Opal Creek Wilderness
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Opal Creek Wilderness | |
|---|---|
| IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area) | |
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| Location | Oregon, USA |
| Nearest city | Detroit, Oregon |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | 20,266 acres (82 km²) |
| Established | September 30, 1996 |
| Governing body | United States Forest Service |
The Opal Creek Wilderness is a wilderness area located in the Willamette National Forest in the U.S. state of Oregon, on the border of the Mount Hood National Forest. It has the largest uncut watershed in Oregon.[1]
Opal Creek and nearby Opal Lake were named for Opal Elliot, wife of early US Forest Service ranger Roy Elliot.[2]
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[edit] Geography
The 20,266-acre (82.0 km²) Opal Creek Wilderness is adjacent to a designated "scenic recreation area" of 13,000 acres (52.6 km²), creating a nearly 34,000-acre (137.6 km²) protected area. In addition, the 27,427-acre (111.0 km²) Bull of the Woods Wilderness in Mount Hood National Forest shares its southern boundary with the Opal Creek Wilderness.[3][4]
[edit] History
The wilderness was designated September 30, 1996 after a nearly twenty year battle to protect the area from logging and mining. In 1980, the District Ranger of the Detroit Ranger District, Dave "Chainsaw" Alexander, vowed to "cut Opal Creek." By late 1981, clearcut boundary markers were placed. Lawsuits were filed, scenic rivers were designated, and multiple bills to protect the area failed, including an attempt to make it a state park. When books and photo essays were published in the early 1990s, national attention was brought to the area.[5] Finally, the retiring senator Mark Hatfield's last act in office passed and the area was protected.[6]
[edit] Points of Interest
The Opal Creek Valley contains 50 waterfalls, five lakes, and 36 miles of hiking trails. It forms the largest intact stand of Old growth forest in the western Cascades and 500-1000 year old trees are common. The most abundant trees are Douglas-fir, Western Redcedar, and Western Hemlock.[4] Common hardwoods include big leaf maple and red alder. Understory vegetation includes huckleberry, vine maple and rhododendron.[7] There are eight trails in Opal Creek, totaling 36 miles. These are remnants of the early day prospecting and fire access routes.[7]
[edit] Gallery
 A very old and tall old-growth tree in the Opal Creek Wilderness |
 Old-growth forest in the Opal Creek Wilderness |
 A native white fawn lily growing in the Opal Creek Wilderness area |
[edit] References
- ^ Opal Creek Wilderness. The Cranberry House. Retrieved on 2007-08-20.
- ^ McArthur, Lewis A.; Lewis L. McArthur [1928] (2003). Oregon Geographic Names, Seventh Edition, Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-87595-277-1 (trade paperback), ISBN 0-87595-278-X (hardcover).
- ^ Willamette National Forest—Opal Creek Wilderness and Scenic Area Trail Area. United States Forest Service. Retrieved on 2007-08-20.
- ^ a b Willamette National Forest—Opal Creek Wilderness. United States Forest Service. Retrieved on 2007-08-20.
- ^ David Seideman (June 1993). Showdown at Opal Creek: The Battle for America's Last Wilderness. Carroll & Graf. ISBN 978-0881848670.
- ^ Michael Donnelly (Spring 1997). Opal Creek Preserved. Alternatives. Get Real Inc.. Retrieved on 2007-08-20.
- ^ a b Willamette National Forest - Opal Creek Wilderness
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center
- Willamette National Forest - Opal Creek Wilderness
- Forests and Global Warming - Oregon Wild
- Photos of Opal Creek corridor (commercial photography website)
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