The story of Frank and Jeanne Moore has gained deserved attention in the past few years- from Frank’s service on the beaches of Normandy during WWII to his enduring love for both his wife and the North Umpqua River, to Jeanne’s stewardship as a botanist in the Umpqua basin. If you’re lucky enough to have fished the North Umpqua, you’ve probably had coffee and pie or Grandma’s Bread at the Steamboat Inn, which the couple purchased back in 1957. And if you’re truly blessed, you may have encountered one of the legendary Steelhead that return to the North Umpqua in both summer and winter runs which have captivated anglers’ hearts and minds for over a hundred years.
You may not have heard of the effort to permanently protect 50 miles and nearly 100,000 acres in the Steamboat Creek watershed from future mining and logging interest through creation of the Frank and Jeanne Moore Wild Steelhead Special Management Area. Introduced by Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Representative Peter DeFazio, the bill is lacking a Republican co-sponsor in the house, where it would need to be heard by Representative Rob Bishop’s House Energy and Natural Resources Committee. TU and our partners including Wild Salmon Center, Pacific Rivers, and Pew Charitable Trust are working to move the bill forward. TU recently submitted a letter to Oregon Representative Greg Walden, signed by over 200 local armed services veterans, asking the Congressmen to take up the fight for Steamboat Creek and co-sponsor legislation in the House.
Last week was Frank’s 95th birthday (January 30th), and earlier this month Frank and Jeanne celebrated 75 years of marriage. We owe it to them both, along with the countless veterans who have found respite from their service through fly fishing, to memorialize Steamboat Creek to help ensure future generations of veterans and stewards can enjoy this special place.
