[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 145 (Wednesday, September 11, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5440-S5442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
OREGON WILDLANDS ACT
Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, Oregonians love and cherish their wild
rivers, and I am pleased we were able to protect many of these Oregon
treasures in the Oregon Wildlands Act, which Congress included as part
of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation
Act. The act adds 255 miles of new Wild and Scenic Rivers in Oregon.
Some, but not all, of these new or expanded wild and scenic rivers
designated under the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and
Recreation Act were evaluated by the Bureau of Land Management for
their potential inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers
System. These evaluations in many cases identified the rivers'
``outstandingly remarkable values,'' ORVs, consistent with agency
regulations and guidance. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act specifies that
wild
[[Page S5441]]
and scenic rivers are managed to ``protect and enhance the values,'' 16
USC 1281(a), for which the wild and scenic river was established.
The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act generally defines ``outstandingly
remarkable values'' as ``scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and
wildlife, historic, cultural, or other similar values.'' The Federal
land management agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management,
which is administering most of the new and expanded wild and scenic
rivers in the Oregon Wildlands Act, has defined ``other'' values as,
but not limited to, ``ecological, biological or botanical,
paleontological, hydrological, traditional cultural uses, water
quality, and scientific values.''
Some of the new and expanded wild and scenic rivers in Oregon
Wildlands Act were never evaluated by the agency. Therefore, as part of
the fact-gathering by my staff based on State and Federal agency data
and research and public input during the development of the
legislation, ORVs were determined for the new and expanded wild and
scenic rivers. The table I am including with my statement lists both
the general and specific ORVs identified during consideration of the
legislation. It is to protect and enhance these values for which I, as
the chief sponsor of the Oregon Wilderness Act, included the various
wild and scenic rivers in the legislation that Congress ultimately
included in the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and
Recreation Act. This table includes both the outstandingly remarkable
values that BLM found for the stream segments, as well as additional
values.
The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act
reflects the Nation's commitment to protect America's rivers, streams,
and special places. I am pleased the legislation permanently protects
from damming, diversion, and mining over 255 miles of Oregon's pristine
rivers and streams as part of the nation's Wild and Scenic Rivers
system.
I ask unanimous consent that the table be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
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General Outstandingly
Wild & Scenic River Remarkable Value Specific Outstandingly Remarkable Value
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Elk River Additions:
Rock Creek.......................... Fisheries, Water Quality, Intact mature and old-growth forest
Scenery, Botany and habitat; habitat for threatened marbled
Ecology. murrelets; habitat for Southern-Oregon
Northern California (SONCC) wild coho,
wild fall Chinook, wild winter
steelhead, native cutthroat trout; clean
cold water that supports mainstem native
fishery values; mature forest scenic
values; Port Orford-cedar.
Bald Mountain Creek................. Fisheries, Water Quality, Mature and old growth forest habitat for
Scenery, Botany and threatened marbled murrelets; habitat
Ecology. for SONCC wild coho, wild fall Chinook,
wild winter steelhead, native cutthroat
trout; clean cold water that supports
mainstem native fishery and scenic
values; Port Orford-cedar.
South Fork Bald Mountain Creek...... Fisheries, Water Quality, Mature and old growth forest habitat;
Scenery, Botany and habitat for threatened SONCC wild coho,
Ecology. wild fall Chinook, wild winter
steelhead, native cutthroat trout; clean
cold water that supports mainstem native
fishery and scenic values; older forest
scenery; Port Orford-cedar.
Platinum Creek...................... Fisheries, Water Quality, Clean cold water that supports mainstem
Scenery. native fishery and scenic values,
waterfall, Port Orford-cedar.
Panther Creek....................... Fisheries, Water Quality, Mature and old growth forest habitat;
Scenery, Wildlife, Botany habitat for marbled murrelets; habitat
and Ecology. for SONCC wild coho, wild fall Chinook,
wild winter steelhead, native cutthroat
trout; clean cold water that supports
mainstem native fishery and scenic
values; older forest scenery; Port
Orford-cedar.
East Fork Panther Creek............. Fisheries, Water Quality, Mature and old growth forest habitat;
Scenery, Wildlife, Botany habitat for marbled murrelets; habitat
and Ecology. for SONCC wild coho, wild fall Chinook,
wild winter steelhead, native cutthroat
trout; clean cold water that supports
mainstem native fishery and scenic
values; older forest scenery; Port
Orford-cedar.
West Fork Panther Creek............. Fisheries, Water Quality, Mature and old growth forest habitat;
Scenery, Wildlife, Botany habitat for marbled murrelets; habitat
and Ecology. for SONCC wild coho, wild fall Chinook,
wild winter steelhead, native cutthroat
trout; clean cold water that supports
mainstem native fishery and scenic
values; older forest scenery; Port
Orford-cedar.
Lost Creek.......................... Fisheries, Water Quality, Mature and old growth forest habitat;
Scenery, Wildlife, Botany habitat for marbled murrelets; clean
and Ecology. cold water that supports mainstem wild
fishery and scenic values; Port Orford-
cedar.
Millbury Creek...................... Fisheries, Water Quality, Mature and old growth forest habitat;
Scenery, Botany and habitat for marbled murrelets; clean
Ecology. cold water that supports mainstem wild
fishery and scenic values; Port Orford-
cedar.
Blackberry Creek.................... Fisheries, Water Quality, Mature and old growth forest habitat;
Scenery, Wildlife, Botany habitat for marbled murrelets, Del Norte
and Ecology. salamander; habitat for SONCC wild coho,
wild fall Chinook, wild winter
steelhead, native cutthroat trout; clean
cold water that supports mainstem native
fishery and scenic values; older forest
scenery; Port Orford-cedar.
East Fork Blackberry Creek.......... Fisheries, Water Quality, Mature and old growth forest habitat;
Scenery, Wildlife, Botany habitat for marbled murrelets, Del Norte
and Ecology. salamander; habitat for SONCC coho, fall
Chinook, winter steelhead, cutthroat
trout; clean cold water that supports
mainstem fishery and scenic values;
older forest scenery; Port Orford-cedar.
McCurdy Creek....................... Fisheries, Water Quality, Mature and old growth forest habitat;
Scenery, Botany and habitat for marbled murrelets; clean
Ecology. cold water that supports mainstem native
fishery and scenic values; Port Orford-
cedar.
Bear Creek.......................... Fisheries, Water Quality, Mature and old growth forest habitat;
Scenery, Botany and habitat for marbled murrelets; habitat
Ecology. for SONCC wild coho, wild fall Chinook,
wild winter steelhead, native cutthroat
trout; clean cold water that supports
mainstem native fishery and scenic
values; older forest scenery; Port
Orford-cedar.
Butler Creek........................ Fisheries, Water Quality, Mature and old growth forest habitat;
Scenery, Botany and habitat for marbled murrelets; habitat
Ecology. for SONCC wild coho, wild fall Chinook,
wild winter steelhead, native cutthroat
trout; clean cold water that supports
mainstem native fishery and scenic
values; older forest scenery; Port
Orford-cedar.
East Fork Butler Creek.............. Fisheries, Water Quality, Habitat for SONCC wild coho, wild fall
Scenery, Botany and Chinook, wild winter steelhead, native
Ecology. cutthroat trout; clean cold water that
supports mainstem native fishery and
scenic values; Port Orford-cedar.
Purple Mountain Creek............... Fisheries, Water Quality, Mature and old growth forest habitat;
Scenery, Botany and habitat for marbled murrelets; habitat
Ecology. for SONCC wild coho, wild fall Chinook,
wild winter steelhead, native cutthroat
trout; clean cold water that supports
mainstem native fishery and scenic
values; Port Orford-cedar.
Molalla............................. Cultural, Scenic, Fish, Five identified cultural sites; highly
Recreation, Geology. rated scenery includes gorgeous river
and views of cliffs, moss-covered
boulders and diverse stream-side
vegetation; critical habitat for wild
spring Chinook salmon and wild winter
steelhead, native resident cutthroat
trout; unique columnar basalt rosette
formation; hiking, horseback riding,
white water boating, and mountain
biking.
Rogue River Additions:
Alder Creek......................... Scenery, Recreation........ View of and from the Rogue River canyon,
and the Rogue River National
Recreational Trail, clean cold water
that supports wild salmon and wild
steelhead.
Anna Creek.......................... Scenery, Fish, Ecology..... Mature forests and winter steelhead,
clean cold water that supports wild
salmon and wild steelhead.
Bailey Creek........................ Scenery, Ecology........... Mature and old growth forests and views
of and from Rogue River canyon, clean
cold water that supports wild salmon and
wild steelhead.
Big Windy Creek..................... Fish, Scenery, Recreation, Del Norte salamander, mature and old
Wildlife, Ecology. growth forest, views of and from the
Rogue River canyon, wild winter and wild
summer steelhead, wild coho salmon,
clean cold water that supports wild
salmon and wild steelhead.
East Fork Big Windy Creek........... Fish, Ecology.............. Mature and old growth forests, wild
winter steelhead, views of and from the
Rogue River canyon, clean cold water
that supports wild salmon and wild
steelhead.
Little Windy Creek.................. Fish, Scenery, Ecology..... Mature and old growth forests, views of
and from the Rogue River canyon, wild
winter steelhead, clean cold water that
supports wild salmon and wild steelhead.
Booze Creek......................... Scenery, Recreation........ Views of and from the Rogue River canyon
and Rogue River National Recreation
Trail, clean cold water that supports
wild salmon and wild steelhead.
Bronco Creek........................ Fish, Scenery, Recreation, Mature forests, views and from the Rogue
Ecology. River canyon, Rogue River National
Recreation Trail, wild winter steelhead,
clean cold water that supports wild
salmon and wild steelhead.
Bunker Creek........................ Fish, Scenery, Recreation, Mature and old growth forest, views of
Ecology, Wildlife. and from the Rogue River canyon, Rogue
River National Recreation Trail, wild
winter and wild summer steelhead, clean
cold water that supports wild salmon and
wild steelhead.
Copsey Creek........................ Scenery, Recreation, Mature and old growth forest, Rogue River
Ecology. National Recreation Trail, views of and
from the Rogue River Canyon.
Corral Creek........................ Scenery, Recreation, Mature forest, views from and of the
Ecology. Rogue River canyon, and Rogue River
National Recreation Trail, clean cold
water that supports wild salmon and wild
steelhead.
Cowley Creek........................ Scenery, Recreation........ Views of and from the Rogue River canyon
and Rogue River National Recreation
Trail, clean cold water that supports
wild salmon and wild steelhead.
Ditch Creek......................... Scenery, Recreation, Mature and old growth forests, views of
Ecology. and from the Rogue River canyon, and
Rogue River National Recreation Trail,
clean cold water that supports wild
salmon and wild steelhead.
Dulog Creek......................... Scenery, Recreation, Mature and old growth forests, views of
Ecology. and from the Rogue River canyon, clean
cold water that supports wild salmon and
wild steelhead.
Francis Creek....................... Scenery, Recreation, Mature and old growth forests, Rogue
Ecology. River National Recreation Trail, and
views of and from the Rogue River
canyon, clean cold water that supports
wild salmon and steelhead.
Hewitt Creek........................ Fish, Scenery, Botanical, Rogue River stonecrop, mature and old
Ecology. growth forests, views of and from the
Rogue River canyon, wild winter
steelhead, clean cold water that
supports wild salmon and wild steelhead.
Howard Creek........................ Fish, Scenery, Ecology, Mature and old growth forests, scenic
Wildlife. views of and from the Rogue River
canyon, wild winter and wild summer
steelhead, wild coho salmon, clean cold
water that supports wild salmon and wild
steelhead.
Jenny Creek......................... Fish, Scenery, Ecology..... Mature and old growth forests, views of
and from the Rogue River canyon, wild
winter and wild summer steelhead, wild
coho salmon, clean cold water that
supports wild salmon and wild steelhead.
Kelsey Creek........................ Scenery, Recreation, Fish, White-flowered ginger, views of and from
Botanical, Ecological/ the Rogue River canyon, Rogue River
Biological Diversity, National Recreation Trail, mature and
Wildlife. old growth forests, wild winter
steelhead, wild coho salmon, clean cold
water that supports wild salmon and wild
steelhead.
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East Fork Kelsey Creek.............. Water quality, Botanical, Rogue River stonecrop, mature and old
Ecology, Fish. growth forests, winter steelhead, clean
cold water that supports wild salmon and
wild steelhead.
Long Gulch.......................... Fish, Scenery, Ecology..... Mature and old growth forests, views of
and from the Rogue River canyon, wild
winter steelhead, clean cold water that
supports wild salmon and wild steelhead.
Meadow Creek........................ Fish, Scenery, Recreation, Mature and old growth forests, views of
Ecology. and from Rogue River canyon, Rogue River
National Recreation Trail, wild winter
steelhead, clean cold water that
supports wild salmon and wild steelhead.
Missouri Creek...................... Fish, Scenery, Ecology..... Mature and old growth forests, views of
and from the Rogue River canyon, wild
winter steelhead, wild coho salmon.
Montgomery Creek.................... Scenery, Ecology........... Mature and old growth forests, views of
and from the Rogue River canyon, clean
cold water that supports wild salmon and
wild steelhead.
Mule Creek.......................... Fish, Scenery, Recreation, Mature and old growth forests, winter
Ecology, Wildlife. steelhead, coho salmon, views of and
from the Rogue River canyon, Rogue River
National Recreation Trail, camping,
clean cold water that supports wild
salmon and wild steelhead.
Quail Creek......................... Scenery, Recreation, White-flowered ginger, Rogue River
Botanical, Ecology. National Recreation Trail, views of and
from the Rogue River canyon, mature and
old growth forest, clean cold water that
supports wild salmon and wild steelhead.
Rum Creek........................... Fish, Scenery, Botanical, Rogue River stonecrop, mature and old
Ecology. growth forests, views of and from the
Rogue River canyon, wild winter and wild
summer steelhead, clean cold water that
supports salmon and wild steelhead.
East Fork Rum Creek................. Ecology.................... Mature and old growth forests, clean cold
water that supports wild salmon and wild
steelhead.
Russian Creek....................... Fish, Scenery, Recreation, Mature and old growth forests, Rogue
Ecology. River Recreation Trail, views of and
from the Rogue River canyon, wild winter
and wild summer steelhead, clean cold
water that supports wild salmon and wild
steelhead.
Shady Creek......................... Scenery, Recreation, Mature and old growth forests, Rogue
Ecology. River National Recreation Trail, views
of and from the Rogue River canyon,
clean cold water that supports wild
salmon and wild steelhead.
Slide Creek......................... Fish, Scenery, Recreation, Del Norte salamander, mature and old
Wildlife, Ecology. growth forest, wild winter and wild
summer steelhead, Rogue River National
Recreation Trail, views of and from the
Rogue River canyon, clean cold water
that supports wild salmon and wild
steelhead.
Whiskey Creek....................... Fish, Scenery, Recreation, Del Norte salamander, wild winter and
Historic, Wildlife. wild summer steelhead, coho salmon,
Rogue River National Recreation Trail,
views of and from the Rogue River
canyon, clean cold water that supports
wild salmon and wild steelhead.
East Fork Whiskey Creek............. Fish, Wildlife, Ecological/ Del Norte salamander, mature and old
Biological Diversity. growth forests, wild winter and wild
summer steelhead, wild coho salmon,
clean cold water that supports wild
salmon and wild steelhead.
West Fork Whiskey Creek............. Fish, Wildlife, Ecology.... Del Norte salamander, mature and old
growth forests, wild winter and wild
summer steelhead, wild coho salmon,
clean cold water that supports wild
salmon and wild steelhead.
Wildcat Creek....................... Scenery, Ecology........... Mature and old growth forests, views of
and from the Rogue River canyon, clean
cold water that supports wild salmon and
wild steelhead.
Nestucca River...................... Fish, Recreation, Scenic, Very high producing wild steelhead
Wildlife, Ecology. stream; wild chum salmon, wild Chinook
salmon, wild coho salmon, native
cutthroat trout, lamprey, dace,
sculpins; High quality-habitat for bald
eagle, northern spotted owl, red tree
vole, marbled murrelet and coastal giant
salamander; the only known breeding site
in Oregon Coast Range for Harlequin
ducks; Mature and old growth forests;
camping and fishing.
Walker Creek........................ Botanical, Ecology, Fish... The largest and one of the few natural
populations of Nelson's checkermallow in
the Oregon Coast Range, mature and old
growth forests, winter and summer
steelhead, clean cold water that
supports wild salmon and wild steelhead.
Franklin Creek...................... Scenery, Ecological/ Part of the largest Oregon Coast Range
Biological Diversity, low elevation mature and old-growth
Wildlife, Fish. rainforest. Excellent, crayfish, beaver
and native cutthroat trout habitat.
Views from the Umpqua River looking up
the watershed. Wild winter steelhead,
wild coho salmon, and wild fall Chinook
salmon.
Wasson Creek........................ Scenery, Ecological/ Part of the largest coast range low
Biological Diversity, elevation mature and old-growth coast
Wildlife. rainforest. Excellent crayfish, beaver,
native cutthroat trout and rough-skinned
newt habitat. High concentration of
rough-skinned newts in Wasson Lake.
Scenic views of the lakeshore and
beyond.
Lobster Creek....................... Fisheries.................. Wild coho salmon, wild winter steelhead,
wild fall Chinook salmon, and lamprey.
North Fork Silver Creek............. Ecological/Biological Mature and old growth forests such as
Diversity, Water Quality, Port Orford-cedar, Brewer's spruce,
Fisheries, Wildlife. Sadler's oak, Sierra laurel; native
resident rainbow and native cutthroat
trout, wild winter steelhead.
Jenny Creek......................... Fish, Wildlife, Historic, Jenny Creek sucker, native redband trout,
Recreational, Scenic, endemic snail species, northern Pacific
Ecological/Biological pond turtle; Applegate National Historic
Diversity. Trail crossing; kayaking, fishing,
hiking; diverse views due to diverse
vegetation and geology; intact willow
riparian habitat, three EPA Level IV
ecoregions converge.
Spring Creek........................ Scenery, Wildlife, Fish.... Endemic snail species, northern Pacific
pond turtle, possible dwarf western
pearl shell mussel; diverse views due to
diverse vegetation and geology; intact
willow riparian habitat; native redband
trout.
Elk Creek........................... Fish, Wildlife............. Wild coho salmon, wild fall Chinook
salmon, wild spring Chinook salmon, wild
winter steelhead, wild summer steelhead,
Roosevelt elk winter range.
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