Oregon Public Broadcasting

The federal government purchased 900 acres from a land-trust organization.  The land will be added to the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in southern Oregon. 

The Monument is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.  It's the nation’s first monument created solely for the preservation of biodiversity.

Michael Campbell is a spokesman for the BLM.  He says the monument also has some great geographic features.

Michael Campbell: “It’s a very unique geography, it’s a very unique topography.  You have some pretty interesting, outstanding features like Pilot Rock, from the top of the monument, presents an absolutely stunning view of Mt. Shasta in California.”

The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is 53,000 acres.  The U.S. Senate passed a bill this week to designate half of that as wilderness.  The House is expected to vote on that legislation soon.