[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:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             General Outstandingly
           Wild & Scenic River                  Remarkable Value        Specific Outstandingly Remarkable Value
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.

[[Page S5442]]

 
    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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                        

                          ____________________