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Del Norte County supervisors joined their counterparts in Curry County to support legislation that would extend the Smith River National Recreation Area into Oregon.

Supervisors voted 4-0-1 on Tuesday in support of sending a letter to U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, in support of the Smith River National Recreation Area Expansion Act and the Southwestern Oregon Watershed and Salmon Protection Act.

District 5 Supervisor Bob Berkowitz was absent.

In May 2021, Merkley and Wyden, who represent Oregon, introduced legislation to expand the Smith River National Recreation Area by 58,000 acres, protecting the North Fork Smith River and its tributaries from new mining claims. The legislation would also task the U.S. Forest Service with updating the area’s recreation plan to reflect its new additions and produce a special study of the streams, fens, wetlands and potentially vulnerable aquatic habitat areas it houses.

The legislation is currently waiting on a committee markup, according to a spokesman for Wyden's office.

On Tuesday, Board Chairman Gerry Hemmingsen said he had known of the legislation, but wasn’t in favor of sending a letter of support from Del Norte County to the senators.

“I was not in favor of it because I didn’t think we should be influencing our opinion into another state (or) jurisdiction,” Hemmingsen told his colleagues. “It’s come to my attention that the other jurisdiction is very supportive of it and would like to have our support.”

The Del Norte County Board of Supervisors’ letter of support for the Smith River NRA expansion comes after the Curry County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 16 unanimously agreed to send a letter of support for the legislation as well.

Curry County Commissioner Court Boice told his colleagues that the expansion “comes under the heading of watershed protection,” which alleviated some concerns about the possibility that the expanded Smith River NRA could become a new wilderness area.

Letters of support for the proposed Smith River NRA expansion have also come from  the Crescent City-Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce, the Big Rock Community Services District and Gasquet Community Services District.

The Green Diamond Resource Company also sent a letter of support on Feb. 7 to U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, chairman of the Energy & Natural Resources Committee, and Sen. John Barrasso, ranking member of the Energy & Natural Resources Committee.

“We own and manage working forest land in ten states in the western and southern United States, and we are the largest private landowner in California’s Smith River watershed, which includes the Smith River National Recreation Area,” Elicia Goldsworthy, Green Diamond’s forest policy and communications manager, wrote. “Green Diamond Resource Company takes great pride in supporting programs and initiatives that benefit our operating communities — and the subject legislation does just that.”

In its letter to Merkley and Wyden, the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors its ongoing opposition over the last eight years to potential strip mining at the North Fork Smith River’s headwaters.

Not only does the Board of Supervisors “strongly support” the expansion, it also supports legislation which provides for permanent mineral withdrawal of the North Fork Smith River as well as its tributaries, which includes Rough & Ready Creek, Hunter Creek and the Pistol River.

The Board also referred to its unanimous opposition in 2014 to the issuance of a limited water use license for Red Flat Nickel Corporation’s Cleopatra Check Drilling Program and its letter of support for State Sen. Mike McGuire’s Smith River Watershed Protection Resolution.

The Board of Supervisors also supported permanent mineral withdrawal for the North Fork Smith River.

“The Smith River is a primary water supply for our communities and it’s also a world class attraction and centerpiece to our travel and tourism-based economy,” Hemmingsen wrote.

Documents:

• Letter of Support for Smith River NRA Expansion Act

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