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Wild, scenic, and fishable

In Oregon by Kyle Smith

Today, Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon introduced the River Democracy Act of 2021, which would create new Wild and Scenic River designations for a number of stream segments in Oregon where TU is working to protect and restore habitat, water sources and fishing opportunities. TU supports this legislation, which is based on more than 15,000 recommendations submitted by Oregon residents.

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It’s time for the lower Snake River dams to go

In Columbia River, Idaho, Oregon, Snake River, Steelhead Files, Washington by steelheaders

“It is our collective opinion, based on overwhelming scientific evidence, that restoration of a free-flowing lower Snake River is essential to recovering wild Pacific salmon and steelhead in the basin.”

So reads a remarkable letter recently sent to the governors of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana by 10 of the finest and most-respected salmon and steelhead scientists in the world.

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Oregon Wild and Scenic Effort Heating Up

In Oregon, Wild and Scenic by Kyle Smith

Late last year, Oregon’s Senior Senator Ron Wyden put out a call to all Oregonians to nominate their favorite rivers and creeks for potential designation under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The result of that call to action was over 15,000 different nominations for more than 4,000 miles of rivers and streams in Oregon. As we’ve written before, …

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Support the John Day Steelhead Project

In Columbia River, Oregon, Snake River by Kyle Smith

The John Day Steelhead Project is raising funds for a collaborative research project between the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, graduate students at Oregon State University, the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, and other partners seeking to better understand John Day steelhead migration patterns and how Columbia River dams may be impacting the health and abundance of these fish.

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Wild steelhead harvest in Oregon

In Oregon by Kyle Smith

Southwest Oregon is one of the only places in the United States where you can legally kill a wild steelhead. Regulations used to allow for one wild steelhead harvest per day, up to five per year, but in 2018 bag limits were reduced to one per day and three per year following a petition from a group of southern Oregon …

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Meet the team: Kyle Smith

In Meet the team, Oregon by Kyle Smith

Next up in our Meet the Team series is Oregon Field Coordinator, Kyle Smith. Kyle works to protect public lands and advocates for policies that ensure a bright future for wild steelhead. Home town: Corvallis, OR Home waters: McKenzie, Willamette Favorite way to catch steelhead (gear, fly, etc.)? Mostly fly rods. Boat or hike?  Why? If I had to choose one, …

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Conservation and Timber Interests Reach Agreement on Changes to Oregon Forest Practices

In Uncategorized by Kyle Smith

Today, Governor Kate Brown announced a historic agreement between conservation groups and timber companies that represents an important first step in a process that will see the most significant update of Oregon’s Forest Practices Act in decades.  This agreement, formalized as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the timber industry and major conservation groups, should deliver significant benefits for Oregon’s …