Spilyay tymoo., July 01, 1983, Page 3, Image 3

July 1,1983 Page 3
Spilyay T y moo
Everyone cares about wildlife Snags to be removed
for road safety
Homes are often hard to
find, especially for forest
creatures, many of which use
old snags for housing.
Many birds, insects and
m am m als use dead and
decaying trees as a place to
make nests, seek and store food
and make winter homes.
Snag management for the
sake of building up populations
of wildlife is becoming a subject
of concern among foresters.
Combining conservation and
com m ercial logging in a
c o o p e ra tiv e p ro g ra m fo r
wildlife preservation takes the
effort of all involved.
It has been discovered that
th e r e e x i s t s a d i r e c t
re la tio n sh ip betw een the
number of snags and the
num ber of snag-dependent
wildlife in the forest. Without
snags, some species of wildlife
cannot be supported.
A snag is a standing dead tree
from which the leaves and most
of the limbs have fallen. At
various stages of decay the
snag provides homes for
different forest creatures.
Different species of birds, for
example, seek out particular
sizes of snags at certain points
of decay to dig out cavities for
homes. Wookpeckers are the
prim ary excavators. Other
birds follow using the already
hollowed, abandoned wood­
peckers home for their own
nesting site or winter home.
Still other species use the snag
for perching or feeding.
A recent fatal accident
involving two vehicles and a
blown-down tree on the
reservation prompted the tribal
timber committee to issue a
special permit to the Oregon
State Highway Department
which allows the road crew to
remove “high hazard trees”
near Highway 26. The trees will
be removed primarily between
mileposts 75 and 83.
Following the accident and
fu rth er investigation, the
forestry department recognized
the fact that there are several
high snags along side Highway
26. According to assistant
forest manager Bob Bolton, the
expense of removal under a
special p erm it to trib a l
members or through a timber
sale is impractical because of
costs, traffic control and other
safety factors. Bolton said it’s
not practical to remove all
hazard trees, the risks will be
lowered by removing most of
the most hazardous trees.
Bolton said that approxi­
mately 15 cord of mixed species
of wood will be removed. The
wood will be distributed
e q u a lly b e tw e e n t r i b a l
members and the Bear Springs
ranger station. Tribal members
must obtain a permit from the
forestry department before
they can pick up any wood. The
cut trees will be at the rock pit
near milepost 78.
Bolton stated that the permit
issu e d to th e h ig h w ay
department may be 'renewed
next year depending on the
effectiveness of this year’s
program.
Fire danger increases
The Northwest has more
th a n am ple m oistu re to
produce an exceptional grass
crop. This will provide an
abundance of fire fuels as
curing progresses. A late fire
season is expected over most of
the west, especially in the
higher elevations, where snow
packs are generally above
normal and extensive drying
would be necessary before any
problem fires could occur.
Problem fires could occur,
through green-up, because of
SpUytty Tymoo photo by Shcwczvk
abundant carry-over fuels.
At the same time, insects Forester Mark Hammond attached wildlife plaque to a snag in an
This year’s fire season is
burrow in the snag beneath the effort to preserve homes for forest wildlife.
expected to be severe with the
bark and small mammals make
homes inside the snag.
Forest practices in Warm the large ones which will satisfy
Snag-dependent birds are Springs forests incorporate the needs of many species of
also insect feeders. Many management of the snags for birds, insects and mammals.
diseases of trees caused by wildlife protection. Through
Snags which have a high
insects are kept at an endemic the use of wildlife tags, trees are resin content are not left
level because these snag­ being preserved to increase standing as they present a
P u b lic land m anaging
dwelling birds feed on them wildlife in the forests. This safety and fire hazard.
agencies- in O regon and
and keep the population in practice is based on the premise
Loggers and woodcutters are Washington have again joined
control.
that snags are an important and asked to leave these marked in an annual “Fire Awareness
The most desirable snag necessary functional com ­ trees in the effort to increase Time” campaign to prevent
species for snag-dependent ponent of. a healthy, stable wildlife populations for the destructive forest and range
animals are Ponderosa Pine,
forest environment.
future and to preserve the wildfires.
Douglas Fir and Western
Warm summer weather will
Not all snags are being in te g r ity o f th e f o r e s t
Larch, many of which make up
tagged. It is recommended that e c o sy ste m a n d b e c a u se soon attract Pacific Northwest
the forests of the Warm one snag per acre be left. The everyone cares about wildlife.
residents and visitors to forests,
Springs reservation.
rangelands, rural areas and
ones that are being tagged are
back yards, prompting the
federal and state agencies
which protect those lands from
fire to call attention to the
dangers. The campaign opens
on July 2.
In his message he focused on, conference and all supported
Warren “Rudy” Clements,
The agencies work with local
addressed the Governors’ who “ T h e u n iq u e w o r k in g G overnor and M rs. Ted fire prevention cooperatives to
were in attendance at the 1983,, relationship the Confederated Schwinden and the State of alert the public to the increased
W estern G overnors’ con­ Tribes have with the State,” Montana, hosts for this year’s dangers.
ference which was held in which was to illustrate how conference.
In a joint statement, the
Kalispel, Montana, June 26-29. other states and tribes might
agency
chiefs said, “ The
In
support
of
Clements,
arrive at suitable solutions and
public’s help is essential to
establish methods to resolve Zane Jackson, Chairman of the prevent damaging forest and
C lem en ts, who is the their differences by working on Tribal Council, Delbert Frank, range fires. We urge all
chairman of the Commission a government to government Sr., Vice Chairman, Nelson residents and visitors to be alert
W allu latu m and D ennis
on Indian Services of the State basis.
Karnopp were in attendance at to increased fire dangers in the
of Oregon, but delivered his
summer and fall months ahead.
C le m e n ts s a id , “ T h a t the conference.
message on behalf of the Tribal
Council, through an invitation mutual understanding and
from Governor Victor Atiyeh. respect provides an atmosphere
in which we may cooperate and
coexist to our mutual benefit,
Clements remarks reflected
on the working relationship as do neighboring states. This
between the Confederated recognition is part of the long­
Tribes of Warm Springs and standing relationship between
the State of Oregon and also the Tribes and the state
Elections for two operating levy passed with 1,222 ‘yes’
in Oregon. We
the role Governor Atiyeh has government
tax levies and one school board votes and 871 ‘no’ votes.
respect
each
others’
govern­
Jefferson County School
had with Indian affairs during ments and recognize that we member were held June 28.
his term in political office, such have mutual interest in the Both levies passed and the District 509-J whs seeking
as his support on important peace and security of our board member seeking re- approval of a $3.2 million levy
legislation that includes the territory and the health, safety election won the race for the outside the tax base for
operations for 1983/84. That
protection of Indian burial and economic well-being of our board seat.
sites, return of jurisdiction to citizens.
Je ffe rso n C o unty was levy passed with 699 ‘yes’ votes
O reg o n trib e s and the
seeking a p p ro v a l of an and 561 ‘no’ votes.
Current school board Don
restoration of the Siletz Tribe
approximate $1 million levy
and also a strong supporter on
There were 12 governors in outside the tax base for Aitkens was victorious in the
Indian Education.
attendance 'a t This year’s operation for 1983/84. That rape- - fo rlh a t-.-h a a rd . .-seat;.
number of normal year fire
occurrences increasing by 30
percent. Average normal year
fire occurrence on the Warm
Springs Indian Reservation
averaged 50 fires annually.
As fire conditions become
more severe. Fire Management
Section urges residents to
smoke only in their vehicles
while in the forest. Don’t leave
cam pfires unattended and
clean around your homes
to protect from fire hazards, if
you must burn, contact local
services for burrting permits
and assistance.
Public land agencies
fire awareness time
Clements speaks to Governors
With everyone’s help we can
avoid the scourge of wildfire
this year on our region’s range
and forest land.
P a r t i c i p a t i n g in th e
campaign, along with 14 local
fire prevention cooperatives,
are the Washington Depart­
ment of Natural Resources,
O re g o n D e p a r tm e n t o f
Forestry, U.S. Forest Service,
U .S . B u re a u o f L a n d
Management, U.S. Bureau of
Indian Affairs, and the U.S.
National Park Service.
Fire Awareness Time will
extend past Labor Day, if
necessary, until outdoor fire
danger is reduced by fall rains.
The public’s help is essential
to prevent damaging forest and
range fires. So we urge all
residents and visitors of our
region to be alert to increased
fire dangers in the summer and
fall m onths ahead. W ith
everyone’s help, we can avoid
the scourge of wild fire this year
on our region’s range and forest
lands.
Elections held last T uesday
Aitkens received 627 votes.
Also vying for that position
were W anda Buslach-269
votes, Jody Calica-215 votes,
Dale Sarkkinen-99 votes and
Uren Leonard-54 votes.
L eo n ard had officially
withdrawn his name from the
ballot. Currently, Lloyd Smith,
Sr. is the only representative
from Warm Springs on the
•board: