AFRC President Travis Joseph had the following to say on the reintroduction on the River Democracy Act:
“We appreciate Senator Wyden’s changes to the River Democracy Act (RDA) that reduce the overall footprint of the original bill from 3 million acres to 2 million acres and his help to clarify the intent of the RDA is science-based, pro-active management – not a ‘let it burn’ policy.
“Based on our discussions with the Senator, we’re confident he understands the serious risks catastrophic wildfires pose to our rivers, drinking water, forest health and communities and that a ‘no management’ approach on these fire-prone landscapes is not an option, or a solution.
“We will continue to review this new version and provide our comments and suggestions to ensure the intent of the bill would be realized on the ground if signed into law. We believe Senator Wyden is committed to a final version of the River Democracy Act that is bipartisan and responsive to rural Oregon’s concerns – that’s the Oregon Way.”