Cascade Lookout New 2002
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A Publication of the Okanogan and Wenatchee U.S. Forest Service National Forests 2003 INSIDE Birding and Bears The End of the Road Dry Forests and Fires Mud, Weeds and Watersheds Avalanches and Golden Eagles Water Wars and Beaches of Gold Forgotten Lookouts and Firefighting Great Places to Visit on Your National Forests John Marshall John cover photograph by photograph cover Forest News & Information his is the sixth edition of the Cascade and in the capabilities of the employees on these A Farewell Note Lookout, the annual newspaper published two forests. by the Okanogan and Wenatchee Na- I have thoroughly enjoyed my career with the from the Forest Ttional Forests. Each year I look forward to reading Forest Service and the opportunity I’ve had to the articles written by our local employees, and work with so many good people and communities Supervisor this year especially because it is my last year as throughout the western United States. Forest Supervisor for the Okanogan and National Forests belong to the people of the Wenatchee National Forests. I retired in April United States. Over the years, I’ve always appreci- after having worked here for 16 years, and for the ated it when citizens take the time to help us work Forest Service for the past 40 years. our way through issues and conflicts in forest As a retiree I look forward to enjoying more management. time to explore our fantastic national forest lands Elsewhere in this edition of the Cascade and enjoy the many recreation opportunities that Lookout you will find an article about the revi- they offer. In fact, you may see me hiking, fishing, sion of the Okanogan and Wenatchee Forest boating, or playing with my grandchildren in local Plans. These plans will guide management of the areas of our national forests. Forests for the next 10 to 15 years. If you love Darrel Kenops, former supervisor of the these forests, I hope you will ask to be put on the Willamette National Forest in Oregon, will serve mailing list and make comments for the plan as supervisor for the Okanogan and Wenatchee revision. Forests for several months until a permanent Thank you for the opportunity to manage your replacement is selected. Darrel is a very capable Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests. It’s Sonny J. O’Neal and experienced Forest Supervisor and will do a been a privilege I will never forget. great job. Darrel will be assisted by Deputy Forest Supervisor Alan Quan. It is a good time for me to retire; I have a lot of confidence in the leadership currently in place, Darrel Kenops Sonny J. O’Neal “Respect the he Okanogan and Wenatchee Na- tional Forests’ “Respect the River” River” Program has been recognized by the TWestern Division of the American Fisheries Society as the 2003 US Forest Service winner Recognized for of the Award of Excellence in Riparian Management. Excellence in Jeff Uebel, Assistant Fisheries Program Leader for the Pacific Northwest Region, Riparian Management accepted the award plaque on behalf of the two forests at the Western Division’s annual by Deborah Kelly meeting in San Diego on April 16, 2003. Public Affairs Specialist The Western Division of the American Fisheries Society sponsors an annual event called The Riparian Challenge to encour- age the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service to strive for excellence in riparian habitat management. The Riparian Challenge encourages progress in true “on- the-ground” accomplishments and recognizes managers and resource specialists for their efforts in managing and improving riparian This partnership has resulted in improvements systems. of more than 260 acres of riparian habitat and Entries must document riparian habitat man- educational contacts with more than 200,000 area agement efforts where resource values have been residents to date. improved within a watershed such as streambank The Respect the River program is a logical and stability, water quality, vegetative diversity, collaborative approach to protecting riparian stream flows, subsurface water supplies, fish habitat and maintaining recreational opportuni- habitat, wildlife habitat, forage production, ties. The approach is easy to apply in dispersed recreation, and education. recreational areas across the nation, and the Respect the River improves these resource program results in concrete improvements in values through a restoration and education riparian habitat. program designed to balance the need for preser- As Respect the River moves into its second vation of riparian areas and endangered species decade, the focus now is on coordinating efforts with the recreational needs of the public. Surveys, across the forest and across the nation. The public input, restoration, and a volunteer steward- program has already been adopted on the ship program help to identify riparian areas Umatilla, Malheur, and Santa Fe National Forests. degraded by recreational use. This is followed by The Santa Fe program has a strong Spanish an appropriate restoration and maintenance bilingual component and is called Respect the Rio. strategy. Respect the River received the Region 6 Caring Assisted by volunteers, Cle Elum Ranger District Respect the River employees planted trees and installed Respect the River originated on the Methow for the Land and Serving People award for Forest interpretive signs at DeRoux trailhead. Shown here: Valley Ranger District, Okanogan National Forest Team in 2002. Denise Cresto and Jennifer Schmidt in 1994, and was later adopted by the Cle Elum Program managers agree that it’s exciting to see Ranger District, Wenatchee National Forest. With how Respect the River is growing and evolving as the two forest merger in 2000, the Respect the it is adopted and put into practice in different River Program began its implementation phase on areas. That’s what is so neat about the concept; all districts of the Okanogan and Wenatchee the basic ideas are flexible enough to be molded to National Forests in 2001. work in a variety of areas. A national Respect the Successful implementation of this program River website is in the works and will soon be requires cooperation from all agency resources available to help keep spreading the word. ■ and is supported by community partners and ■ 2 C ASCADE LOOKOUT volunteers. s part of a move to simplify recreation fees The funds from both the Golden Eagle Pass- across the nation, the Okanogan and port and the Northwest Forest Pass are used to Golden Eagle Wenatchee National Forests has begun provide the facilities and services requested by the Ahonoring the Golden Eagle Passport at most public. Eighty percent of the sales are retained at Forest Service recreation fee sites. Visitors can the national forest where they are purchased with Passports to be now use one pass—the Golden Eagle Passport— the remainder used for other high priority recre- for most day-use recreation sites nationwide ation projects across the country. Honored at Most operated by the Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Golden Age & Golden Access Forest Service Fish and Wildlife Service. Passports “The public wants ease and consistency when The Golden Age and Golden Access Passports visiting national forests, and the Golden Passports provide similar benefits to cardholders as the Recreation Fee provide this service. These passports make it more Golden Access Passport. The Golden Age Pass- convenient for recreationists visiting all federally port is a $10 lifetime national pass available to Sites managed recreation sites,” said Darrel Kenops, citizens or permanent residents of the United Acting Forest Supervisor for the Okanogan and States who are at least 62 years of age. In addition by Robin DeMario Wenatchee National Forests. to the benefits provided by the Golden Eagle Public Affairs Specialist Visitors who frequent public lands where Passport, the Golden Age Passport provides a 50% recreation passes are required may save time and discount at campgrounds, developed money by using an annual Golden Eagle Passport, boat launches and swimming sites, and which sells for $65. For example, a visitor can now for specialized interpretive services; it use a Golden Eagle Passport for entrance to can also be used in lieu of the North- National Parks, and National Forest locations west Forest Pass. The Golden Access currently covered by the Northwest Forest Pass. Passport is a free lifetime national pass This includes developed day-use sites, picnic available to citizens or permanent areas, trailheads, visitor centers, and parking. residents of the United States who have Prior to this change, visitors would have spent been medically determined to be blind $30 for an annual Northwest Forest Pass in or permanently disabled. The Golden addition to the $50 National Parks Pass. Now only Access Passport provides the same one pass is required, for a savings of $15. Local benefits as the Golden Age Passport. passes, such as the Northwest Forest Pass, will continue to be sold and honored alongside the Golden Passports are available at Golden Eagle Passport. most Forest Service offices, on the internet at www.natlforests.org, or by calling toll free at 877-465-2727. ■ ince 1997, over $2 million in user fees has Some specific projects “Keeping the been collected and put to work to sustain a accomplished in 2002 include: variety of camping, hiking, trailbiking, Maintenance of 1,032 miles of trail Scross-county skiing, and other recreation activi- Lights On” ties on the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Reconstruction of 14 miles of trail Forests. In addition, much of the money collected in Construction of two trail bridges on the Cle With Recreation fees each year is further leveraged through part- Elum Ranger District nerships with youth programs, grants from State 5,400 hours of volunteer labor Fees agencies like the Washington Interagency Com- mittee for Outdoor Recreation, and the volunteer 400 person-days of sponsored Youth Crews efforts of many hiking, equestrian, and motorized work groups.