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Thousands Of Nominations Pour In For Special Waterway Designation

Brian Bull
/
KLCC

More than 15,000 nominations have been sent to Oregon U.S. Senator Ron Wyden’s office, for waterways to be placed on the national Wild and Scenic Rivers designation list. 

Wyden called for nominees last fall, on the Wild and Scenic River Act’s 51st anniversary. More than 4,000 miles of waterways were nominated. If listed, they would be better protected against developments that could hinder their flow or degrade habitat. 

Sarah Dyrdahl of the Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council says she’ll be watching closely as to what comes next.

Credit Brian Bull / KLCC
/
KLCC
Sarah Dyrdahl, Executive Director of the Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council.

“In terms of which rivers would be eligible under the recreation qualities and which would be eligible under the scenic quality," she tells KLCC. 

"I really want to understand how our rivers are going to respond with the changing climate and how to instill resiliency within those rivers.”

Wyden’s bill would add to 250 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers already in Oregon, including parts of the Rogue River important to salmon and steelhead.

Copyright 2020, KLCC.

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.