***Webcast Available*** Wyden to Chair Hearing on Bill to Preserve Rogue River as Wild and Scenic Waterway
Washington, D.C. – Continuing work to preserve Oregon’s natural beauty for future generations, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) will chair a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests discussing Wyden’s legislation to preserve 60,000 acres and 93 miles of the Rogue river as wild and scenic; an additional 50 miles of tributaries would be withdrawn from mining. Introduced by Wyden and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in December, the Rogue Wilderness Area Expansion Act of 2011 expands the existing preserved area and includes nearly a hundred miles of the Rogue’s tributaries.
To view the live webcast please click here. The start of the hearing and the webcast is subject to the call of the chair and could start shortly after 2:30 EDT.
“The Rogue river is part of southern Oregon’s recreational tradition attracting thousands of hikers, rafters and outdoor enthusiasts each year and pumping millions into the local economy,” Wyden said. “Preserving this land will protect the ecosystem for generations and ensure that the recreational economy in this area is allowed to thrive as well.”
Who: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)
What: Subcommittee hearing on Rogue Wilderness Area Expansion Act of 2012 and other legislation
When: 2:30 pm EDT (11:30 am PDT)
Where: Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 366
The 60,000 acres of land that will be preserved by the legislation is home to countless species of birds, fish and other wildlife including the bald eagle, osprey, spotted owl, bear, elk and cougar. The Rogue River and its tributaries are home to one of largest salmon fisheries in Oregon and one of the few rivers in the nation that is a natural spawning ground for green sturgeon. Other public lands bills will be discussed at the hearing as well. For a full list of legislation to be considered and a list of witnesses please click here.
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