Wild and Scenic Chetco River protection update | Fall 2013

Fishing on the Chetco

Now that the Chinook have begun to return to the Chetco, it’s a good time to to see where we’re at with the Chetco River Protection Act. The legislation will permanently protect our Wild and Scenic River from the threat of instream mining.

In July, Secretary of Interior Jewell signed a  mineral withdrawal, protecting the Chetco  from mining for 5 years. This will give Congress time to pass the legislation.

Wild and Scenic Chetco River | Protected from mining for 5 years!

On July 26, the Interior Department announced its approval of a mineral withdrawal for 17 miles of the National Wild and Scenic Chetco River in the Federal Register, Authorized by Public Land Order #7819, the mineral withdrawal protects 5,610 acres of National Forest land along the Wild and Scenic Chetco River from mining for five years.

 The Wild and Scenic Chetco River. Northwest Rafting Co. photo

Our Senators and Congressman come through again

"Scenic" reach of Chetco River

The Chetco is one of South Coast's extraordinary "Wild Rivers." It was protected as a National Wild and Scenic River in 1988 in recognition of it's outstanding fishery, crystal clear waters and high quality recreation values. The Oregon Omnibus Wild and Scenic Act owed it's success to the bi-partisan leadership of former Senator Mark Hatfield and Congressman Peter DeFazio.

Since then, Oregon's congressional delegation has always stood firm and supported the protection of our extraordinary Wild and Scenic Rivers.

Wild and Scenic Chetco River | An Oregon Treasure

The clear waters of the Chetco River.

In late June, the Oregon Treasures Act, co-sponsored by Senator Wyden and Senator Merkely, was marked up in the Senate Natural Resources committee.

The Oregon Treasures Act includes the Chetco bill that will safeguard the National Wild and Scenic Chetco River from future mining threats.

Stunning waters of Chetco win National Geographic contest

Northwest Rafting Company 2013 Chetco expedition

We all know that the clear blue-green waters of the National Wild and Chetco River are extraordinarily beautiful. Therefore, it's no surprise that a photo of "Magic Canyon" in the river's wild reaches, recently won a National Geographic travel photo contest. It was submitted by Zach Collier, a river outfitter, who has been supportive of Chetco River conservation efforts. For more photos from trip click here.

Chetco River in April 25th Oregon Treasures Act hearing

The Public Lands Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held hearings on an assortment of public lands bills on April 25 including the Oregon Treasures Act (S. 353), which includes language that would give the Wild and Scenic Chetco River additional protection from mining threats. As of 2013, the Chetco River Protection Act has been incorporated into S. 353.

A cool late summer fun run of the Chetco's wild Scenic River Area (© Northwest Rafting Company)

Chetco River Protection Act reintroduced in House!

Kayaking the Chetco's "scenic" reach

In mid March, Congressman DeFazio reintroduced the Chetco River Protection Act, H.R. 1215, into the 113th Congress. The bill was co-sponsored by Oregon Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Susanne Bonamici. The language of H.R. 1215 matches up with the bill introduced in the Senate as part of the Oregon Treasures Act S.B. 363. It is exactly the same as what has been proposed in years past.

The Chetco River Protection Act and the Chetco portion of the Oregon Treasures Act would withdraw the "wild" and "scenic" reaches of the Chetco River (on Forest Service lands from the Kalmiopsis Wilderness boundary down to the Forest Service boundary) from new mineral claims.

Our Wild and Scenic Chetco River makes USA Today

Kayaking in Kalmiopsis (NW Rafting Co.)

The National Wild and Scenic Chetco River made USA Today last week in an article about the top new adventure travel trips of 2013.

“Think crystal-clear pools for swimming, scenic canyon hikes, and the absolute tranquility of a remote and virtually unvisited river,” reporter Josh Roberts wrote about the Chetco when describing a new adventure trip that will be offered this year by Northwest Rafting Company.

Senators Wyden and Merkley re-introduce Chetco River bill

Steelhead fishing on the Chetco (Tim Palmer photo)

On February 14, Senators Wyden and Merkley re-introduced the Chetco River protection bill into the new Congress as part of their new Oregon Treasures Act.

Please send a note to Senators Wyden and Merkley to thank them and to encourage them to press forward with this important conservation legislation.

Forest Service recommends mineral withdrawal for Chetco

No motorized dredge mining on the Wild and Scenic Chetco!

In January, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest released its Environmental Assessment (EA) of a 5-year mineral withdrawal for the National Wild and Scenic Chetco River.  In its EA, the Forest indicated that “full protection of the river’s Outstandingly Remarkable Values —recreation, water quality, and fish— can only occur through a mineral withdrawal” and recommended that the Secretary of the Interior take action.

Chetco River featured at Wild Rivers Night in Portland

Beautiful photographs of the National Wild and Scenic Chetco River, by Tim Palmer and Ann Vileisis, President of Kalmiopsis Audubon, were one of the keynote features at a wildly successful 3rd Annual Wild River Night in Portland on January 9th. Begun three years ago by Northwest Rafting Company, the event (to raise funds for river conservation) was bigger and better than ever.

Tim Palmer talking to packed crowd at Wild Rivers Night in Portland (Northwest Rafting Co. photo)

Chetco River—Oregon's version of Alaska's Kenai River

A recent article in the Medford Mail Tribune tells of Emma Winter's first winter steelhead fishing trip and the reward of landing one of the Chetco River's large mint bright steelhead. Saying the Chetco is to Oregon as the Kenai is to Alaska, the article (appearing in papers as far flung as the Billings (Montana) Gazette) also discusses theories about why the Chetco River consistently produces large winter steelhead and chinook salmon.

Emma Winters with her dad, Orie, on the Chetco and Emma's first steelhead (Wild Rivers Fishing photo)

Chetco Mineral Withdrawal Environmental Assessment released

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest recently released its Environmental Assessment (EA) for an administrative mineral withdrawal on the Wild and Scenic Chetco River.

The mineral withdrawal is being considered in-aid-of legislation —the Chetco River Protection Act, introduced by Senator Wyden, Senator Merkley, Congressman DeFazio, and Congressman Blumenauer to permanently safeguard the Wild and Scenic Chetco from future instream mining proposals in its designated reaches.

A 30-day public comment period ended on January 4, 2013. You can read the Environmental Assessment here.