Hi John,

As dedicated members and supporters of the Owyhee, we know you’ve been patiently waiting for an update on our campaign to protect the Owyhee Canyonlands. I’m writing to you today to thank you for your commitment to protecting the Owyhee, provide a campaign update, and share what’s next as we continue to pursue protections for this incredibly beautiful, majestic, and iconic region in Oregon’s high desert. 

In spite of our tremendous collective efforts and tireless advocacy over the past two years, I'm disappointed to report that the Owyhee Canyonlands will not be protected as a National Monument before President Biden leaves office later this month. Senator Wyden's legislation to protect the Owyhee passed the Senate on December 20th -- an exciting first for the Owyhee!! -- but the bill stalled in the House of Representatives and neither President Biden or Senator Wyden were willing to push for the establishment of the monument. Senator Wyden opted instead to continue working on legislation in 2025.

When we launched the National Monument campaign two years ago we sought to build the political support needed to secure National Monument protections in the event that Congressional gridlock blocked the advance of Senator Wyden's legislation. Together we built an incredible grassroots political movement, including:

• A petition signed by 70,000 people;
• Endorsements from three Tribal Nations, including the Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribe, Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, and the Klamath Tribes;  
• Support from the highest levels of elected office in Oregon, including the Governor, Treasurer, Secretary of State, and dozens of state legislators;
• Endorsements from the local community in Malheur County, including Mayors, City Councilors, businesses, organizational leaders, tourism and economic development organizations, and others;
• A robust suite of communications, including ads in local, regional and national news outlets, billboards, radio spots and extensive social media

All of this was organized and managed by a coalition of local, regional and national organizations representing more than 22 million Americans nationwide. This included conservation, recreation, hunting, fishing, Tribal and BIPOC-led organizations, all working together to share resources, expertise and capacity to support protection of the Owyhee. We're incredibly proud of the work we've done together and inspired by the commitment, camaraderie and passion from everyone involved. Going forward we will continue to pursue permanent protections for the Owyhee Canyonlands.

This past year you have all shown our Senators tremendous support for the permanent protection of the Owyhee Canyonlands. The support of this campaign and coalition created outstanding momentum for protecting the Owyhee, and we cannot thank you enough.

It’s clear our work is not finished. Protecting the Owyhee Canyonlands has been a decades long movement, and we’re not giving up any time soon.

Please join us in this continued work by contacting our US senators and your congressperson today. Urge them to keep working toward the strongest permanent protections possible for the Owyhee.

Together,

Eliza Walton

OLCV Coalition Director

Oregon League of Conservation Voters
1110 SE Alder Suite 220
Portland, OR 97214
United States

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