10 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015
Local
Owyhee Monument
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 1
Bentz also introduced the
panel who were from left
to right: Cecil Dick, Paiute
Nation; Scott Meyers,
Grant County Judge; Ken
Kestner, Lake County
Commissioner; Chris Per-
ry, Wheeler County Judge;
Mike McCabe, Crook
County Judge; Steve
Grasty, Harney County
Judge; Ted Fiorelli, State
Senator; Cliff Bentz, State
Representative; Greg Bar-
reto, State Representative;
Dan Joyce, Malheur
County Judge; Larry Wil-
son, Malheur County
Commissioner; Don
Hodge, Malheur County
Commissioner; Don Gon-
zalez, Vale District BLM
Manager; Bill Harvey,
Baker County Commis-
sioner; Brian Wolfe, Mal-
heur County Sheriff; and
Mark Bennett, Baker
County Commissioner.
Congressman Greg
Walden was unable to at-
tend, but sent a statement
saying in essence that more
regulations are unneeded
and the people should be
heard and their wishes
heeded.
U.S. Senators from Or-
egon, Ron Wyden and Jeff
Merkley, were also unable
to attend but sent a joint
statement concluding with,
“We are confident there is
a solution that ensures the
long-term protection of
this unique landscape and
local needs and values, but
the only way to make sure
local needs and values are
well represented is through
your engagement and
input.”
Bentz then introduced
Fenty to give all present
an overview the proposal
being made to present to
President Obama.
He said that the Owyhee
Canyonlands Coalition is
a group of Oregon citizens
and other organizations
that want to see that the
Owyhee Canyonlands are
preserved for future gen-
erations and enjoyed by all
Americans for not just one
lifetime but in perpetuity.
He spelled out the
important points of the
proposal that state grazing
would continue and that
the legislation would actu-
ally “grandfather in” graz-
ing and could add facility
maintenance and forms of
access not currently avail-
able.
Current mining claims
within the 2.5 million acre
proposed monument area
would also be “grandfa-
thered” while “protecting”
the area from any detri-
mental future mining, oil
and gas development.
He stated that the exist-
ing legal roads and routes
to both popular and remote
areas in the Owyhee will
remain open, at which
point there was a loud
groan of disbelief from the
crowd.
Fenty said that he be-
lieves that this proposal
will bring an economic
boom to the area through
increased tourism for hunt-
ing, fishing, camping and
water recreation. It would
also preserve critical wild-
life and conserve existing
water developments and
bring an increase in resto-
ration projects.
Afterward, Bentz asked
for audience input alter-
nating between pro and
con opinions, each person
being allowed two minutes
to speak their view.
Of the approximately
30 people who voiced
their opinions, the “pro”
category reasons included
protection of the land,
increased recreational op-
portunities, protection of
fish and wildlife, and belief
it will create jobs and bring
economic stimulus.
The con side reasons are
citizens don’t feel they
need government help to
protect the land and have
been doing themselves
for generations, other
monuments have been in
constant litigation since
being formed, and belief
that it will result in job
loss as well as no trust in
the government to keep its
promises.
Bob Skinner of the
Public Lands Council
spoke against the proposal
saying, “It is not in the best
interest of locals. I believe
the people behind it are
anti-grazing. Read the fine
print.”
Larry Price, a resident
of Adrian said, “We don’t
want the changes it will
bring to this town.”
Greg Jones, a fourth-
generation Owyhee County
resident, said, “We don’t
want to be like Jackson
Hole or Vail. We can take
care of our own.”
Labron Hardy of Bend,
Oregon was for the pro-
posal saying, “We need to
preserve this area for the
future. This will keep out
the destruction from oil
drilling and large mines.”
Bob Reese of Tillamook
has been a hunting and
fishing guide for 20 years
and believes, “We need to
protect the fish and wildlife
habitat for the future.”
Kirk Richardson of
Portland was also for the
proposal saying, “Outdoor
recreation of all kinds
brings an economic boost
to the entire area.”
Some questions arose
from the many locals in the
crowd as to who was foot-
ing the bill for the travel
expenses of those in favor
of the monument, who
were primarily from the
western side of the state.
After the public state-
ment portion of the
meeting, the panel mem-
bers were each given two
minutes to speak their
opinions.
Commissioner Mark
Bennett commented,
“We must look out for
the people and their way
of life. Actions must be
decided by the people of
the land.”
Commissioner Bill
Harvey remarked, “If they
want to preserve the land
they should find a way to
help us do it not take it
over from us.”
Judge Mike McCabe
added some humor to the
situation by saying, “Tell
them to take the Deschutes
instead and leave us alone”
Cecil Dick of the Paiute
Nation was eloquent when
he gave his opinion saying,
“Be cautious! It is the Indi-
ans’ experience that treaty
from Washington D.C.
never tell truth. Leader-
ship changes means truth
changes.”
Senator Ferrioli agreed
with Cecil Dick saying,
“Listen to the Indians—
they know. Trust is a big
issue. People who care
should work together
to care for the land they
love.”
Ted Ferrioli’s main ques-
tion was: “We need to be
concerned about why they
(The Owyhee Coalition)
aren’t engaging the local
people through a Congres-
sional vote rather than
going to the President.”
Bentz closed the meet-
ing by thanking all those
who helped put it together
and those who came to
learn and give their
opinions. He also prom-
ised there would be more
meetings and discussions
to come.
The Malheur County
Court is standing firm
behind its resolution (pic-
tured in full to the right) to
oppose the monument.
In addition, on Septem-
ber 18, the Oregon Natural
Desert Association in
Bend responded to that
resolution with a number
of documents, stating in
part, “Our proposal seeks
to protect 2.5 million acres
of public land in Malheur
County via a combination
of National Conservation
Area (NCA), Wilderness,
and Wild & Scenic River
designations which would
need to be enacted through
federal legislation ... The
Malheur County resolu-
tion mischaracterizes the
Owyhee Canyonlands
Conservation Proposal
as a National Monument
proposal, misstates acre-
ages associated with the
proposal and is factually
incorrect and/or highly
speculative in many of its
assertions.”
Following the meeting,
Baker County Commis-
sioners Mark Bennett and
Bill Harvey responded
with their take on the
monument and meeting.
Harvey said, “We went in
solidarity and support with
Malheur County, which in
my point of view is being
attacked by the conserva-
tion movement. They’re
trying to take so much land
in that county that it dev-
astates their economy. And
that’s not all they’re taking.
BLM just followed through
and took 1.9 million acres
from Malheur, Harney
and Lake Counties across
the bottom of the state.
Combined, two-thirds of
Malheur county is being
locked up. This is the larg-
est land grab I’ve seen in a
single county.”
Harvey also cautioned
against assurances that
grazing and pasture will be
protected. “Current means
only what’s allowed now
and nothing more in the
future. So you want to be
careful and listen to every
word,” he said.
Harvey pointed out that
most of the environmen-
tal visitors came from
west side of the state,
charged up their cars in
Bend, bought gas in bend,
brought their camping sup-
plies with them and stayed
nowhere near hotels or
restaurants. “They spend
two weeks on vacation and
go home. They’ve done
nothing for the economy
here.”
Harvey added, “It’s pris-
tine because families who
live there have protected it
for 150 years. There’s no
need for more protection.”
“If they can do it there,
they can do it here in Baker
County. There’s nothing
to stop them from trying,”
Harvey said.
Bennett said, “We
must protect the working
landscape—which is the
people. They kept using
the term ‘landscape’ and
no decision should be
made without engaging
the people who preserve
that landscape. There’s no
threat documented against
that landscape. This, to me,
is just a sham for a big land
grab.”
Submitted Photos.
Above is the full resolution drafted by Malheur County in opposition to the
proposed monument.