Tillamook Steelhead and Salmon Need Your Help

Logging on the North Fork of the Trask, looking NW across Hembre Ridge towards the Wilson River. How many clear-cuts can you count? This photo was taken last summer. Yet timber interests want to double harvest? Photo courtesy of Jeff Mishler

Oregon's rural counties, backed by the timber industry, have introduced legislation (HB 3072)to help them double timber harvest from the Tillamook & Clatsop state forests. This after state forest managers suggested a reduction of harvest due to unsustainable logging already underway.

You can help!  Become informed by following this and that and thensome.

And, write letters in opposition to HB 3072 to these legislators:

Brian Clem, chair (Salem)

rep.brianclem@state.or.us

Arnie Roblan, past chair (Coos Bay)

rep.arnieroblan@state.or.us

 IMPORTANT: all emails to the above should include a cc: to the Committee Administrator, Beth Patrino

beth.patrino@state.or.us

Stay tuned for more. This will be a tough battle, but one worth fighting.

Karl Rove, Sarah Palin and Tim Griffin Walk Into a Bar...

Something behind the scenes of "Ballot Prop 4" smells. And Shannyn Moore's Blog sheds light on it.

Sent to us by AK Chum junkie - Kelly Walters.

Next Thursday: WWF and Filson host Bristol Bay Presentation by Tom Quinn

If you're in the area, this is one you may not want to miss.

Lipstick on a pig

The Pebble Mine overlords at Northern Dynasty have launched a new website.

The press release: LINK

The new site: LINK

Appeals court upholds feds' salmon hatchery policy

A federal appeals court Monday upheld the federal government's discretion to use salmon raised in hatcheries to bolster wild runs, but not as a substitute that would lift Endangered Species Act protections.

LINK (Via: Mercury News)

This was the single most important legal case we were faced with under the Endangered Species Act," NOAA Fisheries spokesman Brian Gorman said from Seattle.

Suck it Pacific Legal Foundation.

State of the Steelhead

To further put the "world record" Hoh steelhead hullabaloo in perspective I would encourage everyone to read Patagonia Fly Fishing Ambassador Dylan Tomine's, State of the Steelhead. Originally appearing in Wild on the Fly, it can now be found in on-line magazine form courtesy of Tim Pask. Balancing the sobering information contained in the article is some photography from Tim and Jeff Bright that beautifully underscores exactly what's at stake.

Dylan Tomine's State of the Steelhead

Update on Monday, March 16, 2009 at 7:29PM by El Guapo

A big shout out to the Wild Steelhead Coalition for commissioning Dylan's "State of the Steelhead" article. The WSC is an organization dedicated to increasing the return of wild steelhead to the waters and rivers of the Pacific Northwest.

On May 9th The coalition will be hosting the West Coast film debut of "Rivers of a Lost Coast" along with a special reception with narrator Tom Skerrit and film producers Justin Coupe and Palmer Taylor.  LINK