The excesses of the executive branch will need to be checked by the judicial branch, the legislative branch, and/or the people.

Like bankruptcy, the death of the Northwest Forest Plan has proceeded slowly and might end quickly.

When political realities come up against ecological realities, the former must be changed because the latter cannot.

This is the second installment of a two-part exploration of the impact of logging on watersheds that supply public water. Part 1 examined the benefits of older forests in providing and protecting water quantity, water quality, and timely release of water. Part 2 offers suggestions to protect watersheds that supply public water in order to improve quantity, quality, and timely release of water while also attaining coincidental conservation benefits for this and future generations.

This is the first installment of a two-part exploration of the impact of logging on watersheds that supply public water. Part 1 examines the benefits of older forests in providing and protecting water quantity, water quality, and timely release of water. Part 2 offers suggestions to protect watersheds that supply public water in order to improve quantity, quality, and timely release of water while also attaining coincidental conservation benefits for this and future generations.

This is the first part of a two-part tribute to Dave Foreman, who recently shuffled off this mortal coil. Part 1 recounts Dave’s contribution to stopping the infamous Bald Mountain Road, a dagger into the heart of the Kalmiopsis wildlands in southwestern Oregon. Part 2 is my take on Dave’s unique contributions to the conservation and restoration of nature.

While lots of serviceable hiking guides to Oregon’s wild trails exist, this one focuses on old forests. Oregon Wild popularized the term ancient forests ca. 1984, when the organization was known as the Oregon Natural Resources Council (ONRC).

Government protection should be thrown around every wild grove and forest on the mountains, as it is around every private orchard, and trees in public parks. To say nothing of their value as fountains of timber, they are worth infinitely more than all the gardens and parks of towns.  —John Muir

Weaver could have been a Shakespearean actor, with passion and paranoia characterizing his performance as a United States congressperson. There are generally three kinds of politicians: (1) those who have few or no principles or issues they really care about; (2) those who do have principles and issues they really care about but moderate them to get elected or gain influence inside the legislative body by getting along in the hope of furthering their principles and issues; and (3) those who have strong principles and issues and do not moderate them either for election or influence. Weaver was the third kind.

Population is continuing to grow in Oregon vis-à-vis population growth in other states, to the point where Oregon may well get a sixth Member of Congress after the 2020 census. People are moving to Oregon to enjoy our quality of life. Besides the beer and the wine, there is the backcountry and the wild that makes Oregon Oregon.

The intent of this Public Lands blog is to each week give the reader a ~750-word exposition on some aspect of federal or state public lands in the United States. Some weeks you will a find a piece that goes rather deep and serves as a useful (I hope) backgrounder on particular areas, matters or issues surrounding public lands. Other weeks, you’ll find a topical piece addressing a public lands controversy of the moment.