Monument Supporters Show Up!

US Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke (blue shirt) on Greensprings Loop with Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. WWC photo.

US Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke (blue shirt) on Greensprings Loop with Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. WWC photo.

The Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument thank the Soda Mountain Wilderness Council and KS Wild for organizing efforts to show U. S. Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke the community’s continuing Monument support during his recent visit (July 14-16, 2017). 

When Secretary Zinke walked the Greensprings Loop on Saturday (July 15) he met many monument users, including artists, birders, equestrians, and family hikers.  

Most notably, an estimated 300 local residents showed support Sunday afternoon outside the BLM Medford office while Secretary Zinke held meetings inside. It was evident on that hot afternoon, on a parking lot no less, that our monument has abundant public support.  

Monument supporters rally in BLM Medford parking lot during Zinke meeting to review Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. WWC photo

Monument supporters rally in BLM Medford parking lot during Zinke meeting to review Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. WWC photo

It was unfortunate that monument supporters, especially Oregon’s Governor Brown, were afforded so little time with the secretary relative to the time he spent with Congressman Walden and other monument opponents. 

The Friends were part of a 30-minute time slot in which 20 different people spoke in support of the monument. Those invited to speak in this very brief meeting included scientists, locally elected officials, business representatives from within the monument, and others. A short meeting was also granted to the Klamath Tribes. All up, it was a very short amount of time discussing the monument with those who value and want to protect the unparalleled biodiversity found here.

The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is part of BLM’s National Conservation Lands, comprising BLM’s most ecologically rich and culturally significant lands. Owned by all Americans, these are our nation’s newest collection of protected public lands—standing proudly alongside our National Parks, National Forests and National Wildlife Refuges.

We still have a few weeks before the Secretary releases his final review, scheduled for August 24. We remain hopeful that we were effective in showcasing the great importance the 113,000 acres of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument hold and why they deserve, and were granted, the highest level of protection. Of the millions of public land throughout the United States, we will continue to advocate on behalf of this monument and others. We wish to thank all those who have worked to share your voice in support of biodiversity throughout this process. Stay tuned, more to come August 24th.

Gallery: July 16, 2017 - Monument supporters rally at BLM Medford. Photos by www.dasjadolan.com