The Campaign for America’s Wilderness today welcomed the reintroduction of a Senate proposal to grant wilderness protection to more than 128,000 acres on Oregon’s Mount Hood and in the Columbia River Gorge. The Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act of 2007, sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D) and Gordon Smith (R), would also designate about 80 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers.
“We appreciate Senators Wyden and Smith crafting a bill that will protect permanently some of the most biologically important lands in the Mount Hood National Forest,” said Mike Matz, Executive Director of the Campaign for America’s Wilderness. “Wilderness designations on Mount Hood bequeath a gift to our children and grandchildren, and we laud the Senators for this important increment of protection for places like Roaring River and the Columbia Gorge.
“The entire Oregon delegation has demonstrated their commitment to Oregonian's common ground, and we look forward to working with them to make this commendable vision a reality,” Matz said.
