In mid-November, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced in Congress the proposed Smith River National Recreation Area Expansion Act (S.2875), which would expand the Smith River NRA to include all 58,000 acres of the Smith River watershed in Oregon (Map 1). The bill is cosponsored by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR).
This is very good news.
“When we come together to protect our stateʼs natural wonders, we can create jobs, protect resources, grow our economy, and make sure future generations of Oregonians can enjoy our incredible public lands,” Merkley said. “Iʼm grateful to have had the opportunity to work with local leaders, conservationists, and businesses to create legislation expanding the Smith River National Recreation Area—a commonsense win-win for adventurers across the Northwest, those interested in preserving the beautiful places in Oregon, and our local economy.”
Which Smith River?
At this point, connoisseurs of Oregon geography may be asking themselves which Smith, as our state has two rivers named Smith after the same guy, Jedediah Smith. Smith was an “American clerk, frontiersman, hunter, trapper, author, cartographer, and explorer of the Rocky Mountains, the North American West, and the Southwest during the early 19th century.”
One of Oregon’s rivers named Smith arises on the west slope of the Coast Range and drains into the lower Umpqua River near Reedsport. This Smith River has forks (North, West, South, and Little South Fork). The North Fork Smith River also has a West Branch and a Middle Fork, not to mention the incomparable Kentucky Creek, draining into it. While this Smith (Umpqua River tributary) is not the one we are talking about here, it should nonetheless be a wild and scenic river.
The other Smith River watershed in Oregon is bisected by the Oregon-California border and is the subject of Merkley’s legislation (Map 1).
The Oregon portion of this Smith River watershed includes the upper North Fork Smith watershed as well as the uppermost headwaters of Shelley Creek and Rowdy Creek (the latter containing the only coast redwood stands in the Oregon portion of the Smith River watershed). It is completely public land, almost all of which is part of the Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest. (There is a small parcel of Oregon Common School Fund land as well.)
The Smith River NRA (CA) and the Smith River NRA-to-Be (OR)
Congress established the Smith River National Recreation Area in 1990, unfortunately stopping at the California border. Most of the California portion of the Smith River watershed is within the Smith River NRA. The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System includes 325.4 miles of the Smith River and its tributaries.
Map 2. The appallingly crappy official map prepared by the Forest Service to accompany the legislation. A larger copy can be downloaded from Merkley’s website. Source: Forest Service.
According to Merkley’s office, this is why he’s proposing expanding the Smith River NRA into Oregon:
The Smith River is home to a rich assemblage of life forms—including 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 NRAʼs scenic beauty, world-class fisheries, and exceptional water quality attract adventurers who partake in water sports, fishing, hunting, camping, and sightseeing.
Merkley’s office explains what the proposed expansion of the Smith River NRA would do:
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 Forest Service with the preparation of an updated recreation plan identifying specific plans for the entire National Recreation Area, and produce a special study of streams, fens, wetlands, and potentially unstable and vulnerable aquatic habitat areas.
Remarkable Public Support: Wide, Deep, and Bipartisan
Supporters of the legislation include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Oregon state representative David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford)
• Court Boice, Curry County commissioner
• Alyssa Babin, Wild and Scenic Rivers, Brookings
• Will Volpert, Indigo Creek Outfitters
• Thomas O’Keefe, American Whitewater
• Noah Oppenheim, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations
• Dean Finnerty, Trout Unlimited
• Michael Dotson, Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center
• David Moryc, American Rivers
• Grant Werschkull, Smith River Alliance
As I have rarely found common ground with Representative Smith or Commissioner Boice, it is worth highlighting what they have said about this legislation.
Smith: “I thank Senator Merkley and support his efforts and legislation to expand the Smith River National Recreation Area in Oregonʼs North Fork of the Smith River watershed. 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.”
Boice: “I am happy to offer strong support for Senator Merkleyʼs work to expand our beautiful Smith River watershed as part of our fabulous Wild Rivers Coast. 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.”
At this rate, I may find myself endorsing both of them for re-election . . . ;-).
A Great But Not Perfect Bill
While it’s a great piece of public lands conservation legislation, the bill is not quite perfect. To attain perfection, may I suggest a few tweaks?
• Expand the Kalmiopsis Wilderness to include all qualifying roadless lands in the Oregon portion of the Smith River watershed.
• Make the Oregon portion of the Smith River NRA its own separate management area under the SRNRA statute, thereby affording maximal conservation and optimal enjoyment for the benefit of this and future generations.
Thanks, Jeff!
Merkley’s leadership to save Oregon’s Smith River watershed is both highly commendable and greatly appreciated. Let’s hope the bill can soon be enacted into law. Thanks to Ron Wyden as well for cosponsoring. Wyden’s senior membership on the Senate Committee for Energy and Natural Resources will be key in shepherding the legislation through the Senate. The proposed expansion of the SRNRA is within the congressional district of U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio (D-4th-OR).
Figure 1. Baldface Creek, which would become part of the North Fork Smith Wild and Scenic River under the proposed legislation. Source: American Whitewater.