Senator Merkley rafts Molalla River

Looking to experience the river that would benefit from a Senate bill he's sponsoring, Merkley made a trip down the Molalla River on Tuesday

As Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) urges his fellow U.S. senators to support the Molalla River Wild and Scenic bill, he’ll be able to give first-hand testimony.

Merkley and his staff visited the Molalla River Corridor on Tuesday and took a mile-long rafting trip starting above the Glen Avon Bridge.

"Senator Merkley deserves credit for coming out to experience the Molalla River in all its glory and to see how protecting this natural treasure will be good for the local economy,” said Erik Fernandez, wilderness coordinator for Oregon Wild.

The Molalla River Alliance, an all-volunteer, nonprofit conservation group founded in 2008, hosted Merkley’s visit.

“I hope that you agree with the rest of us that this is clearly one of Oregon’s storied rivers,” MRA President Mike Moody said to Merkley.

MRA and the various organizations represented within it have been urging Congress to grant federal Wild and Scenic status to a publicly-owned portion of the Molalla River.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a Molalla River bill sponsored by Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-Molalla, Canby) last November, so now the river’s Wild and Scenic status awaits approval from the Senate.

On Tuesday afternoon, guides from Blue Sky Rafting led three rafts on a quick journey down the Molalla River. Joining Merkley on the trip were several of his staff members, Clackamas County Commissioner Ann Lininger and various Molalla River Alliance members.

After the trip, they gathered at Moody’s residence, known as Fish Camp, for a briefing.

“I look forward to hopefully celebrating with you all down the road,” Merkley said.

Read  more in next week’s edition of the Molalla Pioneer.