I am writing in support of our state's amazing streams and rivers, and support for Senate Bill 1060.  I am writing on behalf of the Upper Deschutes Home Rivers Initiative, which combines regional staff and the 410 members of our local Deschutes Chapter to increase stewardship efforts in Central Oregon.

Trout Unlimited, as you may know, is a national conservation and stewardship organization which just turned 50 years old, and our mission is to conserve, protect and restore North Americas coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.  As Project Manager of the Upper Deschutes Home Rivers Initiative in the region, I know the importance of accessing and caring for our streams and rivers.  My job is to conserve the unique trout and salmon that make the northwest, Oregon, and the West Coast so unique.  A critical element needed in my job and for my quality of life is the opportunity to discover and rehabilitate streams and river.

Historically, it did make sense to allow farmers and ranchers to own streams and steward the land with techniques common at the time.  In the past, it also made sense to think of rivers economically, as a way to ship goods and release our wastes down stream, which was necessary at the time for our business and towns with little infrastructure.  Now, we all know, that we all live downstream and we all live in a watershed, and it is our responsibility to care for the streams and rivers we all depend on.  Today, we know that we must care for our lands from a landscape and ecosystem scale, which is critical for our threatened and endangered fish to migrate up and down our beautiful waterways.  It is also critical to allow our citizens to access our streams and rivers, which allow them to monitor conditions and identify restoration projects to undue damage from the past.

In addition to providing access and connectivity for fish, we live here because of the incredible quality of life which comes from walking along or floating down a pristine stream or river.  With current equipment, it is very easy to navigate down the Deschutes, the Metolius, the Fall River, or the Crooked with a Kayak, Canoe or Float Tube.  This must be a right that is preserved and a priority of the state of Oregon.

We must provide access and connectivity for our rivers beyond just shipping goods.  We must acknowledge that water is a public asset that is critical for our lives and the lives of countless species.  Please support 1060 and make sure it protects public ownership and access for all floatable streams and rivers.

We are so lucky to live here and work here, but it is our duty today to use our knowledge and be the stewards that our children and grandchildren need.

Darek Staab
Project Manager(
Upper Deschutes Home Rivers Initiative
Cell: 541-480-6976
DStaab@tu.org

Trout Unlimited
P.O. Box 2090
Bend, Oregon, 97709
www.TU.org

P.S.  The Oregon Council Chair of Trout Unlimited Tom Wolf will be testifying before the committee at 1pm to encourage the passage of this bill on behalf of all our Chapters in Oregon along with the Oregon Coucil of TU.   All of us involved with Trout Unlimited would appreciate any support you can give regarding this very important legislation by sending those below an email in support of SB 1060-1.

Tomorrow- Feb 4- the Senate Environment and Natural Committee will be having a hearing on SB 1060-1 , a bill which will clarify and defend the rights of the public to access and float on all rivers in Oregon deemed Navigable and floatable.  In your email, please indicate in your own words why you support the passage of this bill.  To view this bill and the amendments that are proposed, you can click here and download the PDF file of the bill.

Email your comments to:
Committee Administrator: Beth Patrino  beth.patrino@state.or.us
and /or
Committee Chair: Senator Dingfelder sen.jackiedingfelder@state.or.us