June is a special time in Oregon. This month marks the end of the school year, the opening of campgrounds and higher elevation trails, and the beginning of outdoor summertime adventures. June is also National Rivers Month–a month to celebrate the incredible, wild, life-providing rivers across our nation and advocate for their protection and restoration.
Oregon has more than its fair share of remarkable rivers. From the turbulent rapids of the Deschutes, to the famous wild Rogue, the seemingly endless desert canyonlands of the Owyhee and John Day, and coastal rivers home to threatened salmon and steelhead populations, Oregon rivers are as diverse as they are spectacular. Locals and visitors flock to these rivers to raft, fish, and hike along them, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and a $15 billion state outdoor recreation economy. Oregon watersheds also provide millions of people with clean drinking water. Rivers mean life–for the businesses that depend on them, the communities that source drinking water from them, the people who cherish them, and the fish and wildlife who call them home.
While Oregon’s rivers provide unrivaled opportunities to experience nature and public lands, they also face urgent threats. The Trump administration’s coordinated attack on public lands will have severe consequences for our waterways, many of which flow through National Forest and Bureau of Land Management public lands. The pending Roadless Rule repeal, various forest plan revisions and proposals to increase logging, climate change, mining, and development are among the most pressing issues threatening our watersheds.
There are also historic opportunities to protect Oregon’s rivers and watersheds. Senator Ron Wyden’s River Democracy Act would add over 3200 miles of rivers across Oregon to the National Wild & Scenic River System, safeguarding these waterways and the important values they provide for current and future generations. Treasured places like the Clackamas, Deschutes, Grande Ronde, John Day, McKenzie, Owyhee, Rogue, and Illinois are among the many rivers across Oregon that would receive additional safeguards from the River Democracy Act.
Stay tuned for in-depth posts throughout National Rivers Month from Oregon Wild and our partners about these remarkable Oregon rivers and the campaigns to protect them.
Take Action for Oregon Rivers
Whether you are getting outside to explore, learning about river systems and ecology, or taking action, there are numerous ways to celebrate Oregon’s rivers this National Rivers Month.
Take action today by supporting the River Democracy Act, submitting a public comment opposing the Roadless Rule repeal, and staying informed about other threats to our rivers and opportunities to protect them.
And make sure to check out the River Democracy Act hiking guide to explore Oregon’s rivers on your own!
