Oregon Wild Fall 2019 Volume 46, Number 3

Your favorite places are Endangered Working to protect and restore ’s wildlands, wildlife, and waters as an enduring legacy for future generations.

Main Office Western Field Office 5825 N Greeley Avenue Portland, OR 97217 P.O. Box 11648 Eugene, OR 97440 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Phone: 503.283.6343 Phone 541.344.0675 Fax: 541.343.0996 www.oregonwild.org Oregon's 10 Most Endangered Places {4-8} Forest Waters Protection Coord. Jason Gonzales The e-mail address for each Oregon Wild Conservation & Restoration Coord. Doug Heiken The future of Oregon's rivers {9} staff member: [email protected] Western Oregon Field Coord. Chandra LeGue (for example: [email protected]) Northeastern Field Office The best party of the year {back cover} Outreach & Marketing Coord. Marielle Cowdin x 213 P.O. Box 48, Enterprise, OR 97828 Membership & Event Manager Gaby Diaz x 205 Phone: 541.886.0212 Development Director Jonathan Jelen x 224 NE Oregon Field Coordinator Rob Klavins Wildlife Policy Coordinator Danielle Moser x 226 Conservation Director Steve Pedery x 212 Central Oregon Field Office Communications Manager Arran Robertson x 223 2445 NE Division St, Bend, OR 97701 Executive Director Sean Stevens x 211 Phone: 541.382.2616 Fax: 541.385.3370 Finance Manager Ellen Yarnell x 219 Ochoco Mountains Coordinator Jamie Dawson Wilderness Program Manager Erik Fernandez

Oregon Wild Board of Directors Kate Ritley, President Vail Fletcher Lisa Billings, Vice President Megan Gibb Clara Soh, Treasurer Jared Kennedy Naila Bhatri, Secretary Darcie Meihoff Vik Anantha Seth Prickett Judy Clinton

www.facebook.com/OregonWild Oregon Wild is a tax-exempt, non-profit charitable organization. Newsletter printed on Endeavour, 55% recycled with 30% post-consumer content cover photo: TJ Thorne Beloved places and communities along and FSC certified, printed with vegetable based inks. Oregon Wild is printed Oregon's coast (like Oceanside pictured here) continue to fight for @oregonwild @oregonwild locally by Environmental Paper and Print, an Oregon Wild donor and business their right to clean water and a healthy home. partner.

Fall 2019 Volume 46, Number 3 2 Chandra LeGue The towering forests of Opal Creek, where clearcuts nearly changed the fate of what is now perhaps the most-beloved ancient From the Director’s Desk forest in Oregon. The ancient future Sean Stevens, Executive Director

Just weeks onto the job at fought to halt timber sales, Oregon Wild almost 20 years people rallied in the forest and ago and not too far removed the streets, and ultimately we from the decidedly less ancient lobbied to have Opal Creek arlier this year, I had the forest-covered Upper Midwest, forever protected as Wilderness pleasure of watching from Chandra was exploring one of in 1996. theE back of the room as my Oregon’s truly remarkable co-worker, Chandra LeGue, cathedral forests in the Opal I have my own story from early introduced Oregon’s Ancient Creek Wilderness. When her in my tenure at Oregon Wild, Forests – A Hiking Guide at a group stopped for lunch beneath hiking in the awe-inspiring book launch in Portland. The towering Douglas fir and native forests at Big Bottom guidebook was a labor of love western red cedar, she scrambled near the Clackamas River. There, for Chandra and the first foray up a downed log to snap a photo I saw the spray paint and timber into book publishing for Oregon from a distance (see photo at sale markers that promised the Wild in 15 years. We’re all really right). As she placed her hand chainsaws would soon come for excited that it is now out in the against the trunk of a nearby these giants. But, there too, world. tree to steady herself, she felt Oregon Wild stood firm. What something that didn’t belong in was once slated for clearcutting Part of why we are so thrilled to a forest. is now forever protected. share Oregon’s Ancient Forests with readers is to tell the story It was a timber sale marker. I urge you to keep these stories of our efforts to protect our Twenty years later, when you in mind as you read about the states old-growth forests and hear Chandra describe this 10 Most Endangered Places in introduce a whole new moment, you can tell that it still Oregon. It’s a scary list. But our generation of Oregonians to the hits her like a gut punch – this history should give you hope. fight to save the places that place was nearly cut to the For almost five decades, Oregon define our state. And Chandra ground. Wild has been turning rivers. And we can do it again future generations as a natural had a heck of a story to tell at impossible threats into (and again) with your help. legacy to be proud of. the book launch. Of course, Oregon Wild and improbable victories for public Somewhere in these pages is the allies didn’t let that happen. We lands, wildlife, and free-flowing next place that we’ll pass off to

3 Fall 2019 Volume 46, Number 3 Oregon's 10 Most Endangered Places of 2019

his year, threats to Oregon’s special places are coming from all sides. TAt the federal level, the Trump administration has unleashed a barrage of attacks against public lands and wildlife. While attempting to dismantle the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act, Trump and his industry cronies appointed within the agencies have also targeted monument designations and the ability of states to protect clean water.

Trump makes an easy target when it comes to his twisted environmental agenda; the danger he poses to Oregon’s forests, waters, and wildlife is very real. But often the most insidious threats to public lands and clean water come from our own state agencies and local decision makers who we expect much better from.

Regardless of who poses the threat, Oregon Wild and our allies are always ready to defend the places we love from short-sighted plans that would damage or destroy them. Here are 2019’s Most Endangered Places in Oregon. Sean Ryan Fall Creek

#1, #2, and #3 - North Coast Forest Watersheds

The Places: provided habitat for wildlife, and stored (OFPA), a law that has not been Jetty Creek watershed was clearcut since vast amounts of carbon. But over the last significantly updated since the 1970s. the year 2000 and local communities are Fall Creek, Short Creek, Jetty Creek – century almost all of Oregon’s coastal old Under OFPA, clearcutting is the norm still fighting hard to prevent further these streams are not household names to growth has been clearcut. and streams that provide drinking water clearcutting in the watershed, with new most Oregonians. But to residents of The Threat: are often smothered by mud and runoff. corporate owners saying they plan to soon communities like Arch Cape, Oceanside, Worse, families and wildlife are frequently cut even more. Short Creek, the drinking and Rockaway Beach, they are vital for Today, most watersheds on the Oregon exposed to the herbicides and pesticides water source for the rural community of safe drinking water. Historically, these Coast are owned by industrial logging logging operators spray from the air onto Oceanside, has mostly escaped industrial watersheds were covered with towering corporations, or are part of the Tillamook these clearcuts under some of the weakest clearcutting until recently, when Stimson old-growth fir, cedar, and spruce forests and Clatsop State Forests. Their standards in the country. Lumber announced plans for large-scale that captured and slowed winter floods management is governed by Oregon’s clearcutting in this very small drinking and buffered summer droughts. They also woefully outdated Forest Practices Act The problem is getting worse – 85% of the watershed. Even on state forest land where

Fall 2019 Volume 46, Number 3 4 the public might expect better protections, the Norriston Heights Timber Sale threatens #4 - Southwest Oregon Forests & Rivers along LNG clearcuts in community drinking watersheds. These places are just a few examples of the pipeline Route pervasive problems our forest waters face from industrial logging – problems that the Jordan Cove LNG stretch from the coast to the Gorge to Salem (liquefied natural gas) export and beyond. terminal to benefit the The Solution: Canadian energy corporation Pembina. The The Oregon Forest Practices Act should be pipeline route would modernized to make the protection of rivers, degrade more than 485 streams, and other forest waters a primary rivers, streams, and wetlands. feature of the state’s forest management laws. Between the carbon lost to It should prohibit clearcutting within 100 clearcutting and that feet of streams that provide drinking water emitted from the burning of and are home to native fish, and 50 feet of fracked gas, the pipeline smaller streams. It should also prohibit the would have a devastating aerial spraying of pesticides within 500 feet impact on our climate. of all forest waters as well as dwellings and THE SOLUTION: schools. Alan Hirschmugl Oregon Wild is working with front-line The Federal Energy communities on the coast, in the Coast The Place Regulatory Commission : jewels of Oregon’s public lands. (FERC) and the State of Oregon should Range, and all across Oregon who are feeling The Threat: the brunt of industrial forestry. We’re The Klamath, the Rogue, the Umpqua deny Pembina the permits necessary to – these are among Oregon’s most beloved build this environmentally devastating working to highlight the shortcomings of These rivers are all at risk from the Pacific waterways. They sustain valuable salmon project. The Pacific Connector Pipeline existing law with legislators and the Board of Connector Pipeline, a proposed and steelhead runs, provide opportunities and associated Jordon Cove project have a Forestry but the timber industry’s grip on the 229-mile-long fracked gas pipeline that for whitewater rafting, and bolster long and troubled history, and have halls of power is firm. would stretch from Malin, OR (near Oregon’s important outdoor recreation already been shelved three times. Given Klamath Falls) to Coos Bay. It would Only through a sustained, grassroots effort economy. They are home to iconic its terrible impacts on rivers like the result in a permanent 100-foot-wide will Oregon’s logging laws move into the old-growth forests that surround their Klamath, Umpqua, and Rogue, and all of clearcut that would scar thousands of 21st century and adequately protect people, banks and the wildlife that abound in the the values they sustain, this project is acres of public lands in order to supply wildlife, and our climate. canopy. These rivers are among the crown absolutely not in the public’s interest.

5 Fall 2019 Volume 46, Number 3 #6 - Lostine Wild & Scenic River #5 - National Forest

The Place: within the 11-mile Wild & Scenic section of the river Located in the Wallowa contains old-growth white fir, Mountains in the northeast Douglas fir, and other species corner of Oregon, the Lostine coveted by the local timber River is one of the most beautiful industry. In 2017, the agency waterways in the entire state. It moved a logging project forward originates at Minam Lake, inside within the Wild & Scenic the spectacular Eagle Cap corridor. While they claimed it Wilderness, flowing through a would reduce fire risk, the sale Anatoliy Fyodorov stunning canyon filled with would log four million board feet old-growth forests before joining of forest, much of it old-growth, The Place: Despite all of the love for this The Solution: the Wallowa River some 31 miles with just 7% of the project area unique National Forest, Mount downstream. The Lostine is a designed to protect homes or The Mount Hood National Hood faces a myriad of threats. Federal legislation is needed to popular jumping off point for structures from fire. Forest is one of the most beloved The Trump administration and provide a 100-year-vision for the backpackers, hunters, and others The Solution: recreational areas found anywhere the Forest Service are pushing management of the Mount Hood exploring the Eagle Cap, and its watershed provides a home for on America’s public lands. On controversial logging projects like National Forest. It should include The Forest Service should countless species of wildlife, any summer weekend, its the Crystal Clear Timber Sale Wilderness and Wild & Scenic withdraw the Lostine logging including wolverine and gray trailheads, lakes, and rivers are that endanger both wildlife and River protection for special places project and go back to the wolves. The Lostine is also part of packed with families seeking to scenic values while ignoring the like Boulder Lake and drawing board. There are the Nez Perce homeland and enjoy its scenic beauty and to urgent need to better maintain Tamanawas Falls, as well as an legitimate reasons to do some contains numerous historic and escape the pressures of modern recreational trails and facilities. over-arching National Recreation thinning in the area, mostly cultural sites. life. In winter, it draws similar Climate change is a looming Area designation for the region’s focused around homes and roads crowds to its developed ski areas threat to the mountain’s glaciers, most popular areas. Such a The Threat: that provide access and egress and backcountry trails. And while rivers, and winter recreation. And designation should direct the routes in the event of a fire. hikers, climbers, kayakers, skiers while the number of people Forest Service to prioritize The Lostine is unfortunately However, the Lostine shouldn’t and others flock to the area, its visiting the forest has increased protection over exploitation in located in Wallowa-Whitman be subjected to massive logging roadless backcountry areas by more than 30% in the last five order to manage for recreational National Forest, where managers projects designed to enrich provide vital habitat for countless years, the Forest Service values, preserve clean water, have a long history of promoting logging corporations, or to allow species – from coho salmon to continues to emphasize safeguard wildlife, and store logging, grazing, mining, and Forest Service managers to curry gray wolves. exploitation of the forest over carbon in old-growth forests other exploitation over favor with anti-environmental The Threat: recreation. rather than log, mine, and conservation. Worse, the forest Trump appointees. over-develop this natural wonder. Fall 2019 Volume 46, Number 3 6 (Photo Top) Justin Loveland The Lostine begins at the beautiful Minam Lake. Jim Chamberlain

#7 - Elliott State Forest Greg Vaughn

The Place: protected. That plan has come under intense scrutiny in recent Located in the Coast Range east months after OSU leaders were of Coos Bay, the 80,000-acre caught aggressively clearcutting #8 - Cascade Siskiyou National Monument Elliott State Forest is unique old growth in the McDonald- among Oregon’s state-owned Dunn Research Forest – public lands in that it still including some trees over 400 The Place contains large stands of trees over : Monument, the newly protected monument protections to years old. acres have been under siege. An increase public lands logging. a century old. Because of the A veritable Noah’s Ark of native rarity of these forests along our The Solution: array of pro-logging, pro-mining, The Solution: species, the Cascade Siskiyou pro-grazing interests have seized coast, the Elliott today contains National Monument is the first Because of its deep ties to logging any opportunity to undermine Oregon Wild and our partners some of the most important monument protected to preserve corporations and long history of one of President Obama’s – including local champion Soda wildlife habitat found anywhere biological diversity where three promoting unsustainable signature environmental Mountain Wilderness Council – in Oregon. The Oregon great eco-regions meet in clearcutting, OSU may not be a accomplishments in Oregon. are defending the monument in Department of Fish and Wildlife southern Oregon. The 112,000- suitable owner for the Elliott. Currently, the monument court. We’ve won an early ruling estimates that 22% of all wild acre monument is home to Governor Kate Brown, State expansion is under attack in three in one case and hope it’s a sign of coastal coho salmon originate in diverse conifer forests, oak Treasurer Tobias Read, and federal court cases. Two of the more good news to come. We’ve rivers that flow through the woodlands, expansive meadows, Secretary of State Bev Clarno lawsuits were brought by the also mobilized public opposition Elliott, while the forest sustains and more than 300 species of should halt any further logging industry – one by the to early Trump administration other imperiled species including birds, mammals, and amphibians consideration of transferring the Eugene-based Murphy Timber ‘reviews’ of recent monument northern spotted owls and – many of which can be found Elliott to OSU, unless and until Company and the other by proclamations to undo marbled murrelets. nowhere else on Earth. First the University can prove it has an industry lobby group the protections (thus far, Cascade The Threat: protected in 2000 by President enforceable plan to protect old American Forest Resource Siskiyou has been spared the fate Bill Clinton and later added to by forests and wildlife. Given their Council. They argue that certain that befell two monuments After the Oregon State Land the Obama administration, the recent track record, it is wise for lands protected by the monument – Bears Ears and Grand Board abandoned a terrible plan landscape is justifiably recognized the Land Board to focus on proclamation must be logged Staircase-Escalante – where to sell off and privatize the Elliott as a national treasure. keeping the Elliott in public under an obscure 1937 law. The protections we slashed). Long in 2017, it launched another ownership through more suitable, The Threat: third case is perhaps more process to try and transfer it to term, the monument conservation-focused entities like insidious. The Association of proclamations should stand and new owners. This time, it Oregon State Parks. The Elliott From the moment Barack O&C Counties – an appeared that politicians on the the most remote and intact should be preserved as legacy for Obama signed a presidential unaccountable consortium of landscapes within the monument land board favored giving it to future generations and OSU proclamation expanding the Oregon counties – is using Oregon State University (OSU), should be protected as leaders have proven time and Cascade Siskiyou National county taxpayer dollars to undo Wilderness. to be managed as a “research again that they cannot be trusted forest,” while assuring the public to do so. 7 Fall 2019 Volume 46, Number 3 that its old growth would be #9 - Wild Rogue Proposed #10 - O&C Public Forests Wilderness

The Place: are using the fear of fire to once again The Place: pretty. The new logging projects drastically oppose protections for this public increase the amount of “regeneration harvest” The Wild Rogue is one of Oregon’s lands gem. Timber industry front The U.S. Forest Service isn’t the only manager (that’s code for clearcutting) proposed for our most pristine, scenic, and rugged group “Healthy Forests, Healthy of public forests in our state. The Bureau of forests. Some of these proposed timber sales landscapes. Located in southern Communities” recently sent out a Land Management (BLM) is responsible for are close to communities in places beloved for Oregon and nestled in the Siskiyou misleading mailer to Josephine County more than two and a half million acres of recreation. Mountain Range, this area is home to residents claiming that new public land in western Oregon. While much of The Solution: the famous Rogue River – one of the protections for the Rogue would make this has been heavily logged in the past, nearly original Wild & Scenic Rivers one million acres of intact, ancient forests fires worse. Worse yet, Curry County In the short term, Oregon Wild and partners designated in 1968. Also one of the remain on these lands. These low-elevation Commissioner Court Boice called for are fighting each and every timber sale that state’s premier recreation destinations, forests are critical connecting blocks to the logging in the riparian area right next puts wildlife, clean water, recreation, and the it attracts tens of thousands of visitors largely mountainous National Forests in to the river under the guise of stopping climate at risk. We’ve already taken BLM to every year and contributes millions of Oregon, and are some of the most productive all wildfire. Logging this forest court over the Pedal Power Timber Sale in the dollars to the local economy. The Wild forest regions in the world. These forests are watershed is no way to treat our most Thurston Hills area of Springfield. In the long Rogue provides important salmon and also extremely diverse, with a variety of species iconic salmon and recreation river. run, Oregon’s old-growth and backyard forests steelhead spawning and rearing found on the slopes of three distinct mountain deserve stronger administrative and habitat, providing the backbone for The Solution: ranges: The Siskiyous, the Coast Range, and Congressional protections. Decades of research one of Oregon’s most important sport the Cascades. Permanently protecting 60,000 and experience have shown that our low- and commercial fisheries. additional acres in the heart of the The Threat: elevation forests provide so much for humans The Threat: Wild Rogue is the only way to and wildlife alike. These forests are critical guarantee protections for ancient Dating back to the first months of the George wildlife connectivity corridors in a landscape The John Dingell Conservation, forests, wild salmon, and world-class W. Bush administration, these forests have with ever more development and human Management, and Recreation Act that recreation in the Rogue Canyon. been under attack. Oregon Wild and partners pressure. Alongside the local habitat value, we passed Congress and was signed by the Luckily, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff beat back most proposals aimed at ramping up know even more today about how essential President in March 2019 almost Merkley introduced the Oregon logging and undermining ancient forest and these forests are in absorbing carbon pollution brought permanent protections to the Recreation Enhancement Act in May riparian protections on these backyard forests, and helping to solve the climate crisis. Wild Rogue. At the last minute, Rep. 2019 and have pledged to make it a but in 2016 things changed. That year, the Greg Walden worked behind the top priority in the coming months. BLM approved a new management paradigm scenes to have the Wild Rogue Rep. Peter DeFazio has championed that effectively removed O&C forests from the TAKE ACTION! Wilderness removed from the Oregon the Wild Rogue in the past and we framework of the Northwest Forest Plan. The Find out more about the 10 Most Wildlands Act portion of the broader look forward to an introduction of a new BLM plan eviscerated existing protections Endangered Places of 2019 at public lands package. Today, the companion House bill in the near for riparian areas and increased logging targets. www.oregonwild.org. timber industry and their allies in future. Now the BLM is beginning to roll out timber southern Oregon county commissions sales under the new plan and the results are not

Fall 2019 Volume 46, Number 3 8 Protecting Oregon's rivers Erik Fernandez, Wilderness Program Manager

Scenic Waterway program was considering the South Umpqua regularly used as a tool to protect River for designation as a State Oregon rivers in the 1970s and Scenic Waterway. The South '80s. But new designations took a Umpqua is home to amazing 25-year nap until being revived old-growth forests and just a few years ago. increasingly threatened runs of salmon and steelhead as well. Due to broad public support, the There you’ll find several great newest State Scenic Waterway in campgrounds and kayaking Oregon is the Nehalem River (as opportunities with sections up to of summer 2019). After several class V – that’s code for “Very” years of vetting the river, the hard core. Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously We currently have about 1,200 recommended to Governor Kate miles of protected State Scenic Priscilla Macy & Jacob Cruser The South Umpqua is an incredible playground deserving of greater protections. Brown that the river be Waterways. That sounds like a protected. lot, but it’s only 1% of Oregon’s total river mileage. We can and wo-thirds of Oregonians it’s time we do a better job toward designating more of both The Nehalem is now one of only must do better for Oregon’s receive their clean drinking safeguarding them. across the state. a few rivers protected in the rivers. The South Umpqua and waterT from our state’s rivers (and Range. It is home others should be protected! your local breweries do too!). Looking at our rivers The case for more Wild & Scenic to a variety of wildlife including Oregon rivers offer world-class conservation toolbox, two of the River designations looks runs of wild steelhead and recreational opportunities from more effective tools in Oregon promising. At a number of town salmon, deer, elk, bald eagles, and TAKE ACTION fishing to hiking, camping to are the federal “Wild & Scenic halls this year, Senator Ron Call Oregon State Parks and marbled murrelets. It’s also a kayaking and beyond. And we’re River” designation and the Wyden mentioned he is Recreation Department great place for kayaking, not the only ones who benefit; state-based “State Scenic interested in seeing Oregon do a (503-986-0708) and ask camping, or simply for a swim on our fish and wildlife depend on Waterway” designation. They better job at protecting Wild & them to recommend a hot summer day. these rivers for survival. After both result in a largely protected Scenic rivers. designation of the South countless years of damming, river corridor and no new dams. Umpqua River as a State The Oregon Parks and logging, and overdevelopment, Oregon Wild is actively working At the state level, the State Scenic Waterway. Recreation Department is now

9 Fall 2019 Volume 46, Number 3 Out and about with Oregon Wild Danielle Moser, Wildlife Policy Coordinator & Gaby Diaz, Membership & Event Manager

“Solutions that will positively thanks to our affect most human parties are interns for building wildlife corridors for wolves to be able to move between public lands, funding keeping it wild training for future and current erhaps you noticed the ranchers to offer non-lethal great social media posts techniques against wolves along Ppromoting our Outdoor Photo with funds to help set up these Contest, events, and ancient operations, and also investing in forest hikes this summer; or education for the general public to Lisa Billings you’re loving the look of this understand that wolves are not LGBTQ+ rights. As one of the year’s Call of the Wild graphics. blood thirsty invaders against Alpha Wild most well-attended and Our outreach team has At the end of the adventure, the humans.” - Emma Latendresse celebrated events here in the Marketing and Outreach youth were asked to journal northwest, Pride-goers flocked to Intern, and University of his summer, Oregon Wild some of their reflections and Seeing wolf recovery through partnered with Soul River the waterfront this past June to Portland student, Autumn make suggestions regarding wolf the eyes of young leaders was celebrate and support each other, Fleutsch to thank for her work TInc. and lead a group of youth management and conservation. both refreshing and inspiring. It and veterans to Wallowa County and had a damn good time doing highlighting some of our most Here’s a snippet of what they left me and others with hope it. exciting happenings! for a wolf-themed adventure. said: that the next generation will For many, this was both their approach wildlife conservation Armed with our “Wild Pride” Kelby Johnson, a recent first time visiting the Wallowa “The Gray Wolf has been given a with unwavering compassion graduate of the University of Mountains and their first time t-shirts and stickers, a handful of bad rep for centuries, whether it and dedication – something we Oregon Wild volunteers, staff, , spent the summer in learning about this charismatic be in fairy tales or myths, they undoubtedly need. our Bend office. She worked carnivore. Similar to Oregon and board members spent the have been given a title of “big” weekend talking to hundreds of outreach events, attended all Wild wolf rendezvous trips, we and “bad”. While it may seem like manner of meetings, and even spent several days exploring wolf Wild Pride supporters about our work. Our a silly solution, talking [to] and big take away: Pride is an got to spend some time country, learning about their informing people about the real exploring the Ochocos! We’ll history and biology, and his year marked the 25th opportunity to come as you are, nature of the Gray Wolf is a very anniversary of the Portland in whatever expression that takes. miss her positive attitude as she developed a better key important step to ending the heads back to CO. Good luck, understanding of wolf/livestock TPride Parade and the 50th It’s an act of resistance and misconceptions about these anniversary of the Stonewall solidarity and we need that now Kelby! conflict and coexistence. animals.” - Kiran Weasel uprising, which marked a more than ever. We’ll see you turning point in the fight for next year at Portland Pride!

Fall 2019 Volume 46, Number 3 10 Join Lindsay Walkin supporting among the giants Oregon Wild! Jonathan Jelen, Development DIrector Fall in love with Oregon This summer, our very own Chandra LeGue released Marielle Cowdin, Outreach & Marketing Coordinator Oregon's Ancient Forests: A Hiking Guide!

Channeling her 16+ years of experience advocating for e're all looking for a little (and hiking among) Oregon's old-growth forests, Chandra Whope and change in this has created a one-of-a-kind hiking guide that not only world. Thankfully, our forests helps you explore Oregon's ancient forests – but also and wild places remind us that builds support for defending them. change is eternal. Though the evergreens are forever green, the Join Oregon Wild’s Evergreen Society with a monthly gift lichens, mosses and deciduous of $10 or more and we’ll send you a copy! undergrowth never fail to put on a show this time of year. Being part of our Evergreen Society with an automatic Join Oregon Wild for guided, monthly gift is the very best way to support Oregon Wild's free and family-friendly fall conservation work. Your monthly contributions help us put adventures in backyard ancient more of your support towards protecting Oregon's forests near you: ancient forests, native wildlife, and pristine waters. Sunday, Sept 29 So no matter which trail you're on or what threats are Cape Falcon Hike (EUG) facing our wildlands and wildlife, your Oregon Wild membership will be current and hard at work – defending Monday, Oct 14 the Oregon you know and love. Southern Oregon Pacific Crest Trail (EUG) Friday, Nov 15 Sunday, Oct 20 Friday, Nov 1 Opal Creek (PDX) Metolius River (EUG) Boulder Lake (PDX) Even if you can't join us in the Friday, Oct 25 Sunday, Nov 3 woods, meet the team and other Kentucky Falls & N. Fork Mushroom Hike (EUG) like-minded outdoor enthusiats Smith River Trail (EUG) at other local events near you! Monday, Nov 11 Discover your forests and your Saturday, Oct 26 Salmon River (PDX) wild at www.oregonwild.org/ Lookout Mountain (BEND) Marcus Elder explore-oregon.

11 Fall 2019 Volume 46, Number 3 OSU clearcuts old growth and exposes their priorities Jason Gonzalez, Forest & Watershed Campaign Organizer & Doug Heiken, Conservation & Restoration Coordinator

without having a management forestland in Oregon. plan in place. Take Action! Irresponsible logging on the It’s time to pass laws that OSU forest properties has bring Oregon’s policies ignited a new group called more in line with people’s Friends of OSU Old-Growth, perceptions. Go to www. led by Doug Pollock. The recent forestwaters.org to learn old growth logging travesty has more about the grassroots served as a catalyst for action in campaign to modernize Corvallis and across the state, as Oregon’s logging rules and more and more people see that to protect our forests and Oregon is not the “green” state the waters that flow many believe it to be. OSU and through them. the School of Forestry’s cozy relationship with the logging industry has been in the spotlight, as it deserves to be.

Current plans from Oregon’s Department of State Lands seem to indicate that OSU is regon State University was research, recreation, and still the leading candidate to in the news lately with yet revenue. Recently, they OSU also planned to cut an take over management, and Oanother example of Oregon’s conducted their No Vacancy adjacent 36 acre stand perhaps even ownership, of the lackluster forest protections logging operation near Sulphur containing a dozen trees 5-7 Elliott State Forest. Oregon allowing the destruction of a Springs in the McDonald- feet in diameter and many more Wild and our partners have long healthy old-growth forest Dunn Research Forest a few 4-5 feet in diameter. While suggested that could be a recipe ecosystem that provided miles north of Corvallis. The OSU has temporarily halted for disaster. The McDonald- valuable habitat and recreation 15.6-acre clearcut of logging of old forests (those Dunn Research Forest case opportunities to local residents. predominantly Douglas fir over 160 years), this stand and strongly bolsters that opinion, forest was filled with mature many others remain very much and shows that OSU needs Oregon State University owns trees up to 200-years-old, and at risk. We’re especially transparency and independence several parcels of forest land some trees were discovered by concerned that OSU has logged from King Clearcut if they are Doug Pollock around the state, managed for locals to be over 400-years-old! some of their finest forests to be trusted to manage public

Fall 2019 Volume 46, Number 3 12 Wildlife roundup Steve Pedery, Conservation Director

We took the Commission and Coastal coho salmon get an organizations and petitioned the ODFW to court believing that assist Oregon Board of Forestry to flip-flop was illegal, and on Oregon’s coastal coho salmon develop rules to ensure the August 7th, a judge agreed with have survived tsunamis, volcanic abysmal Oregon Forest Practices us. The Commission must now eruptions, and ice ages. But a Act isn’t allowing harm to either reinstate the “endangered” century of clearcut logging has “resource sites” necessary for the designation or actually produce a devastated populations of these recovery of coho. In July, the defensible scientific rationale for iconic fish and the habitat on Board voted 5-2 to accept our why it is not. which they depend. Like petition and initiate rulemaking. murrelet, Oregon’s protections for They too are now facing intense coho have lagged far behind pressure from Oregon’s clearcut Return of the condor reality. Back in April, Oregon lobby, but this is at least a small After being pushed to the brink Wild joined 23 other step in the right direction. of extinction, condors conservation and fishing are once again soaring above the deserts of the Southwestern U.S. and the coast of California, but they also belong in Oregon. Thanks to a reintroduction effort Evan R. Buechley, University of Utah California Condor by the Yurok Tribe, who’s homeland lies along the Klamath Court: ODFW murrelet habitat and mandatory survival decision was illegal River in northern California, they guidelines to assist in their may soon return. As early as fall Back in 2016, Oregon Wild and recovery. In February 2018, the of 2020, the Yurok aim to a coalition of wildlife groups Commission reviewed the science reintroduce the birds to the asked the Oregon Department of and agreed, voting 4-2 to Redwood National Forest. If the Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and strengthen protections for the recovery effort is successful, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife birds. But logging interests, their condors would likely range north Commission to “up list” the lobbyists, and anti-environmental along the Oregon Coast and into marbled murrelet from state legislators put intense the Rogue Basin in search of “threatened” to “endangered” pressure on the commission, and food and old-growth nesting under the Oregon Endangered four months later they flip- habitat. Species Act. Up listing would flopped. bring stronger protections for its Karen Maier

13 Fall 2019 Volume 46, Number 3 Gathering no moss - Trump's ESA rollbacks Danielle Moser, Wildlife Policy Coordinator

ot surprising, but just as • Economic impacts of a meaningful protections. For painful. That’s the reaction listing will now be included. example, the preliminary listing reverberatingN through the In 1982, Congress explicitly proposal for the Humboldt conservation community as the forbade this, trying to limit marten exempts all logging and Trump administration finalized political influence, and related activities from being their plan to roll back critical instead, ensure listing required to change its practices. protections for fish and wildlife determinations were made by These are the same activities that granted by the Endangered best available science only. significantly contributed to Species Act (ESA). The ESA, habitat loss and eventual enacted in 1973, is one of the • Limits the definition of population decline of the marten. nation’s bedrock environmental “foreseeable future” for Not restricting these activities or laws that has protected and threatened species, which prohibiting take could put the fostered recovery for some of the essentially precludes listing a marten at serious risk of nation’s most imperiled wildlife, species due to climate change. extinction. including the bald eagle, • Limits determinations of California condor, American “adverse modification” of Luckily, a number of national crocodile, and gray wolf. It’s no critical habitat to only conservation organizations and wonder that with industry tycoons situations where the whole states are already pushing back. in charge of the Department of habitat is degraded at once. Days after the administration the Interior and U.S. Fish and This ignores ‘death-by-a- finalized the rule changes, several Wildlife Service, the Trump thousand-cuts’ scenarios. organizations filed lawsuits. Administration would do While lawsuits can take a long everything in its power to limit What does this mean for Oregon? time to receive a final decision, it’s the ESA’s effectiveness and reach. Species already on the ‘threatened’ important we keep the pressure list, such as the silverspot butterfly, up! Here’s a snapshot of some of the northern spotted owl, and most egregious changes to the marbled murrelet would maintain Take Action: ESA: their protections afforded by the old rules. However, species being Call or write your members of • Repeals the 4(d) blanket considered for ‘threatened’ listing, Congress (especially the rule. In essence, this means like the Pacific fisher and the Senate), asking them to use that future species listed as Humboldt marten, if approved, their authority granted by the ‘threatened’ will no longer could receive a ‘threatened’ status Congressional Review Act to Greg Giesy Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. receive any protections from that doesn’t actually provide any stop these latest attacks on take (being harmed or killed). our nation’s most imperiled wildlife. Fall 2019 Volume 46, Number 3 14 The Keystone Circle - for future generations Jonathan Jelen, Development Director

Dennis Davenport key·stone spe·cies (noun):

• A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its natural environment relative to its abundance; a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically.

Key·stone Cir·cle (noun):

• The new Oregon Wild legacy giving program made up of supporters like you whose commitment to the wild places, native wildlife, and pristine waters of Oregon creates a strong, lasting legacy that will be enjoyed by current and future generations.

he Keystone Circle is the difference. And every gift helps Wild in your planned giving Oregon Wild planned giving ensure that Oregon Wild will legacy, please contact Sean Tprogram. It’s open to anyone at have the long-term resources to Stevens ([email protected]) or any level who wants to leave be fighting for what’s most Jonathan Jelen (jj@oregonwild. behind a lasting legacy of important to you long after org) at (503) 283-6343. protected wild places, clean water, you’ve reached the end of the and thriving native wildlife in trail. Just as keystone species have a Oregon. tremendous impact on the health So whether you’re new to estate and future of their natural Including Oregon Wild in your planning or already have a will, ecosystems, the Keystone Circle planned giving is easy. Each trust, or life insurance policy, you will set the course for the future person’s plan can be as varied and should talk to your legal and/or health of Oregon’s unique wild unique as the wild places that financial advisor about your places, pristine waters, and native inspire us all. Legacy giving isn’t estate and legacy gift plans. For wildlife species. Future just for the wealthy. Whether more information, visit www. generations of Oregonians (of all your capacity is $500 or $50 oregonwild.org/keystonecircle. species) will thank you. million, every legacy gift makes a To discuss including Oregon

15 Fall 2019 Volume 46, Number 3 5825 N. Greeley Ave. Portland, OR 97217

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED CMY CY MY CM Printed on recycled paper with vegetable based ink. K Y M C C and more! interactive photo booth, Wines, livemusic, an poured by Fullerton wine partners, Alliance from Oregon Brewshed® Food Catering, brews vegan bitesfrom D gear andadventures, local auction filled with outdoor Photo C annual Outdoor 15th photographs from our unveiling thewinning the state andwillfeature: workacross conservation our other supporting This event isunlikeany I ild! Go W – biggest benefit oftheyear the “campfire” for our and loved onesaround again tojoinyourfriends t’s that timeofyear ome dressed inyour C all of the Wild the of all CALL OFTHE Call oftheWildDesignFINAL.pdf17/11/193:09PM ontest, asilent ! evil’s A BENEFIT FOR OREGON WILD A BENEFITFOR WILDLANDS, WILDLIFE,WATERS, ANDYOU!WILDLANDS,

5:30-9:30PM. Your $45 Weidler) inP Leftbank Annex (101 N. Friday, O on Find yourWILDside Hardwear, andmore! S E , Momentum River OARS gear from bignameslike outdoor adventures and have tobidon achance A imperiled native species. rivers,and and Scenic old-growth forests, Wild advocating for our another yearof us aswelookforward to home.Join special places wildlife callingthose Wilderness, andallthe D Forest, newly designated the O likeMount Hood, places continue toprotect best flanneltohelpus LEFTBANK ANNEX,PORTLAND LEFTBANK xpeditions, C xpeditions, portswear, Mountain portswear, t thisyear’s event, you’ll FRIDAY, 11, OCTOBER 2019 evil’s S 5:30 PM-9:30 choco Nationalchoco taircase ctober 11that ortland from ortland olumbia S hino Yanaga become a T become purchase tickets or entertainment. T wine, beer,and ticket food, entry, includes Wild ent S w a o ponsor you at thecampfire! callofthewild. We’ll see www.oregonwild.org/ perk!), visit withaspecial (comes K elli Pennigton elli