Badlands and Spring Basin Wilderness bills pass through the US Senate

Bend, OR—The US Senate voted today 73-21 to pass S. 22, the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2008.  Included in this package of bills are two local measures—The Badlands Wilderness Act, which would protect about 30,000 acres 15 miles east of Bend, and the Spring Basin Wilderness Act, which would protect nearly 10,000 acres near the John Day River.

"Environmental protection doesn't have to come at the expense of economic growth, and this bill will prove it.  It preserves the unique landscapes that bring visitors to the Badlands, and will add to the growing value of Bend's brand as being one of the best places in the country to enjoy outdoor recreation, live, work and raise a family," said Senator Ron Wyden upon passage of the Badlands Wilderness Act through the Senate.

“Obviously we’re ecstatic to see these bills move on to the House of Representatives,” said Brent Fenty, the executive director of the Oregon Natural Desert Association.  “This is truly a momentous occasion for the thousands of Oregonians who’ve worked to protect Badlands and Spring Basin Wilderness,” he continued.  “We cannot thank Senator Wyden enough for his leadership, and we were happy to see that Senator Merkley also voted in favor of new wilderness for Oregon.”

Leaders in the House of Representatives have vowed to take up the public lands package quickly, saying that they will consider the same legislation that the Senate passed today and that the 164 bills will not have go through hearings in the House Natural Resources Committee.

“As a member of the business community, I am thrilled that the Badlands Wilderness bill is now one step closer to passage,” said Alan Van Vliet, the vice president of Construction and Development for Jeld-Wen Communities, who traveled to Washington D.C. to advocate on behalf of Badlands Wilderness last April.  “There is widespread community support for this measure, and in these tough times it’s great to see such a positive bipartisan effort succeed.  It’s about time.”

Both the Oregon Badlands and Spring Basin offer unique characteristics that showcase the diversity of Oregon’s landscape. With its fascinating lava formations, Native American pictographs and juniper forests that contain some of the oldest trees in the state of Oregon, the Badlands is a natural gem located just 15 miles from the rapidly growing city of Bend.  “Overlooking the John Day wild and scenic river, the hills of Spring Basin are famous for bursts of color during the spring wildflower display,” said Senator Wyden in a speech on the Senate floor today describing the potential Wilderness areas in Oregon.  Both Spring Basin and the Oregon Badlands provide unparalleled opportunities for solitude and recreation, including hunting, hiking, horseback riding, camping and backpacking.

“The real credit today goes to thousands of Oregonians who pitched in from all corners of the state,” concluded Senator Wyden.

The Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) is a Bend based non-profit organization that has worked for over 20 years to protect, defend and restore Oregon’s native desert lands.  Photos, descriptions and maps of Spring Basin and the Badlands can be found at www.onda.org.