At a time when many forestry experts think that Oregon needs more forest thinning to reduce wildfire risks, a new bill making its way through Congress will make this job more difficult.

S.192, introduced by Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, restricts thinning and other forest management activities on three million acres of Oregon's federally-owned lands.

The bill -- known as the ‘River Democracy Act’ -- will add nearly 4,700 miles of Oregon “rivers” to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. But most of the waterways in the bill are not even classified as rivers. Many are small creeks and tributaries that don't even carry water year-round, and are overgrown and ripe for wildfire. Yet the bill adds half-mile buffers where thinning and public access will be restricted.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 was enacted to preserve certain rivers with “outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition.” The 1968 Act provides a mechanism for robust study and review of proposed waterways to ensure they are eligible and/or suitable for designation. Considering past use and litigation of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the bill raises a lot of questions about how it will impact future access, private property and water rights and other traditional uses of both public and private land.

Wildfires over the past two years have devastated Oregon's rivers, watersheds and nearby communities. Many experts say that we need to reduce wildfires risks and maintain safe public access.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-08-17 09:17:26

Last Update: 2021-08-17 09:41:53