The Clackamas River is a favorite destination for outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Anglers, hunters, rafters, hikers, and mushroom hunters all enjoy the natural bounty the watershed provides. Although, perhaps the most important role the Clackamas River watershed plays is as the drinking water source for 185,000 Oregonians.

Unfortunately, the Clackamas River watershed faces several threats. The proposed Palomar Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) pipeline is the most disconcerting. LNG is a significant climate change pollutant, with overall emissions comparable to coal. The current aim of big energy utility companies like NW Natural is to transport LNG from the middle east to the mouth of the Columbia River by ship and then build pipelines crossing the Willamette valley and the Clackamas watershed all the way to the east side of the Cascades near Maupin. The section that would cross the Mount Hood National Forest would result in a 40-mile long clear-cut spanning the entire Clackamas watershed. The pipeline clear-cut would bisect not one, not two, but three Wild & Scenic Rivers—including the newly protected Wild & Scenic Fish Creek. In addition to destroying fish habitat the 40-mile long gash in the forest would degrade drinking water quality for 185,000 Oregonians.

By focusing on truly renewable energy sources and appropriately citing any future energy transmission corridors, we can protect this unique and scenic area.

Take action to keep the red line from becoming a brutal reality.

(click on the map to see a larger image)