As the new home of OSPIRG's environmental work, Environment Oregon can be contacted regarding this news release.
Citizens Gather in Portland to Tell Congressmen to Keep Mount Hood Wild!
PORTLAND–
Today Oregonians gathered outside of a public hearing on the future of
Mount Hood to show support for protecting more wilderness and wild and
scenic rivers. Earlier this week, Congressmen Greg Walden and Earl
Blumenauer released a framework outlining their plans for the mountain
and the Columbia Gorge.
Area
residents and conservationists applauded the bipartisan efforts of
Congressmen Walden and Blumenauer and believe the framework and summit
meetings are a positive step towards wilderness and wild and scenic
river legislation in the House of Representatives. They also look
forward to working with Oregon’s congressional delegation to expand
wilderness and wild and scenic river protections to the wild lands and
rivers around Mount Hood and in the Gorge.
At
the Portland summit, citizens including Backcountry Hunters and Anglers
President Mike Beagle spoke to the need to see more wilderness in the
Mount Hood area.
“As
a sportsman, wilderness areas are especially important,” says Mike
Beagle of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. “Wilderness hunting and
fishing delivers a sense of freedom, challenge and solitude that is
hard to find anywhere else.”
While
details of the Mount Hood proposal have yet to be revealed,
conservationists are urging the entire delegation to protect the
region’s most threatened areas, such as the old-growth forests around
Boulder Lake and Larch Mountain, the important wildlife migration
corridor of Bonney Butte, and the unique forest and cool clear waters
of Fifteenmile Creek, among others. Communities like Hood River and The
Dalles depend on the Mount Hood watershed for clean, safe drinking
water.
The
scenic beauty of Mount Hood and Columbia River Gorge draws tens of
thousands of visitors to Oregon each year, and bring in millions of
dollars in to our economy. Most recently, Google has decided to locate
an office in The Dalles because of the tremendous natural amenities of
the region.
“Our
drinking water supply comes from the wild lands around Mount Hood, and
the old-growth forests are its filtration system,” said Mike McCarthy,
a member of the Hood River Valley Residents Committee. “We are asking
Congressmen Walden and Blumenauer to protect Marco Creek, Tilley Jane
and Lost Lake Butte to ensure our water supply stays clean and pure.”
The
last time wilderness was designated around Mount Hood was in 1984. Last
year, Senator Ron Wyden introduced legislation with more wilderness
acreage, but that bill expired at the end of the 108th Congress.
Additional Contacts
Jay Ward, Oregon Natural Resources Council, 503-407-8490 or 503-283-6343 ext. 210
Ken Rait, Campaign for America’s Wilderness, 503-460-9453, or 503-250-1016
Bob Freimark, The Wilderness Society, 541-979-2843
Michael Lang, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, 503-241-3762, ext. 105
David Moryc, American Rivers, 503-307-1137
