The Smith River, California's only un-dammed river, is a jewel in the redwoods.
It is also not exclusive to California; some of the Smith's headwaters lie in Oregon. Which is why retired BLM resource specialist Gordon Lyford is asking the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to protect the headwaters of the river.
The designation sought by Lyford and supported by the Smith River Alliance is "outstanding resource waters." By law, DEQ is supposed to respond to the petition this week (May 22 deadline). Gordon Lyford and Grant Werschkull from the Smith River Alliance explain the value of of the outstanding resource waters designation, and the threats that prompted the petition.
