On March 17th, Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) reintroduced legislation into the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests, which would protect close to 18,000 acres as wilderness along the John Day River in eastern Oregon's rugged high desert.
The Cathedral Rock and Horse Heaven Wilderness Act of 2011 will swap public land with private landholders, in order to create two new wilderness sites; the Cathedral Rock & Horse Heaven Wilderness Area.
"Preserving our natural resources, helping local landowners and boosting recreation-based jobs is an all-around winner and that is exactly what this bill will do," said Merkley. "I look forward to working with Senator Wyden and the local communities to protect an additional 17,000 acres of natural beauty in Central Oregon."
Read Senator Merkley's Press Release here.
Read ONDA's Press Release here.