Photo by S. Harding
You can help save Wellington Wildlands!
Writing letters or emails to our public officials and agencies about a public lands issue is a great idea if it has solid information or fact-based concerns.
Below is a recent letter to Senator Wyden sent by the Wellington Wildlands Council, and also information about the River Democracy Act that we support. See below for contact information for government agencies and representatives, and partner organizations working to protect wildlands.
Below is a recent letter to Senator Wyden sent by the Wellington Wildlands Council, and also information about the River Democracy Act that we support. See below for contact information for government agencies and representatives, and partner organizations working to protect wildlands.
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Support the River Democracy Act
In February of 2021, Senator Ron Wyden introduced the River Democracy Act, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect 4,700 miles of new Wild & Scenic River designations across Oregon. This visionary piece of legislation is the result of a nearly two-yearlong grassroots nomination and vetting process where students, anglers, outfitters, whitewater paddlers, and river lovers of all stripes submitted over 15,000 nominations for rivers and streams to be considered for protection. These new Wild & Scenic designations will protect clean drinking water sources, safeguard fish and wildlife habitat, bolster our state's outdoor recreation economy, and so much more.
Many residents in the Applegate Valley support the proposed Wild and Scenic River nominations in the Applegate River watershed and appreciate efforts to secure long-term protections for these important watersheds. We specifically support these protections because we are lifelong hikers, campers, and users of our beautiful waterways and wildlands. We are very concerned about climate change and wildfires and feel that our forests and waterways can help to mitigate these effects if we preserve, wisely manage, and protect them.
Applegate Neighborhood Network (ANN) and their partners at Klamath Forest Alliance (KFA) identified 200 miles of streams eligible for Wild & Scenic River protections in the Applegate River watershed.
Their proposal includes three separate river segments spread throughout the Applegate River Watershed, including (1) the proposed Headwaters of the Applegate Wild & Scenic River, (2) the Applegate Wild & Scenic River, and (3) the Slate Creek Wild & Scenic River. Currently these spectacular streams are proposed for designation in the 2021 River Democracy Act.
1. The proposed Headwaters of the Applegate Wild and Scenic River includes the over 85 miles of the wildest streams in the Applegate River watershed including the Middle Fork Applegate River, Butte Fork Applegate River, and Elliott Creek.
2. The proposed Applegate Wild & Scenic River would include numerous tributary streams spread across the Applegate River watershed. The proposal includes over 105 miles of stream representing nearly all the major ecosystems found in the Applegate Watershed from the Siskiyou Crest to the Applegate Foothills. The proposal includes streams in Carberry Creek, the Upper Applegate River, Little Applegate River, and Middle Applegate River watersheds.
3. Slate Creek is the first major tributary to the Applegate River. Located near Wilderville and Wonder, the headwaters of Slate Creek flow through US Forest Service land in a deep red-rock canyon. Although relatively obscure and unknown, Slate Creek flows cold and clear through the beautiful Slate Creek Roadless Area. The proposal includes the upper portions of Slate Creek, Cedar Log Creek, and Buckeye Creek.
Relevant articles and news
https://applegateneighborhood.network/for-a-wild-scenic-applegate-river-support-the-river-democracy-act-of-2020/
https://www.kdrv.com/content/news/Oregon-business-sign-letter-in-support-of-the-River-Democracy-Act-575508751.html
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftheoregonway.substack.com%2Fp%2Fkeeping-wild-and-scenic-via-the-river&h=AT3vsXak-QlCH8ohMHyx2fm5xq_UwXvzyfm83idMhbonAsL1Jme0hhyUWhAC8GiPXs-UXm4cQEd3he8_LZ-Sqn4gL5ta7ClUrHwMmI6r82wv0h1iq7JUzI4lw5JI_r9D_GyqLv9JRJn7QQEdzg&s=1 (follow link)
Many residents in the Applegate Valley support the proposed Wild and Scenic River nominations in the Applegate River watershed and appreciate efforts to secure long-term protections for these important watersheds. We specifically support these protections because we are lifelong hikers, campers, and users of our beautiful waterways and wildlands. We are very concerned about climate change and wildfires and feel that our forests and waterways can help to mitigate these effects if we preserve, wisely manage, and protect them.
Applegate Neighborhood Network (ANN) and their partners at Klamath Forest Alliance (KFA) identified 200 miles of streams eligible for Wild & Scenic River protections in the Applegate River watershed.
Their proposal includes three separate river segments spread throughout the Applegate River Watershed, including (1) the proposed Headwaters of the Applegate Wild & Scenic River, (2) the Applegate Wild & Scenic River, and (3) the Slate Creek Wild & Scenic River. Currently these spectacular streams are proposed for designation in the 2021 River Democracy Act.
1. The proposed Headwaters of the Applegate Wild and Scenic River includes the over 85 miles of the wildest streams in the Applegate River watershed including the Middle Fork Applegate River, Butte Fork Applegate River, and Elliott Creek.
2. The proposed Applegate Wild & Scenic River would include numerous tributary streams spread across the Applegate River watershed. The proposal includes over 105 miles of stream representing nearly all the major ecosystems found in the Applegate Watershed from the Siskiyou Crest to the Applegate Foothills. The proposal includes streams in Carberry Creek, the Upper Applegate River, Little Applegate River, and Middle Applegate River watersheds.
3. Slate Creek is the first major tributary to the Applegate River. Located near Wilderville and Wonder, the headwaters of Slate Creek flow through US Forest Service land in a deep red-rock canyon. Although relatively obscure and unknown, Slate Creek flows cold and clear through the beautiful Slate Creek Roadless Area. The proposal includes the upper portions of Slate Creek, Cedar Log Creek, and Buckeye Creek.
Relevant articles and news
https://applegateneighborhood.network/for-a-wild-scenic-applegate-river-support-the-river-democracy-act-of-2020/
https://www.kdrv.com/content/news/Oregon-business-sign-letter-in-support-of-the-River-Democracy-Act-575508751.html
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftheoregonway.substack.com%2Fp%2Fkeeping-wild-and-scenic-via-the-river&h=AT3vsXak-QlCH8ohMHyx2fm5xq_UwXvzyfm83idMhbonAsL1Jme0hhyUWhAC8GiPXs-UXm4cQEd3he8_LZ-Sqn4gL5ta7ClUrHwMmI6r82wv0h1iq7JUzI4lw5JI_r9D_GyqLv9JRJn7QQEdzg&s=1 (follow link)
Contact information for government agencies and officials
The Bureau of Land Management
3040 Biddle Road
Medford, OR 97504
(541) 618-2200
Email: BLM_OR_MD_Mail@blm.gov
Website: https://www.blm.gov/office/medford-district-office
Lauren Brown, Ashland Field Manager
US Forest Service
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
3040 Biddle Road
Medford, OR 975204
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou/
Main Switchboard: (541) 618-2200 (main)
Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District (Star Ranger Station): 541-899-3800 (voice)
Wild Rivers Ranger District (Cave Junction): 541-592-4000 (voice)
Wild Rivers Ranger District (Grants Pass Office): 541-471-6500 (voice)
Gold Beach Ranger District: 541-247-3600 (voice)
High Cascades Ranger District (Prospect Office): 541-560-3400 (voice)
Powers Ranger District: 541-439-6200 (voice)
Congressional Representatives
Senator Jeff Merkley
10 South Bartlett St., Suite 201
Medford, OR 97501
Senator Ron Wyden
Federal Courthouse
310 West 6th St., Room 118
Medford, OR 97501
Congressman Cliff Bentz
14 N. Central Ave., Suite 112
Medford, OR 97501
Oregon State Legislature Representatives
Senator Jeff Golden
900 Court St. NE
S-421
Salem, OR 97301
Email: Sen.JeffGolden@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Pam Marsh
900 Court St. NE
H-375
Salem, OR 97301
Email: rep.pammarsh@oregonlegislature.gov
Jackson County Board of Commissioners
10 South Oakdale, #214
Medford, OR 97501
website: http://jacksoncountyor.org/Board-of-Commissioners/Home
Jackson County Commissioner emails:
Commissioner Rick Dyer: DyerRR@jacksoncounty.org
Commissioner Dave Dotterer: DotterDG@jacksoncounty.org
Commissioner Colleen Roberts: RobertCL@jacksoncounty.org
3040 Biddle Road
Medford, OR 97504
(541) 618-2200
Email: BLM_OR_MD_Mail@blm.gov
Website: https://www.blm.gov/office/medford-district-office
Lauren Brown, Ashland Field Manager
US Forest Service
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
3040 Biddle Road
Medford, OR 975204
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou/
Main Switchboard: (541) 618-2200 (main)
Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District (Star Ranger Station): 541-899-3800 (voice)
Wild Rivers Ranger District (Cave Junction): 541-592-4000 (voice)
Wild Rivers Ranger District (Grants Pass Office): 541-471-6500 (voice)
Gold Beach Ranger District: 541-247-3600 (voice)
High Cascades Ranger District (Prospect Office): 541-560-3400 (voice)
Powers Ranger District: 541-439-6200 (voice)
Congressional Representatives
Senator Jeff Merkley
10 South Bartlett St., Suite 201
Medford, OR 97501
Senator Ron Wyden
Federal Courthouse
310 West 6th St., Room 118
Medford, OR 97501
Congressman Cliff Bentz
14 N. Central Ave., Suite 112
Medford, OR 97501
Oregon State Legislature Representatives
Senator Jeff Golden
900 Court St. NE
S-421
Salem, OR 97301
Email: Sen.JeffGolden@oregonlegislature.gov
Representative Pam Marsh
900 Court St. NE
H-375
Salem, OR 97301
Email: rep.pammarsh@oregonlegislature.gov
Jackson County Board of Commissioners
10 South Oakdale, #214
Medford, OR 97501
website: http://jacksoncountyor.org/Board-of-Commissioners/Home
Jackson County Commissioner emails:
Commissioner Rick Dyer: DyerRR@jacksoncounty.org
Commissioner Dave Dotterer: DotterDG@jacksoncounty.org
Commissioner Colleen Roberts: RobertCL@jacksoncounty.org
Links to partner organizations working to protect wildlands
Applegate Siskiyou Alliance
Applegate Trails Association (ATA)
Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center (KS Wild)
Williams Community Forest Project (WCFP)
Applegate Trails Association (ATA)
Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center (KS Wild)
Williams Community Forest Project (WCFP)