Image provided by: Oregon Historical Society; Portland, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 26, 1983)
Spilyay Tymoo AUGUST 26,1983 PAGE 3 To log or not to log by Marsha Shewczyk Sometimes there are more important things. The Fish and W ildlife Committee in Warm Springs feels that way. Upon hearing of the proposal to log these two areas a statement was issued. It reads: “We, the Fish and Wildlife Committee, have deliberated the proposed Shitike and Beaver Creek Canyon sales. We, as a Committee and as Indian people, are charged with Stewardship of wild creatures- fish-water and the habitat necessary to support these values. We feel these other resources will be damaged for the long term as a result of these proposed sales.” The Warm Springs natural resources department adds to these feelings, stating that logging of either Beaver Creek or Shitike Creek Canyon would damage fish, wildlife and water resources. For years, this spotted owl pair made their nest in the same tree. Although many of its kind have disappeared, this pair have survived. The old stands of timber surroundings their snag home provides food and protection for the pair as they rear their young. “An Environmental Impact S ta te m e n t s h o u ld be prepared before the Beaver Canyon Timber Sale is approved.” This year it’s different. Their permanent nesting site is gone. Their forest is gone. In another section of the forest a hunter searches for game where it once was abundant, a fisherman ponders the reason for the low numbers of salmon and steelhead and a child tries to visualize what the forest looked like before all the brown patches of earth shown in the green carpet of trees. A major source of income to the people of Warm Springs is the logging industry. It brings money to the community for development and it brings to individuals shared profits distributed yearly. Millions of board feet of timber harvested annually account for the wealth of Warm Springs. And a Forest Management Plan, with an annual allowable cut, ensures an income to the Tribe. The T rib e, u n d er the guidance of the Bureau of In d ia n A ffa irs F o r e s tr y Department^ determines where the cuts will be made. Approval is ultimately given by the p e o p le th r o u g h T r ib a l Council. Most commonly members see logging trucks passing by on the way to the mill but few see where the logs come from. Should logging begin in the Shitike Creek Canyon and Beaver Creek Canyon it will become more obvious to community members where the “An Environmental Impact S ta te m e n t s h o u ld be prepared before the Shitike Canyon and Shitike Butte Timber Sales are approved.” For Beaver Creek they state: h a rsh sites w ould lim it reforestation; water tempera ture may increase to cause a decrease in fish production; water flow patterns might Spilyay Tvmoo photo by Stuwcxvk change leading to greater The forest bordering Peter's Pasture is scheduled for logging in erosion; a displacement of 1984. Objections to the cutting are being voiced by community wildlife may result with a change of species composition; members interested in preserving the old stand forest. utilizing the area; and finally, “the economic return to the many tribal members as to tribes from this sale will be very logs come from. whether or not that was a wise minimal when compared to the decision. possible dam age to fish, wildlife and water resources.” “The economic return to the These are areas of old stand Tribes from the this sale timber, abundant wildlife, clear (Beaver Creek) will be very streams and cultural heritage. For the Shitike Creek minimal compared to the These are places where a drive Canyon the natural resources possible damage to fish, or walk through the woods is d e p a rtm e n t sta te s; w ater w ild life and w ater re still uninterrupted by barren quality of Shitike Creek spots and no sign of activity is downstream of sale units will sources.” noticed except a few birds be detrimentally affected; the singing and an occasional deer fisheries resource may suffer running across the road. substantial losses; the proposed Although, these areas were Sometimes a monetary value timber sales would have a long approved for logging there now cannot be put on a thing of term detrimental impact on arise questions in the minds of beauty and a place of recluse. wildlife using the canyon; the Extended fishing dates s t a t e s ’ r e g u la tio n s w ere Continued from page 1 the tribes had authority to necessary for conservation and catch more coho, Chinook jacks rebuilding of the fish runs. and steelhead. However, he Johnson contended that some added, “The fishermen still are of the tribes’ calculations were “clearly wrong.” not happy.” After making his ruling, Arnett and Timothy R. W eaver, representing the Craig observed that the parties Yakimas, argued th at, the had been unable during the states’ regulations would result past year to carry out his in a defict of approximately suggestion that they negotiate a 7,000 fish to the tribes, new fish management plan to compared to a defict of replace the five-year plan that approximately 3,300 fish under began in 1977. Wednesday he ordered the the tribe’s proposal. They contended that both states and the tribe to negotiate the states’ spawning escape a new plan with appropriate ment projection of 31,300 for adjustments and submit it to bright fall chinook and the him by November 1, or, if they tribes’ projection of a 29,700- cannot agree, to subm it fish escap em en t “ w ould invidivual proposals to him by maintain anti preserve the November 10. resource.” Jo h n so n and A ssistant O regon A ttorney G eneral This article is reprinted from Mary J. Seits argued that the the Oregonian. aesthetic and recreational values of the stream as it flow through the Warm Springs community would be greatly diminished; the temperature of Shitike creek could increase; and again, “The economic return to the Tribes from this sale will be minimal. To risk inflicting irrepairable damage to Shitike Creek and its associated resources for such a small profit is questionable.” “The economic return to the Tribes from this sale will be minimal. To risk inflicting irrep airab le damage to S h itike Creek and its associated resources for such a small profit is questionable.” The way to save this old stand forest according to Warm Spring watermaster Deepak Sehgal is to return it to conditional use. Forestry manager Bob Harnard agrees th a t a c o n d itio n a l use designation will take it out of the Forest Management Plan. Two things can happen, then. The annual allowable cut can be reduced or logging in 1984 will take place elsewhere. It is up to the tribal members what is to happen. The Forestry department merely acts as “consultants” in the matter of harvesting trees and managing the forfest explains Jim Akerson. As a final effort to protect these canyons the Natural R esources d e p a rtm e n t is asking for an Environmental Impact Statement. With these the effect of logging Shitike Creek Canyon and Beaver C re e k C a n y o n c a n be accurately estimated. Tribal members must state th e ir feelings co n cern in g management of their land, taking into consideration the future and keeping values in balance. Annual report mailed Over 2,900 copies of the Tribe’s latest annual report were mailed August 22 to tribal members and others who conduct business with the Tribes. The front cover of the eight- page report carries a full-color p h o to of M t. Je ffe rso n photo of Mt. Jefferson from Whitewater. The interior pages were printed in two-colors—a dark steel-blue and black. The report was produced entirely in-house except for printing. This was a first-time effort by the staff of Spilyay Tymoo, the Planning departm ent and a d m in is tr a tiv e s e c re ta ry M ax in e C le m e n ts, w ho coordinated all the materials far Sandra Rangila, who assisted in writing. Included in the mail-out to tribal members only was a 25- pae financial statement which in c lu d e d a le tte r fro m s e c r e ta r y /tre a s u r e r R alph M innick. M innick noted project completions such as the hydro project, Deschute Water System, tribal garage and the re m o d e lin g o f s e v e ra l community buildings. Stated Minnick, “As a whole, the year 1982 was a busy one, fullof building, complet ing and planning. It cannot be looked a t as our m ost successful year financially. However, the many areas of progress mark it as a very successful year fo r the organization.” Crash claims one A single vehicle accident claimed the life of Warm S p rin g s re sid e n t M artina Heath, age 23. The accident occurred on August 21 at approximately 4:30 p.m. on highway 8 at milepost 7.1. The vehicle identified as a pickup left the highway and landed in the Warm Springs River near Rattlesnake Springs. Three people were in the pickup at the time of the a c c id e n t. D e ta ils of the accident have not been released by the Warm Springs Police department and the accident is under _ investigation by the Tribal Police department and the Bureau of Indian Affairs investigator, according to Jerome Main, BI A investiga tor. The two other people in the pickup were Benson Heath, age 36; and Brent Graybael, age 22, both from Warm Springs. According to information released by the police the accident was reported by telephone by one of the individualsWho had been in the vehicle. The accident was reported at about 5:15 a.m. The person reportedly had to walk some distance to get to a phone.
