Letters To The Editor

FORESTS/ENVIRONMENT

Some messing with nature inevitable

John Webster’s Aug. 3 editorial on the forest fuel situation in the Inland Northwest and the unnaturally hot fires that will rid the forests of that fuel was very good.

The unnatural and disastrous conditions in the forest caused by fire suppression is compounded by our failure to address the situation through logging and controlled burning. Our imperfect management efforts have helped create this crisis. Forest management is a dynamic and ever-improving science.

However, Mr. Webster misses the boat with “Don’t mess with Mother Nature.” If the lesson we learn is as shallow as this, then the reality of human existence will prove that shallow lesson tragically wrong.

Reality and good science must dictate forest resource policy. Reality dictates “messing” with nature to some degree in order to survive. Our planet will have around 14 billion people on it within a century. Providing food, clothing, shelter and the basic human rights for these folks will require “messing” with nature.

Addressing reality has largely been avoided in the debate over resource management. For years now, good forest management science has been set aside in favor of feel-good politics, preservationist groups’ agendas and pseudo-science. The public has been sold the misguided notion that any logging is bad, that only no forest management is good management.

This failure to address reality and manage our forests to reduce fuels has yielded our current forest health disaster. Our forests are burning. Let’s not burn our hope with them by pretending that we shouldn’t mess with nature. Bruce Vincent, executive director Communities for a Great Northwest, Libby, Mont.

Logging has no beneficial fire impact

The recent large wildfires in the Lake Chelan area of Eastern Washington occurred primarily on lands that have been logged for the last century, with heavy logging over the past decade. Before the fires, even a casual observer could see recent examples of almost every kind of logging practice, from clearcut to singletree selection to commercial thinning.

None of these logging regimes so much as slowed down the wildfires. In fact, fires accelerate in recently logged areas because logging, in direct opposition to fire, takes the large wood out and leaves a lot of small-diameter stuff on the site to burn. (Thinning from below is a partial exception to that, but only partial.) In addition, 90 percent of the fires in Washington state are started from logging operations.

The message is clear. Logging neither prevents nor deters wildfires. Lisa Lombardi, director Clearwater Forest Watch Coalition, Moscow, Idaho

It’s owl habitat, not total of birds

Jim Rathbun’s Aug. 10 letter regarding the population of the endangered northern spotted owl disregards the findings of most biologists studying the species.

Last December, 50 scientists gathered to compare data regarding the owl. These experts have been counting spotted owls since the 1980s when it first became apparent the species faced extinction if unchecked logging continued in old-growth forests. They found the annual death rate of adult female owls is accelerating and will reduce the existing population by half in about 15 years.

Their findings suggest we may already be approaching the extinction threshold for the owl and it cannot survive any additional habitat loss. More than that, the results could have serious implications for the entire forest ecosystem, since the owl is an indicator of old-growth forest health.

The number of owls has never been the issue. The question is what happens to its habitat. Some biologists believe the trend in habitat loss is severe enough to assume the owl population may soon reach a point of no return. Moreover, these scientists believe the Clinton plan for old-growth forests will not prevent owl extinction because it allows further habitat destruction and fragmentation.

Yet, the timber industry clamors for the last forest fragments to bolster their bottom line for another handful of years. Should they prevail, logger and owl alike will pass over the brink of extinction. R.A. Moritz Sandpoint

SPOKANE MATTERS

Traffic lights lack safety delay

When I moved to Spokane two years ago after living in several large East Coast cities, I thought the drivers here were horrible. The particular habit which especially drove me crazy is the number of drivers here who run red lights.

After being here for a while and traveling back to other places, I have determined that it is not that Spokane drivers run more red lights than in the rest of North America, rather it is a problem with the lights here.

Most cities seem to set their lights so there is a delay between one direction’s red and the other direction’s green. So if someone runs a red in such an intersection, drivers going the other way may not even realize it because it has not yet turned green for them.

This probably increases the total cycle time for the light, but it could save lives. I have heard longtime Spokanites warn newcomers to “always wait an extra second or two at a light before going” because of the high number of accidents at light-controlled intersections.

Why can’t the city set our traffic lights in this manner and save lives? People should not run red lights. But, no matter what we do, they are going to. Fewer accidents would occur if we were to have a safety measure to compensate for that. Catherine Donnelly Airway Heights

Official should see beyond golfers’ needs

I am pleased to see you have recognized how the parks are being neglected on maintenance and repairs. Where is (Parks Department Director Sam) Angove and what is he doing about it?

Where does Angove get the thousands and thousands of dollars for the golf courses? Is it some of the dollars that should be spent on parks? I believe so.

Shadle Park is bad. The concrete areas are crumbling badly. Three years ago I wrote about this. The tennis court area near the high school is dangerous; the fencing has holes in it, the chain link is rusty and there are big stones lying around, serving as missiles for kids to throw. The tennis court area is in urgent need of repair and maintenance.

Where is the climbing frame by the children’s paddling pool? Why has it been removed? Is it going to be replaced? If not, why not? After all, the Parks Department has have a duty to replace what it takes out. The drinking fountain near the school is out of order, and when is the area going to be kept clean of garbage and stones?

Audubon Park, sadly, needs attention and new grass. I wrote about this at least four years ago but still nothing has been done. Why not?

Angove should visit these parks and concentrate less on golf and more on local areas and local people’s wishes. It is public money he spends. C.E. Auton Spokane

Traffic problems unaddressed

It seems as though Spokane’s drivers continue to become ever more frustrated with the daily traffic congestion in our city. The fact that the city and/or state has not anticipated or planned well for this increased traffic has left us trying to move from point to point on many arterials that were designed to accommodate traffic from the 1950s. This is particularly true, but not limited to, travel in a north-south direction.

To further complicate matters, police seem unable, disinterested or too preoccupied with the Gypsies and CBS to ticket almost anyone but those caught in radar traps. This leaves the average motorist exposed to impatient drivers who blatantly ignore red lights, fail to stop before making free right or left turns, and who only slow down before running stop signs.

Until traffic flow is improved to accommodate today’s demand and traffic enforcement is more than the radar traps expedient, we should for our own protection and safety realize that traffic controls in Spokane are only advisory. L.S. Reid Spokane

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Mangan is an exceptional lawman

We are truly fortunate to have Terry Mangan as our chief of police. Through our business we have had the opportunity to work with the chief and to meet others throughout the United States who know him.

Terry is controversial because he is so dedicated to law enforcement. He truly has a zeal and vision that only comes from dedication. He is highly respected and sought after for advice and assistance as a leader in law enforcement. His reputation and knowledge are well known by federal as well as state and local agencies.

Does this mean he is always right? No. Does this mean everyone should agree with him? No. But it does mean we ought to look at the whole Terry Mangan, the man dedicated to making sure Spokane is a safe place to live, to raise a family and visit.

If it were not for the law enforcement standards set by Chief Terry Mangan, our company would not have relocated to Spokane from Arizona.

Let’s make sure the public sees the accomplishments and credentials of our chief. Then it will be obvious that we are fortunate to have Terry as our chief of police. Dale O. Butterfield and Charles W. Gunnell Alpha-DOT Technologies Inc., Spokane

White House not what it used to be

While we memorialize Jacqueline Kennedy for the lady she was and the regal quality she brought to the White House, it’s discouraging to compare that period to today’s White House. We have few regal banquets. Diplomats leave Washington, D.C., not having been received by our president. Hillary wields immense power but is not held responsible as she is not an employee.

How are we supposed to take pride in the presidency and all that it represents? Kay Morse Spokane