Penguin Chick Hatches at Oregon Zoo as U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Monument Expansion

The Oregon Zoo has celebrated the hatching of a new Humboldt penguin chick earlier this month. This adorable addition marks the 194th chick to hatch at the zoo since the 1980s, adding to the thriving penguin population.

Supreme Court Decision Preserves Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument

The U.S. Supreme Court recently made a significant decision regarding the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. In response to two challenges to its expansion, the Court declined to reduce its acreage. This remote wilderness area along the California-Oregon border will retain its current size, safeguarding its unique ecological value.

Expansion Upheld for Ecologically Valuable Monument

The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, originally created in 2000, was expanded approximately seven years ago to encompass about 48,000 acres, bringing its total size to 114,000 acres. This area serves as a crucial juncture of the ancient Siskiyou Mountains and the younger volcanic Cascades, boasting a diverse array of flora and fauna.

Legal Battle Over Monument Expansion

Logging interests and several Oregon counties had contested the expansion, arguing that the Antiquities Act should not override federal regulation for timber harvests on the O&C Lands. This legal dispute reached the Supreme Court, which ultimately decided not to address the broader question of the president’s authority to create national monuments unilaterally.

"We’re disappointed the Supreme Court did not take this historic opportunity to provide balance to growing executive overreach on federal lands through the Antiquities Act, and legal clarity for our forests, communities and the people who steward them," stated Travis Joseph, president of the American Forest Resource Council.

Impact of the Decision

The preservation of the monument safeguards millions of board feet of timber from potential harvesting, impacting both logging companies and the communities that benefit from revenue generated by timber sales. This decision represents a significant development in the ongoing debate over the extent of executive power in designating national monuments.