[Vision2020] What You Need to Know (about the Lochsa Land Exchange)

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (December 5, 2011) Moscow-Pullman Daily News with thanks to Marilyn Beckett.

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What you need to know
A U.S. Forest Service open house was held in Grangeville on the Idaho County Alternative for the Lochsa Land Exchange.
The alternative proposes to give approximately 40,000 acres to Tim Blixseth's Western Pacific Timber in exchange for his 40,000 acres in the Lochsa. News reports on the Nov. 28 open house in Riggins cited most who attended opposed any type of land exchange. The Grangeville-area folks who know much about the exchange are strongly opposed.
In previous years there have been a few open houses in communities explaining different alternatives. People overwhelmingly opposed those exchange alternatives, too.
A recent Missoulian article had Forest Supervisor Rick Brazell extolling the right-minded approach of the Idaho County alternative. The Lewiston Tribune says the commissioners have selected a task force of 16 individuals to improve their proposal and ensure it is the chosen alternative.
At an open house, a Forest Service official suggested the Idaho County residents opposed to the commissioners' alternative work to move the exchange farther north.
This Idaho grandma is here to tell you what you need to know:
These land exchanges are difficult to stop.
This is a huge exchange, and there will be more exchanges to follow in Idaho.
You are going to see the shrinking of federal land borders as a result (conservation easements on traded lands have no teeth and no access).
The reason generations of Idahoans have lived here and loved this land will disappear.
There are concentrated efforts being made to dupe you into believing this exchange is necessary
If you're not familiar with how this exchange has played out over the last several years, you may think this sounds extreme. Contact me at marilynbeckett at gmail.com or call (208) 301-1613.
You be the judge. It's your land
Marilyn Beckett, Moscow
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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"If not us, who?
If not now, when?"

- Unknown
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