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900 W. Main St.,
PO Box 690 Grangeville, ID 83530
Phone: 208.983.1200 |
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| Lochsa Land Exchange -- a worthy challenge |
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| Opinion - Atkison, Idaho Forest Group |
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Much has been said about the Lochsa Land Exchange, and it certainly has stirred some passions within our community. That's appropriate because this is a big decision with a great deal at stake for Idaho County. This exchange presents a great opportunity both for sustainable forest land management and for the long-term prospects of Idaho County. We think it is very important to capture this opportunity and it is important that we get it right.
We think our county leaders are absolutely right to request that any land exchange does not reduce the amount of private land within Idaho County. After careful review of the originally proposed alternatives that were presented by the USFS last spring, we felt the only option we could support was Alternative A -- "no action." However, after further discussion it became apparent that without this exchange the Upper Lochsa lands almost certainly will be sold to the federal government or to a nonprofit for a reserve. And without our county leaders standing up and asking a few difficult questions, the exchange would include lands primarily outside of Idaho County thereby significantly diminishing our tax base and the many local economic opportunities that private lands provide.
We have heard the voice of community members who are concerned the private lands acquired as a result of this exchange will diminish the access and recreation opportunities these lands currently provide. We respect those views. They need to be addressed and we think there are several legitimate and proven ways to do so.
At Idaho Forest Group we depend on sustainable tree farming from private forests to support the raw material needs of our business. The success of our business and of the local timber industry depends on sustainably managed forests in and around Idaho County. We do bring logs in from other counties to support our mill in Grangeville -- typically from the southern reaches of Adams County into the northern reaches of Clearwater County, however, the working forests in Idaho County represent a critical core and the Lochsa exchange includes 39,000 acres of forest land which will typically sustain growth and harvest of about 12 million board feet of timber each year. That is significant and supports many local jobs in forestry, logging, trucking and manufacturing in our county.
But we understand it is not just about our needs and us. The exchange lands also provide recreation, cattle grazing, and environmental benefits for our community. These too are important uses that need to be supported.
Western Pacific Timber is the private company involved in the exchange. We know this company and have done honest and responsible business with them in other parts of Idaho. We think it is particularly honorable -- and particularly helpful -- that Western Pacific is open to placing legal restrictions on the lands they receive to ensure continued recreation, grazing and sustainable forestry. These arrangements, commonly reflected as conservation easements or deed restrictions, do work and will go a long way to address the concerns raised by adjacent neighbors.
We need to work on these assurances, but let's not miss this exceptional opportunity to provide for long term working forests in our community -- forests that provide many resources for many people for a long time to come.
Let's focus on what is right about the Lochsa exchange. The goals are absolutely correct: 1) maintaining private property in our county, 2) promoting sustainable forest use and access and 3) supporting local jobs and the economy. The challenge now is to refine this proposal to address legitimate issues and to bring it to fruition.
Idaho County is a special place. We are surrounded by abundant natural resources and our community includes talented and conscientious citizens willing to work on new ideas for managing these resources. Let's work together to meet the worthy challenge of completing this exchange. Idaho Forest Group will do its part.
Scott Atkison is the president of Idaho Forest Group.
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