Wilderness Update Winter 2024
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 Deschutes, Middle Fork Willamette, Rogue, and Klamath. It would expand and connect current wilderness areas, making a wilderness corridor in the high cascades. Protecting roadless areas, wildlife and plant migration, genetic corridors, and mitigating climate change. Wilderness areas provide the highest level of protection for federal lands, preserving their natural state. It is solitude, as well as ecological, geological, educational, or historical value. Wilderness provides habitat for endangered and threatened species. The Wilderness Act states it is “for the permanent good of the whole people.” Disabled wheelchair users are permitted on wilderness trails, but it’s essential to check the trail’s accessibility and terrain beforehand. Although wilderness is primarily affected by the forces of nature, managing insect infestations and fires and protecting private property is permitted.
The Crater Lake Wilderness Proposal committee has been actively engaging with the community, fulfilling tasks recommended by Senator Merkley’s office. This involved contacting the five forest districts with lands in the proposal: Umpqua, Deschutes, Willamette, Rogue, and Fremont Winema. We also notified the Cow Creek and Klamath tribes about the proposal. We met with the Douglas County Commissioners. We had productive meetings with Senator Merkley’s aides and Representative Val Hoyle’s aid. I updated our prominent conservation endorsers: Oregon Wild, Cascadia Wildlands, KS Wild, and Environment Oregon. We have also incorporated suggestions from notable conservation and wilderness advocate Andy Kerr. We have been working on creating Facebook and Instagram sites. We continued with community engagement and postcards signed at the Farmers Market and numerous events. We presented to organizations in Roseburg and Eugene. Susan Applegate submitted editorials to national publications. We went on hikes to show the public wilderness areas.
In 2025, the Wilderness Committee aims to maintain its outreach efforts by conducting presentations to various organizations and participating in community events. We also plan to explore more opportunities to engage with the public, such as tabling at the Eugene Saturday Market. Additionally, there are plans to organize more hikes and reinstate the CLWP summer camping hiking trip.
The Owyhee Canyonlands National Monument and the Crater Lake Wilderness Proposal need your support. Your voice is crucial in this journey. Please take a moment to contact our congressional officials and endorse these proposals.
Email: Senator Wyden wyden@senate.gov or use twitter @ronwyden or Instagram @ronwyden
Email: Senator Merkley merkeley@senate.gov or twitter @SenJeffMerkley or Instagram @senjeffmerkley
Your interest and support are invaluable. Please consider volunteering with the Wilderness Committee.
Email: diana@umpquawatersheds.org
