Applegater Spring 2020
21
ANN plans public presentation on Wild and Scenic River nominations
BY LUKE RUEDIGER
Recently Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff
Merkley called for an expansion of the
Wild and Scenic River (WSR) network in
Oregon and asked the public to nominate
eligible rivers and streams. Grateful for
the opportunity, Applegate Neighborhood
Network (ANN) quickly went to work
identifying potential WSR nominations in
the Applegate River watershed. We scoured
the maps, identified eligible streams, and
hiked off-trail through numerous wild
watersheds to document their important
biological, recreational, historic, and
scenic values.
Our analysis of the Applegate River
watershed led us to four major nominations.
In total, we identified 197 eligible stream
miles, including the most gorgeous and
ecologically functional streams on federal
lands in our region. If designated as WSRs,
the “Outstandingly Remarkable Values”
of each stream would be protected on
public lands.
We nominated the Upper Applegate
WSR, the Little Applegate WSR, the
Pipe Fork WSR, and the Slate Creek
WSR. Throughout these proposals we
documented “Outstandingly Remarkable
Values,” including recreation, fisheries,
scenic resources, botanical values, geologic
values, wildlife, historical values, and
ecological/biological diversity. The
protection of these important values will
benefit our rivers and streams, fisheries,
water quality, wildlife habitat, outdoor
recreation opportunities, historic resources,
local communities, and the
scenic beauty of the Applegate
River watershed.
Upper Applegate WSR
T h e p r o p o s e d Up p e r
Applegate WSR includes 168
stream miles both above and
below the Applegate Dam,
including Star Gulch, Palmer
Creek, Kinney Creek, and Mule
Creek, in the foothills of the
upper Applegate Valley. These
streams are unique in Oregon
for their diverse, low-elevation
forest, woodland, chaparral, and
grassland habitats.
The proposal also
includes the most impressive
tributaries of the Applegate
River, including portions of
Elliott Creek, Carberry Creek,
Butte Fork, and Middle Fork.
Together these streams contain
the wildest, most remote and
intact portions of the Applegate
River, with vast tracts of old-growth forest,
rugged mountain canyons, bedrock gorges,
waterfalls, unique geology, and incredible
wildlife habitat.
The WSR designation would protect
the streams pouring out of the Red
Buttes Wilderness and the surrounding
roadless areas on the Siskiyou Crest. These
watersheds contain an incredible array of
plant communities, innumerable rare plant
populations, eight designated botanical
The proposed Wild and Scenic Middle Fork of the Applegate River
flows through rocky outcroppings. Photo: Luke Ruediger.
areas, and a large Late Successional Reserve
to protect old-growth habitat.
Little Applegate WSR
Located deep in the Little Applegate
River canyon, the proposed Little
Applegate WSR contains six miles of
the Little Applegate River and 10 miles
of tributary stream, including parts of
Bear Gulch, Muddy Gulch, Owl Gulch,
Blacksmith Gulch, Skunk Gulch, and
lower Glade Creek.
A map created by Applegate Neighborhood Network (ANN) shows tributary streams in the Applegate River watershed proposed for Wild and
Scenic River designation. According to ANN, the main stem of the Applegate River is not eligible for designation and is not included on the map.
The Little Applegate River canyon
contains important wildlife habitat for
species such as the northern spotted owl,
Siskiyou Mountains salamander, and Pacific
fisher, as well as large herds of overwintering
black-tailed deer. Known for its biodiversity
and rare plant species, the area is the driest
major watershed in western Oregon and
contains a unique habitat mixture from
eastern Oregon, western Oregon, and the
foothills of California. The canyon contains
important historical resources associated
with the Sterling Mine Ditch, as well as
incredible scenic and recreational values.
Pipe Fork WSR
The Pipe Fork is located at the
headwaters of Williams Creek. The area
is important for its old-growth forests and
has the easternmost stand of Port Orford
cedar in Oregon. Williams Creek is the
most productive coho salmon stream in
the Applegate River watershed, and as the
last wild tributary of Williams Creek, the
Pipe Fork contains the watershed’s coldest,
cleanest water.
Slate Creek WSR
Slate Creek is the first tributary of
the Applegate River and an important
watershed for anadromous fisheries. ANN
has proposed the headwaters of Slate Creek
for WSR protection. This portion of the
watershed contains important cold-water
refugia for fisheries, beautiful stands of Port
Orford cedar, unusual serpentine soils, and
rare plant populations, including the only
populations of the carnivorous cobra lily
(Darlingtonia californica) in the Applegate
River watershed.
ANN presentation
ANN will host a public presentation
about these proposals at the Applegate
Valley Fire District Community Building
from 4 - 6 pm on Sunday, March 15. As
ANN’s executive director, I will discuss
these exciting proposals and take you on a
photographic journey along the Wild and
Scenic Applegate River. Please join us and
learn how you can get involved!
Luke Ruediger
siskiyoucrest@gmail.com