HR 310: Oregon's Hunter Creek Bog and more

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Rand Man
Posts: 85
Joined: January 4th, 2017, 11:09 am

HR 310: Oregon's Hunter Creek Bog and more

Post by Rand Man » January 28th, 2017, 10:48 am

Rep. DeFazio and Sen Wyden are sponsoring companion bills which will protect some serpentine coastal watershed areas in SW Oregon from all entry (e.g. proposed strip mines). Current uses such as hunting and hiking are excepted.

The areas to be protected include two BLM "Areas of Critical Environmental Concern". The bills are cosponsored by Rep Huffman and Sen Merkley. Text of the bills can be found at the links below.

Earlier this year, the four legislators secured temporary protection. The companion bills aim to provide permanent protection.
"Under the 1872 Mining Law, mining is treated as the highest and best use of America’s National Forests and Public Lands in the West. The Forest Service and BLM’s position is that can’t say no to mining—even by foreign owned corporations—unless an area is formally closed to operation of the antiquated law—known as a mineral withdrawal."

http://kalmiopsisrivers.org/the-protection-effort/
The unusual soils of Hunter Creek Bog host sundews, pitcher plants and orchids.

How to help:
http://kalmiopsisrivers.org/take-action/

Photos here:
https://www.google.com/#q="hunter+Creek ... hikers.org

Green serpentine rock, soils:
https://www.google.com/#q=serpentine+si ... hikers.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpentinite

Botanist Nancy Brian's briefing on the area, hosted by the Native Plant Society of Oregon:
http://www.npsoregon.org/kalmiopsis/kal ... rcreek.pdf

Southwestern Oregon Watershed and Salmon Protection Act
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-con ... e-bill/310

A bill to withdraw certain land located in Curry County and Josephine ...
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-con ... e-bill/192

Southwestern Oregon Watershed and Salmon Protection Act of 2015
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-con ... e-bill/682
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-con ... e-bill/346

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