Speak up for the Nehalem River

A beautiful section of the Oregon North Coast's longest river, the Nehalem, is a candidate to be designated as a State Scenic Waterway (http://www.oregon.gov/oprd/NATRES/scenicwaterways/Pages/index.aspx). Oregon Parks & Recreation Department is hosting a public meeting to explain what the designation means and to hear your comments. This is a great opportunity to speak up for one of our cherished north coast rivers!

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The designation would help protect the many values that the Nehalem provides to Oregonians: hiking, fishing, kayaking, rafting, and camping, all of which are critical to our lifestyle and local jobs. Tillamook County has recently made a big (https://tillamookcoast.com/) push (http://www.northcoastcitizen.com/2017/05/visit-tillamook-coast-wins-travel-oregons-best-visitor-guide-award/) to further (https://www.tillamookcountypioneer.net/100000-in-tourism-marketing-and-promotions-grants-now-available-for-tillamook-county-non-profit-organizations-and-for-profit-businesses/) tourism (http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2014/09/tillamook_county_uses_new_lodg.html). A protected Nehalem would certainly help that economy.

As if that weren't enough, the river's unique ecological values (https://nativefishsociety.org/watersheds/nehalem-river) warrant recognition. Native fish species include coastal cutthroat trout, coho salmon, chinook salmon, pacific lamprey, and steelhead. The 17 mile section (http://forestlegacy.org.s57429.gridserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Nehalem-Scenic-Water-Map-OFCC-Sept-2017.pdf) under consideration (from Spruce Run Campground to Nehalem Falls) contains rushing waterfalls and beautiful old stands of Sitka Spruce. (See a map of the section here (http://forestlegacy.org.s57429.gridserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Nehalem-Scenic-Water-Map-OFCC-Sept-2017.pdf)).

Tell OPRD that the Nehalem River deserves designation as a State Scenic Waterway!

The meeting begins with a presentation to explain the scenic waterways program and the criteria the river segment must meet to be included in the program, followed by a question and answer session. The second half of the meeting will be a public hearing, when attendees can comment orally or in writing.

If you can't make it to the meeting, click here to send your comments to OPRD. (https://wildsalmoncenter.salsalabs.org/ofccnehalemstatescenicwaterwaycomments)

The comment period closes Oct. 13, 2017.