Senators propose Wild Rogue Wilderness expansion

Conservationists, businesses cheer as protections for iconic river move forward.

Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have introduced legislation today that will add 60,000 acres of new wilderness to the existing Wild Rogue Wilderness area along the lower Rogue River.

The bill, which is similar to legislation U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Springfield, introduced in the House earlier this year, would also protect an additional 143 miles of tributaries that feed into the Rogue.

The Rogue Wilderness Area Expansion Act of 2011 adds 60,000 new acres of wilderness to the existing Wild Rogue Wilderness area. The river is one largest salmon fisheries in Oregon and one of the few rivers in the nation that is a natural spawning ground for green sturgeon.

The protection of the tributaries feeding into the Rogue will protect those spawning grounds along with those of coho, Chinook, and steelhead.

Protecting the Rogue River has the support of over 100 local and regional businesses and organizations. The Rogue is a hub for outdoor recreation drawing thousands of visitors from around the world and it is one of Oregon's most important sport and commercial fisheries supporting roughly 450 jobs in nearby communities.

The river was identified in 2008 by American Rivers as the second most endangered river in the U.S.