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Editorial: Forest cuts in the offing
Weigh in on proposals
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With 860 square miles of the Los Padres National Forest in Ventura County, it is a large part of our county's identity. So, when the U.S. Forest Service tells us it is contemplating changes to the way we use our forest, we need to pay attention.
Public comment on a recently released recreation facility analysis is being taken till Sept. 28 at comments-pacificsouthwest-los-padres@fs.fed.us.
In the analysis are proposals that would affect 62 of the 108 developed sites in the forest, including closing four, shortening the season at 10, and removing facilities such as toilets and picnic tables at five. Pine Mountain, Reyes Peak campgrounds, and Reyes Peak and Dough Flat trailheads are targeted for reduced seasons. The Forest Service will seek concessionaires to operate Rose Valley and Middle Lion Campgrounds, the upper and lower Rose Valley Lakes and the Piedra Blanca and Johnston Ridge trailheads.
The idea is to affect the fewest number of people by reducing services in more remote locations that get less use. Popular areas, such as the Rose Valley Campground near Ojai, would be expanded.
It is ironic that cuts are being contemplated at the same time forest officials anticipate visitor rates to rise as much as 50 percent in the coming decades. Given that, we should adopt a longer-term view of maintaining our recreation areas than just the five years addressed in the analysis. Also of concern is the effect of concessionaires.
We appreciate that forest officials are trying to stretch limited dollars. For example, Star reporter Zeke Barlow reported Friday that the proposals would reduce maintenance costs over five years by about 65 percent. Deferred maintenance costs would drop by about 40 percent.
However, Congress has a role to play in ensuring there are adequate funds to maintain the investments we have made thus far. And the public has a role to play in addressing which sites are improved, which are closed and how long they are open.
If you care about access to our forestlands, weigh in before Sept. 28 and copy your elected officials.
Posted by shaver_one on September 18, 2007 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's wait to see if they also approved logging in these areas to be closed.
Posted by Tom_Johnston on September 18, 2007 at 6:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's a sad day when a few dollars spent domestically to allow American citizens to enjoy the bounty of their nation takes a second seat to rebuilding an Iraq that we basically blew up in the first place.
Posted by Nosmo_King on September 18, 2007 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
THE ADVENTURE PASS. People who visit the National forest have to buy one. The money from the ADVENTURE PASS was to fund cleaner and more abundant restrooms and all sorts of great stuff. Lies, I would assume.
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