Rogue Group - IV Section
Rogue Group Illinois Valley Activity Section Report
The Illinois Valley is home to the the federally designated Wild and Scenic Illinois River, Oregon Caves National Monument, Red Buttes Wilderness and the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.
Illinois River photo by G. Lyford of IV Section
The Illinois Valley Activity Section includes members who live in and around Cave Junction, Selma, O’Brien, Kerby, Holland, and Takilma along US Highway 199 between Hayes Hill and the Oregon-California State line. The 75-mile-long Illinois River rises in California, flows northwest through its 628,000-acre watershed, mostly in Josephine County, and discharges into the Rogue River.
The IV watershed elevations range from 7,055 feet on Grayback Mountain to 380 feet at the mouth of the Illinois River near Agness, and the valley floor sits at about 1,200 to 1,600 feet. The average annual precipitation varies from 40 to 160 inches. The major tributaries include the West Fork, East Fork, Sucker Creek, and Deer Creek.
The watershed supports diverse native plant species, including 20 conifer trees, 29 broadleaved trees, and scores of rare endemic wildflowers. The IV is 89% forested and 8% is used for agriculture including 11,660 acres with irrigation water rights. Land uses include logging, livestock ranches, pastures, vineyards, orchards, row crop and truck farms, mining, public parks, and BLM and USFS lands.
The main environmental threats are Federal and corporate logging, inefficient irrigation practices and mining. Threatened Coho, Chinook, and Steelhead anadromous fish are struggling to survive in streams that are at times water quality limited due to increased water temperature.
CYCLE OREGON IS COMING TO THE MYTHICAL STATE OF JEFFERSON!September 12-19 about 2000 bicycle riders will converge in our area. The route is
Medford – Yreka – Happy Camp – Lake Selmac - Glendale – Grants Pass – Medford.
Mort Mondale and Elaine Wood of the Illinois Valley Section need volunteers for the Lake Selmac
section on Sept. 15 and 16. We need you to help make this event a success!
Read more and SIGN UP to VOLUNTEER!
CYCLE OREGON AND THE RGSC NEEDS YOU!
Meetings and Locations
The IVSC Activity Section meets on the third Tuesday of each month alternating between the Selma Center and the Cave Junction County Building. Join us at our next meeting with the social starting at 6:30 PM and the meeting starting at 7:00 PM. Please bring refreshments to share as you like. Everyone is welcome to attend (members and non-members alike.)
Meeting/Location Schedule:
August 18 - Selma Center
Sept. 15 - no meeting - volunteer for Cycle Oregon:
CYCLE OREGON AND THE RGSC NEEDS YOU!
October 20 - Selma Center
Other Events in our area:
Congressman Peter DeFazio’s upcoming town hall meetings. Please come early to take the front seats.
Grants Pass - Anne Basker Auditorium, 604 NW Sixth Street
Wednesday, August 12, 5:15 - 6:15 PM
Cave Junction - City Council Chambers, Cave Junction City Hall, 222 W Lister Street
Wednesday, August 12, 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Contact Us
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon Lyford | Chair | capay@frontiernet.net | (541) 596-2017 |
| Jack Walker | Vice Chair | Spooky7@copper.net | (541) 597-2410 |
| John Bricker | RGSC Executive Committee | jbricker@frontiernet.net | (541) 592-5068 |
| Elaine Wood | RGSC Executive Committee | elayne2@frontiernet.net |
Rough and Ready Creek photo by G. Lyford
Siskiyou’s Vista photo by G. Lyford
Area burned by 2002 Biscuit Fire photo by G. Lyford
Madrone, photo by G. Ziller
