Wilderness Update Spring 2026
Exploring two more important sites in the Crater Lake Wilderness Proposal on the North Umpqua and South Umpqua
by Diana Pace
Spring River North Umpqua
Pristine, crystal clear, spring-fed Spring River emerges from the ground and flows into the North Umpqua River as a significant tributary. As a key tributary in the North Umpqua River [...]
Reflect Orbital and SpaceX FCC Applications sets off alarms- Comment by March 6, 2026
Why Umpqua Watersheds is engaging on satellite infrastructure
Satellite constellations are rapidly becoming a new form of global infrastructure with measurable on-the-ground environmental effects. Expansion of low-Earth-orbit systems affects migratory birds, nocturnal wildlife, wilderness character, atmospheric conditions, and the visibility of night skies across the same public landscapes UW members steward and rely on for [...]
Wilderness Update Winter 2025
The 90-Mile Wilderness Corridor Along the High Cascades
by Diana Pace
The proposed 90-mile High Cascades Wilderness Corridor represents one of the most ambitious and ecologically meaningful conservation visions in Oregon’s recent history. Stretching across a continuous chain of protected lands from the proposed Brown Mountain Wilderness in the south to the Diamond Peak [...]
Wilderness Update Fall 2025
Last Creek Roadless Area – Protecting the Upper South Umpqua
The Roadless Rule, a cornerstone of national forest protection, is currently in danger of being rescinded. This rule safeguards undeveloped forests from road building and logging, helping preserve habitat, clean water, and cultural heritage across millions of acres. Its loss would threaten landscapes [...]
Wilderness Update Summer 2025
Calf-Copeland Creek Roadless Area: A Wild Gem in the Crater Lake Wilderness Proposal
by Rick Kreofsky and Connie Page
Included in the Crater Lake Wilderness Proposal (18,000 acres) is the Calf-Copeland Creek Roadless Area—located about 38 air miles (or approximately one hour by car) east of Roseburg, Oregon, within the Umpqua National Forest in [...]
Trump admin plans sprint on lifting logging bans The Forest Service laid out a draft timeline to rescind roadless-area protections and ease timber harvesting on nearly 59 million acres.
GREENWIRE |
By: Marc Heller | 07/21/2025 01:52 PM EDT
The Trump administration aims to end the prohibition on logging on tens of millions of acres of roadless areas in national forests by the end of next year, according to a draft schedule at the Forest Service. The draft timeline, viewed by POLITICO’s E&E News and [...]
Protecting Our Last Wild Places: Why the Roadless Rule Matters
As the federal government considers rescinding the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, it’s important that the public understand what’s at stake. Roadless areas on our national forests are not just empty spaces on a map—they are vital sanctuaries for biodiversity, clean water, carbon storage, and human renewal. In a time of increasing climate disruption and [...]
NEPA Under Threat — Act Now to Protect Your Voice in Environmental Decisions
80+ Federal Agencies Are Gutting Public Participation — We Need Your Help
Over 80 federal agencies have just released sweeping changes to how they implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) — the cornerstone of environmental protection and public input in federal decisions. These changes were released all at once, with only 30 [...] Highlighting a special area in the Crater Lake Wilderness Proposal. Bulldog Rock Roadless Area Compiled Robin and Gerald Wisdom, 2/19/25 Physical Characteristics: 5,500 acres – roadless area identified by the Forest Service in 1989, most of which is in the Umpqua National Forest, and 555 acres are located in the Willamette National Forest. 60% of [...] Please comment by March 27, 2025 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/25/2025-03014/removal-of-national-environmental-policy-act-implementing-regulations Unfortunately, the CEQ itself cannot rescind an executive order issued by the President. Since Executive Order 14154 directs the removal of NEPA’s implementing regulations, CEQ is required to follow the President’s directive. However, there are still possible ways to challenge or reverse this action, including: A Future Executive [...] by Diana Pace… The Crater Lake Wilderness Proposal aims to preserve the backcountry of Crater Lake National Park from future development while not impacting existing roads or infrastructure. This designation aligns with the 50 national parks with backcountry wilderness status. The wilderness area would protect the headwaters of 6 major rivers-North and South Umpqua, Little [...] I had the joy of my annual visit to Crater Lake. The lake was in spectacular colorful array. The park is the crown jewel of the Crater Lake Wilderness Proposal. The back country of the park is already treated as wilderness by the park administration. Wilderness designation is the highest protection. By Diana Pace The Crater Lake Wilderness Proposal team has been implementing guidance from experts such as Dave Stone, Andy Kerr, the Umpqua National Forest supervisor and the Wilderness Society. We have a strategic plan and are prioritizing our objectives. We are working with the UW Grant Committee to seek funding so we can hire [...] …by Diana Pace I would like to provide some background into the history of the Wilderness campaigns in the Umpqua Valley. The Umpqua Wilderness Defenders Coalition was active in 1974. Members included Richard Chasm, Paul Nolte, Frank and Jean Moore, Stan Knouse, Dorothy Sherman, Diana Wales, Roy Keene, and Mike Anderson. In 1979, Steve Erickson [...] BOULDER CREEK WILDERNESS-PINE BENCH 5-1-24 by Diana Pace Greetings as we prepare for the long-awaited spring. Bob Hoehne prepared the Four Ladies in Tennis Shoes history display and Rick Kreofsky got it beautifully framed. The four friends, Yvonne Krouse, Mary Powell, Alice Parker and Jeanne Moore, brought their findings to the U.S. Forest Service and convinced the agency to declare [...] Press Release from Umpqua Watersheds Four Ladies in Tennis Shoes A Display at the Roseburg Public Library 1409 N.E. Diamond Lake Blvd., Roseburg Feb. 1-Feb. 28 Visit the “Four Ladies in Tennis Shoes’ exhibit to discover the astonishing accomplishment of four local women during the 1970’s. These four women established protections for an area rich [...] By Diana Pace Wilderness Committee by Diana Pace On the Umpqua Watersheds website Wilderness Committee link, there is now an interactive Crater Lake Wilderness Map that allows you to zoom in or out and view the details of the proposed wilderness areas. While on the site, view the Water video by Tony Cannon. It’s [...] My friend Deb, her dog and myself made the 3+ horizontal mile hike to Tipsoo Peak with an elevation of over 8000 feet in the Mt. Thielsen Wilderness. The fitness app on my phone indicated we did over 4 miles based on slope distance making for an 8+ mile round trip. This is probably [...] Hello everyone hope you had a fun summer. The Wilderness Committee has been chugging along, moving our efforts towards making the Crater Lake Wilderness a reality rather than a proposal. We have been at the Umpqua Valley Farmers one Saturday since a month since May and have put together nearly 100 postcards [...]
Wilderness Update Spring 2025
NEPA is under attack!
Wilderness Update Winter 2024
Crater Lake National Park
Seeking expert bill writer, preparing wilderness characteristics booklet
History of Wilderness Campaigns of the Umpqua
Boulder Creek Wilderness-Pine Bench Hike 5-1-24
Six of us brave souls hiked three+ miles uphill into the Pine Bench area of the Boulder Creek Wilderness. Great weather! The big challenge was battling the ticks, they were everywhere as we developed tick phobia looking at each other and pulling the little critters off our clothing. One [...]
Wilderness Update Spring 2024
Four Ladies in Tennis Shoes Display at Roseburg Library
Wilderness Update – Winter 2023
Tipsoo Peak Mt Thielsen Wilderness Hike 10-23
Wilderness Committee Update: Fall 2023
