A Hells Canyon Retrospective: Fifty Years of Collaboration and Compromise
On Wednesday, April 16th, The Andrus Center for Public Policy at Boise State University and the James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research at the University of Idaho will convene a conference to commemorate and reflect upon the 50th anniversary of the legislation that created the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area (NRA).
President Gerald Ford signed the Act to establish Hells Canyon NRA on Dec. 31, 1975. Over the last fifty years, the NRA has provided a model for managing a range of beneficial uses and demonstrated collaborative approaches to resolving disputes. The law preserved 277,940 acres of land as Wilderness and the bill reflected the desire to keep the federal lands in multiple use.
Both Idaho Governor Cecil D. Andrus (D) and U.S. Senator James A. McClure (R-Idaho) supported the idea of an NRA, and worked to get the legislation passed. U.S. Senator Bob Packwood (R-Oregon) was the primary sponsor and first to recommend the legislation. Other supporters included U.S. Representative Orval Hansen (R-Idaho); U.S. Senators Frank Church (D-Idaho), Mark Hatfield (R-Oregon), and Bob Packwood (R-Oregon); and Governors Cecil Andrus (D-Idaho) and Len Jordan (R-Idaho), Tom McCall (R-Oregon) and Robert Straub (D-Oregon), and Dan Evans (R-Washington).
The April 16th conference will explore the creation, management, and future of the Hells Canyon NRA and lessons learned about collaboration, compromise, and multiple use on public lands. Conference speakers will represent Federal and Tribal voices, local communities, and business leaders.
Ticket Pricing
Registration Deadline (updated): Friday, April 4, 2025.
| Wednesday | April 16, 2025 |
|---|---|
| 9:00 am | Registration and Coffee Social Hour |
| 9:30 am | Welcome Remarks |
| 9:45 am | Opening: A Trip Down the River |
| 10:15 am | Panel 1: Getting to a National Recreation Area |
| 11:15 am | Break |
| 11:30 am | Panel 2: Coordination and Collaboration for Multiple Use in the National Recreation Area |
| 12:30 pm | Lunch and showcase |
| 1:30 pm | Panel 3: Future Pressures and Issues facing the National Recreation Area |
| 3:00 pm | Closing Remarks |
Join the McClure Center for Public Policy Research, Andrus Center for Public Policy, and Idaho Public Television’s Outdoor Idaho the night before the conference for a showcase of short films that commemorate 50 years of the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area at the Egyptian Theatre! Doors open at 5:00 PM, films start at 6:00 PM on April 15th.
Get your Free tickets now!
Become a Sponsor! Email danielledevoe@boisestate.edu to learn more.