Next day for free entry to National Parks is Aug 15

"PUBLIC LANDS — Federal land managers offer free entry to parks, forests, U.S. Bureau of Land management lands, refuges and other national interest lands where fees are charged on certain holidays scattered through the year.

• The next freebie is Aug. 15, the National Park Service Birthday, with free access to all national parks."

"A list of other dates and participating agencies is listed below. The fee waiver does not cover expanded amenity or user fees for things such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.

Sept. 28, National Public Lands Day — National Park Service, Fish & wildlfie Service, BLM, Bureau of Reclamation, Forest Service.

Oct. 13, National Wildlfie Refuge Day — Fish and Wildlife Service

Nov. 9-11, Veterans Day Weekend — National Park Service, Fish & wildlfie Service, BLM, Bureau of Reclamation, Forest Service.

Additionally, active duty military members and their dependents are eligible for a free annual pass that provides entrance to lands managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service.

The America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass Program also offers a free lifetime pass for people with disabilities, a $10 lifetime senior pass for those age 62 and over, and an $80 annual pass for the general public."

copied from this source http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2013/jul/31/plan-ahead-free-entry-national-parks-aug-15/

Mount Hood National Forest restricts firewood cutting due to fire danger

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By Terry Richard, The Oregonian 
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on July 30, 2013 at 11:07 AM, updated July 30, 2013 at 12:28 PM

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Due to high fire danger, restrictions have been imposed on firewood cutting and other industrial activities throughout the entire Mount Hood National Forest.
Expect similar restrictions on public lands throughout the Northwest.
For the average firewood cutter, the restrictions mean that they will only be allowed to operate power saws from early morning to 1 p.m. in this restricted area.
Effective at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, the following may operate only between the hours of 8 p.m. and 1 p.m. local time:
• power saws except at loading sites
• cable yarding
• blasting
• welding or cutting of metal
The public is reminded that a one-hour fire watch is required after shut down of power saws and other equipment within the affected area. All power saws and motor bikes are also required to have an approved spark arrestor installed while operating on the national forest.
Fire danger is considered high throughout Mount Hood National Forest and on other public and private lands. As the summer season progresses with continuing warm dry weather, the public is urged to be careful with campfires. Anyone tending a campfire is required to have a shovel and plenty of water on hand. Before leaving a campfire unattended, the fire should be drowned with water, stirred and be cold to the touch.
For more information, visit fs.usda.gov/detail/mthood/.

-- Terry Richard

http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2013/07/mount_hood_national_forst_rest.html#incart_river

BLM Oregon/Washington State Office to Relocate

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT OR-13-10 Contact: Jeff Clark For release: July 23, 2013 (503) 808-6028

BLM Oregon/Washington State Office to Relocate

Portland, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Oregon and Washington is relocating the state office. The BLM office move is scheduled to occur between Friday, Aug. 2 and Monday, Aug. 5 with the new office opening Tuesday, Aug. 6.

The new BLM Oregon/Washington State Office address will be in the Edith Green–Wendell Wyatt (EGWW) Federal Building at 1220 SW. 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97204. All other contact information such as the telephone number, (503) 808-6001, as well as the post office address, P.O. Box 2965, Portland, OR 97208, will remain the same.

Because of the relocation of the Oregon/Washington State Office, certain records will be unavailable for inspection and the Public Room will be closed. Records and services associated with the Public Claim Records and Computerized Reports, GLO Survey Records, Patent Records, Right-of-Way Records, and Map Sales will be unavailable for approximately one week during the records transfer to the new location.

While the BLM offices in Portland will be closed during the relocation from Aug. 2-5, all District offices will remain open during normal business hours and the BLM Oregon/Washington website at www.blm.gov/or, will still be operational.

- BLM -

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2012, activities on public lands generated $4.6 billion in revenue, much of which was shared with the States where the activities occurred. In addition, public lands contributed more than $112 billion to the U.S. economy and helped support more than 500,000 jobs.

From: Aaron Abrams, Community Relations Specialist, Clackamas County, Department of Health, Housing, and Human Services, 503-655-8752 07-25-13

Media and Interested Parties

New grant funding expands transportation on Mt. Hood

The Federal Lands Access Program has awarded $476,000 in new grant funding for expanded transit service to Clackamas County, the Mt. Hood National Forest, and the City of Sandy. The funding will help to expand the Mountain Express bus service to Government Camp, Timberline Lodge and other locations on Mt. Hood, as well as Sandy Area Metro (SAM) bus service.

The successful award will allow the Mountain Express bus, operated by Clackamas County, to increase its service to five scheduled runs daily, seven days per week, and seven runs daily during the winter season. The grant also adds bus service between Sandy and Gresham on Saturday mornings and Sundays to provide connections to regional transit service.

“We know that transportation on Mt. Hood is extremely important for the economy of our mountain communities,” said Jim Bernard, County Commissioner. “We are really excited about this grant because transportation resources are important for seniors, people with disabilities, employees, and others who need a safe and reliable way to get to work and services.”

“The expanded service on the mountain will be a big help,” he continued.

The grant was awarded by the Federal Lands Access Program, a Federal grant program that works to improve access to Federal lands, such as National Parks and Forests. The grant was made possible with cooperation from local businesses who have agreed to financially contribute to the project.

Support from partners such as Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, Timberline Lodge, and the Resort at the Mountain have been critical in making the expansion possible. The support of the Village at Mt. Hood has also been important.

Mt Hood National Forest has been a leader in promoting the expansion of public transit options and has been the sponsoring organization for both this grant and another recent grant for new vehicles for the Mountain Express.

The grant will be distributed over two years. In year one, the grant will provide $230,000. In year two, the grant will provide $246,000. Earlier this year, The Mountain Express bus service also received an additional $460,000 from thePaul S. Sarbanes Transit In Parks grant program for new vehicles and equipment. The new vehicles will include specialized equipment for transporting skis and snow boards, mountain bikes and other types of recreational equipment.

Clackamas County will be holding a series of public meetings to discuss the expansion of transit services on Mt. Hood. Please join us at one of the following public meetings to get more information and provide your thoughts on stops and times of the expanded service:

In Welches: Thursday, August 15th from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Hoodland Fire Station, 69634 E.

Hwy. 26, Welches

In Sandy: Wednesday, August 21st from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Sandy Transit Operations Center,

16610 Champion Way, Sandy

In Government Camp: Saturday, August 10th at 7 p.m.

In conjunction with the Government Camp CPO Meeting

Mt Hood Cultural Center and Museum,

88900 Government Camp Loop,

For more information, please contact Teresa Christopherson, Clackamas County Social Services, at 503-650-5718 or atteresachr@co.clackamas.or.us

Follow Clackamas County, Oregon on Facebook and Twitter

******

The Clackamas County Health, Housing and Human Services department promotes and assists individuals, families and communities to be healthy, safe, and thrive. H3S provides a broad spectrum of services for low income and vulnerable residents and addresses public health issues for the entire county.

###

Biking and hiking, but no parking

"THE city of Vancouver, Washington lies just across the Columbia river from Portland, Oregon. Since 1990 Portland’s population has grown by 38%, while Vancouver’s has nearly quadrupled. To critics, that is proof that Oregon’s strict land-use laws are crimping the city and the state’s growth. To supporters, it is a sign that the planning regime is working as intended, preventing sprawl and preserving Portland’s pristine surroundings—on Oregon’s side of the river, at any rate.

No one disputes that Oregon’s land-use law, in force for 40 years, is among the strictest in the country. The governor who pushed for its adoption insisted that the state’s “quality of life” was at risk from “sagebrush subdivision, coastal condo-mania and the ravenous rampage of suburbia”. To hold these horrors in check, and bolster Oregon’s two main industries at the time (forestry and farming), he pushed for every inch of the state to be zoned, with cities corralled within “urban growth boundaries”. A new house can be built outside these areas only for the use of a farmer, his relatives or employees, only on a tract of at least 80 acres which has produced at least $40,000 a year in agricultural income in recent years, and only if there is no alternative structure on the same land that could be used for the same purpose. Inside the growth boundaries, meanwhile, planners urge ever denser construction and discourage cars."

The rest of the article from the Economist is at this link

http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21582315-are-oregons-strict-planning-rules-stifling-growth-biking-and-hiking-no-parking

New (to me) web-site showing our streams and river

http://nationalatlas.gov/

go to site and follow instructions.  very cool

Earthrise Law Center Wins SLAPP Suit in Federal Court

For Immediate Release: July 24, 2013 Contact: Dan Rohlf (503) 415-9111, rohlf@lclark.edu; Don Mench (503) 622-5588

Earthrise Law Center Wins SLAPP Suit in Federal Court

Simon’s opinion concluded that the plaintiffs, Sandy developers Kip O’Connor, Big Mountain Excavation, and Lisa Konell, had failed to provide evidence to substantiate any of their claims and therefore granted defendants’ motion for summary judgment. The ruling foreclosed a trial and was granted with prejudice, ending the case.

The plaintiffs claimed that the CPO and individuals intentionally interfered with the developers’ business relations, as well as violated their constitutional rights to due process. In an earlier ruling, the Court threw out the business relations claim under the State of Oregon’s anti-SLAPP statute, a law specifically designed to protect citizens who take advantage of public involvement opportunities to provide input into government decision-making proceedings. The court’s most recent ruling rejected plaintiffs’ argument that Don Mench colluded with Clackamas County employees to violate the developers’ constitutional rights.

“Lawsuits like this have a chilling effect on citizens and community volunteers who take the time to get involved and work to help protect the environment,” said Dan Rohlf, lead attorney for the defendants. “This important ruling demonstrates that courts will look skeptically at suits whose main purpose is to intimidate people who care enough to speak up.”

Earthrise Law Center is the domestic environmental law clinic at Lewis and Clark Law School. Two third-year law students, Nick Lawton and Laura Hagen, did much of the work on the case.

END

Portland, OR. In an opinion released Monday, Judge Michael Simon of the U.S.

District Court in Portland ruled in favor of the defendants in a case that had all

the earmarks of a classic SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation).

Earthrise represents the Mt. Hood Corridor Community Planning Organization

(MHC-CPO), its individual board members, and land use committee chair in a

suit brought by a developer upset about public comments submitted by the

defendants to Clackamas County’s land use permit process. Defendants’

comments highlighted damage to the Sandy River and its sensitive salmon

habitat caused by the partially completed development activities.

“This decision is an important step on the road to protecting both environmentally

sensitive lands and citizens’ right to give their opinions about proposed land use

decisions to government decision-makers,” said former CPO Land Use Chair

Don Mench, a lead defendant in the case.

Embracing the Local Community

below is the start of a nice writeup.  be sure to check the link for the remaining posting

The Ozarks. The Sonoran Desert. The Green Mountains. Death Valley. In my life I’ve called them all home. Like so many people I move for work, for new opportunities. I’m a park ranger, traveling every season to a new destination, a new natural wonder, a piece of American history. And being able to travel and live from coast to coast, I have come to believe that there are unique qualities in every part of this vast country.

As a ranger I look at the land first. I love moving to new parks and new ecosystems, to suddenly be looking at a forest of cactus, or thick hardwoods, or a slow meandering river. The second thing I look for is a hike into this new territory. And the third thing? Town. I find the grocery store. The library. And it’s amazing, because every nearby small town is just as unique as the park itself. There’s the dusty failing boom town on the Nevada border. The small mom-and-pop towns scattered throughout southern Missouri. Or the pretty town greens of Vermont.

I believe that it is a combination of the land, and its history, and its people, that makes these places unique. I’ve seen it almost everywhere I’ve been. Communities protecting their local identities, embracing their local histories, and celebrating their local ecology. I’ve seen these communities struggling to re-claim themselves from an often de-personalizing and sprawling modern life. I believe that community-identity can be created, and like all of the towns I’ve lived in, this identity can be created by embracing the local woods (be they mangroves or fir trees) and by embracing the local community, with its markets and libraries, historical societies, and businesses.

http://thisibelieve.org/essay/19436/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tib-podcast+%28This+I+Believe%3A+Podcast%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Reducing Wildfire Risk and Protecting Our Drinking Water in a Changing Climate

the full blog post is below

Posted by Tom Tidwell, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service and Mike Connor, Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, on July 19, 2013 at 12:00 PM

Cross-posted from the White House Council of Environmental Quality blog:

Americans are all too familiar with the devastation catastrophic wildland fires can wreak on the landscape. Fire takes lives, destroys homes, impacts wildlife, and devastates millions of acres of valuable forests and grasslands every year. But what is lesser known is that these fires also severely damage watersheds—the very lands that provide clean and abundant drinking water for millions of Americans every day.

To address this problem, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell this week announced an historic agreement between the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation to focus on proactively restoring forest lands around important watersheds and preventing costly, destructive wildfires in these areas.

The partnership is included in President Obama’s Climate Action Plan as a means to reduce wildfire risk, protect critical infrastructure, and lessen the impacts of climate change, which include higher risks of large and destructive wildfires. The damage caused to rivers, dams, and irrigation systems after a wildfire can be tremendous. Clearing out the sediment and ash left behind is costing the nation millions of dollars every year, and the impacts of climate change are expected to continue to intensify.  Climate change also exacerbates dry conditions, which can slow the natural recovery time after a wildfire.

Through this Western Watershed Enhancement Partnership, our two federal agencies will begin working with water users on both the local government and private sector level to restore healthy forested watersheds across the West. In cooperation with regional Colorado government agencies, our first effort in this partnership will start in the Upper Colorado Headwaters and Big Thompson watersheds. Our goal is to ensure these important watersheds are kept reliable and clean for the hundreds of thousands of people who depend on them for drinking water, farming and electricity.

Heavy rains after a wildfire caused this heavy sediment deposit (Photo Credit: R. H. Meade, U.S. Geological Survey)

On a national level, our partnership will work to restore forest and watershed health and conduct planning for post-wildfire actions and responses. We will strive to protect municipal and agricultural water supplies and water delivery systems from future threats and we invite cities, towns, and rural communities to partner with us.

As land managing agencies, we share an interest in the long-term sustainability of our Nation’s water supplies. These waters are the life blood for American agriculture, the source of drinking water for millions of Americans, and a key component of healthy local economies. By working cooperatively across agency lines, we can keep our forested and grassland watersheds safe for the millions of Americans and wildlife that depend on these clean and abundant water sources.

Tom Tidwell is the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service.

Mike Connor is the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation.

- See more at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/07/19/reducing-wildfire-risk-and-protecting-our-drinking-water-in-a-changing-climate/#sthash.fUwI4vrs.dpuf

USDA Explores How Federal Infrastructure Can Support Rural Cultural Strategies

Zigzag etc is a rural community, but more it is a recreational area with lots of local artists.  The following blog posting of USDA suggests that more support for these activities may be available.

The blog entry starts:

"As rural communities search for new and viable economic approaches, it is becoming clear that one core component of many successful rural communities is the presence of vibrant arts and cultural opportunities. Last month I had the opportunity to speak about rural arts initiatives and how USDA Rural Development is engaged with local communities and private foundations to provide awareness of our infrastructure programs and how they can assist in supporting local cultural strategies.

"At the Americans for the Arts annual meeting I had the honor of representing USDA on two panels where our Rural Development programs were part of the mix.  The sessions included discussion of ArtPlace, a consortium of national and regional foundations, and their efforts to support rural communities. Projects in Lanesboro, Minnesota and Ajo, Arizona are recent ArtPlace grantees, and we had the opportunity to explore ways in which USDA’s infrastructure programs might be able to leverage this new boost of philanthropic support as these communities work to demonstrate how cultural development is an essential ingredient for rural communities in the next generation.

- See more at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/07/19/usda-explores-how-federal-infrastructure-can-support-rural-cultural-strategies/#sthash.DVCwPtf6.dpuf

Rep. DeFazio wins top Democratic position on House Natural Resources Committee

Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio was named by his fellow Democrats to be the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee Thursday after the rival candidate, Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva, withdrew his candidacy.
"I believe that for Oregon this could be really good," said DeFazio, noting that the panel deals with a host of public land issues important to the state, including the contentious issue of managing federal forests in Oregon.
Since Democrats in the House are in the minority, their sway is limited.  But DeFazio said he has a good relationship with the committee's Republican chairman,  Rep. Doc Hastings of Washington.

by Jeff Mapes

rest of the article please link to
http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2013/07/rep_defazio_wins_top_democrati.html#incart_river

Smokey Bear Gives Bear Hugs in New Wildfire Prevention Campaign

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Smokey Bear Gives Bear Hugs in New Wildfire Prevention Campaign

Posted by Kathryn Sosbe, Office of Communication, U.S. Forest Service, on July 16, 2013 at 3:05 PM

Imagine dousing your campfire then getting a big bear hug from Smokey Bear, the iconic symbol of wildfire prevention for nearly 70 years.

That’s the idea behind three videos in a new series of Smokey Bear public service advertisements released July 12, 2013, designed to raise awareness about wildfire prevention. The Smokey Bear campaign is the longest running PSA campaign in U.S. History. The new ads will feature his well-known tagline, “Only YOU can prevent wildfires.” The new twist is the bear hugs.

“As he approaches his seventieth birthday, Smokey remains the country’s renowned and beloved ‘spokesbear’ for fire prevention,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “We are confident that these new PSAs will use ‘bear hugs’ to enlighten a whole new generation of Americans on the critical importance of preventing wildfires.”

Wildfires remain one of the most critical environmental issues affecting Americans. Smokey Bear’s campaign has helped to reduce wildfires from 22 million acres annually to an average of 6.9 million acres today. Still, nine out of 10 wildfires nationwide are caused by people, so Smokey Bear’s work remains vitally important.

“These new PSAs celebrate the Smokey Bear that we all know and love, while continuing to empower Americans to act responsibly when recreating outdoors,” said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council. “According to our latest research, nearly all Americans are aware of Smokey and his message, and they understand that they have a role to play, but many don’t know exactly what to do. These ads educate audiences about specific steps to properly safeguard against accidental fire and I believe they will be effective. After all, who doesn’t want a hug from Smokey Bear?”

Stay connected to Smokey Bear through the campaign’s website, where you can take a pledge and learn more about wildfire prevention. Smokey Bear also can be followed through his social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

- See more at: http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/07/16/smokey-bear-gives-bear-hugs-in-new-wildfire-prevention-campaign/#sthash.O24GE42j.dpuf