Spilyay tymoo., November 19, 1982, Page 7, Image 7

Spilyay Tymoo
roye o novemoer ia , 1982
Protection of resource necessary for the future
by Donna Behrend
Environmental protection is
a term used loosely by many
people. It is, in fact, a term that
means just that—protection of
the whole environment, from
tim ber and pasture lands
to streams and major rivers on
the reserv atio n . H ow ever,
different agencies sometimes
perceive that protection to
mean very little, that the
environment can protect itself.
No so, says Deepak Sehgal,
tribal watermaster. Sehgal,
with former fisheries biologist
Gary Heckman developed the
Streamside Management Plan
under the direction of Tribal
Council earlier this year. Thé
plan states that the future of
w ater re so u rc e s on th e
reservation “depends upon the
development and execution of
multiple-interest management
guidelines fo r stream side
zones.”
P ro te c tio n o f stre a m s,
whether they run year around
or are dry for the majority of
th e y e a r, is e x tre m e ly
important, says the report. All
watershed on the reservation
leads to major streams and
rivers on or bordering the
reservation.
Loggers, W arm Springs
Forest Products Industries
(W S F P I ) o f f ic ia ls , BIA
foresters and others should be
made aware and educated in
the way to prevent such
m is ta k e s a n d a b u s e o f
reservaton streams and located
-in the forest, says Sehgal.
Common sense is impéra­
tive, says Sehgal. But, due to
expense and time, environmen­
tal protection is often traded
off to make logging practices
more expedient. “Time is
money” is often the motto of
those working in the woods.
“Streamside zone management
provides o p p o rtu n itie s to
com pensate fo r resources
which are partly traded off in
other portions of a drainage
due primarily to silvicultural
and range practices,” says the
plan.
To protect, preserve and
m a in ta in e n v ir o n m e n ta l
quality on the reservation, the
Streamside Management Plan
was designed with guidelines
fo r fo re st u sers. W ater
temperatures, turbidity and
sediment, woody debris, soil,
cultural resources, fish and
w ild life , r e c r e a tio n an d
livestock “affect or constitute
water quality.
And in order to control all
those aspects that effect the
water quality, all streams on or
bordering the reservation were
classified and management
guidelines were established.
The “system defines the value
of streams on the reservation as
they pertain to these primary
uses: fisheries and wildlife;
domestic water; recreation;
irrig a tio n ; re lig io u s and
cultural and livestock.”
Class I waters, such as the
Deschutes, are considered,
among other things, to be a
direct source of domestic
water, to support a recreational
fish e ry , to b e used by
anadromous fish for spawning,
rearing or migration and to
contribute major flow volumns
to an irrigation or recreation
lake or reservoir.
Class II water such as Beaver
Butte Creek are defined as
perennial or in te rm itte n t
streams that, among other
a sp e c ts, a re used by a
significant number or resident
fish for spawning, rearing or
migration, flows enough to
have a moderate influence on a
Class I stream and has a
moderate recreation, religious
or aesthetic value.
Class III streams such as
Middle Creek are considered
p erennial or in te rm itte n t
streams which do not meet
criteria for Class I or II water.
The management guidelines
which apply to Class I streams
“justify the highest level of
protection and enhancement.
Management activities will not
degrade water quality, fish or
aquatic resources below the
existing or natural level.”
On Class I streams there will
be a 100 feet or more of a buffer
s tr ip a n d b u f f e r s tr ip s
bordering Class II and III
streams will be a minimum of
60 feet and 30 feet respectively.
The objectives of these buffer
strips for Class I streams, says
th e re p o r t, w ill aid in
temperature regulation, will
help control erosion, sediment
trapping and serve as wildlife
habítate. For Class II streams,
the buffer strips will make the
soil more stable in addition to
the effects of the Class I buffer
strips. These same guidelines
apply to Class III streams as
well.
Special areas such as springs,
marshes and wetlands should
be treated as a separate class
and “will require individual
assessments at any timé a
planned activity may have an
impact,” because they are very
sensitive in nature and provide
a unique habitat for a wide
variety of wildlife.
It is pointed out in the
conclusion of the report that
the management plan deals
prim arily w ith stream side
zones. However, “it should be
pointed out .th a t off-site
m an ag em en t can have
significant effect on streamside
zone. Improper management
practices elsew here in a
drainage can negate the best
in te n tio n s of, stre a m sid e
management through contri­
buting to channel instability,
increasing sedimentation and
reducation o f water quality and
aquatic habitat.”
Environm ental protection
should be the responsibility of
all forest and range land users
and fingers, should not be
pointed at any one agency. The
protection is up to all who use
and enjoy the forests.
From the Warm Springs Extension office. . .
Inspect furnaces
Shorter days, and cooler L a b o ra to rie s (U L) listing
weather, are signs that winter is mark.
on its way. There is no better —Wash permanent filters in
time than now to winterize mild soap and water to help
your home heating system for increase furnace efficiency and
the demands put on it by cold promote safe operation.
and stormy weather.
—Clean baseboard heaters,
D e fe c tiv e o r p o o rly
warm air outlet registers, and
m a i n t a i n e d e q u i p m e n t air returns of any accumulated
deprives the homeowner of dust, and be sure that they are
needed warmth while raising not covered by rugs, drapes, or
fuel bills. More importantly, curtains.
turning on a com bustion — M a k e c e r t a i n r o o m
furnace th a t h a sn ’t been thermostats are free of dust and
serviced properly or inspected correctly set.
creates a risk of asphyxiation —Keep the furnace area clear
or fire.
of flammable materials.
Here are a few reminders:
—Never store liquids with
—Replace disposable air filters flammable vapors, such as
when dirty with replacements gasoline and paint thinners, in
that bear the Underwriters the furnace room or in garages
around furnace areas.
Even if the heating unit has
been kept in top operating
condition, a qualified service-
person should perform the
follow ing inspections and
services at the start of each
heating season:
—Inspect air blower belts, and
adjust the tension or replace
them if worn.
—Inspect for perforations,
cracks or openings in the heat
exchanger, which may permit
by products of combustion to
leak into the heated air supply.
—Inspect the flue pipe and
c o n n e c tio n s betw een the
heating unit and chimney, and
check the chimney for any
blockage or accumulation of
soot.
—Clean the circulating air
b lo w e r w h e e l a n d th e
combustion air blower wheeler
if one is provided on the
heating unit.
—Check boilers for proper
water level.
For gas-burning units, these
i n s p e c t i o n s s h o u l d be
conducted:
—Clean and adjust electrodes
and replace them if worn.
—Determine if the pilot or
pilots are burning properly,
and that the burner ignition by
the pilot is satisfactory. It is
important that the pilot flame
be steady, small or yellow flame
indicated either that the pilot
—Inspect oil pumps, lines and
fittings to assure that they are
free of oil leaks, then check the
burner flamer for the proper
pattern. Replace the nozzle if
necessary, and check the draft
regulator for proper operation.
burner is dirty, or that the
p re ssu re re g u la to r needs
adjustments. Also check to see
the main burner gas is burning
properly. Adjust the primary
air shutters if required, and test
for spillage at the draft hood. In
addition, a qualified service-
person should perform these
inspections on oil burners: