Two forks and several tributary creeks of the Breitenbush River flow off the slopes of Mt. Jefferson through a wilderness and then through a scenic gorge. The US Forest Service has found these rivers eligible for Wild & Scenic status, which is why the Friends of Douglas-Fir National Monument nominated the streams for inclusion in Senator Wyden and Merkley’s River Democracy Act of 2021.

The Lionshead fire has impacted the Breitenbush area. The degree of impact is not yet clear.

Fire is a natural part of the Cascades ecosystem. Even if some of the forests along the Breitenbush have been altered, with some trees changed from live to damaged or dead, the Breitnbush will retain its wild and scenic character. There is still life in a dead tree [insects, birds, etc.]. Protection will preserve the outstanding values of the Breitenbush streams, including the class IV rapids, and will provide a demonstration of how forests cope with and change due to a fire.