Look at that pristine nature….

From the Statesman Journal:

…Hinatsu said the canyon’s riparian vegetation — its moss and plants — have been damaged by visitors. He also said that sediment stirred up could have a negative impact on fish.

“This gorge is a unique botanical place, with lots of mosses and plants growing in that damp environment,” Hinatsu said. “There’s also the issue of water quality.”

The Forest Service is considering a range of options, but Hinatsu said it’s still an active discussion, and no decisions have been made.

“We’ve been thinking about how we could mitigate impact in the canyon but still offer this unique opportunity,” Hinatsu said. “We haven’t made a decision yet, but suffice to say we are concerned about the level of use.”

…The Forest Service is launching a new campaign called Ready, Set, Gorge that seeks to mitigate the heaviest use and parking problems. Suggestions include arriving before 10 a.m., carpooling or taking the Gorge’s transit system to trailheads. Forest Service officials encouraged visitors to explore less-discovered, equally beautiful trails and picnic areas in the eastern Gorge or Washington side.

My friend who edited this article had this to say on Facebook:

The overuse of Oregon outdoor spots is a favorite discussion between that reporter and I and we’ve decided there are two major culprits:
1. Geotagging on Instagram/Instagram outdoor culture as a whole.
2. Clickbait sites that hoover up those photos and blow them out in lists that can underplay how sensitive some of these areas are.

Grossssssss.

Urness, Zach. “Oneonta Gorge: Forest Service calls crowds ‘concerning’” Statesman Journal. 1 Sept 2016. Web.