We’re
thrilled to feature some great news from OSU Press author Tim Palmer in this
week’s blog post. In Wild and Scenic Rivers: An American Legacy, Tim shares 160 gorgeous photographs he has
taken of wild rivers throughout North America. The photographs and histories of
these rivers will soon inspire many more people outside of the pages of his
book, as Tim will explain!
***
As an author, you never know who will
see your book, or what might come of it.
Last
week I received news that the Postal Service will release twelve Forever postage stamps in 2019 and four
of those stamps feature rivers illustrated in Wild and Scenic Rivers: An American Legacy. The four rivers are the
Snake in Grand Teton National Park, the Skagit in Washington, the Flathead in
Montana, and the Ontonagon in Michigan.
These new postage
stamps commemorate the 50th anniversary of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers
Act. In 1968, Congress passed this measure, which bans further damming or
harmful developments that are under purview or funding of the federal
government. The intent was to balance the momentum for development of rivers
with conservation of the highest value streams. The initial act included the
Rogue River's designation in southern Oregon, stopping a dam that had been
proposed at Copper Canyon. Oregonians banded together to support protection
instead, which was vital because our salmon and steelhead runs have enough
trouble as it is. They would have been decimated if that dam had been built.
Oregon
has portions of 59 rivers and tributaries in the Wild and Scenic program—the
most among all states, and yet the mileage involved is less than 2 percent of Oregon's total
stream miles. To adequately protect Oregon's finest natural rivers, much
remains to be done. Additional rivers are eligible and worthy of inclusion in
both the National Wild and Scenic program and in a similar state system. Streams that are especially clean
can be designated by the state as "outstanding resource waters" with
safeguards from future pollution. Further withdrawals from waterways where the
flows are important to native life can be avoided, and better setbacks for
clearcut logging and aerial spraying of herbicides can be established under
state law.
I'm gratified to know that the Wild and Scenic Rivers program will be broadcast to Americans through these commemorative stamps.
See all the new
Forever stamps here, and watch for them in 2019!
***
Tim Palmer is the author and photographer of
three Oregon State University Press books: Field Guide to Oregon Rivers, Rivers
of Oregon, and Wild and Scenic Rivers: An American Legacy. See his work at
www.timpalmer.org.