February 10, 2020 10:00 a.m. 
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has announced that his office has received over 15,000 nominations for more than 4,000 miles of rivers and streams in Oregon that enthusiasts believe deserve to be added to the national Wild and Scenic Rivers designation list.
The release said the nominations came from over 2,200 Oregon waterway fans, many who submitted more than one potential designation to Wyden’s office. They will now be considered by the senator as he develops upcoming legislation to designate more Wild and Scenic rivers and streams in the state.
The release said the nominations followed Wyden’s request in October, on the 51st anniversary of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act.
The newest Wild & Scenic Rivers bill Wyden plans to introduce would build on legislation that Congress passed last year to add more than 250 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers in Oregon, according to the release.
Wyden said he is proud that Oregon now has nearly 2,200 miles designated on the Wild and Scenic Rivers system. That’s out of nearly 111,000 miles of rivers and streams in the state.
Wyden said statistics from the outdoor recreation industry, show that recreation supports 172,000 jobs in Oregon and generates $16.4 billion in economic activity statewide.