[Vision2020] LMT -- Everyone hears this tree fall

[Art Deco]

Dan,

As you know from our former association with the Friends of Moscow Mountain, 
the same kind of irresponsible conduct by some recreational users, chiefly 
some motorized users, has created the same problem all over the west, 
including on Moscow Mountain, that is commented upon in the LMT article.

I used to bicycle in a large area of Potlatch Land north and east of Laird 
Park including the area known as the Dredges.  I was not only appalled at 
the damage being inflicted on the land and trees and the harassing/chasing 
of cattle, but also the lack of concern and consideration for the safety and 
enjoyment of other users in the area shown by some motorized recreational 
users.  Many longtime, older campers and other users of that area were 
driven out by such irresponsible actions.

I stopped bicycling there several years ago for safety reasons.  At one time 
the Latah County Sheriff Department had extra patrols in that area on 
weekends just to attempt to control some of the damage and attendant 
drinking/partying/shooting/cattle chasing problems wrought by some motorized 
users.  I do not know if those patrols continue.

More than 25 years ago some timber companies in northern California started 
charging for the recreational use of their land AND excluded ALL motorized 
recreation.  I do not know what is happening there now but the program then 
was a success from the standpoint of the timber companies and the 
non-motorized recreationists whose numbers increased greatly and who 
apparently were happy to pay a fee to be able to recreate without the 
problems that some motorized recreational users create.

I greatly appreciate Bennett Forest Products, Inc's gracious permission to 
recreate on their land on Moscow Mountain.  I am sure that there are many of 
us who would be quite willing to pay a fee to Bennett for that continued 
use.  It saddens and disgusts me when I see some of the damage to the 
Bennett roads, land, and trees that some motorized recreation causes, not to 
mention the vandalism, litter, and the shooting which accompanies that 
recreation.

Despite the efforts of some people like yourself to promote responsible 
motorized recreation, it hasn't happened.  Now the price is about to be paid 
by all of us including those who care for the land and treat it with respect 
and caring.


Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
deco at moscow.com



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Area Man (Dan C)" <areaman at moscow.com>
To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 7:48 AM
Subject: [Vision2020] LMT -- Everyone hears this tree fall


> I'm all for private property rights, but DANG!  This could affect a lot
> of people.
> -----------------------
> Everyone hears this tree fall
>
> By DEAN A. FERGUSON of the Tribune
>
> BOISE -- Potlatch Corp. could lock up 670,000 acres in the heart of
> north central Idaho, ending a 102-year legacy of free public use.
> The company's land holdings include 54,000 acres in the St. Joe River
> Basin that could be protected from development if a deal to buy
> development rights is finalized.
>
> Closing the 670,000 acres from Coeur d'Alene to Orofino is a real
> option, Potlatch spokesman Mark Benson told a joint meeting between
> House and Senate environment and resources committees Wednesday.
>
> "The bottom line is public use of private forest land is on the
> increase," Benson said.
>
> Potlatch Corp. loses about $300,000 a year to people who destroy
> seedlings with snow machines and four-wheelers, wreck roads with
> mud-bogging pickup trucks and leave a trail of litter and busted gates.
>
> There are other options to closing the land, Benson said.
>
> The company could lease access to private or state interests, sell
> access permits, or sell conservation easements to retain public access
> and stop development.
>
> Sen. Gary Schroeder, R-Moscow, organized three days of hearings at the
> Statehouse to deal with the "emerging issue" of access.
>
> "Private land has value," Schroeder said. "People are willing to pay for
> sporting access."
>
> The issue arose on the East Coast 15 years ago and has finally arrived
> in Idaho, Schroeder said. He hopes the state can find ways to keep open
> lands the public has used for hunting, berry picking and exploring for
> generations.
>
> A couple of lawmakers expressed surprise to hear that a deal in the St.
> Joe Basin was in danger of collapsing.
>
> "If we want to help with this easement program, how much money would it
> take to match the 25 percent nonfederal match to finish the St. Joe
> project?" asked Senate Minority Leader Clint Stennett, D-Ketchum.
>
> The deal needs $2 million in private or state money to match $8 million
> in federal money, Benson said. He added, however, that Bush
> administration cuts make federal dollars through the U.S. Forest Service
> tougher to come by. For that money, the easement would effectively tie
> up a total of 80,000 acres of Potlatch Corp. land, Benson said.
>
> Schroeder told the Lewiston Tribune he would support an effort to find
> the money, possibly looking for it in the Idaho Department of Fish and
> Game budget.
>
> By closing Potlatch land, the company also might cut off access routes
> into public land, noted Sen. David Langhorst, D-Boise, who is a hunter
> and fisherman.
>
> Benson didn't have the figures but pledged to let lawmakers know how
> much public land the closure of Potlatch Corp. forests would seal off.
>
> "We could spend $2 million to build an equestrian center or $2 million
> to secure 80,000 acres for Idaho hunters, fishermen and families for
> perpetuity," Langhorst said.
>
> Langhorst was referring to Gov. Dirk Kempthorne's proposal to pay $2
> million for about 30 to 40 acres of land next to J.R. Simplot's Boise
> mansion, which was donated to the state. The land includes a horse barn.
>
>
> Benson said Potlatch is not close to a decision about how to deal with
> the issue of access to its forests. He also said the company's new
> status as a real estate investment trust has no bearing on the outcome
> of the decision.
>
> It's a decision that will include consideration of the company's
> 102-year heritage, the company's neighbors and the company's
> shareholders.
>
> "We believe we get one chance to do this right," Benson said.
> ----------------------------------------------
> Tread lightly, Moscow,
>
> DC
>
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