Carlton
Chameleon Enthusiast
Has anyone been reading about the "militia" standoff at Malheur wildlife refuge in SE Oregon? I used to work there. Bizarre to see pictures of my office and nearby home on the news! These conflicts over grazing and land rights have been rumbling since the turn of the century. Nothing really new. I remember walking the property lines of the Hammond family's acreage. There were long-standing uneasy truces with the refuge staff due to livestock trespass and wetland damage (including the arson charges against them). I also remember the day someone decided to comment on the refuge's land use policy by putting a bullet through the refuge manager's windshield. Very productive and mature. The taxpayers got to repair that. And, by the way, while the militia uses the refuge's buildings we are all footing the bill for their free use of the refuge's heat, water, septic, lights, etc. during their little tantrum. I hope they don't vandalize anything. The buildings and natural history museum are historic and pretty cool.
The protesters seem to have their messages mixed up. That refuge hasn't taken land from anyone. They HAVE however purchased land from willing private sellers for fair market value (required by federal law) and they also provide land for livestock grazing (by lease) in areas that can tolerate it. If you want to claim that the federal government keeps taking land from the public you can't make that case here. When the US Fish and Wildlife Service buys private land they realize this removes that land from the county property tax base even though those acres don't need county services any longer (roads, utilities, schools, etc). So, to avoid eroding the tax base the federal government pays those counties a fee based on the assessed value of those acres so that county can continue to provide public services to other residents. But, if someone tries to sell off their property after its been overgrazed and eroded its going to be worth less no matter who appraises it. The fact is, the alkali lake basins are in a drought cycle so the land can support less livestock whether it is BLM land, refuge land, or private land. There is less water and you can't just dream up more out of thin (and dry) air. When the land can't support livestock grazing the stock has to go elsewhere. If they don't, the land and remaining water sources can be irreparably damaged and support even less livestock for decades after.
Sorry folks, these are not the good old days of cattle kingdoms and livestock kings.
The protesters seem to have their messages mixed up. That refuge hasn't taken land from anyone. They HAVE however purchased land from willing private sellers for fair market value (required by federal law) and they also provide land for livestock grazing (by lease) in areas that can tolerate it. If you want to claim that the federal government keeps taking land from the public you can't make that case here. When the US Fish and Wildlife Service buys private land they realize this removes that land from the county property tax base even though those acres don't need county services any longer (roads, utilities, schools, etc). So, to avoid eroding the tax base the federal government pays those counties a fee based on the assessed value of those acres so that county can continue to provide public services to other residents. But, if someone tries to sell off their property after its been overgrazed and eroded its going to be worth less no matter who appraises it. The fact is, the alkali lake basins are in a drought cycle so the land can support less livestock whether it is BLM land, refuge land, or private land. There is less water and you can't just dream up more out of thin (and dry) air. When the land can't support livestock grazing the stock has to go elsewhere. If they don't, the land and remaining water sources can be irreparably damaged and support even less livestock for decades after.
Sorry folks, these are not the good old days of cattle kingdoms and livestock kings.
