With Governor Tina Kotek signing HB 4134 into law, the 1.25% for Wildlife campaign comes to a successful conclusion in Oregon.
At WaterWatch, our work is focused on protecting and restoring the streamflows that power our state’s world-class rivers and streams, which in turn provide vital habitat, foraging grounds, and migratory corridors for a variety of fish and wildlife including salmon, steelhead, beavers, otters, bears, and all varieties of insects, frogs, birds, and other species.
Our ongoing work to protect and restore Oregon’s rivers is vital to related statewide conservation efforts to protect our iconic forests, wetlands, coastline, deserts, and other natural areas that are so important to Oregon fish and wildlife, people, and economies. That’s why we were proud to join the coalition of over 70 conservation, hunting, fishing, forestry, farming, ranching, and business stakeholders that successfully passed the 1.25% for Wildlife bill during the short legislative session this year.
Signed into law by Governor Tina Kotek on April 10th, the bill levies a modest 1.25% tax on transient lodging, which will provide dedicated funding for fish, wildlife, and habitat conservation — primarily by funding the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s work to implement its Wildlife Action Plan.
With ongoing threats at both the state and federal levels, fish and wildlife have been pushed to the brink by habitat loss, climate change, and overdevelopment. In Oregon, at least 300 at-risk species and their habitats are in decline, and in danger of being pushed further toward extinction. Now law, the 1.25% for Wildlife bill will provide the critical funding needed to protect our most vulnerable fish and wildlife species, and fuel the work needed to protect Oregon’s landscapes and the rivers that run through them.
A huge shout out-to our friends at Oregon Wild and Western Environmental Law Center for their diligence, tenacity, and enthusiasm in leading this broad-based coalition effort, and a heartfelt thank you to our community of WaterWatch members and supporters who weighed in with their legislators earlier this year to help pass this bill and ensure the governor signed it into law.
Healthy habitats and flourishing fish and wildlife benefit all Oregonians, so in an era where we all could use some good news, take a moment to celebrate this monumental win!
Cascades frog banner photo courtesy of Michael Brawner / One Percent for Wildlife campaign, WaterWatch graphic designed by Monet Hampson.
