Central Oregon LandWatch achieved protections for Wilderness Areas throughout Oregon, including the Steens Mountains.
A little known loophole previously left private land surrounded by or adjacent to designated Wilderness unprotected from a type of development known as a Guest Ranch. A resort development of this nature could have been located entirely within a wilderness area such as the Steens, thus destroying much of its wilderness character.
Central Oregon LandWatch successfully attached an amendment to HB 2753 so that guest ranches can no longer be sited on lands in or near designated Wilderness Areas. We worked with legislators and the lobbyist for development interests in order to achieve unanimous, bi-partisan support for these necessary protections.
<<Back