Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS -- (Senate - September 06, 2006)
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By Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. SMITH):
S. 3854. A bill to designate certain land in the State of Oregon as wilderness, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, Mount Hood is a cherished wild place that is often photographed, visited and enjoyed by scores of Oregonians and many non-Oregonians as well. Today, I am introducing, along with my colleague Senator SMITH, a new bipartisan Oregon Wilderness bill: the ``Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act of 2006.'' In tribute to the great river-dependent journey of Lewis and Clark, our legislation adds nine free-flowing stretches of rivers to the National Wild and Scenic River System. This reflects the Oregonian wish to protect but also actively experience our State's treasures.
This bill contains many elements of the bill I introduced two years ago while incorporating many of the provisions adopted in the House-passed version of Mount Hood Wilderness protections, HR 5025. My bill builds upon the House version by adding more wilderness, more wild and scenic rivers, and providing a recreation area to allow diverse recreational opportunities. It protects the lower elevation forests surrounding Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge as Lewis and Clark saw them. These forests embody the natural beauty of Oregon. They provide the clean water necessary for the survival of threatened steelhead, Coho and Chinook salmon. These forests provide critical habitat and diverse ecosystems for elk, deer, lynx and the majestic bald eagle. And these are the forests that provide unparalleled recreational opportunities for Oregonians and our visitors.
But the bill I introduce today differs from the bill I introduced two years ago because it responds to the many comments I heard in the ensuing years. I received thousands of comments on proposed Mount Hood legislation. Some comments came as a result of the general public meetings I held in Oregon. Many of the meetings lasted over 3 hours, and everyone who wanted to speak was given an opportunity to do so. Other comments came from the second Mount Hood Summit held at Timberline Lodge hosted by Representatives WALDEN and BLUMENAUER. I and my staff met with over 100 community groups and local governments, the members of the Oregon congressional delegation, the Governor, and the Bush administration. And still more comments came from letters and phone calls from Oregonians.
Overwhelmingly, these comments urged me to protect and build on Oregon's Wilderness system. This goal is as important today as it was in 1804, 1964 or 1984--if not more so. To succeed, we must provide the tools that help us create a planned future on Mount Hood. This bill does both.
The Mount Hood National Forest is the seventh most visited National Forest in the United States. In the 22 years that have elapsed since any new wilderness has been designated in the Mount Hood area, the population in local counties has increased significantly--25 percent in Multnomah County, 24 percent in Hood River County, and 28 percent in Clackamas County.
The predominant public use of this urban forest is non-mechanized activity like hiking, camping, and fishing. With increasing emphasis on wild scenery, unspoiled wildlife habitats,
free flowing rivers, wilderness and the need for opportunities for diverse outdoor recreation sometimes it seems we are in jeopardy of ``loving our wild places to death.''
A few years ago, the Forest Service made a proposal to limit the number of people that could hike the south side of Mount Hood and the public outcry was enormous. Seems to me, rather than tell people that they are going to be restricted from using our public lands, part of the solution for the future of the Mountain lies in providing more opportunities for them to enjoy the Mountain's great places. We should ensure the Mount Hood National Forest can meet the increased use and demand for outdoor experiences--my bill will provide those opportunities.
Of the hundreds of people who attended the meetings I held throughout the State of Oregon, the vast majority spoke in favor of more wilderness. Additionally, I have received more than 2,500 written comments supporting additional wilderness for Mount Hood.
This is what I have heard: More Wilderness: First and foremost, I heard that Oregonians in astonishing numbers support protecting Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge with additional wilderness. A large number of Oregonians didn't think that enough wilderness areas had been included in the House proposal.
Mountain Biking: Some mountain bikers expressed concerns that their recreation opportunities not be unfairly curtailed.
Fire Protection and Forest Health: Some people were worried about forest health and those living in towns on the mountain and in the gorge were concerned about fire protection for their communities.
Developed Recreation: Some people were worried about maintaining a role for developed recreation, like skiing, on Mt. Hood.
This is what my bill does to address those concerns: More Wilderness: There are currently 189,200 acres of designated wilderness on the Mount Hood National Forest. The House legislation would have added approximately 77,200 acres of new wilderness on the Mountain. The bill I am introducing today increases wilderness on Mount Hood by designating approximately 128,385 new acres of wilderness--incorporating all the areas the House bill included and building upon them.
This bill adds the areas surrounding the oldest Mt. Hood Wilderness--the mountain itself--which was designated in the original Wilderness Act of 1964. These additions include cathedral old growth forests, the historic Tilly Jane trail, lava beds that were created during the Mt. Hood eruptions, and much of the legendary route that Oregon's pioneers used when they were settling our great state. To the north and west of the mountain, I would add the viewshed of the Columbia Gorge to the current Mark O. Hatfield wilderness. These areas encompass the spectacular ridges framing the Gorge that we all marvel at from I-84 and include perhaps the greatest concentration of waterfalls in North America. To the southwest of the mountain I add lands to the current Salmon Huckleberry Wilderness to conserve their diverse wildlife and protect unique recreational areas like those around popular Mirror Lake. These lands include Alder Creek, the source of drinking water for the City of Sandy, which unanimously endorsed the draft proposal. Over to the east are proposed additions to the Badger Creek Wilderness. These areas provide a critical link between Westside forests and Eastside ecosystems. This area is known for beautiful fall color and the best deer and elk hunting in the entire Mount Hood National Forest. Among the areas we are protecting is the newly designated Richard L. Kohnstamm Memorial Area. It is dedicated in honor of Mr. Kohnstamm who restored the historic Timberline Lodge--built originally by the Works Progress Administration in 1937--to its former grandeur.
Wild and Scenic Rivers: My proposal seeks to protect over 81 miles of wild and scenic rivers on nine free flowing rivers. This includes some of the most pristine and beautiful rivers in Oregon. Among those proposed rivers are the picturesque waterfalls and glacial outwash of the East Fork of the Hood River, and the ancestral hunting and fishing grounds of Fish Creek. Over 17 miles of superb salmon and steelhead habitat on the Collowash River have also been proposed for protection. My bill again incorporates all the House proposed protections and builds upon them.
Mountain Biking: I believe that local riders raised some valid concerns, so I did two things. I have proposed Mount Hood National Recreation Area. It will offer greater, permanent environmental protections to those beautiful areas, while providing mountain bikers, and other recreational users, an opportunity to continue to recreate in these areas. Additionally, I made boundary adjustments to ensure all open mountain biking trails were not included in my proposed wilderness.
Fire Protection and Forest Health: I protect wilderness, where there are healthy, older trees that should never be harvested on Mount Hood or in the Gorge. Older, healthy stands are the most resistant to fire and disease. However, there is an enormous backlog of over-crowded, plantation, second-growth that should be thinned. My bill incorporates House provisions that would give the Forest Service a mandate to prepare an assessment for promoting forests resilient to fire, insects and disease. This also includes provisions to study and encourage the development of biomass in conjunction with forest health work. In addition, I added fire safe community zones so that the Secretary will construct a system of fire safe buffer zones around the communities of Cascade Locks and Government Camp.
Developed Recreation: In order to facilitate developed recreation opportunities I have adopted the House provisions establishing a ``fee-retention'' provision that will establish an account for the Mount Hood National Forest. In addition, in order to help address growth while ensuring access to recreational opportunities, I have adopted House provisions directing the Secretary and the State of Oregon to develop an integrated transportation plan for the Mount Hood region.
Local and Tribal Relationships: I have also incorporated the House provisions on local and tribal relationships emphasizing the rich history of the Mount Hood region and affirming the rights of Native peoples to access the mountains resources, as they have for generations.
The protection of these important Oregon places will depend on the hard work and dedication of all Oregonians and particularly that of my Oregon colleagues here in the Congress. I am especially pleased that Senator SMITH has joined me in developing this bipartisan legislation and putting forth our proposal for wilderness. I am hopeful everyone will pull together: county Commissioners, environmentalists, entrepreneurs, chambers of commerce, state elected officials, the Governor, and the Oregon delegation here in the Capitol. I look forward to perfecting legislation together in the coming weeks, and seeing its swift adoption by Congress thereafter. Then the grandeur of Mount Hood and other Oregon treasures can be assured for future generations.
Soda Mountain Wilderness: In addition, I wish to offer my cosponsorship of legislation to be presented by Senator Smith, creating the Soda Mountain Wilderness and authorizing the voluntary cancellation of grazing leases in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. This bill would establish a 23,000-acre Soda Mountain Wilderness in the backcountry of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. In addition, it provides for the negotiated voluntary grazing permit lease buyout in the Monument. This proposed wilderness area lies at the intersection of the Siskiyou and Cascade mountain ranges, and the Oregon Desert, California chaparral, High Cascade and coastal Westside forests. It is truly where east meets west meets north meets south. This makes it a truly unique and biodiverse ecosystem and a key wildlife corridor--one that is used by ten rare, threatened or endangered species, including the northern spotted owl, Ashland thistle, and the Siskiyou fritillary. It is also home to populations of trout, elk, bobcats, black bears and falcons. The grazing buyout in this bill also provides a win-win situation. It provides a good deal for the ranchers--the negotiated agreement between the Bureau of Land Management grazing lessees and the conservationists includes an agreed-upon conservationist premium to be paid to the lessees. This premium enhances the compensation lessees receive from the federal government as part of the legislation. It also ensures this special place will be protected. I commend Senator SMITH for introducing this legislation and am happy to join him in introducing this bill.
I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the RECORD.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 3854
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