Conservation Today

Robin Wisdom, current treasurer for the League of Women's voters, former state president, describes the work of The League. She talks about the structure, studies, and positions. The history of The League is tied to the 1920 victory for the women's vote, and is now a national group supporting voting education. Robin talks about the upcoming "Garden Party" on June 16. See their website for more information: lwvuv.wordpress.com

Al Walker was an early adopter of solar energy in Douglas County when he built his off-the-grid home near Idleyld Park. Al tought the subject at Umpqua Community Collage, and then became a solar installer consultant. Bob Allen, also present, was one of his first customers. Al talks about he solar-energy in the area over the last 20 years, and how it has evolved to today. Al and Bob also use their home solar energy systems to charge up their electric cars. They discuss the different types of electric cars in use today, and where to access electric car chargers in the state. Al talks about small hydropower systems, and who can install them. Bob discusses the local electrical coops, and how they integrate home solar systems. For more information, see https://dcsmartenergy.org/

Maya Jarrad works with landowners threatened with eminent domain by a Canadian Corporation that wants to put a pipeline through Douglas County to facilitate shipping Canadian gas to Asia. The 230-mile pipeline, from Malin (near K Falls), to Coos Bay, would require at least a 100' wide clearcut through fire-prone forests of Southern Oregon, crossing over 400 waterways, many with fish who will be harmed by the warmed and dirtied waters. Keep track of the project via this web site: NOLNGEXPORTS.org

Kasey Hovik is the Executive Director of Umpqua Watersheds, our own local environment group in Douglas County. Kasey discusses their different projects, including education, outreach, and conservation programs. Children's educational programs include the annual camp out, trips to Crater Lake, and a program for older teens to work in the woods. Kasey describes the outreach program, bringing the community together in the annual River Appreciation Day, the Brew Fest, and the Banquet, as well as some new events in their parking lot this summer.

Robbin Schindele is the Umpqua Watersheds Crater Lake Wilderness Campaign Coordinator. Robbin describes where the new wilderness proposal is, and why we need these additions. The benefits of wilderness is discussed, as well as some of the hardships, like clearing trails without a chainsaw. Robbin then describes the administration process for getting new wilderness designated, and where we are in the process for Crater Lake Wilderness Proposal.

Francis talks about a new road Lone Rock Timber wants to build through a rare and beautiful old growth forest, with the blessing of Roseburg BLM. Even though Lone Rock has existing access to their adjoining land, and more direct access, the BLM will allow a huge new road and truck turn around to be cut through centuries old trees, in the best spotted owl habitat, without wildlife surveys, and during the height of the nesting season.

In the second half, Keven Matthews is talking at a herbicide spray panel in April. Kevin explains how the state of Oregon and Oregon counties are not being paid taxes from large industrial forest land owners. While small land owners pay taxes, big timber companies are forgiven their taxes. Keven also talks about the job myth, and why logging more public forests does not provide more jobs. He does refer to some slides, but the listener can still follow the audio.

Bob Hoehne, chair of the Umpqua Watersheds Wilderness Committee, talks all things wilderness. Bob has been fighting for wilderness protections since the Umpqua Wilderness Defenders days in the mid 80's. He tells us about the three existing designated wilderness on the Umpqua, and why these are so important for ecology, science, and fisheries. Bob talks about other road-less areas on the Umpqua that should be designated wilderness in the near future.

On January 10, 2018, in Roseburg Oregon, Jacob Lebel and Alex Loznak gave a presentation about Our Children's Trust lawsuit. Jacob and Alex are plaintiffs, along with 19 other youth plaintiffs across the United States. In the presentation Jacob and Alex explain the lawsuit strategy, what and when they hope to win.

This is an interview with Daniel Robertson, attorney, historian, and former Douglas County Museum director. Daniel describes the Oregon and California Railroad land grants, now known as the O&C Lands managed by the Roseburg and Coos Bay BLM. Also described is the Coos Bay Wagon Road land grants. Both required the railroads to sell to settlers, but instead, the railroads started selling to timber companies. Daniel describes the abundant land-fraud deals in Oregon at the turn of the century, and how the O&C lands were revisited back to the U.S. Government. The 1937 O&C Act, one of our first conservation acts, required the BLM to manage these lands while protecting watersheds and providing for recreation.

Stacey McLaughlin describes how it feels to have her home threatened with eminent domain by a foreign corporation, for the controversial Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline. The pipeline would ship fracked gas, as LNG, to Asia and would require a 100-foot wide clear cut for 230-miles through Oregon. We learn the 13-year history of the project, the 2016 denial by the Federal Government, and the foreign corporations refiling in 2017. Stacey has also filed a legal appeal against Douglas County permits allowing the pipeline through the Coastal Zone. We learn about the dangers of the project such as building the proposed export terminal on the earthquake subduction zone in Coos Bay. We find out where our politicians, such as Senator Merkley and Governor Brown stand on the project, and what we can do to express our views. For more information, see: https://www.facebook.com/pipelineoregon/