New Film Demonstrates the Need to Protect the Rogue River
Posted in News on October 27th, 2008 by admin – Be the first to comment“Run, Rogue, Run,” a short film which American Rivers helped produce, will be premiered at two film festivals next weekend in Medford and Portland. The film takes viewers on a journey down the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River in southwestern Oregon and explores the need for protecting the river and its salmon and steelhead streams.
The Rogue River is among the nation’s most iconic wild rivers. It was one of the originally designated rivers under the 1968 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and remains a world-class whitewater rafting destination. The river and its tributaries are also home to vibrant runs of salmon and steelhead, which are the cornerstone of the multi-million dollar commercial and sport fishing industries. Overall, tourism generated by the river provides over $14 million and 225 jobs in southern Oregon.
Despite these clear incentives to preserve the Rogue River, it is listed in America’s Most Endangered Rivers: 2008 Edition due to the threat of harmful logging in the river basin. This plan would remove current protections, such as streamside buffers that shade and maintain cool water tributaries, while relegating thousands of acres near the Rogue to clearcut logging. This would harm the health of the river, its fish and wildlife, and the vital income the river generates for the community.
The most effective way to prohibit logging and protect this river is to designate 40 tributaries as Wild and Scenic. This film will help Oregonians understand the need to take action now by contacting their congressional leaders and urging them to support legislation that will protect the river.
American Rivers partnered with the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, the Siskiyou Project, Echo River Trips, and the Epicocity Project, a film-making enterprise of a few young adventure journalists, to create this film. It will premiere at the following two film festivals:
Medford Environmental Film Festival
Date: Friday, November 7th
Time: Show starts at 6:00 pm
Location: Medford Congregational United Church of Christ
1801 East Jackson St
Medford, OR 97504
Admission: Free!
Host: Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center
Patagonia’s Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival
Date: Saturday, November 8th
Time: Doors open at 6:30 pm; Show starts at 7:00pm
Location: Hollywood Theater
4122 NE Sandy Blvd
Portland, OR 97212
Admission: $10
Host: The Native Fish Society
