Oregon Representatives Peter DeFazio and Earl Blumenauer deserve high praise for seeking common ground on additional wilderness in their state.  Their intention to introduce a measure to boost protection for the Mt. Hood area, by designating 132,000 acres of wilderness, and nearly 80 miles of wild and scenic rivers is welcome progress in the long journey for protection of this Oregon icon.  Representatives Blumenauer and DeFazio have long demonstrated their commitment to ensure that more of Oregon's most beloved natural treasures will stay as they are today for the generations of tomorrow.   

The Oregon Treasures proposal builds on a solid bill championed in the Senate by Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith, but would also add the "gold standard" of federal wilderness protection to such wild gems as Boulder Lake, Bluegrass Ridge and the Salmon Huckleberry "Keyhole."  Their proposal would also protect another 142 miles of tributaries to the Lower Rogue Wild and Scenic River and expand Oregon Caves National Monument by some 4000 acres, helping protect area water quality.

We applaud the commitment and hard work of the entire Oregon delegation to protecting Mt. Hood, and we look forward to them joining together to quickly move this conservation legislation to protect each of the areas in this proposal.