Oregon Wilderness Bills Win Key Vote, Next Stop Senate Floor

A scene along Wassen Creek in the Devil's Staircase area. Photo by Kristian Skybak. For more see http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristiansven

Update: Adding Press Release by Cascadia Wildlands

A bill to protect the Devil’s Staircase, and another that expands the Oregon Caves National Monument, have been approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

The vote is a “milestone” according to Senators Wyden and Merkley. The bills now go before the full Senate for consideration.

What The Bills Do

One creates a 30,000 acre Wilderness Area to protect the Devil’s Staircase near Reedsport. This contains one of the largest concentrations of virgin rainforest left standing along the Oregon Coast. It’s also one of our state wildest places. There are no trails leading to the Staircase, a series of small waterfalls along Wassen Creek. GPS devices don’t work in this area either. First time visitors are strongly urged to have an experienced guide leading them.

Cascadia Wildlands describes Devil’s Staircase as, “An historic gem and one of the last and best remnant reminders of how the Coast Range used to be.”

Congressman Peter DeFazio has similar legislation before the House.

The Grand Column inside the Oregon Caves National Monument. Photograph by Shawn Thomas.

The other bill adds another 4,000 acres to the Oregon Caves National Monument. It transfers the property from the Forest Service to the National Park Service. Wyden and Merkley hope this will encourage more tourists to visit the caves, and help restore surrounding forests. The bill also adds a scenic designation to the caves’ River Styx, the first for an underground river in the U.S.

For More Information:

Cascadia Wildlands Press Release: Devil’s Staircase Wilderness Passes Out of Senate Committee

Cascadia Wildlands: Devil’s Staircase Web Page

Oregon Wild: Devil’s Staircase

Tags: Devil's Staircase, oregon caves national monument, senator jeff merkley, senator ron wyden