A new survey released in May 2004 found that a strong majority of eastern Oregon voters support a proposal to designate the Badlands Wilderness Area. After explaining the proposal and what activities would be prohibited if the area were designated as Wilderness, 57 percent of Deschutes County voters favored the proposal, while only 29 percent were opposed - a 28 percentage point margin in favor of wilderness designation.
The new poll conducted by Grove Insight shows an increase in local support and awareness about the Badlands Wilderness proposal and a decrease in opposition when compared to a similar poll conducted in 2002. The 2002 poll showed that 54 percent of voters approved of a Badlands Wilderness Area with 35 percent opposing the proposal. Further, in the newly released poll 66% of respondents said they were aware of the Badlands Wilderness issue - a 20-point increase from 2002.
The proposed Badlands Wilderness has received endorsements by a coalition of Bend-based businesses, ranchers, conservationists, the Oregon Hunters Association, the Bend City Council, and the Central Oregon Trail Alliance (a local mountain biking club).
"We are encouraged to see that support for the Badlands has increased since our last poll two years ago," said Bill Marlett, Executive Director of ONDA. "With over 100 business owners in Central Oregon and elsewhere, coupled with overwhelming grassroots support, it seems our delegation should move forward with legislation."
Background
Oregon's Badlands are located less than 20 miles from Bend, OR and encompass 38,000 acres of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The area offers one of the most fascinating and rare geological sites in Eastern Oregon and is notable for its desert wildflowers, dry river canyons, castle-like lava formations, ancient juniper trees and pictographs. Volunteers have been working for over a decade to protect the Badlands area as Wilderness.
Pictograph defacement, old-growth juniper theft and illegal garbage dumping threaten the area. Supporters of the Badlands Wilderness proposal say it is needed to help stop these illegal activities and permanently protect the resources in the area.
 http://www.wilderness.org/WhereWeWork/Oregon/WR117-OregonBadlandsWilderness.cfm
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