Of wolves and wilderness
Transcription
Of wolves and wilderness
Oregon Wild Spring/Summer 2012 Volume 39, Number 2 Of wolves and Wilderness OREGON WILD SUMMER HIKES INSIDE 1 Spring/Summer 2012 Volume 39, Number 2 Working to protect and restore Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife, and waters as an enduring legacy. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Main Office 5825 N Greeley Avenue Portland, OR 97217 Phone: 503.283.6343 Fax: 503.283.0756 www.oregonwild.org Western Field Office P.O. Box 11648 Eugene, OR 97440 454 Willamette, Suite 203 Phone 541.344.0675 Fax: 541.343.0996 The e-mail address for each Oregon Wild staff member: initials@oregonwild.org (for example: ef@oregonwild.org) Conservation & Restoration Coord. Doug Heiken x 1 Old Growth Campaign Coordinator Chandra LeGue x 2 Development Assistant Wilderness Coordinator Director of Finance & Admin. Development Coordinator Wildlands Advocate Conservation Director Executive Director Wildlands Interpreter Eastern Field Office 16 NW Kansas Avenue, Bend, OR 97701 Phone: 541.382.2616 Fax: 541.385.3370 Marielle Cowdin x 213 Erik Fernandez x 202 Candice Guth x 219 Jonathan Jelen x 224 Rob Klavins x 210 Steve Pedery x 214 Sean Stevens x 211 Wendell Wood x 200 Oregon Wild Board of Directors Megan Gibb, President Leslie Logan, Vice President Pat Clancy, Treasurer Daniel Robertson, Secretary Vik Anantha Jim Baker Shawn Donnille Brett Sommermeyer William Sullivan Jan Wilson Eastern OR Wildlands Advocate {4-7} Oregon Wild Summer {8-9} This Goose is cooked {13} Tim Lillebo COV E R P H OTO : O D F W A m a l e p u p ( b o r n s p r i n g 2 0 11) f ro m t h e Wa l l a Wa l l a p a c k, O R -11 w a ke s from anesthesia after being radio-collared. www.facebook.com/OregonWild @oregonwild Oregon Wild is a tax-exempt, non-profit charitable organization. Newsletter printed on New Leaf 100% recycled, 50% post-consumer, FSC certified paper with soy based inks. Oregon Wild is printed locally by Environmental Paper and Print, an Oregon Wild donor and business partner. Spring/Summer 2012 Volume 39, Number 2 Of wolves and Wilderness 2 From the Director’s Desk Fighting like hell Sean Stevens, Executive Director I n April, I found myself in Eugene at a gathering of dedicated activists working to protect Waldo Lake. In the crowd was former Congressman Jim Weaver. slowly slipping away to logging and other development. One of these early founders was James Monteith, our first Executive Director. Though 84 years old, the Congressman strode to the front of the room as if he were taking the lectern in the U.S. House. He told us the story of how the Waldo Lake Wilderness became law. He closed with this statement: I had the good fortune to meet James for the first time recently. I thanked him for all he had done for Oregon. Under his watch, Oregon Wild spearheaded efforts to protect over one million acres of Wilderness, including iconic places like the Three Sisters Wilderness and Sky Lakes Wilderness. During the 1980s, we pushed the envelope with litigation and public protest to slow the destruction of ancient forests. “We must give thanks to the hundreds if not thousands of people, many of them young and many of them members of Oregon Wild, who fought like hell to give this legacy of Wilderness to Oregon.” It is this thought – one of thanks to past generations of conservationists – that I carry with me today as I write to you for the first time as the new Executive Director of Oregon Wild. Oregon Wild was founded around a campfire in 1974 by people who loved the outdoors but saw the wild in Oregon Supported by countless dedicated activists and donors, many other Oregon Wild staff have carried the mantle of keeping Oregon a special place – Andy Kerr, Tim Lillebo, Regna Merritt, Wendell Wood. Some names still appear on the masthead to the left. Today, we face the most anti-conservation Congress in many decades. Fundamental environmental laws like the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and even the Wilderness Act are under attack. At home in Oregon, economic pressures have once again put our mature and oldgrowth forests on the chopping block as politicians scramble to fund county governments. Though just returning to Oregon after a 60-year absence, the 30 gray wolves that roam our state face a constant campaign of misinformation and the all-too-common risk of dying from a poacher’s bullet. To some, these threats to our wild places are overwhelming. To Oregon Wild and our supporters who have stared down every environmental threat since 1974, today’s conservation crisis is an opportunity to “fight like hell” once again for this place we call Oregon. To be sure, more names will join the honor roll because our work is never done. KHRISTIAN SNYDER Three Sisters Wilderness 3 Spring/Summer 2012 Volume 39, Number 2 Of wolves and wilderness Rob Klavins, Wildlands and Wildlife Advocate Whether on the printed page or big screen, great stories go beyond the stringing together of a simple chain of events. They tell a deeper story about who we are and what we value. They make us ask questions about ourselves and our society. They call on us to reflect upon where we have been and where we are going. Like all great stories, the story of Oregon’s wolves is open to interpretation. For conservationists, the story is one of redemption and validation. It provides hope for the future and a call to action. Once upon a time – a prologue DAN SHERWOOD While O R -7 ’ s i m a g e [ l e f t , courtesy Medford Mail Tr i b u n e ] w a s f i n a l l y captured in the wildlands near the Sky Lakes Wilderness, his home range is the stunning landscape of the Eagle Cap Wilderness in far northeast Oregon. Spring/Summer 2012 Volume 39, Number 2 Early explorer George Suckley described Oregon as a place where wolves were “exceedingly numerous.” When the first state legislature met, addressing the “problem of marauding wolves” topped the agenda. Less than 100 years later, Leslie Akerly closed the chapter on a government-sponsored campaign of eradication when he collected the last bounty on a wolf he killed near the Rogue-Umpqua Divide. Oregon became a landscape missing its top native predator. In generations to come, the wilds of the state would 4 continue to change. Without a sense of irony, Woody Guthrie wrote his song Roll on Columbia. Mill saws screamed as they cut through ancient trees. Deserts bloomed with thirsty fields of hay and alfalfa. For those who viewed Oregon – and the forces of nature that made it a true frontier – as wilderness in need of taming, this is as good as the story gets. For those who find value in wildness, this is our darkest chapter. Along with wolves, the state was stripped of its native old-growth forests, wetlands drained of their life-giving water, and salmon streams choked with sediment, poison, and dams. Some say our past is our destiny because it is what had to happen to make us who we are today. Portland now rests on Stumptown, the Willamette Valley helps feed a nation, and eastern Oregon’s Wild West culture became part of Americana. Awakening As rivers burned in Ohio, the last passenger pigeon was shot, and people began turning the pages of Rachel Carson’s seminal work Silent Spring, Americans began to wake from our collective dream of limitless growth and endless resources. As a society, we decided to stop poisoning our air, land, and water. We determined to stop allowing species to go extinct. We began saving the best of what remained of our wild heritage. From these awakenings came visionary laws that have come to define our nation’s ability to protect our highest and most cherished values. With the support of Republicans and Democrats alike, bedrock laws like the Clean Water Act, Wilderness Act, and Endangered Species Act were passed. It was also the time that groups like Oregon Wild (then the Oregon Wilderness Coalition) took shape and gave voice to public values like clean water, abundant wildlife, opportunities for solitude, and finding a sense of place. Thanks to those efforts, old-growth logging slowed, some of our greatest landscapes were permanently protected, and the precipitous decline of threatened species abated. The wolf returns In the mid-1990s, under the protections of the Endangered Species Act, the protagonists of our story made their way back onto the stage. Sixty-six wolves were released into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho. A decade later a collared wolf known to biologists as B-300 crossed the Snake River. She shook herself dry and took refuge in the wildlands of northeast Oregon. B-300 became known to conservationists as Sophie. She found her mate and started the Imnaha Pack. Her family shares its name with a roadless area and river that flows from the Eagle Cap Wilderness. The Eagle Cap is Oregon’s largest protected Wilderness and still provides refuge for the pack for part of the year. It also provides a home to some of our most endangered wildlife including the state’s only known wolverines. It’s no wonder the area was recently voted as Oregon’s favorite wild place (see page 15). For some, old prejudices die hard. When members of the Imnaha Pack strayed from protected areas, they often found themselves in trouble. In response to demands from the livestock industry, Oregon has issued three kill orders in as many years for Sophie’s pack. So far, four wolves have been shot by state agents. Other kill orders were suspended when Oregon Wild and our allies held the agencies accountable to their own laws. Meanwhile, in the subalpine forests flanking the Eagle Cap, Sophie gave birth to a pup the state would saddle with the less-than-charismatic handle of OR-7. Sharing his den with at least five other pups, no one could have known that this pup would become the hero of our story and the most famous wolf in the world. OR-7 faithfully paralleled the predicted track and skirted disparate population centers. Many of these areas are protected by the Roadless Rule. The Rule was passed in 2001 while development interests, road builders, and the timber industry were busily chipping away at otherwise unprotected pristine forests. Journey through the Wilderness The Rule maintained access for citizens, but stopped the destruction of nearly two million acres of forests in Oregon. Even so, it was almost immediately attacked by the incoming Bush administration. In 2011, while anti-wolf interests and state agencies fought in courtrooms to kill wolves, OR-7 did what many young wolves do. He left his family in search of a mate. He could not have known that the collar he had recently been fitted with sent regular updates to biologists monitoring his movements. When he embarked on his trek, few knew of his existence and fewer knew where he would go. It turns out, scientists had the answer. A study done a decade earlier showed the most likely route of dispersal for various native predators across the state. The researchers marked a path through protected and unprotected areas where pristine habitat had been left intact from the previous century’s resource extraction and development. Stops along the way included the Eagle Cap Wilderness, the unprotected roadless forests along the Cascade Crest, and across to Oregon’s Yellowstone – the Kalmiopsis. Had he been following developments in conservation law, OR-7 would have let out a howl in October when – after a decade of attacks by the timber industry – the Roadless Rule became the law of the land. Oregon has protected only 4% of the state as Wilderness, so it is critical for wildlife – common and endangered alike – to protect roadless areas that provide increasingly rare and valuable habitat. And in an age of climate change, protecting the habitat that connects big wild places is doubly important. As he wandered west, OR-7 crossed an invisible administrative line separating the management boundary between weaker protections provided by the state and the stronger federal protections of the Endangered Species Act. Eventually, OR-7 crossed another line and made history by becoming the first wolf in western Oregon in 64 years. Bringing the story full circle, he likely passed within miles of that fateful spot in the nowprotected Rogue Divide Wilderness where the last of his kind had been killed in 1947. OR-7 spent a few weeks wandering around the Sky Lakes Wilderness and in the unprotected wilderness near Crater Lake. These areas are some of the most spectacular and important in Oregon. Their permanent protection remains a necessity as they continue to be threatened by misguided logging schemes that require constant vigilance. What’s in a name? As OR-7 made headlines and inspired people around the country with his journey, anti-wolf rhetoric was heating up and the state was again fighting to kill his former packmates. In an effort to remind people of the positive story of wolves (continued on page 7) Give a howl for wolves Springtime is the season when wolves welcome new pups into their packs. With these new pups comes new hope for the future of wolf recovery in Oregon. But with anti-wolf forces stubbornly fighting to take Oregon back to the bad old days of killing wolves, hope is not enough. We need the pro-wolf majority of Oregonians – like you – to stand with us as we fight for the future of Oregon’s wolves. Please support Oregon Wild and Oregon’s wolves today. With the generous support of wolf advocates in northeast Oregon, your donation to Oregon Wild will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $6,500. Use the envelope in this newsletter or go online to www.oregonwild.org/donate to support Oregon wolf recovery. ©DONALD A. HIGGS 5 Spring/Summer 2012 Volume 39, Number 2 Newberry Crater The Newberry Crater Volcanic area is best known for its great camping, excellent hiking, and old-growth forests. At the heart of the area is Paulina Peak – the highest point around at 8,000 feet. Hiking to the summit offers spectacular views of all of the snow-capped peaks in the Cascades. Wherever the wolf may roam “Who knew that wolves carried guide books to wilderness areas?” Unfortunately, the area is also threatened by ongoing efforts to tap the volcanic subsurface for geothermal energy. These energy schemes require significant amounts of water, and in an area of eastern Oregon with very few water sources there are serious concerns about how and where water would come from for the geothermal energy processing. New power line corridors would also have to be built that would fragment habitat in this Ponderosa pine ecosystem. Lack of development pressure is one of the reasons that the Newberry area serves as a vital corridor for wildlife like wolves. That was Oregon Wild Wilderness Coordinator Erik Fernandez’s reaction after seeing the path that OR-7 (Journey) took across Oregon’s backcountry. To be fair, Journey’s outdoor tastes also extended to unprotected wilderness across Oregon’s high desert and Cascade crest. Follow his path and read more about two of the special places he took in during his travels. Proposed Crater Lake Wilderness Crater Lake is one of Oregon’s most spectacular natural treasures. Every year, this National Park attracts half a million visitors who come to gaze into the pure, clean water, to marvel at unique geology, and to explore the rugged backcountry. The Crater Lake Wilderness proposal includes the backcountry of the park as well as the surrounding wildlife corridors – including the headwaters to the Deschutes, Umpqua, Rogue, and Klamath rivers. The natural beauty of Crater Lake extends far beyond Wizard Island and the caldera. It includes spectacular roadless lands both inside and outside of the official boundaries of the park such as the Pumice Desert, the craggy spires and wild forests of Mount Thielsen, and the rugged slopes of Mount Bailey. For OR-7 and other wolves to find a safe haven in this stretch of the Oregon Cascades, we’ll need to defend the area from proposed logging and the threat of helicopter tours buzzing around the park. Spring/Summer 2012 Volume 39, Number 2 6 (continued from page 5) and discourage people who might be tempted to kill an anonymous wolf, Oregon Wild created a naming and art contest. The ultimate winning name was appropriate – Journey. Journey continued south through the Klamath Basin where wildlife continues to be last in line for the region’s scarce water resources. He would have been unaware that many of the southern Oregon rivers he passed are newly threatened by a glut of mining claims. It wasn’t long before Journey crossed another invisible line and became the first wolf in California since 1924. It was then that he really became a star! News of Journey’s travels allowed people to refocus on the positive story of wolves that so often gets lost in unnecessary conflict drummed up by anti-wolf interests. Not long after, Oregon State University scientists heaped new scientific data onto the growing understanding of the critical role wolves and other predators play on the landscape. Wolves like Journey need wild places, but it also turns out that healthy landscapes need their wolves. Protecting wolves and the habitat they need also means protecting the homes of countless other species like slugs, elk, beaver, voles, and grouse that play important roles but may not get as much attention. The fight to protect wolves, Coho salmon, spotted owls, and eagles isn’t just about those species – it’s also about our values. It’s a fight over what kind of place we want to live in and leave to future generations. Happily ever after? Journey’s epic journey is about more than his story or even the story of wolf recovery. It’s a reminder of a precious opportunity to right a past wrong. It’s a rare chance for redemption and an opportunity to leave a better future for our descendants. Journey’s historic trip would never have been possible without the strong environmental laws that came out of a uniquely American awakening. Had it not been for past efforts to protect Wilderness, the Eagle Cap would be a vastly different place. Without vigilance and support over the last decade, the Roadless Rule that protected Journey’s path would have fallen to greedy provincial interests. These efforts have been no less important to Journey’s inspiring story than our direct efforts to hold the state accountable to its own laws and values by stopping the killing of Oregon’s 30 known endangered wolves Journey is a tough wolf – at one point he chased a mountain lion off a kill – but his future remains tenuous. Will he be tempted by unattended livestock grazing on public land and pay with his life as other Oregon wolves have? Will the forests that he travelled through go on the chopping block in an effort to fund county governments? Will poachers continue to go unpunished? Will the Endangered Species Act be upended by a Congress in the pocket of oil, gas, mining, and logging corporations? Wolves – so recently back on the Oregon landscape – continue to be the subject of a purposeful campaign of misinformation and fear. They are used as a proxy in cynical political battles over the size and role of government. Journey’s success is contrasted by his brother’s story. In January, OR-9 was illegally killed in Idaho by an unapologetic poacher who received no punishment. His death was no anomaly. Over 500 wolves – nearly a third of the western population – have been killed (and in some cases publicly tortured) since wolves lost their federal protections. The story of Journey is one of hope, inspiration, and redemption. It is a reminder of how far we’ve come and it is most certainly a cause for celebration. However his brother’s story is a cautionary tale that reminds us how far we have yet to go, and why we must remain vigilant. 7 What’s in a name? The story of Journey captured imaginations around the world. But it didn’t happen on its own. Clover didn’t take home top honors but she proved that wolves can capture imaginations across the globe. When we learned that OR-7 had become the first wild wolf in western Oregon in the better part of a century, we knew something big had happened. He’s since added thousands of miles, but even then it was an impressive total. The story also provided a great opportunity to remind people about the positive story of a native species making a remarkable recovery. We knew Journey had star power, but he lacked some important credentials. At the time, Journey carried the less-than-inspiring moniker OR-7, and there were no known photos of him. In an effort to help spread the word about the positive story of wolf recovery and give Journey an identity, we sponsored a naming and art contest for kids. The Connect with the Wild contest and news of Journey’s epic travels received coverage around the world. Stories appeared in British tabloids, Australian dailies, and newspapers in Asia, Africa, and South America. Name suggestions poured in by the hundreds from around Oregon, America, and the globe. The first submission came from a girl in Oregon’s wolf country. Her suggestion: “Whoseafraida”. Ultimately “Journey” triumphed over four other finalists in a public vote. The apt name even inspired NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams to indulge in some off the cuff humor on his newscast featuring Oregon Wild. The contest was a great success and has allowed a new generation to connect with the wild. We hope our efforts to protect Oregon’s wolves and the places they call home will allow that generation to take good care of Journey and his descendants. E i g h t - y e a r- o l d E n o r a f r o m P o r t l a n d w o n the wolf art contest with this imagining of Journey alongside, we can only presume, his prospective mate. Spring/Summer 2012 Volume 39, Number 2 Oregon Wild proudly presents Oregon Wild SUMMER 2012 Visit the places you want to see with the people who know them best! All outings are guided by experts and require online reservations. Please leave pets at home. For your comfort and safety, wear appropriate attire and bring plenty of water, snacks, and a lunch. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Register for hikes and outings at www.oregonwild.org or call 503.283.6343 Presented by KEEN Footwear Special thanks to Willamette Week Thursday, June 14 Multnomah Basin to Multnomah Falls Wildflower Leader: Wendell Wood (Moderate, 5.5 mi, elevation loss 2,600 ft, Mt. Hood National Forest) Join naturalist Wendell Wood for this all-day slow-paced wildflower hike amongst old-growth forests, rock slides and streamside woodlands. Saturday, June 16 Angel’s Rest to Wahkeena Falls Wildflower Leader: Wendell Wood (Strenuous, 6.4 mi, elevation gain 1,500 ft, Mt. Hood National Forest) It’s called Angel’s Rest and you just might need some rest after this challenging hike in the Columbia Gorge. Sunday, June 17 Lookout Creek Old Growth Leader: Chandra LeGue (Moderate to Strenuous, 7.0 mi, elevation gain 800 ft, Willamette National Forest) Experience one of the best old-growth hikes in the Cascades on this journey into the mossy haven of Lookout Creek Trail. Monday, June 18 Salmon River Wildflower Leader: Wendell Wood (Easy, 4.0 mi, elevation gain minimal, Mt. Hood National Forest) Enjoy the sights and sounds of the nearby river, as well as the lushness of the old growth forest as you search for wildflowers with Wendell Wood. SUSAN KENNEY NEWMAN Saturday, June 23 Tilly Jane Cloudcap Saddle Leader: Margo Earley (Strenuous, 6.0 mi, elevation gain 2,200 ft, Mt. Hood National Forest) Hike to the treeline through newly designated Wilderness and dramatic post-fire re-growth. Top it off with a spectacular lunchtime view of Mt. Hood’s northeast face. Sunday, June 24 Molalla River Leader: Jonathan Jelen (Moderate, 5.0 mi, elevation gain 1,000 ft, Table Rock Wilderness, Salem BLM) Journey to the headwaters of the Molalla River and explore the unique basalt formations of the Table Rock Wilderness. Friday, June 29 to Sunday, July 1 Signal Buttes Campout Leader: Wendell Wood (Moderate, two hikes at 4.0 mi, elevation gain minimal, Rogue Siskiyou National Forest and Medford District BLM) Join Oregon Wild for a car campout and weekend hiking trip to Signal Buttes straddling BLM and National Forest land in southern Oregon. Monday, July 9 Tire Mountain Wildflower Leader: Chandra LeGue (Moderate, 7.5 mi, elevation gain 800 ft, Willamette National Forest) Old-growth forest, spectacular views, and the peak of wildflower season in numerous meadows await you on this hike outside of Oakridge. Saturday, July 14 Memaloose Lake Family Hike Friday, July 27 Fifteenmile Creek Leader: Sean Stevens Leader: Jonathan Jelen (Moderate, 2.6 mi, elevation gain 500 ft, Mt. Hood National Forest) Bring the kids along on this short hike to a beautiful lake filled with salamanders. (Easy-Moderate, 4.5 mi, elevation gain 500 ft, Mt. Hood National Forest) Hike through one of Mt. Hood’s most diverse oldgrowth forests to a unique area featuring both wet-westside and dry-eastside ecosystems. Friday, July 20 to Sunday, July 22 Klamath Refuge Volunteer and Wetlands Canoe Weekend Leader: Wendell Wood Spend one day assisting the refuge staff in erecting perches for raptors and birds of prey and the next day canoeing at the Wood River Wetlands. (Sleeping and kitchen accommodations provided.) Saturday, July 21 Tamanawas Falls Tree Identification Leader: Erik Fernandez (Moderate, 5.5 mi, elevation gain 500 ft, Mt. Hood National Forest) Explore a diverse old-growth forest along the crystal clear Cold Spring Creek leading up to the spectacular Tamanawas Falls. Wolf conflict grabs headlines, but the real story of wolves is much more interesting. That’s the idea behind Oregon Wild’s pioneering Wolf Rendezvous. The trip got off to a great start when it was featured on OPB’s Oregon Field Guide program in 2010. Last year we met with ranchers, hunters, biologists, local wolf advocates, and even a Nez Perce elder who shared his grandmother’s stories about living with wolves in Wallowa County in the 1800s! Saturday, August 4 Crabtree Valley Leader: Chandra LeGue (Moderate-Strenuous, 2-6 mi, elevation gain 600 ft, Salem District BLM) Experience one of the oldest forest groves in Oregon on a day-long expedition to this out-ofthe way wonder. Saturday, August 11 Boulder Lake Leader: Erik Fernandez (Moderate, 5.0 mi, elevation gain 1,100 ft, Mt. Hood National Forest) Discover the aquamarine waters of one of the Mt. Hood National Forest’s best-kept secrets! Friday, August 24 Opal Creek Ancient Forest Leader: Jonathan Jelen (Moderate, 5-7 mi, elevation gain minimal, Opal Creek Wilderness, Willamette National Forest) A walk back in time to an ancient Oregon forest in one of the state’s signature Wilderness areas. DANIEL PIERCE Boulder Lake Go where the wolves are! CH R I S SO KO L F if te e nm i l e Cre e k Crater Lake Wilderness Weekend Saturday, September 8 Rogue Divide Wilderness Leader: Dave & Dee Tvedt (Moderate, 5 mi, elevation gain 300 ft, Rogue River National Forest) Enjoy an outstanding old-growth forest of towering incense cedars and Douglas-firs in the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness. The likelihood of seeing Oregon’s reclusive wolves is small, but the story of wolf recovery takes place on one of the world’s most beautiful stages. We enjoy forays into the raptor-rich Zumwalt prairie, alpine meadows, and spectacular canyons. Details on the 2012 trip are coming together, so be sure to check the website and sign up for our e-alerts to secure a spot! Find details on the trip at: www.oregonwild.org/about/hikes_events Sunday, September 9 Mt. Bailey Summit Leader: Chandra LeGue (Strenuous, 10 mi, elevation gain 3,100 ft, Umpqua National Forest) Climb one of the Cascades’ most accessible mountains on this challenging trek within the Crater Lake Wilderness proposal. J O H N M O R R I S Wo lf R e ndez vous participants soak in knowledge fro m O D F W 's wo lf bi o l o gist. Keeping it wild Featuring the supporters, foundations, businesses, and volunteers that make our work possible. This issue’s focus: Recess is back with KEEN! Name: James Curleigh Location: Portland Title: President and CEO, KEEN Footwear Business member since: 2007 J O H N WA L L E R Wilderness means business Oregon Wild is proud to have the support of the many businesses that share our values and understand that protecting our shared landscapes is good for business. $10,000+ Business Partners Mountain Rose Herbs James Curleigh, President a n d CEO, Ke e n Fo ot we a r HybridLife is the KEEN mantra. We’ve made a commitment to create solutions in our business practices, to design products that enable you to play anyplace without a ceiling, and to care for the world around us. $5,000+ Business Partners KEEN $2,500+ Business Partners Tactics $1,000+ Business Partners Pro Photo Supply Organically Grown Company Juniper Ridge Terra Firma Botanicals Gita Maria, Inc. KEEN is an Oregon Wild Business Partner because we believe in Oregon and ‘being wild’ – that’s why! KEEN actively supports their Summer Hike Series and often lends a voice of support on important conservation and recreation issues. $500+ Business Partners Environmental Paper & Print Navillus Press To learn more about Oregon Wild business partnerships and event sponsorship opportunities, contact Jonathan Jelen at jj@oregonwild.org or 503.283.6343 ext 224. Spring/Summer 2012 Volume 39, Number 2 Oregon Wild: Why do you think it is important to support Oregon Wild? James Curleigh: At KEEN we think it’s important to preserve open space for outdoor recreation and to encourage people to live a HybridLife in the state we love. JUSTIN LEE White River Falls 10 Oregon Wild: Why do you choose to live in Oregon? James Curleigh: To live the HybridLife! Oregon Wild: What is your favorite place in Oregon and why? James Curleigh: I love Mt. Hood. I love it year round because I can go on adventures with my friends and my family. Oregon Wild: Which Oregon Wild campaign are you most interested in and why? James Curleigh: We find all the work they do very valuable. Wilderness is something we actively support because it takes into consideration all the wildlife, the waters and everything in-between from a perspective of open space to protection and preservation. Oregon Wild: What impresses you most about Oregon Wild? James Curleigh: We love the fact that Oregon Wild is a passionate group of people who are clearly all about protecting our backyard in Oregon. For that we salute Oregon Wild! Bill’s Excellent Adventures Waldo Lake – halfway to motor free Hike to South Waldo Lake’s Shelter William Sullivan A n easy 1.7-mile hike to the South Waldo Shelter not only shows off some of Waldo Lake’s most spectacular scenery, but it also reveals how much of this huge, pristine mountain lake is at risk. Designation of the Waldo Lake Wilderness in 1984 has left many people with the false impression that the area is protected. In fact, the lake itself is still vulnerable to the oil spills and noise of seaplanes and none of the lakeshore is within the Wilderness boundary. Huge areas to the east, south, and west are vulnerable to development. © G R E G VAU G H N Doug Heiken, Conservation & Restoration Coordinator must take off and land at high speed, with great commotion, and at some risk of an accident that could put lives in peril and spill fuel into the lake. The hike to South Waldo Shelter starts at a popular sailboat landing. To drive here, take Willamette Highway 58 east of Eugene to milepost 59 (west of Willamette Pass 3 miles). At a “Waldo Lake” pointer, turn north on paved Road 5897 for 6.7 miles. Then turn left at the Shadow Bay sign for 1.7 miles, ignore the campground entrance to the right, and continue straight 0.3 mile to the boat ramp parking area at road’s end. Start at a “Shoreline Trail” sign by a dock on the left. The path’s first half mile follows the shore of Shadow Bay, an inlet where sailboats strike romantic poses. At the 1.3-mile mark, reach a sandy beach sheltered by a small wooded island – a nice wading spot on a hot day. After this the trail leaves the lake and skirts a meadow to the shelter. GR EG ZU R B R U GG Q uiet recre ation on Waldo Lake took a step forward and a step back this April with a decision to ban all gas motors but those attached to float planes. T he clear blue waters of Waldo Lake received some much needed good news in early April when the Oregon State Marine Board voted to continue the ban on gas motors. The vote followed a lively public hearing and a comment period when thousands of Oregonians spoke out overwhelmingly in favor of protecting Waldo Lake from the noise and potential pollution from gas motors. The rustic, 3-sided structure is not near the lakeshore, and it isn’t protected by the Waldo Lake Wilderness either. The hike here is a reminder of how beautiful this area is, and how much we have left to save. 11 Unfortunately, a late-breaking complication leaves a cloud of uncertainty over the lake. The Marine Board rule was supposed to prohibit both boats and float planes (except for emergency landings) but the state Aviation Board refused to concur, so the final rule was tweaked to exclude float planes. If Waldo is precious enough to ban gas motor boats going 10 mph, it surely makes sense to prohibit float planes that Now the Aviation Board has the hot potato in its lap. The current aviation rules defer to the Marine Board. Float planes are explicitly not allowed on any water body where gas motors are prohibited. If the Aviation Board decides to make new rules, they will have to make a case that the existing rules should be relaxed to allow float planes where they are currently prohibited. That’s not likely. Stayed tuned for more as the decades-long fight to protect Waldo unfolds. Take Action! Call Governor Kitzhaber and urge him to instruct the Aviation Board to extend the gas motor ban to float planes – 503.378.4582. Spring/Summer 2012 Volume 39, Number 2 The 20 Year Club Amy L. and James T. Rooks Andrea Beardsley Andrew and Jadwiga Bajer Andrew J. Swanson Andy Kerr Anita K. Pearson Ann Kendall Taylor Anne Philipsborn and Richard Ray Annette Simonson and Alan Higinbotham Anton Vetterlein and Pamela Birkel Arthur and Margianne Erickson Arthur Emlen Aubrey Russell and Peyton Chapman B J Novitski and Hugh “Chip” Kiger Barbara A. Manildi Barbara and Eugene Emge Barbara and Tom Mathieson Barbara and William Harris Barbara McKinney and Tom Keilman Barry Pelzner and Deborah Pollack Bertha and Sanford Tepfer Bertram and Teddy Berney Bette Lou Karamanos Bill (William B.) Lazar Bill Yoder and Ashley Montague Bonnie Hughes/Clear Creek Lodge Bonnie R Bunch Brent and Diane Schauer Brian Casey and Cricket Dixon Brooks Murrell Bruce and Edith Anderson Bruce C Restad Bruce Weber C. E. Win Francis Cameron S. Denney Carl Clemons Carmel Wimber and John Cartmell Carol and Gary Vallens Caroline Skinner Carolyn F. Eckel Catherine and Marty Morrow Charles and Kyle Fuchs Charles B and Reida J Kimmel Charles McGinnis and Gail Achterman Charles R. Meek Charlotte A Campbell Chip Hall Chris C. Baker Claudia Burton and Jim Conley Clemens Starck Craig S. Patterson Cris Maranze and Stu Levy Dale Query Daniel and Jeanne Carver David B. Gibson Jr. David Grant, MD David H. Petersen and Teresa Rennick David J. Schroeder David Pilz David Sauer De Henderson Deb and Christopher I. Hiatt Debora Goldstein Deborah and Peter Barker Noble Deborah J Hobbie Denise Carty and Roger Brown Dennis F Smith Dennis Hebert Dennis R. Cusack Dianne E. Ensign Donna Hunter Dorald Stoltz Dorothy D Gage Doug K Goodall Doug Spiro and Lynn Brown Douglas Grover Dr. Jan Hodder Dr. Sandra Joos and Dr. John Gale Dr. Stephen G. Ray Dr. Tom K. Seddon Edward D. and Colette E. Hall Edward Lichtenstein From protecting the old-growth forests of Opal Creek to preserving Mount Hood and advocating for gray wolves, we’ve been honored to have had these supporters stand with us for over twenty years of campaigns. Thank you so much for your loyal commitment to keeping Oregon wild! Edward Schmidt Elaine Robin and James P. Scott Elisabeth M. Postma Elizabeth A. Javens Elizabeth and Joe Newcomb-Morawski Elizabeth Tilbury-Marquard Ellen A Crumb Ellen L Saunders and David Whitman Emily and Robert Steele Ewart Baldwin F. Gordon Allen Florence P. Byrne Frances and James Phelps Frances H. Chapple Francis Eatherington Frank C. Hoffman Frederick A Grunwald Fredrick J Seil, MD Gary Guttormsen Gary Tepfer and and Esther Jacobson-Tepfer Gaylord and Jane Weeks George and Margo Earley George Hutchinson George K. Wuerthner George Rothbart and Ingrid Scheib-Rothbart Glen A. and Rhoda M. Love Gloria Henning H Gerritt Rosenthal H. Tom Davis Hank and Morning Star Holmes Hardin W King Harry Shaich Helen M. Dalton Helen T. Lyman Henrietta and Kenton Chambers Hilary and Stuart Garrett MD Irene and Stephen Bachhuber Irma B Jansen J. Michael Moody Jack Richard Jai Hari Singh Khalsa James Allen Marshall James and Debbie MacMillan Spring/Summer 2012 Volume 39, Number 2 James B. Davis James D. Monteith James I. Carlson James R. and Judith N. Emerson Jan and Chris Sokol Jane A. Beckwith Jane R Kendall Janet and David Dobak Janet L. Hall Janice Reid Janna Orkney Jay D. McIntosh Jean and Ralph Quinsey Jeanene Ann Smith Jeanette Egger Jeanette Skelton Feldhousen and Edward Feldhousen Jeffrey Kern Jemma T. Crae Jeri Janowsky and John Crabbe Jewel and Ron Lansing Jim and Gwynn Sullivan Jim Arneson Jim Kreutzbender Joan and Stanley Pierson Joan Flanders Joann and Philip Anselone Joanna deFelice Joanne Graham John A. and Carol C. Walker John B. Sutherland John D Long John G. “Jack” Corbett John G. Wadsworth John Koenig and Deborah Toobert John L Welch John L. Hammond John L. Sager MD John M Sherman John R and Gladys S W Swanson John Saemann John Vitas and Pat Towle John W S Platt Jordan Epstein Joseph Hessler and Ruthann Maguire Josephine and Peter Von Hippel Joy and Scott Linn Judith A Henderson Judith Lynn Horstmann and Howard T Bonnett Judith Schwartz Sorrel Judyanne E Evitt and Ray Heslep Julie Bevan and David Manfield June and Ed Hemmingson Karan and Jim Fairchild Karen and Walt Trandum Karen Bersack and Dan Martin Karen J. Belsey Karen Josephson and Peter Stoel Karen M. Seidel Karen Perkins and David Simone Karen Stolzberg Karl D. Lisle Kate Mills Katherine and Burt Eaton Katherine Cameron Katherine Meads and William Iron Kathleen and Steve Hurley Kathleen Drake and Mark H. Lacey Kathleen T. and Paul J. Box Kathryn R. Van Beeck Kathy Jubitz and Steve Hawley Ken and Rebecca Wilson Kenneth Raymen Kevin and Nora Semonsen Kim and Ted Winter Kirk Schroeder and Carol Savonen Kirkland T Roberts Kristin Lensen and Dave Whitaker Kurt and Carolyn Herzog Kyle Allan Cleys Larry and Jeanette Phelan Larry and Ofelia Svart Laurence J Morandi and Karen L Pazucha Lawrence D. Schwartz Lee and Marilyn Rengert Lee Anne Seeger Lee Belknap MD 12 Leon Werdinger and Beth Gibans Leslie and Patrick Logan Leta and Stan Marchington Linda Burdick Atwill Linda D Nelson Linda K and Thomas J Moehl Linda Shockey Linda Starr Lloyd Slonecker Lori and Keith Warren Lorna M. and Don F. Grabe Louise G. Ferrell Lurena Davis Lynda J. Hess and Kevin L. Beck Lynn and Don Herring Lynn and Milton Marks M. Emil Smith Mabel and Wilbert Pool Malgosia Cegielski Margaret W. Weesner Margaret Y Purves and Patricia R Kellogg Margie Adams Mari Baldwin Marianna J. McLean, DMD Marie Valleroy and Alan Locklear Marilyn Rasmussen Marilyn and Gene Cripe Marilyn Couch and David Axelrod Mariner Orum Marita Ingalsbe Marjorie Turner Mark and Ezma Hanschka Mark and Kathy Heerema Mark Bigler Mark Hixon, PhD Martha and John Westgate Martha V McCall Mary A Bridenbaugh Mary Allardt Mary and Chester Galka Mary Anne Joyce and Catha Loomis Mary Ellen West Mary Garrard Mary Lane Stevens and Thomas M. Hard Mary Lefevre and Spencer Krueger Mary P Lipp and Daniel E Brenner Mary T. Nolan and Mark S. Gardiner Mary Vogel Maryanne Staton Matthew L. Slick Matthew Messerly Maureen Barckley Maurice Bruce Stewart May D. Dasch Mel M. Solomon Mercedes and John McKiernan Michael A. James-Long Michael Allen and Anne Schagen Michael B Goldstein Michael BeBout Michael E. and Kellie J. Swaim Michael F. Burns Michael Greenstreet MD Michael J Fitzgerald Michael Reich Michael S. Andrews Michelle N. Miller Monica B. Rodal Monica Dostal and Michael Weinstein Nancie Peacocke Fadeley Nancy Hegg and Mitchell Williams Nancy L. Bertini Nancy M Helget and Peter Fels Nicholas and Janet De Morgan Nina M. Hipperson Norbert and Christine Leupold Ole and Naomi Bergman Pat Jolly Patricia M Kincaid Patricia S. Muir and Bruce P. McCune Patti and Robert Higgins Paul and Lee Dayfield Paul Kaplan Paul Mort Paul Pearson Peggy and Adolph Morlang Penny and John Lind Peter and Theresa Kloster Peter Koehler Jr. and Noel Hanlon Philip M. Lewin Phillis and Thomas Temple Phyllis and Dudley Church Phyllis C Reynolds Rachel Kirby and Robert Singleton Rand Schenck Randy Fishfader Ray Monteith Macoubrie Richard and Diane M Werich Rick and Lindea Kirschner Rita and Gerald Van Deene Robert A and Ellen L Gerl Robert and Mary Ruth Niccolls Robert G. Miller Robert Jensen Robert L. and Paula Hamm Robert M. Storm Robert Nisbet and Jeanne L Arnold-Nisbet Robert Reed Robert W. Kissler Robert W. Reid Robin and John Gage Roger A Hoffman and Marion Dresner Roger Mellem Ronna Friend Ronni S. Lacroute Roseann Mabel Ruth Lefevre Sally Bell Sally Browne Sandra L. and Gerald W. Zimmer Scott Alan Smith Shelley and Bob Everhart Shirley and Lloyd Williams Shirley B. Froyd Shirley Miller Sidney Friedman Stan Seleen Stephen C. and Toni L. Canning Stephen Hager Steve Kevan Steve Lambros and Laurie Gerloff Steven Clark Woolpert Steven McMaster and Kathleen Brock Steven Miller Steven Tichenor Susan and Howard Selmer Susan and Lee Rosenbaum Susan E and Peter A Harris Susan J. Prozanski Susan K. Seyl Susan K. Uravich and Richard Dolgonas Susan M. Fischer and Andrew P. Butler Suzanne L Riverman Suzanne Millan Suzi Cleminshaw Given Ted Hoff Thomas and Carolyn Cannon Thomas and Linda Roe Thomas Coffee Thomas E Pansky Thomas N. Foster Thomas O Wall Thomas Verhoeven Tim and Karen E Lillebo Tina Stupasky and Bryan E Lessley Todd A Cleland Tom Bard Tom Roster Tony Mecklem Tracy Parks Lamblin Vera Dafoe Victor F Kaufmann Virginia and Richard Buck Walter V Petty Wendelin H. Mueller III and Elizabeth Ann Mueller Wendy B. Loren William and Margaret Keenan William Diebold William G. Pearcy Yale Sacks, MD In Memoriam: Peggy Robinson, a wilderness champion Chandra LeGue, Old Growth Campaign Coordinator P e g g y R o b i n s o n ( l e f t) wo r k i n g w i t h o t h e r A d o pt- a -W i l d e r n e s s v o l u n t e e rs t o s u r v e y t h e M u l e M o u n t a i n ro a d l e s s a re a. In late 2011, Oregon lost a devoted champion for the wild places she loved – Peggy Robinson. A teacher in Springfield for many years, Peggy was a supporter and an active volunteer for Oregon Wild for many years. She was also active in the Native Plant Society of Oregon and other local groups. Starting in the late 1990s, Peggy was one of the most active volunteers in the Oregon Wild (then ONRC) Adopt-a-Wilderness program – focusing on the Willamette National Forest. Not only did she adopt ten proposed wilderness areas herself, but she worked to involve many other members of the community, and led other volunteers in adopting more than a dozen other roadless areas. Through 2001, Peggy put in hundreds of volunteer hours in the field, organized trainings for new adopters, and supported volunteers throughout the process. Peggy also volunteered for years with Oregon Wild’s Eugene Action Team and helped promote our programs and activities by tabling at community events. Though her interests shifted in the past several years and she spent more time devoted to other causes, she was reinvigorated by forest issues during the development of the BLM’s Western Oregon Plan Revisions (WOPR) in 2008 – attending meetings, writing comments and letters, and touring some threatened forests. I last saw Peggy on North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette River Trail last summer – still exploring new places. Oregon – and Oregon Wild – will miss Peggy, but her years of work to protect our cherished wild places will be carried on in her memory. Goose Timber Sale – about to be cooked Doug Heiken, Conservation & Restoration Coordinator T he community of McKenzie Bridge is fit to be tied, and rightfully so, because the Forest Service approved a huge timber sale immediately surrounding their community and almost everybody who cared did not find out until after it was a done deal. This is the Goose Project on the McKenzie Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest. Pink ribbons marking the boundaries of the timber sale abut many people’s residential property. More than 7,000 log truck loads of timber will roll out of the hills and through the community. Much of the timber volume will be from logging mature forests that help store carbon and mitigate climate change. These forests provide suitable habitat for spotted owls. There are 300 acres of “patch cuts” where most of the trees will be removed. The Forest Service plans to log inside “protected” riparian reserves, and in an 8,000- acre unroaded area that the Forest Service somehow forgot to inventory back in the 1970s. To add insult to injury, before adopting the outrageous Goose Project described here, the Forest Service considered and rejected an alternative that would have focused on thinning dense young stands and minimizing road construction. Throughout the process, Oregon Wild pushed the Forest Service to adopt this alternative, but our comments and appeals fell on deaf ears. If the Forest Service would have worked with us and the community to refine this more benign alternative, the Goose Project likely would have sailed through with little controversy. Take Action! DOUG HEIKEN Complex mature forests that will be logged under the Goose Project. 13 Western Environmental Law Center is representing Oregon Wild and Cascadia Wildlands in a lawsuit challenging the Goose Project. In the meantime, urge the Forest Service to put things right by withdrawing the Goose Project and involving the community in the design and implementation of a project that meets the needs of the community and the environment. Spring/Summer 2012 Volume 39, Number 2 Conservation round-up Steve Pedery, Conservation Director Water for wildlife in the Klamath JUSTIN ROHDE Wilderness protection for the Wild Rogue River means good business for rafting companies that f loat this famed stretch. Keeping the Rogue wild Oregon Wild members have been working for decades to protect more of the beloved Rogue River, and its tributaries, as Wilderness. We scored two major advances in this effort in March, with favorable hearings on Rogue Wilderness before the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee and a Senate subcommittee on Parks and Public Lands. Oregon Wild’s Erik Fernandez, who has worked tirelessly to map and fine-tune the Wild Rogue Wilderness proposal, traveled to Washington, DC in March to attend the hearings, and represent Oregon Wild supporters in meetings with key Senate and House offices. Spring/Summer 2012 Volume 39, Number 2 Despite the continuing hype that a $1 billion dollar water deal in the Klamath Basin would solve all of the region’s problems, wildlife within the spectacular Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges are once again facing a severe drought. A February memo prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stated that Lower Klamath NWR was “…in the driest condition entering spring migration in over 70 years,” and an outbreak of avian cholera in March killed over 10,000 birds. Oregon Wild organized a national effort to pressure the Obama administration and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to allow water to reach the refuges. On March 27, we submitted a letter from 26 local, state, and national organizations demanding water for wildlife. The shortage is still severe, but some water is now flowing to refuge wetlands. deal with the explosion of off-road vehicle use that is occurring on America’s public BRE T T COLE When drought hits, wetlands critical for migrating waterfowl (like these on Lower lands, and to Klamath National Wildlife Refuge) go dry and canals reduce the f illed with cracked earth are all that remain. damage they cause. This Wyden and Merkley, together with spring, the Wallowa-Whitman Rep. Walden, to pressure the Forest National Forest in northeast Oregon Service, leading the agency to released their draft plan to close withdraw the plan. Oregon Wild is some unnecessary roads and reduce now working with a coalition of off-road vehicle abuse, sparking a conservation interests to counter the vicious backlash from off-roaders and vicious misinformation campaign, and others opposed to any restrictions on encourage the Forest Service to stand roads. Through a Tea Party-style its ground. campaign, they convinced Senators Roads to nowhere in the Wallowa Whitman NF Since 2005, every national forest has been required to draft a plan to 14 HCPC Off-road vehicle damage would continue unabated if political pressure ke eps Wallowa-Whitman N F managers from moving forward with a balanced travel plan. Feel the Madness Jonathan Jelen, Development Coordinator With over 3,500 votes cast, the people of Oregon spoke and declared the Eagle Cap Wilderness as Oregon’s Favorite Wild Place. The final head-to-head matchup was between Eagle Cap (Oregon’s largest Wilderness area) and Crater Lake (the state’s only national park). Despite being such a long drive from the state’s population centers, the stunning peaks and nearly 60 alpine lakes of the Eagle Cap truly resonate with Oregonians. At nearly 350,000 acres, the remote and charismatic Eagle Cap Wilderness represents nearly one-sixth of the state’s federally protected Wilderness land and provides critical habitat for some of Oregon’s most charismatic megafauna, most notably, gray wolves. It’s truly a wild place – and now it holds the title of Oregon’s Favorite Wild Place – at least for this year! SHAUN DANIEL Eagle Cap Inspired by college basketball’s annual tournament, this spring, Oregon Wild launched Oregon Wild Madness. The goal: to create awareness of and excitement for many of the wonderful wild places throughout Oregon. The challenge began with a field of 32 special areas in Oregon facing off in a head-to-head, singleelimination tournament. a 90-mile stretch of the south Cascades around Crater Lake, we’ll ensure that one of the state’s most important wildlife corridors will be preserved for native species as they adapt to climate change. Thanks to everyone who voted in the inaugural Oregon Wild Madness. We hope you enjoyed getting caught up in the Madness and maybe you even got some new ideas for where in Oregon to explore next. Where in OREGON ??? A big thanks to REI, Timberline Lodge, and Thimbleberry Cabin for their generous support of Oregon Wild Madness. Congratulations to Josh Kling who won a two-night stay at Timberline Lodge and to Katie Larsell who won a two-night stay at Thimbleberry Cabin. To see the full voting results, go to: www.oregonwild.org/madness Despite falling short in the final voting, Oregon’s only national park, Crater Lake, continues to be one of the most beloved and ecological important places in the state. Oregon Wild is currently working to permanently protect 500,000 acres around Crater Lake as Wilderness. By permanently protecting S U E PA R S O N S As a recurring feature in Oregon Wild, we showcase a photo of a wild place (usually with someone displaying our newsletter). If you’re the first person to correctly guess the location of this issue’s photo, we’ll send you a copy of William Sullivan’s Atlas of Oregon Wilderness. Send your guess or submit your own Where in Oregon photo for the next issue to newsletter@oregonwild.org and you could win too! 15 Spring/Summer 2012 Volume 39, Number 2 NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID Portland, OR Permit No. 226 Thanks to our sponsor Registered nurse. Pharmacist. Construction manager. Those are some of the jobs that past Oregon Wild Outdoor Photo Contest winners have had. With the 8th Annual contest returning this summer YOU have a chance to win too! 2012 Oregon Wild OUTDOOR PHOTO CONTEST All submissions due by September 14, 2012 Grab your camera, hit the trail, and frame up the perfect shot to submit in our four main categories: Wildlands, Wildlife, Waters, and Endangered Places – this year featuring the wild backcountry where Oregon’s most famous wolf (Journey) roamed during his epic trip from the Eagle Cap Wilderness all the way to northern California. The contest is open to amateurs and professionals with great prizes from Pro Photo Supply and others for the winners. We’ll unveil the winners at a special event in October. Printed on recycled paper with soy based ink. ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED 5825 N. Greeley Ave. Portland, OR 97217 See contest rules and submit your photos at www.oregonwild.org/ photo-contest BEN CANALES Oregon Wild Gear! This summer season, step out in style and show your pride for your favorite wild places with some great new gear from Oregon Wild! What better way to help conserve resources than by using an eco-friendly tote for your trips to the farmer’s market? Or by saving plastic bottles and staying hydrated with a BPA-free, stainless steel Klean Kanteen? And to stay comfy and cool on the trail, at the park, or on the river, slip into one of our super soft Oregon Wild t-shirts, made from 100% organic cotton. Go to www.oregonwild.org for more details on how you can get your hands on this awesome gear!