The Oregon Departments of Parks and Recreation (OPRD), Fish and Wildlife, State Lands and Oregon State Marine Board are seeking to better understand how Jackson County residents and visitors would like to enjoy and protect a 31-mile stretch of the Upper Rogue River between Gold Hill and Lost Creek Dam.
The agencies have hired Oregon's Kitchen Table, a community engagement organization, to assist in the effort. The organization will conduct a survey and convene several community conservations now through July 5th.
This effort stems in part from an earlier OPRD community engagement last year about the possibility of a jet boat concessionaire at TouVelle State Recreation Site. That process revealed community concerns about the impacts of jet boats on recreational access and fish and wildlife habitat. The concessionaire did not move forward.
The concession discussion highlighted community interest in shaping the use of the waterway beyond the boundaries of TouVelle. It inspired a broader conversation involving multiple agencies to understand the values, beliefs and expectations of community members and visitors for the Upper Rogue from the former Gold Rey Dam site to Lost Creek Dam.
Community members and visitors are encouraged to share their viewpoints about the Upper Rogue River. A Zoom meeting will be held on Tuesday followed by in-person meetings on May 30th at Shady Cove Middle School, June 4th at TouVelle State Park and June 17th at the Medford branch Jackson County Library.
Once the community conversations and survey conclude, Oregon's Kitchen Table will prepare a report summarizing community feedback. The report will be shared with the public, and that information will help inform future management plans for the state agencies.
