Crater Lake wilderness expansion proposed

Groups hope to create 90-mile stretch of protected forest in southern Cascades.

KLAMATH FALLS — Environmental groups concerned about proposals for logging and helicopter tours near Crater Lake National Park have launched a campaign to expand wilderness areas near the nation’s deepest lake.

Oregon Wild, Environmental Oregon, Umpqua Watersheds and the Crater Lake Institute are among the groups recommending that more than 500,000 acres be designated wilderness in a 90-mile corridor around and in the park, the Herald and News reported.

The total includes 170,000 acres in the park that has been managed as wilderness since the mid-1970s.

Leading Edge Aviation of Bend has a pending proposal for helicopter tours while the U.S. Forest Service has timber sales proposed near the park.