According to Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA) website, ONDA and the Steens-Alvord Coalition Steering Committee, have reservations about how the CMPA bill authorizing the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management Area ia articulated. Here is the summary:
- The Bill does not clearly state that the overarching management goal is the protection of Steens. Instead, it gives equal weight to protection, management, and economics.
- The Bill creates a new administrative category of "Cooperative Management Area," rather than using a tried-and-true category such as "National Conservation Area" or "National Monument." This will lead to further confusion as to just what the goals of the Act are.
- The Bill fails to specifically address livestock grazing outside the "cow-free" areas.
- Above all, we will not know if the Bill will serve the public's interest until we know the details of the proposed land swaps (now just noted by placeholders).
- Join ONDA at www.onda.org or the local Sierra Club
- Attend the 23rd Annual High Desert Conference; September 27-30, 2001; contact Daniele McKay (541) 330-2638 or dmckay@onda.org
- Write to the Governor, Oregon Representatives and Senators stating your position and your personal experience.
Here is what we
can do to help with the on-going effort to preserve Steens:
