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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 26, 2005 Chris Owens, a Bureau of Land Management law enforcement ranger, examines a large 400-year-old Douglas fir toppled by a vandal or vandals who apparently did it for no other reason than to prove they could. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Trouble in the trees By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune A giant Douglas fir that survived drought, fire and windstorms for some 400 years has been felled by vandals just north of Howard Prairie Lake. Armed with a small chainsaw, they cut the ancient tree down this spring, apparently just for the fun of watching it crash to the ground in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s Medford District. "This tree wasn’t cut for commercial value — it wasn’t cut for firewood," observed Chris Owens, a law enforcement ranger for the district. "It’s a healthy, green tree that was felled for no purpose all," he said, then added, "Maybe they were trying to show their buddies they could do it." Advertisement The tree, 5 feet in diameter at the base, was cut down about 200 yards east of the Keno Access Road. Because of the high instances of vandalism and other crimes on the 862,000-acre district in recent years, the agency has begun offering rewards for information leading to catching those responsible. The number to call is 800-267-0038. The amount of the reward depends on each case. "Anybody that has information regarding any thefts or crimes in the district, we are offering rewards for information that helps solve them," Owens said. Consider this: In the five-year period ending last year, there have been 1,271 incidents of illegal dumping, 547 incidents of vandalism and 517 thefts, including firewood, special forest products, timber and other items. That doesn’t include the 16,396 marijuana plants seized and 383 drug cases investigated, including methamphetamine. Law enforcement officials have also investigated illegal digging at 41 archaeological sites. The point, Owens stressed, is that any crimes on public land end up costing taxpayers as well as reducing the public’s safety and well being. For instance, those who cut the tree were amateurs who used a chain saw with a small bar, whittling away until the tree toppled over. "They are lucky they didn’t kill themselves or get somebody seriously hurt," Owens said. The agency will harvest the tree, he said, noting that there are several leads in the vandalism. Depending on the final outcome, it could involve a felony charge, he said. "We get timber theft where professionals cut the trees and haul them out to make money," he said. "But this was just vandalism." While he was checking on the tree Wednesday, he received a call that the Soda Mountain Lookout site in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument had been vandalized. "It appears someone ripped out a lot of the appliances and threw stuff on the ground," he said, adding that a radio antenna was also vandalized. Inside the monument, district archaeologist Ann Ramage was checking out some old illegal archaeological digs on Wednesday. "You might see the most beautiful projectile point in the world but there is a lot of scientific value that is gone once you remove it from its context," she observed as she walked along. "A whole lot of data is lost the moment you pick it up and put it in your pocket," she added. Contrary to what some may insist, any unauthorized digging in an archaeological site on federal public land is a crime, Owens said. "It is considered a felony — we take these crimes seriously," he said. It is also illegal to pick up archaeological items on the surface of the ground on federal land, he said. A special law enforcement agent is now working on archaeological thefts in the district, he noted. In addition to thefts, there are increased instances of illegal off-road vehicle use, he said. To illustrate his point, he travels to a narrow road off the Lower Shale City Road that leads to an alpine meadow. "Hunters have told me that elk used this meadow for grazing," he said. "Ranchers with BLM grazing leases have used it for grazing." Not anymore. The meadow is chewed up by off-road vehicles whose drivers like to spin around in the mud. In the middle of the meadow is a 1980s model Frond Bronco II, bogged down in mud. Boards stick out from the rear of the vehicle, evidence that the driver tried in vain to free it. Owens, who is investigating the vehicle, says the meadow represents habitat destruction that is occurring across the district. "This is just one of the many sites that get hammered," he said. Part of the problem is that those who enjoy off-road vehicle recreation have few places to conduct their sport, he said, noting the BLM continues to work on a plan for off-road vehicle use in the Johns Peak area west of Jacksonville. "That’s what they always ask me, ‘Where can we do it where it’s OK?’ " he said. "I have to tell them that on any public land where you are destroying the resource and the vegetation, it’s not OK." In addition to being fined, violators can be forced to pay restitution costs that can be thousands of dollars, Owens said. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. 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