Conservation

From our origins in 1894, Mazamas have had a long record of conservation and preservation.  This continues today.  The 2001 membership survey results showed that 80% of our membership believe that the Mazamas should be active in conservation and environmental issues. With this in mind, the Conservation Committee strives to increase our visibility and influence within the community as well as in our own organization.

What do we do?

• We take an active role in conservation issues.
• Through conservation grants and affiliations, we support efforts and activism by other conservation organizations.
• We recognize outstanding conservationists within the Mazamas with the Montague Bowl award.

Mazamas Conservation Goals and Strategies

Goal

• Mountain environments are protected and managed to balance their use for public enjoyment and their value as natural habitats.

• Advocate for open and fair access to alpine areas.
• Promote education and outreach to encourage stewardship of the environment.
• Maintain direct communication with public officials and land managers to support science based ecosystem management.
• Further scientific inquiry and understanding of alpine ecosystems.
• Leverage our conservation efforts through participation with coalitions and other organizations.

Conservation Grants

Each year the Conservation Committee awards grants to Northwest organizations working to preserve our natural heritage.  Application instructions, past recipients, and more are available here.

Current Issues

Wilderness Legislation
On Feb. 15, 2007 Senators Wyden and Smith introduced the Lewis and Clark Wilderness Act of 2007 which is very similar to their 2006 wilderness bill. It would grant wilderness status to 128,000 acres in the Mt. Hood Nat’l Forest and the Columbia River Gorge. It would also protect approximately 81 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers including making permanent existing protection of the Hood River and its tributaries. An addition to the bill is a requirement for a new appraisal of land values regarding the Government Camp/Cooper Spur land exchange.

The Mazamas supported the wilderness bills introduced in 2006 during the last Congress by our Senators and Representatives. We look forward to our Congressional delegation building on their 2006 efforts and enacting wilderness legislation this year.

Cooper Spur Expansion
The Conservation Committee is actively involved in opposing the proposed expansion of the Cooper Spur ski area on the north side of Mount Hood.  This proposed development would create a four season destination resort with 450 new housing units, an 18 hole golf course, an expanded road system, retail shops, restaurants and many additional ski lifts.

• Statement by Mazamas Executive Council opposing the Cooper Spur expansion
• Link to www.cooperspur.org, a coalition group opposing this development

Global Warming
The Conservation Committee is working in cooperation with the Portland State University Department of Geography and Geology in documenting the shrinking of the glaciers of the Cascades.  As reported in the Oregonian, the Mazamas have donated proceeds from the Melting Mountains Conference held in April 2007 to PSU for aerial photography documenting the impact of global warming on glaciers in the Cascades.

Melting Mountains Conference
On April 14th, 2007 the Conservation Committee hosted the Melting Mountains Conference focusing on the impact of climate change on our mountains’ glaciers and the Pacific Northwest. We learned what is being done and what more can be done, both by government and in our personal lives.  We extend our thanks to the speakers, volunteers, sponsors and the attendees for making this such a great conference.  Below are links to conference presentations (in Adobe Reader format) and our Excel carbon impact calculator.

• Dr. Andrew Fountain - Glacier Change in the American West (4.8MB)
• Lara Whitely Binder - Climate Change in the Pacific Northwest (795KB)
• Patrick Mazza - Climate Solutions (538KB)
• Jan Schaeffer - Energy Trust of Oregon (3.4MB)
• Carbon Dioxide Impact Calculator (169KB, requires Microsoft Excel)*

* The Excel calculator requires unsigned macros to be enabled. These settings can be changed under Excel’s Tools menu. Under Tools, select Macro, then select Security. Change settings to Medium.  Then reopen the calculator file and click Enable Macros when prompted.

Affiliations

The Mazama Conservation Committee works with the following organizations through council approved activities including writing letters of support and participation in coalitions. We support selected organizations with conservation grants and with membership subscriptions:

• 1000 Friends of Oregon
• Bark
• Coast Range Association
• Cooper Spur Wild and Free Coalition
• Crag Law Center
• Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs
• Forest Service Employees for Env. Ethics
• Friends of Crater Lake
• Friends of Forest Park
• Friends of Mt. Hood
• Friends of Opal Creek
• Friends of the Columbia Gorge
• Gifford Pinchot Task Force
• Hells Canyon Preservation Council
• North Coast Land Trust
• ONDA (Oregon Natural Desert Association)
• Oregon Wild (formerly Oregon Natural Resources Council)
• OCN (Oregon Conservation Network)
• Pechuck Lookout
• Soda Mountain Wilderness Council
• SOLV
• The Nature Conservancy
• Urban Nature Overnights (Oregon Zoo)
• Wolftree