Letyters to the Editor 10/05/2005

To the Editor:

The Three Sisters Irrigation District scheme to remove free flowing water from the McKenzie Canyon riparian ecosystem and pipe it is tantamount to heedless destruction of streamside life by “creek riders.” (See “McKenzie Canyon piping project wins funding,” The Nugget, September 28, page 1).

Water has been flowing down that lovely little canyon ever since the end of the last Ice Age. The irrigation district has been conveniently using the canyon as supply ditch, and by so doing, not only maintained the riparian, but also enhanced it. It is ethically irresponsible to remove free-flowing water now.

Moreover, telling canyon residents that if they want to preserve the riparian they can do so by joining the irrigation district and purchasing “water features” is akin to extortion.

It is inconceivable to me how land managers and wildlife management agencies can sit back and allow the unique McKenzie Canyon riparian system to be destroyed for some pipe dream of bringing salmon back to Whychus Creek. It is not a fair — or wise — trade-off.

You know and I know that the only reason the irrigation district is riding the salmon restoration project is to get pressurized water at the bottom of the canyon. It makes me wonder how many of the major players in the irrigation district have farms on the old flood plain…

Jan Daggett is right in her concern for the ethics of the piping project. Other members of the irrigation district should be concerned as well; if the piping project flies, they will share in the responsibility for destroying McKenzie Canyon’s matchless wildlife habitat.

But then, perhaps Mother Nature will have her revenge one of these winters when there is about a foot of snow on the ground and a warm rain melts it to flooding proportions (as it has many times in the past) and rips out the pipe line.

Jim Anderson

Naturalist

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To the Editor:

I’ve seen lots of places where people cross Squaw Creek, but I’ve only seen one place where people “creek ride.” It was under the 4606 footbridge and was shut down by last year’s emergency log placing project that I instigated by reporting problems to the Forest Service. It took many calls, but something was finally done thanks to Scott Cotter’s hard work.

I think the Squaw Creek boulder placing project is being used to close problem partying/camping spots. This is outside the purpose and need for the project.

To me, the solution to the party problem is to encourage responsible use of those areas, not to close them. Bringing the salmon and steelhead back to Squaw Creek above Sisters will take a lot more than just closing a few creek crossings. The real problem is the irrigation diversions. The more people are encouraged to visit the creek, the better chance the salmon have.

I think the Forest Service is approaching this project from the wrong persective. With the increasing population and tourism, they should be looking to improve the recreation experience for the whole area instead of reducing access to the areas next to the creek.

Bruce Berryhill

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To the Editor:

Last week’s Nugget articles on Intelligent Design/evolution in schools were informative. I’m glad to know that discussion from the creationism point of view of origins is allowed when students bring it up.

The I.D. movement indeed does not have a Biblical base. Its members have differing views on the source of the apparent design in the universe. It is up to inquirers to discover the Designer through their own research. Jeff Haken or I ([email protected]) would be happy to refer you to resources.

It is still obvious that evolutionists cannot prove their theory. They were not there in the beginning to observe, and it is impossible to replicate in the laboratory the creation of life. There are no authentic examples of one kind of creature changing into another — only examples of variations within kinds, which is natural selection — not evolution.

It is still incorrect to claim the creationist view is unscientific. There are many, many scientific papers produced from this worldview, but the evolution-minded establishment refuse to accept and publish papers, and the media do not publicize discoveries that contradict their religious belief in evolution.

We still have not heard any ‘proof’ of evolution — only statements based upon interpretations from the evolutionary worldview. Mr. Bryan mentioned that we are genetically very close to chimpanzees. It is claimed that our DNA is 96-98.7 percent similar to chimps. As one prominent evolutionist said to his audience “We also share about 50 percent of our DNA with bananas and that doesn’t make us half bananas, either from the waist up or the waist down.” From the creationist worldview, the similarities between different kinds of living things points to a common designer.

Students of all ages — keep your minds open, don’t believe everything you’re taught in school, keep searching for the truth.

Respectfully,

Lorene Richardson

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To the Editor:

So you think the price of heating oil will spike at the first breath of winter. We can stop this trend if we but remember that the savings in fuel when we drive 55 mph as opposed to 75 mph is about 20 percent.

It’s hard to believe that someone in Washington hasn’t picked this up. I forget that that they are more or less OIL oriented. If everybody went back to 55 mph we would solve a lot of energy problems.

Thor J. Longley

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To the Editor:

Having lived in the Bend, Sisters area and operated a small logging business most of my life except for the last 10 years I would like to mention the following:

I now watch in amazement from a distance. I am saddened and offended by the destruction of our forest at the hands of liberal environmentalists. Their political goal of control at any cost has damaged personal rights, individual freedom, financial survival of the family and community. They have no respect for the culture or history of local families and communities. This has been all too obvious in the dirty political tricks and lies against the logging industry and whatever other industry they decide to attack.

They have used our own judicial system against us. Note over recent history the decisions of liberal, hand-picked judges who act as political representatives even though they are not elected. There is no redress for the individual by traditional means in our democracy when a judge takes your rights.

We have witnessed the liberal use of any immoral or moral means without respect to truth to attain control of many aspects of our lives, our forests being one of the more important in Central Oregon. Having worked in the forest for approximately 13 years as a logging contractor in the Sisters area my first-hand experiences are usually in direct opposition to environmental claims and remarks.

Other than clear cutting which is justified for reasons that were not part of my operations, selective cutting and thinning is not only beneficial, but necessary to maintain a healthy and scenic forest. Diseased trees, over crowding, access to sunlight are issues that are best addressed by logging. Burning 24 million acres of Central Oregon forest is a liberal political accomplishment. Not the results of a common sense management program through the use of logging.

James Walden

North Las Vegas, Nevada

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To the Editor:

For those of you who have “Support The Troops” bumper stickers on your vehicles I have a suggestion. Take them off and mail them to Donald Rumsfeld, care of the Pentagon. He needs to be reminded what a criminally negligent job of supporting the troops he is doing.

Ever since this misbegotten, unnecessary and disastrous Iraqi war began we have been reading accounts of troops who have to buy armor for their HumVees, flack jackets and other necessary gear to protect themselves in combat.

One of the most poignant I recently read on an Internet Blog was about a young medic whose mother had to buy him an $1,100 bullet proof vest that, unlike the Pentagon issue, was capable of stopping modern high caliber rifle rounds. He was shot by a sniper but survived because of it. Later when the wounded sniper was captured, the medic administered his wounds. This young trooper’s valor and humanity is dishonored by the odious Rumsfeld and his neglect.

He is the worst, most incompetent, not to mention arrogant, Defense Secretary in history. Why hasn’t he been sacked? Former FEMA Director Michael (great job Brownie) Brown got the heave ho. As a voter, tax payer and veteran I have written the White House and demanded that Rumsfeld be fired. I urge others to do the same.

R. T. Tihista