OREGON WILD Summer 2019 Volume 46, Number 2

OREGON'S NEW WILDERNESS Working to protect and restore Oregon’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 The Devil's in the details {4-7} Forest & Watershed Organizer Jason Gonzales The e-mail address for each Oregon Wild Conservation & Restoration Coord. Doug Heiken Celebrating 25 years of the NWFP {8-9} staff member: [email protected] Western Oregon Field Coord. Chandra LeGue (for example: [email protected]) Northeastern Field Office Ancient - the Outdoor Photo Contest {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 Managerr Ellen Yarnell x 219 Ochoco Mountains Coordinator Jamie Dawson Wilderness Program Manager Erik Fernandez

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

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: ERIC DEBORD It's been a decade since new and FSC certified, printed with vegetable based inks. Oregon Wild is printed Wilderness legislation has become law for Oregon. With the @oregonwild @oregonwild locally by Environmental Paper and Print, an Oregon Wild donor and business passage of the Oregon Wildlands Act, there's more to love. partner.

Summer 2019 Volume 46, Number 2 2 From the Director’s Desk The people united Sean Stevens, Executive Director

21st century, our politicians have over the decades. We still can’t Whether it’s massive campaign Money in politics stinks. So been swimming in a sea of match the campaign donations, industry PR spin, or does corporate pollution. But logging industry cash since contributions of corporate the false narrative of economy the smell of salmonberries below timber barons first invaded the polluters. However, we’ll always versus environment, we’re always a 500-year-old western red cedar elieve it or not, it’s been west after clearcutting the rest of be able to beat them when it facing long odds in our work to in the newly protected Devil’s almost 10 years since the the country. In the 1980s and comes to passion and dogged protect what’s left of wild Staircase Wilderness? That CitizensB United Supreme Court ‘90s it was nigh impossible to persistence. That’s how we won Oregon. You are the only thing smells like keeping Oregon decision threw open the doors to find an elected leader in Oregon this year in a battle to protect that helps us break through and wild. unfettered money in our nation’s willing to speak for the trees. the Devil’s Staircase Wilderness overcome the power of the politics. While the country has that started way back in 1979 status quo. been obsessed with super PACs As we celebrate the 25th (see overleaf ). anniversary of the Northwest and the Koch brothers, Oregon’s DREW WATSON Teamwork makes the dream work. dirty little campaign finance Forest Plan this year (see page secret has garnered fewer 8), we should all recognize that headlines. – left in the hands of our politicians – the ancient forests That is until this spring, when spared in 1994 would likely be the consequences of our but a memory today. The no-limits-on-spending elections industry had all the money and were laid bare in a blockbuster all the power, and they wanted series in The Oregonian. You can the rest of the old growth. read more about the “Polluted by Money” exposé on page 11, But it was the people – through but the results of corporate protest, advocacy, and litigation spending are sadly unsurprising – who forced protections for – polluters buy the policy that northern spotted owls, native protects their profits. salmon, and the ecosystem they relied on. As much as money-influenced politics feel like a problem of the Things haven’t changed much

3 Summer 2019 Volume 46, Number 2 The Devil's in the details - Oregon's new Wilderness Chandra LeGue, Western Oregon Field Coordinator

ack in 2007, Oregon Wild Wilderness scores 20+.” The staffer Doug Heiken and I authors continued, “the slopes are spentB some time poking around extremely steep and the the edges of a big roadless area in understory vegetation…is often the Coast Range which looked to very dense, making cross-country have some old forests that could travel a challenge.” be at risk of logging under a new Bureau of Land Management Despite the known difficulty, a (BLM) plan being developed at few intrepid souls started the time (known as WOPR). exploring the area in their free Exploring the area, we found time, pioneering routes that some overgrown roads and giant Oregon Wild and others have trees. We didn’t venture in far since used to guide people into from the roads as the terrain was this wild, rugged place as we steep, the vegetation thick, and launched a new campaign for the there were no trails to follow. We Devil’s Staircase Wilderness (a started talking with other forest more exciting name than Wassen advocates about the area, nestled Creek, and based on the in the rugged landscape between notoriously hard to find waterfall the Umpqua River and Smith in the heart of the area). Our River, east of the town of campaign sparked interest with Reedsport, and learned that it had Congressman Peter DeFazio, who actually been proposed for braved the elements and brush to Wilderness protection decades reach the namesake waterfall. earlier. A book produced by the Later, Senator Jeff Merkley did BRIAN KIBBONS Wassen Creek at the heart of the new Devil's Staircase Wilderness and an essential Siuslaw Task Force in 1980 laid the same. Rep. DeFazio first part of this coastal forest watershed. out the case for protecting the introduced legislation to protect Wassen Creek Wilderness. the area in 2009 and has consistently pursued variations of One key excerpt from the booklet this bill in each following "Wassen Creek is undoubtedly the wildest place left in the Range." resonates well with any who have Congress. Nearly always stymied ventured into this thick coastal by politics, Devil’s Staircase – Sherry Wellborn, Oregon Coast Range Wilderness, 1980, Siuslaw Task Force rainforest: “Rated on a scale of advocates remained hopeful that one to ten (for both beauty and someday we’d see the protections hiking difficulty) Wassen Creek this place deserved.

Summer 2019 Volume 46, Number 2 4 WILDER BY STATE Wilderness bills introduced in the 116th Congress (after passage of the public lands omnibus)

Oregon: California: Colorado: packaging it at various times with Wild Rogue, 600,000 acres of 1,000,000 plus Meanwhile, a campaign to protect Devil’s Staircase and other 58,000 acres new Wilderness acres of new a large chunk of the wildlands protections as “Oregon’s surrounding the Wild & Scenic Treasures” and “Oregon re-introduced by package of three Wilderness in a mix , where it runs Wildlands” over different Sen. Ron Wyden bills introduced of bills through lands managed by the Congressional sessions. But the BLM, also gained momentum. protections the Wild Rogue With timber sales proposed in landscape deserved remained old-growth forests above elusive. important tributary streams and the BLM’s new management In early 2019, after years of plans threatening far worse, persistence from Oregon Wild advocates drew attention to the supporters and our elected need to finish protecting one of representatives, we finally got our the most iconic landscapes in the chance to celebrate. A sweeping country. The nearly 60,000-acre public lands package passed Wild Rogue Wilderness proposal through Congress which included and associated Wild & Scenic the Devil’s Staircase Wilderness River designations for many of as well as Wild & Scenic the Rogue’s tributaries included designations for beloved Oregon old-growth forests and key rivers like the Molalla, Elk, and MATTHEW TANNENBAUM salmon and steelhead spawning Chetco. While many of its tributaries that were left out of tributaries were added to the While the efforts of grassroots of Senator Ron Wyden and Rep. protections isn’t always enough 1978 Rogue River protection Wild & Scenic River inventory in advocates who love Oregon Defazio, reintroducing these either. legislation due to opposition from the bill, the Wild Rogue wildlands and rivers is vitally protections year after year, has logging companies. It’s been Wilderness additions were important for protecting special been vital in keeping our Those who would like to log under constant threat from unfortunately left on the cutting places, in the end, whether a place wilderness dreams alive. Senator Oregon’s remaining old-growth logging and mining development room floor – the victim of is protected or not often comes Merkley, and Representatives Earl forests and those who see resource ever since. political deal-making that favored down to the support of our Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, extraction as the highest and best extractive industries over public elected officials and…to politics. and Kurt Schrader have also use of our pristine watersheds Our legislators have recognized values. played important roles in have been relentless in trying to the importance of this area too, Luckily for Oregon’s wild places, advancing these bills. block the protections our elected introducing protections for the THE POLITICS OF we have some excellent Unfortunately, having this broad leaders support. Over the past ten Wild Rogue and its tributaries WILDERNESS: THE INS (AND champions in our Congressional support from elected officials years, broad Congressional efforts year after year since 2008, OUTS) OF PASSING A BILL delegation. The steadfast support representing areas slated for to limit public lands protections

5 Summer 2019 Volume 46, Number 2 sure that when Congress the Frank and Jeanne Moore free-flowing streams; prohibits returned in January 2019 the deal Steelhead Sanctuary on the future dams and mining; and brokered by the Senate moved North Umpqua River. Woohoo! helps safeguard clean drinking forward. With a series of quick water, our world-class recreation votes, Oregon stood poised for a The new Devil’s Staircase opportunities, and the critical package with major wildland and Wilderness is a vitally important salmon habitat many river protections. Despite his area of contiguous, unlogged communities rely on. From the attempts to sabotage the bill and forest in the Coast Range. If you Nestucca River in the northern disappointing opposition to have ever driven through Coast Range to the tributary protecting Oregon’s beloved Oregon’s Coast Range, you know streams of the lower Rogue River Wild Rogue, even Rep. Walden there isn’t a lot of intact forest to the pristine headwaters of the voted for the bill. left. Much of this landscape’s Elk River on the south Coast – ancient cathedral forests were we will see the benefits of these Officially called the John D. logged long ago and replaced river protections for generations Dingell, Jr. Conservation, with private industrial to come. ALAN HIRSCHMUGL Boundary Springs, Management, and Recreation clearcutting operations. Taken the headwaters of the Rogue River. Act, the public lands bill became together with the unlogged River advocates can also celebrate law on March 21, 2019, with the portion of the a long-sought correction to a unlikely stroke of President just to the south of the new loophole for mining in the have stymied passage of the Walden to strip Rogue Trump’s pen. Wilderness, this area provides a designated Wild & Scenic Devil’s Staircase Wilderness, protections from a final public critical, large block of intact Chetco River on the south coast, Wild Rogue, and other river lands deal scheduled for a vote OREGON’S NEWEST forested ecosystem, providing finally protecting one of Oregon’s protection efforts. early in the new year. (The Wild WILDLANDS AND WATERS high-quality fish and wildlife most beautiful rivers from the Rogue isn’t even in Walden’s PROTECTIONS habitat, and storing vast amounts potential of damaging mining The latest example: last fall, after district!) Designations for Victories like this clearly don’t of carbon, helping us combat practices. Sen. Wyden re-introduced the National Recreation Areas on the come easily these days, which is climate change. Oregon Wildlands Act with the Wild Rogue and Molalla Rivers why it’s so important to take a NOT DONE YET Wild Rogue Wilderness in it, a were also stripped out. moment to celebrate the Add to that an additional 256 While it was frustrating to see major logging industry lobby protections gained this year: miles of rivers and streams the Wild Rogue Wilderness launched a campaign to block Even getting the Oregon Oregon’s first new Wilderness in designated as Wild & Scenic additions and the National protection for the area. They Wildlands Act – stripped down 10 years, the addition of 256 Rivers, Oregon’s total reached Recreation Area designations for reneged on a previous agreement as it was – that far in the lame miles of Wild & Scenic Rivers, 2,424 Wild & Scenic river miles. the Rogue and Molalla Rivers left to support Wilderness for the duck Congress had seemed like a permanent protection for the This designation protects the out of the bill that passed, neither area, and worked with Rep. Greg long shot, but Sen. Wyden made Chetco River from mining, and forests surrounding these we nor our Congressional

Summer 2019 Volume 46, Number 2 6 champions are giving up on hearing from wildlands advocates making sure these other worthy about special places as yet places are protected. In May, unprotected – from the Owyhee Senators Wyden and Merkley Canyonlands, to the Ochoco introduced legislation to capture Mountains and the wildlands What's next for Oregon Wilderness the pieces left out of this last surrounding Crater Lake Erik Fernandez, Wilderness Program Manager round of protections – the National Park. With the ongoing JACOB DURRENT Oregon Recreation Enhancement support and pressure from people Act (OREA). like you, we hope to be celebrating the next round of One week after the Oregon Wildlands Act was signed into law, Congressman Earl While it’s been great to celebrate wildland protections well before the successful efforts for the another decade goes by. Blumenauer and Senator Ron Wyden hosted a public forum in Portland to ask the special places included in the question of what’s next for public lands conservation legislation in Oregon. Oregon Wildlands Act, millions TAKE ACTION! of acres of public lands across our People from all across the state turned out to advocate for their favorite natural state remain unprotected. With Thank Senators Wyden & treasures. Central Oregonian’s talked about the need for protecting the Ochoco just 4% of our state protected as Merkley for introducing the Mountains . The area is home to classic old-growth ponderosa Wilderness, Oregon is still far Oregon Recreation pine, wildflower meadows, and on a super clear day, views stretching from Mount behind our neighboring states. Enhancement Act to protect Shasta to Mount Rainier. The OREA is a great next step, more of the Wild Rogue but to really make up this deficit River and the Molalla River, Locals advocated for increased safeguards around for places like and do our spectacular wildlands and urge your Congressional Tamanawas Falls, Boulder Lake, and Salmon River - home to some of the region’s best justice, we need to go further. We representative to do the hikes as well as key wildlife habitats. need our elected leaders to step same. up and do more. Roseburg and Douglas County advocates spoke about the need to expand protections Fortunately, they seem to be for the recreation and wildlife corridors that lead in and out of Crater Lake National listening. This spring, Sen. Wyden Park. These corridors are where several of Oregon’s iconic rivers have their headwaters, and Rep. Blumenauer held a including the Rogue, Umpqua, Klamath, and the Deschutes. Other areas suggested public forum and have been include the Wild Rogue, the Oregon Redwoods, the Owyhee, and more. soliciting feedback from the public about what wildlands These natural treasures are a part of Oregon’s heritage and we have a responsibility to should be considered for safeguard them for future generations of Oregonians, both people and animals. It’s protections next. They’ve been encouraging to see Sen. Wyden and Rep. Blumenauer looking to do their part for the Oregon legacy. 7 Summer 2019 Volume 46, Number 2 25 years under the Northwest Forest Plan Doug Heiken, Conservation & Restoration Coordinator

and were found guilty of a logging. The agencies have net sink of carbon. This “remarkable series of violations made numerous attempts to highlights that forests can be of the environmental laws.” eliminate these part of the climate problem or requirements; and part of the climate solution. Brought to life by President Unfortunately, the agencies Clinton and guided by some • Logging is allowed, continue to approve logging great scientists, the Northwest including some old-growth projects that exacerbate global Forest Plan established a logging, in the “matrix” warming. comprehensive federal policy for between the reserves. managing 24 million acres of We are only 25 years into a plan The timber industry has also federal forests in western that is supposed to take 100-200 shifted to rely mostly on small, Washington, western Oregon, years to accomplish, and the plan second-growth logs and the and northwestern California. Key is already coming under pressure, broader economy has changed components of the plan include: while new reasons to conserve and diversified. Some predicted a forests – such as climate change significant economic downturn • Large “reserves” to provide would be triggered by limiting habitat for wildlife – are not getting the attention they deserve. the timber industry’s access to dependent on old-growth federal timber. This did not forests. Most, but not all, of Many things have changed since materialize. The regional the remaining older forests economy added far more jobs RHETT WILKINS Northern spotted owl. are protected in reserves. The the Northwest Forest Plan was approved. First, the global than were lost due to federal agencies have exploited logging restrictions. The future loopholes to log old growth climate crisis is upon us. In the The Northwest Forest Plan went The plan came into being after decades preceding the Northwest of the regional economy into effect on May 20, 1994 and decades of unsustainable in the reserves, especially depends much more on after fires; Forest Plan, liquidation of the immediately brought improved clearcutting and road building carbon-rich old-growth forests of maintaining our unique quality management to federal forests radically altered forest • Generous stream buffers to the Pacific Northwest added of life, not commodity within the range of the northern ecosystems. The northern spotted protect water quality and significantly to the cumulative extraction. spotted owl. After 25 years, we owl and marbled murrelet were habitat. The agencies have over-abundance of greenhouse can celebrate the plan's successes, listed under the Endangered excuses to do a lot of logging gases in the atmosphere. The plan In 2016, the Bureau of Land lament its failures, and continue Species Act just prior to the in these stream buffers; reduced logging to such an Management (BLM) adopted the fight for better management adoption of the plan, and many extent that northwest forests new Resources Management to protect old growth, water, fish stocks of salmon were listed • A requirement to survey and switched from being a source of Plans for more than 2 million and wildlife, carbon, and quality shortly after. In court, federal protect rare species that may carbon emissions to become a acres of western Oregon forests. of life. agencies lost a string of lawsuits be in the path of old-growth The new plans shrink stream

Summer 2019 Volume 46, Number 2 8 Oregon’s Ancient Forests: A Hiking Guide published! After two years of research (aka hiking all buffers, weaken protection for governed by the Northwest old forest reserves, and eliminate Forest Plan. They have initiated over the state in beautiful forests), writing, requirements to protect rare steps to amend and update the editing, and design, the long awaited wildlife, all in order to emphasize plan. We fear that they will publication of staffer Chandra LeGue’s book timber production. This follow BLM’s path toward more Oregon’s Ancient Forests: A Hiking Guide is upon us! effectively ended BLM’s logging, which would be directly Officially available July 1st from Mountaineers participation in the Northwest counter to the best available Books, the book promises to inspire readers Forest Plan, unless pending science. Instead, we’d like to see to get outdoors and advocate for the litigation in the 9th Circuit reflection of the continued need protection of our last remaining ancient reverses their decision. to protect and restore old-growth forests. forests to safeguard our clean The Forest Service manages over water, viable populations of fish The book is designed to be user friendly, 20 million acres of public forests and wildlife, stable climate, and spread across 3 states that are quality of life. dividing the 91 featured hikes into 14 forest regions and providing key information like distance, difficulty, and trailhead location up front. And while it features descriptions of each trail like any hiking guide, this book focuses on seeing the forest for the trees – offering natural history information to help you hone your forest knowledge, as well as background on how and why a forest is (or isn’t yet) protected.

The book’s beautiful photos of hikes in dripping, giant Douglas-fir forests, high desert groves of massive ponderosa pines, and lush mixed conifer forests lure you in to Oregon’s diverse ancient forests. These vital ecosystems support fish and wildlife, provide clean water, help mitigate climate change, and offer some of the best hiking in our state. With so little left, the book is a timely reminder of the need to protect and restore our ancient forests before it’s too late.

TAKE ACTION! Get your copy anywhere books are sold, at Oregon Wild’s online store, or at upcoming book release events this summer – www.oregonwild.org/explore-oregon.

GREG VAUGHN Three Pyramids - part of the 9 Summer 2019 Volume 46, Number 2 new Oregon's Ancient Forests hiking guidebook. Oregon Wild Women Gaby Diaz, Membership & Event Manager

ast September we hosted introduce the Oregon Wild Oregon Wild proudly presents Wild Women: A Celebration Women program. This program ofL Women in Conservation at a is designed to engage and OREGON WILD SUMMER '19 historic homestead in Eugene. empower women in Joined by members and environmental advocacy and the supporters, we heard from three outdoors through special events, Saturday, June 29 Thursday, July 11 women who spoke about the hikes, leadership development Devil's Staircase Opal Creek & Jawbone challenges they faced in their opportunities, blogs, and Wilderness - Dark Grove Flats Hike (EUG) respective environmental-related workshops for women, by Hike (EUG) Moderate, 7 miles fields and what their experiences women. As we continue to grow Difficult, 4 miles were like growing and as a community, the more likely Saturday, July 20 developing into leaders. It was we’ll pass these skills on to the Tuesday, July 2 Bunchgrass Ridge Fire inspiring and validating to hear next generation and create a Oregon's Ancient Ecology Hike (EUG) these stories, in addition to lasting legacy of women in the Forests: A Hiking Guide Moderate, 5 miles learning about the women who outdoors. Book Release Party helped make Oregon Wild what Base Camp Brewing, Portland it is today. Our goal is to raise $3,000 by Thursday, July 25 the end of the year to fuel these Fifteenmile Creek (PDX) The catalyst for this event was a efforts, and to support someone Saturday, July 6 Difficult, 11.3 miles culmination of conversations wanting to work in & Gwynn that focused on the unique conservation. These funds will Creek Loop Hike (EUG) Thursday, July 25 challenges facing women in the power a paid internship to Moderate/Difficult, 6.4 miles Oregon's Ancient Forests

WWW.OREGONWILD.ORG outdoors. Staffer Chandra spearhead the Wild Women Book Release Party LeGue found some barriers are campaign and to strengthen the Roundabout Books, Bend Wednesday, July 10 logistical, societal, and program for years to come. emotional. As an advocacy Oregon's Ancient Forests Book Release Party Friday, July 26 organization we want to help Help us reach our goal by Claim 52, Eugene break down barriers for women making a donation online at Lookout Mountain (Bend) Moderate, 6-7 miles (including ourselves!) who want www.oregonwild.org. Stay tuned to recreate and advocate for our for more Oregon Wild Women

public lands. programming and consider

 making a donation for the Wild PROTECTED PROPOSED AT REGISTER WILDERNESS WILDERNESS That’s why we’re proud to Woman in your life! MEGAN HOLMES

Summer 2019 Volume 46, Number 2 10 Join Lindsay inOregon: supporting Polluted by Money Oregon Defended Wild! by You Polluted by money Jonathan Jelen, DevelopmentJonathan DIrector Jelen, Development Director Arran Robertson, Communications Manager The Oregonian's Polluted by Money series was as sobering as it was revealing of the very real disconnect between Oregon’s nation’s top recipient for green reputation and the actions of our elected officials and contributions from the logging agencies. industry. Regardless of how unbalanced the playing field might be, That money has been a disaster Oregon Wild isn't backing down. We know we’re not going to for Oregon’s environment. match the bank accounts of the industries built on exploiting Oregon Wild worked with our ecological riches. So we work to maximize the impact of Davis for years, helping each and every donation we receive, because we know that you document how politicians – and the ancient forests and keystone species on whose traded or stopped conservation behalf we advocate – are counting on us. priorities at the behest of corporate interests. Even so, the To counteract the industry influence outlined in Polluted by Money, resulting “Polluted by Money” Oregon Wild works year-round to protect and defend our wild series shocked us. Clean air places. The best way to support our work is by joining our initiatives stopped with a phone Evergreen Society with an ongoing monthly gift. So no matter call. Logging and pesticide what checks the industry is writing in hopes of wielding their regon has a reputation as an from the front-of-the-pack to lobbyists had their language influence, you know that your dollars will be working each and environmentally progressive bringing up the rear? introduced verbatim as budget every month to keep Oregon wild. state.O We passed some of the amendments. Agency officials nation’s first laws for public Oregon is polluted by money. made timid were forced to cancer-causing diesel exhaust, our state’s wildlands, wildlife, and beaches, land use planning, and defend their budgets and dwindling groundwater, waters. Over 50 years ago, recycling. Unfortunately, Oregon’s In a shocking four-part series, threatened every time they’ve industrial air pollution, oil spill Oregon Governor Tom McCall landmark environmental victories investigative journalist Rob Davis tried to enforce Oregon’s already planning and weed killers sprayed declared that the state lived by an are now decades old, and the and The Oregonian dove into the weak environmental laws. Davis from helicopters.” 11th commandment: “Thou Shall state is currently grappling with state’s campaign finances. Davis summarizes: Not Pollute.” It’s time we the fact that, from logging and found that Oregon does little to Polluted by Money is a stunning enforced it. endangered wildlife to clean air limit or regulate campaign “Oregon’s most powerful indictment of Oregon’s political and water, we have some of the donations. Corporate interests industries have killed, weakened landscape and environmental Read the series at https:// weakest laws on the West Coast. donate more money per resident or stalled efforts to deal with neglect. But it’s also a call to projects.oregonlive.com/polluted- So how has one of the once in Oregon than in any other climate change, wolf recovery, action for people who care about by-money. greenest states in the nation gone state. Oregon politicians are the disappearing bird habitat,

11 Summer 2019 Volume 46, Number 2 Forests for All! Jason Gonzalez, Forest & Watershed Campaign Organizer & Jonathan Jelen, Development Director

regon’s awe-inspiring environmental justice and forests and pristine waters advocacy. After teaming up with areO enjoyed and appreciated by Soul River on a “deployment” to all of us, regardless of race, the Ochoco Mountains last ethnicity, sexual orientation, summer, we’re partnering with gender, or creed. Unfortunately, them again to help the group the voices representing explore the heart of Oregon’s communities of color, and other wolf country: the Wallowas. traditionally underserved communities, have largely gone ThroughForests for All, we’ll be unheard in the conversation of deeply engaging in equitable how best to protect these special organizing for the outdoors and places. That needs to change. environmental protections. Recently, our very own Jason Oregon Wild has been investing Gonzales has been honored to in becoming a more equitable, serve as Chair of the NAACP diverse, and inclusive Environmental and Climate organization. With generous Justice Committee for Eugene/ support from the Meyer Springfield, working with Memorial Trust, we’re launching community leaders to recognize Forests for All – a grassroots that the people most impacted initiative to weave together our by environmental degradation conservation mission with our and climate change are often equity priorities. left out of the decision-making process and working towards Partnerships are at the core of change. OREGON WILD Forests for All and one that embodies these important Frontline communities bear the of those communities, we hope organizers, Forests for All means priorities and exemplifies its brunt of pollution, clean-water to build opportunities for all Additionally, we’re working to that they have the resources and potential impacts is with Soul access, and climate change people to enjoy Oregon's empower rural and coastal time to deeply invest in equity River, Inc. Using the power of impacts – yet they’re often the wildlands, while also addressing communities to strengthen laws work with new communities, fly fishing trips, they connect least heard and most racism and other forms of for the health of their support allies, and show up for military veterans and inner-city knowledgeable when it comes to bigotry that many experience communities, forests, and marginalized and underserved youth with the outdoors to implementing solutions. Using when exploring public lands. watersheds. For our campaign communities. develop leaders for our resources to raise the voices

Summer 2019 Volume 46, Number 2 12 Taking Trump to court Steve Pedery, Conservation Director JIM CHAMBERLAIN

regon Wild has never been being protected for conservation. it puts nearby homes at greater shy about using the law to It was just the first of three risk from forest fires. defendO Oregon’s wildlands, lawsuits attacking the monument, wildlife, and waters. but an important victory With the Trump administration’s nonetheless. announcement of their plan to When Trump announced plans strip federal Endangered Species to shrink the Cascade-Siskiyou The fight goes on in other corners Act protection from gray wolves National Monument back in of Oregon. Near Springfield, in western Oregon, we are 2017, the logging lobby and allied we’ve gone to court to block a gearing up for yet another battle county commissioners filed a Trump administration plan to log on behalf of this iconic species. flurry of lawsuits to back him up. hundreds of acres next to the Working with our allies at Oregon Wild and several other Thurston Hills Natural Area. The Earthjustice, we will fight to groups intervened to defend this logging, which includes ensure that the handful of wolves ecological wonder. In March, we clearcutting, would damage roaming Mount Hood and the won the first round when a judge wildlife habitat and impair scenic South Cascades remain rejected Murphy Timber’s claim and recreational values. Worse, by protected. that the 1937 O&C Act barred replacing mature and old-growth ODFW so-called “O&C” lands from ever forests with dense young stands,

13 Summer 2019 Volume 46, Number 2 Brewshed® goes to Salem Marielle Cowdin, Outreach & Marketing Coordinator

land. And while our dedicated Meetings with state in an extraordinary way and we supporters, members, and activists representatives and senators were couldn't be more thrilled and have helped us accomplish great scheduled throughout the day to proud of what they accomplished. feats over the years, a big and thank bill sponsors and show influential voice had remained support for pending legislation silent until now: the businesses of regarding watershed health and We look forward to future Oregon's New Economy. pesticide use. advocacy work alongside our partners in the Brewshed Alliance Where timber once was king, It became clear that our Brewshed to ensure our forests and small organic farms, outdoor partners, in sharing their passion watersheds are protected for recreation, and the craft brewing and reliance on clean water and future generations. Cheers to a industry are now at the heart of protected watersheds helped sustainable water future for Oregon's economy - trumping amplify this message to electeds Oregon from source to pint! timber jobs and revenue 2 to 1. The dire state of political, environmental, social, and MARIELLE COWDIN Our Brewshed Partners and other climactic affairs jump started business leaders met with Sen. Floyd Prozanski. many of these businesses into true engagement with policy and hen we launched the The 2016 election shattered that our Brewshed Alliance partners Oregon Brewshed Alliance bubble. Suddenly, any mad idea are no exception. Their livelihood backW in 2015, we were in a was possible and all bets were off depends on clean water and a pre-Trump world. Sure, we still - especially for environmental clean environment, after all. were staring the climate crisis in policy. But the silver lining? the face, but the progressive vibes On March 11, 2019, Oregon of the Obama Presidency Action - a new, exciting kind. Wild and our Brewshed Alliance wrapped us all in a warm blanket partners from Widmer Brothers, of hope - hope that the folks at Oregon Wild has always been an Wildcraft Cider Works, Falling the top were doing their best to organization of action - from Sky Brewing, and Migration make the world better in all ways. grassroots campaigns to safeguard Brewing joined Beyond Toxics, That cozy era allowed those of us coastal communities and their Mountain Rose Herbs, and privileged enough to feel watersheds, to decades-long members of the Oregon Organics comfortable in our day-to-day a petitions and negotiations with Coalition in Salem for a special free pass to complacency. electeds to protect more public lobby day. YACHATS BREWERY

Summer 2019 Volume 46, Number 2 14 Migrations

HILLARY BARBOUR MELLIE PULLMAN aybe you heard of the Tony for fully embracing outdoors lifestyle hashtag retirement, he left some big shoes The spring proved to be a time of #vanlifeM when it exploded on to fill. Gamely stepping in to the changing weather and a changing social media in the last few years. financial fray is our new finance of the guard for the Oregon Wild Well, it seems that our former manager Ellen Yarnell! With board. After four years of service a finance staffer, Tony Mounts, decades of for-profit and non- piece, Hillary Barbour, Danielle noticed. After two-plus years of profit accounting under her belt Grabiel, and Mellie Pullman are keeping our financial house in and a real passion for Mother all leaving the Oregon Wild order, Tony took off for Mexico in Earth, Ellen is a perfect fit at board. Each of these fantastic his camper van on an epic road Oregon Wild. When not in the women brought their own passion trip. While it was hard to blame office you can find her getting her and expertise to the board and we permaculture on in her home food wish them well in future TONY MOUNTS forest and garden. endeavors (and know that they DARCIE MEIHOFF ELLEN YARNELL will continue to support our DANIELLE GRABIEL efforts to keep it wild).

At our May meeting, we welcomed two new voices to the Oregon Wild board. Fresh off a ten-year run serving on the board of the Forest Park Conservancy, marketing industry veteran Darcie Meihoff is ready to make an immediate impact. She has a passion for the outdoors (she led the communications effort on the successful Outdoor School for All ballot measure) and we are eager non-profit founder Seth Prickett. helps to build schools in Ghana. to get her communications mind After a decade running political He brings a wealth of knowledge working on behalf of wild places campaigns and working in the of the state’s inner-workings and and critters. Joining the board Capitol, Seth now spends his time a desire to see the environment with Darcie, is political consultant as a real estate agent and founder/ move up the priority list for turned real estate agent/local operator of Framework elected officials. Welcome to both business owner/philanthropist/ International, a non-profit that Darcie and Seth!

15 Summer 2019 Volume 46, Number 2 5825 N. Greeley Ave. Portland, OR 97217

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Printed on recycled paper with vegetable based ink. PHOTO CONTEST OUTDOOR 2019 four main categories (see Outdoor Photo Contest’s annualphotos inthe15th and abilities canenter Photographers of allages Outdoor Photo Contest. entering annual the15th a future simply by and helpgivethem and us wildlife rivers, andprecious vibrant forests, dynamic our stunningpeaks, help usput thefocus on photographer, youcan amateur orprofessional Whether you'rean Outdoor Program. our2019 through diverse ancient forests special hikesinOregon's focus thisyearalongwith special photo contest We're celebrating witha generations tocome. protected for old-growth forests are ensure ourmature and Wild hasworkedto last 45years,Oregon O midnight. at 6,2019 September dueAll submissions by many lives.Overthe ur forests have lived

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