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 CLICK HERE for a map of the Mt. Hood National Forest |
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CLICK HERE to view HR 5025 Floor Speech regarding passage of HR 5025 (7-25-06) Stepping up on Mount Hood CLICK HERE for a map outlining the proposed areas (1.1 megabytes) Table of Contents
On April 5th, representatives from a variety of organizations testified in favor of the Mt. Hood Stewardship Legacy Act, H.R. 5025, at a congressional hearing in the House Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health. The bill, which outlines proposals for a long-term stewardship plan for Mt. Hood, was introduced on March 28th by Oregon Congressmen Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland) and Greg Walden (R-Hood River), who chairs the Subcommittee.
“This bill charts a comprehensive course for the mountain’s future: how we preserve wild places, manage for future recreation and transportation uses, uphold Native American rights, and ensure our forests and watersheds are healthy. I don't think anything has given me more personal satisfaction in the past three years than our work to make this proposal into reality,” said Blumenauer.
“Today’s hearing allowed our colleagues on the Forests and Forest Health Subcommittee to hear firsthand from those most impacted by proposals and ideas in the Mt. Hood Stewardship Legacy Act. From organizations supporting wilderness and forest products to local and tribal governments, this bill has earned strong support from a wide variety of interests in large part to its balanced and reasoned approach to long-term governance on the mountain,” said Walden.
Witnesses for today’s hearing from left to right H.R. 5025 was introduced by Walden and Blumenauer after several years of collaboration between the congressmen and stakeholders impacted by proposed changes on Mt. Hood. It is a multi-faceted approach to addressing the many diverse management issues on the mountain including recreation, transportation, forest health, water quality and quantity, and the historical rights of Native Americans. Included in their legislation is a proposed 77,500-acre increase in designated wilderness areas in the Mt. Hood National Forest, a 41 percent increase, and 23 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers designation within the forest, a 19 percent increase.
HR 5025, the Mt. Hood Stewardship Legacy Act, advanced through the House Resources Committee on July 19, 2006. The bill was approved by unanimous consent, and is expected to be considered by the full US House of Representatives in the near future. In a written statement, Congressman Blumenauer thanked the Committee and his colleague Congressman Greg Walden for their efforts on the legislation, which, he said, “represents a tremendous amount of hard work by hundreds of Oregonians who found common ground on the crucial issues concerning our state’s greatest icon, Mt. Hood.” The legislation adds approximately 77,216 acres of Wilderness, a 41% increase of designated Wilderness on Mt. Hood – the second largest increase in wilderness in the forest history and the first new wilderness on the mountain in 21 years. It also adds an estimated 25 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers, a 20% increase to Mt. Hood’s Wild and Scenic Rivers network. These designations do not reduce the amount of land designated for timber production where timber harvest is the management objective, nor do they deliberately incorporate private inholdings, impact infrastructure or conflict with high use recreational areas.
For more information CLICK HERE
Recreation is a dynamic social and economic component of Mt. Hood’s legacy. Existing development footprints are the best places to enhance recreational opportunities and maximize future potential. To improve existing opportunities and develop new trails and infrastructure, the legislation creates a demonstration program that would enable the Mt. Hood National Forest to retain unobligated special use permit fees and rents collected on the mountain to enhance recreation (an annual average of approximately $750,000). A Recreational Working Group, comprised of local stakeholders, is established to advise the Forest Service on planning for future recreation enhancements and dispersal of retained funds. In addition, the bill directs the Forest Service to consider, where appropriate Forest Service roads slated for closure or decommissioning could be adapted for other recreational opportunities. Lastly, the Forest Service may work with partner organizations to design and construct a trail suitable for use by persons with disabilities.
For more information CLICK HERE
The transportation network that brings people to and from Mt. Hood and safely transports people from place-to-place on the mountain is stressed. Our proposal would direct the Forest Service to work with the State of Oregon to develop an integrated, multi-modal transportation plan for the Mt. Hood region to enhance existing transportation plans, prioritize projects, and identify revenue sources. A key focus would be identifying transportation alternatives, including potential gondola connections, and creating a transportation center to move more people, but in fewer cars, to and from key recreation destinations.
For more information CLICK HERE
The health of trees and watersheds in the Mt. Hood National Forest varies with geography, elevation, and climate. It is essential that local partners and the Forest Service manage these areas in a transparent and open manner that is in the public interest and builds long term trust. This legislation requires the Forest Service to work with the public to develop a 10-year Forest Stewardship Assessment, using existing authorities, to promote forested landscapes resilient to catastrophic fire, insects and disease, protect homes and communities from property damage and threats to public safety, and protect and enhance existing community or municipal watersheds. Furthermore, the bill encourages municipalities and irrigators to enter cooperative agreements with the Forest Service that outline stewardship goals to manage their watersheds for water quantity and quality. Lastly, the Forest Service is directed to conduct a sustainable biomass study to assess the amount of woody debris available on the forest for biomass energy generation.
For more information CLICK HERE
The bill establishes a special resources management unit for the Crystal Springs Watershed to ensure protection of water quality and quantity. The Crystal Springs Watershed serves residential citizens, communities, irrigation districts, and diverse ecosystems on the north side of Mount Hood with clean water.
For more information CLICK HERE
This legislation places the utmost importance of upholding the rights of Native Americans to gather huckleberries and other First Foods in their accustomed manner. It directs the Forest Service to partner with Native American Tribes to develop and manage priority-use areas for the gathering of first foods to ensure healthy stands of huckleberries and other traditional plant species. In addition, the bill encourages coordination between the Forest Service and local governments and that requires new development on lands within the Forest to be constructed in compliance with one of the nationally recognized building codes or wildland-urban interface codes.
For more information CLICK HERE
There are special and unique circumstances where land exchanges can be employed to resolve pending issues and benefit the public good, and the Mediated Settlement between Mt. Hood Meadows and the Hood River Valley Residents Committee is such a case. This agreement proposes the conveyance of 120 acres managed by the Forest Service in Government Camp in exchange for 770 acres of private land at Cooper Spur, in addition to the buildings at the Inn at Cooper Spur and the Special Use Permit for the Cooper Spur Ski Area. This Act seeks to advance this land exchange in a fair and equitable manner. In addition, the legislation two other land exchanges that will benefit the public good. A land exchange between the Port of Cascade Locks and the Forest SErvice will enhance and protect the Pacific Crest Trail. An exchange between the Forest Service and Clackamas County will help protect old growth trees on Hunchback Mountain.
For more information CLICK HERE
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 CLICK HERE for a map of Mount Hood National Forest Wilderness Area Proposal and Wild and Scenic River Proposal areas
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