With the possible exceptions of Mount Hood and Crater Lake, nowhere in Oregon better symbolizes the state's incomparable wild beauty than the Rogue River.
Located in Southern Oregon's Siskiyou Mountains, the Rogue inspired legendary Western author Zane Grey to write novels, including "Rogue River Feud" and "Riders of the Purple Sage" and to live on its banks in a cabin that remains standing to this day.
In these days of polarized political debates, I keep thinking, "Can't we all get along?" That's why I find it heartening to see the entire Idaho congressional delegation standing together in introducing the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act. This homegrown and long-debated legislation is a win for all Idahoans.
It has been a number of years now since I last walked the trails in my beloved Boulder-White Clouds. But I cherish indelible memories of growing up in the shadow of those fabulous mountains and of favorite jaunts with my husband, Frank, and our children across flower-studded meadows to camp in this high, wild Idaho paradise.
It is because my family had the opportunity to enjoy this special, unspoiled corner of our state that I feel so strongly that future generations of Idahoans should have that same opportunity.
Last fall, Sen. Jeff Bingaman introduced the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act (S.B. 1689) after years of discussion within the Doña Ana County community about how best to preserve some of the nearby open space that contributes to the area's quality of life. The legislation, reflecting those discussions, strives to sustain communities and their economies, conserve open space, and enhance border security.
Sen. Tim Johnson's introduction of the Tony Dean Cheyenne River Valley Conservation Act of 2010 has been long awaited. All of South Dakota should be proud to support the designation of 48,000 acres (8 percent) of the publicly owned Buffalo Gap National Grassland as a permanently protected wilderness area. I find the promise of our nation's first national grassland wilderness being in South Dakota exciting indeed.
I did not know much about the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal until I attended a living-room presentation on the subject recently.
I was extremely impressed by the painstaking work the campaign has done reaching out to stakeholders, government agencies, private landowners and other experts to make this the best possible proposal for the community.
Moreover, I was thrilled by the opportunity the Hidden Gems campaign provides us to protect our wildlife, watersheds and well-being for the distant future.
Were he still alive, our father, Wayne Owens, who served the Salt Lake City area in the U.S. House of Representatives, would be cheering the latest steps for preservation of our municipal water supply. Rep. Jim Matheson recently introduced legislation to permanently protect more than 26,000 acres of national forest lands in the city watershed along the Wasatch Front.
I want to thank the writer of a recent opinion column, Paul Deason, for approaching the question of protecting some of our public lands in Doña Ana County in such a rational and straightforward way.
Yes, we have the U.S. border to the south of us, but we should not let this fact and the ongoing work to strengthen border protection and enforcement confuse or delay the progress of Sen. Bingaman's conservation proposals for some of our public lands. Too often, this is a topic that lends itself to blatant misrepresentation and fear mongering, and we have seen too much of that.
I'm a passionate environmentalist. I'm also realistic about the urgent need to develop renewable energy
On Earth Day, Adam Bradley set off on Nevada's longest hike - a grueling, 501-mile trek from Las Vegas to the Nevada-Idaho border. He brought food, water, a camera crew and his own wits and determination. The hike will have taken him about two weeks. (Hey, he's not one of the nation's best through-hikers for nothing.)
Why is Bradley doing this? To document a wild Nevada landscape that will be changed forever - scarred, in fact - by a future transmission line corridor.
When I am so lucky to afford myself the time for remote adventure, I have one ultimate goal. To take in the quiet. It is a misconception that Alaska's size should remedy the chance for quiet solitude. It can actually be difficult to escape the buzz of air traffic, the road system and the fellow human encounter or some kind of unfortunate footprint remaining.
Editorial: Going Rogue
May 27th, 2010With the possible exceptions of Mount Hood and Crater Lake, nowhere in Oregon better symbolizes the state's incomparable wild beauty than the Rogue River.
Located in Southern Oregon's Siskiyou Mountains, the Rogue inspired legendary Western author Zane Grey to write novels, including "Rogue River Feud" and "Riders of the Purple Sage" and to live on its banks in a cabin that remains standing to this day.
Letter: CIEDRA is good politics
May 27th, 2010In these days of polarized political debates, I keep thinking, "Can't we all get along?" That's why I find it heartening to see the entire Idaho congressional delegation standing together in introducing the Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act. This homegrown and long-debated legislation is a win for all Idahoans.
Opinion: CIEDRA shows hope for bipartisanship
May 26th, 2010It has been a number of years now since I last walked the trails in my beloved Boulder-White Clouds. But I cherish indelible memories of growing up in the shadow of those fabulous mountains and of favorite jaunts with my husband, Frank, and our children across flower-studded meadows to camp in this high, wild Idaho paradise.
It is because my family had the opportunity to enjoy this special, unspoiled corner of our state that I feel so strongly that future generations of Idahoans should have that same opportunity.
Opinion: Proposed wilderness act promotes safe communities and healthy lands
May 18th, 2010Last fall, Sen. Jeff Bingaman introduced the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Wilderness Act (S.B. 1689) after years of discussion within the Doña Ana County community about how best to preserve some of the nearby open space that contributes to the area's quality of life. The legislation, reflecting those discussions, strives to sustain communities and their economies, conserve open space, and enhance border security.
Opinion: Protect prairie treasure
May 18th, 2010Sen. Tim Johnson's introduction of the Tony Dean Cheyenne River Valley Conservation Act of 2010 has been long awaited. All of South Dakota should be proud to support the designation of 48,000 acres (8 percent) of the publicly owned Buffalo Gap National Grassland as a permanently protected wilderness area. I find the promise of our nation's first national grassland wilderness being in South Dakota exciting indeed.
Letter: Land worth protecting
May 17th, 2010I did not know much about the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal until I attended a living-room presentation on the subject recently.
I was extremely impressed by the painstaking work the campaign has done reaching out to stakeholders, government agencies, private landowners and other experts to make this the best possible proposal for the community.
Moreover, I was thrilled by the opportunity the Hidden Gems campaign provides us to protect our wildlife, watersheds and well-being for the distant future.
Opinion: Owens would cheer Wasatch wilderness proposal
May 17th, 2010Were he still alive, our father, Wayne Owens, who served the Salt Lake City area in the U.S. House of Representatives, would be cheering the latest steps for preservation of our municipal water supply. Rep. Jim Matheson recently introduced legislation to permanently protect more than 26,000 acres of national forest lands in the city watershed along the Wasatch Front.
Letter: Wilderness argument
May 14th, 2010I want to thank the writer of a recent opinion column, Paul Deason, for approaching the question of protecting some of our public lands in Doña Ana County in such a rational and straightforward way.
Yes, we have the U.S. border to the south of us, but we should not let this fact and the ongoing work to strengthen border protection and enforcement confuse or delay the progress of Sen. Bingaman's conservation proposals for some of our public lands. Too often, this is a topic that lends itself to blatant misrepresentation and fear mongering, and we have seen too much of that.
Opinion: An Energetic Yes
May 13th, 2010I'm a passionate environmentalist. I'm also realistic about the urgent need to develop renewable energy
On Earth Day, Adam Bradley set off on Nevada's longest hike - a grueling, 501-mile trek from Las Vegas to the Nevada-Idaho border. He brought food, water, a camera crew and his own wits and determination. The hike will have taken him about two weeks. (Hey, he's not one of the nation's best through-hikers for nothing.)
Why is Bradley doing this? To document a wild Nevada landscape that will be changed forever - scarred, in fact - by a future transmission line corridor.
Opinion: Make noise for a quiet place: Support wilderness in ANWR
May 12th, 2010When I am so lucky to afford myself the time for remote adventure, I have one ultimate goal. To take in the quiet. It is a misconception that Alaska's size should remedy the chance for quiet solitude. It can actually be difficult to escape the buzz of air traffic, the road system and the fellow human encounter or some kind of unfortunate footprint remaining.