News

Public News Service
Chris Thomas
April 24, 2008

Oregon’s "Copper Salmon" Clears Another Hurdle

Listen to radio interview with Mike Beagle [Audio controls are at the top of the right column]

The U.S. House passed legislation this week that would create the Copper Salmon Wilderness around the Elk River in southwest Oregon. The stream is prime habitat for salmon, steelhead and trout, and the bill would protect 11 miles of it and more than 13,000 acres of land. It must still pass the U.S. Senate.

Mike Beagle of Trout Unlimited says the closure of the commercial salmon fishing season on much of the U.S. West Coast this year may have lent some urgency to the measure.

"We think that protection of habitat, whether it's headwater protection like Copper Salmon, or even the lower-level protection down in the tidewater, those are all critical to a good solid sport and commercial fishing industry."

Beagle says the effort over many years to get the wilderness designation has taken so long, not because of lack of support, but because this isn't a very large area compared to others in Oregon. For supporters, he says patience has been part of the process.

"This is legislation that's going to protect this little piece of Oregon, for our kids and generations to come. When you do something like that, it can't be undone very easily. So, that's just one of the things you have to deal with, with permanent legislation."

Beagle says the next step is a full U.S. Senate vote. Sportsman's groups are hoping it will take place this summer, before Congress gets tied up in last minute, pre-election campaigning.