Protecting public lands
The Geography of Public Lands in the Blue Mountains
The Greater Hells Canyon Region is one of the most incredible landscapes in North America. We have it all! Hells Canyon, the deepest canyon in North America, overhung by the glacially carved peaks of the Wallowas and Seven Devils. Sprawling forests connect the canyons of the Snake, Grande Ronde and Umatilla Rivers up into the granite and basalt basins of the mountains and spill over into the moist forests of the Northern Blue Mountains. Continuing south, the forests surround the Elkhorns and envelope the many forks of the John Day River high peaks of the Strawberry Mountains.
Click on the map to learn more about the Greater Hells Canyon Region.
Large Landscape Conservation in the Blue Mountains
The Greater Hells Canyon Region is a massive landscape encompassing 18,000 square miles; a large portion is federally-managed public lands. The Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Umatilla National Forest, and Malheur National Forest collectively comprise 6 million acres of globally significant habitat that connects the Rockies, Cascades, Great Basin and Columbia Plateau. Protecting public land is one part of the large landscape conservation effort that guides our work at Greater Hells Canyon Council.
How We Engage on Public Lands Issues
Our job is to make sure that fish, wildlife, and the public aren’t forgotten in the process. We do our best to review every project, large and small, affecting public lands in the Greater Hells Canyon Region. When reviewing, we ask: is this activity being proposed in the right place, at the right time, for the right reasons, with the appropriate methods? If the answer to any of those is no, we engage, and invite you to join us. If you want to know what this means in practice, read this blog post describing the work in more detail.
Regional public lands Issues
Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision
The current management plan for the Wallowa Whitman, Umatilla and Malheur National Forests spanning over 5 million acres Northeast Oregon and Southeast Washington, dates to 1992. Forest plans are the rulebook for how the U.S. Forest Service will treat these lands over the next 30+ years. Strong and enforceable language protecting habitat connectivity, roadless lands, and mature and old forests will have a real impact on the ground. Firm standards hold the Forest Service accountable for managing these public lands for more than just extractive interests.
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As we prepare for the release of the draft plan, there will be many opportunities to get involved and share your support for conservation outcomes, wildlife connectivity, and recreation opportunities. Sign up for Action Alerts to get timely information on how and when you can best support conservation on public lands across the region.
Standing Up for the Roadless Rule
Inventoried Roadless Areas protected by the Roadless Rule make up almost half (44%) of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area and safeguard countless other precious landscapes in our region, like Joseph Canyon and the Elkhorn Crest, that aren't otherwise designated as Wilderness Areas. Collectively, roadless areas across Northeast Oregon make up approximately 700,000 acres. These unroaded areas are critical for wildlife. In the Blue Mountains Ecoregion, there are over 26,000 miles of roads , more than enough to drive around the world!
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service are currently working to remove protections for these Inventoried Roadless Areas, opening them up to commercial logging, road building, and development. We are the leading voice in the region for keeping the Roadless Rule intact. Join us in advocating for maintaining these protections.
Salmon and Steelhead Recovery in the Lower Snake River Basin
North of Hells Canyon in Southeast Washington, the Snake River flows through four large dams before reaching its confluence with the Columbia River. Upstream of these four dams, salmon and steelhead runs are on the brink of extinction. Greater Hells Canyon Council is part of a larger coalition of Pacific Northwest Tribes, conservation organizations, river advocates, guides and outfitters, and more groups who are advocating for the removal of the four Lower Snake River dams as part of a larger restoration vision for the Lower Snake River Basin.
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Across the Greater Hells Canyon Region, cold water rivers and streams provide some of the best spawning habitat for salmon and steelhead, yet the Grande Ronde, Imnaha, Salmon, Powder and mainstem Snake River basins are impacted by the continued operations of these dams. To learn more about the coalition and how to join the effort advocating on behalf of a restored Lower Snake River Basin, sign up for our Action Alerts and visit Save Our Wild Salmon.
Protecting the Remaining Large Trees of Eastern Oregon
The 21” rule, also referred to as the Eastside Screens, has protected old and large trees across the eastern Cascades, Ochocos, Strawberries, Blues, and Wallowas for over 30 years. The first Trump administration unlawfully authorized the removal of these protections by taking the effort out of the Forest Service’s hands and bypassing public engagement. GHCC fought against and stopped the rule change, for now!
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​Through the Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision process, the U.S. Forest Service is again attempting to eliminate protections for the region’s last ancient trees. Getting involved in forest planning by participating in public comments and writing your elected officials is a great way to join our efforts to protect large trees!
