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--> --> Greensprings rancher Jill Shurtleff flies a flag of protest against the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument while on horseback outside the Bellview Grange Wednesday night. Ashland Daily Tidings/DENISE BARATTA Monument talks end By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings An overflow crowd of area residents spoke out both in favor and against the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument at an Ashland meeting called to gather public input about the future of the 52,947-acre monument. Firefighters asked people blocking the entrance to leave the Bellview Grange, which had far exceeded its capacity of 299, and listen to the proceedings via outdoor loudspeakers with others who could not fit inside. At the meeting, total of 154 people signed sheets in favor of the monument, while 76 signed up in opposition. The forum capped off a series of three meetings held by the Jackson County Natural Resources Advisory Committee, tasked with collecting input and making a recommendation about the monument's future to Jackson County Commissioners. The commissioners in turn will make a recommendation, covering such issues as the monument's size, to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, who sent a letter to federal, state and county officials asking them to gather public input and make recommendations about monuments designated by former President Bill Clinton. The commissioners have spoken out in opposition of the monument. While a majority of people at the meetings have supported the monument, Commissioner Sue Kupillas said in an interview that the natural resources advisory committee recommendation to the commissioners may not necessarily reflect that majority view. "They'll take that information along with their own background and experience and hand us a recommendation," Kupillas said. She said the commissioners have yet to make a decision about the process they will use to formulate their own recommendation to Norton. At the meeting, Jay Lininger of the Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center in Ashland predicted while a majority of people support the monument, the commissioners will recommend to Norton that the monument be reduced and they will present the recommendation as a compromise. He said that violates the spirit of democracy. "In a democracy, one person gets one vote," Lininger said. However, Kurt Stark of Frontiers of Freedom-People for the USA, said many people strongly oppose the monument. With help from others in his group, he stacked boxes filled with papers on a table by the microphone. "I now present 51 pounds of letters from people opposed to this monument," Stark said. Many people spoke out in favor of preserving the monument to protect the biodiversity there, and even expanding the boundaries to the south to encompass northern California lands not included when the monument was designated. Field biologist Terri Ayers, who lives within the monument boundaries, said she has conducted field surveys in many regions and has yet to see an area as diverse. "I've never experienced an environment more varied, more biologically diverse and more important than that within the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument," Ayers said. Supporter Barbara Bean said the area harbors a wealth of plants and animals from many ecoregions meeting at the confluence of the Cascade and Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains. "This bit of land is in fact a living library for our area," Bean said, adding that the monument could serve as a lending library if species elsewhere are harmed by climate change or mismanagement. Botanist Shannon Clery of the Native Plant Society of Oregon said cattle grazing is reducing the biodiversity of the area. But rancher Stevie Odum said she and her husband manage their ranch responsibly and accusations that cattle are harming the land are unfounded. She also bristled at some suggestions that opponents of the monument only care about economic gain from ranching, and noted that ranching is an extremely difficult but satisfying way of life. "It's blood sweat and tears - not money," Odum said. Other ranchers said if they lose their grazing permits on public lands within the monument, they will be forced to sell off their private land for development of 160-acre home sites. The Medford District Bureau of Land Management has initiated studies of several years to measure the impact of grazing, in part by fencing off areas and comparing those areas to unfenced lands. Rancher James Miller, whose family has been in the Rogue Valley since 1851, said he has been a good steward of his land, but prevailing opinion may be to get ranchers off public lands. He said money to be spent on livestock studies instead should be used to pay ranchers enough money to buy land in other areas. "The last you'll see of me is my horse going over Grizzly (Peak)," Miller said. Others said people must put aside economic gain and preserve the area for future generations. Holding his infant daughter, Jim McGinnis said, "The reason I'm here is because of her and her children." Monument supporter and Native American elder Agness Pilgrim said she was there to speak for the voiceless animals and plants and on behalf of future generations. "Fifty years from now, will she see what we see?" Pilgrim asked, indicating McGinnis' infant. However, Poncho Parker recalled riding his motorcycle throughout the area as a youth and said he was saddened that other youths will not be able to ride on some roads in the area because of closures. Monument opponents said access restrictions will affect the very young, the disabled and the elderly. Doyle Hutchinson, who has lived in the area for 60 years, said he explored parts of the monument most people have never even seen when he was younger, but fears he will be unable to reach his favorite spots as he grows older. "I'd like the chance to drive over it if I can't walk it," Hutchinson said. Others spoke out in favor of the monument, saying it would help diversify the economic base of the Rogue Valley. Diarmuid McGuire, owner of the Green Springs Inn within the monument boundaries, said the monument is boosting visitation to the area. "For the first time, this monument has begun to give us an identity that goes beyond Shakespeare," McGuire said. On the issue of fire suppression, Colestin Rural Fire Dist. Chief Steve Avegeris said management proposals to limit the use of heavy equipment used to fight fires would be catastrophic. "For all of you who love Soda Mountain, you can kiss it goodbye," Avegeris said. Issuing a call for cooperation, Kate Cleland-Sipfle said she supports the monument, but feels people whose way of life is changed should be compensated. "I am saddened people have divided themselves neighbor against neighbor," she said. 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