County Was Bullied Into Tree Cutting

Speaking of federal arrogance and confusion … Last Wednesday we blasted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for demanding the removal of huge, picturesque cottonwood trees that long have grown from flood-control levees along Idaho’s St. Joe River. We asked why Benewah County officials didn’t fight the Corps’ mandate.

On Thursday, Larry Comer, Benewah County’s engineer, sent us correspondence indicating the county did question the Corps - but got steamrollered. Even though the Corps admitted it’s reviewing the ecological wisdom of its rules, it still insisted that its rules (which ban big trees) are wiser than Idaho residents and wildlife experts, who note that the cottonwoods strengthened the levee and provided bald eagle habitat.

So, with the mighty Corps of Engineers making threats about the withholding of federal flood relief, a tiny county government was bullied into tree cutting that outraged local residents, destroyed scenic and wildlife assets, weakened the levee and, not least, violated the Idaho Forest Practices Act.

Does Big Brother know and govern best? The verdict’s in, folks.

, DataTimes The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = John Webster/For the editorial board