Conservation Today

Permit violations during the August 2023 repairs of the Winchester Dam on the North Umpqua River near Roseburg, resulted in the biggest fish kill on an Oregon River this year. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fined the dam’s owners and their contractors $27.6 million dollars for the needless death of hundreds of thousands on native fish.

The Winchester Dam was condemned in 1976. The Oregon Water Resource District gave the dam their highest danger rating, “high hazard,” meaning: “the department expects loss of human life to occur if the dam fails.”

Mike Ruehle and Adam Miller of Community Rights Douglas County chronicle the history of the Winchester Dam. They describe the ongoing pattern of violations of both permit and law that culminated in the massive fish kill and unprecedented monetary penalty, how it could have easily been prevented, and what can be done to remove the Winchester Dam so this never happens again.

The Winchester Water Control District, owners of the derelict and condemned Winchester Dam, have perpetrated a litany of documented violations including:

• Illegal water storage in excess of their water rights.

• Pollution of the North Umpqua River.

• Privatization of publics lands and waterways.

• Killing of millions of threatened and sensitive aquatic species.

• Repeated failure to comply with state and federal laws and regulations. 

• The use of toxic and carcinogenic building materials that

For more information, visit WinchesterDam.com

Kai Huschke, with the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, talks to us about the hierarchy of community rights, states rights, and corporate rights. We look at examples of Rights of Nature laws in other countries, and why it is so difficult to have community or nature rights under the Unites States system of capitalism. Community vs corporation examples include the timber and fossil fuel industries. For more information, see https://celdf.org/.

Ending song is “Occupy the USA” from the album “Revolutions Per Minute” by Emma’s Revolution. https://emmasrevolution.com/.  You can purchase this album in a non-capitalistic way by naming your own price at: https://emmasrevolution.com/revolutions-per-minute

Michelle Holman (Community Rights Lane County) and Craig Kauffman (UO professor and author) talk about a ballot initiative to help protect Lane County watersheds and give legal rights to nature. The ballot initiative can be seen here: https://www.protectlanecountywatersheds.org/lane_county_watersheds_bill_of_rights

To get involved in Community Rights, and to donate to this project, see:

https://www.protectlanecountywatersheds.org/donate

Craig’s fascinating information is here, including a link to download his latest book: “The Politics of Rights of Nature":

https://blogs.uoregon.edu/craigkauffman/

Also note, on February 22 at 6pm, Michelle, Craig and Kunu Bearchum (filmmaker, multimedia producer and Chief Petitioner for the Lane County Watersheds Bill of Rights) will join with Kai Huschke (Oregon Community Rights Network president and CELDF community organizer) in conversation about water protection, rights of nature and the pending initiative. To attend this Zoom event, send request for link to: [email protected]

A panel of speakers discusses the plight of native wild horses in "Horse Management Areas" on public lands in western states.

Speakers on Part 1 and Part 2 of the Wild Horse Podcast include:

Lorna Torrey Palermo is a long time horse lover, animal advocate and Advocate for Wild Equines.

Linda Wallace first became interested in the wild horses as a child when she heard about Wild Horse Annie. She has been writing letters and making phone calls ever since! Linda adopted an amazing black Eastern Oregon Mustang named Moonshine in the 80s. She now visits HMAs all over the West to photograph these beautiful, majestic creatures.

Nick Goertzen is a western states horse advocate

Tenaya Jewell is a scientist in the medical field and a long-time activist for animals and the environment. She has always loved horses and her passion is advocating for respectful and compassionate ways of being with animals.

Renee Bosarge Ivy is a long-time animal lover and dedicated horse advocate.

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Links for more information:

A.W.E Advocates for wild equines

https://www.advocatesforwildequines.com/

https://m.facebook.com/groups/152598663650225

Wild horse education: lots of news, updates, litigation

https://wildhorseeducation.org/

American wild horse campaign:

Beautiful photos and very detailed background info on the issues

https://americanwildhorsecampaign.org/

Skydog sanctuary: rescues mustangs, reunites families separated during round ups, has 2 locations: malibu, ca and bend, or

https://www.skydogranch.org/

Articles:

New evidence that wild horses are native and how history was distorted by colonizers:

https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/yes-world-there-were-horses-in-native-culture-before-the-settlers-came

This article includes links to official sources about grazing fees and tax payer costs

http://dailypitchfork.org/?p=631&fbclid=IwAR1dMdl6jRiGlITT5amPw2vAmh68Udu4ZYXcD9vUqUkrDuLGBHBCKka2NoA

Bills to Support:

https://www.safe-act.org/

https://wildhorseeducation.org/2022/02/08/bill-to-ban-helicopters-to-capture-wild-horses/

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The Part 2 ending song is “Navajo Trail” by “The Slow Ponies”. Their music can be found here: https://www.slowponies.com/

A panel of speakers discusses the plight of native wild horses in "Horse Management Areas" on public lands in western states.

Our speakers on Part 1 and Part 2 of the Wild Horse Podcast include:

Lorna Torrey Palermo is a long time horse lover, animal advocate and Advocate For Wild Equines..

Linda Wallace first became interested in the wild horses as a child when she heard about Wild Horse Annie. She has been writing letters and making phone calls ever since! Linda adopted an amazing black Eastern Oregon Mustang named Moonshine in the 80s. She now visits HMAs all over the West to photograph these beautiful, majestic creatures.

Nick Goertzen is a western states horse advocate

Tenaya Jewell is a scientist in the medical field and a long-time activist for animals and the environment. She has always loved horses and her passion is advocating for respectful and compassionate ways of being with animals.

Renee Bosarge Ivy is a long-time animal lover and dedicated horse advocate.

-----------------------------------------

Links for more information:

A.W.E Advocates for wild equines

This is the website, there is a place to donate:

https://www.advocatesforwildequines.com/

This is awe Facebook page:

https://m.facebook.com/groups/152598663650225

Wild horse education: lots of news, updates, litigation

https://wildhorseeducation.org/

American wild horse campaign:

Beautiful photos and very detailed background info on the issues

https://americanwildhorsecampaign.org/

Skydog sanctuary: rescues mustangs, reunites families separated during round ups, has 2 locations: malibu, ca and bend, or

https://www.skydogranch.org/

Articles:

New evidence that wild horses are native and how history was distorted by colonizers:

https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/yes-world-there-were-horses-in-native-culture-before-the-settlers-came

This article includes links to official sources about grazing fees and tax payer costs

http://dailypitchfork.org/?p=631&fbclid=IwAR1dMdl6jRiGlITT5amPw2vAmh68Udu4ZYXcD9vUqUkrDuLGBHBCKka2NoA

Bills to Support:

https://www.safe-act.org/

https://wildhorseeducation.org/2022/02/08/bill-to-ban-helicopters-to-capture-wild-horses/

Current legislation in Congress that impacts the horses:

*HR 3355 Safe Act: prohibits the transport of equines for the purpose of slaughter.

*HR 6635 WHB Protection Act of 2022Stops the use of helicopters in the round up of wild equines

*HR 6935 Grazing Retirement Act

*SB 1214 Grazing, Mike LeeFacilitates the voluntary retirement of grazing allotments owned by ranchers and sale to other interested parties.

* HR 5203 Ejiao Act, Don Beyer, subcommittee on health(Sept 2021)Prohibits the sale or transport of Ejiao made using donkey skins in interstate or foreign commerce.

The A*W*E Advocates for Wild Equines Lobby Coalition does lobby for the passage of these acts in Congress.

This is a conversation with Carol Van Strum, who has fought against the aerial spraying of pesticides, including Agent Orange, since 1975.

Join Carol on the webinar Wednesday, April 6, 6 PM, 2022. "Oregonians Love Trees".  Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83135992632?pwd=VlFvZUp1SmxxKzdjZzRESEVVQ3BiZz09

The PBS documentary that features Carol: The People vs. Agent Orange. https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/the-people-vs-agent-orange/

Books by Carol: 

A Bitter Fog, Herbicides and Human Rights. https://bookshop.org/books/a-bitter-fog-herbicides-human-rights/9781732446830

The Oreo File. https://bookshop.org/books/the-oreo-file/9781539821830

The ending song by Alice DiMicele, Defend The Earth from her “Searching” album. https://alicedimicele.bandcamp.com/track/defend-the-earth

This is a conservation with Patrick Starnes, long time environmental activist, and now a candidate for governor of Oregon. We talk about some recent environmental victories, then a conversation on health plan options for Oregonians. We also chat about campaign finance reform, the housing crisis, renewable energy possibilities, and a bit about forestry in Oregon.

For more information on Patrick Starnes, see: https://starnes2022.com/, and https://ballotpedia.org/Patrick_Starnes

Ending music is “Vote Republican” by Roy Zimmerman, from his “You’re Getting Sleepy” album.  https://roy-zimmerman.myshopify.com/,  https://roy-zimmerman.myshopify.com/collections/youre-getting-sleepy

This is a fascinating conversation with Bonnie Olin. Bonnie is an avid river user, including kayaking on the Snake River. Bonnie talks about the four lower Snake River Dams, why they should be removed, and the impacts removal would have on fish and wildlife, as well as the economy. She covers the mitigations available for impacts such as barging grain and electrical generation.

For more information, the following links were mentioned in the podcast:

* Wild Salmon Center and their work. This is also the center created by Guido Rahr of the book Stronghold. https://wildsalmoncenter.org/strategy/

* Information about the book “Stronghold” by Tucker Malarkey https://wildsalmoncenter.org/stronghold-book/

* Another excellent group working to breach the dams and save the salmon is https://www.wildsalmon.org

* Mike Simpson’s proposals for dam breaching. This is not a piece of legislation. It is just a set of ideas. https://simpson.house.gov/uploadedfiles/websiteslides2.4.pdf

* Andy Kerr, (Public Lands Lobbyist) thoughts on Simpson’s proposal. http://www.andykerr.net/kerr-public-lands-blog/2019/9/6/a-solomonic-salmonid-solution

* A link to Bonnie’s website, with stories and info about the Owyhee, and her book, The Owyhee River Journals. www.owyheemedia.com

* Bonnie's letter to the editor: https://www.registerguard.com/story/opinion/columns/2021/03/20/guest-view-plight-salmon-upstream-battle/4740844001/

Walt Pollock, former BPA Administrator, letter to the editor: https://www.registerguard.com/story/opinion/columns/2021/09/02/guest-view-we-can-have-our-salmon-and-eat-it-too-hydro-power-killer-whales-chinook-oregon-idaho/5657156001/

The ending song is “Bound for the Inland Sea”, by Pacific Flyway from their album Over Our Heads, sung by Roseburg’s own Marnie Allbritten. marnie59 at jeffnet dot org

This is a conversation with Deb Evans and Ron Schaaf about the Jordan Cove project. Deb and Ron are landowner plaintiffs in the Deborah Evans v. FERC lawsuit. We talk about what happened at the oral arguments in the DC Circuit court on October 28. Deb, Ron and other landowners threatened with eminent domain, were represented by the Niskanen Center. https://www.niskanencenter.org/

Also at the October 28 court hearing, environmental groups were represented by Sierra Club and Western Environmental Law Center. https://westernlaw.org/

Recording of the October 28 argument is here: https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/recordings/recordings2021.nsf/E49C2CAEBC1395A28525877C0060D500/$file/20-1161.mp3

Deb and Ron talk about the history of Jordan Cove, the impacts of the required Oregon state permits, and what the future looks like for the proposed Canadian pipeline through southern Oregon.

For more information, see: Our Land - Our Lives Landowner website:  https://www.ourland-ourlives.org/

Deb and Ron suggest we thank Senator Merkley and Senator Wyden for their bill, Landowner Fairness Act, which would help reduce burdens on landowners from oil and gas corporations.

Landowner Fairness Act - Full Bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/641/text

Our ending song is the Jordan Cove Rock, by Harry Stamper. I haven’t yet found a place online to purchase Harry’s music, but you can hear more of it here:

http://pnwfolklore.org/HarryStamper.html ... http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv24615

This is a conversation with Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer, the Douglas County Public Health Officer. We discuss the current state of the Covid pandemic in Douglas County, and what you can do keep yourself healthy. The current situation is dire, with many dying needlessly at Mercy Medical Center.

Bob discusses some of the myths surrounding the Covid vaccines. He explains how the vaccines were developed so quickly, yet safely, under Operation Warp Speed. For more information on how you can get a vaccine or a Covid test, see https://douglaspublichealthnetwork.org/. Or call 541-464-6550.

Our ending song, Play One Song For Me, was written and played by Marnie Allbritten, from Douglas County.