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Oregon Wild Blog RSSElk vs. owl?
Thoughts on the "Certification Thin" in the McKenzie Ranger District - which logs an old forest to benefit elk.
Going on field trips with the Forest Service can be fun, and always informative. Sometimes they are to projects we generally can support, like thinning in younger, previously managed forest stands. And sometimes they are to areas that we'd prefer the agency leave alone, like the D-bug project.
Today I visited the "Certification Thin" on the McKenzie Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest. To be honest, I didn't like this project going in. It's just 65 acres and is intended to benefit elk and deer that need open areas with shrubs and other understory plants to thrive. Sounds ok so far, right? Unfortunately, this small patch of forest is prime older forest habitat for other species that need things that are very different from elk - namely big trees and a denser canopy.
Wild Watchings - Vol. 2
Money in motion, rare wildlife, the legislation-conservation dance, and Oregon wildflowers
Money makes the world (and conservation) go round
Federal stimulus money is going to fund the removal of the Gold Ray dam on the Rogue River. Similar to the Elk Creek dam, recently removed thanks to a decades long struggle by Oregon Wild and others, the Gold Ray dam project has recently done little more than cost the state money and hinder salmon and steelhead spawning streams. The dam may finally be removed to the great relief of Oregon Wild and many salmon and steelhead.
In the same vein, Sisters Rocks (not that Sisters...this one is a little further south) has recently become a state park thanks to the portion of lottery funds dedicated to salmon and parks. Just south of Port Orford on Highway 101, this unpopulated, hidden sea cave makes for a fun and beautiful outing in a new small coastal park.
Taking one for the Team
One of the tough parts of the job at Oregon Wild are those terrible trips into the field!
Earlier this month I had what might have been the best two week stretch of my short tenure at Oregon Wild. I had to go to Diamond Lake just north of Crater Lake National Park. Then I had to go to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming!
In reality, the Crater Lake trip was a bit of a bummer -- we were there checking out the D-Bug Timber Sale -- but this is to be a bummer-free blog, so I’ll focus on my trip to Wyoming.
Oregon Wild is part of a loose coalition of about 20 organizations called The Western Wolf Coalition. After being extirpated, the goal of the coalition is to return wolves to their rightful place in the landscape of the American West.
Coming all the way from Portland, made us the most distant group in attendance, and I like to think that our attendance was mutually beneficial.
Wild Watchings - Vol. 1
A look at the day's news from the "wild side": Waldo motors staying or going, PCT inspiration, Oregon's logging lore, and wild rivers.
Waldo Lake Ban Tries to Keep the Peace
With its clarity and tranquility, Waldo Lake is a magnificent example of the beautiful waters of Oregon. But the effort to protect it from pollution continues after a federal magistrate ruled in April that the Forest Service may not have the authority to create and enforce a ban on internal combustion motors on the lake.
The pristine lake has been the topic of this on-going debate for years now as many of the lake's visitors and supporters have worked to gain protection for its scenic beauty. A serene example of Oregon's natural beauty, Waldo Lake is mainly used as a place for camping, horseback riding, kayaking, and more. While the Forest Service may not have the authority, The Oregonian editorial board suggests that the state of Oregon should step up to keep the lake clean and pristine. With the previous movement halted because of the Forest Service's apparent lack of authority, the Oregonian proposes that the state step up to the plate and institute the gas motor ban once more.
Of counties and clear-cuts
Will Lane County’s move away from old-growth logging advocates signal a changing landscape in local government policy?
For a century, when the Forest Service sold the trees on public forestlands to a private firm for the purpose of logging (aka: a timber sale), local counties have gotten a cut of the proceeds. On 2.2 million acres of Bureau of Land Management forest in western Oregon the take for Oregon counties can be as high as 75 percent.
Historically, the direct funneling of money from timber sales to county coffers has made elected officials in Oregon counties big cheerleaders for big timber and the old-growth logging that has marked much of Oregon’s history. In fact, the Josephine County Sheriff’s Department logo sports the image of a three-log truck heading down the road—as if the job of local law enforcement was solely tied to protecting timber profits.
Kids, Wonder, & Politics
Thanks to people power, a place that inspires wonder gains a measure of protection.
Soon after graduating from college, I lucked out and landed my first job teaching outdoor education at OMSI's Cascade Science School just outside of Bend.
Inspiring wonder in kids who have wii's, camera phones, and credit cards might seem like a tall task. However, places like the Metolius, Fort Rock, Mt. Thielsen, and Crater Lake made that part of the job pretty easy! Getting 30 "inspired kids" to wash their dishes was another matter.
So while I'm not sure how much wonder destination resorts inspire, I can tell you that when kids see a river apparently bubbling up from nowhere, that gets them excited. The Metolius is truly a unique and special place -- one that Oregonians of all ages care deeply about.
There are lots of places in Oregon where a supposed "green" destination resort might be welcomed. However, it was clear that the Metolius is not one of them.
Live blogging SalmonAid Day 2
Ready to take up our spot in Jack London Square for Round 2.
9:31 am
Going with some lighter clothes as we prepare for the day. Seems like sun will be shining just as strong as yesterday. Looking forward to more conversations with interested folks.
As things were winding down last night I had the chance to talk to an interested couple of folks who had just traveled through Oregon and wanted to know what the story was with all the clear cuts. Unfortunately, Oregon is not only known for good camping spots (which I have heard alot) but also for rampant scarred hillsides.
The clear-cuts did lead us to an interesting discussion about harnessing the power and interest of rural communities to get work done in the forest that would improve conditions and restore the forest. We were essentially talking about the Siuslaw model and these two Californians had stumbled across it just by thinking about it for a little while. No wonder we call it the Common Sense vision.
On our way to Jack London soon.
Live blogging SalmonAid
A day spent celebrating and raising awareness for salmon.
The second year of SalmonAid is also Oregon Wild's second year of participation. The SalmonAid festival is the largest gathering of West Coast salmon advocates in the country and brings together conservationists, tribes, commercial fishermen and more. Yours truly, will be manning the Oregon Wild table at the festival while Klamath Campaign Coordinator Ani Kame'enui helps staff the event to keep things running smoothly. Throughout the day today (and tomorrow) I'll try and keep y'all up to date on the SalmonAid happenings.
Walking the Talk
Two of Oregon's leaders walk the talk on roadless. It's time for the folks in DC to do the same!
My first-ever political contribution was to John McCain in 2000. Since then, it’s been a tough eight years for the environment. So, while I make no apologies for my past political inclinations, I was proud in 2008 to cast a vote for hope and change.
I knew I wasn’t going to get everything I wanted or hoped for overnight. I didn’t expect President Obama to ride a unicorn at the inauguration parade or for rainbows and butterflies to experience a renaissance a la “jib-jab”.
I’ve seen the West Wing, so I understood that a new administration can only take on so much at one time, and I understand that Western public lands probably isn’t the first thing President Obama or Rahm Emmanuel think about when they wake up in the morning. However, Barack Obama made one promise on public lands, and he made it here in Oregon – to uphold and defend roadless protections. (of note, the West Wing series makes an inordinate number of references to the Beaver State)
Though the intent of the 2001 Roadless Rule is clear – to protect our last pristine wild areas from destructive development – roadless policy has become muddled. Ongoing court cases, state processes, and lots of moving pieces make it a complicated issue. Until recently, when it came to roadless, the Obama administration, led by Bush administration holdovers, ran on autopilot.
They're doing the dam thing
Crews are well under way removing Savage Rapids Dam on the Rogue River.
Back in September 0f 2008 Oregon Wild celebrated a long and hard fought victory as demolition crews blew up Elk Creek Dam. For decades, the concrete structure sat blocking a tributary of the Rogue River as politician after politician supported the boondoggle of a project that was destined to be a drain on taxpayers and a fish-killer.
It's gone now. Elk Creek and the salmon and steelhead that live there are free.
Down river aways, the process is playing out again.
Elk vs. owl?