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Conservationists, Timber Leaders Strike Deal on Rogue River Protections

Agreement removes last hurdle to Wild Rogue Wilderness protections moving forward

Groups hope 2010 will be the last rafting season for an unprotected Wild Rogue Wilderness.

They say the third time’s a charm. After legislation to protect the Rogue River stalled in Congress in 2008 and 2009 conservationists are announcing an agreement today that they hope will pave the way towards making 2010 the year that the Wild Rogue Wilderness is forever protected. Following negotiations earlier this year between environmental groups and the American Forest Resources Council, timber industry leaders agreed to drop their opposition to protections for the old-growth forests that surround the famed Rogue River.

“With this agreement, we’ve done our part,” said Erik Fernandez with the conservation group Oregon Wild. “Wilderness protections for the Wild Rogue are supported by local businesses, anglers, and rafters. Now the Oregon congressional delegation can finish the work they started two years ago when Rogue River legislation was first introduced.”

The Wild Rogue Wilderness would protect 58,000 acres of Wilderness on Bureau of Land Management forestland surrounding a stretch of the world famous Rogue River popular with rafters and anglers. While a narrow strip along the Rogue River itself is protected as a Wild & Scenic River (designated in 1968 as one of the original waterways protected under the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act), the majority of the lands surrounding the river remain unprotected. Wilderness designation is the gold standard for public lands protection and can only be granted by Congress

“When we first had a bill before Congress to protect the Rogue watershed 40 years after the river itself was initially protected, we thought it would make a great anniversary present,” added Kavita Heyn, with American Rivers. “We may be off by two years, but protections for this Oregon treasure are better late than never.”

In addition to the Wilderness protections, 93 miles of new Wild & Scenic Rivers would be designated. These tributary streams provide the backbone of one of the healthiest salmon and steelhead runs in the state. Similar Rogue legislation was introduced in Congress in 2008 and 2009. The original bill is thought to have fallen short due to lack of support from former U.S. Senator Gordon Smith. Current Senator Jeff Merkley won his seat in November 2008 after a campaign in which he expressed support for protecting the Rogue River.

The new Wilderness agreement would fully prevent destructive logging, mining, and other development that has threatened the area. Currently, only 4% of Oregon is protected as Wilderness, while neighbors Idaho (8%), Washington (10%), and California (15%) have protected far more.

More information on the campaign to Save the Wild Rogue, including contact information for over 60 business and conservation partners, can be found at www.savethewildrogue.org.

View a map of the proposed Wild Rogue Wilderness.

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