Kick-off event features Willamette River documentary and lecture by filmmaker
In early March, Discover Your Forest and the Deschutes National Forest will host a movie night to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The film “Upriver” covers over a dozen ongoing restoration efforts throughout Oregon’s Willamette valley and features interviews with key scientists, people from the conservation community and landowners. It will be shown on March 8, 2018 at McMenamins Old St. Francis in Bend. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the presentation begins at 5:30 p.m. In addition to the film, filmmaker Jeremy Monroe will discuss the making of the film and how the rehabilitation of the Willamette river has improved the lives of Oregonians. Lisa Machnik, Recreation Staff Officer for the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River National Grassland also will speak about Wild and Scenic Rivers in Central Oregon and the passage of the historic Act. The runtime of the film is 56 minutes and is suitable for all audiences.
Admission is $3.00 (cash only) at the door. As a primary sponsor of the Wild and Scenic River event series, Discover Your Forest also will accept donations to support a variety of interpretive programs on the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River Grassland. Background: The National Wild and Scenic Rivers System was created by Congress in 1968 (Public Law 90-542; 16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) to preserve certain rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values in a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present and future generations. The Act is notable for safeguarding the special character of these rivers, while also recognizing the potential for their appropriate use and development. It encourages river management that crosses political boundaries and promotes public participation in developing goals for river protection. Oregon has approximately 110,994 miles of river, of which 1,916.7 miles are designated as wild & scenic—almost 2% of the state’s river miles. For more information, visit: https://www.centraloregonwildandscenic.org/
