Dear HCN,
Jeff Burgess rants and
raves (HCN, 3/20/95) about the grazing fees for ranchers being too
low (yawn). It always makes me laugh when I read this as federal
land in no way compares to private grazing rentals. Lessees must
develop water, cost share fencing and do a host of other things
that are not required if one leases or rents from a private
landowner. This is accomplished with their own money, and in a
majority of true desert or high-desert leases, there would be no
water at all if it wasn’t for the rancher developing the well and
water pipeline systems.
On the same page Scott
Reed wants to cut federal agencies, but if we really want to
investigate below-cost government subsidies, let’s look at the
National Park Service. It has never turned a profit since its
inception. I wonder what the cost per visitor would be if we wanted
it to make a profit or just break even? Has anyone looked at what
it costs to provide administration and associated services for the
millions of acres of wilderness on a per-user basis? What are the
costs per-user day? How much are they paying now? How about they
pay nothing!
As a resource manager for the last
25 years, I have tried to help both sides of this argument, but it
appears that the environmental community is hell-bent on stopping
all grazing and logging. The only issue I really worry about is
salmon and steelhead extinction. With all of the technology and
millions of dollars already spent – both federal and private – we
should have a better handle on how to re-establish the steelhead
and salmon in the Columbia/Snake River system. I would urge the
power companies to invest in some very heavy research for the
movement of salmon through the dams. I know for a fact that if we
had a million or so salmon coming up the river systems to spawn,
the spawning grounds are there – it’s like the hotel is open, but
there’s no one coming in to register. Here’s one area where I think
we can all work together.
M.
Robert Allen
Boise,
Idaho
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Rants and raves about cutting government agencies.
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