Red rocks. Emerald waters. Wild salmon. The three characterize southwest Oregon’s Kalmiopsis region. Located near the Wild Rivers Coast, the area’s rivers provide clean water to communities like Cave Junction and Gold Beach, Oregon, and Crescent City, California. Not only do these rivers feature some of the purest water in the world, their banks are also home to dozens of rare plant species, like the insectivorous Darlingtonia pitcher plant.

These same rivers that attract adventurers and fishing enthusiasts also draw the attention of mining corporations. Fortunately, overwhelming support from local communities and more than 70,000 comments in favor of protecting wild rivers and drinking water made a difference in defending against the imminent threat of nickel strip mining. On January 13, 2017, the Department of the Interior signed off on a 20-year mining ‘time-out’ that encompasses 100,000 acres and 100 miles of the North Fork Smith, Illinois River, and Hunter Creek watersheds.

KS Wild and our allies have fought hard for permanent protection of the roadless areas that make up the greater Kalmiopsis bioregion. With a 20-year buffer and with your help, we will continue that fight.