FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Mount Hood Wilderness Plan Unveiled in Senate

Oregonians praise plan to preserve Oregon icons, Mount Hood and

Conservation groups today praised Senator Ron Wyden’s and Senator Gordon Smith’s introduction of a new Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act and called on Oregon’s elected officials to work to pass the strongest possible Mount Hood plan before summer.

Building on momentum created during last year’s legislative session, Oregon’s senators have crafted a plan that will permanently protect some of the last wildlands and pristine rivers around Mount Hood and the Columbia Gorge.  The legislation would safeguard approximately 128,000 acres of Wilderness and 81 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers.

“We are optimistic that, with a more conservation-minded Congress, the path to protecting places like Roaring River and Boulder Lake will be easier than in years past,” stated Erik Fernandez of Oregon Wild, formerly Oregon Natural Resources Council.

“Congress should pass a strong Mount Hood Wilderness bill this spring, so that this summer Oregonians can head out and explore amazing places like Bonney Butte knowing that they will be preserved for future generations,” said Susan Ash of the Audubon Society of Portland.

Over the last three years the Oregon congressional delegation has laid the groundwork for this Wilderness legislation with summits, listening sessions, and proposals.

 “Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge are two of Oregon’s most beloved icons, and the entire Oregon congressional delegation agrees that we should protect these special places as Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers,” Fernandez said.

Mike McCarthy, an orchardist in the Hood River Valley, said “We encourage Oregon’s congressional delegation to preserve the Tilly Jane area on the quiet north side of Mount Hood for the clean drinking water it provides the citizens of Hood River.”

In addition to protecting clean drinking water, providing high-quality wildlife habitat, and maintaining opportunities for solitude, the preservation of Oregon’s mature forests plays an important role in the effort to curb global warming. Protection of biologically diverse forests like those in Fifteenmile Creek and Larch Mountain will combat global warming by keeping these carbon-storing forests standing for perpetuity.

Additional information and pictures of the proposed Wilderness areas mentioned above are available from Oregon Wild.

Oregon Wild          Friends of the Columbia River Gorge

Audubon Society of Portland     Oregon Council of Trout Unlimited.

###