Conservation Success! Please thank our members of Congress who provided critical leadership.

For years mining companies have sought to develop nickel strip mines on public lands in southwest Oregon’s Kalmiopsis region. This would harm several cherished whitewater runs, including Rough and Ready Creek, the Wild and Scenic Illinois River, Baldface Creek, and the Wild and Scenic North Fork and mainstem Smith Rivers. Nearby Hunter Creek and the Pistol River on Oregon’s Wild Rivers Coast, have also been threatened. We recently acheived an important milestone in the protection of these rivers with the publication of Public Land Order 7859  on January 13th, 2017 that protects these rivers for the next 20 years!

With this Public Land Order, the Department of Interior protected ~101,000 acres of public land through a “mineral withdrawal,” lasting 20 years. This action prohibits new mining activities within the region. The Forest Service and BLM initially were considering implementing the withdrawal for 5 years, but due to overwhelming public support, they formally implemented the 20 year withdrawal.

Many of you spoke up in support of this protection and made this happen! If you are from Washington, Oregon, or Northern California it is important to thank members of the Congressional delegation who have helped lead this effort. We have made it easy by providing a template with the technical details. Please consider customizing with a short sentence or two describing your personal connection to these places.