For over twenty years, the Umpqua Watersheds Wilderness Committee has worked to create grassroots, community, and business support for the Crater Lake Wilderness Proposal. Click here for a definition of what Wilderness designation means.
When enacted into law by Congress, the proposal will place the backcountry of Crater Lake National Park and the surrounding ancient forests under the protection of the Wilderness Act.
Click here to see how Wilderness areas are created.
FAQ about Wilderness.
The proposal will create an approximate 500,000-acre Wilderness area to protect Crater Lake National Park and its surrounding ancient forests from development or exploitation forever. Click here for a map of the proposed Wilderness.
These new Wilderness additions will secure lands between existing Wilderness areas such as Boulder Creek, Rogue-Umpqua Divide, Sky Lakes, Mt. Thielsen, and Diamond Peak Wilderness. It will create an uninterrupted 90-mile long wildlife corridor to protect threatened, endangered, and sensitive animal and plant species by moderating the effects of our changing environment. And provide a refuge from the loss of surrounding habitat.
The proposal also protects the headwaters of the Rogue, Umpqua, Klamath, Willamette, Little Deschutes Rivers, and Spring rivers. Their protection will continue to provide cold, clear water for Southern Oregon’s struggling native fisheries and the communities that depend on those rivers for drinking water and recreational use. Click here for a map showing the river drainages within the proposal.
Research across America shows communities with nearby wilderness areas benefit from increased revenues based on flourishing wildlife and pristine recreational experiences. They may also benefit from increased property values and increased employment opportunities. Click here to view a PPT presentation supporting these facts.
Why is Wilderness important? There are myriad reasons, all of which fall into two main categories—science in service to the planet, the citizens of Oregon, and all living things. And the less tangible but equally important, emotional, and spiritual benefits. only found in an untouched environment.
Please follow the following links to learn more about how we all will benefit from creating the Crater Lake Wilderness.
Scientific benefits of Wilderness
Spiritual benefits of Wilderness
For more information, to volunteer, or support our campaign with your donation, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Robbin Schindele, Umpqua Watersheds’ Crater Lake Wilderness Campaign Coordinator, at Robbin@umpquawatersheds.org.
You can also get more information on the Crater Lake Wilderness Proposal on Oregon Wild’s website: Crater Lake Wilderness Proposal.
