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Siskiyou monument looks dead Babbitt to visit Wild Rivers area this weekend, make announcement By Paul Fattig Time appears to have run out for the proposed million-acre-plus Siskiyou Wild Rivers National Monument in southwest Oregon�s Siskiyou Mountains. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt is expected to announce Sunday in Southern Oregon that President Clinton felt there was not enough time to gather public input about the proposal before he leaves office Jan. 20, according to department officials. Although officials, citing security, are keeping mum on specifics about Babbitt�s visit, he is expected to tour the debated area and issue a call for restrictions on new mining claims in that area. Opponents to the monument vow to crash Babbitt�s tour. Meanwhile, opponents and proponents reacted predictably to the news that Clinton won�t act on the proposed monument. "This is very good news to the Southern Oregon timber industry," said Dave Hill, executive vice president of the Southern Oregon Timber Industries Association. "We felt all along there were more than adequate protection for threatened species in established wilderness areas, the roadless initiative and in the general operating agreement of the Northwest Forest Plan," he added. "No monument designation is good news to businesses, particularly those related to the forest products industry. Hopefully, we�ll still see some logs coming out of the Siskiyou (National) Forest." Steve Marsden, a board member of the Illinois Valley-based Siskiyou Regional Education Project, expressed disappointment. "But we�re not giving up on the area becoming a national monument," he said. "This is the most biological diverse area in the United States, and the biggest stronghold for salmon in Oregon. "This area needs and deserves special protection that it doesn�t have now," he added, noting that his group will now work to convince the incoming Bush administration of the need for that additional protection. The proposed monument would have covered 1.047 million acres � 863,000 acres of the Siskiyou forest and 184,000 adjacent acres of the Bureau of Land Management�s Medford District. Most of that would have been in Josephine and Curry counties. The monument would have included portions of five nationally designated Wild and Scenic rivers, including the Illinois, the north fork of the Smith, the Rogue, the Chetco and the Elk. The watersheds have the best salmon fishery in the Pacific Northwest as well as the highest concentration of rare, threatened and endemic plants anywhere in the region, supporters said. But opponents say the monument wasn�t needed, and that it would have harmed the local economy. Late last year, the Josephine County Board of Commissioners voted to oppose the proposal. "The land is already adequately protected," said Commissioner Harold Haugen. "We need multiple use here, not more locked-up areas." Noting that Babbitt�s office didn�t notify county officials about his upcoming visit, Haugen wondered whether the trip was appropriate. Second Congressional District Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, expressed frustration late Thursday afternoon that no specifics had been announced about Babbitt�s trip. Walden said he had contacted the Interior Department to no avail. "For somebody who said there would be no surprises, this is about as big a surprise as you can get," Walden said, referring to Babbitt�s earlier statement regarding national monuments. "I think that�s the chicken�s way out, the lazy way out," he said, adding, "It doesn�t treat the public fairly." Larry Toelle, field director for Frontiers of Freedom-People for the USA, sent out an e-mail Thursday calling for monument opponents to rally in Selma Sunday morning. Those rallying would try to join Babbitt�s tour, he said. Noting they were still in the dark about Babbitt�s visit, environmentalists say they haven�t given up on the proposal. "We continue to support and work for the national monument because it is a national treasure," said Dominick DellaSala of Ashland, director of the World Wildlife Fund�s Klamath-Siskiyou Regional Program. "We will continue trying until Jan. 19," he said. "We�re concerned the next administration will not be sympathetic to protecting this area for its highest and best use." Barbara Ullian, conservation director for the Siskiyou Regional Education Project, agreed. "We intend to continue to work to protect this place," she said. "This is one of the world�s most unique and diverse landscapes. People ought to be proud to have it protected." Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.