Earlier today the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to designate the Molalla River as a Wild and Scenic River (H.R. 2781). This legislation will protect 15.1 miles of the Molalla River and 6.2 miles of the Table Rock Fork of the Molalla River in Oregon. AW thanks Representative Kurt Schrader (OR-5) for sponsoring this legislation that will protect a treasured community asset and an outstanding whitewater resource less than an hour from the greater Portland area.

This legislation has been a community effort coordinated through the Molalla River Alliance of which American Whitewater is a member. The coalition includes more than 45 partners and members including conservation groups, recreational users, local communities, and businesses.

Attention now turns to the Senate where a hearing on companion legislation (S. 1369) sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley was held earlier this year.

Sections of the Molalla to be protected include the well-known Three Bears run and are referenced as follows in the legislation:

`(A) MOLALLA RIVER- The approximately 15.1 miles from the southern boundary line of section 19, Township 7 south, Range 4 east downstream to the edge of the Bureau of Land Management boundary in section 7, Township 6 south, Range 3 east.

`(B) TABLE ROCK FORK MOLALLA RIVER- The approximately 6.2 miles from the easternmost Bureau of Land Management boundary line in the northeast quarter of section 4, Township 7 south, Range 4 east downstream to the confluence with the Molalla River.'.