Guardians

Above from left: Matt Thurman, me, Todd Anderson. Photo by Scott Perse.

All three of us agree that in 1988, the best summer job was working on a fire crew for the Bureau of Land Management. We shared memories of helicopter rides from Maupin through the Deschutes River corridor that stretches all the way to the Columbia River. 

Engine crews still drive countless miles of gravel and dirt roads around Maupin, patrolling for spot fires. They’re still available to help outdoor enthusiasts in need. On holiday weekends, they’re on high alert when folks flock to the river for the thrills of whitewater. Back in our day, there weren’t required rafting permits. Now, crowd control is necessary to ward against general wear from overuse, accidents, and fires. 

Many things have changed since the late 80’s regarding how we care for our rivers and rangelands. I’m sad to learn of the growing decline of salmon and steelhead populations in rivers throughout the northwest. The backdrop of this photo shows Native Americans net fishing on their platforms. Will this become a thing of the past?

It can be fun to view former times. Without being Debbie Downer, I suggest we pray for snow to refill our rivers and near-empty lakes. As we plan for next summer’s fun in the sun, let’s consider ways to be good stewards besides the basics like “pack it in, pack it out” with our trash and observing rules designed to protect our wild and scenic land. A question to consider: Is there anything else we can do to care for our land?