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Oregon WildBlog
Oregon Wild Blog RSSNews, notes, trip reports, and the lighter side (of the wilder side) of the Oregon environmental and conservation movement.
Getting to Know Oregon's Wolves
You know the story of Journey and how he became the world's most famous wolf. Now get ready to meet Journey's brothers and sisters.
Many thanks to an anonymous source who compiled and shared these photographs and information.
Fans and followers of Oregon Wild's wildlife conservation efforts know Journey was the name bestowed upon OR-7 last year as the result of Oregon Wild's naming contest for the world's most famous wolf.
And while the Journey moniker has been absolutely apropo for the wandering lone wolf of the Imnaha pack, and has lent the issue of wolf recovery some additional charisma, notoriety, and celebrity voltage as a result, it shouldn't come at the expense of Journey's Canis lupus brothers and sisters with less memorable names, but no less memorable faces.
So, for a round-up of all our radio-collared Oregon wolves, here are the faces we're fighting for every day at Oregon Wild.
Just the Facts: Kathie Durbin
Former Oregon Wild Executive Director Andy Kerr reflects on the passing of journalist Kathie Durbin.
By Andy Kerr
In the mid-1980s the organization now known as Oregon Wild was only a very small group, but despite our size, we resolved to end the logging of old-growth forests in Oregon. At the time, two square miles per week of Oregon's ancient forests were being clearcut.
We were desperate to make news in this pre-internet era, when daily newspapers were the sole papers of community record, and the majority of citizens actually read them.
The Best Process for Removing Klamath River Dams
In a strange twist, the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement (KBRA) has become the greatest impediment to the proposed removal of Klamath River dams.
The billion-dollar KBRA isn't going anywhere, gives false hope to interests which would benefit from it, and is causing state and federal agencies to ignore worsening conditions for wildlife and endangered species in the basin for fear of upsetting the deal.
As long as there appears to be some hope for the KBRA and the money that would come with it in Congress, government agencies and stakeholders in the Klamath Basin will continue to allow PacifiCorp to continue with their fish-killing status quo. No Act of Congress is necessary to remove the dams.
Water-Starved Klamath Basin Refuges Forced to Drain Marshes
Klamath-area National Wildlife Refuges are being forced to drain massive amounts of water, while nothing is being asked of industrial irrigators.
By Wendell Wood
It has come to our attention Lower Klamath and Tule Lake NWRs are being required to deliver 5,600 acre feet of water from the refuge to the Klamath River. The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) maintains this is being done so the agency won't have to otherwise release additional water from Upper Klamath Lake.
While the BOR claims it needs to do so to maintain Upper Klamath lake levels for endangered species purposes, it is also doing so for the principal purpose of "recharging" the lake to its maximum elevation prior to the onset of the 2013 irrigation season.
Concerns Regarding Governor Kitzhaber's O&C Lands Timber Proposal
Some points to keep in mind when discussing or reporting on O&C lands in the wake of Gov. Kitzhaber's timber proposal to Oregon's congressional delegation.
Governor John Kitzhaber sent a letter to the Oregon congressional delegation on February 6th summarizing the results of his O&C forest panel, with his recommendations for moving forward.
Set forth below are several concerns, perspectives, and questions Oregon Wild has related to the governor's proposal, which we hope Oregon Wild members, conservationists, bloggers and journalists should keep in mind.
The Oregon Wild "Get Rich Quick" Scheme
How the Equal Access to Justice Act is used to batter conservation groups...while industry gets a pass.
I've written on this topic once before on the Oregon WildBlog, but a recent article in the agriculture journal Capital Press has me thinking about it once again.
The issue: The Equal Access to Justice Act and the very loud claims made by a small few over the supposed desire for environmental advocates to line their pockets by suing the federal government and getting paid back in attorney's fees.
To be clear, we don't get rich here at Oregon Wild by suing the feds...but we do keep our state a richer place by protecting special places that all taxpayers own by (sometimes) dragging the feds into court.
That's why headlines like this one bother me:
"Environmental group gets attorney fees in case it lost"
After the Vote: With Determination and Hope
Executive Director Sean Stevens takes a moment to talk about how Tuesday's election results affect Oregon Wild, our issues, initiatives, and plans for moving forward.
By Sean Stevens
Executive Director, Oregon Wild
As Oregon Wild supporters and followers, you know elections matter for our environment. Policy differences at the federal and local level can have serious consequences for the health of our public lands, the purity of our drinking water, and the survival of our most threatened wildlife.
Last night's election had big implications for the wildlands, wildlife, and waters we cherish – and the outcome gives us reason to celebrate today.
But we also know our advocacy for the environment doesn’t stop after we’ve mailed in our ballot. President Obama’s reelection should remind us of the hopes we had for his presidency four years ago, and the mixed bag of environmental policies he has implemented. To achieve lasting protections for our most special places and to safeguard our natural inheritance, the real work begins now.
Wolves are in the Fight of Their Lives
Cowardly political tactics have endangered wildlife on the ropes
This e-mail was sent to the Oregon Wild Wolf Pack and posted to the Oregon Wolves Facebook Page yesterday:
Dear Oregon Wild Supporter,
I’m currently in Wallowa County – Oregon’s wolf country. The sun has just finished rising over Idaho’s Seven Devil’s Mountains, and a bluebird sky frames the Eagle Cap Wilderness. Somewhere on the Zumwalt Prairie, the Imnaha Pack may be stirring after a chilly night. It’s a setting much better suited for good news, but the clock is ticking for wolves and wildlife across America.
In the next 48 hours wolves could be the first victims in an unprecedented attack on the Endangered Species Act. It may be a long shot to stop it, but if there was ever a time to take action, this is it. Please call your Senator and the White House and tell them to stand up for wolves:
Senator Wyden: 503. 326.7525
Senator Merkley: 503.326.3386
The White House: 202.456.1111
If you’re not from Oregon, find and call your Senator here: 877.762.8762
After last weeks budget deal was announced, journalists and politicians alike headed home for some well-deserved sleep. Advocates for NPR, Planned Parenthood, and wildlife slept well after being promised that all non-budget-related “riders” had been stripped from the deal reached between politicians in Washington DC.
The next day, with we discovered at least one remained.
Alphabet Soup
If it wasn’t so serious, it’d be tempting to LOL at what’s going on in DC.
They say that if you sat a bunch of monkeys down in front of a bunch of typewriters, they’d eventually write Shakespeare. I wonder how long it would take them to write what’s on the minds of conservationists these days:
Politicians in DC are using the CR to undermine the ESA & CWA, gut NPR, give free reign to ORV’s, impede enforcement of NEPA, defund CEQ, and eliminate the LWCF. Heck, it’s not just the R’s. Even D’s supported by LCV are messing up NFMA.
I’d be willing to guess that much like the Shakespeare monkeys, even many of you who were willing to muddle through that last paragraph aren’t sure of what it all means.
Sadly, it means bad news for anyone who likes to breathe air, drink clean water, enjoy wild landscapes and appreciate native wildlife. Sadder still, it’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Click here to take action to ensure your elected leaders don’t play politics with critical environmental protections, and continue past the break to learn more.
Sticks & Stones
Sticks & Stone may break my bones, but words (and bullets) hurt too.
If you’ve been paying any attention to political discourse in this country – especially when it comes to wildlife issues – you may find truth in the saying “ignorance is bliss”.
Upsetting rhetoric coming from fearful anti-wildlife interests is pretty common and to be expected from blog posts, anonymous forums, and radical websites. However, as I compiled the latest wolf-related news for fellow conservationists, there seemed to be a common theme. Angry rhetoric is starting to show up in disturbing places.
Champion Western Red Cedar Tree