High Roberts Slideshow
Introduction
Our active docket extends into and beyond a number of focused projects. For additional information on projects and active cases the Crag Law Center is bringing on behalf of local people throughout Oregon and Washington, click on the following links:
- Fire Management and Watershed Protection
- Coastal Law Project
- Environmental Justice Initiative
- Bull Trout Recovery Project
If there is an area that is of particular interest to you, let us know and we would be happy to consider making that an active part of the site or discuss providing access to the library of informational materials that we have for each project area.
You can also find additional information about the kinds of work we do on our representative cases and representative transactions pages.
Below, you will find additional information on two current and active cases. You can also find additional information on active cases through the links to our project areas above. By fall of 2008, we intend to launch a more integrated and active docket page on this site. Feel free to contact us for further information.
Public Lands: Giving Old Growth the Chance to Survive -- Tucannon River, Eastern Washington
Conservation groups have taken issue with the Bush administration's plans to modify existing old growth protections around the Tucannon River because the move flies in the face of decades of scientific research. The large old trees have evolved with fire and their thick bark provides protection from it. The Crag Law Center filed suit in court for these groups after the Forest Service rebuffed their concerns. The case is on appeal to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. On March 11, 2008, Ralph Bloemers argued the case to a 3-judge panel in the Pioneer Courthouse in downtown Portland. A decision from the court is expected soon.
Hood River County Farmland, Drinking Watershed and Historic Backcountry Protection Efforts
Late in Summer 2001, Hood River County proposed to trade forestland with other forestland owners in Hood River County. The County ignored various offers and ultimately decided to trade 640 acres to Mt. Hood Meadows. The land the County proposed to trade was adjacent to Meadows private land holdings near Cooper Spur.
The County purported to do the trade pursuant to ORS 275.335. That statute requires any trade to be for equal value - requiring the County to determine the value of the property. The County was also required to obtain reports from its assessor's office and other qualified appraisers in order to determine the traded property's value.
State law does not authorize the County to pay any money for the difference in value between the properties traded; instead they must be equal and it requires the County to involve the public and follow a specified procedure. The County also paid Meadows over 1 million dollars to "equalize" the deal.
Click here for a more detailed factual overview and the pleadings in the case to gain a greater understanding of how plaintiffs contend that the County's decision violated the law.
Contact Ralph Bloemers at 503.525.2724 if you would like to learn more about the documents that the plaintiffs obtained through discovery and the current status of the litigation. In the summer of 2004, the Oregon Court of Appeals issued a ruling that reversed the ruling of the local district Court in Hood River, Oregon. Shortly thereafter the parties entered mediation. After over 15 months of mediation, the parties announced a proposal to permanently protect the North side of Mt. Hood as Wilderness and protect the Crystal Springs zone of contribution through a congressionally degisnated Wilderness. Please see Cascade Peaks Protection for more information.
- Hood River Valley Residents Committee and Mike McCarthy v. Board of County Commissioners of Hood River County
Trial Court No. 020055CC
Pending in Trial Court- Complaint - Declaratory Judgment Action (PDF 53k)
- Motion for Summary Judgment (PDF 158k)
- Reply on Motion for Summary Judgment (PDF 92k)
- May 7, 2003 Opinion (PDF 425k)
- HRVRC - Press Release - Declaratory Judgment - May 2003 (PDF 425k)
- Hood River Valley Residents Committee and Mike McCarthy v. Board of County Commissioners of Hood River County
Trial Court No. 020029CC
Sucessful Appeal- Petition for Writ of Review (PDF 48k)
- Press Release - March 27, 2002 - Residents Commmittee Files Suit
- Press Release - August 2, 2002 - Residents Committee Appeals Court's Ruling (PDF 48k)
- Appellants' Opening Brief - Oregon Court of Appeals
- Table of Contents (PDF 24k)
- Brief Body (PDF 148k)
- Excerpt of Record (Table) (PDF 7k)
ODFW Hatchery Violations
On behalf of several conservation organizations, Crag Law Center issued a 60-Day Notice of Intent to Sue to the Oregon Department of Fish and Widlife for hundreds of violations of the Clean Water Act. ODFW administers Oregon's salmon hatcheries, and these facilities routinely violate the Clean Water Act.
Those violations threaten to harm fragile aquatic ecosystems as well as native fish. Click here for the relevant documents for public review. Please contact Chris Winter at 503-525-2725 for more information.
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