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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW State, miners headed for showdown over dredging ... Jacksonville to add downtown parking spots ... New Klamath Community College board member blasts alleged negativity ... State, miners headed for showdown over dredging ... Jacksonville to add downtown parking spots ... New Klamath Community College board member blasts alleged negativity ... OUR VIEW Our View: Caves expansion worth the wait Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 31, 2014 at 12:01 AM Posted Dec. 31, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News Among many items slipped into the must-pass defense appropriations bill before Congress adjourned was a matter of some interest to Southern Oregon, and a long-awaited one at that: the nearly tenfold expansion of the Oregon Caves National Monument. The expansion is vital to the long-term preservation of the caves and to the economy of the Illinois Valley and the broader region as well. The Oregon Caves monument was created in 1909, 35 years after they were discovered by Elijah Davidson. Although the initial proposal was for more than 2,000 acres, the monument was established as only 488 acres, which was considered sufficient to protect the caves at the time. That small patch of land remained all there was to the monument for more than a century, although expansions were proposed in 1939, 1949 and 2000. In 2008, expansion bills were introduced in Congress but did not pass. In 2011, Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley reintroduced a measure in the Senate, and Rep. Peter DeFazio pushed a bill in the House. While the legislation was making its way slowly through Congress, the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center worked with an Applegate rancher to buy out grazing permits his family had held since 1937. The expansion will add 4,000 acres to the monument, including Mount Elijah, named for the caves' discoverer, the scenic Bigelow Lakes and the entire watershed above the caves. In addition, the River Styx, which flows through the caves, will become the nation's first Wild and Scenic river that runs entirely underground. National Park Service officials hope the expansion will help draw attention to the monument, which has seen declining public visits in recent years. Having a 10-times larger presence on maps will help, but so will offering hiking trails and camping opportunities within the monument itself, something that wasn't possible before. Protecting the health of the watershed that feeds the caves is vital, and will ensure this jewel of Southern Oregon will be around for another century and more. Members of the Oregon congressional delegation, past and present, deserve credit for not giving up on the legislation. The next step ought to include some funding to restore and maintain the miles of roads and trails for which the Park Service is now responsible. The bill that passed included no such appropriation. But for now, it's enough to know that the monument's future is secure.   MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 31, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501