Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 2016)
State Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, February 3, 2016 A9 Owyhee Canyonlands wilderness proposal unresolved Local opposition strong against 2.5 million-acre monument By Eric Mortenson EO Media Group The occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge may have been bro- ken, but a divisive wilder- ness proposal remains unre- solved in Southeast Oregon. The underlying issues are familiar: anger over fed- eral land management and government “over-reach” and frustration over loss of economic opportunity in the rural West. The Bend-based envi- ronmental group Oregon Natural Desert Association, backed by the Keen Foot- wear company of Portland, has proposed a 2.5-million acre Owyhee Canyonlands wilderness and conservation area. Ranchers and other Mal- heur County residents are dead set against it. “Not only no, but hell no,” prominent rancher Bob Skinner said. The Obama administra- tion, which could establish the canyonlands area by presidential proclamation, has given no sign what it will do. Many people spec- ulate the administration did not want to throw gas on the fire while the wildlife ref- uge occupation was going on. Courtesy of wildowyhee.org The proposed Owyhee Canyonlands wilderness and conservation area would cover 2.5 million acres in Southeast Oregon. “We don’t know where it is in the process, there’s nobody who knows that,” Skinner said. The proposed area is big- ger than the Yellowstone, Yosemite or Grand Can- yon national parks, critics point out, and would cov- er 40 percent of Malheur County. Residents believe the designation would be ac- companied by restrictions and regulations that would prohibit or severely compli- cate grazing, mining, hunt- ing and recreation. While proponents say traditional uses of the land will be allowed, a local group called Citizens in Opposition to the Owyhee Canyonlands Monument does not believe them. Skinner, a fifth-gener- ation rancher who leads the opposition group, said one faction believes ranch- ers and other landowners should “settle” with those pushing for establishment of the canyonlands. But Skinner said agree- ments with “radical envi- ronmental groups” always turn out bad. While they say traditional land uses such as cattle grazing could continue, such assuranc- es soon fall apart, Skinner said. “Historically, every sin- gle solid time,” he said. “It starts collapsing on the uses. That’s historic, I can tell you.” Skinner said his contacts among Oregon’s congres- sional delegation and others in Washington, D.C., indi- cate Obama will establish the wilderness and conser- vation area under the An- tiquities Act, which can be done by presidential order and does not require ap- proval of Congress. A White House media staffer said the administra- tion has “no announcement to make at this time” and did not respond to detailed questions. Jessica Kershaw, senior adviser and press secretary with the Department of In- terior, said in an email that the department has not made a recommendation to the White House, “but we know that this is an important is- sue to many, and we will carefully consider all input about how to best manage these lands for current and future generations.” Brent Fenty, executive director of the Oregon Nat- ural Desert Association, did not respond to a telephone call and email seeking com- ment. A press secretary for U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, who rep- resents Eastern Oregon in Congress, said Walden has repeatedly called upon the administration to say what it plans to do. Early in the wildlife ref- uge occupation, Walden said Obama could ease some of the tension by backing away from the canyonlands pro- posal. “If they don’t plan to do it, they should just come out and say so,” press secretary Andrew Malcolm said in an email. Skinner, the rancher, consistently distances his cause from the case made by the refuge occupiers. “I don’t agree with the Bundys at all, period,” he said. “I don’t agree with their methods, especially with grazing issues. But no- body can help but say, ‘I can understand.’ “Greg Walden said it: You understand why peo- ple have reached the end of their rope. That’s why they’ve got followers.” MyEagleNews.com Michael B. DesJardin Dentistry, PC MEET YOUR LOCAL DENTIST DR. KENT CHERRY ADVANTAGE DENTAL CLINICS Advantage Dental Group, PC 750 West Main John Day, OR 97845 888-468-0022 ext. 61863 www.AdvantageDentalClinics.com Preventive, Restorative & Endodontics New Patients Welcome! 208 NW Canton John Day 541-575-2725 mbddental@live.com michaelbdesjardindmd.com Emergencies, most Insurance Plans and Oregon Health Plan Patients are all welcome.Some level of treatment inancing is available to everyone. Angus and Hereford Bulls 3 3 Thursday, March 17, 2016 Maag Angus Ranch Headquarters, Vale, Oregon ͞ 3 ͜͜3 3 3333ǯ33 333333 3335Ǥ 333636 ǡ38936ǡ3 339ǡ3693538ǡ343934ǡ3 335 33Ǩ • Complete Fertility Testing, Including a Negative Trich Test and Tag. • All Bulls Tested BVD PI Free. • Free Feed for 1 month after the sale. • Bulls Fed A High-Roughage Ration to Grow NOT Get Fat. • Large Sire Groups with many Full and 3/4 Brothers. • 1st Breeding Season Guarantee. • Videos of all Bull Lots at For More Information or a Catalog Contact Any One of Us Bob & Maryann Maag (541) 473-2108 • Terry & Susan Oft (541) 889-6801 • Jason & Deanne Vallad (541) 889-4562 Or Visit Us on the Worldwide Web at www.maagangus.com
