-Caveat Lector- http://www.elkodaily.com/Article_detail_display.cfm?ID=4823&Articletypeid=8 Guest Editorial...Why the big deal about South Canyon Road? Tuesday, October 05, 1999 John Carpenter This coming weekend, the 9th and 10th of October, a group of citizens will be holding a rally and work party to repair the county road which travels up the south fork of the Jarbidge Canyon. A brief explanation of the events which led to this rally are in order. In the spring of 1995, Mother Nature released a torrent of water down the South Canyon of the Jarbidge River. In a number of places the creek jumped its banks and washed the road out. Elko County was prepared to repair the road, but the U.S. Forest Service said there was money available for them to repair the road. The Forest Service then prepared an environmental impact statement which indicated the preferred alternative, or course of action, was to repair the road from the Pine Creek Campground to the "Wilderness Trailhead" at Snowslide Gulch. In September of 1997 the Forest Service suddenly changed its "mind" and decided not to repair the road. The county, knowing it had an emergency situation perpetuated by the action of the Forest Service, proceeded to repair the road. The Forest Service, Federal Fish and Wildlife Service, Trout Unlimited and various other assorted enemies of the people of Elko County blew the whistle on the county, because they had not obtained a permit to work with heavy equipment in the stream bed. Various members of the Environmental Commission and staff of the Nevada Environmental Protection Agency visited the site and inspected the work the county had done. They agreed the county had done no damage and in fact by moving the stream back into its original channel had greatly enhanced the fish habitat. The Nevada EPA, feeling that Elko County had violated the Clean Water Act, fined Elko County $1,000.00 a day for the two days they might have worked in the stream. This determination by the NDEPA is currently being litigated in the courts. The Forest Service then proceeded to not only destroy the road, but to also destroy many trees and riparian areas in the canyon. After wasting huge sums of money to destroy a county road and create a "war zone" in a portion of the canyon, the Forest Service had the audacity to threaten the county with a lawsuit to recover the money they had squandered on destroying the road along with many trees and other vegetation. The county, at a meeting in Wells, indicated they would discuss with the Forest Service any part of the threatened suit except ownership of the road. The county owns the road and the people own the vegetation and beauty of the Canyon. The only thing that should be negotiated is how much various officials of the Forest Service and Federal Fish and Wildlife Service along with extreme environmental groups should have to pay for their destruction of public property and the county road. Not all local people working for the Forest Service should be categorized as wanting to destroy a county road and decimate a portion of the canyon. The illogical decision to destroy the road and decimate the canyon had to come from some of the extreme environmentalists in the current administration. The people of Elko County have already had too many roads closed and too much wilderness designation. The closing of this road will only add more wilderness to our county. I have seen no improvement of our quality of life by the designation of wilderness areas. What it has done is to work to the detriment of our outdoor enthusiasts such as snowmobilers, hunters, fisherman and campers. The mining and ranching interests of our county have suffered because of wilderness designations. Wilderness and other closed areas, such as Marys River, are just sitting there ready to burn. Why the big deal on the South Canyon Road? If South Canyon Road can be closed, any road in the county can be closed. Soldier Creek, Jack Creek and even Lamoille Canyon. People with disabilities are being deprived of their right to enjoy the South Canyon. Let the Forest Service and extreme Greenies know road closures are not part of the agenda of Elko County and its citizens. Join the work party on October 9 and 10 and protect your right to use your National Forest. Carpenter is the representative for the 33rd District in the Nevada Assembly. -- ----------------------- NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ----------------------- DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. 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