Walden vows to fight Crook County rec area proposal

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., on Friday reiterated his opposition to new wilderness and recreation areas in the Ochoco National Forest and pledged to do all he can to stop it.

This week, the Prineville City Council voted to oppose the plan, and the Crook County Commission took a similar vote last week. Both held town hall meetings that drew hundreds of residents, most expressing opposition or concerns about the proposal by the conservation group Oregon Wild.

“I’d like to thank the members of the Crook County Commission and the Prineville City Council for vocally opposing new wilderness and recreation areas in the Ochoco National Forest,” Walden said.

“At my town hall meeting this month in Prineville, local residents made clear their strong opposition to this plan. I strongly oppose Oregon Wild’s plan to create more wilderness in the Ochocos. If such a plan is passed in the Senate, I will do all I can to stop it in the House and prevent it from becoming law.

“Enough is enough. We’ve already seen the impacts of long-time mismanagement of our public lands. Jobs have gone away, mills have closed, and our air has been choked with smoke because our forests aren’t properly managed.

“Most people in Crook County and throughout eastern Oregon don’t want more of our public lands locked up, increasing fire risk and keeping away people who have camped, snowmobiled, and hunted on these lands for generations.”