----.--_ .. T

searched for a good place to permanently Dear friends, land; he's a former teacher. Current teach- ers John Staniloiu and Dena Evans A recycling test humorous and wise, the woman said: "I'm stopped in for a break during their 25-day sure you know the real reason." We con- tour with 12 students from a private The words you are reading are print- fess we don't know any real reason, but school in Missouri. ed on a new, recycled stock we are test- guess it bas something to do with religion. Computer jockey Todd Greenhalgh ing. To be precise, the outside and center from Laramie, Wyo., chatted a while as sheets are made of 34-pound newsprint • New intern did Loren Kinczel, a high school student produced by Smurfit Newsprint Corp. in from Piedmont, Calif. Loren is a student Oregon City, Ore. It is not quite as heavy New intern Zaz Hollander carnes to of former intern Mall Klingle. Ross Free- as our first recycled stock, nor as white. Paonia from Bend, Ore., by way of Zion man, who works periodically for the This stock rates 65 on the brightness scale and Arches national parks, plus every rest Canyonlands Field Institute in Moab, while the Eco-offset we printed on until area on one, breathtaking 20-mile stretch Utah, took a break from a tour of the Col-. March 23, 1992, was a very bright 78. of Interstate 70 through Utah, orado Plateau to visit the HCN office . Regular newsprint Comes in around 58 . A 1990 graduate of the University-of It does not seem sufficient to say that and the Mandobrite stock on which the Oregon, Zaz worked with the university's Chris Harris and Bob Burton "dropped rest of this issue is printed is 72 bright. Survival Center in Eugene. She also vol- by" the HCN office, since the two are The Smurfit newsprint is made from unteered with other local groups such as from Australia and the "dropping by" was 75 percent post-consumer waste -used the Oregon Rivers Council and the Asso- more than casual. magazines and newspapers. This compares ciation of Forest Service Employees for They are associated with the Wilder- to only 9 percent post-consumer content in Environmental Ethics. Eco-offset, with another 45 percent from After college, Zaz tried to break into lllGJI COUNTRY NEWS pre-consumer, de-inked products. The bleaching agent used to produce the Smur- free-lance joumalism (ISSN/0191/S6S7) is ·publlshed while simultaneously biweekly, except for one issue during fit paper is relatively benign: sodium paying the rent. Even- July and one issue durjng January, by hydro-sulphite with titanium dioxide added the High Country Foundation, 119 to increase the brightness, No elemental tuall y she hopes to Grand Avenue, Paonia, CO 81428. Sec- chlorine, which generates harmful dioxins, learn to do both. ond-class postage paid at Paonia, is used in the process. Originally from Colorado. The other benefit of this stock is its Hopewell, NJ., a POSTMASTER:send address changes price: 45 percent less than the Eco-offset small town near to HIGH COUNTRY NEWS, Box 1090, and even slightly less than the non-recy- Princeton, this is her Paonia, CO 81428. cled Mandobrite the rest of this issue is first time in Colorado, Subscriptions are $28 per year for though Utah's canyon individuals and public libraries, $38 printed on. The trade-off, however, is the country had become a per year for institutions. Single copies feel and whiteness, the durability (non- $1 plus postage and handling. Special yellowing) over time, and the clarity of second home during Issues $3 each. photos and other graphics. We ordered the last few years. one test roll of this paper to see how it TomBeU performs. Our thanks to Alan Davis, pres- Visitors Editor emerltw ident of Conservatree Paper Company, for Ed Marston his assistance with the search. Tom Bartels of PubMsher Durango, Colo., Betsy Marston The next issue will also contain a Ediuw mixture of recycled and non-recycled Video Productions linda Bacigalupi . stock. Your reaction will help us decide stopped in, as did Assodille publhber whether to continue to use this paper. Sarah Peapples and Florence Williams Staffntporler Bob Troup. Bob . helped produce the C.L Rawlins Enter Fall Poetry editor popular public-radio Diane Sylvain show called E-Town. ProtIudioff/grwphic~ Fall weather swept through western - Sarah Seyfried of Cindy Wehling . Colorado early.this month; by Sept. 8 Desktop publisbl"g, certlerSJWeati dedp some aspen leaves had turned from green New York came in to Colorado Ann Ulrich to yellow to fallen-on-the-ground. Long- say the Typeseltlng time residents predict an early winter- Handbook, which we Kay Henry Bartlett and a hard one. reviewed recently, Busl_S5 lured her to Paonia Gretchen Nlcholoff Reaction to our Sept. 7-lead story Ed Marston and the HCN office. OrculdUcnt. about a subdivision going up in a wilder- New intern Zaz Hollander and Nixon, her pet rat Mark Dooley ness roused some readers. We expected She's a photo repre- Peter Donaldson Zaz Hollander more reaction than usual, since we mailed sentative in the fashion business. That ness Society of Australia, and are wander- 1- the paper to several thousand postal cus- same day Clem and Mary Jo Verstraete of ing the globe seeking information on non- Victoria Bomberry, PorestrJUk, Ctdif. tomers in the towns nearest the West Elk Osceola,lnd., came in say they'd just read profits and exploring links between envi- MaggieCoon, 5e4tt1e, Was". the Handbook, too, and were following its ronmental problems in Australia and Judy Donald, W,asbl,.~ D.C WildemtlSs. A half-dozen people sub- Michael Ehlers, BoII-IJer'. Colo. scribed, and other positive response came suggestions. everywhere else. Bert FIngerhut,Aspen, Colo. from eighth grade teacherAl Williams, in From Ithaca, N.Y., came Duane and Bob said they dread only one thing: Tom France,Mu"ouIir, Mo. Barbara Wilcox, and from Grand Junc- KariI Frohboe5e, p,arlI City, UIab Paonia. His class engaged in spirited debate Going home. "Everywhere we stopped, Sally Gonlon.I1K.I1a1o, IVy<> . over the wilderness issue, he reported. tion, Colo., came Tim Hartzell, new dis- we collected information and shipped it BW Hedden. Moalt, l1IIl" , trict manager for the Bureau of Land Judith Jacobsen,/JotIlder, Colo. But one caller questioned our choice home. When we get back, it will be wait- Dan Luecke, BotJJer, Colo. of mountain goat on the masthead. When Management. Californian Richard Chiara- ing for us." Geof'frey O'Gara.TAruler-. Wyo. told. the goat was chosen some 20 years monte, whose last name means clear DIaneJosephy Peavey,GrInry, /"'''0 James B. Roch. Pldgsr..u. Ariz. ago because it seemed an animal both mountain in Italian, came through as he -Betsy Marstonfor/he staff Farwell Smith. McLeod, MDrII. Emily Swanson. BozemII", MOffL Lynda S. Taylor.Albuqu.en:ple, N.M. MarkTrahant, Salt TAite City, Uta" Andy Wiessner, Detwer,-CoIo. BoanI of Directors MCCLUSKEY'S APPROACH he felt the Gunnison River frontage prop- Finally, when the debt due and owing erty should be open to the public. to Mr. McCluskey for the balance of the Artkles appearing In High· eou,.,.", News are WAS-DIFFERENT indexed in Envlronmemal Peri04ic:als Bibliogra- Second, the ranch property was purchase price was not paid, Mr. phy, Environmental Studies Institute, 800 Gar- McCluskey accepted the return of owner- den st., Suite D, Santa BarbararCA 93101. Dear HCN, leased by LeValley Ranches of Hotchkiss, All rights to publIcation of articles In this issue This office of attorneys represents Colorado, and was well cared for and ship to him, in lieu of foreclosure, of the are reserved. Write for permission to print any used as a working ranch, as it still is to property sold except the river frontage eruclee or llJustratlons. Contributions (manu- and has represented William H. scripts, photos, artwork) will be wekomed with McCluskey concerning his Colorado real this date. property. Mr. McCluskey let the public. the understanding that the editors cannot be estate interests for many years and did so Thirdly, after Mr. Chapman restricted keep and enjoy the river frontage property held responsible for loss or damage. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope with aU unso- when William H. McCluskey sold the access on the McCluskey private proper- for access to the "Gold Medal Fishery." lklted submissions to ensure return. Articles and property he owned along the Gunnison ty, Mr. McCluskey made a new agree- We make no other comments con- letters will be edited and published at the discre- tion of the editors. River to the County of Delta and Col- ment with Mr. Chapman because he was cerning the focus of the article on Mr. Advertising Information is available upon orado Open Lands, a non-profit corpora- not pleased with that approach and Mr. Chapman's tactics and his activities in the requesL To have a sample copy sent to a friend, tion. Chapman no .longer marketed the proper- West Elk Wilderness, but felt that Mr. send us his or her address. Write to Box 1090. Paonia, CO 81428. can High Coli-ill? Neu)!{ in I wish to advise you and your readers ty. Instead, this office and Mr. McCluskey McCluskey, his family and his properties Color2do at 303/527-4898. of the correct information concerning that negotiated the sale. The use of the Gunni- should not be besmirched by errors and sale, in hopes of lessening any damages son River for fishing and recreation was innuendos reported in the anicle concern- that might result to the McCluskey land made accessible across the McCluskey ing his limited relationship with Mr. values from errors in your article. property. Further, Mr. McCluskey agreed Chapman. - First, Mr. McCluskey donated to finance a large amount of the purchase $110,000 of the purchase price sothat the price and also agreed not to require a lien James R. Briscoe transaction could be completed because on the river frontage property. Hotchkiss, Colorado

2 - High Country News - September 21, 1992 Terpt LRT !"'~V2L ~ ...... ~:::::::-:::==------

t • Developer halts his subdivision in a wilderness

Developer Tom Chapman pulled his workers and helicopters out of the West Elk Wilderness last week, after Colorado Sen. Hank Brown asked the Forest Ser- vice to renew negotiations with Chapman. ''The West Elk is an extremely beau- tiful wilderness area and it would be trag- ic to put a development in the middle of it," Brown said. "It was at least worth the offer to try again." Brown, a Republican, wrote to Chap- man, also a Republican, promising to help set up negotiations for a land trade if Chapman would stop construction of a two-story log cabin he is building on a 160-acre inholding in the West Elks. Chapman agreed. The cabin, which Chapman says is almost 20 percent complete, is the first of six luxury homes Chapman's West Elk Development Corp. plans to build in the western Colorado wilderness area. Previ- ously, Chapman had been adamant that the land was "not for sale at any price." (HeN, 9/7/92). He now says a land exchange with the Forest Service would be the "best-case scenario." "I admit that '1 don't want to have to build a house in the wilderness," said. Cliapman,"but·1 think it's ludicrous for . the Forest.Service and private landowners to be caught in this kind of conflict" Steve HinchmanlUghthawK Chapman says he already knows of The Initial framework of Tom Chapman's $800,000log cabin going up in the West Elk Wilderness Forest Service property he would consider ing an agreement on fair market value," ment Corp. and bought the land for looks like someone was putting up a in trade. But given the failure of past says Zimmerman, who has spent four $960,000. He says the agency now has no shack. not a mansion." negotiations, Chapman says this time he years negotiating with Chapman and pre- choice but to meet his price or let him Local ranchers who have grazing will only meet with senior level Forest vious owners. develop the land. allotments in the West Elks, and who Service. staff - specifically Elizabeth In 1989, Chapman served as broker "I have paid a third of a million dol- have leased grazing rights on Chapman's Estill, the newly appointed head of the to Robert Minerich, who bought the 160 lars cash down and I am on a legal note inholding in the past, say there is only one Forest Service's Rocky Mountain region- acres and a nearby SO-acre parcel for for $660,000," Chapman says angrily. "If spring on the property. They say it may al office, and Robert Storch, supervisor of $240,000, or $1,000 an acre. Minerich (the Forest Service) chooses to appraise not have enough water for one house, let tile Gunnison National Forest, which and Chapman then said they would build my lands below $960,000 then 1 can't do alone six. oversees the West Elk Wilderness. on the land or sell it unless the Forest Ser- it There won't be a trade, "I've seen that spring go dry some Chapman also warned that he will vice bought the land for $5,500 an acre. "We are perfectly willing to live with years," said one rancher, who asked that only wait a few months. "If we can't find Another possibility, they said, was trading the investrnentwe made up there because his name not be used. some kind of resolution by the end of the it for land near the Telluride or Aspen ski we-know we-can build all the homes and If the' Forest Service and Chapman year, we are going to proceed with this areas worth about $1 million. make a profit." can't agree on a price, it is unlikely thing." Forest Service officials said the land Chapman also warns that the failure Congress will make up the difference. The Forest Service's Estill says the was only worth the $1,000 an acre that of the Forest Service to act oil his and Sen. Brown says he is against paying agency will be glad to meet with Chap- Minerich paid originally. The agency's other wilderness inholdings has put not more than fair market value. man. But she also says, "The Forest Ser- counter offer, to consolidate the two just the West Elk, but the country's entire "We can't afford to provide any vice can only agree to pay (or trade) for parcels into a single 240-acre block on the . wilderness system at risk. incentive for people to scar wilderness fair market value." edge of the West Elk Wilderness, was "Of course it won't stop (with the inholdings for extortion," says Brown. Paul Zimmerman, who heads the land rejected by Minerich. West Elk)," Chapman wrote in a recent "The Forest Service has a delicate line to purchase and exchange group for the After that, Chapman says, the Forest letter to the Colorado press. "All the other walk." regional office, says that in order for .. Service dropped the ball. "Viable propos- . wilderness areas that have inholdings will. • - Steve Hinchman negotiations to occur, Chapman. must als were put on the table and summarily need to be 'undesignated' as well. For. . agree to an appraisal by, an independent •dismissed 'by the -Forest Service without surely other inholders will be following in Steve Hinchman is a former HeN contractor. Once a price is set, Zimmer- further negotiations; nor counter propos- our footsteps. We could- declassify mil- staffer who free-lances from Paonia. man says, both parties can look for land- . aIs. 'That' s the reason I'gave up on the lions of acres of wilderness." of comparable value for trade. Forest Service:" Some question Chapman's figures. "The problem we expect to have - In July 1992,Chapman and four Jon Mulford of the Wilderness Lands .....,...... HOTLINE .-.-.-.-.,:,.,.,:,,:; and have already experienced - is reach- investors formed the West Elk Develop- Trustin Boulder, Colo., a private group that buys wilderness inholdings and then •..••.."'0'"".indiibJ~i~i'...... ;'. __-.j::y'.1 -- ~:!ii'!!!;!{!'i,::;;i:;<'; - transfers them to the federal government for preservation; says he has. tried to get Chapman to sell at lower prices: :'1 know ,f0rBt:~:sh~at'bOt~~b~e~' .; of no market data that would begin to jus- rify it $960,000 figure. That's just absurd," says Mulford. ~t~~~~!:~Jiv~ The Forest Service's Zimmerman nearniilroadii:ickS;W~ gi':iiJ) getS .. " agrees, noting that the.agency's-previous studies of Chapman's land are in the ';t~iBr=~:~~~:i:~;~~... $300,000 range. Zimmerman cautions that the market hasn't jumped four-fold just because Chapman paid $960;000. "One' ,~'~irl~~~~i~~$:fe"·...•... sale does not create a market," he says. , Forest Service officials say their visits to the site indicaie that construction is in the very early stages, and question if the project was ever even designed to be fmished. "Essentially, what he's got up there is a floor on pillars," says Paonia District Ranger Steve Posey, who also says the footers and framework are very small. "It 't~~:::;i~:~g~::~:~ord. Steve HinchmanlLighthawk doesn '·t look to me like that would hold Tom Chapman plans to build four homes along Navajo Ridge In the West Elks up a several hundred-ton log cabin. It High Country News - September 21,1992 - 3 ...... eel:

HOTLINE Custer battlefield changes its name CROW AGEN- CY, Mont, - Custer Battlefield National Monument has a new name. Thanks to an act of Congress last .December, the site of Custer's Last Stand is now known as the Little Bighorn Bat- tlefield National Monument. One hundred and sixteen years ago, Custer's Seventh Cavalry troops. were over- powered by Plains Indian tribes, who had ignored Army orders to stop their ·summer hunting and report to the reserva- tions. Custer's com- mand was part of a James Woodcock large military force .Barbara·Booher, superintendent of the little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument seiii out to bring in the free-ranging Indians, who were con- "In honor of our Indian patriots who findings only serve to fuel pet theories sidered "hostiles," fought and defeated the U.S. Cavalry in and stir up the international army. of Custer and 264 of his party died in order. to save our women and children Custer buffs. battle that afternoon. from mass murder. In doing so, preserv- On a Billings radio talk. show June Until recently, historical emphasis .at ing rights to our homelands; treaties and 23, Steve Alexander, who flies out from the monument was on the Army's role in sovereignty." Michigan each June to play Custer in the the battle. Then, three yean; ago, the Nation- In mid-June, Means organized a battle re-enactment, said Custer's death al Parle:Service appointed Barbara Booher Sioux Sun Dance at a site just off the was "not according to the Cheyenne leg- superintendent She said her mission was to paved roadway connecting the Custer bat- end, where he was staked out on the "concentrate on the balance of the story, so tlefield with the Reno-Benteen Battle- ground and a 3OO-pound Indian woman that both sides are represented." field, five miles away. The road, heavily sat on him and smothered him." Relating The quiet, petite woman of Ute- used by tourists, crosses land owned by a Alexander's statement brings laughter on Cherokee heritage in the ranger uniform Crow family. The Indians blockaded the the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reserva- stands in sharp contrast to previous super- road at the property boundary and isolated tion, 30 miles east of the battlefield. intendents, who relished their connection the area for a few days. The action upset Austin Two Moons Sr., descendant of with the fabled Seventh Chief Two Moon, says the Cavalry. Her office is "legend" is false. decorated with Indian "For one thing, nobody art; there's not a sword, weighed that much back i'l bugle or flag in sight. those days. There's so many The museum dis- lies in those books they sell plays and visitor interpre- over at the battlefield. It sure tative tours have been hurts me. revamped. "The program "My grandfathers were needed more balance," she there. They didn't want to explained. "It was ttaditional- fight. A few nights before, Iy told from a military perspec- one of Custer's Crow scouts tive, because t~e Army con- rode into the Cheyenne and trolled the battlefield until 1940, Sioux camp and warned 'em when the National Park Service took that the troops were goin' over, but the attitudes remained." over to kill the Indians. That's On a hot day before the June 25 how 'come they were pre- anniversary of the battle, Booher walked local tourism promoters, but, Kennard pared. Otherwise, it would have happened from the lush green lawns of the Custer Real Bird said, ''This is our land, and the like at the Sand Creek Massacre," National Cemetery, through throngs of Sun Dance participants had the right not That massacre occurred in November tourists in shorts and up the narrow path to be disturbed under the Native Ameri- 1864, when 700 Colorado volunteers led past pale yellow yucca bloosoms and signs can Religious Freedom Act," by a misdirected militia colonel charged a marked ''WalCh for snakes on trail." At the Means and Real Bird chastised some peaceful Cheyenne camp and killed 137 top of the famous treeless ridge, past the members of the Crow Tribe for participat- Indians, 109 of them women and children. The order to "take no prisoners" was III-year-old granite obelisk chiseled with ing in the annual commercial Custer bat- the names of Custer's casualties, she point- tle re-enactment that weekend, sponsored issued in spite of Chief Black Kettle's fly- ing of both the white peace flag and ed to a spot 100 yards east where a new by a local chamber of commerce. The American flag over his lodge. Indian memoriaI will be installed. chamber and the Custer Country tourism Afterward, the tribe's relations with The memorial project is part of the promotion group joined the Custer buffs name-change legislation, sponsored by in opposing the monument name change the U.S. government were never the same. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, D-Colo., who last year. Dozens of Crows played the Two Moons, 66, who has long hair is part Native American. The site was parts of Sioux and Cheyenne chiefs and and a classic, sculptured face, says, "It took 100 years. When I started praying for chosen by an advisory committee that warriors. Historically, the Crows were peace every year at the battlefield, that's included members of the tribes who always at peace with the white govern- when things started poppin', Now, we'll defeated Custer. There will be a natioual ment and scouted for Custer. get that name change, get that Indian design competition and the winning entry Through the years, Custer's defeat has will be approved by the secretary of Inte- spawned a tireless publishing industry and memorial built," rior. It may be at least two more years a cult-like fascination that has yet to peak. Two Moons has traveled overseas as a peace emissary and native spiritual before the memorial is built. Until then, University of Montana history pro- explained Booher, there will be no tempo- fessors once compared bibliographies of spokesman. On the morning of the anniver- sary of the battle, as he has done each June rary attempt at a memorial. the Civil War and the Custer battle, and "Everyone agreed that we will wait concluded that more paper had been pro- 25 since 1985, he faced the east from Last Stand Ridge and led a diverse group of peo- until it is done right." duced on Custer's Sunday afternoon here On the battle anniversary in 1988, as than on the four-year war. And with no ple in a prayer for world peace. a protest against the long oversight, white surviving eyewitnesses, much has -i-Put Dawson American Indian Movement leader Rus- been speculation. Entire academic and sell Means and other activists cemented a professional careers are being built on large steel plate into the ground near the fragments unearthed during archaeologi- Pat Dawson is a free-lancer from Custer monument. Welded letters read: cal surveys. New artifacts and forensic Billings, Montana.

4 - High Country News - September 21, 1992 Critics say Forest Service scapegoats grizzlies

Like most other Rocky Mountain little economic security." The largest timber-producing national forests, the Kootenai National Forest has In recent months, angry residents in forest in Montana has exaggerated its failed to meet its logging target every year the small logging town of Libby have acreage of commercial timber by 40 per- since 1987. In a report this spring, forest defaced wildlife protection signs and have cent. That raises the likelihood that the officials said the main reasons were written letters to the local newspaper Kootenai National Forest has overcut watershed degradation and requirements threatening to kill grizzly bears. They public lands for more than a decade. to protect wildlife, notably the threatened have cited the Forest Service report in In a study of so-called "phantom blaming bear management for the forest's trees" in the northwestern Montana forest, grizzly bear. "The Forest Service has refused to failure to meet its timber target. Montana and Idaho conservationists publicly acknowledge the facts, watching Servheen concluded that the forest found that the forest also underestimated our communities become polarized with has been overcutting for more than a its acreage of existing clearcuts by more economic fears and distrust," charged Liz decade, and future logging levels will than 500 percent. Comparing two sets of Sedler of Sandpoint, Idaho, Sedler is an have to reflect past abuses. Already, large Forest Service inventory books, a new inventory project member. patches of the forest are off-limits to log- group called the Inventory Inquiry Project Although they won't publicly dis- gers because the forest is in violation of found that the 1987 forest plan assumed avow 1987 timber targets, forest officials its own guidelines for water quality and that hundreds of existing c1earcuts were have agreed that the Inventory Inquiry wildlife habitat. still mature timber. One consequence has Project raises "reasonable questions" Compounding, watershed problems been inflated promises to the timber- about the amount of commercial timber and the declining timber supply is the dependent communities about the forest's that remains. accelerated logging program during the ability to supply timber. In an unusually blunt letter to the 19808 on intermingled Champion Interna- The region's top grizzly bear recov- Kootenai forest supervisor, Servheen said tional forestlands. Champion has virtually ery official separately reached the same the Forest Service makes the grizzly bear liquidated its 700,000-acre commercial conclusion earlier this year. The U.S. Fish a scapegoat. He urged Kootenai officials timber holdings in Montana and now is and Wildlife Service's grizzly recovery to "tell the truth" about their unattainable selling all of its land and mills in the state. chief, Chris Servheen, told his boss in Steve Thompson logging level. Members of the Inventory Inquiry Denver that Kootenai managers now Kootenai National Forest clearcuts "This high level of expectation has Project also included Yiri Doskocil, Don believe their current cut level is based on in the upper Yaak draInage created a false economy in northwest Vance and Leroy Lee. For more informa- erroneous assumptions. However, Montana," Servheen wrote in a June 4 tion, call Liz Sedler at 208/263-5281. Servheen has been unsuccessful in per- half to one-third less than targets set in a memorandum to his superiors. "This high -Steve Thompson suading forest officials to tell that to the 1987 forest plan. The difference between expectation has also created a high level public. cut levels promised in 1987, and what of economic insecurity that has led to a Steve Thompson is an environmen- Federal documents, obtained under actually appears to be a sustainable annual 'blaming' mentality where people are talist and free-lance reporter in Moscow, the Freedom of Information Act, indicated level, is almost 20,000 loaded logging actually killing bears because they have Idaho. that the Kootenai cut level should be one- trucks per year. Idaho canal's failure undermines FERC

The June IIcollapse of a section of the he said, even though the canal has a histo- Marysville canal near Ashton, Idaho, con- ry of failures, with a bank collapse occur- tinues to reverberate throughout the state. ring about every four years. The collapse dumped tons of silt and Nearby residents are concerned that sediment into the Fall River and the damage to the fishery could harm local Henry's F6rk, wreaking havoc on river economies. The small towns of Rexburg ecology in both world-renowned trout and St. Anthony rely heavily on tourists streams. The silt buried newly laid eggs and anglers, Ochi said. and ruined winter habitat for small fish. However, studies done for the owners Officials at the state Department of Fish of the hydro project, Marysville Hydro and Game expect a significant loss of Partners, show the rivers may not be as trout-spawning areas in the 12 miles of damaged as first suspected, said Kip Run- the Fall River and for some distance yan, vice president for Ida-West Energy downstream on the Henry's Fork. Co. The lOO-year-old, unlined irrigation Ochi is skeptical about the good news. canal collapsed after water in it seeped "(One) study is superficial," he said. "It was beneath a buried diversion pipe. This weak- done by one person, in one area, in one day ened the canal, then finally washed it out. and the biologist admitted he couldn't even The water that escaped carried between see the bottom of the river." 20,000 and 40,000 tons of silt into the Fall Besides the impacts from the col- River - the equivalent of several thousand lapsed canal, the project could pose other dump truck loads. problems. r The buried pipe was part of the Ochi said when the generator is run- Marysville Hydroelectric Project, a pri- ning at full capacity, a 5.5-mile section of vate venture between Idaho developer the Fall River will be dewatered, reducing Grant Durtschi and a subsidiary of Ida- the season of a popular whitewater stretch West Energy Company in Boise. from nine months to six weeks. Licensed by the Federal Energy Regulato- Another concern is that the canal must ry Commission (FERC) in May 1989, the be enlarged to accommodate more water project was under construction at the time needed for the hydro project. Oehi said that of the canal's collapse. at full operation the canal will carry eight As news ,of the accident spread, Ida- times as much water as it did during the hoans were reminded of the Teton Darn fail- June 11 collapse. "We're worried that this ure that killed seven people in 1976. Once tragedy could be peanuts compared to what , again, critics questioned the ability of a dis- could happen," Ochi said. tant federal agency to oversee hydro pro- Runyan, however, said the compa- jects in their state. Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus - IlY'S plan to enlarge and line the canal would eliminate the seepage and erosion said he would try to halt the new project. Janice M. BrO'l\;1 "(PERC) just thumbed their noses at us," that have plagued the canal in the past Rushing water from the failed Marysville canal created this trench Andrus told the Idaho Falls Post Register. The $15' million, 9.I-megawall Nevertheless, FERC licensed the pro- ing to take control of hydroelectric "Now we have a disaster on our hands." Marysville Hydroelectric Project has been ject without holding a public meeting. resources away from Washington, D.C., Although construction started in 1989 shadowed by safety warnings from the Ochi charges that the agency's proce- and put it into the hands of the state. and is about 75 percent complete, PERC has beginning. ''The soils in the project area are dures, while legal', are inadequate. For its part, Marysville Hydro Part- never conducted an on-site inspection, said highly erosive," warned Bob Breckenridge, Last year alone, FERC had jurisdic- ners put $150,000 into a trust fund for Sharon Murphy, a spokeswoman for FERC. a soil and water engineer and resident of tion over 1,800 hydro projects throughout biological studies and to mitigate damage "The only information that PERC got Idaho Falls, in an April 1991letter to FERC .• the country and was swamped with more from the collapse. But, said Scott Peyron, during the project's construction were In another letter to FERC, engineers than 180 applications for new hydro pro- a spokesman for Gov. Andrus, "the trust periodic statements by the developer," Steven Marts and Ray Schwaller, com- jectlicenses, plus many relicenses (HeN, fund is a moot point for the governor and said Jon Ochi, chairman of Friends of Fall missioned by Friends of Fall River, found 12/2/91). it doesn't treat the problem as he sees it." River, a Marysville-based conservation the following impacts "highly probable": Back in Idaho, Gov. Andrus is push- - Peter Donaldson group. There was no outside inspection, blowouts of the canal and eroded soil. High Country News - September 21, 1992 - 5 ----~.-- -~- --~~----- HOTLINE Radioactive dollars draw tribes The ~U.S. Utah's Gov. Department of Ener- Norm Bangerter. gy continues to dan- responded to the gle the carrot of county's request nuclear waste stor- by saying he was 'age, along with. opposed to an money to. study the MRS in his. state idea; before the hun- but does not object gry eyes of Indian to a feasibility tribes and rural study. Environ- counties in the West. mental groups are This spring and more wary. They summer, 16 tribes ,. successful.ly and four counties fought a proposed applied to the DOE permanent for $100,000 grants radioactive waste to explore hosting a dump in Davis temporary waste Canyon near facility (see list Canyonlands below). Four tribes National Park sev- have dropped out of eral years ago. "We're· defi- the race and fi ve tribes and two coun- nitely opposed," ties have been said Scott Groene awarded' the of the South'er~ $100,000 grants so Utah Wilderness far. One tribe, the Alliance. "In Mescalero Apaches southern Utah, of New Mexico, has we've already sold advanced onto phase our clean air to II of the process, southern Califor- receiving an addi- nia, and now we'll tional $200,000. have to accept In each case, the <' their waste too." possibility of hosting Proponents, the facility, known Battelle-Northwest Photography however, say San as MRS - Moni- Nuclear fuel rods under water at the Hanford Nuclear FadIity inWashington Juan Coun ty is tored Retrievable well-suited for Storage - has generated intense centro- ter of approval from their governor. Col- waste because of past uranium mining. versy. orado and Kansas governors refused. "We've been involved in the uranium An MRS is designed to provide tern- When Labette County, Kan., wanted the industry for many years," said Rick Bai- porary storage for the spent fuel rods of the grant, Gov. Joan Finney responded, "In ley, assistant to the San Juan County nuclear power industry. The waste, most of my judgment. we have already created far Board of Commissioners. "It's provided which would come from plants in the East, too many national sacrifice zones dedicat- jobs and funded our school system. Urani- would sit in the MRS until a permanent ed to nuclear industry activities." She um has been very good to us." site, such as the proposed Yucca Mountain added that an MRS may channel In Fremont County, Wyo., the local, facility in Nevada, is consiructed. resources away from efforts to find a safe, government applied for and received a To the county or reservation that is permanent home for the waste. "phase one" grant, much to the consterna- chosen to house the waste, the DOE will Utah, however, is moving forward tion of many residents in Riverton, offer such perks as highway, railroad and .with two MRS study applications. The Dubois and Lander. airport improvements, other public works Goshute Indian Tribe, which has a small Gov. Mike Sullivan stepped in last . projects and direct financial assistance reservation in Skull Valley, about 50 month, telling the county not to proceed (HCN, 1/27/92). miles southwest of Salt Lake City, has further. Some are distressed that so many applied, and commissioners in San Juan "I simply do not endorse the wisdom tribes have been targeted by the DOE."1f County in the southeastern comer of the of the policy (for storage) adopted by. the you're hurting bad enough, you'll sign. state voted in May to become a study site. federal government," said Sullivan, "nor anything," Rep. Ben Nighthorse Camp- . 'The,county's decision drew immedi- do I trust the federal government or the bell, D-Colo., told The Denver POSI. ' ate fire-from the Navajo Nation, a portion' nuclear industry to assure our interests as Campbell, a member of the Northern of whose reservation lies in San Juan , a state are protected." Cheyenne Tribe, also drew a comparison County. Navajos, who make up 50 per- - Caroline Byrd between the sites being courted for waste. , ~ cent of the county's population, have spo- and those chosen as reservations a century. ken OUI against federal attempts to -put : , Caroline Byrd is a former HCN ago. "It was the worst land they could nuclear iacilities on or near reservations. intem ...._ find," he said. "The government is play: ing the same game." . , He said nuclear waste should 'be. stored where it is generated. "I hate to see Nuclear waste candidates: it happen on Indian reservations because . . As of Aug. 11, 1992,the following have applied for an MRS study grant: they are susceptible to anything." -' 1. Mescalero Apache Tribe, New Mexico' . - _.. ~ - . One spokesman for a national jribal '. - . ·Z.Grant County. Norih Dakota. . -. C organization said he would be "real sur: . *·3. Chickasaw Indian N arion, Oklahoma prised" if any of the tribes actually go all ·4. Fremont County, Wyoming " the way through with the MRS' process ;5. Prairie Island Indian Community. Minnesota because of its level of controversy, : -.'" 6. The" Sac and FQXNation, Oklahoma . So far, only the Mescalero Apaches, •.7. Yakima Indian Nation, Washington ~ have moved on to the next, more complex 8. Apache County. Arizona phase of study to determine how feasible an 9. Skull ValleyBandof Goshute Tribe, Utah MRS would be on its southern New Mexico 10. Alabama-QuassarteTribe, Oklahoma reservation, said DOE spokeswoman 11. Eastern Shawnee Tribe. Oklahoma Samantha' Williams. The tribe can now iz, Tetlin VillageCouncil, Alaska BARBS -13. Lower Brule Sioux of South Dakota position itself to receive up to $2.8 million 14. Akhiok-Kaguyak,IncJAkhiok TraditionalCouncil, Alaska more, which would be used to examine the 15. Apache Development Authority, Oklahoma merits or drawbacks of a specific site. * 16. Absentee Shawnee Tribe. Oklahoma The tribal government faces strong 17. San JuanCounty,Utah opposition, both from within the tribe and 18. Ponca Tribe, Oklahoma from surrounding communities. New * 19. Caddo Tribe of Oklahoma Mexico Gov. Bruce King has vowed that 20. Labette County,Kansas an MRS will never be built in his state. 21. Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, Nevada/Oregon Other governors have voiced similar opposition. Counties applying to the DOE * withdrew application Source: Department of Energy for the MRS giant must first obtain a let-

6 - High Country News - September 21, 1992 Unclassifieds

WANTED - Dynamic Executive Director ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE CENTER "OUTDOOR PEOPLE AD-Venture" lists 60- for 12,000 member non-profit wildlife con- (ERC), Executive Director, Ketchum, Idaho. word descriptions of active, outdoor- servation organization. Responsibilities Director develops. organizes and directs pro- oriented Singles and Trip Companions nation- include: handling of natural resource issues, grams of the ERe. Responsibilities include: wide. $36ssue, $l2/ad. OUTDOOR PEOPLE- lobbying, administration. media, public rela- fund raising. grant writing, grass-roots devel- HCN, P.O. Box 600; Gaston;SC 29053. tions, publication of bimonthly newsletter opment, staff supervision and budget man- and supervision of fund-raising programs and agement. Qualifications: 24 years experience 520-ACRE COLORADO mountain ranch in professional staff of three. Qualifications: in environmental field; background work beautiful open valley, an hour from Vail, cuts B.A. of B.S.jnaiural resource background with program development; writing/speaking 350 tons grass hay or sununers 265 yearlings, preferred. Experience with the above respon- abilities; computer skills. $30,000 plus bene- trout stream, nice home, 'barn, corrals. Price sibilities and work with a Board of Directors fits. Send resume to: ERC~ Box 819, just reduced to only $254,800. TREECE' desired. Salary - $35,000+ based on experi- Ketchum, ill 83340 (208n26-4333). (lx17p) LAND SALES, 303/243-4170. (2xI6b) -ence. Please send resumes to: Box 106, LOBBYIST WANTED FOR lDAHO Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003 by September EMPLOYMENT WANTED: EX-HCN AUDUBON COUNCJL - for 1993 session 30, 1992. Equal Opportunity Employer. lNTERN WITH DEGREE in Biology/Envi- ronrnental Studies (Bowdoin College) seeks ofldaho State Legislature (Jan. I to April 30, 1993). Must be an effective communicator GRASS-ROOTS ORGANIZER. The Alaska I employment in environmental field. Very and familiar with resource issues in Idaho. Center for the Environment, a regional non- flexible, enthusi astic. Auden Schendler, 8 Full-time salary $I,200jmonth. Contact: profit environmental advocacy organization. Burr Place, Weehawken, NJ 07087. 2011867- Dave Siebanthaler, Box 1514, Bonners Ferry, Get your new HeN seeks an experienced grass-roots organizer. 0730. (lxI7b) ill 83805 (208/267-2155). (3xI6p) T-shirt and visor Must have a proven track record of mobiliz- ing volunteers and building broad-based FULL-TIME EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALTERNATIVE ENERGY CATALOG for coalitions in a rural setting through formal needed for Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited. Designed by HeN artist Diane Sylvain, remote homes. Solar electric, wind, hydro- and informal networking, public speaking, Issues awareness, fund-raising experience, T-shirts are aquamarine with blue ink or electric generators, wood-fired hot tubs, com- writing and media contact. Travel required. and administrative background desirable. posting toilets and more. $2.50, refundable oatmeal with cranberry ink; visors are Annual starting salary: $20,000 to $24,000. $20,000-$23,000 plus benefits. Send cover with order. Yellow Jacket Solar, Box 60H, white with blue ink. Prices are postage letter, resume, writing sample and references Please send resume (references helpful) to: Lewis, CO 81327. (12xlp) paid. to ACE, 519 W. 8th Ave., #201, Anchorage, Trout Unlimited, POB 4069, Jackson, WY AK 99501, or fax to 907/274-4145. Deadline 83001. Deadline for resume and inquiries is LAND LETTER ... the newsletter for natural T-shirt -$12. Visor -$6.50. is Oct. 5, 1992. For more information call Oct. 15, 1992. (2xI7b) resource professionals. Special introductory Please send _ aquamarine T-shirt(s): 907/274-3621. (lx17b) offer. Write 1800 North Kent St., Suite l120, smail medium OVER 400 TlMBER SALES in Colorado? Arlington, VA 22209 or call':O~/525-63oo. __ large _ extra large ...... ~.".You bet, and that's just the next five years! ..... ~We've just produced a 20x30 poster of Col- CAN LIVESTOCK GRAZING BE BOTH Please send,_ oatmeai T-shirt(s): .... .:,l orado, adorned with fine line drawings of ENVIRONMENTALLY PROTECTIVE AND smail lTiedium endangered wildlife and all 400 timber sale ECONOMICALLY PROFIT ABLE? Hear __ large _ extra large locations. It's an accurate work of art to help experts debate this critical issue. A two-hour you fight for Colorado's forests. Send $6.00 cassette tape of the public forum broadcast (2 for $10) to: "Colorado's Dirty Dozen," Please send _ visors (one size fits all) throughout Utah is now available. The tape fea- Ancient Forest Rescue, :f235 Floral Drive, tures High Country News publisher Ed Marston Enclosed is $ T-shirts Boulder, CO 80304. Proceeds protect Col- and innovative Oregon rancher Doc Hatfield. orado old growth: (lxI7b) . Send $30 to League of Women Voters of Utah, Medium - Large - Extra Large Salt Lake City, UT 84106 (801/272-8683). Name Blue on Off-White WE DON'T SEND JUNK MAIL! $12.00 Street address We would like you to know about our A T-shirt purchase is an automatic enviro,.mentaUy sound products membership in the Great Old Broads but you'U hove to caU or write us. for. Wilderness. Suggested annual dues of City. State ZIP $15.00 is appreciated, but not required. A SHARED SENSE OF PLACE: P.O. Box 520307 ' PARTNERSHIPS & Mail to High Country News, PROTECTION P.O. Box 1090, Paonia: CO 81428 Salt Lake City, UT 84152-0307 (801)539-8208 1992 Annual" Meeting of The Nature Conservancy's Colorado Program Keynote Speaker: Ralph Gross, President American Farmland Trust September 26, 1992 - ECYCLE ~, 10:00am Cafe Blue Bayou ;'~ RECn1ED'MPER Steamboat Springs, Colo. TRE-u.eutJ.«Jd/f -I"'Y"; Join us for a discussion on how conservation and tlP.O, Box 5086 Bozeman, MT 59717 agricultural interests can work together to protect ecological and rural values in the Yampa Valley. (406) 586-5287 '

'\

1. Calories don't count. All together now, 2. Smoking won't hurt you. 3. Hey guys, if you let the SUBSCRIBE to High Country News ColoradoAir National A paper for people ' Guard play war games over the Sangre de Cristo who care about the West Mountain Range and the Great Sand Dunes National o One year - $28 '0 One year, institution - $38 Monument, we promise o Two years - $49 '0 Two years, institution -$67 not to hurt the "Institutional rate applies 10 subscriptions paid for with a business, government, or ether' wilderness or organization check. Public and school libraries may subscribe at the $28 rate. ••10" its environment . D My check is enclosed, or, 0 charge my credit card D Visa 0 MasterCard: acct no. _ Expiration date Signature _ D Please bill me Name _ Address --=,..------City, State, Zip Please mail to: HeN, Box 1090, Paonia, CO 81428 Vol. 24, No. 17

Hohokam design High Country News - September 21~ 1992 - 7 · ,

Tin Lizzies drive on a cut through a snowfield on the Going-to-the-Sun Highway

Ice cave stares back atIts admirers on Boulder G."

Stealing an Identity: Two Medicine Chalet and a "Swiss" waitress The imposing Empire Builder: Nomatch for tin L

Tourists and one of their Lizzies at Many Glacier tent camp

,I ,N Rtf!!J:IViI r."", .I'F, to

Atracked, moneyed world ~vesway at Glacier

In 1932, Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun road was nearly complete. The highway transformed the park, changing the dominant vehicle for exploration from horse to automobile. No longer were the alpine heights of Glacier the exclusive domain of the Eastern tourist who spent days or even weeks on horse trails. About 8,000 of these well-off tourists had arrived every summer on the Great Northern Railroad, their lodging alternating between the sumptuous accommodations of-the Glacier Park , Hotel Company and,the deluxe mountain tent-camps of the Bar X 6. A golden age of park travel - for those who had the means and the time -. began to fade away in the 1930s. From then on, any American family owning a "tin Lizzy" could discover this gem in Montana.

" <. atIts admirers on Boulder Glacier Photos circa 1932-1934 from plates in' the George A Grant collection, Photos from Trains, Trails, & Tin Lizzies, published by the Glacier Natural History Association, West Glacier. Mont" 1987,

~ire Builder: Nomatch for tin Llzzles The mountains pose for tourists at Ptarmigan Tunnel parapet

High Country News - September 21, 1992 - 8, 9 'Fossils are the last American gold- rush.' - Pat ,Leiggi, Montana State University paleontologist

. Pal Dawson Youngsters show their support for Sue

Battle for the bones •••

(continued-from page 1) dig up the dinosaur. than scientific." But the real landowner was the fed- U.S. District Judge Richard Battey "Sue," the biggest skeleton of a Tyran- eral government, which held Williams's was also critical of Robert Bakker, a nosaurus rex ever found. land in trust. It is a common arrangement Colorado paleontologist who was one of As local residents protested on the that gives Indian properiy owners a tax the first to contend dinosaurs were far sidewalk, agents crated the beast and exemption. more active than once thought. The hauled it to nearby Rapid City. There its Since Larson had never obtained judge called Bakker a "zealot of the first bones sit in a steel storage bin as a court federal permission to dig, Acting U.S. order" for his defense of Larson's insti- battle drags on, making the 65 million- Attorney Kevin Schieffer said Sue was tute. Judge Battey also complained that year-old beast a centerpiece of the mod- dug up illegally. Larson says everything Larson's side has "attempted to make em bone wars. was legal and is suing to get Sue back. this seizure a media event." ''There was a lime that amateur, com- Meanwhile, the Cheyenne River tribes, 'It's the royal mercial and academic collectors worked which now want Sue for their museum, together for the advancement of the sci- have intervened in the case. priesthood of ence and art of paleontology," Larson told In addition to its scientific and edu- the conference. "However, recent events cational value, Sue is worth money. Two paleontology' have divided the we into us versus them." years ago, Leiggi recalls, a Japanese hile Sue's Larson called supporters of the Bau- company offered Montana State $4 mil- impoundment that supports cus bill "the royal priesthood of paleontol- lion for a Tyrannosaurus rex its teams added fuel to a fire that has been 'smolder- the Baucus bill. ogy, who would only open science to unearthed in eastern Montana. ing in paleontological circles for years, it themselves." But the Black Hills Institute had no also changed the character of the bicker- -' Peter Larson, Sue.mamed for the fossil prospector plans to sell Sue, Larson tells everyone ing. Instead of writing letters to scholarly journals, both sides are lashing out pub- president of the SusanHendrickson, who discov- who will listen. Instead, the firm had ered it in 1990, was dug out of already donated the dinosaur Iicly, testifying against each other in court Black Hills Institute for a hillside on the Cheyenne skeleton to a related non-profit and pushing for solutions in Congress. Geological Research River Sioux Indian Reserva- group that intended to make it a In June, leaders of the Society of tion in South Dakota. Larson's centerpiece of a new museum. Vertebrate Paleontology, a group of fos- fum paid the Indian landown- The museum would be located sil scholars, voted to expel anyone deal- er, Maurice Williams, in South Dakota's touristy ing in fossils found on federal Land - an $5,000 for the righ t to Black Hills and open to action apparently aimed at Larson. scientific study, Lar- In turn, several members, including a son says. top scientist from the Smithsonian Institu- Thus far, a tion - which has received donated speci- federal judge mens from Larson's firm and bought some has refused to from him, too - quit the organization. give Sue back to "As a body, we're not rabble the fossil company, rousers," says Jason Lillegraven, a Uni- saying the firm's versity of Wyoming professor. But he told . interests "are the Rapid City conference that things had more com- gotten out of hand. "When the prices of mercial these pieces take them out of circulation for study, it's time to be concerned." In 1987, a National Academy of Sci- ences panel declared "paleontology is best served by unimpeded access to fos- sils" and urged that all public land be open to digging. But the Society of Ver- tebrate Paleontology. which remains split on the subject, beat back that idea. Fossils have long been sold as curiosities, and some of the best dinosaur discoveries have been profit-driven. In 1977, two trainmen got eastern paleon- tologists interested in Como Bluff, a pro- The skull of Sue and Terry Wentz, who was working on the Tyrannosaurus rex bones when the lific Wyoming boneyard, after sending a FBIseized them lO-HighCountryNews-September21, 1992, /._•••••••••••••••••• ••••••••• , box of bones, with a note: "If we can sell Guyon says. the secret of the fossil bed and procure , And the mone- work in excavating others we would like tary value of fossils has made it more dif- to do so." All five known specimens of ficult for some non- Archaeopteryx, the possible evolutionary profit scientists to get link between dinosaurs and modern permission to dig on birds, were collected by European quar- . private lands. rymen eager 'to supplement their pay- When Emry checks. One specimen, however, is now began collecting pre- Taking sides -missing, prompting speculation that its historic mammal fos- private owner sold it or lost it, sils across the West •A prime proponent of closing public 35 years ago, few Regardless, commercial collectors lands to for-profit digging is ~ Society argile, such important discoveries show minded. Landowners of, Vertebrate Paleontology, W436 that private enterprise canbe an energiz- now still let him ing force - even in science. look, "but every time Nebraska Hall, University of Nebras- I pick something up, Only in recent years, however, have ka, Lincoln, NE 68588·0542 remains of ancient life become as highly they'll say, 'What is valued as prized artworks, says William that worth?' " (4021472·4604). Clemens, curator of paleontology at the One North The Black Hills Institute is a major Dakota rancher, University of Califomia, Berkeley, . proponent of opening public lands to That is partly due to rising demand for learning from bone commercial digging. It is a member of relics in Europe and Japan. New museums dealers that a are going up but few fossils are available dinosaur skeleton on the American Association of Paleonto- his land could bring locally, he says. Ecological Enterprises, logical Suppliers, which has compiled a Inc., of Ardmore, Okla., lists "one of the several thousand dol- code of ethics for commercial fossil col- top 10 skulls ever found" of a homed lars, led friends on a Triceratops. It costs $200,000. The dealer dig with spades and a lection. The Black Hills Institute of Geo- cooler of beer, says also sells "the most complete skeleton logical Research, Inc., can be reached at known" of whatmay be a type of duck- state paleontologist P.O. Box 643, Hill City, SD 57745 , billed dinosaur. A cetalog from Prehistaic , John , Hoganson . .Journeys offers bags of dinosaur eggshell They destroyed most (605/574-4289). of the remains of a fa' $10, fossilized dinosaur dung ,for $12 or The sponsor of a bill to close federal rare type of dinosaur, . $2011epetldingQn size, and the sknlJ of a 36 land to for-profit digs is Sen. Max Bau- million-year-old rhinoceros-like.animal for he says. Public lands in $7,500. .' , ~us,D-Mont, Washington, DC 20510 the West, which are' Prehistoric Journeys generally gets its' (202/224.2651). specimens from field collectors lind then often rough and diffi- prepares them in its California laboratory, MichaelMilstein cult to reach, are says James.valthough its staff can lend Supporters' of Sue at a rally among the best expertise on important excavations. Geo- places to find bones. logical Enterprises owns a dinosaur quarry and sold in

Battle 1 for the bones ...

(Contlnuedjrom previous page)

mammoths known disappeared from Utah's Arches National Park. And Leig- gi recalls returning to promising fossil sites to find them P&ked with potholes. To build public support for commer- cial fossil digs, Dinamation International Society, an offshoot of a firm that makes robotic dinosaurs, takes paying customers, mostly teachers and college students, on fossil digs. Its teams have found new crea- tures, including a sickle-clawed dinosaur that may be the most vicious ever seen. The Michael Milstein non-profit group has also joined with the The jawbone of an allosaur, found near SheIl, Wyoming, by private diggers BLM to construct trails in Colorado where tourists can see bones intact act" for scientists, says collector Larson, "We want til show it'. useful to Most people don't steal. But you still people who suggests non-profit scientists want have these things available. bo'ii to the pub- need laws against it." Under the Baucus bill, amateur rock- commercial collectors banned from fed- lic and for study," says Dmamation paleoa- eral lands so· they can be assured of tologist Jim Kirkland. "We're trying to hounds would need permits before picking lucrative federal digging contracts to do build a constituency for y:oteetion of fos- up a vertebrate fossil (which does not the kind of surveys required by the bill. sils, not for using them as tookends." include seashells and plants) and could only collect if they were "affiliated" with a "We have shown that paleontology museum or school that "has no direct or can succeed on its own in the free mar- indirect affiliation with a commercial ven- ket," says Larson. "We don't get any tax ture that" collects fossils. money, and we 're proud that we don't You would think in this day and age oth- ith increasing Violations of the "Vertebrate Pale- ers would be praising us, not trying to pressure for fos- ontological Resources Protection Act" drive us under." sils, public lands need more protection, would be punishable by a $10,000 fine Business at Larson's Black Hills many non-profit scientists say. So they are and up to one year in prison. Basically, Institute is now at a standstill and the pushing for the Baucus bill to solidify cur- the bill gives fossils the same protection firm is swamped by the $75,000 it has rent policies that generally han commer- that human artifacts - archaeological paid attorneys to "Free Sue," a cry-now cia! fossil collection on public lands. remains - have now. emblazoned on bumper stickers. It's also Says Ted Fremd, a paleontologist at But it would also require government on a billboard on the side of the insti- Oregon's John Day Fossil Beds National agencies, mainly the Bureau of Land tute's Hill City building that pictures a Monument: "Most commercial collec- Management and U.S. Forest Ser- teary-eyed tyrannosaur looking out from tors are good folks. vice, to survey their lands for fossil resources and manage them sepa- behind the bars of a jail cell. J. .; Bumper sticker rately from cultural remains. That If the dispute over fossil selling has means the agencies would likely led scientists who normally dig in dirt to have to hire paleontologists, or throw it at each other, it has also drawn contract with them to examine many others into the fray. areas for fossils, before any South Dakota's governor said he ; development proceeds. was "mad as hell" the National Guard That makes it a "welfare joined in U.S. Attorney Schieffer's raid without telling him. A Rapid City newspaper poll found 76 percent of local residents think Sue, whose skull was about to be shipped to NASA to be CAT-scanned for a study of dinosaur anatomy, should be returned. Sympathetic diggers found a tricer- atops in Wyoming that had been feasted on by a hungry tyrannosaur. They named it Kevin. "We've got a dinosaur that was trashed by tyrannosaurus," they said. "We hope that Mr. Schieffer eventually meets a similar fate." Black Hills Institute lawyers are still trying to get the dinosaur back. While it may all seem amusing, says Terry Wentz, a researcher who spent several tedious months freeing Sue's skull from the rock that covered it, "It's not that funny when your friends are threatened with jail." Meanwhile, fossils continue to grow in popularity. Tom Demere, chairman of paleontology at the San Diego Natural History Museum, says he now has a hard time convincing people to donate fossils. "They want to sell them," he says. But in the remarkable millions of years dinosaurs ruled the planet, even a few years or centuries of bickering over Champsosaurus, 3/411 fine vertebrae ••••• $10 1/211 toe bone, part restored, WV•••• $150 1/2" vertebrae vi th 6 Edmontosaurus teeth their bones is little more than a punctua- 1/411 fine toe bone, Wyoming •••••• ~•• $300 in 4:<4 1/211 matrix ••••••••••••••• ·····$100 tion mark in the history ledger. For Sue, lbertosaurus, 1/2" fair tooth in 1x2.l1 1" fine vertebrae, chevron &. teeth of Judge Battey noted, "a court resolution, slab with £dmontosauru5 tooth •••••••••• $40 Edmontosaurus on 3 1/2x4 1/2" matrix ••• $60 Bird Bone, 1" incomplete, Wyoming••••••• $a Clidastes, skull and jover jaws with although lengthy, will only constitute a Brachychampsa nont ana , alligator tooth •• $6 some vertebrae, delivery 90 days from blip on the scene." • 3 8" tail vert~ ••••••••••••••••••• $8 order ••.••••••••••••••••••••••• N£T.$10,000 3/8" fine tooth, Wyoming ••••.•••••••••• ·$8 Oromeosauru: albertenlli 1/411 juvenile 5/an-fine tooth, Wyoming ••••••••••••• ··$15 n .. Michael Milstein reports for the Geological Enterprises' bone catalog Billings Gazelle from Cody, Wyoming.

12 - High Countr News - September 21, 1992 ______by Dan Dagget West, ranchers stunned the envi- n their hands and knees, an oddly ronmentalists by appointed group inspected Dwight Coop- agreeing. er's ranch in Arizona recently. "You're right," They counted perennial plants and they all said in one wildlife sign. They analyzed soil condi- form or another. Otions on random transects selected by the toss of a dart "Grazing has made a Cooper showed them an area, now in the Tonto National mess of theWest and Monument .east of Phoenix, which hadn't been grazed we need 10 take dras- since his father's cattle were removed from it over 80 tic measures to fix it years ago. He maintained that the range grazed under his up. We just disagree management was in better condition than the land that with you on what had been rested for over three-quarters of a century. those measures are." Some in the group looked skeptical. The gathering Then they said,"And that day included Cooper and a couple of neighboring we'd like to take you ranchers, plus agency people from the Forest Service, out on the land and Soil Conservation Service and the Arizona Department show you what we of Environmental Quality. Several urban environmen- mean." . talists came from as far away as Flagstaff. All are part Restoring the of a !oose-k,nit association known as "6-6." land, in HRM Bobby Holaday, a retired systems analyst and terms, usually .environmental activist, created the group in 1989 by involves "animal inviting six ranchers .and six environmentalists to her impact." i.e., inten- home in Phoenix. Arizona was in the midst of a pitched sive grazing alter- battle between pro- and anti-grazing forces over efforts nating with long to repeal a state law that gave ranchers free rein to kill periods of rest. In mountain lions and black bears. The controversy was some ways, this mired in the smoke-filled rooms of the Arizona legisla- involves nothing ture and the debate was more acrimonious every day. more exotic than This arroyo started out as a cow path 100 years ago Holaday's way of dealing with the impasse was to the techniques many of us apply to our yards and gardens every year. through Arizona's grasslands. Now they stop, get out, bring the two sides face to face. look and take photographs. And now they read more "I figured we were never going to agree, but at Animals (livestock) are the "tool," to use HRM jargon, that tills the rangeland soil, scatters the seeds and than ever about grasslands and grazing. least we could talk to each other. Nothing was being Another criticism of 6-6 is that it hasn't been "produc- solved the other way," she said. She first broached the applies the fertilizer (dung and urine). This works, the theory goes, because over the ages catt~e have devel- tive." Although the group recently set a goal of becoming idea to Tommie Martin, a friend who had been execu- associated with a ranch as a management team, in over tive director of the Arizona Cattlegrowers and an asso- oped a symbiosis with grasses much in the same way environmentalists like to say wolves have with deer. three years all its members have done is get together and ciate director for Alan Savory's International Center talk. To Bobby Holaday, that in itself justifies the time and for Holistic Range Management. Martin was now a Presented by a bunch of ranchers seeking to preserve their hold on public lands, this sounded highly suspect. effort she has spent "If all we do is bring people of such free-lance conflict resolution consultant Holaday pro- different values together by making an atmosphere where posed inviting six outspoken environmentalists if Mar- But the idea that discussing rangelands ought to be done on the range, not in a carport, was tOO logical a sug- they can communicate, it's worth it," tin would come up with an equal number of ranchers. To Tommie Martin, the best measure of the 6-6 Getting the environmentalists to show up was rela- gestion 10 pass up. Meetings moved out to the ranches and the list of those attending from both sides grew. The effect group's success may be that its non-confrontational tively easy. Among them was Steve Johnson, a strong approach is gathering momentum and beginning to critic of public-lands grazing arid at the time Southwest . was dramatic. Rangeland that had been easy to describe as either totally overgrazed or resting proved much more. spread. Martin, who travels the West spreading her : representative for Defenders of Wildlife. Three Sierra message of teamwork, says a number of groups similar complex. Club members signed on, including Paul Pierce of the to 6-6 are springing up as more activists become dissat- Grand Canyon Chapter, Jerry Nelson, who owns and On a field trip to the. sprawling grasslands of souiheastern Arizona, the group stopped at a fence. On isfied with the confrontational approach taken by estab- rents out a farm in Iowa, and myself. Dale Turner, lished groups on different sides of the issue. another Sierra Club member and a staffer for the Earth one side stretched a ranch owned by the National Audubon Society; on the other was an old Spanish land She says groups have been formed in Oregon, First! Journal, turned down the invitation. He said he Idaho, Colorado and Nevada. Each now has its own was so opposed to grazing on public lands that he grant, called the Babocomari Ranch. The Audubon side of the fence hadn't been grazed character, she says, and each moves in a unique direc- wouldn't be able to offer anything positive. tion. For instance, the Toiyabe Watershed and Wet- Martin, on the other hand, had considerable difficulty by livestock in over 20 years. The Babocomari side had been heavily grazed for well over a century, On the lands Management Group, for which Martin is facilita- rounding up six ranchers. "I called 60, got eight to say tor, recently signed a memorandum of understanding they'd come, and five to show up," she said. Among those roIling hills of the Audubon Ranch tall golden grass waved luxuriously in the breeze. On the Babocomari with the U.S. Forest Service to manage 90,000 acres of who did show up was Jack Metzger, a prominent member the Reese River Valley south of Austin, Nev. The of the Arizona Caulegrower's- Association and soon to side, a thin green carpet barely covered the hillsides. We walked to the tall grass tirst. At the suggestion group was given the go-ahead, she says, because of the beoome that organization's president of Ruken Jelk, a rancher from Patagonie. Ariz., W)lO success of its first three years with the land. The first gathering in Bobby Holaday's carport at "We've reduced the amount of bare ground by 80 the base of South Mountain was a cautious one. Martin was leading the trip, we grabbed a han~~.1 of grass and pulled. A puff of dust flashed in the sun :::;most of the percent," she said. "The meadows are coming back and was facilitator because of a background in conflict res- we're the greenest ranch there in spite of the fact that olution. She got everyone to agree to a set of guide- long grass blades shattered in our hands. The roots pulled free of the soil with almost no resistance. Sud- the area is in the middle of a terrible drought." lines: Everyone would speak as individuals and not as At the spring 6-6 gel-together at the Date Creek representatives of any group; they also agreed not to denly, we were holding a dead plant. As we looked across the landscape that moments ago had seemed so Ranch in central Arizona, those coming together included impose a group identity on anyone else, to listen and members of The Nature Conservancy, biologists from the not plan their next speech while others were talking lush, it became apparent that the grass we were seeing had grown last year, or the year before, and that many Arizona Riparian Council, a commissioner from the state's and not to use statements attributed to "they say" or game and fish department and Karan English, a state sena- "everybody knows." Those present also agreed that of the plants were dead or dying. On the Babocomari side of the fence, grass was short tor and candidate for the Congress. All were on hand to they would all be active participants with no one sitting take a look at the results of Phil Knight's efforts to rehabil- on the sidelines. Bobby Holaday added one more con- But it covered most of the ground, and it was alive. Making discoveries such as that has gained 6-6 mem- itate a riparian area on his ranch. His work has apparenily dition that was simple but effective in creating a group been successful. When photos of Date Creek taken two atmosphere - that everyone share a potluck lunch. bers the reputation of being brainwashed by Savory' months after it had been grazed were mixed with photos of Most of the ranchers who carne to that initial get- zealots. Lynn Jacobs, who has never attended a 6-6 meet- ing, described it in such terms in his book, Waste of the The Namre Conservancy's nearby Hassayampa Preserve, together were practitioners, to' varying degrees, of even the preserve manager couldn't tell which was which. Allan Savory's Holistic Range Management (HRM) West. Most 6-6ers, however, will tell you that their com- mitrnent to environmentalism is stronger, rather than After the field .trip, back at the ranch house for the methods. The fact that they were the ones to show up potluck lunch, Eva Patton of the Arizona Nature Con- . may have had something to do with the fact that HRM weaker, for the experience of dealing with the diversity of opinions they encounter at these outings. servancy, her lust meeting, gave a vote of confidence ranchers are already viewed as oddballs by some of to the 6-6 concept "1 think groups like this are the best their peers. They ran less risk, perhaps, of being stig- Earth First!er Mike Seidman, a caretaker at the hope we have on this issue." • matized by meeting with a group that included Sierra Phoenix Zoo who has become a 6-6 regular, said he enjoys the meetings even though he disagrees with Club and Earth First! members. Dan Dagget has been organizing and leading envi- The HRM presence was probably responsible for much that is said. "I come here because these are the only environmental meetings I go to where we actually ronmental groups for 20 years. This year he was honored insuring that 6-6 didn't end the day it began. When the as one of the top 100 grass-roots activists in the Sierra environmentalists at that first meeting said that cattle talk about the environment," he said. Seidman and oth- Club as part of that group's centennial celebration. ranching had wreaked environmental havoc on the ers now watch both sides of fence lines as they drive High Country News - September 21, 1992 - 13 RENDEZVOUS AND POWWOW WILD ROCKIES RENDEZVOUS The first River Rendezvous The Missoula, Mont-based Alliance and Sahnon Powwow.co-spon- for the Wild Rockies is sponsoring its sev- sored by the Central Oregon Envi- enth annual Wild Rockies Rendezvous. ronmental Center and Confederat- This year's festivities, expected to draw up ed Tribes ofWann Springs, takes to 300 participants, are set for Oct. 2-4 in place on the Wann Springs Indian Missoula. Staffer Dan Funsch says the pro- Reservation, Sept. 25-27. Cere- gram has a "roll up your sleeves and get monies begin with the Wann dirty" feel. Peter Bahouth, former director Springs Dancers and Drummers, of Greenpeace USA, is keynote speaker. and the weekend includes field Others include representatives of several trips to sacred and traditional sites. Native American tribes. Bill Marlett of the The event features more than 20 Oregon High Desert Protection Association WHICH ROW TO HOE? speakers focusing on the Native will facilitate workshops on sacred lands, The Minnesota-based Northwest Area American perspective of the salmon issue. treaty rights and wilderness issues. Regis- tration is $15 at the event and $10 before Foundation has released a report examin- The expected audience of 300 will hear from Sept. 25. For details contact Dan Funsch, ing sustainable azriculture at a conunercial native elders, resource managers and envi- • I~ Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Box 8731, level. WhlCh Row to Hoe documents how ronmentalists, and included in Saturday's Missoula, MT 59807 (406n21-5470). some fanners have benefited from alterna- program is a traditional salmon bake and sto- rytelling. For details call the Central Oregon tive fanning methods. The free report also Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas St., includes descriptions of the sacrifices as Bend, OR 97701 (503/385-6908). AN ENDANGERED SPECIESFAlR well as profits fanners may experience. An Endangered Species Fair with Readers learn how Vic Madsen reduced music, displays and talks is set for Sept. 26 expenses of pesticides and fertilizer by SO in Santa Fe, N.M. Speakers include Sam percent in four seasons, and how he Hitt, director of Forest Guardians, and expects to decrease his off-farm expenses Claire Tyrpak, director of New Mexico's 70 percent in'the next 10 years. The report Share With Wildlife program, who will. ~lso surveys "new" agriculture' s influence focus on threatened and endangered on cropping patterns, farm ir puts a-id species of the Southwest as well as yields and community interactir as in the attempts in Congress to weaken the Endan- Midwest and Northwest. InLewiston, gered Species Act. The Rio Grande chapter Minn., where fanners are reducing their of the Siena Club, Forest Guardians and use of chemicals, the local economy has Share With Wildlife are sponsors of the not been injured "Fanning i~always event. Writer and ecologist George changing, but everybody always ueeds Wuerthner will deliver the keynote address tools," says Dave Benson, whose Lewiston and present a slide show in the evening at feed and fertilizer stores are selling more the Randall Davey Audubon Center. For equipment in lieu of chemicals. To receive more information, call Patricia Wolff, Which Row to Hoe or a list of other fo~- dation reports, contact the Northwest Area 505/988-9126~ Foundation, 332 Minnesota Street, Suite E- 1201, St. Paul, MN 55101-1373 (612,1224- WISE USE OR LAND ABUSE? . 9635). - Mark Dooley The Colorado Environmental Coali- tion's Annual Retreat this year focuses on THE GREENING OF BUSINESS thewise use movement, which has suc- cessfully borrowed some tactics from envi- Green business is the topic of a semi- WHATREGROW7H? ronmentalists. The retreat is scheduled for nar Oct. 9-11 in Prescott, Ariz., sponsored A report released in June by Rep. Oct. 2-4 at the Buena Vista Community by the college's Common Ground Project. George Miller, D-Calif., turned up timber Center in Buena Vista, Colo. Featured "Fifty years from now, any business, any accounting and management problerns.on 16 speaker Darrell Knuffke, regional directorj., position mat is not environmentally sound, forests in the Pacific Northwest and Califor- for The Wilderness Society, will discuss -' will be obsolescent, maybe all the way to nia. The report charges the U.S. Forest Ser- the wise use agenda and the environmental obsolete and gone," says Prescott College vice made overly optimistic regrowth pro- campaign that has sprung up in opposition. President Doug North. Amory Lovins, co- jections, inflated timber inventories and The schedule also includes environmental founder of the

..,. ~. ~ Indian land claims deserve our support

In contrast to the Forest Service, the pueblo has source of well-being. The integrity of our community and _------1Jby Kay Matthews long been an ally - spiritually as well as financially our political system and the maintenance and transmission _ to those of us who have fought to preserve these of our cultural identity depend on that relationship." he presence of the 24,000-acre Pueblo of In the spirit of compromise, the pueblo has deleted Sandia prevents the city of Albuquerque mountains from various threats: more housing develop- ments, inadequate wilderness protection, increased traf- private inholdings from its claim and assured the public from sprawling into the nearby foothills to that access to the various picnic grounds, trails and the south. Nevertheless, the environmental fic and congestion, and the potential destruction of a unique riparian area in Las Huertas Canyon. The' Sandia Mountains Wilderness within the claim will be community in northern new Mexico is granted. I'd gladly accept more restricted access to Tfighting the tribe's attempt to reclaim its land from the pueblo was party to a forest plan appeal, underwrote the appeal of the Las Huertas Canyon Environmental these mountain areas I love to roam because I know the U.S. Forest Service. pueblo values the mountains - their waters, wildlife, The claim is a result of an 1859 land survey, which trees and wildness - in a way the Forest Service will improperly deleted 9,000 acres. of the Sandia Moun- never comprehend, much less manage. And in a politi- tains from a Spanish land grant. This land grant, with- cal sense, I feel any aboriginal land claim, be it 9,000 out the 9,000 acres, was later given to the pueblo. Most acres or 50,000, must be recognized as compensation of the 9,000 acres in question now belongs to the For- for the unjustifiable abrogation of this country's est Service, but the pueblo wants it back, a demand that treaties with Indian peoples. angers the National Wildlife Federation, The Wilder- Mter the signing of Taos Pueblo's precedent-setting ness Society and other local groups. claim, the federal government seemed ready to assume the All too often, this is the scenario in Indian land role ofindian advocate with the passage of a self -determi- claims. Many years ago, these same environmental nation initiative that opened the door for millions of acres groups opposed one of the hardest fought Indian bat- to be returned to Indians. The Pueblo of Sandia's land tles, waged by the Taos Pueblo in northern New claim, however, has languished in the labyrinth of the Mexico for its sacred Blue Lake. When the lake was Department of the Interior for five years now .:While a appropriated by the Forest Service as part of Carson decision against the pueblo was rendered by Interior in National Forest in 1906, the pueblo lost its most 1989, a delegation from the pueblo recently returned sacred shrine, site of numerous religious rituals. from Washington after resubmitting the claim. Once Although the Forest Service allowed the Indians spe- again it is under review. cial use of the lake, the pueblo fought persistently for . The pueblo has been reluctant to involve New its reacquisition. Finally in 1970, Congress passed a Mexico's congressional delegation in the Department bill recognizing the pueblo's claim to the lake and of Interior's review. As tribal administrator Malcolm , 48,000 surrounding acres. Since then, the area has been Montoya has pointed out, "Our claim, unlike that of the zealously protected by the Taos Pueblo, off-limits to the Taos Pueblo people, affects a mountain range that is general public and even to those from the pueblo not adjacent to a huge population that uses that land exten- specifically sanctioned. sively. It's not a popular issue." This off-limits status, more than anything, is what ...... 1IlIIl "~A~nc:ientP~blo design- Mountains like the Sandias, so near our urban seems to have raised the ire of conservation groups' areas, are the last refuge of animal and plant popula- then and now. Viola Miller, chairwoman of the Albu- tions hemmed in by concrete and asphalt. The Forest Impact Statement, and is one of six Imembers of a Las querque Open Space Task Force, expressed the envi- Service is standing in the wings ready to develop what ronmentalists' sentiments when she said, "If we lose Huertas Canyon lawsuit. To my mind, environmental groups should sup- the city sees as its playground. this Forest Service land and this wilderness area land, The Pueblo of Sandia'has stated, "Our commitment is we basically will not have control of its future use for port Indian land claims as the ultimate means of pre- serving, with or without public access, our dwindling to keep the mountain land in a Illllural,unspoiled state. The generations-and years to come." forest lands. Taos Pueblo has maintained Blue Lake intent of the federalgovernment seeins to be the opposite,' Clifford Mendel, Albuquerque Wildlife Federation It is quite clear in whose camp environmentalists belong, president, said, "The transfer will spell the development and its surrounding forest lands in as pristine condition as we will ever know them. and by not supporting Indian land claims, like that of the of the 19 percent of the Sandia Wilderness claimed by. Pueblo of Sandia, we are failing in our own commiunent the pueblo." These are the same voices that have been The Pueblo of Sandia govemment has stated: "The Sandia Mountain is sacred to the people of the Pueblo of to protect these forest lands.• shouting for years, in appeals and lawsuits, that the For- Kay Matthews lives in Las Placitas, New Mexico. est Service has capitulated 10development interests. Sandia The mountain is our church, our protector, and our LETTERS best professional opinion. In the real world tend to abandon dams, adding to their for the use of beavers in riparian restora- beyond the Beltway, the bureaucratic atmo- SOME OBSERVATIONS instability. Most abandoned dams which tion work: spherics more closely resemble those of I have seen are in narrow valleys with . 1. Never introduce beaver into areas ABOUT BEAVER Hurricane Andrew. highly confined streams. where they were not native. This is espe- cially important where there are native . As a survivalist inside a federal land Dear HCN, I have spoken with ranchers who salmonids (probably now endangered) that management agency, I and large numbers. The front page article concerning claim that beavers are responsible for did not evolve in the presence of beaver of my peers quickly learned that one's pr0- beavers (HCN, 8I24fll) was generally right most of the downcutting on their ranch dams. Spawning travel could be impeded. fessional opinion is welcome when it sup- on, but leaves one thinking that beavers are due to washouts. But except for debris 2. Never introduce beaver into ports the status quo. But if it signilicantly a panacea for restoring riparian areas. For problems mentioned above, the additional steep, highl confined streams. They will challenges the direction from on high, some streams, beaver can be useful, for water added to a flood is minimal. COnsid- watch out! Folks who consistently stick to others beaver will be inappropriate, Having er a potential flood generated on a small, quickly ~t themselves out of existence their science when such conclusions con- spent several years researching riparian steep watershed of 5,000 acres. One inch and will n.cve elsewhere. flict with the agency's chosen course often areas in the Great Basin, I have a few of runoff over 24 hours would be a huge 3. Introduce beaver (or allow natural establishment) a few at a time into areas have about as much respect as homeowners observations. flood with 417·acre-feet of water. Most with former meadows that are now mod- who chose to ride out the storm in their In general, the late summer base flow beaver darn complexes I have seen are beach-front houses. is higher below a system of dams than in less than five acres and if the average erately confined with an adequate food This is not 10say that a significant per- streams without dams. But this observation depth is five feet (an exaggeration), only supply. As mentioned in your article, centage of land-management agency holds only for beaver dams built on 25 acre-feet would be added to the flood. benefits may be immense. employees fail to fight the good fight But streams with a wide valley bottom where The most damage would come if the darn Thomas J. Myers either Mr. Fox had a somewhat sheltered the area inundated is large and there is a lot burst instantaneously, but the construction -..:.' Reno, Nevada (and meteoric) ride up the BLM's career of alluvial soil to store the water. In narrow makes me believe that failure would take ladder, or he has suffered a case of selective canyons, storage behind dams is small and several hours, therefore the effect on the Foggy Bonom-inducted memory loss. the effect on base flow is minimal. Total flood flow would be minimal. (Has any- THE BLM APPRECIATES I hope a time comes when Mr. Fox's annual flow is probably less due to one ever witnessed a beaver dam break? If CRITICISM. NOT "constructive debate and involvement of increased evaporation, but the increase is' so, I'd like to read a description in HCN.) concerned people" actually results in lost during the spring runoff due to lack of It is true that the released sediment improved land management programs. But storage. In my experience, beaver dams from a breached dam could smother Dear HCN, '''' I was absolutely incredulous to read if I may paraphrase the chief: We are not add only about 10 percent additional sur- spawning beds, but consider the years of well served by managers who lack enough face area, so the increased evaporation is improved spawning due to the capture of the broad-minded proclamation by H. James Fox, chief of the BLM's rangelands professionalism and moral courage to listen minimal ... sediment in the dams. Also, I have seen resources, concerning the Safe,comfortable ' 10honest recommendations. In steep, narrow canyons, beaver many downcut streams in wide valleys work atmosphere inside the Bureau of Yours for cows in all the "right dams tend to be more unstable. Floods that are recovering and formerly raw, Land Management (HCN, 8flAfll). It may places." can remove them easier and the debris eroding banks are now quite stable. Good examples in Nevada are the Quinn be possiblethat, in the rarified atmosphere may increase scour farther downstream. Woody Hesselbarth and Reese rivers -. of line "managerhood" Mr. Fox moves in, Narrow riparian areas have fewer trees, Grangeville, Idaho therefore less food for the beavers who In summary, I offer a few guidelines one can be resolutely candid with one's High Country News - September 21, 1992 - 15