River Alliance unites diverse interests

Timber companies, environmentalists and governments team up

Just like the river that they’ve set out to protect, the Molalla River Alliance has begun swiftly moving forward.

At a recent meeting, the first general assembly of the group so far, about 50 participants agreed on some action plans for the newly formed group.

QUESTION FOR BLOG READERS: Do you think the Molalla River Alliance can do the job of improving the condition of the river and providing visitors to the recreational corridor with a safe, family-friendly place to enjoy the outdoors? Would you take your family on a picnic out there right now?

The Feb. 29 meeting, held at Molalla Retreat, drew a diverse group from many organizations who all have a stake in the future of the river and surrounding land.

“It went very well. We could have not hoped for a better turnout or greater interest,” said Molalla City Manager John Atkins, a member of the alliance’s steering committee. The city is a major stakeholder in the alliance.

Steering committee members Bill and Fran Taylor agreed that the meeting was a success.

“We were very pleased with the attendance, the enthusiasm of the participants and the outcome,” they wrote in an e-mail to the newspaper after the meeting. “We look forward to working in partnership to improve the health of the Molalla River Watershed with this diverse group of organizations.”

After the meeting concluded, Jim Gilbert, owner of Northwoods Nursery/One Green World, said, “This is an historic gathering. With so many parties involved including the city, county, and the BLM, there is finally hope that we can make the Molalla River Corridor a safe and family-friendly recreation area.”

Gilbert is also the chairman of the Molalla Community Planning Organization and a candidate for state representative for Oregon House District 18.

The day-long discussion centered on immediate and long-term threats to the river as well as proposed goals and identification of short-term, practical solutions that might be acted upon.

“We arrived at some immediate action steps that could be taken jointly without waiting for the BLM (U.S. Bureau of Land Management) to complete their management plan,” Atkins said. “We indentified some things that we can all work on together.

“We also agreed on some longer-term goals, one of which would be to work with and support the BLM in developing a recreation management plan for the (Molalla River) corridor,” he said.

“Another longer-term goal is to create a family-friendly and safe campground with amenities in the corridor so that the streamside informal camping spots can be closed down or restricted. There are a lot of damages occurring along the river side,” he said.

Atkins said he is looking at the possibility of using some Weed & Seed grant money to increase the law enforcement coverage in the corridor, among other ideas.

Some of the other goals and agreements from the meeting include:

• An agreement by area law enforcement agencies to coordinate efforts and improve law enforcement coverage;

• Establishment of a public outreach program to raise awareness of problems with large, underage drinking parties, littering and vandalism;

• An agreement to work on obtaining cell phone coverage in the Molalla River Corridor;

• The formation of a science committee to study and prioritize fish, wildlife, and habitat issues and to eventually implement related projects; and

• An agreement to meet again in a timely manner to elect officers, adopt bylaws, file articles of incorporation as a non-profit organization and report on the alliance’s progress.

Atkins said he expects a meeting will be called in about a month, giving those who attended a chance to go back to their respective organizations and get feedback about whether they want to officially join the organization or not.

Joan Zuber, who attended as representative for four different organizations, said she is taking a cautiously optimistic view of the group’s success.

“I felt it went well in spite of a tight agenda that could merely scratch the surface. There are many issues regarding the corridor,” she said. “We will just have to see how this organization comes together. At least the issues are being addressed. Hopefully there will be coordination and cooperation.”

Zuber was representing the South Clackamas Community Planning Organization, Zone 4 of the Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District, Pechuck Lookouts in the Table Rock Wilderness, and the Mazamas Conservation Committee.

The meeting was followed by a guided tour of the corridor for anyone who attended the meeting.

The Taylors said that the entire alliance was grateful to Bob and Judy Loucks for donating the use of the Molalla Retreat for the meeting.

They also thanked Mary Beyer of Vino Maria’s for catering the lunch.