U.S. Rep. Greg Walden heard from residents about fire concerns at Crooked River Ranch and other issues at a recent town hall meeting in Redmond.

Walden, R-Hood River, is a sponsor of the Crooked River Ranch Fire Protection Act, which would reduce the Whychus-Deschutes Wilderness Study Area by 832 acres. Mechanized equipment is restricted in such areas by federal protections.

The proposed law had a hearing last week before the House Committee on Natural Resources; Crooked River Ranch Fire Chief Richard Hoffman was among those who testified.

If approved, the law would thin out a portion of the wooded area, creating a buffer between the ranch and the edge of the canyon. The move is designed to allow firefighters to more easily bring in their equipment.

Federal groups, including the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service, determined in 1991 that the area, which borders the Deschutes River canyon, was not suitable to be a protected wilderness area, Walden said.

And only Congress can release areas being considered for wilderness protection.

“So there it sat ever since,” Walden told the May 14 audience at Redmond City Hall. “Our legislation would simply take that (wilderness study area) back to the rim so you could have access to fuel reduction and prevent what could be a catastrophic fire.

“We get those in this part of the world.”

The area is designated as the highest risk for fire in the community wildfire planning process, Walden said.

The bill only impacts three one-hundredths of a percent of the more than 2.6 million acres of wilderness study area in Oregon, Walden said.

Marilynne Keyser, who lives on the rim of the canyon in Crooked River Ranch, said while she is concerned about fire risk in the unincorporated area of 5,000 residents, she wanted to see a more comprehensive bill that would address numerous issues at the ranch.

The Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area, of which Keyser is president, has taken a neutral position on Walden’s bill.

The group would like to see an area near Steelhead Falls, including a trail and campground, taken out of the wilderness study area and made a national recreation area.

“Something where there is going to be protection for it, but we can keep it maintained,” she said.

The group would also like to see more protection for an area across the Deschutes River from Crooked River Ranch, Keyser said.

“My only reason to come today is not to say you’re not doing a good job, but to say there’s more to do,” she said.

Keyser said Walden plans more meetings with area stakeholders on the issues.

Some in the audience also wanted to see progress on a second vehicle exit from the ranch to Lower Bridge Road in case of an emergency. Others wanted to see Walden concentrate on fire protection.

“Let’s focus, right now, on this problem. … I say that as a concerned citizen who sees everything get mixed up when you put these focus groups together,” said Dr. Eric Wattenburg, co-owner of the Your Care clinic in Redmond.

Walden agreed the Natural Resources Committee is not likely to move a bill creating additional wilderness but would move one that could stop a fire.

The meeting, which drew more than 50 people also covered a host of other issues.

Veterans services

One disabled veteran said recent changes to the Veterans Affairs system have her waiting for five to six weeks to be reimbursed for travel to the Portland VA Medical Center, when reimbursement used to be instant.

Walden would like to see a system designed around the veteran, he said.

“I think it would make sense to make the VA the premier health care institution in the world for military-related diseases, illnesses, prosthetics, all the sort of military battlefield stuff that you need,” he said. “And then create a system that allows you to go across the street to your local hospital or get your service from your local doctor.”

Prescription painkillers

Congress is dealing with 18 bills concerning prescription opioids, drugs that Walden said are prescribed to one in three Oregonians. He said many either become addicted to painkillers — sometimes moving on to heroin — or leave their drugs around after no longer needing them. They then can be stolen or sold illegally.

The bills would expand the number of patients an individual doctor can treat for drug addiction and also give flexibility in prescribing drugs, so patients don’t have more than they need.

Campaign finance

Walden, who works to elect Republicans as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, told the audience he only spends about an hour a week on the phone with potential donors when asked about the subject by an audience member.

Walden said fundraising doesn’t necessarily make a successful campaign, pointing to the presidential bids of Jeb Bush and Bernie Sanders, who saw different results after starting with vast funding differences. The Federal Election Commission shows Walden’s campaign with more than $1.65 million in cash on hand, compared to no money raised for Republican Paul J. Romero Jr. and Democrat Jim Crary, his opponents in 2016.

Money does not influence Walden’s votes, he said.

“My view is all you should owe anybody in this business who sends you a contribution is a ‘thank you,’” Walden said.

— Reporter: 541-548-2186, gfolsom@redmondspokesman.com