A post circulated on Facebook by the American Forest Resource Council omits and shamelessly fabricates information about the Grasshopper Project and settlement in the Mount Hood National Forest.
AFRC’s accusations deliberately omit key dates. Oregon Wild challenged the Grasshopper Project in June 2023 and settled the case in January 2025.
AFRC’s headline is that litigation “delayed” wildfire prevention. This is not true. Oregon Wild did not seek a preliminary injunction, and therefore, nothing has prevented the agency from taking steps to lay out timber sales and put them up for bid over the course of the last three and a half years. Since our settlement, the Forest Service has had over 18 months to offer timber sales for bid under this project. They have yet to take even this first step.
The exact request in our legal complaint: “Enjoin Defendant and its contractors, assigns, and other agents from proceeding with commercial logging prescriptions within stands or units with age classes of 80 years or older, specifically those areas consisting of late-successional, mature, or old-growth forest that provides northern spotted owl habitat, unless and until the violations of federal law set forth herein have been corrected”
We did not ask the Court to enjoin any non-commercial treatments or commercial treatments in stands under the age of 80. Nothing would have delayed or prevented the Forest Service from proceeding with non-commercial aspects of the project. In fact, information currently available from the Forest Service shows that a substantial amount of fuels reduction has already occurred.
Under the settlement, the Forest Service dropped two old-growth units and committed to diameter limits on trees cut across the rest of the project. This protects the most fire-resistant and fire-resilient trees – many of which will likely survive this fire.
Oregon Wild’s settlement included a commitment to field visits with the Forest Service to visit commercial units pre- and post-implementation. However, when we tried to schedule those visits last fall, the agency’s general counsel said the Forest Service had not completed pre-sale layouts and was not ready to implement and would reach out once it was. We have yet to receive any communication that implementation is contemplated or underway.
AFRC fabricates a statistic that “more than 25 million board feet” have been “destroyed.” There has been no analysis of fire intensity or tree mortality to base any figures on. It will be several months before any type of valid analysis can be conducted.
A fuels and fire behavior advisory, issued by federal forecasters on July 28, noted that a combination of historically low snowpack and high temperatures laid the groundwork for fires to burn hotter, faster and for longer periods of time than would normally be the case. Oregon snowpack levels and high temps are not a result of litigation.
Oregon Wild is not opposed to smaller diameter thinning and prescribed fire – especially in fire-suppressed forests that could benefit from ecologically appropriate restoration. However, the original Grasshopper project proposal contained prescriptions that would increase fire risk. Commercial logging that removes canopy cover creates hotter and drier conditions on the forest floor and allows for greater wind speeds, all of which can exacerbate severe fire behavior. Mature and old-growth stands offer greater fire resilience, and often provide refugia for wildlife during and after fires.
AFRC has been a supporter of the Trump administration’s management of the Forest Service, which has included mass layoffs (the Forest Service has lost close to 6,000 permanent staff, or roughly 16% of its personnel), relocations, and reorganizations, which may have delayed the project. These policy changes have also undermined the effectiveness of the agency and the safety of firefighters and communities.
Although AFRC touts commercial logging as the sole solution to wildfire, over 2,500 acres of logging have previously occurred in the fire area, including both older and more recent thinning and clearcutting. It is far too soon to determine how or if any of this past and recent logging modified fire behavior either favorably or unfavorably.
Eugene, OR — In response to a challenge brought by conservation organizations, on Friday, a federal district court halted logging across Late Successional Reserve forests (LSRs) within the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) 42 Divide Project near Camas Valley, Oregon. LSRs are areas designated for protection and development of old-growth habitat and conservation of imperiled species. The Court found likely violations of federal environmental laws and irreparable harm stemming from the project and ordered a stop to logging operations in the LSRs until this case can be fully heard on the merits.
“The public depends on these forests; how the BLM chooses to manage these forests has lasting consequences for local communities as well as the imperiled wildlife that call them home,” said Peter Jensen, Staff Attorney at Cascadia Wildlands. “We are pleased that the Court has halted logging until our clients and the forest can have their day in Court.”
“Like many BLM-managed forests, units of the 42 Divide timber sale are scattered through the community of Camas Valley, sometimes directly adjacent to people’s homes. While we’re glad the court halted all the logging in LSRs, logging in the Harvest Land Base will move forward, even though BLM acknowledges it will increase fire risk for the community,” said Brenna Bell from the Crag Law Center, who is the lead attorney on this case, “We’ll keep fighting in court to get BLM to fully commit to addressing the adverse impacts to public health and safety caused by this project.”
BLM’s 42 Divide Project, which spans nearly 7,000 acres in western Douglas County, authorized logging across multiple land designations, including the Harvest Land Base (HLB) and LSRs. Plaintiffs alleged the project would decimate wildlife habitat and old-growth conditions where it exists today and prevent the forest from developing those conditions where they are not yet present due to the severity of the logging treatments. The Court agreed with Plaintiffs that BLM’s analysis left serious questions about how the project would maintain and develop forest conditions across LSRs in the Project Area, as required by its own management plan.
“LSRs are for conservation. Yet again BLM has sought to squeeze commercial timber volume out of every inch of our public lands, including protected reserves,” said Janice Reid, Conservation Chair for Umpqua Watersheds. “It’s unfortunate that BLM so consistently deprioritizes all other uses of our public forests in the name of heavy industrial logging.”
“The forests in the 42 Divide area are extremely diverse and offer important habitat for many wildlife species, habitat that has already been reduced and heavily fragmented by industrial logging,” said Chandra LeGue with Oregon Wild. “The remaining mature and old-growth forests in this area deserve protections from the kind of aggressive logging favored by the Trump administration. This ruling is an important recognition that BLM cannot ignore environmental policies that protect our wildlife, water sources, and other community values,” LeGue added.
The Court did not resolve questions about the merits of Plaintiffs’ claims centered around the interplay of BLM’s selected logging methods and increased wildfire risks, and uncertainty about the outcomes of this wildfire season remain. But today, with the Court’s order, the majority of the destructive logging within this Project area is enjoined while the legal case proceeds.
Rulemaking claims habitat destruction does not “harm” endangered species
SEATTLE — Conservation groups today sued the Trump administration over its decision to strip endangered species of protections for the places where they live, a decision that contradicts all scientific and legal understanding of the importance of habitat to America’s most vulnerable plants and animals.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service repealed their regulatory definitions of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), paving the way for the modification or degradation of habitat by extractive industries, even if doing so kills or injures imperiled wildlife. The move is illegal, in part because harming species through habitat destruction is prohibited by the ESA’s statutory language. The regulatory definition repealed by the administration had been on the books for 50 years.
The Trump Administration’s rulemaking could immediately impact wildlife including Florida manatees, grizzlies, salmon and steelhead, bird species like rufa red knots, golden-cheeked warblers and northern-spotted owls, Hawaiian monk seals, Canada lynx, and insect pollinators, which allow American farmers to raise crops.
The groups — Center for Biological Diversity, Columbia Riverkeeper, Conservation Law Foundation, Conservation Northwest, Friends of the Wild Swan, Oregon Wild, Sierra Club, Swan View Coalition, and WildEarth Guardians — are being represented by Earthjustice. The lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Seattle, Washington.
“Habitat loss is the leading driver of extinction. By eliminating the harm rule, the Trump Administration is literally attacking vulnerable wildlife where they live,” said John Persell, Staff Attorney at Oregon Wild. “This gutting of the Endangered Species Act is part of a broader assault on our bedrock environmental values. From public lands to wildlife to clean air and drinking water, the Trump administration is determined to waste, loot, and pollute America’s natural heritage.”
“Preventing harm to wildlife by protecting where they live, eat, and sleep is the foundation of the Endangered Species Act,” said Earthjustice attorney Kristen Boyles. “The Trump Administration repeal violates the core purpose of the statute and decades of legal precedent, including from the U.S. Supreme Court. Now more than ever, imperiled species from salmon to marbled murrelets to grizzly bears need habitat protection to survive and recover.”
“It’s beyond tragic that as the world’s scientists warn us of an extinction crisis threatening to unravel our shared future, the Trump administration is yanking basic protections from our most endangered wildlife,” said Noah Greenwald, endangered species co-director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “There’s just no way to protect endangered animals like spotted owls, Florida panthers or grizzly bears without protecting the places they live.”
“Every animal and plant needs a home for food, shelter, and reproduction,” said Dave Werntz, Conservation Northwest’s Science and Conservation Director. “For wildlife trending toward extinction, access to high-quality, ecologically functional and well-connected habitat is essential for survival and recovery.”
“Roads built for logging and other human access destroy grizzly bear habitat and the bear’s ability to safely use its habitat,” said Keith Hammer, Swan View Coalition Chair. “Repealing the harm rule will allow industry to devastate the habitat grizzly bears and many other wildlife species depend on for their survival.”
“Rolling back habitat protections under the Endangered Species Act is tantamount to the Trump Administration’s push to sell off public lands, trading our natural heritage for short-term gain,” said Joanna Zhang, Endangered Species Advocate at WildEarth Guardians. “The danger of rescinding the harm rule is about survival, plain and simple. If we fail to protect habitat, we fail to protect wildlife.”
“The Endangered Species Act was enacted to recover species, not allow habitat destruction,” said Arlene Montgomery, Program Director for Friends of the Wild Swan. “Many species have specific habitat requirements that when not met result in death. Removing the harm rule equals suffering and mortality.”
“The purpose of the Endangered Species Act is not only to protect threatened and endangered species, but to protect the very ecosystems they need to survive,” said Sarah Shahabi, Conservation Law Foundation associate attorney. “This unlawful rule guts long-standing protections and allows for the destruction of habitat to such an extent that vulnerable species like Atlantic salmon will be pushed closer to extinction.”
“Claiming that the Endangered Species Act does not protect the habitat of endangered species is beyond stupid, even for the Trump Administration,” said Miles Johnson, Legal Director for Columbia Riverkeeper.
“Imperiled wildlife cannot thrive without sufficient habitat,” said Ben Greuel, Wildlife Campaign Manager at Sierra Club. “Without the habitat protections offered by the harm rule, countless species would be forced onto a path towards extinction. The Trump administration is trying to build a world where corporate polluters benefit at the expense of our natural heritage, and we will do everything in our power to defend this bedrock law and save our wildlife for future generations.”
Background:
For half a century, the ESA has saved numerous species from extinction, including iconic U.S. wildlife like bald eagles, American bison, polar bears, and humpback whales. One key to this success has been the law’s fundamental definition of harm, which recognizes the common-sense concept that destroying a forest, beach, river, or wetland that a species relies on for survival constitutes harm to that species.
In 1995, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the “harm” definition’s inclusion of habitat destruction. As the ruling explained, that definition was supported by the ordinary meaning of “harm,” the purpose of the ESA, and multiple indications of congressional intent.
Before the new rulemaking, animal and plant species in the U.S. were already running out of places to live, in large part due to habitat destruction, with over one-third of species at risk of extinction. When species disappear, ecosystems become at risk of wide-range collapse. Humans need intact ecosystems too, for everything from agriculture to clean water, from medicine to disease prevention.
The final rulemaking comes amid a series of attacks on the ESA and wildlife by the Trump administration. In November, the Trump administration proposed additional rules that would fundamentally weaken the ESA. President Trump also exempted all oil-and-gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico from needing to comply with the ESA, an unprecedented and unlawful use of the so-called “God Squad” provision.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has reduced the federal workforce responsible for protecting endangered species and managing ecosystems across the country.
More logging, mining, and grazing are the focus of the Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revisions, impacting nearly 5 million acres of public lands in NE Oregon and SE Washington
Today, the Forest Service unveiled a revision to the Blue Mountains Forest Plan, a management proposal that encompasses three National Forests and nearly 5 million acres of public land, primarily located in eastern Oregon. The revisions cover the Malheur, Wallowa-Whitman, and Umatilla National Forests and envision significant changes to management across the region, including the elimination of enforceable standards for protecting fish and wildlife habitat, planning for the removal of Roadless Area protections, and prioritization of industries like logging, mining, and grazing over other values. By eliminating standards and protections, the Forest Service’s preferred alternative anticipates tripling the amount of logging across the landscape.
The plan revisions would impact several well-known areas such as the Wallowa Mountains, Joseph Canyon, the North Fork John Day River, Malheur Canyons, the Elkhorn Crest, and Anthony Lakes. These landscapes include elk, wolverine, moose, great grey owls, and a sizeable portion of the state’s wolf population. The region is also home to salmon, including coho salmon reintroduced by the Nez Perce tribe.
“This plan seeks to open up and pillage one of the wildest places left in the US,” said Lauren Anderson, Climate Forests Campaign Manager for Oregon Wild. “The Trump administration is already taking a hatchet to protections for water, wildlife, and the public’s voice. This plan is that philosophy in action, putting at risk the very values that make the Blue Mountains special.”
The Hells Canyon National Recreation Area (HCNRA) is not included in the plan revisions, though the Morgan Nesbit Forest Resiliency Project – an 86,500-acre logging project that partially covers the HCNRA – is moving forward concurrently with the Blue Mountains Plan Revisions.
The Blue Mountains Forest Plan revision would significantly change the administration of nearly 5 million acres of public lands across the Malheur, Wallowa-Whitman, and Umatilla National Forests.
The Trump Administration’s Blue Mountains proposal would:
Triple commercial logging output from current levels
Eliminate the 21-inch rule that protects large old trees
Reduce protection for riparian areas to allow more logging and grazing
Eliminate road density limits that help ensure elk security habitat
Eliminate protections for 721,000 acres of existing inventoried roadless areas
Increase “targeted” livestock grazing, an unproven method of fuel reduction with serious adverse effects
The revised forest plan for the Blue Mountains proposes to reverse the Eastside Screens and PACFISH/INFISH, which have protected the last intact areas of our National Forests, mature and old-growth trees, and salmon and trout streams, respectively.
“Over the last few decades, we’ve finally started to reverse the damage from decades of exploitation and overharvesting,” said Anderson. “Now, the Trump Administration is reversing all of those protections and going back to the failed logging, mining, and grazing policies that were polluting our streams and pushing ecosystems toward collapse.”
The preferred alternative also presupposes the rescission of the Roadless Rule, opening up previously protected areas to new roads and commercial logging. Roadless Areas that the Forest Service’s proposal would eliminate include Huckleberry Mountain, Bear Creek, Walla Walla River, Cottonwood Creek, Greenhorn Mountain, Glacier Mountain, and Twin Mountain, among many others. Roadless Areas are critical habitat for many species, with new roads and development threatening to spread invasive species, remove and fragment habitat, degrade drinking water, and increase fire risk.
“Most of the new logging proposed under this plan will be happening in Roadless Areas. They are already revving up the chainsaws and bulldozers to carve up these protected areas. The administrative process isn’t even complete!” said Sami Godlove, Central Oregon Field Coordinator for Oregon Wild who has been leading the campaign to protect Roadless Areas. “The Trump administration and logging lobbyists have tried to sell the elimination of the Roadless Rule as something other than a timber-grab. This plan revision exposes that argument as a blatant lie.”
The Forest Service’s preferred alternative also removes protections for large and old trees, and opens the door to commercial logging of old-growth. The first Trump administration attempted to remove these protections – called the 21-inch rule – as a last-minute action before leaving office in 2021. That unlawful proposal was vacated after conservation groups, including Oregon Wild and the Greater Hells Canyon Council, challenged it in court. Research indicates that the large trees targeted by the agency make up just 3% of the trees in the landscape but provide disproportionate ecological benefits, serving as wildlife habitat, cooling waterways, and storing roughly 42% of the above-ground carbon.
“The first draft of this plan was outlined in a series of exclusive planning meetings convened by the agency and industry-aligned politicians,” said Anderson. “It shouldn’t surprise anyone that this plan prioritizes destructive logging, mining, and grazing. It was the cheerleaders for those industries that steered the ship.”
Threatened Forests and Rivers: Cougar Ridge, Magone Lake, and Eagle Creek
The National Forests included in the Blue Mountains Plan Revisions have long been in violation of their own standards for road density. High road densities impact wildlife and drive some species, like elk, out of their preferred habitat. When elk shift out of the National Forests due to road disturbance, they graze on private lands, and can lead to conflict with private landowners. The new revision fails to address this issue and, coupled with new announcements from the Trump administration to eliminate travel management regulations, will increase conflict and harm big game populations.
The plan also fails to address persistent problems with livestock grazing. Conservationists have frequently reported the degradation of mountain meadows and trout streams by livestock, including livestock found in exclosure areas, damage to sensitive streams, springs, and wet meadows, overgrazing, and livestock kept illegally on public lands months beyond permitted grazing seasons. However, there has been little enforcement of these standards and, as a result, Federal rangelands across the Blue Mountains face persistent degradation.
The Forest Service offered a series of public meetings over the two-week period that preceded the unveiling of the official plan revisions. However, these meetings did not offer an opportunity for meaningful public comment since the official proposed plan revisions had not been unveiled. Previous public comment offerings around the process similarly confused the public, as there was not a standardized method to receive public comment, nor was it clear during any of these events that feedback from the public was being invited and on what topics.
The Forest Service is now offering a 90-day comment period to engage on the draft proposal. Conservation organizations are urging the public to learn about the unique features and values of these public lands, and submit comprehensive and substantive comments that demonstrate to agency leaders the need to conserve protections for this landscape.
Salem, Ore., – Reports indicate that Bureau of Land Management Director Steve Pearce will be visiting the Salem Oregon BLM office tomorrow. Pearce was a controversial nominee to lead the BLM because of his strong ties to the oil and gas industry and comments supporting the sale of public lands. A poll last year found that 76% of Oregonians oppose selling off public lands and 72% favored increased protections for mature and old-growth forests.
The BLM manages just under 250 million acres of public land across the US, including roughly 15 million acres in Oregon.
“We welcome Director Pearce to Oregon and hope he has an opportunity to see some of the incredible public lands managed by his agency on behalf of the public,” said Lauren Anderson, Climate Forest Program Director for Oregon Wild. “We hope he has an opportunity to speak with a variety of public lands users, and not just logging executives and political donors. Tens of thousands of Oregonians have expressed alarm over the BLM’s proposal to maximize logging and gut protections for old-growth forests across western Oregon. These are public lands, managed on behalf of all Americans, not just the timber lobby.”
In February of this year, the Trump Administration published a notice of proposed revisions for management plans that encompass Western Oregon Bureau of Land Management (BLM) forests, seeking to eliminate old-growth and wildlife protections in order to facilitate “maximum” logging capacity across nearly 2 million acres of public lands. The proposal includes reducing logging buffers for endangered fish, potentially eliminating old-growth reserves, and expanded clearcutting and similar aggressive logging practices, which the agency has previously acknowledged increase fire risk.
BLM Lands and Logging Projects: Silver Lining and Nails Creek
The notice suggests the proposal will include:
Nearly 2 million acres of public lands with reduced protections targeted for logging, including old-growth forests and other lands previously set aside for conservation
Shrinking logging buffers around rivers and streams to 25-100 feet, scientifically insufficient to protect endangered fish like coho salmon and steelhead
Placing logging above all other public lands uses, like recreation, wildlife habitat, and drinking water, in violation of the O&C Lands Act of 1937 and subsequent environmental laws and court rulings
BLM manages scattered parcels across western Oregon, which contain some of the last remaining low-elevation old-growth forests in the state. Notable areas threatened by the proposal include parts of the Sandy River and North Fork Clackamas, the Valley of the Giants, the Upper Molalla River, Mary’s Peak, Crabtree Valley, Alsea Falls, and many more. See a map.
After finalizing its 2016 Resource Management Plans for Western Oregon, which withdrew BLM lands from the Northwest Forest Plan and significantly weakened conservation protections, the agency began to propose increasingly aggressive logging projects. Oregon Wild and other conservation groups in Oregon have challenged numerous BLM logging proposals in recent years that have targeted mature and old-growth forests.
Threatened Forests and Rivers on Western Oregon BLM Lands
Courts have sided with conservation groups, most recently the high-profile Blue and Gold logging project. These court cases have highlighted that, even under the significantly weaker safeguards of the 2016 RMPs, the agency has regularly violated its own rules and bedrock environmental laws in order to facilitate commercial logging projects. In recent litigation, the BLM has even been accused by those who worked for the agency of fabricating analysis that would allow more aggressive logging.
Eugene, OR — Late yesterday, the US District Court ruled the Blue and Gold timber sale project on Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-administered land west of Yoncalla, Oregon, violated a suite of bedrock environmental laws and halted any further logging. Conservation organizations have vociferously opposed the 3,200-acre logging proposal, which contains many old-growth forest units, for more than six years.
“Wild, ancient forests, like those targeted for logging in the Blue and Gold project, are exactly the type of places our public land agencies should be protecting to provide clean drinking water, refuges for imperiled wildlife, and natural fire resilience,” said John Persell, Senior Staff Attorney for Oregon Wild. “Instead of managing for these values for the whole public, the BLM and the Trump administration are trying to exploit these precious and rare forests for maximum, short-term benefits of just a few logging corporations.”
On Tuesday, plaintiffs Cascadia Wildlands, Oregon Wild, and Umpqua Watersheds filed for a temporary restraining order after volunteers discovered illegal old-growth logging in the timber sale area, something the BLM said would not happen, both in its planning documents and in court. However, yesterday’s ruling — a decision on the entirety of the lawsuit originally filed in September 2024 — superseded the request for a restraining order. The court determined that the agency violated the Federal Land Policy and Management Act by failing to comply with its own requirement to retain old-growth trees, defined as at least 40” in diameter and more than 175 years old.
“Concerned community members worked tirelessly to document in detail the old-growth present in these forests and, in doing so, saved this unique area from the chopping block,” said Nick Cady, Legal Director at Cascadia Wildlands. “The Court’s recognition of their contributions and condemnation of the BLM’s dismissal of these efforts is an enormous relief and is also a reminder of the critically important role the public plays in the oversight of these outstanding public forestlands.”
The Court also ruled the agency failed to take a “hard look” at forest conditions in the contested area, including old-growth forests that dominate many of the proposed logging units, a violation of the National Environmental Policy Act. Due to the significance of the timber sale project and its impacts on old-growth forests and endangered species, including the northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet, the Court ruled that the BLM should have prepared an in-depth Environmental Impact Statement to more fully analyze the timber sale project’s impacts on the environment.
“It was the hard work of community members who care deeply about these forests that brought to light the agency’s shortcomings in approving this ill-conceived, unlawful project. As the Court found, if the agency wants to log our public forests, it has an obligation to show how it is going to protect the oldest trees, the ones that the community had spent years visiting and documenting, and the Court correctly halted BLM’s effort to sidestep that obligation,” said Meriel Darzen, Senior Staff Attorney at Crag Law Center.
Central to the claims in the case were declarations by former federal biologists stating that the agency intentionally misrepresented the age of the forests in planning documents to facilitate the illegal logging of this unique block of old-growth. Additionally, field visits and documentation efforts by members and staff of plaintiff organizations and records obtained via Freedom of Information Act requests confirmed that far older forest dominated substantial portions of the project area than what BLM disclosed.
“These remaining parcels of old-growth forests in the Coast Range are critical for the habitat values they provide, the clean water they filter, and the carbon they store to help mitigate climate change,” said Janice Reid, Conservation Chair of Umpqua Watersheds. “Unfortunately, the Bureau of Land Management has shirked its legal duties to protect the old-growth, so this Court decision is very welcomed.”
While Blue and Gold is just one of many mature and old-growth timber sale projects currently proposed by the BLM, the Trump administration is working to revise the agency’s 2016 Resource Management Plans that govern the management of 2.5-million forested acres in western Oregon. The agency aims to quadruple the cut with the revision and make logging the sole focus of these lands over other values, such as recreation, habitat, carbon storage, and clean water. The proposal to ramp up logging levels across the western Oregon BLM estate is expected this summer and is being watched closely by conservation interests.
The organizations have been represented by attorneys from Crag Law Center, Cascadia Wildlands, and Oregon Wild in this case.
Yoncalla, OR — In response to illegal logging of old-growth forest recently documented in the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Blue and Gold timber sale located in the Oregon Coast Range, conservation organizations Cascadia Wildlands, Oregon Wild, and Umpqua Watersheds filed a Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction in District Court to stop any further cutting. Volunteers documented the logging of old-growth trees, some of which are estimated to be 250 years old and are required to be protected by the BLM’s own rules, while camping near the contested area in the lower Umpqua River watershed this past weekend.
“The Bureau of Land Management initially denied that this old-growth forest even existed in the project area, but this was proven untrue by our volunteers and agency whistleblowers. After being caught in that lie, BLM pivoted and assured the Court that the agency would take measures to protect these unique legacy trees,” said Nick Cady, Legal Director at Cascadia Wildlands. “This unsurprisingly was also a fabrication; the BLM simply cannot be trusted to oversee our public forests.”
The conservation organizations initially filed a lawsuit against the Blue and Gold timber sale, which proposes to log 3,200 acres of public forest, in September 2024, argued the case in November 2025, and have been awaiting a decision from the District Court. The recent observation of the illegal old-growth logging and subsequent filing for a restraining order comes on the heels of a discovery that BLM had fabricated or manipulated the underlying timber sale data to make the project appear feasible. The motion filed today will expedite a ruling.
Plaintiffs have alleged numerous violations of federal environmental laws in their case, including the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Central to the claims are impacts to old-growth forests and species that require older forest habitat for their survival, including the northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet, both which are listed on the federal Endangered Species Act. The unit where old-growth logging was recently documented is home to an occupied northern spotted owl site, which BLM is failing to protect despite its obligations under the bedrock statute.
“These remaining parcels of old-growth forests in the Coast Range are critical for the habitat values they provide, the clean water they filter, and the carbon they store to help mitigate climate change,” said Janice Reid, Conservation Chair of Umpqua Watersheds. “Unfortunately, the Bureau of Land Management is shirking its legal duties to protect the old-growth with its mission to ramp up the cut.”
Per its own forest management plan, the Bureau of Land Management is not legally permitted to log old-growth forests, and specifically those trees established before 1850 and larger than 40” wide at breast height. The logging documented this past weekend included trees that fit this criteria, including some up to 67” in diameter.
“Even if the agency can somehow explain why logging these ancient trees is allowed under its plan, it was required to let the public know as part of the project planning process, and explain what the effects of cutting those trees would be on the surrounding forests and habitats. BLM instead said the forests were much younger, obfuscating the impacts that we are now seeing as these ancient trees are being cut,” said Meriel Darzen, Senior Staff Attorney at Crag Law Center, which represents the plaintiff organizations along with their own in-house attorneys.
“The BLM is failing to uphold even the most basic safeguards for our largest and oldest trees. They’re cutting down old-growth when they think the public isn’t paying attention,” said John Persell, Senior Staff Attorney for Oregon Wild. “This is just a preview of the destruction we’ll see across western Oregon’s ancient forests as the Trump administration pursues its reckless logging agenda.”
Even as the Bureau of Land Management is attempting to push through reckless timber sales like Blue and Gold under the existing policy framework, the Trump administration is working to revise the agency’s 2016 Resource Management Plans for 2.5 million acres of western Oregon forests. It is hoping to quadruple the cut with the revision and make logging the sole focus of these lands over other values, such as recreation, habitat, carbon storage, and clean water.
The organizations are represented by attorneys from Crag Law Center, Cascadia Wildlands, and Oregon Wild in the matter.
The declarations with the documentation of the old-growth logging can be found here and here.
####* Photos for press use. Find high-resolution photos of the illegal logging and the threatened forests in the Blue and Gold timber sale here.Photo credits: Cascadia Wildlands.
Over 50 Oregon businesses sign letter supporting protections for roadless wildlands
In a letter sent to Oregon’s congressional delegation today, a coalition of over 50 Oregon businesses from across the state voiced their support for roadless forest protections. The signatories–from breweries to farmers to outdoor outfitters and guides–are calling on Congress to oppose the Trump administration’s plan to repeal the Roadless Area Conservation Rule.
The Roadless Rule is a popular federal policy that protects 2 million acres of wild, public forestlands across Oregon and nearly 60 million acres nationwide from roadbuilding, commercial logging, and development. The businesses are also urging lawmakers to prioritize the passage of the Roadless Area Conservation Act (H.R.3930 & S.2042) in the next Congress. This legislation would codify the Roadless Rule in federal law. Currently, Oregon’s entire delegation, except for Val Hoyle (OR-4) and Cliff Bentz (OR-2), is a co-sponsor of the bill.
In the letter, the businesses note: “Oregon’s businesses rely heavily on public lands, clean water, healthy watersheds, and intact forests. According to a 2022 analysis, spending on outdoor recreation in Oregon exceeded $16 billion and supported 192,000 jobs. A recent analysis by Earth Economics found that protected Roadless Areas in Oregon alone contribute $2.5 billion in annual economic benefits to our state.”
Sparks Lake by Scott SmorraPaint Daniel Gomez’s incredible photograph of the Milky Way from Lost LakeJoseph Canyon Roadless Area
“Roadless forests are some of the last truly wild places we have, and protecting them matters for our environment, our communities, and even our local businesses,” Ryan Still, co-founder of Lazy Days Brewing Co. in Portland, said. “Clean water and healthy ecosystems are essential to brewing, but they’re also part of what makes Oregon feel like home.”
The letter comes ahead of the anticipated US Department of Agriculture’s draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Roadless Rule repeal. The process that began last year, and resulted in over 99% of the 600,000 comments submitted citing opposition to the plan, will soon enter a second public comment period.
“Protecting roadless forests on public lands is vital to preserving valuable habitat for the fish my business relies on,” said Chris Daughters, owner of the Caddis Fly Shop in Eugene. Daughters added, “I support passing the Roadless Area Conservation Act.”
In Oregon, the Roadless Rule covers beloved public lands like Tumalo Mountain and the Cascade Lakes in Deschutes National Forest, Larch Mountain in the Columbia River Gorge, Rough and Ready Creek and the wild rivers of the Siskiyou Mountains, and Joseph Canyon in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The businesses caution that eliminating protections for these intact public lands “puts our natural heritage and economic well-being at risk.” “I believe conserving Roadless Areas conserves Oregon’s ethos,” stated Megan Kellner-Rode, co-owner of Boundless Farmstead, outside of Bend. “Roadless Areas are good for everyone, from the flora and fauna, to hunters and hikers, to anyone who desires clean water and clean air. We must fight to keep Oregon’s pristine forests roadless and untouched.”
Additional Quotes
“Wild forests provide us with not only clean water, abundant wildlife, and world-class recreational opportunities, but are a critical part of local cultural heritage. We named Blossom Barn Cidery after Blossom Bar rapid on the Wild and Scenic Rogue River.” Jeremy Hall, owner of Blossom Barn Cidery near Grants Pass.
“Bend is well-known for being home to many amazing breweries, all of which rely on a clean water source as the most essential ingredient in the beer we make. Protecting Roadless Areas is a priority we take seriously in order to make sure this precious resource is not compromised.” Bryon Pyka, Terranaut Beer owner and brewer in Bend.
“Outdoor recreation directly benefits our business by promoting tourism and recreation that is made possible by the roadless lands in the Sisters area. Many of our customers stop to get a coffee or breakfast on their way to do outdoor activities in the area.” Jesse Durham, co-owner of Sisters Coffee Company.
Signers
“It is vital to protect natural resources for all of our citizens who enjoy the benefits of the natural world that surrounds us. Whether you are a hiker or hunter, bird watcher or angler, we all know the places where we connect to nature are too valuable to lose to corporations for exploitation.” Jeffrey Perrin, owner of The Fly Fisher’s Place in Sisters.
“Outside of designated Wilderness, roadless areas are the last truly wild places in our national forests. They deserve to be managed for wildlife, clean water, and recreation — not carved up for short-term profit.” Sarah Cuddy, owner of Wallowa Llamas in Baker City.
Today, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife released its 2025 Wolf Conservation and Management report, documenting the overall health of Oregon’s wolf population. According to the report, the known wolf population increased by 26 wolves, from 204 to 230.
Oregon Wild’s Wildlife Program Manager Danielle Moser released the following statement:
“Wolves are dispersing from eastern Oregon and growing in population throughout the Cascades, a testament not only of the resilience and perseverance of wolves as a species, but the dogged science-based advocacy that has given them the space to do so.
A concerning revelation in the 2025 Oregon Wolf Report is the so-called accidental killing of two wolves by agents from the US Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services. The methods of this controversial agency led to the 2019 banning of cyanide bombs (M-44s) in Oregon because of their indiscriminate killing of wildlife, pets, and endangerment of people. The wolf report does not specify how the wolves were killed, but if it were by M-44 poisoning, that would be against Oregon law. If they were shot, the responsible agents must be removed from their post immediately. More information must be disclosed to the public about this unacceptable incident.
The Trump administration has made no effort to disguise its hostility to wolf recovery and wildlife in general. Politicians are attacking wolves’ protected status, eliminating funding for non-lethal technical assistance, and encouraging grazing on public lands wolf habitat that will lead to more conflict. That this coincides with the increased killing of wolves in protected areas by federal agents is no coincidence.
Reducing conflict is not only investing in non-lethal tools and prevention, but also protecting habitat. Roadless areas, Wilderness, and migration corridors are vital refuges for not only wolves, but their preferred prey. The more we protect our landscapes, the more wolves can have a chance to thrive.
The Oregon legislature has authorized new money for coexistence work and non-lethal tools. With these new resources, we urge wildlife managers to prioritize non-lethal tools to diminish conflict before resorting to killing wolves.”
2025 updates by the numbers
Population
230
Breeding Pairs
23
Total Mortality
42
Poaching or Under Investigation
4
Government-killed
27
Killed by vehicle collision
3
Human killed (% killed of known population)
39 (14%)
Despite persistent claims from some lobbyists and politicians, there is no publicly credible evidence to support the existence of a large, uncounted population of wolves in Oregon. Though often quoted uncritically, these claims have never been independently investigated.
###
Oregon Wild works to protect and restore Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife, and water as an enduring legacy for future generations.
April 9, 2026 – Oregon breweries know better than anyone that“Great beer starts with clean water!”
We are fortunate to have some of the best drinking water on the planet and clean Oregon drinking water is the #1 ingredient in each and every beer brewed across our state. Clean Oregon water is our most precious resource and one that is at the heart of Oregon’s world-class brewing community.
Unfortunately, this incredible resource is more threatened now than ever before. Over the past 15 months, the Trump administration has launched an unprecedented assault on our public lands, forests, and watersheds. These multi-faceted threats include efforts to rescind the Roadless Rule (which protects 58 million acres nationwide and two million acres in Oregon), weaken protections for two million acres of forests in western Oregon, and erode Northwest Forest Plan safeguards for millions more acres across Oregon’s national forests.
To help raise awareness about these threats and to build support for watershed conservation, the Oregon Brewshed® Alliance is launching its 4th Annual Wild & Scenic Earth Day Collaboration Series this month. Coleman Hops, Yakima Chief Hops and Indie Hops, generously discounted several Salmon-Safe certified hop varieties while new partners Country Malt Group, Montana Craft Malt, and Admiral Maltings discounted malt for all 17 brews. These breweries in turn crafted special beers to honor their respective brewsheds and raise awareness about the need to defend and protect Oregon’s watersheds.
Participating breweries
BearKat Brewing
Binary Brewing
Deschutes Brewery
Double Mountain Brewery
Foreland Brewing
Grand Fir Brewing
Hetty Alice Beer
Hopworks Brewery
Lazy Days Brewing
Leikam Brewing
Level Beer
Living Haus Beer Co.
Parallel 45 Brewing
Silver Falls Brewing
Sunriver Brewing
Terranaut Beer
Tiny Giants Brewing
Worthy Brewing
Xicha Brewing
In addition to defending these watersheds against current threats, the Oregon Brewshed® Alliance is also working to advance the River Democracy Act. This historic legislation would protect over 3,200 miles of Oregon’s waterways as federally designated Wild & Scenic Rivers and better protect the drinking watersheds for nearly one out of every four Oregonians.
“Seeing the snow-capped peaks just beyond the hop fields reminds us how lucky we are to have access to such pristine water. It is also a reminder that we have the responsibility to protect these river systems, not just for the next harvest but also for the next generation. We don’t just grow hops in the Pacific Northwest, we live and recreate here. Scenic and healthy waterways are an important part of our lives. We are thrilled to partner with our friends at Coleman Agriculture to support the environmental advocacy work of the Oregon Brewshed® Alliance,” says Levi Wyatt, Yakima Chief Hops Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility.
“From the field to the glass, this is about stewardship and shared values,” said Ivy Hover of Coleman Agriculture. “We grow Salmon-Safe certified hops across all of our farms, and this year 11,000 pounds were designated through Yakima Chief Hops for philanthropic projects like Wild & Scenic. Oregon continues to lead the charge, with more than 80% of hop acreage certified Salmon-Safe. Clean water, and reducing environmental impact matters, and we are proud to stand with those who believe the same.”
“Oregon’s clean water is a resource that we can never, ever taken for granted. Breweries know how priceless our clean water is to our communities, our ecosystems, our economy, and our beer. Protecting our watersheds is absolutely paramount and we are honored to have such incredible partners adding their voice to this critical work,” said Oregon Wild’s Jonathan Jelen.
About the Watersheds & the Beers They Inspired
Hood River Brewshed – The West Fork Hood River and Cold Springs Creek (Tamanawas Falls) are two of the key waterways in this brewshed that would gain protections via the River Democracy Act.
Love Shed Wild IPA, Double Mountain Brewery (draft & reusable bottles) – The water in Hood River is made for world class beer. We need to protect it. Together with our friends at Coleman Hops and Montana Craft Malt, we’ve combined forces to raise awareness for one of our most precious commodities. With Citra hops leading and a throwback malt-forward grain bill, this IPA will remind you of what is good and right in the world. Let’s protect it together. Drier, more complex, and with more PNW hop aromas, but it retains the lovely ruby hue you know and love from our flagship.
“From the start, Double Mountain Brewery has been excited to brew with pristine local water, without adjustments. We find that the slightly soft Hood River water is ideal for our hop forward NW Ales and Lagers. The water is an integral part of our flavor and style. We embrace this terroir.”
Greg Balch, Head Brewer, Double Mountain Brewery.
Upper Deschutes Brewshed – Fall River and key tributaries of the iconic Metolius River both stand to gain new protections via the River Democracy Act.
Protect & Restore West Coast Pale Ale, Sunriver Brewing (draft & cans) – This amazing beer features Mosaic T90 hops from Lakeside Ranches, Amarillo Cryo and Strata Cryo from Coleman Agriculture, and Goschie Promise pale malt from Goschie Farms. All of these ingredients are Salmon-Safe and create a wonderfully unique beer that is representative of the terroir of Oregon’s Willamette valley. This pale ale is light, crisp, and has hoppy notes of fresh citrus, blueberries, passionfruit, and cannabis.
“Great beer requires great water, and as such, we’re obligated to promote stewardship and protection of our water sources. Ultimately, it’s an investment into both beer quality and our natural resources.” – Brett Thomas, Director of Brewing Operations, Sunriver Brewing
Tumalo Creek / Bridge Creek Brewsheds – The namesake Tumalo Creek as well as the headwater streams like Bridge Creek are some of the waterways in this brewshed that stand to gain new protections via the River Democracy Act.
Oregon Wild West Coast IPA, Deschutes Brewery (draft at Bend Public House) – A hint of malt sweetness balances with big hop character and aroma from Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe and Amarillo hops provided by Yakima Chief and Coleman Hops.
“Protecting Oregon’s rivers is paramount to our craft, our passion for the outdoors, and our home. Thanks for all the hard work Oregon Wild!“ – Robin Johnson, Head-brewer, Deschutes Public House
(There Is No) Planet B Extra Pale Ale, Terranaut Beer (draft) – A clean, high-quality drinking water source is the most essential ingredient in the beer we make, and it’s one we can’t take for granted as we watch current leaders make decisions that put long-term access to that resource at risk. With that in mind, we brewed this Extra Pale Ale in collaboration with Oregon Wild. This beer helps advance the conservation work of Oregon Wild and the Oregon Brewshed® Alliance, including public education and advocacy supporting the River Democracy Act, which aims to protect over 3,000 miles of Oregon waterways. Built on a clean malt base featuring Montana Craft Malt, this XPA stays crisp and focused, showcasing Coleman Agriculture’s salmon-safe Citra hops in full force. It’s bright, expressive,and a reminder of what clean water makes possible. – Bryon Pyka, Terranaut Beer
Safe From Salmon WC IPA, Worthy Brewing (draft) – Featuring Simcoe from Coleman Hops Alluvial Farm, as well as Centennial and Strata from Indie Hops.
“In Bend, our forests and rivers are part of everyday life. As a brewer, clean water and healthy public lands are not abstract ideas. They are the foundation of every pint we make. Earth First, Beer Second.“ – Nick Robbins, Brewmaster, Worthy Brewing
Bull Run Brewshed – Oregon Wild and partners helped to increase protections for Portland’s drinking water in 1996 and further protected it in 2001.
Downstream Session IPA, Hopworks Brewery (draft) – Using Salmon-Safe Goschie Promise malt from Goschie Farms, plus Cascade and Lorien hops from Coleman Agriculture and Indie Hops, this session IPA is a showcase for sustainability.
“Clean water does not just make up the heart of our beers at Hopworks, it makes up the core of who we are as brewers and residents of the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We breathe the oxygen produced by our verdant forests, drink our clean water from mountain snowpack, and hike, bike, fish, and enjoy the bounty of the wilderness around us. All of this is only possible due to the clean waters that flow through these watersheds.”
-Ryan Pappe, Brewery Director
Third Stone From the Sun IPA, Leikam Brewing (draft) – A crisp and clean West Coast IPA featuring hops from Yakima Chief, Coleman Hops and Indie Hops. Also, showcasing malt from Country Malt Group.
“Water is essential to beer production and we have the best water in the world! The beautiful Bull Run watershed is perfect for making clean, crisp beers. We need to protect our water and make sure that we continue to have this incredible and vital resource.”
-Sonia Marie Leikam, Owner, Leikam Brewing
Tight Lines Rye Pale Ale, Grand Fir Brewing (draft) – Hopped with Krush Citra, and Simcoe.
“The best beer starts with the best ingredients. We are so incredibly fortunate to be living in the beautiful and lush PNW where our drinking water is so pure. Like an artist, brewing beer with this pristine water is like having the best canvas which, in turn, provides the ultimate foundation in order to craft the perfect beer. I feel so lucky to be able to not only be using these waters for my craft, but to be supporting the conservation and protection of our Oregon’s rivers and watersheds.” – Whitney Burnside, Owner, Grand Fir Brewing
Tellus More West Coast Pilsner, Lazy Days Brewing (draft) – West Coast pilsner with an approachable bitterness profile. Expressions of grassy, citrus, floral, currant, tropical fruit, and a hint of dank.
Friendly Fog Hazy IPA, Hetty Alice Beers & Living Haus Beer collab (draft & cans) – Brewed with our best pals at Living Haus Beer, Friendly Fog pours like peach nectar with bright white foam. Tremendous aromas of peach rings, limoncello and papaya precede bright flavors of nectarine, mango and candied citrus before a long, satisfying finish. Featuring Salmon Safe hops from our Friends at Coleman Agriculture. 6.9% ABV 100% PALS.
“Part of the reason that we chose to name our company after my maternal grandmother is that we knew it would provide us with a compass to follow. It would allow us to ask ourselves “Would this decision make Hetty proud?” This compass led us to join 1% for the Planet, a global network of thousands of businesses that have pledged 1% of their annual revenue to approved environmental non-profits.
Oregon Wild is the state’s oldest statewide environmental non-profit and has been fighting to protect public lands for decades. With this beer, we are proud to join the Oregon Brewshed Alliance. Hetty loved the water, and we like to think she’d be delighted to know that the proceeds of this beer will go toward protecting this precious resource.
Gavin Lord, Owner of Hetty Alice Brewing
Cascade Cup Pale Ale, Level Beer (draft) – Brewed in collaboration with John I. Haas using Coleman Greenleaf’s award-winning Cascade hops.
Ash Creek / Luckiamute River Brewshed – Consisting largely of state and private forestlands, this brewshed benefits from the Private Forest Accord, which Oregon Wild and partners helped advance to improve forest management practices across ten million acres of private forestlands.
2 Wild 2 Scenic: Hop Drift West Coast IPA, Parallel 45 Brewing (draft) – A big, juicy West Coast IPA featuring Coleman-grown Simcoe and Indie Strata Hops; paired with Great Western Oregon Pure Malt.
“Access to clean water is key to brewing beer. From being the primary ingredient in beer, to its use for growing the barley, adjunct grains, and hops; clean water is essential to making great beer.”
– Ryan Booth, Owner, Parallel 45 Brewing
North Santiam Brewshed– A 22+ mile stretch of the North Santiam River stands to get Wild & Scenic River protections as part of the River Democracy Act, as well as the Breitenbush River, Whitewater Creek, and French Creek, which all feed into the North Santiam River.
Alta Costa Pale Ale, Xicha Brewing & Tiny Giants collab (draft & cans) – A San Diego-style Pale Ale featuring 100% Salmon-Safe ingredients: Admiral Maltings’ Goschie Promise malt, along with Coleman-grown Citra, plus Chinook and Strata whole cone hops from Indie Hops.
Abiqua & Silver Creek Brewshed – Consisting largely of state and private forestlands, the Abiqua and Silver Creek brewsheds benefit from Oregon Wild’s work to advance the Private Forest Accord as well as work to secure Habitat Conservation Plans for the Santiam forest that safeguards waterways with larger buffers and upland protections.
Straight From the Source IPA, Silver Falls Brewery (draft) – A West Coast IPA made with Goschie Promise malt, paired with Meridian, Lorien and Audacia hops from Indie Hops.
“At our core, we are deeply committed to preserving nature, protecting clean water, and safeguarding public lands so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.” – Jacob Hutter, Brewer, Silver Falls Brewing
Mid-Willamette / Tualatin River Brewshed – Consisting largely of state and private forestlands, this brewshed benefits from the Private Forest Accord, which Oregon Wild and partners helped advance to improve forest management practices across ten million acres of private forestlands.
River Routed IPA, BearKat Brewing (draft & cans)– West Coast IPA that is brewed and double dry hopped with Centennial, Citra and Strata hops from Coleman Agriculture and Indie Hops.
“For our beer release night, we’re donating 100% of proceeds from River Routed IPA to Oregon Wild.”
Run Salmon Run IPA, Binary Brewing (draft)– A smooth West Coast IPA with powerful passionfruit, orange, and strawberry aromas. Goschie Farms Pure Oregon malt delivers a yellow gold brew whose slightly honeyed edge balances the hop bitterness for a delightful quaff. Indie Hops Strata, Coleman-grown Citra and Crosby Farms estate grown Chinook.
“Without clean streams and air, Oregon could not support our beloved foods, beverages, and activities. What’s good for the world is good for humans.”
– Roger Wood, Owner, Binary Brewing
About the Oregon Brewshed® Alliance / Coleman Agriculture / Yakima Chief Hops
Launched by Oregon Wild in 2015, the Oregon Brewshed® Alliance is a coalition of brewing businesses, brewing community partners, and conservationists who understand the value of clean water and protected forest watersheds. The Oregon Brewshed® Alliance supports Oregon Wild’s conservation work to protect and restore the wild lands, wildlife, and waters that make our state a great place to live, work, and enjoy great beer. Great beer doesn’t start at the tap – great beer begins with clean water. Beer is over 90% water, after all, and that water is a product of the land that it flows through.
Coleman Agriculture has been a proud member of the Oregon Brewshed® Alliance for the last five years. As hop growers, the Oregon watershed is crucial to our day-to-day operations. As a seventh generation family farm, maintaining the Oregon watershed is crucial to the sustainability of the farm for the next generation. We are hyper-conscious not only of the water we use for irrigation, but also the effect we have on the watersheds via our management practices. This is why we take measures to limit our water inputs via drip irrigation, minimize runoff and erosion with cover cropping and participate in sustainability certification programs such as Salmon Safe to limit our use of inputs that might negatively affect watersheds.
Hops require a significant amount of irrigation to grow, and the quality of that water directly affects the yield and health of the plants. Elevated alkalinity levels in irrigation water can lead to an increase in the soil pH, which can make certain nutrients like zinc, manganese, and iron less available for uptake. Coleman has experienced firsthand the need to treat irrigation water due to poor quality and understand the very real business and environmental costs associated. By designating more river coastlines as Wild & Scenic via the River Democracy Act, we protect our watershed from potential industry related contaminants that could compromise the water quality we depend on to grow our hops.
Yakima Chief Hops – Land use change and water availability are the greatest environmental risks facing the hop industry. Working in partnership with conservation organizations such as Oregon Wild, YCH is helping to invest in watershed protection and restoration programs in hop producing regions to ensure access to clean water for growers, brewers and recreationalists alike. These agroforestry efforts also benefit freshwater ecosystems as well as our communities. Since its inception in 1988, YCH has been rooted in environmental stewardship, with the firm understanding that healthy hops require healthy waterways. YCH values the opportunity to expand our reach by partnering with Oregon Wild on initiatives such as the River Democracy Act, which actively advocates on behalf of our local landscapes and stakeholders.
Salem, Ore., – Governor Kotek signed HB 4134, the 1.25% for Wildlife bill, the culmination of over a decade of advocacy to secure dedicated funding for wildlife and their habitats. Conservationists lauded the new law as a historic accomplishment, demonstrating a model for other states that have struggled to fund their wildlife conservation programs.
“This is a visionary policy not just for Oregon, but for wildlife conservation nationwide. At a time when many states are struggling to fund basic protections, Oregon has stepped up with a solution, and shown other states a way forward,” said Danielle Moser, Wildlife Program Manager for Oregon Wild.
Through a modest increase in the statewide lodging tax, HB 4134 funds wildlife and habitat conservation, primarily the implementation of the state’s Wildlife Action Plan. In 2025, the state identified over 300 species of greatest conservation need. A 2023 NatureServe report ranked Oregon fifth in the nation for the percentage of at-risk animals, with more than half of amphibians, one in five reptiles, and roughly one in ten bird species already in decline.
At the same time, the Trump administration has pursued changes to Endangered Species Act protections that make it more difficult to recover species and safeguard critical habitat. Coupled with budget cuts and staff reductions at the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the responsibility for wildlife conservation has fallen to the states.
In her signing statement, Governor Tina Kotek noted that Oregon’s natural lands and wildlife are foundational to the state’s identity and economy. “Oregon’s long-term prosperity depends on the health of our fish and wildlife populations and the natural environment that underpins our tourism economy. By directing stable funding, this bill helps ensure that Oregon has resilient natural resources capable of supporting strong communities and a vibrant economy for generations to come.”
A broad coalition of conservation, hunting, fishing, forestry, farming, ranching, and business stakeholders supported HB 4134. During its consideration in the Oregon legislature, the public was overwhelmingly in favor of the bill, with over 84% of submitted testimony supporting it.
“This investment is about the Oregon we want to leave to future generations,” continued Moser, “An Oregon where healthy wildlife populations and thriving ecosystems continue to support our values, communities, and way of life.”
Species included as having the greatest conservation need are sea otters, Sierra Nevada red foxes, American pikas, silver-eared bats, North American porcupines, pygmy rabbits, western painted turtles, tufted puffins, great grey owl, desert horned lizard, Pacific lamprey, western bumblebee, and monarch butterfly.
Also included in the proposal is support for fighting poaching, promoting habitat connectivity, combating invasive species, funding wildlife coexistence, wildfire risk reduction, and conservation workforce programs.
Today, Greater Hells Canyon Council and Oregon Wild filed a legal challenge to the Ellis Integrated Vegetation Project. The Ellis Project is located southwest of Pendleton on the Heppner and North Fork John Day Ranger Districts of the Umatilla National Forest.
A core purpose of the project is to improve elk habitat, enabling them to stay on public lands and reducing conflict with neighboring private lands. After consistently centering improvements to elk habitat as a main priority, the Forest Service abruptly changed course, removing longstanding road management elements from the project. The elimination of habitat protections and failure to analyze resulting impacts violates the Umatilla National Forest’s own management plan and other environmental laws.
Numerous organizations and agencies expressed concerns about these changes and filed objections to the draft decision, including the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project, Greater Hells Canyon Council, Oregon Hunters Association, Oregon Wild, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
“Keeping elk on public lands was one of the driving motivations in the development of the Ellis Project. The Forest Service has spent the last 7 years saying this project was going to improve elk habitat, benefitting both elk and elk hunters, and reduce conflicts on adjacent private lands,” said Jamie Dawson, Conservation Director for Greater Hells Canyon Council. “They’ve found that some road closures are necessary. Now they’ve fundamentally changed the project at the last second in a way that will harm elk and everyone who cares about them. Reasonable road management can protect both public access and wildlife habitat.”
The project area hosts some of the highest densities of Rocky Mountain elk in the state, but public lands in the area have too many roads to allow elk to find security when they need it. A key goal of the Ellis Project is to improve habitat quality and reduce disturbance in parts of the National Forest. Studies from the Forest Service’s Starkey Experimental Forest and Range have found that reducing road densities in the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon can be a very effective tool. Doing so will also have many other benefits to fish, wildlife, water quality, and recreation. Community stakeholders have supported strategic closure and decommissioning of some roads in this densely roaded landscape.
Every alternative that the Forest Service considered included road closures alongside proposed logging, except the no-action alternative. The road closures were a key component to gaining support from a broad group of interested members of the public. However, the Forest Service’s final decision created a new alternative that threatens the project’s stated objectives. This occurred without notice to stakeholders or the legally required scientific analysis, and is a major departure from the intent of the project and the nature of its development.
“I’ve been working with the agency and diverse stakeholders on this project for nearly a decade,” said Rob Klavins, Oregon Wild’s Northeast Oregon Field Coordinator based in Wallowa County. “It now appears Forest Service leadership is unbothered by undermining the hard work and trust their staff built with us and communities across the region. The Ellis Project is just the latest example of decision makers breaking promises and showing disdain for the land, the public, and even their own science.”
The Ellis Project is 110,000 acres and includes roughly 30,000 acres of commercial logging and 73,000 acres of small-diameter thinning. These elements are not being challenged in this litigation.
Greater Hells Canyon Council and Oregon Wild are represented by attorneys Brenna Bell and Oliver Stiefel from the nonprofit Crag Law Center.
Join Our
Newsletter.
Staying informed is the first step to becoming a public lands and native wildlife advocate.
Cookie Consent
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.
Cookie Preferences
Manage your cookie preferences below:
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.
Name
Description
Duration
Cookie Preferences
This cookie is used to store the user's cookie consent preferences.
30 days
Google reCAPTCHA helps protect websites from spam and abuse by verifying user interactions through challenges.
Name
Description
Duration
_GRECAPTCHA
Google reCAPTCHA sets a necessary cookie (_GRECAPTCHA) when executed for the purpose of providing its risk analysis.
179 days
Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us understand how visitors use our website.
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that tracks and analyzes website traffic for informed marketing decisions.
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
1 minute
_gac_
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
Marketing cookies are used to follow visitors to websites. The intention is to show ads that are relevant and engaging to the individual user.
Facebook Pixel is a web analytics service that tracks and reports website traffic.
