To permanently protect 2,240 privately-owned acres of Galbraith Mountain next to Bellingham, WA, and secure legal rights to extensive, multipurpose, non-motorized recreational activities on that land.
Filmed and Edited by: Shawn Reeder
Oregon’s Coast is known throughout the world for its majestic rocky coastline, secluded beaches, forested sea stacks and magical vibe. Yet tucked away in the far southern reaches lies a particularly beautiful almost hidden gem, Oregon’s Secret Coast. A little over 2 years ago I made my first trip and instantly fell in love. It kind of reminds me of a mix between Big Sur and New Zealand, two of my favorite meetings of land and ocean.
That trip started a love affair that has had me return 5 times in the last two years, each time getting to know the magic of this land better while also getting to know myself better. There’s something about time by the ocean that is very introspective for me, and always has gems of insight that I discover like hidden treasures.
On October 2, 2018 – the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act – a bill to protect wild rivers and lands in Oregon moved one step closer to the finish line. The Oregon Wildlands Act (S.1548) passed through the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources suggesting it is ready for the spotlight – approval from the full Senate and House and a signature by the President.
Senators Wyden and Merkely’s Oregon Wildlands Act brings together longstanding efforts to protect outstanding rivers and wild landscapes in Oregon. If passed, the bill would protect 90,000 acres of Wilderness in the Devil’s Staircase and Wild Rogue areas, add 256 miles of Oregon rivers to the Wild & Scenic system, safeguard 128,000 acres of the Rogue and Molalla Rivers as Recreation Areas and withdraw an important section of the Chetco River from new mining claims.
Fifty years ago the Lower Rogue River was one of the original eight rivers designated under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Oregon Wildlands Act would grant nearly 100 miles of tributaries of the Lower Rogue River with the same protections. And, protecting the Rogue, it’s tributaries and it’s surrounding wild landscapes is good for business. According to a 2009 economic report, river-based recreation on and near the Wild & Scenic Rogue River accounted for nearly $30 million in economic output and 445 full and part time jobs.
The first video in our six-part success story series celebrates the new 99,000-acre Steamboat Creek Steelhead Sanctuary along Oregon’s Umpqua River.
The backstory: Frank and Jeanne Moore are decades-long stewards and conservation champions for the Steamboat Creek watershed, located in the northeastern portion of the Umpqua River basin, and recognize it as a sanctuary for wildlife, plants, and people.
While recent protections identify the wild steelhead as the preeminent beneficiary, Frank also discovered that spending time fly fishing along the river in this area acted as therapy for PTSD induced by his service in World War II.
See the full video here and follow the grantees who helped protect this wild place: Pacific Rivers and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.
Boomers Daily 