4,700 Miles of Oregon Rivers
Tumalo Creek and Metolius Tributaries nominated for protections as Wild & Scenic Rivers
On February 3, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced the River Democracy Act to Congress. This bill, the most extensive Wild and Scenic Rivers effort in U.S. history, would add 4,702 miles of Oregon rivers and streams to the national Wild and Scenic Rivers system.
Tumalo Creek.
The bill began as a grassroots statewide public effort to protect Oregon’s waterways. We know Oregon’s rivers provide clean drinking water, support wildlife habitat, reduce catastrophic wildfire risks, and drive key recreation and tourism economies.
That’s why Central Oregon LandWatch nominated Tumalo Creek and tributaries to the Metolius River for consideration in the bill.
There were over 15,000 nominations for river protection submitted by 2,500 Oregonians through town halls and public comment. We are proud that we could do our part to increase protections for Tumalo Creek, with 24.7 miles included in the bill, and Metolius tributaries, with 36 additional miles included in the bill.
Other Central Oregon rivers and streams protected in the bill include Paulina Creek, Fall River, tributaries to the Crooked River, and several streams in the Ochocos.
The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was passed in 1968 to protect our free-flowing rivers to ensure clean drinking water, sustainable fisheries, preserve valuable cultural resources, and more.
Currently, only 2% of Oregon’s rivers and streams are protected under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The River Democracy Act would more than triple that by adding protections for over 4,700 additional miles of our cherished rivers and waterways.
This is good news for Central Oregon and good news for our rivers.
Map from the office of Senator Ron Wyden: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/022021%20Oregon%20Proposed%20WSR%20Map.pdf