New Polling Confirms Strong Majority Support for an Owyhee Canyonlands National Monument

Ontario, OR — A new Expedition Strategies poll for the Oregon League of Conservation Voters (OLCV) shows Oregonians across the state support President Biden protecting Oregon’s Owyhee Canyonlands as a national monument. After learning about the national monument proposal’s goals of protecting wildlife habitat, recreation, and other community values, 73% of respondents support monument designation by President Biden.

These results come nearly five years after Senators Wyden and Merkley first introduced legislation to protect the Owyhee. Despite sustained efforts by the Senators, Congressional gridlock continues to stall their most recent proposal even as a majority of Oregonians support protections. Moreover, the poll reveals that Oregonians view protecting wildlife (92%), ensuring access to public lands for sporting and recreation (83%), and protecting natural lands from industrial development (81%) as important priorities for their elected leaders.

Even in an age of intense partisanship, the 73% who support presidential action cut across party lines: while support is strongest among registered Democrats (95%) and Independents (76%), 40% of Republicans support monument designation. Moreover, 58% of voters in eastern Oregon support President Biden taking action to protect the Owyhee as a national monument, demonstrating that support for protection spans partisan and regional differences.

“Most Oregonians clearly support protecting public lands, and the Owyhee Canyonlands in particular,” said Pete Brodnitz of Expedition Strategies. “The strong support for protecting the Owyhee Canyonlands, despite Oregon’s partisan divisions, shows the resilience of this issue,” continued Brodnitz.

As the Senators’ legislation stagnates, threats to the Owyhee continue to grow. The Owyhee remains a popular destination for recreation, but lack of investment and resources to properly manage the influx of visitors threatens the land and wildlife; southeastern Oregon, home to the Owyhee, is one of the fastest-warming areas of the state, a cause for alarm for the wildlife, waters, lands, and communities that comprise this area; and industrial development looms.

Understanding the urgency and importance of securing protection for the Owyhee, two-thirds of voters (65%) say they would have a more favorable view of Senators Wyden and Merkley if they supported a national monument designation for the Owyhee Canyonlands, including a 52% majority in eastern Oregon.

“These numbers make it clear that Senators Wyden and Merkley have the overwhelming support of Oregonians to call on President Biden to protect the Owyhee,” said Lindsey Scholten, Executive Director of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, which sponsored the poll. “Oregonians want to see the Owyhee protected and recognize that there is no time to lose,” continued Scholten.

Encouraged by these latest results, the Protect the Owyhee Canyonlands campaign is renewing its call for Senators Wyden and Merkley to work with President Biden to establish an Owyhee Canyonlands National Monument, using their legislative proposal as the blueprint.

“These poll results confirm this is an urgent, priority issue,” said Ryan Houston, Executive Director of the Oregon Natural Desert Association and a founding member of the Protect the Owyhee Canyonlands campaign. “As we’ve said and will continue to say: permanent protection of the Owyhee has strong and broad support, and a national monument is the only path forward if Congress refuses to act,” continued Houston.

Expedition Strategies conducted 800 total interviews in Oregon with a sample of likely 2024 general election voters and an oversample of voters in Eastern Oregon. The interviews were conducted April 11-16, 2024. The margin of error for overall results is ±3.46% and higher among subgroups.

View the results for more information and visit ProtectTheOwyhee.org to learn more about the campaign’s efforts.