A new bill in Congress would add greater protections to a river and its watersheds in southern Oregon.

Oregon Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have introduced legislation to expand the Smith River National Recreation Area by 58,000 acres.

Owner of the Northwest Rafting Company Zach Collier said it's a remote and special part of the state well known for its biodiversity, from Chinook salmon to rare and endangered plants.

"This water provides spawning habitat for fish, which people catch downstream," said Collier, "but also provides clear, clean water for people to enjoy who are rafting downstream, kayaking downstream, fishing downstream and also drinking that water downstream."

The bill would protect the watershed of the North Fork of the Smith River in Oregon. The Smith River flows downstream into California, an area Collier said is well known for whitewater rafting.

It would safeguard 74 miles of waterway, including creeks adjacent to the Smith River.

It would also ensure that mining couldn't disrupt this sensitive habitat. Collier said nickel mining in particular has been proposed in the region.

"Nickel mining is not good on places," said Collier. "It involves strip mining and tons of chemicals. It's not the cleanest way to mine. It would devastate this area that's uniquely special to the world."

Collier said it's important to protect the landscape and fish habitat. But he noted that it's a special place that looks like it would be home on a different planet - literally.

"That area gets tons of rain," said Collier. "It reminds me of being on Endor in 'Return of the Jedi.' It's just very lush, very green - and just a magical, magical river."

The bill has the support of two California senators as well. It's been referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The federal government is investing $161 million into restoration projects across the West.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has selected 21 projects, including three in Idaho, for the funds - which originate from the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress last year.

Rob Thornberry is the Idaho field representative for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. He said the investments help a variety of the state's landscapes.

"In the Upper Snake area, it could be benefit for sage grouse," said Thornberry. "In central Idaho, the benefits could be for threatened and endangered species such as bull trout, salmon and steelhead."

Thornberry said the funds also could be used to replace culverts or do riparian restoration. The three projects in Idaho total nearly $27 million.

Thornberry said this is good news for people who use public lands.

"BLM's commitment of $161 million to restore 21 landscapes across the West will benefit fish and wildlife," said Thornberry. "It will benefit hunters and anglers, and it'll benefit local economies in the areas where BLM lands are going to be restored."

Thornberry said the projects are a chance for a variety of groups to collaborate on the ground. BLM wants input from tribes in the region as well.

The Nevada hunting and fishing community is sharing its top 10 conservation priorities for 2023 with Gov. Joe Lombardo's office, as they seek to "ensure the continued conservation," of species and diverse habitats in the state.

The priorities range from supporting science based management techniques to conserving big game corridors and seasonal habitats.

Larry Johnson, president of the Coalition for Nevada's Wildlife, said wildfires present "the greatest adverse impacts," to wildlife populations in Nevada. He added in a bad wildfire year, the state can burn over a million acres.

"Unfortunately, at our lower elevations and everything but our very high elevations, those wildfires, we destroy the native vegetation, and it is taken over by invasive species such as cheatgrass," Johnson explained.

Johnson pointed out cheatgrass is not only poor wildlife forage, it is fuel for wildfires.

According to Johnson's group and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, nearly one quarter of the approximately 20 million acres of priority and greater sage-grouse habitat in Nevada has burned in the last 30 years. Greater sage-grouse numbers have also significantly dropped by almost 80% in the Great Basin since 1960.

Johnson argued most human activity has an effect on wildlife. His group supports developing a statewide plan for siting energy projects. He added both traditional and renewable energy projects, transmission lines and other energy infrastructure can have negative effects on wildlife if not located and operated responsibly.

Johnson emphasized highways and fences pose negative impacts to big game. Despite the challenges, Johnson remains optimistic policymakers will listen.

"Things need to be done very carefully with our existing wildlife resources in mind," Johnson contended. "And it can be done. We just have to be smart about it, that is all."

Johnson hopes the priorities will be heard and considered as people are relocating to Nevada for its vast public lands and traditional love for the sporting heritage.


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This Saturday, June 3, thousands of Californians will be among hundreds of thousands of Americans heading into the great outdoors to celebrate National Trails Day.

Thousands of events are planned nationwide from hikes to cleanup events and more.

Alanna Smith, parks program associate for the nonprofit Save the Redwoods League, noted most trails cross the unceded ancestral homelands of native nations, adding the holiday is a good time to give back.

"Thinking about how these trails are created, and ways that we can help maintain them, that's a big part of National Trails Day," Smith explained. "Any way that we can give back is really a great way to celebrate National Trails Day, also."

This year is special, because it's the 30th anniversary of the first National Trails Day. The original was held on June 5, 1993, sponsored by the American Hiking Society. You can enter your ZIP code on their website, AmericanHiking.org to find an event or service project near you.

Smith added getting out on the trails has many benefits, both to physical and mental health.

"You also don't have to be out doing some strenuous activity," Smith pointed out. "You don't have to be trail running or mountain biking in order to reap those benefits. You know, just the act of being on the trail. It helps to promote calm, it lessens stress, it helps us to regulate negative emotions."

Organizers also encouraged people to consider other ways to make use of the trails this weekend from biking or bird-watching, to geocaching and nature photography.

The national system of recreation, scenic and historic trails was created in October 1968, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Trails System Act into law.