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--> --> Forest Pass: Don't buy it By Scott Morrell Medford On June 29, Rogue River and Siskiyou National Forest officials announced a rollback of trailheads requiring the controversial Northwest Forest Pass, a $5 per day permit required to hike in our national forests. "We're responding to public criticism locally," said forest officials. "The majority of vocal people we've heard from have been negative, and this is unique to Southern Oregon." Unique to Southern Oregon? I don't think so. The Recreation Fee Demonstration Program (Fee Demo) is so offensive that groups have mushroomed across the country specifically to fight the program. Locally, Free Our Forests is just one of four western chapters. Anti-fee groups exist in several states. The legislatures of Oregon, California and New Hampshire have all passed resolutions opposing Fee Demo, along with many counties, including Jackson and Josephine. Unique to southern Oregon? On July 7, over 100 members of the Western Slope No-Fee Coalition were met with two roadblocks and armed forest rangers while attempting a demonstration against a new fee area at Canyon Creek, near Ouray, Colorado. An estimated 50 vehicles proceeded into the fee area and drivers stood in line to receive Federal citations. Demonstrators included individuals and organized contingents from the Seniors Outdoors and Creepers Jeepers Clubs of Durango. All will fight their citations in court. "The Forest Service plans to ratchet up enforcement and hopes the changes will result in more public support for the program, resulting in the sale of more passes" say local officials. Let's get this straight. The Forest Service will gain "public support" issuing citations? They may sell passes to people afraid of fines, but ticketing people for walking in the woods will only create ill-will. Local officials note "We're the only ones refining our program... other national forests are not reducing the number of sites where the pass is needed." Regional Forest Service officials are watching our area as a model. Make no mistake, this rollback is a shrewd move to appease locals... to let off steam and see if folks will quiet down. They will claim they listened to their "customers" and improved the program, and then they'll make it permanent. This rollback does nothing about the nationwide problem of Fee Demo. Once made permanent, fees will creep back, increase, and grow more restrictive. What's the fuss? Why shouldn't citizens pay a few bucks to maintain trails? Officials say, "Everyone wants the recreational experience to be free, but it costs a lot, and appropriations are not keeping up." Herein lies the problem. We already pay! Congress has shirked its responsibility to provide tax dollars to care for public lands. Congress has purposely slashed agency budgets, creating an artificial maintenance crisis. Five dollar fees will never cover this deficit. Worse yet, Public Law 104-134 directs corporations to fill the void, encouraging "private investment and partnerships to enhance the delivery of quality customer services and resource enhancement, and provide appropriate recognition to such partners or investors." By installing signs, toilets, and later on, resorts, lodges and RV campgrounds, the Forest Service and their corporate partners hope to leverage those facilities and lay claim to the entire backcountry experience. Consider the words of Francis Pandolfi, former Chief of Staff for USFS Chief Mike Dombeck, and CEO of Time Mirror Co.: "Have we fully explored our gold mine of recreation opportunities in this country and managed it as if it were consumer product brands? How could it be done? As federal agencies and others transition from providing outdoor recreation at no cost to the consumer to charging for access and services, we can expect to see many changes in the way we operate. Selling a product, even to an eager customer, is very different from giving it away." Corporations should not become "partners" in public lands management. We are not customers. We own these lands! Land managers deserve tax dollars to do their jobs. Write Congress, don't buy a forest pass. Let's stop this program before it becomes permanent. For more info, see www.freeourforests.org Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing