May 19, 2025
Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden
Washington D.C
Dear Senators Merkley and Wyden:
The purpose of this letter is to confirm the City’s long-standing support for protection of the headwaters of the North Fork Smith River from the devastating impacts of strip mining and to appreciate your outstanding leadership in advancing related legislation.
As background, the City of Crescent City is one of the largest water purveyors in the bioregion.
Clean drinking water is extremely important to the City, our community, and our visitors. For more than a decade, the City has advocated for the protection of the headwaters of the North Fork Smith River in Oregon. At every opportunity, the City has supported both the Smith River National Recreation Area Expansion Act and the Southwestern Oregon Watershed and Salmon Protection Act (SOWSPA). The City has also supported other State of Oregon measures to protect the North Fork’s headwaters.
The City is grateful for your continued leadership on this critical issue. Protecting the headwaters of the North Fork Smith and adjacent rivers and streams from the devastating and unacceptable impacts of strip mining is a top priority. This is America’s Wild Rivers Coast and as you’ve heard from our across our communities, the health of our rivers and streams is absolutely central to our local economies and our identity. Thank you for your efforts and please know that the City of Crescent City will continue to work with you and our community partners until headwaters protection is secured.
Sincerely,
Ray Altman
Mayor
City of Crescent City
U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff
Congressman Jared Huffman
CA Senator Mike McGuire
Assemblyman Chris Rogers