Take Action for Oregon's South Umpqua!
Time is running out for Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) to consider the South
Umpqua for designation as a State Scenic Waterway, but it’s not too late. Your voice can help support the
agency in taking steps to protect this river in 2018.
Last year OPRD began to evaluate three rivers for eligibility in the State Scenic Waterway system
(South Umpqua from the Castle Rock Fork to Tiller, Nehalem, and
Santiam), but put the process on hold for all but the Nehalem. We applaud the efforts of the
agency relating to the Nehalem, and believe that the South Umpqua is equally deserving of
consideration for protection as a State Scenic Waterway in 2018.
The South Umpqua between Camp Comfort to S. Umpqua
Falls and S.
Umpqua Falls to Boulder Creek Campground (a.k.a “Three Falls Run”) is a ~13 mile
Class II to IV+ run through scenic, forests with mellow stretches in between fun slides and
several several big, clean drops. The river has excellent water quality and supports native
salmon runs. With its free-flowing waters and exceptional scenic, natural and recreational
values, it meets the criteria for designation as a State Scenic Waterway.
In nearly 30 years, Oregon has only added two rivers to the State Scenic Waterway Program (the
Chetco and the Molalla) and today, less than 1% of the state’s waterways are protected
as State Scenic Waterways. OPRD evaluates three rivers every two years, and American Whitewater
supports OPRD in moving forwad with its evaluation of the South Umpqua in 2018.
What Does A State Scenic Waterway Designation Do?
A State Scenic Waterway designation protects the outstanding scenic, fish, wildlife, geological,
botanical, historic, archaeologic, and outdoor recreation values of a river for current and
future generations. The program proclaims that the highest and best uses of the waters designated
as State Scenic Waterways are recreation, fish and wildlife uses.
Similar to federal Wild and Scenic protection, a State Scenic Waterway designation keeps a river
freely-flowing by prohibiting dam construction. Additionally, those who want to perform certain
development activities within the corridor (such as mining or logging) need to consult with OPRD
to ensure that their proposal will not harm a river’s scenic, natural and recreational
values.
TAKE ACTION!
Your voice is needed to help encourage OPRD to do the right thing and evaluate whether the South
Umpqua is eligible for protection as a State Scenic Waterway. Send them a message today sharing
why protecting the South Umpqua is important to you and urging them to take the steps needed to
ensure that the river will be considered for designation in 2018.
For more information about the State Scenic Waterways program, visit http://www.oregon.gov/oprd/NATRES/scenicwaterways/Pages/index.aspx
Photo: Courtesy of Priscilla Macy and Jacob Cruser