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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Diverse stakeholders propose new John Day wilderness
Proposal endorsed by Jefferson County Court
Oct 23, 2009After years of negotiations and meetings, Young Life’s Wildhorse Canyon Ranch, local landowners and the conservation community have proposed a project to consolidate public and private lands along the John Day River and designate two new wilderness areas – the 10,000-acre Coffin Rock Wilderness Area, and the 8,000-acre Horse Heaven Wilderness Area. The proposal would result in improved public access for hunters, anglers, boaters and other recreationists by bringing four miles of river frontage along the John Day into public ownership. Representatives from Young Life, William Smith Properties LLC and the Oregon Natural Desert Association will travel to Washington D.C. this week to present the proposal to Oregon’s congressional delegation.
This proposal came together after an extensive process that won broad local and regional support from ranchers, elected officials and conservationists. “It's a win-win-win. There's been no opposition by any private landowner,” explained Forrest Reinhardt, a representative of Young Life during his presentation to the the Jefferson County Court last week. Following Reinhardt's request for their endorsement, the commission unanimously voted to write a letter to Oregon's congressional delegation supporting the proposal. Reinhardt and other backers of the proposal will request the support of Wheeler and Wasco County at separate hearings later this month.
The proposed Coffin Rock and Horse Heaven Wilderness Act would secure wilderness protection for 18,000 acres of the pristine backcountry and river corridor in the John Day basin, a development long sought by local landowners, outdoor recreation enthusiasts and the conservation community. "This rugged landscape is one of the things that makes the John Day special to those who live here and visit," said Brent Fenty, Executive Director of the Oregon Natural Desert Association. "I particularly want to recognize the diverse parties that came to the table to forge this agreement-- it is encouraging to see everyone working together to create a proposal that the whole community can get behind."
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