Written by Bill
Rautenstrauch, The Observer
LaGrande,
OR
Wallowa-Whitman
National Forest
officials took some heat as they appeared before the Union County Board of
Commissioners on Wednesday to defend the new travel management plan slated to
take effect this summer.
With Forest Supervisor Monica Schwalbach at his side, La
Grande District Ranger Bill Gamble told the board that the plan strives to find
a balance between a "diversity of motorized and non-motorized opportunities
while meeting our (Forest Service) public land stewardship
responsibilities."
But none of the three county commissioners were impressed.
They said the plan is bad for Union County's
economy and its way of life and vowed that they won't take the decision lying
down.
"We agree that we will appeal this and we look forward to
the opportunity to appeal this," said Board Chairman Bill Rosholt. A
standing-room-only crowd looking on cheered.
The way Gamble put it, the plan designates 3,065 miles of
motorized routes and, in combination with past decisions, results in about
4,300 miles of open motorized roads and trails in the forest.
In his remarks, Gamble did not mention that the plan also
closes some 3,800 miles of roads.
Gamble said changes in motorized technology the past 20
years have contributed to an increase in unmanaged motorized use on national
forests.
In 2005, the federal government's Travel Management Rule was
developed to establish consistency about where and when motorized use is
permissible and to resolve user and resource issue conflicts.
The local plan has been controversial from the beginning.
Environmentalists want more road closures, saying there's a
need to improve fish and game habitat and increase roadless recreational
opportunities.
Other groups and individuals say the road closures would
have an adverse impact on the timber-based economy and unfairly restrict a
host of traditional recreational activities, including camping, hiking,
berry-picking, woodcutting, all-terrain vehicle riding and more.
The county board of commissioners lines up with the latter
view.
"For decades we've been able to enjoy the outdoors. Those
opportunities continue to dwindle and that's going to tear at the social fabric
of Union County," County Commissioner Mark
Davidson told Gamble and Schwalbach.
Commissioner Steve McClure added a similar comment.
"The forest provided an economic engine for our county and
that no longer happens. It's a huge issue and we really need to do more
investigation," McClure said.
Gamble said the Travel Management Rule required national
forests to designate a system of roads, trails and areas compatible with
multiple use values and legal requirements.
He said the Wallowa-Whitman began work on its plan in 2007,
gathering input from the public, local governments and agencies and local
tribes.
But several times during the meeting, people said they
thought the Forest Service was unresponsive to local wishes during the process.
Those included Davidson, who said none of Union County's
requests were included in the plan's final Record of Decision issued March 15.
For one thing, Davidson said the county had asked that the
Forest Service adopt so-called Alternative 3, which would have left existing
conditions in place.
Davidson also said Union County
and a number of citizen groups pooled resources to do an inventory of Forest
Service roads in the county to determine how much motorized access was actually
available, because many roads considered open are effectively closed because
they are overgrown or too poorly maintained for use.
Davidson said the board doesn't think the inventory was
taken into account as the plan was developed.
"Our position was we didn't believe you had an accurate
picture of roads that were open in the forest. We believe first and foremost you
need to know what is truly open before you decide what should be closed,"
Davidson told Gamble.
About 30 citizens attended the meeting, with several
offering comment against the plan and none testifying in favor.
Franklin Meeks, who works in the local recreational vehicle
industry, said he sees the plan as harmful to an already shaky economy, and to
the environment
"The Forest Service has come up with another plan that's a
job killer," he said, adding, "I'm sure there will be more fires in the future
because we can't access the wood."
Nick Conklin said the plan will cut off a source of his
income because he will no longer be able to access his mining claim.
Chris Marcum said the campsite his family has been using for
50 years will no longer be available and Brandy Larison complained that her
options for affordable family activities are shrinking.
"We can't afford to take the kids to water parks and stuff
like that," Larison said. "We spend a lot of time in the mountains. This would
have a great impact on our lifestyle, our spending time with the kids."
Groups and individuals with standing on the issue-those who
have offered input previously-have 45 days from the date of the issue of the
Record of Decision to appeal for additional remedy.
Gamble said appeals will be evaluated locally and solutions
sought. If the appeals can't be resolved at the local level, they could be
passed on to the Forest Service's regional office.
Wallowa
County has already
announced its intention to appeal. Davidson said he urges all plan opponents to
continue the fight.
"We need everyone with standing to join in," he said.
Schwalbach said Forest
officials look forward to more dialogue.
"We're interested in meeting with groups and talking about
specifics and answering questions," she said.
