West Sean Stevens, Executive Director

n the days after former Governor once again struck by the importance if these lands represented a burden John Kitzhaber’s resignation, I of your support for Oregon Wild. rather than a rich, natural Ifielded half a dozen calls from inheritance! reporters across the country. While Since our founding in 1974, we’ve many in the media were still busy seen eight governors occupy As you’ll see in this issue’s feature digging into allegations of Mahonia Hall. Each one has article, the state of Oregon’s track influence-peddling, these reporters brought a different vision and set of record in managing our own forest wanted to know something else: policies on the environment. But lands should be a clear indication “What did this mean for the the common denominator has been that National Forests and National environment?” Oregon Wild and our thousands of Parks don’t belong under the control supporters always standing at the of our industry-beholden state Fair question. Our elected officials ready to be a voice for wild places agencies. have the power to make or break and wildlife. laws that govern how we interact As always, we’re honored here at with our natural environment. They The need for your voice in Oregon Oregon Wild to work on behalf of set policy that determines the environmental policy is as essential so many Oregonians who love our quality of the very air we breathe today as it has ever been. public lands and give their time, and the water we drink. Their votes energy, and money to keep our state In early April, the House such a special place. can permanently protect Wilderness Committee On Rural or condemn landscapes to Communities, Land Use, and Water Politicians come and go, but Oregon devastation. heard three bills that call on the Wild is here to stay! As I reflected on Kitzhaber’s American people to hand over environmental legacy and the places like , Crater ramifications of his resignation Lake, and the Painted Hills to (decidedly mixed on the former and Oregon state politicians. These likely positive on the latter), I was measures echo efforts at the national level to dispose of public lands – as TJ THORNE Oregon’s gem, Crater Lake – one of our Oregon’s “Seven Wonders.” Our state’s public lands ought to be treasured for generations to come.

3 Spring/Summer 2015 Volume 42, Number 2 Overthrowing Oregon’s King Clearcut Steve Pedery, Conservation Director

What defines Oregon? To most, it is our old-growth forests and wild rivers; our rugged coastline, mountains, and canyons. It is our values and lifestyle embodied by our desire to enjoy and explore the natural wonders of our state, and to protect them as a legacy for generations to come. But that image doesn’t always carry over to our politics. While most Oregonians may treasure old-growth, wild salmon, and clean rivers, Oregon politicians – of all political stripes – often have a different agenda. When it comes to environmental protection, the desires of logging industry lobbyists are often given far more weight than the values of average Oregonians. This is especially true in our state capital, Salem, where Oregon often seems closer to West Virginia than it does to the green, pro-conservation values of our citizens. In West Virginia, “King Coal” wields massive political clout even as it tears the top SAME BEEBE, ECOTRUST Another one of our state’s “Seven off mountain after mountain, Wonders,” the is home to many rural communities, native fish and wildlife, and offers a multitude of recreational bringing environmental devastation opportunities. But visitors to the Coast Range are often shocked on land, air, and water. Here in by the ugly reality - clearcuts ravaging state and private lands that threaten watersheds, wildlife, and our coastal way of life. Oregon, “King Clearcut” maintains

Spring/Summer 2015 Volume 42, Number 2 4 1980s. Thanks to support and terminal in an air-conditioned booth of big logging interests. Over the last advocacy from members of Oregon can now accomplish the work that year, Oregon has faced a number of Wild and other conservation groups, once employed 20 people in a mill. major legal and environmental most of the logging that does take Even that last worker’s job is now at embarrassments over our weak place under the Northwest Forest risk as logging corporations prefer to logging rules. Plan is science-based, focused on ship raw logs to China, rather than thinning younger stands and mill them into lumber here in First, federal agencies have leveled restoring old-growth. Oregon. intense pressure on Oregon over the role that clearcutting and our lack of But what of private and state forests But while the logging industry’s adequate stream buffers has played in in Oregon? These lands were largely economic impact has waned, its warming rivers and harming coho left out of the grand compromise of political stature has not. Nearly all salmon. The pressure has forced the Northwest Forest Plan. Despite levels of government in Oregon are Oregon to launch a major scientific KELLY MORGAN Pristine, the grave impacts of private lands either wholly captured by, or review, and to begin development of healthy forestlands are far logging on clean water, wildlife, and incredibly deferential to, the desires more valuable to Oregon and Oregonians than chemical- human health, regulations in Oregon soaked clearcuts. have remained largely unchanged for decades. Today, the Oregon Forest Practices Act is the weakest in the similar influence. But the political the northern spotted owl and coho region, and aggressive clearcutting, winds may be shifting. salmon under the federal steep slope logging, and rampant use Land of the lost Endangered Species Act. When of toxic chemicals are the norm. then-President Bill Clinton adopted Meanwhile, private lands clearcutting In the late 1980s, timber in Oregon the compromise Northwest Forest is again booming in the post Great was king. Every year, over 8 billion Plan in 1994, federal public lands Recession economy, with vast board feet of logs were hauled out of were (for the first time) given acreages of forest lands slicked off, Oregon forests – the majority from widespread science-based and raw logs shipped overseas. publicly-owned lands. While protections. Under the plan, Oregon, “Home of the widespread mill mechanization had old-growth forests, endangered Clearcut” already taken a toll on the industry’s species, and clean water were to have workforce, logging corporations equal footing with logging. The recent boom in private-lands made vast amounts of money and Since the Plan was adopted, clearcutting may be benefiting used their largesse to cement their conservationists, counties, industry, logging giants like Weyerhaeuser, already formidable political influence. and politicians have continued to Stimson Lumber, and Seneca Jones, But the logging industry was headed battle over protections for forests, but but it is doing little for Oregon’s for a dramatic fall. the dramatic changes of the economy. Logging industry Decades of unsustainable overcutting, mid-nineties have largely held. Today, employment has collapsed over the last 20 years as logging and milling and the decimation of Oregon’s conservation rules limit logging on OREGON OFFICE OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS Employment in the timber industry old-growth forests, led to a public federal public lands to a fraction of operations have adopted more has drastically and steadily declined and is no longer a viable investment for Oregon’s economic future. backlash and the eventual listing of the clearcutting epidemic of the high-tech business practices. One worker operating a computer 5 Spring/Summer 2015 Volume 42, Number 2 the . When plans expected job growth in logging and And the value of our parks, forests, to nearly double clearcutting levels related industries. Their prediction is and rivers doesn’t end there. A study were shut down by a court challenge, bolstered by recent data from the by the Outdoor Industry Association the Oregon Department of State U.S. Department of the Interior, found outdoor recreation businesses Lands proposed to privatize the which found that in 2013, outdoor in Oregon directly support 141,000 90,000 acre public forest – home to recreation in National Parks, jobs. The Oregon Office of Economic the only significant tracts of Monuments, Wildlife Refuges, and Analysis puts the number for logging old-growth left anywhere on state Bureau of Land Management at just 30,000. lands. The move sparked a massive (BLM) lands in Oregon added backlash, and the agencies and nearly $800 million to our state’s So why is there such a gap between members of the Oregon State Land economy. In comparison, logging on political perception and economic Board (former Governor John BLM lands generated just ¼ of that and environmental reality? Logging Kitzhaber, then-Secretary of State economic activity. interests in Oregon spend freely to Kate Brown, and Treasurer Ted buy political influence and maintain Wheeler) were forced to backtrack. Oregon’s real forest economy

Clearcutting is no longer a major source of employment in Oregon. But the frustration that conservationists feel over the new rules to better protect rivers mainly in the Coast Range, over the backward thinking of Salem from logging. logging industry’s use of aerial politicians when it comes to logging spraying of toxic pesticides. Oregon’s and the economy goes beyond this Second, the U.S. Environmental weak logging rules do not require fact. In truth, clearcutting and Protection Agency and NOAA operations to give neighboring aggressive logging of state and Fisheries “disapproved” Oregon’s private property owners warning private lands is a major threat to the non-point source pollution control about sprays. Worse, spray records are activities that do in fact bring new program for the Oregon Coast. The legally considered “trade secrets” – people, jobs, and investment to our agencies cited our abysmal state and even medical professionals treating state. private lands logging practices, and chemical exposure can’t access them. the role that clearcutting, muddy Today, tourism and outdoor Oregon lacks any safety buffers to recreation are among the fastest run-off from logging roads, and aerial protect homes, schools, wetlands, and spraying of toxic chemicals have growing sectors of Oregon’s economy. drinking water sources from pesticide A 2013 analysis of likely job growth played in polluting streams. Oregon drift due to spraying. has the dubious distinction of being by Georgetown University found the first and only state in the nation Finally, the state’s abysmal logging that, in Oregon, employment in recreation and related industries is MARIELLE COWDIN Oregon’s real forest economy exists in to have its plan rejected. rules ran head-on into Endangered outdoor recreation, bringing immense value in job growth, Species Act protections for rare sea expected to grow by 31 percent by state revenue, and tourism alongside benefits to the health Third, widespread public backlash birds, called marbled murrelets, in 2020 – far surpassing the 3 percent of communities and our landscape as a whole. has emerged from rural communities,

Spring/Summer 2015 Volume 42, Number 2 6 weak environmental safeguards. In fight, but support from rural trees first. The agency was ill- 2014 alone, former Governor John residents (more than 50 of whom prepared for the firestorm of Kitzhaber received more than showed up to lobby the legislature on controversy that erupted, and after an $90,000 in campaign contributions March 12th) has shaken things up. As embarrassing fight, was forced to from Roseburg Forest Products, we head to press, the prospects for shelve the plan. Hampton Lumber, and Timber this bill don’t look great, but Products Corporation – making the “Timbercrats” in the Oregon These openings may seem modest three logging industry titans some of Legislature know that we are here to (how crazy is it that Oregonians can’t his largest campaign contributors. fight. get notice before toxic pesticides are The industry also spends millions of sprayed on their house?). But in tax dollars on public relations Elliott State Forest – When the reality, they are huge when compared campaigns through the Oregon Oregon Department of State Lands to how much power the logging Forest Resources Institute (a tried to double the level of industry has traditionally held in quasi-state agency!) to lull clearcutting on the Elliott, they Salem. found themselves in violation of state Oregonians into a false sense of These opportunities, and the urgent complacency. and federal environmental protection laws. Their first answer was to need to reform Oregon’s abusive Turning the tide clearcut logging practices, has led Propaganda push-back announce plans to privatize this Jonathan Jelen, Development Coordinator 90,000 acre publicly forest – home to Oregon Wild to become more For decades, King Clearcut has had Oregon’s only surviving tracts of involved in state logging issues. We its way in Oregon’s state capital, and significant old-growth on state lands. are spending more time in front of across hundreds of thousands of acres If you were exposed to toxic weakest in the Pacific But an intense public backlash forced the state legislature, participating in chemicals that made you or Northwest. This is particularly of forestlands and rivers. But there the agency, and the Oregon State legal challenges over bad logging your family sick, wouldn’t you true when it comes to the aerial are green shoots of optimism amidst want to find out what you’ve application of toxic pesticides Land Board, to backtrack. Now practices, and working to put the frustrating landscape of past been exposed to? – where Oregon’s weak rules privatization is off the table, and pressure on Governor Kate Brown logging battles, and Oregon Wild is not only fail to protect human there is growing momentum to turn and other politicians. We are also Timber companies don’t think and environmental health, but at the center of a number of fights to so. In fact, the Oregon Forest the forest into a new State Park. working with a broad new coalition also bar Oregonians who have reform Oregon’s outdated logging of groups, from Beyond Toxics to the Resources Institute (OFRI) has a come into contact with toxic lot of beautifully-filmed practices. Tillamook and Clatsop Oregon League of Conservation chemicals from finding out what commercials that would have they have been exposed to. Conservation Areas – As part of his Voters, to promote reforms. Aerial Pesticide Spraying – Earlier you believe that Oregon has environmental agenda, former this year, State Senator Michael some of the best forestry Oregon Wild is taking on the Governor John Kitzhaber promised For decades, King Clearcut has held practices on earth. But these timber industry to protect human Dembrow and Representative Ann to establish real conservation areas on the throne of Oregon environmental ads from the mouthpiece of the health, our watersheds, and our Lininger introduced Senate Bill 613, timber industry couldn’t be more native fish and wildlife, but we the Tillamook and Clatsop State politics. It is time to remove his which would reform aerial chemical wrong. need your help. Forests – places where clean water, crown. spraying by the logging industry by salmon, and wildlife would take Despite Oregon’s green Please consider a special creating new buffers, requiring spray reputation, the rules governing contribution today to help us priority. However, when the Oregon Take Action! records to be made public, and logging on state and private protect human, salmon, and Department of Forestry announced Oregon’s forests need your requiring notice be given to lands in our state are the watershed health! plans for these areas earlier this year, voice. Stand up for our public neighboring landowners. The bill has they actually proposed to increase lands – find out how at been the subject of a brutal legislative clearcutting, starting with the oldest oregonwild.org

7 Spring/Summer 2015 Volume 42, Number 2 Oregon Wild proudly presents Friday, June 12 Fall Creek – Old Growth and Fire Recovery (EUG) Oregon Wild Leader: Chandra LeGue (Easy-Moderate, 4 miles) SUMMER 2015 Spend a summer afternoon hiking through a classic old-growth forest Find your wild. To register visit www.oregonwild.org and areas recovering from fire. MARIELLE COWDIN Saturday, June 13 Oregon Wild summer outings are guided by experts and require online reservations. Please leave pets at home. For your comfort and safety, please Ancient Forest (PDX) Sunday, June 28 wear appropriate attire, bring plenty of water, a lunch, and your sense of Leader: Jonathan Jelen Rosary Lakes “Women in the Wild” (EUG) adventure! Children are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult. (Moderate, 5-7 miles) Leader: Ruby McConnell Join us for a walk back in time to an ancient Oregon forest in one of the (Moderate, 5.4 miles) state’s signature Wilderness areas. Join Ruby McConnell, author of the Saturday, June 20 soon-to-be-published book A Lookout Mountain (BEND) Woman’s Guide to Wilderness, for a Leader: Sarah Cuddy hike to three lovely lakes just off the Pacific Crest Trail near Willamette (Moderate, 7 miles) Pass. Hike through old-growth ponderosa and fir forests, climbing through Thursday, July 9 open meadows with sweeping views Grasshopper Meadow (EUG) east to Big Summit Prairie – a true Leader: Chandra LeGue Central Oregon gem. (Moderate, 4 miles) Saturday, June 27 Explore a beautiful old-growth forest Three Pyramids (EUG) and a fantastic example of a high- Leader: Chandra LeGue elevation meadow on this mid- summer adventure. (Moderate-Difficult, 5 miles) Friday, July 10 Hike through the heart of the Hunchback Mountain (PDX) spectacular Old in the Leader: Jonathan Jelen Middle Santiam watershed for wildflower meadows and fantastic (Very Difficult, 9 miles) views. One of the highest spots in the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness with a great viewpoint of Mount Hood. WWW.OREGONWILD.ORG MARIELLE COWDIN REGISTER AT  WWW.OREGONWILD.ORG  A rendezvous…or two! Thursday, July 16 Saturday, July 25 Wednesday, August 24 Vista Ridge (PDX) Lookout Mountain Loop Boulder Lakes Loop (PDX) Throughout the summer and into fall, Oregon Wild is hosting these special trips and events for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and REGISTER AT Leader: Jonathan Jelen (BEND) Leader: Bridget Callahan types! Mark your calendars and find the full list of happenings at Leader: Sarah Cuddy (Difficult, 7.6 miles) (Moderate, 6.3 miles) www.oregonwild.org/explore-oregon Join Oregon Wild on a hike to (Moderate, 11 miles) Discover the aquamarine waters of perhaps the most scenic trail on A high mountain hike through one of the best-kept secrets in the 11th Annual Oregon Wild learn about Oregon Wild’s Mount Hood. We’ll enjoy amazing old-growth trees and wildflower Mount Hood National Forest. Outdoor Photo Contest on-going conservation efforts to views of the dramatic north side of meadows with panoramic views of Saturday, August 29 May 15-September 14 protect wetlands and designate Mount Hood and its glaciers. the Ochoco Mountains. Salmon River Trail “Women in (see back cover for details) Wilderness in the Crater Lake July 19-24 Tuesday, August 4 the Wild” (PDX) area of the southern Oregon Crater Lake Proposed Herman Creek to Casey Leader: Ruby McConnell Sixth Annual Northeast Cascades. Wilderness Bonanza Creek (PDX) Oregon Wolf Rendezvous (Easy-Moderate, 5.5 miles) First Annual Crater Lake (PDX & EUG) Leader: Bridget Callahan June 18-June 21 Join Ruby McConnell, author of the Area Wolf Rendezvous Leaders: Rob Klavins & Quinn Read Leader: Bridget Callahan (Moderate, 7.4 miles) soon-to-be-published book A September 17-20 Join Oregon Wild for a week of Join Oregon Wild in the Mark O. Woman’s Guide to Wilderness, for a Wolves in Oregon are at a serious Leaders: Bridget Callahan & hikes and camp outs in and around Hatfield Wilderness along beautiful hike through the incredible crossroads and their recovery Jonathan Jelen hangs in the balance. What better the Crater Lake Wilderness streams and waterfalls. old-growth of the Salmon River way to understand this complex Don’t stop believin’! Learn about proposal, featuring old-growth Saturday, August 8 Trail. issue and these remarkable native wolf recovery through the lens of forests and breathtaking waterfalls. Upper McKenzie Waterfall Saturday, August 29 predators than to walk in their Oregon’s first wolf pack west of Loop (EUG) Timpanogas Lake & Cowhorn footsteps in one of the most the Cascades in nearly a century Mountain (EUG) beautiful landscapes in the west? and explore this increadible region Leader: Chandra LeGue we’re working to protect for Leader: Chandra LeGue (Easy, 2.6 miles) Klamath Basin Canoe & bipeds and quadrupeds alike. Escape the summer heat with a (Difficult, 12 miles) Kayak Trip Call of the Wild – gorgeous loop hike taking in two Explore the very highest elevations July 2-July 6 a camp-inspired benefit for stunning waterfalls and an old- within the Middle Fork Willamette Leader: Wendell Wood Oregon Wild growth forest. Watershed with this trek from Explore some of the Klamath Friday, October 16th Sunday, August 9 Timpanogas Lake to the summit of Basin’s slow water streams and (Leftbank Annex, Portland) Mount Defiance (PDX) Cowhorn Mountain south of the marshes to see area bird life, and Wilderness. This area Leader: Jonathan Jelen is also the northern reaches of the WENDELL WOOD (Very Difficult, 12 miles) Crater Lake Wilderness proposal. The roof of the ! And to get all the way up

there, we’ll have to earn it as we’ll REGISTER AT gain nearly 5,000 feet! This hike is not for the faint of heart. PROTECTED PROPOSED JOHN MCANULTY WILDERNESS WILDERNESS WATERSHED

 WWW.OREGONWILD.ORG Oregon Brewshed® Alliance – protecting Oregon beer at its source Marielle Cowdin, Outreach Coordinator

Together, members of the Alliance And while it’s nice to know that we Craft beer is in its renaissance and work to educate the beer drinking have the power to purify sewage we exist at its heart. Let’s keep that community about protected water for drinking and crafting beer, heart beating together, sustainably. watersheds and their essential role in frankly, I’d rather not live in the Oregon’s celebrated craft brewing post-apocalyptic wasteland that industry with pint nights, special requires it. Pollution, mining, logging, brews, beer fests, brewshed® hikes, pesticides (see feature page 4), and and other events. It’s an important other development degrade many of conversation - Oregonians care about our waterways, but we can take a what they buy and consume (organic, stand to protect our public lands, our local, eco-friendly, hand-crafted) and water, and our beer. Use the power of beer is no exception. We’re a your voice, of your actions and Take Action! values-based community that invests consumer choices, to protect Oregon Join the “I Heart Brewsheds®” in the quality of the products we enjoy beer at its source. Nature is the best email list to keep up-to-date with HOPWORKS URBAN BREWERY through our consumer choices. By filtration system we can invest in. Alliance member news and events supporting the brewers committed to Our purest, best tasting water comes to find out how you can support protecting forest watersheds through from rivers and streams flowing brewshed® protection in Oregon. ere in Oregon we enjoy Oregon Brewshed® Alliance – a Oregon Wild’s efforts, Oregonians through unspoiled public forestlands, Find out more at www.oregonwild. recreation on pristine wildlands coalition of brewers, craft beer speak up for great beer and the clean and our Oregon beer is testament. org/oregonbrewshedalliance Hand impeccable craft brews – the affiliates, and conservationists water required to make it. ultimate pairing. But without committed to the protection of our protected watersheds and clean water, forest watersheds and the incredible neither the wild landscapes nor the beer that depends on them. Charter hoppy, malty beverages we enjoy members of the Alliance include Colin P. Rath could thrive. Beer is over 90% water Widmer Brothers Brewing, Oregon Wild Board of Directors after all, and that water is a product Migration Brewing, and Hopworks of the land it flows through, so our Urban Brewery in Portland; Claim “Water is one of, if not the, most important ingredients in beer. And here in Northwest microbrews are intimately 52 Brewing and Elk Horn Brewery Oregon we are very fortunate to have some of the best water in the country. connected with our Northwest land. in Eugene; Fort George Brewery in Many breweries have to adjust the hardness or softness, as well as the pH of their water, to create and protect flavors they are looking to create with Great beer doesn’t start at the tap; Astoria; and GoodLife Brewing in hops and barley. In Oregon we just naturally have water that allows us to great beer begins with clean water. Bend. Beers Made By Walking, a create amazing beer, which means as brewers/brewery owners, we should group that invites brewers to make help protect these water sources.” As such, Oregon Wild is excited to beer inspired by nature hikes, has also announce the formation of the joined as an affiliate charter member.

Spring/Summer 2015 Volume 42, Number 2 10 Great Old Broads beyond the Caldera Bridget Callahan, Wilderness Campaign Organizer

the giant trees, the diverse healthy But why do we need Wilderness forests, and overall Wilderness- protection inside the park? National quality outside the park boundaries. Park designation means the A lot of us Great Old Broads have wildlands are protected from mining been hiking for 50-plus years, and and logging, but human enterprises were really wowed by how beautiful such as helicopter tours or a gondola this area is. This unspoiled land to Wizard Island remain possible. In BRIDGET CALLAHAN Leaders of Great contiguous to the park is important 1959 such a proposal to Wizard Old Broads for Wilderness explore the wildlands surrounding the national park. to protect.” Island was heralded by then Representative Charles Porter. Many visitors don’t realize that the “Everyone assumes because it’s a treasure, but we need your help too. wonders of Crater Lake don’t stop at national park it’s already protected,” Help us keep Crater Lake wild and the park boundary. The Upper Rogue says Carol. But until it is given take action today! River Trail, for example, follows the Wilderness protection by law from Take Action! Rogue River from its headwaters, JUSTIN BAILIE Crater Lake is an Oregon icon, but it current and future threats, it really Sign our petition at needs your help to stay wild for generations to come. meanders through old-growth forests isn’t.” tinyurl.com/craterlakewild and passes several breathtaking or join our business letter of waterfalls. But because this area is We’re thankful for the support of support to show our elected rater Lake and its surrounding To help showcase this natural gem, outside the National Park boundary, Great Old Broads as we build this officials that it’s time to keep backcountry have inspired Oregon Wild recently teamed up it’s unprotected and vulnerable to campaign across the state to Crater Lake wild. Cpeople since Mount Mazama with the Great Old Broads for development. permanently protect this natural exploded 7,700 years ago, creating Wilderness. Together we visited the the caldera we know today. Located Crater Lake region to see the natural in the heart of the Southern wonders both inside and out of the Hillary Barbour Cascades, this region provides clean park boundaries. Long time hiker Oregon Wild Board of Directors drinking water, wildlife habitat, and and conservationist Carol Savonen world class recreation for millions. was part of this group. “Wilderness, for me, represents a gateway to solitude, But unlike many national parks perspective, and awe-inspiring beauty. Wilderness Carol started visiting Crater Lake in across the west like Joshua Tree or protection for places like Oregon’s spectacular Crater Lake Yosemite, Crater Lake is not 1981, conducting rare plant surveys means that my daughter, and the generations that follow, protected as Wilderness. This around the National Park during the will still be able to ‘get lost’ in the woods and share in that Oregon icon and incredible region summer. Despite spending several remarkable perspective that humans are but a small cog in deserve to be protected for future months there, she had no idea what nature’s wheel.” generations. lay just outside the park boundaries until our trip. “I was blown away by 11 Spring/Summer 2015 Volume 42, Number 2 (LEFT) CHANDRA LEGUE Rays of light in the forest (a metaphor for management under the NWFP). (CENTER) BRETT COLE Prescribed fire in Deschutes National Forest. Fire is a natural and integral part of forest health. (RIGHT) BRIZZ MEDDINGS One of many “legacy trees” in the White Castle sale area.

Conservation round-up Oregon Wild Conservation Staff

A forest plan revisited management plan for western grove of old-growth forest burn, it’s Clearcutting – kind of a big deal analysis, instead of the shortcuts used Oregon considers changes that good to remember that wildfires are by BLM. The court also agreed that Since the landmark Northwest weaken streamside protections and actually an integral part of forest Last year, the BLM took a turn down BLM failed to take a “hard look” at Forest Plan (NWFP) was enacted call for an increase of logging in health. memory lane with a clearcut proposal the likely significant effects of this just over 20 years ago, a lot has wildlife habitat. for a stand of centennial trees. Part of project. changed in the management of Many plant and wildlife species have a “Pilot Project” promoting public lands in western Oregon – The Forest Service is also considering evolved to tolerate fire or even clearcutting as “ecological forestry,” As a pilot project, BLM was hoping logging of old-growth forests has how they might revise their depend on the conditions created by the initial results from similar this new clearcutting experiment largely stopped, forests and management plans. They held it for food, shelter, and reproduction. projects looked devastating. Oregon could be precedent setting. We’re not watershed restoration has become a well-attended listening sessions in The biggest mistake we can make is Wild and Cascadia Wildlands sued sure how they will respond to the priority, fish and wildlife habitat is March, and hopefully they heard rush to “salvage log” areas that have BLM on the most egregious sale court’s ruling, but we expect this may recovering, and areas of common loud and clear that the public wants burned by removing dead trees still – the White Castle timber sale on not be the last you’ll hear of BLM’s ground between different interests their forests protected. providing great habitat and by Roseburg BLM lands, located in clearcut regression. has been found. Fire, naturally producing simplified tree farms critical habitat for the spotted owl. Take Action! instead of complex, natural forests. Comment on the BLM’s draft Unfortunately, both the Bureau of On March 14, Judge Ann Aiken With low snowpack levels and management plan revisions before Land Management (BLM) and Not every forest fire is a natural ruled in our favor on virtually all drought conditions prevalent across mid-July. Visit www.oregonwild.org/ Forest Service appear willing to disaster needing immediate snuffing; counts. The court agreed that the state, Oregon may be gearing up forests for more info. dramatically change the NWFP – we must acknowledge the natural clearcutting the 100-year-old forest for a very active fire season. While and not for the better. The BLM’s and beneficial role that fire plays in at White Castle required far more we’re often saddened to see a favorite recent draft of their new the health of Oregon’s forests careful environmental review and

Spring/Summer 2015 Volume 42, Number 2 12 Wildlife round-up Quinn Read, Wildlife Coordinator

HB 3515: This bill, which was Hanging in the balance granted a hearing, would have prohibited gray wolves from ever On the wolf front, we are gearing up being protected as threatened or for two big actions by the Oregon endangered under state endangered Fish and Wildlife Commission that species law. Fortunately, thanks to could compromise the continued the many Oregon Wild members recovery of our still fragile wolf and supporters who took time to population. The Commission will write to their legislators, HB 3515 undertake a review of the Oregon was defeated! Your voice matters and wolf management and conservation this is proof. plan, and it will begin the process to delist wolves from the state Oregon Wild is working hard to endangered species act. Taken make sure the other bills do not together, 2015 is shaping up to be a move forward, but we need your landmark year for Oregon’s 77 help. Please take a moment to write wolves. to your legislators and ask them not ODFW Wenaha wolf to support these bad wildlife bills. pack pup, summer 2014. On the brighter side Danielle Grabiel, Oregon Wild Board of Bad wildlife bills have their day HB 3140 and HB 3188: Establish Representative Ken Helm deserves Directors predator control districts to facilitate our thanks and support for his There’s no refuge for wildlife in the “I want my children to inherit killing Oregon’s native predators. sponsorship of HB 2537, a bill to Oregon Legislature. As the session an Oregon with salmon increase penalties for poaching Take Action! heats up, a host of worrisome HB 3514: Continues and expands teeming in its rivers, otters wildlife. We are doing everything we can, wildlife bills have been granted compensation to ranchers who lose but we cannot do it without you. splashing in the tide and hearings in key committees. Here’s livestock due to wolf depredation. It Additionally HB 2401, the Wild Join Oregon Wild Ones - our wolves howling at the moon. the rundown: also weakens the requirements to Bird Conservation Fund bill that wildlife activist network and training When I see the natural world collect tax-funded compensation taxes wild bird seed to support bird series - for opportunities to speak through their eyes, I HB 2050: Allows counties to opt dollars. This bill ignores the fact that conservation, is gathering positive for wildlife and programs to help experience joy in its purest out of a state law that bans hunting as Oregon’s wolf population has momentum. We will be throwing you build skills and confidence as form and I feel tremendous cougars with dogs. This bill sets a gone up, the number of depredations our support behind these and other an activist. Please contact responsibility to care for our dangerous precedent (what laws [email protected] for more has gone down. bills that make a positive difference wild places and creatures.” might counties opt out of next?) and information. for Oregon’s wildlife. is patently bad for cougars.

13 Spring/Summer 2015 Volume 42, Number 2 t’s been pretty easy over the last two STAN NEWMAN Located on the north side of Coos Bay, the LARRY OLSON It’s hard to Iyears to get caught up in our state’s Oregon Dunes harbors some of imagine ATVs zipping between the rarest plant ecosystems in Oregon. The Jordan Cove the yellow-bellied Ponderosas big tourism promotion campaign – the Terminal is proposed to be built on a sand dune on the north of the Ochoco Mountains, Seven Wonders of Oregon. No doubt, spit of Coos Bay, and a massive dredging project would be but that’s what a new Forest required in the bay for pipelines and huge LNG ships. Service proposal would allow. places like the Painted Hills and Mount Hood are not only beautiful but big-time drivers of our economy.

In contrast, we bring you the 10 Blunders of Oregon – more commonly known as Oregon’s 10 Most Endangered Places of 2015.

While it’s fun and important to celebrate all that our natural wonders can provide, it’s equally important to take stock of what is at risk. Sadly, there are some truly amazing places facing logging, mining, ATV abuse, dirty energy export schemes, and more. Oregon’s 10 Most Endangered Places of 2015 Without further ado, here’s the list:

#1 COOS BAY #4 JOSEPH CANYON #7 OCHOCO MOUNTAINS #10 OWYHEE CANYONLANDS

Threat: Massive dredging to make way for Threat: Proposed logging in old-growth Threat: Summit Off Highway Vehicle Threat: Combined pressures from ATVs, LNG export facility and supertankers forests and roadless areas proposal that would open up backcountry gold and uranium mining, and oil and gas shipping off to Asia #5 COLUMBIA RIVER trails to ATV abuse development

#2 SISKIYOU RIVERS #8 MOUNT HOOD Threat: Massive proposals to ship oil, coal, Threat: Proposal for industrial nickel and LNG down the river, risking pollution Threat: Proposed Polallie Cooper Timber Take Action! Learn more about Oregon’s 10 Most mining in salmon-rich waters by a foreign and climate change Sale that would see logging in Endangered Places at owned conglomerate #6 CRATER LAKE REGION, JUST Wilderness-quality lands near a popular oregonwild.org/10MostEndangered2015 WEST OF THE PARK #3 KLAMATH BASIN NATIONAL Mount Hood trail and find out how you can take action WILDLIFE REFUGES #9 ELLIOTT STATE FOREST Threat: The misguided Bybee Timber Sale to protect these special places. Threat: Overuse of natural water supply by threatens to clearcut forests right up to the Threat: Efforts by Oregon politicians to industrial agriculture exacerbated by years park boundary in the headwaters of the sell off large swaths of Oregon’s only state of drought leaving wildlife high and dry beloved Rogue River forest with significant old-growth stands

Spring/Summer 2015 Volume 42, Number 2 14 Featuring the supporters, foundations, businesses, and volunteers that make our work possible. Keeping it wild This issue’s focus: wildlife activists!

Wally Sykes is an Oregon Wild member and activist in the heart of Oregon’s wolf country. He’s been a staple on our Wolf Rendezvous trips as a hike leader and has been a strong voice for wolf recovery. Wally has also served on Wallowa County’s Wolf Compensation Committee since its inception in 2012. ED & LOIS BERNARD Oregon Wild’s Northeast How did you begin your career as ODFW Oregon Wolf Rendezvous is now in its sixth year. an activist? Why wolves?

I’ve always been a lover of the My family loves dogs, and the wolf is perceived grain, which is set by the What aspects of Oregon Wild’s work most resonate with you? wild, but it was my dog being the ur-dog. Wolves are beautiful. anti-wolf faction and certain media caught in a fur trap in 2007 that They embody our most lauded outlets. What first brought me into contact made me an activist. Montana virtues: loyalty, courage, endurance, activists invited me to the North You’ve played a key role in our annual with Oregon Wild was wolf intelligence, family, and wit (they Wolf Rendezvous. What changes American Wolf Conference in advocacy, but since then I’ve been have a sense of humor.). They’re our have you seen in participants over the impressed with the organization’s 2008 where I learned much and oldest friends. course of the three-day trip? met many, both pro-and devotion to preserving and While the most outspoken voices expanding wild places and intact anti-wolf. When wolves showed One change is in the appreciation of within the ranching community are ecosystems, which to me translates as up next year near my home, I the modern wolf environment. It vehemently anti-wolf, what’s your wildlife habitat. presented the documentary sense of how the broader community includes private and public lands “Lords of Nature” along with a perceives wolves? serving many economic functions. What would you say to Oregonians discussion panel of ranchers, It’s not just wolves in a wilderness. that want to take action and recover wildlife advocates, and agency There’s a wide spectrum of opinion. Seeing fresh wolf signs is thrilling, native wildlife? officials. It was quite a lively Some ranchers demonstrate by their but getting a rounded view of the Be informed. Be vocal. Be a pain in evening. A few days later, the actions that they accept wolves, but issues from wildlife managers, the butt (i.e. contact your legislators). Imnaha pack “visited” a nearby you won’t hear them say so. No local ranchers and biologists is important Be supportive of conservation ranch, causing “excitement” in rancher has ever told me he was in the context of promoting wolf organizations. Enjoy wildlife. the livestock community. wolf-friendly. The social constraints recovery, and providing this is the COURTESY OF WALLY SYKES within the livestock community great benefit of the Rendezvous. inhibit speaking against the

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