Letters to the Editor

To the Editor:

We would like to respond to the letter in last week's Nugget regarding the accident on the Metolius River. It is fortunate the young boy involved was not seriously injured but this incident and the writer's view of the incident concerns us.

The Metolius River, with temperatures less than 50 degrees coupled with very strong currents, is not a family swimming river. We ask ourselves where the boy's parents were.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's implementation of the recent wild fish ruling has been long overdue. The addition of woody in- stream structure is a natural part of a river and is imperative to the success of a strong wild fish population. We urge people to call the United States Forest Service in Sisters and get the facts on how habitat improvement is so crucial to wild fish and how it will improve our very special resource.

The Metoulis River has the potential of being one of the finest spring creek fisheries in the Northwest. Those who use the river and those who live along its banks need to work together in achieving this goal.

Respectfully,

Jeff and Renee Perin

Recently we heard of plans to log over 1,800 acres, including over 1,200 acres of clear cutting in the Metolius watershed, specifically the Blue and Suttle Lake subwatersheds.

We were obviously appalled to learn that the Sisters Forest District may actually be considering this proposal.

As a one-time summer "Interpreter" for the Sisters Ranger District, I remember attending several seminars given by full-time staff about the reverse role that the Forest Service wanted to play regarding our ecosystem. Several decades of "cut and run" management, of un-sustainable yields and management of public lands without regard for wildlife or any environmental consequences, were to be replaced by a new way of thinking.

Yes, I was being preached to by Forest Service personnel about `ecosystem' management, a new way of thinking that would bring into play every environmental factor known to date. For the first time since the conception of the Forest Service, factors such as sustainable yields, wildlife and habitat protection, protection of our riparian areas, soil and watershed protection and recreation would play a major role in the management of our public lands.

As an environmental biologist, I was cautious, yet receptive to this `new' way of thought.

We believe the "logging without laws" salvage rider is no excuse for local ranger districts to arbitrarily destroy 1,800 acres to satisfy local timber company interests or achieve federal "quotas" for timber harvesting. To deliberately destroy known spotted owl and rainbow spawning habitat, to destroy critical riparian areas and to destroy bald eagle, deer and elk habitat is an abomination in itself.

To do this will not only permanently ruin this beautiful and unique habitat, but will forever tarnish the reputation of the Sisters Ranger District. The Sisters Ranger District should not use the ill-conceived and highly damaging salvage rider to attain their harvesting goals.

We are hoping that they will live up to their new ecosystem image and let this area remain the way it is, a highly important habitat for all who call these 1,800 acres home and for all of the rest of us that enjoy the beauty and the recreation that this area is known for.

Robert and Sally Johnsen

I would like to thank all merchants and individuals who helped in our Sisters Seniors' fund-raiser for Meals-On-Wheels by purchasing ad spots on our placemats.

We meet once a week, on Tuesdays, at St. Edward's Catholic Church for lunch and everyone is welcome. Anyone wishing more information on our program, please call the Central Oregon Council on Aging office, at 549- 4112, or 548- 8817.

Sincerely,

Susie Rich, Site Coordinator