CASCADIA WILDLANDS we like it wild. PO BOX 10455 • EUGENE, OR 97440
spring 2011
US Postage PAID Nonprofit Org. Permit No. 82 Eugene, OR
spring 2011
news + fun from cascadia wildlands
CASCADIAQUARTERLY
Motors Buzzing in the Backcountry Congress Delists Wolves in the Rockies Jordon Cove Pipeline Planning Continues Community Calendar
what’s inside?
Off-road vehicles like these in the Oregon Coast Range threaten critical watersheds (f eatherington).
Motors Buzzing in the Backcountry
Off-Road Vehicles Dominate Umpqua and Deschutes Planning Processes by Randy Rasmussen
Happy Earth Day!
Here's a great way to celebrate our planet and give back: contribute to Cascadia Wildlands and your gift will be DOUBLED at no cost to you! Details inside! (b cole)
As each National Forest completes a Travel Management Plan to limit off-road vehicle (ORV) use to a subset of roads, trails and areas, Oregon’s Umpqua and Deschutes-Ochoco National Forests are working feverishly to be defined as the state’s most ORVfriendly forests. ORVs include motor bikes, all-terrain vehicles and other 4-wheel-drive vehicles. The growing popularity of ORVs prompted Dale Bosworth, former chief of the US Forest Service, to include their use among his list of the top-four threats to the health of our National Forests and Grasslands. Under Chief Bosworth, the 2005 Travel Management Rule required each National Forest to prohibit damaging motorized cross-country travel and undergo a public planning process to determine which roads, trails and areas should be designated for motor vehicle use. To date, most National Forests in western Oregon have completed the public process, and documented
their decision process via an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement. Public comment was invited and each Forest’s decision included written responses to these public comments. The product of the Travel Planning process is a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) to be made available to the public that depicts those roads, trails and areas on which motorized use is allowed. Use of a motorized vehicle off these designated routes (or open riding areas, like portions of the Oregon Dunes) would be prohibited and non-compliant riders could be cited and fined. To date, MVUMs have been published for the Mt. Hood, Siuslaw and Willamette National Forests. In each case, roads previously closed to public use (typically labeled as Maintenance Level 1, or ML1, roads) remain closed while trails currently maintained for hiking, biking or equestrian use remain non-motorized. Even continued on p. 4
1
from Executive Director Kate Ritley
staff Sally Cummings
Operations Manager
Francis Eatherington Conservation Director
Dan Kruse
Legal Director
Josh Laughlin
Campaign Director
Kate Ritley
Executive Director
Gabe Scott
Alaska Field Director
board of directors Kate Alexander, Secretary Laura Beaton Jeremy Hall, President Paul Kuck Sarah Peters Justin Ramsey Tim Ream Tim Whitley Steve Witten, Treasurer
Amy Atwood Jason Blazar Ralph Bloemers Susan Jane Brown Alan Dickman, PhD Jim Flynn Timothy Ingalsbee, PhD Megan Kemple Pollyanna Lind, MS Beverly McDonald Lauren Regan, AAL, Chair
contact PO Box 10455 Eugene, OR 97440 541.434.1463 p 541.434.6494 f info@CascWild.org 2
WWW.CASCWILD.ORG
advisory council
Last week Congress approved a continuing funding resolution to keep the federal government open for business. Attached to that spending bill was a sneaky little rider with big consequences: gray wolves are no longer protected under the Endangered Species Act. This marks the first time in US history that Congress passed a law removing protection for a species. Wildlife advocates across the nation fear this legislation sets a terrible precedent for Congress to target other species. I worry Congressional candidates will use this precedent as a platform for re-election, promising to remove protection for other species where political or economic interests conflict with a species’ survival. But in the immediate future, gray wolves need our help more than ever. Without federal protection, wolves are subject to state-level management. In places like Idaho and Montana, this will mean public wolf hunts. In Oregon and Washington wolves are still on the state endangered species lists. In these states, wolves are protected so long as they don’t chronically kill livestock. As soon as wolves get mixed up with livestock, their protected status can quickly fade and wildlife managers are given discretion and authority to kill wolves. With only 23 wolves in the entire state of Oregon, any wolf killed is a major setback for the species’ recovery. Fortunately, these wolves enjoy the full-time professional services of Cascadia Wildlands’ attorneys and advocates. We work tirelessly on behalf of wolves and will continue doing so until they have fully recovered across our region. The next few years are pivotal for successful gray wolf recovery, and I hope I can count on your help and support. Together, we’ll bring wolves home to the Northwest!
P.S. If you haven’t already sent your contribution to be doubled, remember that Mountain Rose Herbs will match every dollar you give up to $3,000! Your gift must be received by April 30 to qualify for the amazing matching gift opportunity!
Thank you to all of our individual and family supporters and the many volunteers who help us protect wild places!
THANK YOU!
Little Gray Wolf and the Big Bad Rider
Huge thanks to the foundations and community groups that have made substantial contributions to support our work: 444S Foundation Hugh and Jane Ferguson Mark Frohnmayer Donor Sperling Foundation Foundation Advised Fund of the Acorn Foundation Suwinski Family Oregon Community Fund for Wild Nature Foundation Alaska Conservation Foundation Foundation Kenney Brothers Titcomb Foundation Roger Millis Donor Advised Watershed Foundation Astrov Fund Unitarian Universalist Fund of the Oregon Klorfine Family Foundation Community Foundation Church of Eugene Ben & Jerry’s Foundation Laird Norton Foundation McKenzie River Gathering University of Oregon Brainerd Foundation Outdoor Program Foundation Loeb-Meginnes Burning Foundation Foundation Wilburforce Foundation Meyer Memorial Trust Deer Creek Foundation Mazamas Winky Foundation Norcross Wildlife Earth Friends Conservation Foundation Fund
BUSINESS SUPPORT A sustainable planet is essential to sustainable business. That’s why more and more companies are actively investing in Cascadia Wildlands. Business support saves wild places from imminent destruction and wildlife from extinction. Please join us in thanking and patronizing the visionary businesses that support our work with generous cash contributions:
Business Champions ($5,000+) Patagonia, Inc
Business Partners ($2,500-4,999)
Business Sustainers ($1000-2499)
Business Friends ($250-999)
Pivot Architecture Pizza Research Institute Tactics Board Shop
Backcountry Gear Ltd. Emerald Valley Kitchen River Jewelry Southern Explorations Sundance Natural Market
Mountain Rose Herbs
In addition, hundreds of businesses contribute goods and services to support Cascadia Wildlands, especially through our annual Wonderland Auction. Please help us thank the businesses that support our work with generous in-kind contributions: Discovery Voyages Ninkasi Brewing Company Paul’s Bicycle Way of Life Cascadia Wildlands is a proud Recipient organization of 1% For The Planet, an alliance of businesses committed to leveraging their resources to create a healthier planet.
WWW.CASCWILD.ORG Check out our website to stay in-the-know and connect with your community! Sign up for e-alerts, join the cause on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and instantly take action on timely issues! (And don’t worry, we absolutely never share or sell your info!) 7
COMMUNITYCALENDAR
c griffin
Oregon to Ramp up Clearcutting on Elliott
The state of Oregon continues to move full-steam ahead on a new forest plan for the Elliott State Forest, the 93,000-acre public rainforest in the central Oregon Coast Range. The new plan will ramp up clearcutting in endangered species habitat by nearly 40%, and will abandon a number of critical long-term promises made to the Elliott in the previous forest plan, including a forest reserve system and maintenance of older forest conditions. Oregon can do better, and you can help, find out how at Cozmic Pizza on May 10 (see below).
May 10: Join us at an Evening for the Elliott! Enjoy pizza and beer at Cozmic Pizza in Eugene from 5pm to 7pm and learn about ways to help the campaign to protect the Elliott Rainforest! May 15: Catch up with us at the Mt. Pisqah Wildflower and Music Festival from 10am to 5pm, and bid farewell to “The Doug.” September 22-25: Presented by Mountain Rose Herbs, Rootstalk is a three-day, three-night festival which takes place on 300 acres of oldgrowth forest outside of Salem, Oregon. This is a unique celebration of herbal living, love of wilderness, homesteading skills, folk-infused music, plant lore, organic agriculture, and a return to community roots. All profits will be generously donated to Cascadia Wildlands to support our conservation work. For more information and details, please visit www.cascwild.org
6
Congress Delists Wolves in the Rockies
Livestock Industry tries to Weaken Oregoon Protections by Josh Laughlin, Campaign Director For the first time in history, on April 14 elected officials in the Northern Rockies legislatively delisted a species from the bedrock Endangered Species Act. Setting a horrible precedent, Montana Democratic Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester and Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson successfully attached a rider onto the must-pass government budget bill that stripped protections for gray wolves. Expect an aggressive trophy-hunting season this fall in Montana and Idaho and lots of dead wolves. The legislative delisting appears to be in response to a series of court victories we secured over the past few years that kept the species on the Endangered Species Act after repeated attempts by the Bush and Obama administrations to prematurely take the species off the list. While approximately 1,650 wolves reside in the Rockies today, the science is not clear that recovery in that region has occurred. The delisting essentially says that Congress can decide on its own when to remove species’ protections. Even though less than 30 confirmed wolves exist across eastern Washington, eastern Oregon and northern Utah, the action strips the species of federal protections in those areas as well. The species remains listed in Wyoming because the state’s plan is so egregious, essentially a shoot-on-sight approach outside of Yellowstone National Park. Wolves remain listed on Oregon’s Endangered Species Act, which still
provides safeguards from indiscriminate killing. To worsen the climate for wolves in Oregon, a handful of bills have been introduced into the 76th session in Salem to make it easier to kill Oregon’s recovering wolf population, which stands at 23 individuals across two (possibly three) packs. Cascadia Wildlands and allies have countered these attacks on wolves in Oregon by providing testimony in committee, activating our networks to ensure legislators are fully informed on the issues, briefing the governor’s office and submitting essays to daily papers and regularly speaking with reporters. Amidst the hullabaloo over wolves in Oregon, Cascadia Wildlands continues to advocate for a balanced approach to wolf restoration in our state. We are currently working to strengthen a bill in the legislature that would provide compensation to livestock producers who lose livestock to wolves. However, we want to ensure those being compensated are responsibly managing their herds by proactively reducing conflict ahead of time, by eliminating bone and carcass piles near their herds which can act as wolf attractants, and by using electric fencing and radio-activated guard boxes around livestock pens when wolves are nearby. We don’t want bad husbandry practices
ELK
WDFW
Cervus elaphus Two subspecies of elk are native to Oregon: Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) and Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti). Rocky Mountain elk inhabit most of Eastern Oregon. Roosevelt elk occupy most of western Oregon, including the Cascade and Coast Ranges. The subspecies overlap in the Cascade Mountains. Settlers in Oregon nearly wiped out the species from overhunting. Rocky Mountain elk from Jackson Hole, WY were reintroduced into both eastern and western Oregon in the early 1900s. For over two decades, hunting elk was off limits to recover the species. Today, elk thrive in Oregon and are expected to be a primary food source for recovering wolf populations.
rewarded in the compensation program. Cascadia Wildlands believes proactive efforts like these will help build human tolerance for the species, which will be critical for successful wolf recovery in Oregon. Thank you for continuing to stay active in this effort and responding to calls for action when requested. 3
Two Pipelines Down, One to Go Jordon Cove Pipeline Planning Continues by Francis Eatherington, Conservation Director
Off-road vehicles are one of the top four threats to the health of our National Forests and Grasslands. (f eatherington)
continued from p. 1
4
Oregon’s Fremont-Winema National Forest, which contains the highest road mileage of any forest in the nation, decided via the Travel Planning process to retain motorized closures throughout 97% of the forest’s ML1 roads. Yet the Umpqua and Deschutes-Ochoco National Forests have taken a radically different approach to complying with the 2005 Rule—one oriented toward increasing ORV access and miles of designated trails throughout the forests. The Umpqua intends to legitimize ORV travel on the forest’s approximately 1,200 miles of ML1 roads and many existing non-motorized trails, including the popular Bulldog Rock Trail. The DeschutesOchoco seeks to establish three extensive ORV “Destination Areas” totaling over 400,000 acres. In these areas, the needs of wildlife and “quiet” recreationion would take a back seat to the roar of motors and adrenaline rush sought by “hill climbers” and “rock crawlers.” The proposals would essentially double the mileage of ORV trails available in central Oregon—an area that already has the highest density of ORV trails in the state.
Both the Umpqua and Deschutes-Ochoco National Forests are playing fast and loose with agency regulations while ignoring the input of Oregon’s conservation community in their push to promote these untenable ORV proposals. For example, despite issuing a draft Environmental Assessment in April 2010, the Supervisor of the Umpqua National Forest recently announced he would abandon the public planning process in order to quickly publish the required MVUM. Consequently, Cascadia Wildlands and the public will not be provided an opportunity to review the agency’s response to public comments submitted to date, if they were considered by the agency at all. Similarly, the Deschutes National Forest made no substantive changes to its Environmental Impact Statement for the 93,000-acre Three Trails ORV Project, located within the Crescent Ranger District, despite extensive concerns documented by Cascadia Wildlands and others, including the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Cascadia Wildlands continues to closely follow development in both planning areas.
Last year, the Bradwood Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminal, proposed in the Columbia River, died when investors admitted the abundant supplies of natural gas in North America made importing expensive LNG a bad idea. Last month, Bradwood’s Polamar Pipeline, proposed to cross the Mt. Hood National Forest, was also cancelled. However, the Jordon Cove LNG proposal in Coos Bay continues to be planned. In 2007, proponents of the gas line admitted that if the Ruby Pipeline (Wyoming to Oregon) were built, ultimately bringing plentiful domestic gas to California, there would be no need to import LNG into Coos Bay from overseas. In 2010 the Ruby Pipeline began construction and will soon end at the same location as Jordon’s Cove’s proposed pipeline, known as the Pacific Connector Pipeline, in Malin, Oregon. To facilitate the Pacific Connector Pipeline, a 95foot-wide clearing for 230 miles would have to be clearcut, including 70 miles on public land reserved for wildlife, and 160 miles on private land. Much of the private land is owned by families threatened with eminent domain if they don’t agree to host the buried, 36-inch diameter pipeline, carrying 1,400 PSI of unodorized gas. (By comparison, the San Bruno, California pipeline that blew up last fall, killing eight people and destroying 38 homes, was only 30inches wide and carried 386 PSI of odorized gas.) Eminent domain can be used if there is a public need for gas. Only importing, not exporting, can meet that need. Project opponents were surprised last month when Jordon Cove’s manager, Bob Braddock, admitted in an industry newsletter that they were “starting to think” about exporting. Exporting means they have to negotiate a fair deal with landowners who are willing to host the pipeline, and build it around those who are not willing. Project opponents insist industry profits would be far more robust if the company could simply condemn land, build the pipeline, and only afterwards ask for an export permit. Braddock has since retracted his comments about The Jordon Cove Pipeline threatens some of the most beautiful scenery in Oregon (f eatherington).
exporting gas. Meanwhile the energy companies are trying to speed up the pipeline-building process. Their supporters have facilitated a bill (HB2700) in the Oregon legislature to by-pass the requirement that a wetland-fill permit needs landowners’ permission. For obvious reasons, landowners along the pipeline route have refused to allow Pacific Connector Pipeline to get wetland-fill permits on their property. In March HB2700 passed the House, and as of this writing, has not yet passed the Senate. Visit the Cascadia Wildlands website to send your legislator a request to vote NO on HB 2700, and for more information on LNG issues in Oregon.
5
Two Pipelines Down, One to Go Jordon Cove Pipeline Planning Continues by Francis Eatherington, Conservation Director
Off-road vehicles are one of the top four threats to the health of our National Forests and Grasslands. (f eatherington)
continued from p. 1
4
Oregon’s Fremont-Winema National Forest, which contains the highest road mileage of any forest in the nation, decided via the Travel Planning process to retain motorized closures throughout 97% of the forest’s ML1 roads. Yet the Umpqua and Deschutes-Ochoco National Forests have taken a radically different approach to complying with the 2005 Rule—one oriented toward increasing ORV access and miles of designated trails throughout the forests. The Umpqua intends to legitimize ORV travel on the forest’s approximately 1,200 miles of ML1 roads and many existing non-motorized trails, including the popular Bulldog Rock Trail. The DeschutesOchoco seeks to establish three extensive ORV “Destination Areas” totaling over 400,000 acres. In these areas, the needs of wildlife and “quiet” recreationion would take a back seat to the roar of motors and adrenaline rush sought by “hill climbers” and “rock crawlers.” The proposals would essentially double the mileage of ORV trails available in central Oregon—an area that already has the highest density of ORV trails in the state.
Both the Umpqua and Deschutes-Ochoco National Forests are playing fast and loose with agency regulations while ignoring the input of Oregon’s conservation community in their push to promote these untenable ORV proposals. For example, despite issuing a draft Environmental Assessment in April 2010, the Supervisor of the Umpqua National Forest recently announced he would abandon the public planning process in order to quickly publish the required MVUM. Consequently, Cascadia Wildlands and the public will not be provided an opportunity to review the agency’s response to public comments submitted to date, if they were considered by the agency at all. Similarly, the Deschutes National Forest made no substantive changes to its Environmental Impact Statement for the 93,000-acre Three Trails ORV Project, located within the Crescent Ranger District, despite extensive concerns documented by Cascadia Wildlands and others, including the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Cascadia Wildlands continues to closely follow development in both planning areas.
Last year, the Bradwood Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminal, proposed in the Columbia River, died when investors admitted the abundant supplies of natural gas in North America made importing expensive LNG a bad idea. Last month, Bradwood’s Polamar Pipeline, proposed to cross the Mt. Hood National Forest, was also cancelled. However, the Jordon Cove LNG proposal in Coos Bay continues to be planned. In 2007, proponents of the gas line admitted that if the Ruby Pipeline (Wyoming to Oregon) were built, ultimately bringing plentiful domestic gas to California, there would be no need to import LNG into Coos Bay from overseas. In 2010 the Ruby Pipeline began construction and will soon end at the same location as Jordon’s Cove’s proposed pipeline, known as the Pacific Connector Pipeline, in Malin, Oregon. To facilitate the Pacific Connector Pipeline, a 95foot-wide clearing for 230 miles would have to be clearcut, including 70 miles on public land reserved for wildlife, and 160 miles on private land. Much of the private land is owned by families threatened with eminent domain if they don’t agree to host the buried, 36-inch diameter pipeline, carrying 1,400 PSI of unodorized gas. (By comparison, the San Bruno, California pipeline that blew up last fall, killing eight people and destroying 38 homes, was only 30inches wide and carried 386 PSI of odorized gas.) Eminent domain can be used if there is a public need for gas. Only importing, not exporting, can meet that need. Project opponents were surprised last month when Jordon Cove’s manager, Bob Braddock, admitted in an industry newsletter that they were “starting to think” about exporting. Exporting means they have to negotiate a fair deal with landowners who are willing to host the pipeline, and build it around those who are not willing. Project opponents insist industry profits would be far more robust if the company could simply condemn land, build the pipeline, and only afterwards ask for an export permit. Braddock has since retracted his comments about The Jordon Cove Pipeline threatens some of the most beautiful scenery in Oregon (f eatherington).
exporting gas. Meanwhile the energy companies are trying to speed up the pipeline-building process. Their supporters have facilitated a bill (HB2700) in the Oregon legislature to by-pass the requirement that a wetland-fill permit needs landowners’ permission. For obvious reasons, landowners along the pipeline route have refused to allow Pacific Connector Pipeline to get wetland-fill permits on their property. In March HB2700 passed the House, and as of this writing, has not yet passed the Senate. Visit the Cascadia Wildlands website to send your legislator a request to vote NO on HB 2700, and for more information on LNG issues in Oregon.
5
COMMUNITYCALENDAR
c griffin
Oregon to Ramp up Clearcutting on Elliott
The state of Oregon continues to move full-steam ahead on a new forest plan for the Elliott State Forest, the 93,000-acre public rainforest in the central Oregon Coast Range. The new plan will ramp up clearcutting in endangered species habitat by nearly 40%, and will abandon a number of critical long-term promises made to the Elliott in the previous forest plan, including a forest reserve system and maintenance of older forest conditions. Oregon can do better, and you can help, find out how at Cozmic Pizza on May 10 (see below).
May 10: Join us at an Evening for the Elliott! Enjoy pizza and beer at Cozmic Pizza in Eugene from 5pm to 7pm and learn about ways to help the campaign to protect the Elliott Rainforest! May 15: Catch up with us at the Mt. Pisqah Wildflower and Music Festival from 10am to 5pm, and bid farewell to “The Doug.” September 22-25: Presented by Mountain Rose Herbs, Rootstalk is a three-day, three-night festival which takes place on 300 acres of oldgrowth forest outside of Salem, Oregon. This is a unique celebration of herbal living, love of wilderness, homesteading skills, folk-infused music, plant lore, organic agriculture, and a return to community roots. All profits will be generously donated to Cascadia Wildlands to support our conservation work. For more information and details, please visit www.cascwild.org
6
Congress Delists Wolves in the Rockies
Livestock Industry tries to Weaken Oregoon Protections by Josh Laughlin, Campaign Director For the first time in history, on April 14 elected officials in the Northern Rockies legislatively delisted a species from the bedrock Endangered Species Act. Setting a horrible precedent, Montana Democratic Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester and Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson successfully attached a rider onto the must-pass government budget bill that stripped protections for gray wolves. Expect an aggressive trophy-hunting season this fall in Montana and Idaho and lots of dead wolves. The legislative delisting appears to be in response to a series of court victories we secured over the past few years that kept the species on the Endangered Species Act after repeated attempts by the Bush and Obama administrations to prematurely take the species off the list. While approximately 1,650 wolves reside in the Rockies today, the science is not clear that recovery in that region has occurred. The delisting essentially says that Congress can decide on its own when to remove species’ protections. Even though less than 30 confirmed wolves exist across eastern Washington, eastern Oregon and northern Utah, the action strips the species of federal protections in those areas as well. The species remains listed in Wyoming because the state’s plan is so egregious, essentially a shoot-on-sight approach outside of Yellowstone National Park. Wolves remain listed on Oregon’s Endangered Species Act, which still
provides safeguards from indiscriminate killing. To worsen the climate for wolves in Oregon, a handful of bills have been introduced into the 76th session in Salem to make it easier to kill Oregon’s recovering wolf population, which stands at 23 individuals across two (possibly three) packs. Cascadia Wildlands and allies have countered these attacks on wolves in Oregon by providing testimony in committee, activating our networks to ensure legislators are fully informed on the issues, briefing the governor’s office and submitting essays to daily papers and regularly speaking with reporters. Amidst the hullabaloo over wolves in Oregon, Cascadia Wildlands continues to advocate for a balanced approach to wolf restoration in our state. We are currently working to strengthen a bill in the legislature that would provide compensation to livestock producers who lose livestock to wolves. However, we want to ensure those being compensated are responsibly managing their herds by proactively reducing conflict ahead of time, by eliminating bone and carcass piles near their herds which can act as wolf attractants, and by using electric fencing and radio-activated guard boxes around livestock pens when wolves are nearby. We don’t want bad husbandry practices
ELK
WDFW
Cervus elaphus Two subspecies of elk are native to Oregon: Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) and Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti). Rocky Mountain elk inhabit most of Eastern Oregon. Roosevelt elk occupy most of western Oregon, including the Cascade and Coast Ranges. The subspecies overlap in the Cascade Mountains. Settlers in Oregon nearly wiped out the species from overhunting. Rocky Mountain elk from Jackson Hole, WY were reintroduced into both eastern and western Oregon in the early 1900s. For over two decades, hunting elk was off limits to recover the species. Today, elk thrive in Oregon and are expected to be a primary food source for recovering wolf populations.
rewarded in the compensation program. Cascadia Wildlands believes proactive efforts like these will help build human tolerance for the species, which will be critical for successful wolf recovery in Oregon. Thank you for continuing to stay active in this effort and responding to calls for action when requested. 3
from Executive Director Kate Ritley
staff Sally Cummings
Operations Manager
Francis Eatherington Conservation Director
Dan Kruse
Legal Director
Josh Laughlin
Campaign Director
Kate Ritley
Executive Director
Gabe Scott
Alaska Field Director
board of directors Kate Alexander, Secretary Laura Beaton Jeremy Hall, President Paul Kuck Sarah Peters Justin Ramsey Tim Ream Tim Whitley Steve Witten, Treasurer
Amy Atwood Jason Blazar Ralph Bloemers Susan Jane Brown Alan Dickman, PhD Jim Flynn Timothy Ingalsbee, PhD Megan Kemple Pollyanna Lind, MS Beverly McDonald Lauren Regan, AAL, Chair
contact PO Box 10455 Eugene, OR 97440 541.434.1463 p 541.434.6494 f info@CascWild.org 2
WWW.CASCWILD.ORG
advisory council
Last week Congress approved a continuing funding resolution to keep the federal government open for business. Attached to that spending bill was a sneaky little rider with big consequences: gray wolves are no longer protected under the Endangered Species Act. This marks the first time in US history that Congress passed a law removing protection for a species. Wildlife advocates across the nation fear this legislation sets a terrible precedent for Congress to target other species. I worry Congressional candidates will use this precedent as a platform for re-election, promising to remove protection for other species where political or economic interests conflict with a species’ survival. But in the immediate future, gray wolves need our help more than ever. Without federal protection, wolves are subject to state-level management. In places like Idaho and Montana, this will mean public wolf hunts. In Oregon and Washington wolves are still on the state endangered species lists. In these states, wolves are protected so long as they don’t chronically kill livestock. As soon as wolves get mixed up with livestock, their protected status can quickly fade and wildlife managers are given discretion and authority to kill wolves. With only 23 wolves in the entire state of Oregon, any wolf killed is a major setback for the species’ recovery. Fortunately, these wolves enjoy the full-time professional services of Cascadia Wildlands’ attorneys and advocates. We work tirelessly on behalf of wolves and will continue doing so until they have fully recovered across our region. The next few years are pivotal for successful gray wolf recovery, and I hope I can count on your help and support. Together, we’ll bring wolves home to the Northwest!
P.S. If you haven’t already sent your contribution to be doubled, remember that Mountain Rose Herbs will match every dollar you give up to $3,000! Your gift must be received by April 30 to qualify for the amazing matching gift opportunity!
Thank you to all of our individual and family supporters and the many volunteers who help us protect wild places!
THANK YOU!
Little Gray Wolf and the Big Bad Rider
Huge thanks to the foundations and community groups that have made substantial contributions to support our work: 444S Foundation Hugh and Jane Ferguson Mark Frohnmayer Donor Sperling Foundation Foundation Advised Fund of the Acorn Foundation Suwinski Family Oregon Community Fund for Wild Nature Foundation Alaska Conservation Foundation Foundation Kenney Brothers Titcomb Foundation Roger Millis Donor Advised Watershed Foundation Astrov Fund Unitarian Universalist Fund of the Oregon Klorfine Family Foundation Community Foundation Church of Eugene Ben & Jerry’s Foundation Laird Norton Foundation McKenzie River Gathering University of Oregon Brainerd Foundation Outdoor Program Foundation Loeb-Meginnes Burning Foundation Foundation Wilburforce Foundation Meyer Memorial Trust Deer Creek Foundation Mazamas Winky Foundation Norcross Wildlife Earth Friends Conservation Foundation Fund
BUSINESS SUPPORT A sustainable planet is essential to sustainable business. That’s why more and more companies are actively investing in Cascadia Wildlands. Business support saves wild places from imminent destruction and wildlife from extinction. Please join us in thanking and patronizing the visionary businesses that support our work with generous cash contributions:
Business Champions ($5,000+) Patagonia, Inc
Business Partners ($2,500-4,999)
Business Sustainers ($1000-2499)
Business Friends ($250-999)
Pivot Architecture Pizza Research Institute Tactics Board Shop
Backcountry Gear Ltd. Emerald Valley Kitchen River Jewelry Southern Explorations Sundance Natural Market
Mountain Rose Herbs
In addition, hundreds of businesses contribute goods and services to support Cascadia Wildlands, especially through our annual Wonderland Auction. Please help us thank the businesses that support our work with generous in-kind contributions: Discovery Voyages Ninkasi Brewing Company Paul’s Bicycle Way of Life Cascadia Wildlands is a proud Recipient organization of 1% For The Planet, an alliance of businesses committed to leveraging their resources to create a healthier planet.
WWW.CASCWILD.ORG Check out our website to stay in-the-know and connect with your community! Sign up for e-alerts, join the cause on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and instantly take action on timely issues! (And don’t worry, we absolutely never share or sell your info!) 7
CASCADIA WILDLANDS we like it wild. PO BOX 10455 • EUGENE, OR 97440
spring 2011
US Postage PAID Nonprofit Org. Permit No. 82 Eugene, OR
spring 2011
news + fun from cascadia wildlands
CASCADIAQUARTERLY
Motors Buzzing in the Backcountry Congress Delists Wolves in the Rockies Jordon Cove Pipeline Planning Continues Community Calendar
what’s inside?
Off-road vehicles like these in the Oregon Coast Range threaten critical watersheds (f eatherington).
Motors Buzzing in the Backcountry
Off-Road Vehicles Dominate Umpqua and Deschutes Planning Processes by Randy Rasmussen
Happy Earth Day!
Here's a great way to celebrate our planet and give back: contribute to Cascadia Wildlands and your gift will be DOUBLED at no cost to you! Details inside! (b cole)
As each National Forest completes a Travel Management Plan to limit off-road vehicle (ORV) use to a subset of roads, trails and areas, Oregon’s Umpqua and Deschutes-Ochoco National Forests are working feverishly to be defined as the state’s most ORVfriendly forests. ORVs include motor bikes, all-terrain vehicles and other 4-wheel-drive vehicles. The growing popularity of ORVs prompted Dale Bosworth, former chief of the US Forest Service, to include their use among his list of the top-four threats to the health of our National Forests and Grasslands. Under Chief Bosworth, the 2005 Travel Management Rule required each National Forest to prohibit damaging motorized cross-country travel and undergo a public planning process to determine which roads, trails and areas should be designated for motor vehicle use. To date, most National Forests in western Oregon have completed the public process, and documented
their decision process via an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement. Public comment was invited and each Forest’s decision included written responses to these public comments. The product of the Travel Planning process is a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) to be made available to the public that depicts those roads, trails and areas on which motorized use is allowed. Use of a motorized vehicle off these designated routes (or open riding areas, like portions of the Oregon Dunes) would be prohibited and non-compliant riders could be cited and fined. To date, MVUMs have been published for the Mt. Hood, Siuslaw and Willamette National Forests. In each case, roads previously closed to public use (typically labeled as Maintenance Level 1, or ML1, roads) remain closed while trails currently maintained for hiking, biking or equestrian use remain non-motorized. Even continued on p. 4
1