June 6, 2002 
By Todd Dayton
The Bulletin

The Bend City Council unanimously approved a resolution of support for a Badlands Wilderness Area before a packed council meeting Wednesday.

Applause erupted after Mayor Bill Friedman gave the final yes vote.

While the council's resolution is largely symbolic, it may be the first step in establishing a wilderness designation for the Badlands. Creating a wilderness area requires an act of Congress.

The High Desert area east of Bend is a jumble of lava crags, sun-parched sagebrush and juniper trees. Inhabited by critters ranging from rattlesnakes to bobcats, the Badlands offer hidden canyons and Indian petroglyphs to two-legged visitors.

The Bureau of Land Management currently administers most of the Badland's 37,000 acres.

Conservationists for years have battled to preserve the area. Brent Fenty, of Bend's Oregon Natural Desert Association, told the council members why their vote was important.

"Oregon's congressional delegation has made it clear that they will look to local governments for leadership in designating wilderness areas," he
said.

Fenty said his group would bring a similar resolution before Deschutes and Crook counties in hopes of convincing Oregon's federal representatives that the wilderness area has broad local support.

"The city council endorsement is a necessary step," he said.
Last year, the conservation organization succeeded in getting a wilderness designation for the Steens Mountain area in Southern Oregon.

Like many conservation debates in Oregon, the Badlands controversy revolves around land use.

Opponents fear losing a prime spot for off-road vehicles, making the Badlands less accessible. No critics turned out for Wednesday's council meeting. A wilderness designation would forbid motorized and mechanized vehicles in the area.

Conservationists say the Badlands have long been abused by off-roaders, trash-dumpers, and vandals. Protection would put a stop to that, they claim.

ONDA found unlikely allies among some ranchers with land in the Badlands, who signed on to a tentative plan to trade their acreage for BLM land nearby and retire their grazing rights.

A handful of Bend residents asked the council to adopt the resolution.

"I think the Badlands are good lands," Peter Geiser said, calling the area an underappreciated local resource.