American Whitewater is asking our members, particularly those living in Representative DeFazaio's District (OR) to take action to protect the Wild Rogue.

The Rogue River Wilderness and Rogue River Wild and Scenic River represents one of Oregon's most treasured natural landscapes. Protected as one of the nation's first Wild and Scenic Rivers, the Rogue is known for it's salmon runs, rich natural and cultural history, and incredible wilderness-quality recreational opportunities.

While the remote canyons of the Rogue River provide river runners with a chance to experience this great river, the future of this wilderness river corridor is at stake. With each timber sale and new road built, the roadless area shrinks in size, the valuable wildlife habitat is degraded, and recreational opportunities are lost. Congress will act to protect this river for future generations but only if they hear from constituents.

The specific goals are as follows:

• Approximately 58,340 acres of the Wild Rogue area, largely represented by the Zane Grey Roadless Area, should be added to and managed as part of the existing Wild Rogue Wilderness.
• 97.75 miles of Wild Rogue tributaries should be added to the lower Rogue River Wild & Scenic River system and be managed as an integral unit. These tributaries include Kelsey, Whisky, Dulog, Big Windy, East Fork Windy, Howard Creeks are generally roadless, free flowing and feed directly into the Wild & Scenic Rogue River.

You can help today but drafting a quick email or letter to Representative DeFazio and Senators Wyden and Smith in support of expanded wilderness protection and new miles of wild and scenic rivers. Personalize your letter and describe why protection of the Rogue River corridor is important to you. For more information and online letter-writing tools check out the Save the Wild Rogue website.