CONDON, OR – At
the heart of the John Day Wild and Scenic River corridor, Western Rivers
Conservancy and the Bureau of Land Management have created new overland recreational
access to 78,000 acres of public lands in a landmark conservation project that
will benefit fish, wildlife, recreationists and the communities of Oregon’s
John Day River.
On August 20th, Western Rivers Conservancy completed the
conveyance of two ranches to the BLM, which will now manage all 11,154 acres of
the properties as public open space. This will enable hunters, anglers,
boaters, hikers and other recreationists to explore a spectacular slice of
Oregon that was formerly inaccessible without trespassing or without a boat. Of
these lands, 2,000 acres of existing public lands were completely cut off to
the public by private property.
“This is a landmark achievement for the John Day River and recreationists
alike,” said Sue Doroff, President of Western Rivers Conservancy. “People can
now experience a spectacular stretch of one of the West’s great Wild and Scenic
River corridors. At the same time, they can take pride in knowing that the
lands they’re exploring are protected for fish and wildlife—animals they will very
likely see while visiting this special place.”
“Managing public lands for the benefit of all Americans
requires collaboration among private landowners, conservation and recreation
groups, and local, state, tribal, and federal governments,” said Brian Steed,
BLM Deputy Director for Policy and Programs. “This acquisition along the John
Day River shows the importance of public lands to western communities and our
commitment to being a good neighbor.”
The John Day River is home to the healthiest run of wild
summer steelhead in the Columbia River basin and to one of the basin’s most important
runs of wild Chinook salmon. It also flows through the heart of bighorn sheep
country, supporting over 600 head, the largest herd in Oregon.
The project lands are located on Thirtymile Creek, the lower
John Day’s most important spawning and rearing tributary for summer steelhead
and the lower river’s largest source of cold water.
The lands now provide the only public access to a 70-mile
reach of the John Day River canyon in an area with more public land than most
other stretches of the river. Until this week, however, the only public access
to these lands was by boat, which required a four-day float from Clarno Bridge
to Cottonwood Canyon, downstream.
The former landowners allowed access to the river for a fee,
and the partners’ efforts will ensure this access remains viable for all
recreationists. Had the ranch sold to a different buyer, that access could have
been closed forever.
The Thirtymile Wilderness Study Area lies immediately
upstream of the ranch, and the North Pole Ridge Wilderness Study Area lies
immediately downstream. Both are managed by the BLM for public use and to
preserve their natural conditions, similar to but distinct from federally
designated wilderness areas.
The project also promises to be an economic boon to nearby
communities like Condon, Oregon, where recreationists will stop for gas,
lodging and/or supplies when visiting the area.
Western Rivers Conservancy purchased the ranches from the Rattray
and Campbell families in 2014 and 2018, respectively, and spent four years
raising the funds needed for the BLM to acquire the lands from WRC.
Funding for the project came from the federal Land and Water
Conservation Fund (LWCF), which was created by Congress in 1965 as a bipartisan
commitment to safeguard natural areas, water resources and cultural sites, and
to provide recreation opportunities to all Americans. Funded primarily by
federal revenues from offshore oil and gas development, LWCF supports the
protection of federal public lands and waters and voluntary conservation on
private land.
LWCF is a program of the U.S. Department of the Interior,
and support from Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and his staff has been
pivotal to the success of this project.
WRC President Sue Doroff praised BLM “for funding a key land
acquisition that opens up access for anglers and hunters to 78,000 acres of
public lands along the John Day River."
LWCF support was also made possible thanks to Senator Jeff Merkley,
Senator Ron Wyden and the Oregon Congressional Delegation.
Now that the properties are under BLM ownership, they will
be managed for conservation and recreation, with special attention given to
maintaining healthy habitat for the John Day River’s outstanding fish and wildlife.
The project will enable restoration of the lower nine miles of Thirtymile
Creek, while protecting 10 miles of the John Day River and thousands of acres
of sagebrush-steppe habitat.
The project also keeps an additional 4,437 acres of upland
agricultural fields in production. By exploring agriculture and grazing
programs with neighboring landowners, the BLM and Western Rivers Conservancy can
ensure these lands remain an asset to the community in addition to the economic
benefits that come with public recreation.
WRC’s efforts at Thirtymile Creek build on the
organization’s recent success downstream, at Cottonwood Canyon State Park. WRC
created the park in partnership with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department,
conserving 16 miles of the John Day, three miles of another important tributary
and 16,000 acres of land. The wild and scenic river corridor running the length
of the park is co-managed by the BLM and OPRD, which is a unique federal and
state agency partnership.
“The John Day River area is one of the last great expanses
of sagebrush-steppe left on the Columbia Plateau,” said Doroff. “We are proud
of playing this role in protecting another significant slice of this
disappearing landscape. Together with the BLM, we are helping guarantee that
generations of future recreationists from the community, from Oregon and from
across the country have the opportunity to experience this beautiful slice of
the West and the river that sustains it.”
