Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced they will be introducing legislation to expand the Smith River National Recreation Area by 58,000 acres, which would protect the diverse ecosystems of the rivers, streams, and adjacent lands of the North Fork Smith River watershed, and help boost the local fishing and recreation industries that many Oregon families rely on.<\/p>\n
En 1990, el Congreso promulg\u00f3 legislaci\u00f3n para establecer el \u00c1rea Recreativa Nacional (NRA) del R\u00edo Smith para proteger la cuenca, pero el l\u00edmite de la NRA se detuvo en la frontera de Oreg\u00f3n, dejando desprotegidos el North Fork del R\u00edo Smith y sus afluentes.<\/p>\n
\n“When we come together to protect our state’s natural wonders, we can create jobs, protect resources, and make sure Oregonians can enjoy the beauty of our state for generations to come,” merkley dijo<\/b>. “Expanding the Smith River National Recreation Area is a commonsense win-win-win for our economy, adventurers across the Northwest, and those dedicated to preserving the ecosystems that make Oregon so special. I’m grateful to all of the local leaders, conservationists, and businesses who have been a part of this process so far, and look forward to continuing to work together to get this bill signed into law.”<\/p>\n
“This legislation will create jobs and preserve one of the largest undammed rivers in the nation so that generations to come can experience Smith River’s scenic beauty,” dijo Wyden. <\/b>“Expanding the Smith River Recreation Area into Oregon protects our state’s world-renowned natural treasures while also investing in our local economies.” <\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The Smith River is home to a rich assemblage of life forms—Coho and Chinook salmon, Coastal Cutthroat trout, the diverse Siskiyou Mountains forests, unique plants found nowhere else on earth, and spectacular redwoods that tower over the lower river banks. The Smith River NRA’s scenic beauty, world-class fisheries, and exceptional water quality attract adventurers who partake in water sports, fishing, hunting, camping, and sightseeing.<\/p>\n
The NRA expansion would permanently withdraw the land from new mining claims, helping to protect this sensitive area from proposed nickel strip mines, and protect 74 miles of scenic rivers, including Baldface Creek, Chrome Creek, and nearby streams. In addition, the legislation would task the U.S. Forest Service with updating the recreation plan to reflect the new additions to the National Recreation Area, and produce a special study of streams, fens, wetlands, and potentially unstable and vulnerable aquatic habitat areas.<\/p>\n
\n“The Smith River is one of the largest, single, undammed river systems in the United States and we applaud Senator Merkley’s leadership to protect Oregon’s portion. Expanding the Smith River National Recreation Area into Oregon to protect the North Fork and its tributaries will continue to support the region’s growing and sustainable outdoor recreation economy. We endorse the bill and look forward to its swift passage,” said Brady Robinson, Executive Director of The Conservation Alliance.<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cAgradezco al Senador Merkley y apoyo sus esfuerzos y legislaci\u00f3n para expandir el \u00c1rea Recreativa Nacional del R\u00edo Smith en la bifurcaci\u00f3n norte de la cuenca del R\u00edo Smith en Oreg\u00f3n\u201d, dijo David Brock Smith, Representante de la C\u00e1mara de Oregon HD 01 (R-Port Orford). <\/b>“The Smith River is an important watershed in Southern Oregon and Northern California, providing critical salmonid habitat, drinking water and recreational opportunities, and I will continue to be a strong state partner in supporting the Smith River, its tributaries and the watersheds of Southwest Oregon.’”<\/p>\n
“‘I am happy to offer strong support for Senator Merkley’s work to expand our beautiful Smith River Watershed as part of our fabulous Wild Rivers Coast,” dijo Court Boice, comisionado del condado de Curry. <\/b>“The Kalmiopsis Wilderness and Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest are recognized as the most diverse, wild, unique, rugged and beautiful Landscapes in North America. This legislation will certainly help and is important for maintaining our pristine rivers and recovering the vibrancy of our salmon and steelhead runs.’“<\/p>\n
\u201cEl Cap\u00edtulo de Cazadores y Pescadores de Campo de Oreg\u00f3n contin\u00faa apoyando a los deportistas de Oreg\u00f3n para la protecci\u00f3n de las tierras salvajes y las aguas del Estado\u201d, dijo Justin Gindlesperger, director regional de SW del cap\u00edtulo de Oregon de cazadores y pescadores de traves\u00eda.<\/b> \u201cLa expansi\u00f3n del \u00c1rea Recreativa Nacional del R\u00edo Smith establece una salvaguardia esencial para la cuenca del R\u00edo Smith para que las generaciones futuras puedan experimentar un paisaje notable y verdaderamente salvaje aqu\u00ed en el sur de Oreg\u00f3n. Apreciamos y apoyamos plenamente el esfuerzo por proteger un recurso tan valioso\u201d.<\/p>\n
"He remado en North Fork of the Smith en Oregon, as\u00ed como en Baldface Creek y puedo dar fe de sus valores distintivos", said Zach Collier, Owner\/Outfitter of Northwest Rafting Company<\/b>. “We fully support any legislation that promotes the permanent protection of these rivers. The North Fork watershed is uniquely special to the world and should be protected as such.”<\/p>\n
\u201cExpandir el \u00c1rea Recreativa Nacional Smith River y proteger las tierras de North Fork en Oreg\u00f3n es absolutamente lo correcto\u201d, said Susan Jane Brown, Wildlands Program Director and Staff Attorney with the Western Environmental Law Center<\/b>. “I’m grateful for Senator Merkley’s leadership and for the cooperation by many interests to advance this critically important legislation for one of our nation’s most spectacular wild rivers.” <\/p>\n
\u201cLa costa de Wild Rivers y r\u00edos como el Smith son legendarios entre los pescadores por sus pesquer\u00edas de trucha arco iris y salm\u00f3n\u201d, dijo Dean Finnerty, Director Regional del Noroeste, Proyecto de Conservaci\u00f3n del Pescador, Trout Unlimited.<\/b> “This region supports a robust sport fishing economy that is vitally important for many rural communities. Sen. Merkley’s bi-partisan Smith River Recreation Area Additions Act is a sensible and timely way to honor the sporting heritage of this region and to conserve the cold, clean, fish-filled waters that are the hallmark of this part of America.”<\/p>\n
\u201cEl r\u00edo Smith merece una protecci\u00f3n completa porque las fronteras estatales son arbitrarias para un r\u00edo\u201d, said Will Volpert, Indigo Creek Outfitters. <\/b>\u201cOreg\u00f3n tiene suerte de tener una parte del Smith, ya que es verdaderamente uno de los sistemas fluviales m\u00e1s majestuosos y hermosos que existen. Es un lugar como ning\u00fan otro, con colores de ca\u00f1\u00f3n m\u00e1s que vibrantes y un terreno que pide ser explorado pero que es lo suficientemente accidentado como para detener a la mayor\u00eda de los aventureros. Cada vez que visito Smith, siento como si fuera la primera persona en visitar el ca\u00f1\u00f3n del r\u00edo en toda la historia, y ese es un sentimiento muy especial\u201d.<\/p>\n
"La cuenca del North Fork Smith de Oreg\u00f3n es un tesoro bot\u00e1nico y siempre deber\u00eda haber sido parte del \u00c1rea Recreativa Nacional del R\u00edo Smith", said Joseph Vaile, Climate Director of the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center<\/b>. “We thank Senator Merkley for introducing this legislation that will also designate many of the North Fork Smith River’s cold-water tributaries as Wild & Scenic. Anyone who has had a chance to explore the remote, primitive backcountry of Oregon’s North Fork Smith headwaters knows that it is one of the most spectacular rivers in the world.” <\/p>\n
"Los tramos superiores de la cuenca del r\u00edo Smith brindan oportunidades excepcionales y \u00fanicas para la recreaci\u00f3n en el campo", dicho<\/b> Thomas O’Keefe, the Pacific Northwest Stewardship Director for American Whitewater. <\/b>\u201cAgradecemos el liderazgo del Senador Merkley para expandir el \u00c1rea Recreativa Nacional Smith River para incluir las cabeceras de Oreg\u00f3n. El \u00e1rea se caracteriza por recursos hidrol\u00f3gicos y bot\u00e1nicos escasos que la legislaci\u00f3n reconoce apropiadamente. La extensi\u00f3n de la designaci\u00f3n Wild and Scenic a los afluentes de North Fork Smith proteger\u00e1 a\u00fan m\u00e1s uno de los \u00faltimos r\u00edos de flujo libre de la costa oeste y un lugar especial para todos los que disfrutan de los r\u00edos salvajes\u201d.<\/p>\n
“The North Fork Smith River and its tributaries are a cornerstone of the most ecologically important unprotected landscape in the American West,” dicho<\/b> David Moryc, Senior Director of Wild and Scenic Rivers for American Rivers<\/b>. “We greatly appreciate Senator Merkley’s leadership to protect some of the wildest rivers and most pristine waters in the state for future generations.” <\/p>\n
“Expanding the Smith River National Recreation Area to include the North Fork of the Smith is completely aligned with the stewardship and conservation values embraced by West Coast fishermen,” said Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations Executive Director, Mike Conroy.<\/b> “The Smith is one of our last great undammed rivers, making it a crown jewel of the salmon coast. We appreciate Senator Merkley’s leadership in securing this important protection for the Smith River.”<\/p>\n
"Hemos estado trabajando para proteger las cabeceras salvajes del r\u00edo North Fork Smith, manteniendo su agua pr\u00edstina, protegiendo los h\u00e1bitats de las especies de peces y asegurando agua potable limpia y recreaci\u00f3n al aire libre para las comunidades locales". dijo Alyssa Babin, fundadora de Wild and Scenic Rivers en Brookings, Oreg\u00f3n.<\/b> \u201cAgradecemos al Senador Merkley por su liderazgo en la presentaci\u00f3n de este proyecto de ley y su colaboraci\u00f3n en el trabajo para proteger esta importante cuenca\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cLa expansi\u00f3n del \u00c1rea Recreativa Nacional del R\u00edo Smith completa un esfuerzo de conservaci\u00f3n iniciado hace m\u00e1s de treinta a\u00f1os\u201d, dijo Grant Werschkull, codirector ejecutivo de Smith River Alliance.<\/b> \u201cEsta acci\u00f3n es de vital importancia para las comunidades r\u00edo abajo y el r\u00edo Smith como un basti\u00f3n para las especies de salm\u00f3n del Pac\u00edfico\u201d.<\/p>\n
"El r\u00edo Smith es reconocido como uno de los principales baluartes del salm\u00f3n en la costa oeste", dijo Guido Rahr, presidente y director ejecutivo del Wild Salmon Center<\/b>. “We’re grateful to Senators Merkley and Wyden for this investment in wild salmon and the coastal communities that depend on them. Protecting the Smith’s cold, clean flows across the entire watershed will secure this place for people and fish for generations to come.”<\/p>\n
"La legislaci\u00f3n pionera del senador Merkley tiene el potencial de conservar la porci\u00f3n de Oreg\u00f3n de la incomparable cuenca del r\u00edo Smith en el suroeste de Oreg\u00f3n para esta y futuras generaciones". said Andy Kerr with The Larch Company.<\/b> \u201cEsperamos que el Congreso considere y apruebe r\u00e1pidamente el proyecto de ley\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Merkley and Wyden were joined in the introduction by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA).<\/p>\n