Photo credit: Greg Burke
BEND, OR — September marks 50 years since the Wilderness Act was signed into law. Right now, Oregon has about two-and-a-half million acres of protected wilderness. Only Congress can designate wilderness, and currently, at least three Oregon wilderness bills are stalled in the Capitol Hill gridlock. Dan Morse, conservation director at the Oregon Natural Desert Association, said he isn’t discouraged.
“Eventually, the Congress needs to take action on a whole host of different natural resources-related legislation. And that time will come; it simply can’t go on forever that they don’t act on these things. So, it’s an exercise of being ready when that time comes.”
The pending legislation would impact the entire state, include the expansion the boundaries of the Oregon Caves National Monument and the Wild Rogue Wilderness, create new wilderness areas and more.
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