[Vision2020] Locals Oppose Forest Service Land Trade

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the St. Maries Gazette.

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Locals oppose FS land trade
By Dan Hammes

Critics charge taxpayers will be cheated.

Supporters say the proposed land exchange is not only fair, it would help
the Forest Service better manage its lands.

The one thing that seems certain is no opinions were changed at Monday’s
meeting to discuss the proposed land trade between the Forest Service and
Western Pacific Timber.

The county commissioners listened as Forest Service representatives
explained the proposed trade that includes 3,737 acres in Benewah County.
Several local residents attended to voice their opposition.

Under the trade, first proposed in 2006, the Forest Service would give up
28,000 acres in return for 40,000 acres of land in the Upper Lochsa River
basin near Lolo Pass. The trade would eliminate 'checkerboard ownership'
of land in the Lochsa and enable the Forest Service to better manage the
land.

Ron Erickson of the Forest Service said if the trade is approved the
federal agency would work with various groups, including the Nez Perce
Tribe, Trout Unlimited, the Nature Conservancy, the Rocky Mountain Elk
Foundation and the Bonneville Power Administration to develop a
land-management plan.

He did not estimate on what it would cost to implement the yet-unwritten
plan.

“So when did the Forest Service get into the park business?” Commissioner
Jack Buell asked. “You’re talking about becoming park rangers.”

He said the trade will impact local government. Idaho schools are
suffering for lack of funding and counties do not have enough money to
fund services, he said. When the Forest Service takes land out of
production it adversely impacts the local economy and tax base, he added.

Mr. Erickson said the Forest Service has different priorities.

“Timber is important but at the same time we have the other resources out
there including wildlife and fish,” he said.

Mr. Buell said the St. Joe River, which offers a great fishery amidst a
thriving timber business, is proof you can have both.

John Krebs said the Forest Service proposes to trade land with good public
access and managed for multiple use for land that would be managed for
wildlife.

“You don’t intend to manage that land for public use. You’re screwing the
public,” he said.

Mr. Erickson said while some roads in the Lochsa would be removed if the
Forest Service took ownership, there would be plenty of roads available
for public access.

Mr. Krebs also criticized the method the federal government uses to
appraise land. He said taxpayers were giving up land whose value far
exceeds what they would get in return.

Mr. Erickson defended the appraisal method used by the government.

Al Halverson, who lives near Tensed, was not convinced.

“You’re taking two 1953 DeSotos for a 2010 Cadillac and telling us it’s a
good trade,” he said.

Kathy Judson of Tensed questioned why the Forest Service had to pay to
rehabilitate logged land. She said that should be paid by the companies
that made profit from the harvested timber.

She added that local residents who use the land the Forest Service would
trade away to harvest game and collect firewood would suffer if the trade
is consummated.

“Nobody wants this exchange.”

Del Rust questioned how the Forest Service could pay to manage the land it
would take in trade.

“How can a bankrupt government pay for restoration?”

The Forest Service will release the Environmental Impact Statement to the
public in August and accept public comment on the proposal for 45 days.
For more information contact the Forest Service at 245-2531.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown