The Owyhee Canyonlands, located on the eastern edge of Oregon, is a vast and rugged landscape. It’s a place with more cows than people, and reaching some of its most beautiful spots takes effort. Although there are bills in progress to protect the area, a group called Protect the Owyhee is urging the Biden Administration to declare it a National Monument before he leaves office.
Tim Davis, founder of Friends of the Owyhee, a key group in Protect the Owyhee, explains that the Owyhee Canyonlands has a rich history and is one of the most remote places in the lower 48 states. It’s known for having some of the darkest night skies, making it extra special.
Davis grew up in Nyssa, and the Owyhee Canyonlands became his outdoor playground. He mentions that talks of protecting this area have been ongoing for about 30 years. The Idaho side succeeded with protections in 2009, but Oregon has been slower in securing similar measures.
Davis and others have been working to stop large-scale mining in the region, which could disrupt access to the land and affect grazing, a key activity in the area.
In 2019, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden worked with various groups—including conservationists, ranchers, and tribes—to find a solution. He introduced the Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act, aiming to protect over a million acres as wilderness. This bill has been introduced multiple times in Congress, and there are efforts to include it in a larger land protection package.
While waiting for the bill to move through Congress, Protect the Owyhee is also pushing for a National Monument designation. This could help protect the land and achieve many of the goals of Wyden’s bill.
One major concern for ranchers is how the designation would affect grazing and access to the land. Davis assures that grazing would be allowed to continue, as well as activities like hiking and camping on existing roads. The goal is not to change anything about the land, but to ensure it’s protected from large-scale development.
Davis stresses that the Owyhee Canyonlands is a unique, remote area where people can find solitude, and he wants to keep it that way. However, Oregon Representative Cliff Bentz introduced a bill called the Oregon Owyhee Wilderness and Community Protection Act, which some conservation groups criticized as a political move.
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