Washington, D.C. – Bringing to fruition years of work from the
Molalla community to preserve their namesake river, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden
(D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the Molalla River Wild and Scenic
Rivers Act of 2009, which is a companion bill to legislation introduced in the
House of Representatives on June 9, 2009, by Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR-5). The
bill will designate approximately 21 miles of the Molalla River for
preservation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
“Congressman
Schrader did a great job crafting a bill that preserves another unique piece of
Oregon’s beauty and responds to local voices like the Molalla River Alliance,” said Wyden.
“Together with Senator Merkley, I will work to secure the Molalla River’s
protection for recreation and to keep the river a clean source of drinking water
for the Oregonians who count on it.”
“I’m proud to partner with Senator Wyden and Congressman
Schrader on this effort to protect the Molalla River,” said Merkley. “Protecting this
scenic area will provide clean water for our communities, improve recreational
opportunities and ensure future generations can enjoy the river.”
The Molalla River has long been a spot valued by outdoor
enthusiasts who value its beauty for activities such as hiking, camping,
fishing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting. The river is also an important
habitat for wildlife and the source of clean drinking water for the towns of
Molalla and Canby, Oregon. The Molalla River Alliance, a coalition of more than
45 organizations dedicated to preserving the river, was instrumental in the
development of the legislation.
Senator
Wyden is a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the committee
that will consider the bill.
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