Western Oregon BLM Lands and Rivers: Community Listening Sessions
Posted: 12/03/2013
By: Thomas O'Keefe
The Bureau of Land Management manages more than 2.5 million acres in western Oregon. These lands provide forest products, fish and wildlife habitat, and countless recreation opportunities including whitewater recreation. Unlike national forests, BLM western Oregon public lands are generally not large contiguous blocks. A "checkerboard" of lands make up these federal lands. Currently the BLM is updating their management plan for these lands and the associated rivers and as part of this process they are evaluating rivers for their eligibility as wild and scenic rivers.
American Whitewater has engaged in this process and we will be advocating for river conservation
and the value of whitewater recreation on BLM-managed lands. Some of the rivers include Umpqua,
Alsea (and Drift Creek), Nehalem, Wilson, North Santiam, and Rogue. To the extent you have an
interest in attending these sessions, it will be helpful in our advocacy efforts. Please consider
identifying yourself as a whitewater paddler with an interest in whitewater recreation and
conservation of the rivers that BLM manages. If you would like to help on this project beyond the
meetings scheduled below you can also assist by helping us fill out our river database. The
complete list of runs that are covered by this planning effort is copied below the meeting
announcement.
Here is the invitation from BLM:
Hello Public Stakeholder,
We're hosting four Community Listening Sessions in an area near you to talk about some of the
key issues facing westernOregon's land management project.
The RMPs for Western Oregon project team has been making progress this summer on analyzing the
management situation and opportunities, writing planning criteria and guidance for developing
preliminary alternatives. The Community Listening Sessions are designed to engage people to share
an update on what we've accomplished and to hear your thoughts on key issues like timber
production and forest management, endangered species conservation and recovery, protection of
older forests, and providing clean water.
RSVP here to save your spot at a Community Listening Session near you!
The dates, times, locations are as follows:
Corvallis - December 3, 2013
Location: Siuslaw National Forest Office
3200 SW Jefferson
Corvallis, OR 97331
Time: 5-8 pm
Medford – December 10, 2013
Location: Jackson County Fairgrounds
Padgham Pavillion, 1 Penninger Road
Central Point, OR 97502
Time: 4-7 pm
Coos Bay – December 11, 2013
Location: North Bend Public Library
1800 Sherman Ave
North Bend, OR 97459
Time: 5-8 pm
Roseburg – December 18, 2013
Location: Douglas County Fairgrounds
2110 Frear Street
Roseburg, OR 97471
Time: 5-8 pm
Again, RSVP is encouraged at: http://www.blm.gov/or/plans/rmpswesternoregon/meetings.php
*******
Resource Management Plans for Western Oregon
Bureau of Land Management
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/blmoregon
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/user/blmoregon
FLICKR: www.flickr.com/photos/blmoregon
TWITTER: www.twitter.com/blmoregon
Help us fill out our database.
You will note that several of our pages for the river segments that flow through BLM-managed
lands lack a description or photo. If you have information to add, the easiest way to do so is to
make a comment (any registered user can make a comment). Alternatively, active members can be
granted permission to edit reach descriptions (let us know if you are interested). Finally, you
can just email us some comments or a narrative description and we can upload. Photos are always
helpful too. Many of the rivers flow through remote forests and hidden gorges that are difficult
for agency staff to access. A good photo that illustrates the character of the reach can be
particularly helpful in these situations.
WHITEWATER RIVERS (identified by segment as considered by BLM for wild and scenic designation).
South Fork Coquille (Coos Bay), Rogue-Siskiyou National Forest Boundary downstream to the
confluence of the North Fork Coquille River. This includes the take-out for the Coal Creek Canyon
run as well as the run at Powers. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 1497.
Umpqua River (Roseburg District) (Coos Bay), Confluence of the North Fork Umpqua River and South
Fork Umpqua River downstream to the Pacific Ocean. Moderate rapids and riffles on this class I/II
stretch west of I-5. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 1560.
Lake Creek (Eugene), Triangle Lake Dam downstream to the confluence with Green Creek. This
includes the Lake Creek Slides but not the play run downstream. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 10400.
Alsea River (Salem), Confluence of the North and South Forks downstream to the Siuslaw NF
Boundary. Moderate rapids and riffles on this class I/II stretch. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 1483.
Drift Creek (Salem), Headwaters of Drift Creek downstream to the confluence with the Alsea River.
Backcountry day trip that flows through the Drift Creek Wilderness. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 1508.
Kilchis River (Salem), Confluence of the North and South Forks of the Kilchis River downstream to
Tillamook Bay. Coastal stream with class II and III whitewater. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 1521.
Nehalem River (Salem), Headwaters of the Nehalem River downstream to Nehalem Bay. Good whitewater
along the length of this river. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 10270 and American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 1535.
North Fork Siletz River (Salem), Headwaters of the North Fork Siletz River downstream to the
confluence with the South Fork Siletz River. Beautiful run with fun whitewater. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 10408.
North Fork Trask River (Salem), Confluence of the North Fork of the North Fork Trask River and
Middle Fork of the North Fork Trask River downstream to the confluence with the Trask River.
Canyon run with II+ whitewater. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 3076.
Siletz River (Salem), Confluence of the North and South Forks of the Siletz River downstream to
Siletz Bay. Great class III/IV run that includes Silache Rapid and the beginner runs downstream.
American Whitewater
River Inventory Reach 1555 and American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 10413.
Trask River (Salem), Confluence of the North Fork Trask River and South Fork Trask River
downstream to Tillamook Bay. Class III run. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 3077.
Wilson River (Salem), Confluence of the North Fork Wilson River downstream to Tillamook Bay. Two
good class III whitewater runs. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 1569 and American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 10273.
Yaquina River (Salem), Headwaters of the Yaquina River downstream to Yaquina Bay. Class
III-IV(V+) whitewater run. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 10387.
Fall Creek (Eugene), "Fall Creek beginning in T.18S., R.1E., Section 25 downstream to the
top of Fall Creek Reservoir. " Class III-IV whitewater down to the reservoir. American
Whitewater River Inventory Reach 10418 and American Whitewater River Inventory Reach 1511.
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/10418
http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/1511
McKenzie River (Eugene), Goodpasture Road Bridge downstream to the confluence with the Willamette
River. This is the class II reach downstream of the Leaburg Dam. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 1527.
Clackamas River (Salem), Indian Henry Campground downstream to Big Cliff Reservoir. The classic
class III/IV run. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 4574.
Little North Santiam River (Salem), Willamette National Forest Boundary downstream to the
confluence with the Santiam River. Class II/III whitewater downstream of the Forest Boundary and
the run popularly known as Opal Creek. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 5201, American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 3761, and American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 1547.
Luckiamute River (Salem), Headwaters of the Luckiamute River downstream to the confluence with
the Willamette River. Class III/IV whitewater run. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 10421.
Middle Santiam River (Salem), Willamette National Forest Boundary downstream to the top of Green
Peter Reservoir. A unique remote wilderness whitewater run with class III/IV that can be done as
an overnight. Requires a paddle out on Green Peter Reservoir. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 1548.
North Fork Clackamas River (Salem), Headwaters of the North Fork Clackamas River to the
confluence with the Clackamas River. Class IV(V) whitewater in the final 3.75 miles where the
river drops into the North Fork Reservoir. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 10431.
North Santiam River (Salem). Big Cliff Dam downstream to the confluence with the South Fork
Santiam River. Beautiful section of class III/IV whitewater that includes the notable rapids at
The Narrows and Niagara. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 1551.
Sandy River (Salem), Mt. Hood National Forest Boundary downstream to Dodge Park. This section
includes the Sandy Gorge with some great class IV whitewater as well as the former Marmot Dam
site. American
Whitewater River Inventory Reach 1544, American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 1545, American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 1546.
South Yamhill River (Salem), Confluence of Ead Creek and Pierce Creek downstream to the
confluence with the North Yamhill River. Class II/III whitewater. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 1571.
Table Rock Fork Mollala River (Salem), Headwaters of the Table Rock Fork Molalla River downstream
to the confluence with the Molalla River. Class III+(IV) whitewater. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 3763.
Willamette River (Salem), Lane County Line downstream to the confluence with the Columbia River.
Big Butte Creek (Medford), Confluence of the North Fork and South Forks of Big Butte Creek
downstream to the confluence with the Rogue River. Class III/IV run that starts off with a
15' runnable waterfall. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 3662.
Cow Creek (Medford), Galesville Reservoir Dam downstream to the confluence with the South Fork
Umpqua River. Class II whitewater. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 10415 and American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 10416.
Rogue River (Medford), Lost Creek Dam downstream to the confluence of the Applegate River.
Several segments along this reach are enjoyed by river runners including the Nugget Falls run as
well as other sections popular with day users. Three dam removals have reconnected this section
of river for the benefit of fish, an action that has also enhanced river-based recreational
opportunities. American
Whitewater River Inventory Reach 5068, American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 1540, American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 5069, and American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 5070.
South Umpqua (Roseburg), Town of Tiller downstream to the confluence of the North Fork Umpqua
River. Class I/II whitewater. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 3769.
Umpqua River (Roseburg), Confluence of the North Fork Umpqua River and South Fork Umpqua River
downstream to the Pacific Ocean. American Whitewater River
Inventory Reach 1560.
Thomas O'Keefe
3537 NE 87th St.
Seattle, WA 98115
E-mail: okeefe@americanwhitewater.org
Phone: 425-417-9012
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