Klamath-Siskiyou eNews #194                                 June 7, 2011

In This Issue:

Zombie WOPR Still Alive

Like a zombie in a bad horror movie, the Bush administration's Western Oregon Plan Revision (WOPR) is back from the dead. A Washington, D.C. court recently ruled in favor of the timber industry, finding that the Obama administration failed to provide for adequate notice and comment before withdrawing WOPR in 2009. Now, the WOPR is back in effect and the Obama administration is contemplating the next steps for these 2.6 million acres of federal forest in Western Oregon.

The WOPR is a disastrous plan that would open up currently protected forests to clearcut logging, including streamside forests, and is predicated on logging much of the remaining old-growth in these BLM forests. It would also allow a 400% increase in logging of northern spotted owl habitat, the elimination of 680 known owl nesting sites, and construction of 1000 miles of new logging roads. In addition, WOPR would remove special designations such as the Applegate Adaptive Management Area and Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. Thus far, the administration has given no indication if it plans to again withdraw the controversial logging plan.

At the same time, the administration is finalizing a Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Plan drafted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency is facing pressure to weaken provisions in the draft that enhance owl protections on private, state and federal lands. The recovery plan has broad implications about the future of Pacific Northwest Forests and the protection of the region’s remaining at-risk old-growth. KS Wild is urging the final plan reflect the best available science, which calls for the protection of the remaining at-risk mature and old-growth in the range of the owl.

Please contact the Secretary of the Interior and respectfully urge him to: 1) to withdraw the Western Oregon Plan Revisions, and 2) finalize the spotted owl recovery plan using the best available science.

The View Is Sweeter When You Earn It

By George Sexton, published in the Mail Tribune's Oregon Outdoors section

If the hike up Pearsoll Peak doesn't take your breath away, the view certainly will.

Located on the Chetco Rim, the reconstructed Pearsoll Peak Lookout offers incomparable views of the Illinois and Chetco watersheds. For those of us who love wild rivers, that's like being able to view a Van Gogh and a Renoir painting from the same easy chair - it's hard to know where to rest your eyes.

And rest is the operative word.

After the rugged and steep terrain of the Chetco Rim, the creature comforts and spectacular vistas of the Pearsoll Peak Lookout invite restful contemplation.

May is my favorite month to visit the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. The wildflowers are blooming, the creeks and rivers are full, and the higher peaks still enjoy a mantle of snow. However, May of 2011 was no ordinary May. By the end of the month we'd experienced record spring rain - record cold rain to be more exact. So my preferred route to Pearsoll Peak, which involves driving to the Onion Camp/Whetstone Butte trailhead near Babyfoot Lake, was inaccessible due to snow. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

The alternate route to Pearsoll Peak is the old 087 mining road out of McCaleb Ranch on the Wild and Scenic Illinois River. This is a great starting spot for a wilderness adventure. The wildflowers, the hanging footbridge and the swirling eddies of the Illinois are like a friendly pat-on-the back before the thousands of feet of elevation gain to the Chetco Pass and then up to Pearsoll Peak. ...Read more. 

Rogue River Cleanup - Boats Wanted

Saturday June 11

Rogue Riverkeeper is joining the Rogue Basin Coordinating Council, the Seven Basins Watershed Council and the Rogue Valley Council of Governments in a river cleanup event on June 11, 2011. 

This cleanup effort will focus on what was the Gold Ray reservoir prior to the dam's removal in 2010. We will put in at Tou Velle State Park and pick up trash around the mouth of Bear Creek and Tolo and Kelley Sloughs.

Rogue Riverkeeper will be on the water in our raft and we are looking for people with additional boats to carry volunteers and collect the debris as we float from Tou Velle to to the former site of Gold Ray Dam. Volunteers with boats will meet at Tou Velle Start Park beginning at 8am and be ready to launch at 9am. The cleanup should take roughly two hours and lunch will follow at the former dam site.

If you have any questions, have a drift boat or raft to join us that day, or would like to volunteer please contact lesley@rogueriverkeeper.org or call (541) 488-5789.

Summer Hike To Whisky Creek On The Wild Rogue  

Saturday June 18

Hike in the Wild and Scenic Rogue River Gorge to Whisky Creek and enjoy this celebrated river canyon along with KS Wild staff. This historical trail was originally built for pack mules supplying miners on the Rogue River canyon. Now celebrated by rafters, hikers, birders, and wildflower-lovers, the trail parallels the Wild and Scenic Rogue. Late Spring rains promise a powerful river in June. Join us in considering the future of this beloved river. 

A moderate to difficult hike of 7 miles with steep and narrow sections of trail. 

Carpool leaves Evo's Coffee in Ashland at 10am and meets at Graves Creek Boat Ramp at 11:30am. Call Monica at (541) 488-5789 for more information.