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 $336,000 from
the Forest Service in 1979.
Last year the Forest Service
receipts totalled 11 per cent of
the entire county budget.
Cont. on page 8
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GENERAL AREA MAP
HEPPNER PLANNING UNIT
UMATILLA NATIONAL FOREST
PLANNING UNIT BOUNDARY
ZZ PRIVATE LAND WITHIN FOREST
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MAP E
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KXAS BUTTE WSSQ 3 -
V """" J'"-LJ J aia
' 5rV-6- " a' ALT. E
' ' ,- - , PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE
a t( . L i v vj
j ? A y . Manage the commercial timber resource to its potential yield
Q(Q " J' ' jf . , N. X. iCV uhile providing forage for domestic livestock and wildlife
U ...... X. . N. Q grazing. Maintain and enhance elk habitat. Maintain wildlife
. . C"v y k habitat that will provi tc for viable populations of snag ana
. V ) v X. 2 cavity ueare.
1 f J )SSOhS ' ! Manage the cormerciat timber resource to ite potential yield
f vt 'Sc- . JLTIS uhile providing forage for domestic livestock and wildlife
JV --Vs. "r 7 grazing. Maintain and enhance elk habitat. Maintain wildlife
- m tv n"!. I X habitat that will provide for viable populations of snag and
i ' tV TV l cavity users. Limited road access.
! ; 1 bulj'-na mi' t 1 ; '$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. Provide opportunities for semi-
MMM-aMMwJ remote recreation experiences.
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