Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 26, 2016)
Saturday, March 26, 2016 Quick takes Tribal member killed Knowing this young man was taken from his wife, children and family was enough. It seems people forget: Crimes on the reservation get you federal charges! — Abby Farrow- Stapleman County health department targets smoking Oh come on! People who smoke are going to smoke because they want to! They don’t do it because they see an ad, or because of where the cigarettes are located in the store. What a stupid waste of energy. — Lezlee Weller Gunsolley If tobacco advertisements are so innoc- uous with little to no effect on the general public, why does the tobacco industry invest hundreds of millions of dollars on it? — Chad Elliot DeFalco It’s really very easy. You don’t like it — don’t do it. Whatever it applies to. There are drunk driving accidents because people are irresponsible. Accountability goes a long ways. — Kori Allen-Schmaltz Marijuana taxes roll in Better to have the money go to the state than the cartels! — Malvin Jamison Good! Put it towards our children’s education: music and art programs, teach- er’s salaries. — Jamaica Brooks One of the great lessons of the Twitter age is that much can be summed up in just a few words. Here are some of this week’s takes. Tweet yours @Tim_Trainor or email editor@eastoregonian. com, and keep them to 140 characters. East Oregonian Page 5A VIEWPOINTS Blue Mountain forest plan will consider new alternatives W e are writing to share an restoration and has been informed update on the revision by formal public comments, of the Blue Mountains re-engagement input and revised Forest Plans, which will guide the recommendations by Forest Service management of approximately resource specialists. 5 million acres of the Malheur, • The second alternative will build Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman XSRQWKH¿UVW7KLV national forests. To begin, we want alternative would to acknowledge those who have Steven considerably been involved in this forest plan Beverlin increase the revision process. We have been pace of forest Comment encouraged by how much you restoration during value your public lands, and we the plan period thank you for helping to shape how (15 years) by we manage these national forests moving a larger on behalf of the American people. portion of the Over the past year, as part of forested landscape a public re-engagement effort, toward the desired we have visited with over 700 conditions — i.e., individuals in 24 public listening thinning densely Genevieve forested stands, sessions held in communities Masters UHGXFLQJ¿UH across eastern Oregon, eastern Comment Washington and western Idaho. severity and decreasing the risks Although we have heard posed by insects and diseases. differences of opinion about how We will provide public updates to best manage these spectacular with new information as we develop landscapes and ecosystems of these additional alternatives and the Blue Mountains, most agree continue with the analysis of other that these national forests should alternatives within the EIS. While continue to be managed for the we seek to be responsive to all of PDQ\XVHVDQGEHQH¿WVWKH\ our diverse public, any alternative provide, both now and into the we consider must be analyzed future. Thomas for compliance with federal laws, We found the input shared Montoya regulations and policies governing during the public re-engagement national forest management. Also Comment process to be very helpful, and we keep in mind that the forest plan are using this input in a variety revision is still a work in progress, of ways. For example, the public listening DQGWKHGHFLGLQJRI¿FHUWKHUHJLRQDO sessions have brought additional context to IRUHVWHUKDVQRWPDGHDQ\¿QDOGHFLVLRQV the 2014 formal comments and have given What are the next steps? us a better understanding of how different 7KH¿QDOSURGXFWRIWKLVIRUHVWSODQ alternatives may affect our diverse public. revision process will include three separate In response, we are currently crafting forest plans — one for each of the Malheur, two new alternatives, which we will analyze Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman national in detail in the environmental impact forests. Before these forest plans can be statement: ¿QDOL]HGZHZLOOFRQVXOWZLWKIHGHUDO 7KH¿UVWDOWHUQDWLYHZLOOHPSKDVL]H agencies on the Endangered Species Act and We are currently crafting two new alternatives, which we will analyze in detail in the environmental impact statement. All the good that trees can do By DAVID C. POWELL Pendleton Tree Commission I n summer, if you stand on a typical Pendleton street and look around, what do you see? Homes, sidewalks, perhaps grassy lawns or landscaped rock areas and some trees. When viewed from a street or sidewalk, the trees may not seem especially plentiful. But what if you went to the top of south hill and looked across to north hill, with Pendleton nestled in the valley below? From this high vantage point, trees seem much more abundant You are now looking at Pendleton’s urban forest. :KDWDUHVRPHEHQH¿WVIURP Pendleton’s urban forest? Trees increase property value and add beauty to our urban environment, but they also provide some advantages that might surprise you: • Trees reduce cooling and heating costs. When placed properly on the south or west side of a home, shade trees can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 40 percent. For this reason, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District provides up to 10 free trees to each homeowner to reduce air conditioning demand. Planting a windbreak of conifer trees can reduce wintertime heating costs by blocking prevailing winds from the west. • Shaded streets are happy streets. A study addressed this question: Is pavement condition on tree-shaded streets better than on unshaded streets, all else being equal? The answer is a resounding yes — more shade means more time between repaving. And large amounts of shade aren’t necessary — having only 20 percent of a road surface shaded results in 60 percent savings in resurfacing costs over 30 years. During high summer temperatures, unshaded pavement binder breaks down or evaporates. 7UHHVLQÀXHQFHSHRSOH¶V emotional wellbeing. Viewing trees and nature, even if just from a ZLQGRZKDVDEHQH¿FLDOHIIHFWRQ job satisfaction. Many studies found that hospital patients with window YLHZVRIWUHHVUHFRYHUVLJQL¿FDQWO\ faster and with fewer complications than patients without such views. And medical patients viewing trees and forests, even if only in pictures or artwork, feel less stress and have lower blood pressure. In June 2015, Mayor Houk appointed six members to Pendleton’s new tree commission, a group of citizen volunteers charged with guiding a community tree management program. A tree commission was authorized by city council. The tree commission works with public trees within the city of Pendleton, primarily those located in Olney Cemetery and city parks. How will the tree commission assist with Pendleton’s urban forest? Here are a few of the ways: • Tree City USA. The commission will pursue Tree City USA status for Pendleton. Tree City USA communities have demonstrated a commitment to caring for and managing their public trees. Nearly 60 Oregon communities participate in this program (Echo has been a Tree City for more than 25 years.) • Utilize urban trees after they die. After an urban tree dies, it FDQVWLOOSURYLGHEHQH¿WV7KH commission helps the city work with the Umatilla tribes to use dead trees for river restoration projects (such as Meacham Creek) or to have the wood used in other helpful ways. • Respond to a severe November 2014 freeze event. Pendleton experienced a severe freeze event in early November 2014, when many trees were killed or injured. The commission explores options for helping citizens replace and dispose of their dead trees. • Maintain an inventory of Pendleton’s public trees. Pendleton has more than 2,100 public trees in 38 sites across the city. The commission helps the city keep an inventory of these trees, including ongoing assessments of their condition and health. • Assist with tree maintenance activities. The city’s trees have the same needs as your trees — they need to be trimmed (pruned) correctly, and protected from lawnmower, string-trimmer and deer-rubbing damage. The commission will help meet these needs for city trees. • Maintain a list of recommended trees. The city maintains lists of acceptable and prohibited street trees; the commission helps continue our government-to-government consultation with appropriate American Indian tribes. We will also continue to address questions and concerns from all of you who continue to be interested in Blue Mountains forest plans. :KHQWKH¿QDO EIS, three revised forest plans, and three draft records of decision are ready, these documents will be available for public review for 60 days during the objection period. Individuals and entities that submitted substantive formal comments during the opportunities for public FRPPHQWPD\¿OHDQ objection if they do not feel their issues were satisfactorily addressed. Once the objection process is ¿QLVKHGWKHUHJLRQDOIRUHVWHUZLOOVLJQHDFK forest’s record of decision. In closing, we would like to express our appreciation for your involvement in the stewardship of your national forests. We are committed to using the information you have provided to shape the revised forest plans. Over the coming months, we will strive to keep the lines of communication open through the sharing of information via email, mail, phone and the web. Please refer to www.fs.usda. gov/goto/BlueMountainsPlanRevision for the most up-to-date information, and if you have any questions, please email bluemtnplanrevision@fs.fed.us. Ŷ Steven K. Beverlin is forest supervisor of the Malheur National Forest, Genevieve Masters is forest supervisor of the Umatilla National Forest and Thomas Montoya is the forest supervisor of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Free tree giveaway When: Sat. April 9, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Roy Raley Park What: 700 free tree and shrub seedlings handed out on first-come first-serve basis, as well as planting and pruning demonstrations. maintain these lists. If the November 2014 freeze killed one or more of your trees, you could consult the acceptable tree list when selecting a replacement tree. • Encourage civic groups to plant urban trees. Local civic groups (Lions Club, etc.) are often interested in planting urban trees or purchasing trees for city crews to plant in parks. The commission works with these groups to encourage urban tree planting. What can you do to support your share of Pendleton’s urban forest? Here are a few ideas: • Appreciate and care for your trees. Trees are a valued part of your landscape. Treat them well — trim them correctly (please don’t top them) and protect them from lawnmower, deer and string-trimmer damage. • Keep your trees hydrated and nourished. As your trees grow, be sure they receive enough water and fertilizer to keep pace with their increasing size. Big trees need more goodies (water, nutrients) than small trees. Mulch around the base of your trees to conserve water you provide for them. • Participate in Pendleton’s Arbor Day celebration. Arbor Day is America’s national tree holiday, when we honor the important role trees play in our lives. Oregon appreciates trees so much that we celebrate a full Arbor Week — the ¿UVWZHHNLQ$SULO The Umatilla National Forest partners with Pendleton’s Parks & Recreation Department to provide an Arbor Day celebration each year. Ŷ Dave Powell is a member of Pendleton’s Tree Commission. Other tree commissioners are Chris Johnson, Alan Kendrick, Andy Lisinger, Richard Prowse, and Jon Staldine. Let’s end our belief in Western fairy tales By REP. RAÚL M. GRIJALVA Writers on the Range L ast month, a federal court indicted the armed extremists who took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon on multiple counts of felony conspiracy, making threats and other serious charges. The property damage they caused, which is still being assessed, will likely be charged to the American taxpayers on whose behalf they claimed to be acting. While they and their patron, Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, now face the prospect of years behind bars, their ideology still enjoys considerable support in Washington and shows no signs of going away. The same ¿JXUHVZKRKDLOHGWKHPLOLWLD as patriots and defenders of the Constitution are advancing plans to transfer enormous tracts of federal land to state and local control, which all too often is a step away from selling them off to the highest bidder. It’s easy to forget now, but when the Oregon standoff was at its peak, few Beltway Republicans offered a word of protest. All too often, we heard that a band of confused, gun-brandishing fanatics had legitimate grievances and good reason to invade a national wildlife refuge. One of my colleagues, Idaho Republican Rep. Raúl Labrador, a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, even suggested they were engaged in a “peaceful” act of “civil disobedience.” On Jan. 6, to restore some balance to the conversation, I offered a resolution of disapproval, calling on the militia to leave the refuge peacefully and surrender to ORFDORI¿FLDOV0\FROOHDJXHV across the aisle ignored it, and no one cosponsored it. Instead, the Federal Land Action Group, a coalition headed by two House Republicans, is continuing to conduct roundtables calling for the same kinds of federal property giveaways the Bundy group described as its main goal. These efforts are not supported by the Constitution. Unfortunately, given the economic dislocation happening across the West, many Americans see federal land transfers as a chance to return to the good old days: free land, plentiful resources and a blank check to treat the Earth like a bottomless gold mine. The people selling this fantasy know better, and they need to level with the people they represent before the Malheur standoff is repeated. That begins with telling the truth about the West. Because of episodes as diverse as the Louisiana Purchase and the federal government’s shameful genocide against Native American tribes, Uncle Sam once owned most of our country’s property — not because of any theft from state RUORFDORI¿FLDOVEXWEHFDXVHRI the often messy ways in which we became a nation. Until we tell the truth about the West — how it came to be, and what it was, what it is now, and what it can become in the future — we can’t have a real discussion about job training, clean energy expansion and other forms of government reinvestment that will improve the quality of life in these areas. Better federal, state and local government policies will ensure that Western communities have time to plan for the future and that working people can continue to earn a good living. An imaginary version of the past is a sad indulgence and fails to help any of us. Ŷ Arizona Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva is a contributor to Writers on the Range, an opinion service of High Country News.
