Oregon has 16,135,800 acres of BLM lands and 15,661,278 acres of National Forests. The last wilderness area designated in Oregon was the Steens Mountain Wilderness in 2000.
Media Campaigns
This media campaign ran in several Oregon papers to hilight how diverse supporters of wilderness are, illustrating that wilderness is our common ground. Click each photo to view the respective print ad (PDF), or visit the campaign pages: Badlands [4], Mount Hood [5].
Bills
Spring Basin
- Bill title:
- Spring Basin Wilderness Act of 2008
- Bill number:
- S. 3089
- Sponsors:
- Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
- Summary:
- This bill would permanently protect 8,600 acres of wilderness overlooking the John Day Wild and Scenic River. Rolling hills, blooming wildflower meadows and big sagebrush characterize this area. It is also an important habitat for populations of Mule Deer and Rocky Mountain Elk, as well as many bird species. This unique wild area also provides many recreation opportunities for hikers, horseback riders, hunters, botanists, and other outdoor enthusiasts.
- More info:
- Oregon Natural Desert Association [6]
Courtesy Oregon Natural Desert
Association
Badlands
- Bill title:
- Oregon Badlands Wilderness Act of 2008
- Bill number:
- S. 3088
- Sponsors:
- Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
- Summary:
- This bill would permanently protect nearly 31,000 acres of wilderness in the Badlands just east of Bend. The Badlands area features ancient junipers, dry river canyons, Native America pictographs, and castle-like rock formations. Desert wildflowers bloom in abundance in this area. Volunteers have been working for over a decade to protect the Badlands as wilderness. This bill is backed by a local rancher, recreation and conservation groups, and almost 200 local businesses and would become Central Oregon’s first desert Wilderness.
- More info:
- Oregon Natural Desert Association [7]
Mount Hood
- Bill title:
- Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act
- Bill number:
- S. 647/H.R. 6290
- Sponsors:
- Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR); Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Darlene Hooley (D-OR), and Rep. David Wu (D-OR)
- Summary:
- The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on July 25, 2007 passed this bipartisan legislation out of committee sending it to the Senate floor. This legislation would permanently protect 128,600 acres of national forest on Mount Hood. The plan also calls for nearly 80 miles of river to be protected under the National Wild and Scenic River System. The wild lands in the proposal are a vital source of clean drinking water for Oregonians, home to many indigenous plant and animal species, and popular recreation areas that contribute greatly to the health of the economy.
- More info:
- Oregon Wild [8]
Copper Salmon
- Bill title:
- Copper Salmon Wilderness Act
- Bill number:
- S. 2034/H.R. 3513
- Sponsors:
- Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR), Rep. Peter De-Fazio (D-OR)
- Summary:
- This legislation would designate as wilderness the Copper Salmon region of Southern Oregon. It would set aside 13,700 acres of pristine old-growth forest surrounding the headwaters of the Elk River in the Siskiyou National Forest. This largely intact ancient forest features giant Douglas fir trees and endangered Port-Orford cedar. Greatly valued by hunters and anglers, Copper Salmon is also home to blacktailed deer, black bear, and mountain lions. The permanent protection of Copper Salmon as wilderness will provide a boost to the local economy through increased tourism and outdoor recreation, and help guard against logging and development that could harm the health of the Elk River.
- More info:
- Sportsmen for Copper Salmon [9]
- Trout Unlimited [10]
Old growth Port-Orford cedar;
© Tim Palmer
Soda Mountain
- Bill title:
- Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument Voluntary and Equitable Grazing Conflict Resolution Act
- Bill number:
- S. 2379
- Sponsors:
- Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR)
- Summary:
- Introduced on November 16, 2007, this legislation would permanently protect 23,000 acres of wild land in southeastern Oregon. The proposed wilderness is located at the convergence of the state’s eastern deserts and its lush fir forests. Featuring a level of biodiversity unmatched in the Cascades, Soda Mountain is home to Roosevelt elk, black bears, cougars, golden and bald eagles, falcons and goshawks, as well as numerous wildflowers and tree varieties.
- Even though Soda Mountain is a part of the 53,000 acre Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, which was established in 2000, it still faces threats from excessive logging and off-road vehicle abuse.
- On February 27, 2008, the Senate committee on Public Lands and Forests held a hearing on the Soda Mountain Wilderness proposal.
- More info:
- Oregon Wild [11]
Local Conservation Groups
- Soda Mountain Wilderness Council
- Hells Canyon Preservation Council [12]
- Oregon Natural Desert Association [13]
- Oregon Wild [14]
- Siskiyou Project [15]
- Umpqua Watersheds [16]