Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 10, 1979)
SIX The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday, May 10, 1979 Will wilderness classification save area elk herd? Al Nistad, President Blue Mountain Resource Council Despite the fact that the administration has made its final RARE II proposals to Congress, a great deal of debate and controversy still surrounds the ultimate desig nation and utilization of lands in the Heppner Ranger Dist rict. After considerable input and comment on RARE II and the Heppner Draft Environ mental Impact Statement, a new proposal has lately sur faced that alleges that only a wilderness classification can "save" the Heppner elk herd. Before such a drastic and unrevocable designation is made, a comprehensive and concise examination of the facts in regard to the Heppner and Ukiah Ranger Districts is needed in order that a genuine assessment, devoid of emo tionalism, can be made. It is of vital importance that many aspects of real and potential land use are considered, and that singular interests do not become prominate. Amid charges of "exploita tion" a case has been made in the Wapiti report purporting that only a final wilderness classification for a number of areas in the Heppner Ranger District will "save" the resi dent elk herd. Subsequent to this claim, it has been alleged that multiple use manage ment, including timber sales, will create an adverse econ omic impact in the area. Such a simplistic evaluation fails to take into account present facts and future effects. Recent statistics compiled by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife show a dramatic increase in the numbers of resident elk in the Heppner unit, as well as accompanying 100 per cent increase in hunter success. This success has taken place commensurate with multiple use and management activi ties, including road construc tion and timber harvesting within the area. Additionally, data from the Draft Environmental Impact Statement indicates that criti cal elk habitat cannot only be maintained, but also im proved, in conjunction with the management of the timber resource in the roadless area. Preferred elk habitat is found in a wide variety of terrain, including land that is present ly utilized for timber manage ment. The Stillman report publish ed recently also contends that in addition to elk. steelhead habitat also can be maintain ed if a wilderness classifica tion is assigned to the area. This statement must be weigh ed in comparison to the results of present management of numerous areas. A Umatilla Forest stream, whose head waters originate in lands that consist of 48 per cent managed timber, was chosen as recent ly as the most desirable sight for an anadromous fish hatch ery. This stream, located in an area where timber harvesting has historically taken place, demonstrated superior water quality in a variety of tests. Perhaps the greatest effects of all that will be felt by a wilderness classification will be in the pocket books of residents of the Heppner area. Total economic analysis of the plan reveals that the loss of timber harvest in the region that would occur if such a plan were adopted could create serious job losses, a resultant local recession, as well as reduced dollar returns to Morrow County from timber revenues. The Wapiti area holds a currently programmed yearly harvest of 9 million board feet of timber. Removal of this considerable volume from the timber base on which the local industry depends could direct ly affect some 144 annual jobs and reduce returns to coun ties, used primarily for schools and roads, by about $450,000 per year. Adoption of the wilderness proposal could ultimately spell a serious deterioration of the quality of life that is now enjoyed in the area. Outlined in the Wapiti report are criteria for timber man agement. Specifically cited, and critical to the basis of the report, is the claim that forest lands producing less than 50 cubic feet of wood per acre are not feasible for timber pro duction. It has been a well demonstrated fact in recent years that many areas with less than 50 cubic feet per acre production have been success fully and profitably harvested. Current cost-benefit analysis of timber sales within the Heppner District on lands producing less than 50 cubic feet per acre per year have been favorable. The report alleges that the five alternatives for the Hep pner Land Use Plan will result in "a loss of taxpayer's money." What this allegation fails to take into account is the full meaning of the dollar figures outlined in the draft plan. Operating under the assumption that the total operating budget figure of $2,023,263 was soley used for timber management, the Wapiti Wilderness Report maintains that the cost to the taxpayer is $59.50 per thou sand board feet while the return amounts to only $46.00 What was omitted in the formula used is that the total budget for the Forest Service includes, in addition, to money for timber sales, funds that are used for wildlife manage ment, livestock grazing and recreation management. The total budget also includes monies for road maintenance, fire protection, land manage ment and overhead. The reference to "returns from Government" fails to include important considerations like capital investment. In addition to the revenue that is returned directly to the county, the harvesting of timber also provides a strong stimulus to the local economy through the jobs it provides and the subsequent contribu tions from property taxes to the local tax base. The increase in employment from the timber industry has spell ed an increase in secondary jobs, especially in service related industry and com merce. Harvesting of timber also affects the other major economic base of the area (farming) by maintaining and enhancing grazing land. Locally, Kinzua Corporation employs 430 people, with an annual payroll of over $8 million. The mill alone paid Morrow County more than $250,000 in property taxes in 1978. The Heppner District will generate $7'-. million in tim ber sales this year. Twenty five per cent of this revenue is returned directly to the coun ties as property tax offset. Morrow County will receive approximately $336,000 from the Forest Service in 1979. Last year the Forest Service receipts totalled 11 per cent of the entire county budget. Cont. on page 8 L Long Time Friend Sportswear Wrangler Junior Sportswear Tops-Shorts-Pants Sundresses Bed 'N Bath Place mats-Tablecloths Towels For Bath & Kitchen DEFHRTHEKT STORE Heppner & Boardman And no wonder. Stormcr grain bins are a better buy. That s because they are made of heavy-gauge, galvanized steel, sturdy deep rib roof, rock-solid anchoring, Vac-U-Vent ventilation, and capacities to 152,000 bu. Find out why more farmers are turning to Stormor for grain storage. See us today for all the facts. GENERAL AREA MAP HEPPNER PLANNING UNIT UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST PLANNING UNIT BOUNDARY ZZ PRIVATE LAND WITHIN FOREST , f L . MAP E . . - . Q DO nj-i : cC r KXAS BUTTE WSSQ 3 - V """" J'"-LJ J aia ' 5rV-6- " a' ALT. E ' ' ,- - , PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE a t( . L i v vj j ? A y . Manage the commercial timber resource to its potential yield Q(Q " J' ' jf . , N. X. iCV uhile providing forage for domestic livestock and wildlife U ...... X. . N. Q grazing. Maintain and enhance elk habitat. Maintain wildlife . . C"v y k habitat that will provi tc for viable populations of snag ana . V ) v X. 2 cavity ueare. 1 f J )SSOhS ' ! Manage the cormerciat timber resource to ite potential yield f vt 'Sc- . JLTIS uhile providing forage for domestic livestock and wildlife JV --Vs. "r 7 grazing. Maintain and enhance elk habitat. Maintain wildlife - m tv n"!. I X habitat that will provide for viable populations of snag and i ' tV TV l cavity users. Limited road access. ! ; 1 bulj'-na mi' t 1 ; '$r , t. ' Vi Manage the commercial timber resource to its potential yield ' j ' ' . j-, fY while providing forage for domestic livestock and wildlife v r. XJ ' grazing. Manage the commercial timber resource to its potential yield 4mm wnile providing ft-rage for domestic livestock and wildlife M mk grazing. Maintain and enhance elk habitat. Maintain wild- (WF life habitat that will provide for viable populations of snag and cavity uoers. 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