Environmental Federation of Oregon

People travel far and wide to view our country's natural wonders, be it Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, or the Alaskan Northern Lights. But living in one of the best preserved states in North America, perhaps it's appropriate to investigate some of the treasures that lay right at our back door.

This summer's issue is devoted to six such wonders in Oregon. They are just a small sampling of what our magnificent state offers, but they represent the amazing diversity of Oregon's landscape, the resiliency of the natural world, and the awesome power of people to work to preserve Oregon's cherished corners. Our tour will begin and end in Portland, tracing a route east, then south, west, and north, bringing us in touch with Oregon's unusual geography, hidden wildlife, and endangered habitat - all of which is watched over and preserved by citizens working through EFO affiliate organizations.

We begin in Portland at a surprisingly familiar spot, the Willamette River. The tenth largest river in the United States by volume, the Willamette is one of only 14 rivers in the country to be designated an American Heritage River. The impressiveness of the Willamette, according to Don Francis, co-director of Willamette Riverkeeper (WRK), is in its multiple roles. "Apart from providing transportation, being a drinking water source, and a bloodline for industry and agriculture, it essentially functions as a wildlife refuge." The river is home to a myriad of species, including endangered steelhead and Chinook, 16-ft long sturgeon, eagles, otters, mink, beavers, and even an occasional sea lion. Finding the balance between the river's roles isn't easy, and is the main task of WRK, one of two new member groups to join EFO this year. As the eyes, ears, and voice for the Willamette River watershed, WRK works "to make the Willamette River clean and healthy for people, fish, and wildlife," says Francis. There have been some signs of the river's recovery today, but with seventy percent of Oregonians living within 20 miles of the river, the waterway is directly impacted by how we live our daily lives. "Using natural lawn and garden products instead of pesticides and fertilizers is a simple way individuals can help restore the river to a greater state of health," offers Francis. One way to experience the diversity of the Willamette first-hand is to join WRK's annual 175-mile "State of the River" canoe trip. You'll start out in Eugene, where the river is fast flowing and clear, and journey north through the population heart of the state into Portland. You might even find yourself joined by the governor, city mayors and a variety of elected officials, as the river shows you its many faces.

Leaving Portland behind, we travel east on Route 84, past Pendleton, past La Grande and into the Wallowa Mountains to the Snake River and Hell's Canyon. "This is an area a lot of people describe in superlatives," says Ric Bailey, executive director of the Hell's Canyon Preservation Council (HCPC). "It is the deepest canyon on earth, located in the largest expanse of wilderness in Oregon." But what's really important, according to Bailey, is the diversity of habitat, and its location. Hell's Canyon is the hub of the wheel of a greater ecosystem that extends for one and a half million acres. Due to its central location, the Hell's Canyon eco-system is home to an astounding array of plants and animals, collecting biological components from surrounding areas. In a relatively concentrated, well-defined area there are arid desert environments, snowfields, and dense, ancient boreal forests. HCPC is the other newest addition to EFO, which is proud to welcome an organization with such a long and successful history. Founded in 1963 to oppose a proposed dam on the Snake River, HCPC currently focuses on protecting the integrity of the canyon's eco-system from logging and destructive recreational activities. This summer it will sponsor three days of recreational hikes and camp-outs to illustrate how easy it is for visitors to see most of the canyon's beauty without using roads.

From Hell's Canyon, we'll take a scenic route south along Route 84, then head west on Route 20 to Burns. South on 205, pull out your binoculars for bird watching at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. We're heading for Steens Mountain, in a remote corner of Oregon that looks like nothing more than a gradual rise when you approach it from the west. "It's the crown jewel of the Bureau of Land Managment," (BLM) says Gilly Lyons of the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA). "Steens Mountain is the largest fault block mountain in north America. It's one solid piece of rock thirty miles long and one mile high thrust up at an angle." Climbing upward are glacier-carved u-shaped valleys and spring-fed creeks, meadows of wildflowers, and "lots of charismatic wildlife, including big horn sheep and eagles," says Lyons. Its solitude and unlimited horizons have been an inspiration to generations of Oregonians and wayward travelers lucky enough to stumble upon its stunning displays. Although publicly owned, Steens Mountain is threatened by private livestock grazing, which has been shown to destroy fish habitat and native plants, and by geothermal, oil and gas development. Increased recreational use is also taking its toll, as unchecked off-road vehicle use is obliterating native vegetation and displacing wildlife. Currently, there are few funds allocated to help accommodate the public. ONDA is working to secure permanent protection of Steens, but according to Lyons, "The shape of that protection is still in the air, whether it will be a national park or a national conservation area or a combination of the two."

Next stop is Medford, and there's no direct way to get there. But if you get as far as Klamath Falls and head west on Route 66, you'll see Soda Mountain. Actually, it isn't really a mountain at all, but the highest point in the region. Soda Mountain is important as a point of connection between the Siskiyous and the Cascades, providing a crucial link for wildlife migration and dispersion in the Northwest. Buried within its canyons are beautiful waterfalls surrounded by a mixture of conifer, oak and cottonwood trees. Its ridges provide a home for the Ashland Thistle and the rare Grene's mariposa lily.

Heading back toward the more densely populated north, our tour takes us along Coastal Highway 101 north of Lincoln City. We're looking for Cascade Head, a blustery bluff 1,200 feet above the ocean that is "the flagship of The Nature Conservancy of Oregon's preserves" according to The Nature Conservancy's membership coordinator, Elena Frank. Purchased by a group of volunteers who raised money in the early 1960s, Cascade Head was given to The Nature Conservancy of Oregon in 1966, to become its second land acquisition in the state. The site has since won recognition as a National Scenic Research Area and a United Nations Biosphere Reserve. To the Conservancy, the headland is valuable because it hosts several rare plant species, the Cascade Head catchfly and the hairy checkermallow. Its unusually large prairie of native grasses and wildflowers counts as one of only six remaining locations of the silverspot butterfly, a threatened species whose larvae feed on an early blue violet in the spring. The varied habitats of the preserve also sustain deer, elk, great horned owl, coyote, and the world's largest land salamander, the Pacific giant salamander, which grows to 14 inches long. The view from the Head is simply awe-inspiring. On a clear day, a visitor can see all the way to Siletz Bay.

Completing our loop, we turn east and north to Portland. Just north of downtown is the Smith and Bybee Lakes natural area, 2,000 acres of lakes and wetlands popular for boating, fishing and bird watching. This area is special because it's urban, it's big, and it contains high quality habitat with diverse vegetation and wildlife. It also contains historic remnants of the Columbia River riparian system. This spring, PGE donated 313 acres of wetlands to The Wetlands Conservancy (TWC), ensuring protection of this scenic urban area from development. "The donation of this piece of wetlands doesn't change the amount of public access for recreation," explains Phil Lamb, TWC's executive director. "It is already managed by Metro for habitat and recreation. But we've come to the conclusion that the only real way to preserve areas that might be developed is to own them. This area is in its original condition, and that's what we want to preserve."

Projects promoted in the 1999 Earth Day Hands-On Guide mobilized over 20,000 volunteers to enhance, preserve, and celebrate Oregon's natural resources. "People really got involved this year," exclaims Susie Puetz, Earth Day director. "It was the largest effort since we began publishing the Guide in 1995, encompassing 250 projects all over the state." Volunteers in the four-county area participated in an array of activities, including removing invasive species, collecting hazardous waste, and learning about the connection between old growth forests and clean water. In Eugene, eight different events offered everything from a restoration of the Willow Creek wetlands to a celebration of rivers through songs offered by Mason Williams and the Oregon Children's Choral group. In Central Oregon, residents and visitors had twenty events to choose from, including an earth-oriented worship service. Coastal events involved kayaking, beach clean-ups and whale watching.

Earth Day, a project of the Environmental Federation of Oregon, wouldn't happen without the commitment and support of generous sponsors. "The sponsors were fantastic," says Puetz. "They donated over $85,000 in cash and in-kind gifts."

"We can't just stand around and talk about making change. We have to do it ourselves," says EFO's newest Board member, Michelle Kennedy. "The real solutions come at the community level." When Kennedy talks about change at the community level, she's speaking from personal experience. A few summers ago, she and her husband joined their neighborhood Eco-Team to bring to light such issues as how much garbage they were producing. "We also bought an electric mower to share among the neighbors, conducted energy audits and shared information about where to recycle things," she explains.

Simultaneously, Kennedy was working for the state government in public relations and public policy where she participated on the State Employee Charitable Fund Committee, first as a member, then as Chair. That's where her path and that of EFO first intersected. Kennedy, a long-time supporter of several of EFO's member groups, welcomed the opportunity to work with the federation. EFO invited her to join the board after she left state government in 1998 to join a private consulting firm, Aldrich Kilbride and Tatone, LLP, which advises nonprofits and government agencies in organizational management and strategic planning.

"While I was on the Board for the state employee fund drive, we put together an aggressive marketing plan. In the plan's first year, contributions increased by six percent; the second year, they went up eight or nine percent. I want to share my background in marketing and my skills in planning to help EFO move forward. There are employers out there who are willing to participate. We need to share our message that supporting the environment is good for business and good for Oregon."

"We are incredibly fortunate to have her on the board," exclaims EFO Executive Director, Sarah Sameh. "After working with her on the State Committee, we are privileged to have someone with her expertise and experience to help guide EFO's growth."

Have you wanted to make a difference for the earth beyond a financial commitment, but are having difficulty finding the time for a big volunteer project? EFO may have just the opportunity for you! One of the most powerful things you can do to support conservation work across the state is to increase the circle of EFO supporters at your own workplace. We are seeking people who are willing to offer small amounts of time to bolster our fundraising amounts. And you get to decide how you'd like to do it. If you'd be willing to take any one or more of the actions listed below, or if you have your own ideas for increasing the success of EFO's campaign in your workplace, please fill out and return this form. We'll contact you about getting started. Remember, every little thing you do counts a lot!

Trying to find more ways to become earth-friendly at EFO is a fun challenge. In celebration of our tenth birthday, we figured we could at least find ten ways to cut waste in our office.

We have decided to make our second step toward sustainability by supporting the emerging tree-free paper industry and printing our newsletter (starting with the current issue) on a partially tree-free stock. A 50-50 blend of tree-free kenaf fiber and post-consumer recycled pulp, this paper offers advantages over that produced solely from wood fiber. The kenaf plant grows very quickly, reaching maturity in just 4 to 5 months, as opposed to 7 to 40 years for trees. Grown from seed on farmland, kenaf preserves our ecologically vital forests for uses other than paper, and requires no pesticides or fertilizers. It requires less energy and fewer chemicals than the conventional paper production technique. We hope the switch will maintain our newsletter's quality while taking us one step further on our journey toward a completely Earth-friendly office. To give your feedback on this switch or to find out a source for tree-free paper for your office, call us at (503) 223-9015.

Seven area businesses were recognized for management practices that enhance energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and clean, efficient transportation alternatives. The winners of this year's BEST (Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow) awards are:

EFO extends its congratulations to the winners!

1000 Friends of Oregon, Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics, Audubon Society of Portland, Central Oregon Environmental Center, Corvallis Environmental Center, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Friends of Opal Creek, Friends of Trees, Headwaters, National Wildlife Federation, Native Plant Society of Oregon, Northwest Coalition for Alternatives of Pesticides, Northwest Earth Institute, Oregon Environmental Council, Oregon Natural Desert Association, Oregon Natural Resources Council Fund, Ospirg Education Fund, Oregon Trout, Pacific Rivers Council, Recycling Advocates, River Network, Solar Energy Association of Oregon, The Nature Conservancy of Oregon, The Sierra Club Foundation, The Wetlands Conservancy, Trust for Public Land, Tualatin Riverkeepers, WaterWatch of Oregon