Oregon Wildblog

Coming Together: An International Women's Day Celebration

Earlier this week, Oregon Wild staff gathered with community leaders from all across Portland to celebrate International Women’s Day! Attendees heard from a variety of inspiring women (and girl) leaders who are fighting every day for environmental protection, economic and social justice, and equality for all. Speakers ranged from local Northeast Portland community leaders, to national and global justice advocates.

Super-Minority Report

Yesterday, Oregon’s legislative session ended abruptly, cut short because the state Republican super-minority walked out 11 days ago and never returned to vote on legislation or budgets. It appears that legislative walkouts are quickly becoming normalized in Oregon politics. This is particularly troubling for future conservation legislation, which the GOP super-minority and their donors have expressed increased hostility to in recent years. The future of the historic agreement between conservation groups and the logging industry is now an open question.

The forests of Northeast Oregon are calling...

This piece originally appeared in the Eugene Weekly on February 27, 2020.

Where in Oregon can you find peaks over 9,000 feet and a canyon more than a mile deep… within a few miles of each other? Where can you chase wildflowers in bloom 7 months of the year, see golden eagles soaring, hear the howl of wild wolves, and fish for salmon that traveled hundreds of miles? For lovers of all things wild and beautiful, Wallowa Country is calling your name!

Oregon Clearcuts Endanger Salmon Even More Than You Think

The impacts of industrial forestry, especially clearcuts, on salmon are well known. Clearcutting the upper reaches of watersheds heats the cold water salmon need to survive, as do Oregon’s scientifically insufficient buffers along larger waterways. Roads and denuded slopes also cause artificial peak stream flows in the decade after clearcutting that can scour out fish eggs, and increase sediment runoff into waterways, filling them with mud and debris that cloud clean water and make it harder for salmon to feed.

Winter Coast Range Hiking

This time of year (late fall, early winter) can be challenging as far as where to go on a hike. If you’re like me, it takes a real mental effort to gear up and go outside when it’s cold and rainy. But just because it’s foggy in the Willamette Valley doesn’t mean it is everywhere. Surprisingly, it can be really nice on the Oregon coast this time of year - I recommend watching the weather there and then going for a hike where it is usually warmer than the valley - and sometimes even sunny!

River Lovers to Oregon Senators: Go Big!

The energy in the air was palpable. Over 100 people left their places of work for a lunch hour forum at the Mazamas building in SE Portland to show their support for Wild & Scenic Rivers in the presence of Oregon’s two Senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. Organizing parties were nervous about good turnout for this pre-holiday, weekday event, but all doubts disappeared long before the event began. Standing room only - and the Senators hadn’t even arrived. Mingling with the expanding attendees, it became clear how many diverse interests were represented.

A Bike Tour of the Giants

The redwoods in Stout Grove were skyscrapers of trees, towering over our bicycles like great living monoliths. Beneath them, we seemed inconsequential--silly almost--trying at times to awkwardly ride with faces upturned seeking glimpses of the green peaks.