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Counties nix monument status By Dani Dodge Jackson County Commissioners on Wednesday formally opposed national monument status for the areas around Diamond Lake and Mount Bailey in Douglas County. Commissioners said they oppose the designation because it would hurt recreation and businesses catering to recreation in the area. Commissioner Sue Kupillas said the designation is on President Clinton�s desk ready for his signature, even though there have not been public hearings on the issue. "It�s pretty amazing the administration can make a move like this without public discussion," Kupillas said. A Roseburg-based environmental group, the Umpqua Watersheds Inc., called for the 206,600-acre monument. If approved, it will be named Medicine Mountain, a term American Indians used for Mount Bailey. Proponents of the designation say the area has both cultural and scientific significance that deserves distinction and protection. Douglas County commissioners also have signed a resolution in opposition to the designation. Commissioner Mike Winters said he appreciated the additional support from Jackson County. "To lock it up as a national monument will be detrimental to the residents of the state of Oregon and people of the nation who want to use it and enjoy it," Winters said. Patrick Starnes, the community outreach coordinator for the Umpqua Watersheds Inc., said the group doesn�t want to curtail recreational use of the area. It only wants to stop road building and logging of the old-growth forests. "We have no intention of stopping motorized recreation (like snowmobiling)," Starnes said. Starnes also said he believes that the national monument designation would actually help tourism and recreation-related businesses in Douglas County because it would become more of a national destination. He said public hearings would be held if the designation is approved to help determine a management plan for the area. Commissioner Jack Walker said that once an area gets national monument status, it isn�t long before recreational pursuits such as hunting, snowmobiling and water skiing are banned. "Once it�s in national monument status, the environmental activists have complete say," Walker said. "We will oppose any kind of national monument status because once the foot is in the door the rest of the body will follow." Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.