"The Forest Service dropped sacks full of rattlesnakes into the Crawfish!
From helicopters!"
Everybody on the Board of Supervisors and half the people in the room gasped. The Forest Service person stood up, said that they had not!!!!!!, never happened!!!!!, then sat back down again.
I grinned. And told them that I knew that was not true, but it was a fine example of a myth that many people take as fact. Like they believe that you can't fight fires in Wilderness Areas.
Ride up the trail with me, in to these woods, and I'll tell you all about it.
Let’s sit here by the falls a while.
It’s been a long haul. The bill was first introduced in ’04, and I started working on it about 9 or 10 months before that. It’s moving now. I’m hopeful....anyway, back to the story.......
There was a Wise Use guy attending all the BOS meetings. He did what they do, tried to incite panic about your home burning to the ground because "You can’t fight fires in Wilderness Areas!!!!!!!!!!"
The Wise Useguys lie. They lie consistently and with great concern for our welfare. You can fight fires in Wilderness Areas, and they do
Fire may be fought in Wilderness with any actions necessary. The Wilderness Act provides that, "such measures may be taken as may be necessary in the control of fire, insects, and diseases, subject to such conditions as the Secretary {of Agriculture} deems desirable." [Source: The 1964 Wilderness Act § 4(d); 16 U.S.C. 1133(d)]
This means that while Wilderness areas are protected from motorized vehicles, motorized equipment is allowed to enter wilderness areas when fighting wildfires or to respond to other types of emergencies. Bulldozers, chainsaws, fire retardants, or even logging of some trees and brush to create a fire-line can be used to control wildfires.
Long story short, my own BOS brought us back a second and a third time. And then they voted. Resolution to approve designation of the requested lands as Wilderness and National Scenic Areas.
The same thing happened in most of the counties where these designations were asked for. Except for Wythe. Poor, dumb Wythe. Not the people, the BOS. While they scream "Tourist Destination!", they don’t get it. What they do get are some of the nastiest creeks and streams in the region. What they did get was a room full of citizens (I counted over 50, an amazing number for a BOS meeting) all in favor. Except for 3. One Wise Use, one old duffer who kept looking back at the Wise Use Guy to see if he was doing ok.......and one bear hunter, who was originally supposed to support, but was lied to, and so while he did not oppose, did not speak in favor as he said he would. That was all straightened out in the parking lot after the meeting. But the Board ignored the citizens that elect boards, so perhaps if memories serve, they no longer will.
So the Bill, at long last, is moving.
February 14, 2007 WARNER, BOUCHER, WEBB INTRODUCE 'VIRGINIA RIDGE AND VALLEY ACT OF 2007'
Today, Senator John Warner, together with Congressman Rick Boucher, D-Va., and Senator Jim Webb, D-Va., introduced the "Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2007." If enacted, the legislation would create new Wilderness Areas, new National Scenic Areas and would expand six existing Wilderness Areas in portions of Bland, Craig, Grayson, Giles, Lee, Montgomery and Smyth Counties within the Jefferson National Forest.
It's scheduled to go to the Rules Committee 10/22.
In an lte to the News and Observer (NC) a man wrote
Why should we have wilderness? Maybe it's best compared to attending church or visiting a great cathedral or Arlington National Cemetery or pondering the memorial to the Marine Corps' heroism on Iwo Jima. It's placing our emphasis on the foundations. When you place too high an economic value on material things, you come up short with moral and social values, the foundations of civilization and society.
What I said to the Board was a bit different. I wanted them to realize the economic implications of protecting these lands. I likened the areas to the widget factories that sit along the interstate corridor. We have a growing tourism industry. These forest lands are, in part, the "widget factory" for that industry. You don’t call in a demolition team to the widget plant and take it down. You protect it, to insure that the physical plant will be there for use. We can do the same for our Ridges and Valleys. With your help.
What’s the cost? According to Congressional Budget Office, negligible.
Thus, CBO estimates that enacting this legislation could affect both offsetting receipts and direct spending, but we estimate that the net effect of any changes would be negligible over the next 10 years. Enacting the bill would not affect revenues.
Benefits? I could go on far too long for a beautiful sunny Saturday. Specially when preaching to the choir. But a quickie......
Look at South Holston Lake. There was a mercury advisory this summer. It’s a multi-million dollar recreation boon to both Tennessee and Virginia , as well as a power generator. I think they drink it too. It gets it water from 3 main tributaries. The North (h/t IechydDa for catching that), Middle and South Forks of the Holston River. The North and Middle are polluted. The South? It’s watershed is largely the Raccon Branch Potential Wilderness Area, and Seng Mountain Potential Scenic Area. Is this a no-brainer, or what?
What can you do? Be a deer.
If the International Mountain Biker Association can support Wilderness designation, so can we all!
The following are points to make when you contact your representative:
* Each of the new wilderness or national scenic areas has been endorsed by the U.S. Forest Service and/or the Board of Supervisors of the county in which the area is located.
* The areas to be designated by the bill are located in the lead sponsor, Representative Boucher’s, district with one small wilderness addition in the district of Congressman Rahall, who supports the bill.
* The bill has broad bi-partisan support including a majority of the Virginia congressional delegation, current and past governors of Virginia, Virginia Tourism Corporation, local businesses, faith groups, Garden Club of Virginia, and International Mountain Bicycling Association.
* Recreational activities would be continued and encouraged in these protected areas including hunting, fishing, camping, swimming, picnicking, backpacking, bird watching, horseback riding, cross country skiing, rock climbing and many other outdoor activities. Mountain biking would be allowed in the national scenic areas.
Please urge Representative ____ to actively support the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act and oppose any weakening amendments, if proposed.
I always find it infuriating when Representatives with no Earthly business in a particular matter oppose those who live, work, and play in the area that they are butting into.
You might also remind the Rep of this:
But many of the bills enjoy strong bipartisan support in the states affected and so are nearly certain to become law. Some even passed the Senate under Republican rule, and had the votes to pass the Republican House, but repeatedly were blocked by a powerful prodevelopment committee chairman who lost his seat in the 2006 election.
WSJ article. BwaHahahahah! Pombo gone!
And while you are in the mode, the National Forest Management Act could use a little propping up. Again.
Oh yeah, that Crawfish? Wythe county. So I guess those rattlesnakes will want to keep a sharp eye out for heavy equipment. Too bad.
Will this regime never retire to their bunkers and Paraguay?
Thanks. From the bottom of my water drinkin' being.
Update: Oct. 23, 2007: Act passes House of Representatives!
UPDATE: January 15, 2009. S.22 Omnibus Lands Bill passes!!!!!! Wilderness galore.