Neighbors Unite Against the BLM’s “WOPR”
January 8th WOPR Rally - rain or shine!, 07.01.2008 20:24
Cave Junction, Oregon - Friends and neighbors with homes and businesses near Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property will rally at BLM headquarters, 3040 Biddle Road in Medford, on Tuesday January 8th at 11:00AM, come rain, snow or shine! The peaceful rally will address numerous issues and concerns that directly affect the economy, environmental health and quality of residents’ lives through-out the region. A bus load of residents from the Illinois Valley will arrive just before 11:00 am.
Opposition to the BLM’s Western Oregon Planning Revision (WOPR) process for 2.5 million acres of public forestland statewide has galvanized a huge and diverse alliance. Rally organizer and Illinois Valley resident Dorothea Hover-Kramer said, “At countless meetings, when we ask how many people live adjacent to or near BLM lands, all the hands in the room go up!” Hover-Kramer adds, “There are many new faces: vineyard owners, farmers, river and back-country outfitters, horse enthusiasts, restaurant owners, teachers, scientists and retirees, to name a few.”
Say No to WOPR!
The inclusion of more than 100,000 acres of noisy "Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Emphasis Areas" is another particularly contentious component of the WOPR. Illinois valley resident Roger Schuesner said, “The BLM has had 12 years to manage the proposed Johns Peak OHV emphasis area currently in use outside of Jacksonville, but has done nothing to make that situation livable for the residents there, so how can they possibly expect to manage additionally proposed OHV areas?”
Illegally ignoring Northwest Forest Plan protections, the WOPR more than triples logging levels and dramatically increases old growth logging and clearcutting. By prioritizing timber sales and OHV use at the expense of virtually all other life-sustaining community values, significant increases in fire danger and destruction to wildlife habitat, rivers and hiking/horseback trails would occur.
Illinois Valley community leader Roger Brandt said, “The WOPR is a timber harvest plan - not a timber management plan, and when we lose the benefits of easy access to solitude and recreation, we lose our property values along with the qualities that grow an active rural business community... a double loss for southern Oregon.”
Concern about wildfire is another big concern for residents of the area, and many believe the
BLM should focus on rehabilitating previously logged lands filled with old logging slash located close to homes and leave areas blessed with more fire resistant old-growth stands alone.
Biologist Pepper Trail said, “The BLM’s preferred alternative offers Oregon the worst fire future because it accomplishes almost all its logging by clearcutting, creating even aged plantations without standing large trees…This plan fails the fire test. If it is adopted, we all get burned.”
Annette Rasch, with the Illinois Valley Enthusiasts said, "When will the BLM learn to listen to and utilize the vast amount of expertise to be found among the ranks of citizen volunteers? If the BLM would take citizen input seriously, many lawsuits could be avoided and we'd be implementing policies that create jobs and protect forests."
Go to 
http://oregonheritageforests.org to learn more about the WOPR's many flaws!
More Information and Background:
* The BLM wrongly interprets the O&C Act as placing timber production above all other land uses including: watershed protection, regulation of stream flows, recreation and the protection of designated “Areas of Critical Environmental Concern” – and that, in some of America’s most biologically diverse forests.
* Again, the WOPR would illegally remove Northwest Forest Plan protections for forests, riparian areas and wildlife on 2.5 million acres statewide. The WOPR more than triples current logging levels, cuts old-growth and designates over 100,000 acres of “OHV Emphasis Areas” in Southern Oregon. These important forests produce clean water, protect salmon and provide recreation areas and scenic vistas for all Americans.
* Local residents have an enormous stake in how these lands are managed and don’t want more shortsighted logging proposals that would kill the long-term economic health of their communities. Rally attendees want the BLM to focus instead on creating scientifically defensible management plans for previously logged public lands that offer meaningful community fire protections, improve forest health, create sustainable jobs and protect our remaining ancient forests for future generations.
* Roger Brandt has done extensive research on rural economics and quotes numerous studies that demonstrate how forested areas increase property values while clear-cuts and special activity parks (like OHV sites) drive home values down. Favoritism to commercial interests over residents’ quality of life, community development and tourism could devalue property values to the tune of 5% to 15% for all homes near BLM lands. Connect with Brandt (541-592-4316) at the rally for more information and references.
* While the BLM acknowledges the incompatibility of OHV use with other forms of recreation, it has been slow to acknowledge the incompatibility of OHV use with private property. OHV activity is among the most environmentally destructive forms of recreation and causes far more damage to soils, plants and wildlife habitat than any hiker, equestrian or mountain biker.
* Robert Johnson acquired ownership of John’s Peak (north of Jacksonville) in the mid 1980’s and built his home there. Since the 1995 announcement of the “John’s Peak OHV Area”, the general public thinks that John’s Peak and the surrounding area is public land. “No Trespassing Signs” were posted but were repeatedly torn down. Private locked gates were erected and also ripped down. Mr. Johnson has been spat upon, cursed at and even had a handgun pointed at him after he informed the “riders” that they were on private property. Johnson’s land has been used for target practice, illegal dumping of garbage and abandoned automobiles, teen-age beer parties and illegal campfires. Here’s a page out of Johnson’s journal:
“Today is October 14, 2007. I drove down my driveway and observed a load of tree cuttings dumped in the middle of my road. Then I was nearly run off this private road by a quad. I spent much of the afternoon listening to the constant sounds of motorcycles and quads driving over the trails that surround my home. Most of these riders are on private property but probably don’t know it. This is one typical day out of 8,395 days that I have lived on John’s Peak: a constant nightmare, mostly caused by the BLM, who refuses to address my issues.”
* Several regional horse enthusiast organizations are also very concerned about OHV’s because many horse back riders have experienced hair raising and dangerous encounters with OHV riders on BLM lands. Many of these clubs contribute valuable resources and labor to the maintenance of equestrian trials. Call the Backcountry Horseman’s Association at 541-597-3283 to learn more.
MORE INFORMATION-
Contact: Annette Rasch, 541-592-4334 or 541-659-3814 Dorothea Hover-Kramer, 541-592-5296
