RESOLUTION No. 36221

Endorse the Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness proposal and support federal wilderness protections for the remaining roadless areas in the Mount Hood National Forest and Columbia River Gorge (Resolution)

WHEREAS, the wild splendor of the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River are well-known symbols of Oregon; and

WHEREAS, in 1805 Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark during the Corps of Discovery Expedition noted both the Columbia Gorge and Mount Hood in their Journals; and

WHEREAS, the forests and waters of the Mount Hood National Forest provide clean drinking water for millions of Oregonians; and

WHEREAS, the roadless forests and wildlands that remain in Oregon, and in particular, the Mount Hood National Forest and Columbia Gorge, provide easily accessible outdoor recreation, including but not limited to backcountry hunting and fishing, horseback riding, mountain climbing and backpacking, skiing and snowshoeing, canoeing and kayaking, hiking, camping, wild berry picking, wilderness bird-watching and wildlife viewing and countless opportunities for Portland’s residents and their families to participate in outdoor recreation activities; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of the City of Portland use and enjoy these lands and have an interest in their maintenance in a pristine natural condition; and

WHEREAS, the Wilderness Act of 1964 offers the most certain and inviolable protections for federal lands, and that the Mount Hood National Forest are federal lands;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that in recognition of the current and future contributions of these lands to the economic and environmental vitality of the city and to the citizens of Portland, to the rest of the citizens of Oregon and the United States of America, the City of Portland hereby endorses the Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness proposal and supports federal wilderness protections for the remaining roadless areas in the Mount Hood National Forest and Columbia River Gorge.

Adopted by the Council: June 9, 2004      GARY BLACKMER

Auditor of the City of Portland

Mayor Vera Katz

Commissioner Jim Francesconi        By /S/ Colleen Phillips

Commissioner Randy Leonard

Commissioner Dan Saltzman

Commissioner Erik Sten              Deputy

Prepared by:  David Shaff/dgs        

June 2, 2004

BACKING SHEET INFORMATION

AGENDA NO. 665-2004

ORDINANCE/RESOLUTION/COUNCIL DOCUMENT NO. 36221