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| Bob and Tucker accept RMEF Conservation Partners Award |
Hines is revered as a visionary. He brokered a partnership between the Bureau of Land Management and ODFW to create the 1,040 acre Dean Creek Wildlife Area. Located in the beautiful Oregon Coast Range east of Reedsport, the popular Roosevelt elk viewing area was once a private ranch. Today, it stretches three miles along Highway 38 and includes more than 1,000 acres of marsh, meadow and forestland. That critical habitat remains protected for elk and other wildlife to enjoy. It also brings enjoyment to more than half a million of us who travel there every year to watch elk in an up-close manner.
“Bill recognized the value of this land for both the elk and the public. He worked for many years to see this become a reality,” said Steve Denney, former ODFW southwest region manager. “The elk viewing area essentially created a refuge for elk, addressed a past damage problem, and continues to give the public an opportunity to see elk and other wildlife up close.”
Dean Creek Wildlife Area is home to a resident elk herd numbering up to 200 as well as black-tailed deer, coyotes, heron, osprey, bald eagles, waterfowl and a variety of other bird and animal life. It also provided a unique research opportunity for area universities. Hines further enhanced the elk viewing experience of all wildlife watchers by developing a low wattage radio station that visitors can listen to as they pass through.
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| A beautiful day at Dean Creek Wildlife Area |