Figure 62
The McKenzie Bridge Ranger Station,
Willamette National Forest
Bridge all have residential areas surrounded
by dispersed settlement. Above Blue River, public ownership (Forest Service)
dominates, leaving settlement pretty much in the narrow river valley and the
private lands south of Blue River and Finn Rock. Below Blue River, some BLM
lands limit development but by Vida and Leaburg, most lands are private. In
these areas, dispersed settlement is the norm. Census data 2000 indicate that
the Upper McKenzie, from about Cedar Flats up had 5189 people in 2000, an
increase of 5.3% from 1990. McKenzie/Rainbow
had 713 people in 1990 and 626 people in 2000, a decline of 14%. Blue
River/Nimrod went from 892 to 888 people during the decade, while Vida went
from 997 to 1024, an increase of 9% (Lane Council of Governments). The
loss of population in McKenzie/Rainbow is largely attributable to Rainbow,
where the population includes lots of retired folks who may have died or
migrated closer to medical care facilities.
Small
homes are scattered throughout the forested lands and private/public ownership
is intermingled. Because of this, the area above Blue River and Rainbow, up to
Belknap Springs, has frequent interaction between citizens, county, and state
and federal agencies dealing with issues of mutual concern, such as riparian
habitat, new development and so on.
The
McKenzie Valley attracts fierce loyalty and affection. Despite the turmoil of
timber's decline, many families have been in the valley for several
generations. A core set of people remains to this day.
"We stay here because of the natural beauty. Over
the years, we've had to do different things to survive, but we did."
"I retired here from Portland because my sister and
her husband's family live here."
If
newcomers buy an existing house, they are absorbed quickly into the community.
"Building another home out here is very much frowned
on."
"___ ___ built a huge house that did not fit the
local style at all, nor did it fit in with the natural surroundings. But at the
same time, people accepted him into the community very quickly because he made
a lot of effort to fit in."
"This new guy put a fence in. Beautiful wood
showcase house, but a fence around it. It tells us he doesn't want to be
connected. And he's seasonal, too. Maybe that's the future."
"Trophy homes are coming in."
Some
newcomers have trouble adjusting to winters on the McKenzie and leave again.
Residents described a significant turnover of newcomers, related to the
weather, the lack of contact with other people, and the long drive into town.
Retired people also move out when they desire more extensive medical support.
"Retirees don't last long out here."
"I'm not too bad yet. The only drawback I
have is that I cannot drive by myself any distance. I mean, they let me drive
around here and they don't say anything, but if I want to go to Springfield, I
have to have somebody with me. And I have bus service right to my door if I
need it." [Blue River resident]
When
residents describe their area, they describe "summer homes" and "year round
homes." It reflects the growing importance of the seasonal population in this
area. What was occasional couples or individual now is a distinct community
pattern. The summer home distinction becomes more pronounced the higher in the
valley one goes.
"This family winters in Mexico each year.
This family has been in the valley since the late 1800s. This home was built in
the last two years and is nearby to one of the original cabins."
Neighborhood
Areas
Blue
River is a community of a couple hundred that used to be located on the main
highway but was bypassed when the highway was improved years ago. It now sits
on a loop off the highway that includes the Blue River Ranger Station (which
will be closed at the beginning of the new year due to consolidation with the
McKenzie Ranger Station), several homes, a community store, a mechanics shop,
and a post office.
"A new beer garden is supposed to open up.
Thin Rock. That used to be the name of this town."
"It was exciting before the tavern burnt
down."
Blue
River is struggling as a community. Three events have created negative impacts:
1) the highway bypass first isolated the community; 2) The restaurant that was
so popular at the corner of town and the highway burned down. This restaurant
was a crucial link, pulling people off the highway into the town; 3) The Forest
Service decided to close the Blue River office and consolidate at McKenzie
Bridge.
Many
people observed that the community was unable to get traction, with some
residents blaming the Forest Service. Housing is too expensive, no industrial
park or equivalent brings in business, the number of families is decreasing,
the schools are declining, and there is no tax base.
"People are saddened by Blue River. No tavern. No
café, no gas station."
Blue
River has a reputation:
"They are a bunch of hippies and druggies out there.
They used to have a tavern that was really shady. It closed down now. They need
to improve Blue River."
"I don't let my kids hang in
Blue River because of drug problems. Kids are just hanging there. It doesn't
seem safe."
Rainbow
is a housing area beyond the turn for Cougar Reservoir, between Blue River and
McKenzie Bridge. It includes Holiday Farm, a long established, old money resort
designed for leisure, quiet, and fly-fishing. Big names and a low profile are
associated with it.
"Holiday Farm is the kind of place that locals save
all year to go for a night."
Rainbow
has a community center that is well used for a variety of purposes, although
its recent ban of smoking did not sit well with all parties.
McKenzie
Bridge extends from Harbick's store east to the Cascade crest. It includes the
small neighborhood areas of North Bank Road, King Road West, and King Road
East. People really seem to like living in this area:
"I like my community. It is small and close-knit. I
like it the way it is."
Generally,
people attribute money and upper middle class status to McKenzie Bridge and
poverty and working class status to Blue River.
Publics
Newcomers are
retirees, snowbirds and part-time residents. The McKenzie River Valley has always
had a recreation economy so tolerance for newcomers is pretty good. However,
today they have a reputation of not paying taxes for youth programs and not
supporting the local economy. Of course, many newcomers do get involved in the
community. If a person makes an effort to get involved, they are well accepted.
More and more
retired people are moving into the area. They are often seasonal but they are
well connected to the community. They have great relationships with storeowners
and workers. Many are from out of state but many others come from Eugene.
"Seasonal residents are a
blessing. They offer a lot to the community. They do help out."
Retired people
were described as the "saviors" of the community by a number of residents.
Rather than be stuck in the answers of the past, these people bring energy, new
ideas, and resources to bear on community life that many feel will have
lasting, long-term results.
Commuters are not
as prevalent in the McKenzie as they are in some other areas like Sweet Home and
Mill City. However, it has become an important strategy for a significant
portion of the community. What was once a temporary measure for survival during
seasonal slow-downs or layoffs has now become a fact of life. In addition, the
bus service provided by Lane County Transit is highly valued and allows easy
access to the urban areas.
"Commuting
is hard, especially for families."
Additional publics
are described in other sections of this report. They include long-term
families, loggers, business people, and river guides. A strong artists'
community contributes in numerous ways to local life.
Networks
See
Section Two.
Work Routines
Logging and woods
products are still important in the area, both culturally and for a number of
families. Timberwork still has an attraction for local people related to the
independence and the lifestyle that recreation cannot replace. Logging and
forest product work are no longer important economically. Public timber sales
are reduced in quantity and type. The District has not offered a clearcut in
over 8 years, for example, and its sales are oriented to thinning. Whereas in
the 1980s, perhaps 100 families made their living in the industry locally,
today it is probably 25 or less.
Logging activity
is now related to private lands. Although secondary wood products appear not to
be very developed, a few people attempt to make a living making forest
products. One logger has a contract with the Forest Service to salvage logs out
of slash piles on Forest Service land. He strips the logs and makes furniture,
selling it in his shop. He expressed interest in a web page to market his
products but was unclear about how to do this.
"There's
a new woods business at Leaburg Canal, I hear."
"There
are few small logging companies left. Some medium-sized companies are still
around - Freres, Swanson."
One person told a
story of a family that he considered pretty representative of the struggle of
long-time timber families.
"Here's an example of the changes. ___ ____ went to work in the woods
right out of high school. He was working for a big company. When timber sales
on national forests dried up, he went to work for one of the local loggers and
he worked for them for a number of years. He got married, had kids, and then
even the fringes of stuff available to small loggers disappeared. So we went to
Lane Community College, rode the bus in, got an associates degree in something
like landscape management. He worked steadily for a firm in town, but the
commute got to be so much, and it was basically a minimum wage job. His wife
cleans homes, does a variety of whatever work she can."
Recreation has
always been part of the McKenzie Valley picture, but in recent years,
recreation, along with retirement is what brings dollars into the area. The lack
of year round tourism is difficult for the community because the slow season
makes it hard for businesses to make it. However, businesses have the
reputation for hanging on forever.
"It generally takes a death
in the family to have a business close their doors for good out here."
Trades and
services businesses in the valley expressed a steady level of business over the
last several years, neither declining nor increasing substantially.
"New business people tend to
be involved in the community, but as their business matures, they focus on that
instead."
Some observers
pointed to diversity as the core of the community, that it has always been
oriented to both timber and recreation. People have made it clear that they do
not want to rely on recreation as the primary economy. Families have known that
they must diversify in order to survive in the valley. One well-known family
has been in the area since 1912. The father worked as a logger and helped build
the dams. One of the sons works for the Forest Service, one runs the family
store, one works in Springfield, and the fourth one is a logger.
The seasonality of
the economy has been a fact of life for many generations and it has not
lessened in importance. Seasonal workers are local youth, working mothers, and
other local people. Youth are hired for the summer by the Forest Service and
provided District housing. Having multiple income streams has been a means of
survival for many families in an area where long-term, year-round, family-wage
jobs have not been very common.
One of the fastest
growing enterprises is McKenzie Mist artesian bottled water in Blue River. Once
it was linked to the Internet, it has grown very fast. Christmas Treasures also
has done better through the Internet.
In the lower
reaches of the McKenzie, some practice small-scale agriculture, including
organic farming.
The
McKenzie Valley experiences what the literature calls "lone eagles" or "modem
cowboys." These are people who make their living in the global economy, often
but not exclusively through the Internet. They are not tied to the local
economy but may use family or neighbor labor during periods of high
productivity. Around the U.S. West, these folks are settling in the beautiful
spots, saying they only need "UPS and an airport" to make their "virtual
office" work. Although the extent of such enterprise in the McKenzie could not
be documented, local comments suggest that lone eagle enterprises are growing
in importance.
"This guy works, I don't
know what he does. I think he's an economist. But he works for the United
Nations and operates out of his home. Then he travels out periodically."
Support Services
This is an area
run almost entirely through informal networks. Lacking local government units,
the area deals with the county on taxes and land use issues, various
county-based social service agencies, state agencies especially relative to
natural resource management, and the Forest Service. The day-to-day maintenance
of community life, the caretaking, and the survival of particular families are
handled informally.
"There's
no bureaucracy. People come together for things that are important."
"When
people need help, they call Sister John. She'll find people money somehow, give
out vouchers, or help with rent money for people who are really desperate."
Without city
government, the Chamber of Commerce tends to be the public voice on current
issues. Its strategy is to support existing businesses, rather than to attract
new businesses to the area. The Oregon Tourism Commission facilitated a grant
designed to network businesses along the river toward "Quality Service." The
focus was to improve local workers' knowledge of other goods, services and
activities the area offers, and to network the lodges together.
"At first, this was met with
much resistance, but then we all began to see the benefits of helping each
other out. We really began to work together on a number of projects."
"Recently,
a lodge owner complained to ODOT [Oregon Department of Transportation] about
fast traffic at McKenzie Bridge but got no response. When all the lodge owners
signed a letter to ODOT, they got a response."
"A
hospitality contest involved all the tourism employees. It took over a year and
workers were tested on their knowledge of the area. ___ ___--the waitress at
the Vida Café was the winner. She does the morning shift. They held a banquet
and gave her a $500 cash prize."
The schools are
the largest source of support and community connection. Once the kids graduate
from school, people tend not to have the close network connections they once
had. Lane Community College has an extension program out of the McKenzie High
School. The McKenzie Christian school in Vida has 70 students who mainly reside
below Vida. The opening of this school recently hurt public schools already
facing declining enrollment. Blue River Elementary provides a federally funded
after school program. Kids live far from each other. They know the woods and
the land. They hunt, fish and have animals. A good percentage of kids go on to
a four-year college.
Enrollment at
McKenzie High School dropped from 486 in 1991 to 285 in 2002. The decline
represents an aging of the population - newcomers tend to be without children. At
the same time, newcomers are inflating property values by paying higher prices
than locals can afford, making it difficult for young people from long-term
families to stay in the valley. As it is, young people leave upon graduation.
The school is
getting a "juvenile justice officer" next fall through grant money. The officer
will teach law enforcement classes and crack down on juvenile offenders. The
school also wishes to start an "alternative program" to retain would-be
dropouts with job training and classes through Lane Community College. A number
of local companies, many of which are forest related, have already agreed to
take part in the program.
The McKenzie
Bridge Church often organizes community programs.
"There isn't a lot of
solidarity."
"No matter how hard you try
to be an individual out here, you eventually get sucked up into one club or
another."
Meals on
Wheels was a successful support program that ran out of the Methodist Church in
Walterville. The service was discontinued for some reason, but some people
believe it is returning.
St. Benedict's
Retreat brings in many people to the community. Although many at the retreat
center are not well connected in the community, Sister John is very well known
for working with the poor and connecting them with jobs.
"If you need your gutters
cleaned, she has a crew of people come out. It's their way of paying back all
the food the community has donated. She is 80 years old, but five days a week,
she is out delivering food."
Neighborhood
Watch is an important program in the area. On the fringe of law enforcement for
many years, and with increased and diverse settlement occurring, especially of
senior citizens, which has brought vandalism and burglary, citizens have taken
it upon themselves to organize Neighborhood Watch. It is composed mainly of
people over 40 and the chapter extends from a point between Vida and Blue River
east past McKenzie Bridge.
"It brings a lot of folks
together."
"I wish it had school people
and ranger station people and others. This is their community, too."
Bus service
is highly valued by valley residents. It is part of Lane County transit system
and it links in direct and daily ways the population with the urban centers of
Eugene and Springfield. In the past, this connection has worked the other way
also - transients and homeless people reached such proportions that they lowered
the quality of life for local residents in some ways, but that influence has
waned in recent years.
A few
residents reported a lack of coordination among the communities of the Upper
McKenzie.
"Why would McKenzie and Blue
River get together? It would be artificial, there's no need."
The health
clinic in the valley, drawing mainly from people up from the 35 mile post
(above Nimrod), is reportedly running in the red each month, unable to compete
effectively when Sacred Heart in Eugene lowered its insurance costs. The clinic
has the reputation of being open more than any clinic in Oregon. It now has a
half-time social worker who is able to work with youth that do not qualify for
services from Services to Children and Family (SCF, a state department). It
offers phone cards, bus tokens and bridging to other services.
"The clinic creates a safe
place for kids to go if parents are drinking."
Apparently,
federal dollars were for start up only and the clinic has had to rely on
several private contributions to stay open. Grants often favor development but
not operations, making it difficult to fund administrative functions. The Home
and Garden Tour cut the clinics deficit by one-third, relying on 250 volunteers.
When the
Forest Service computerized its operation by way of a T1 line, one resident
said there was a spin-off benefit for others with improved telephone service
and Internet accessibility.
Local events
discussed by residents included the McKenzie Valley Home and Garden Show, the
Leaburg Country Festival, Walterville Country Festival (Lower McKenzie), and
the Art Festival. People were proud of their local artists and the Art
Festival, although the event was labor intensive, and "we might not do it again."
Others include McKenzie Fire and Rescue Fisherman's Breakfast, Big Brother/Big
Sister Fishing Derby, and Light up the Valley and Christmas Bazaar.
In addition to the
organizations listed in Section Two, other clubs make up social life, among
them the Garden Club that unites people up and down the river. EASE, Emergency
Action Services, provides ambulance and emergency medical services. The Lions
Club for years has provided firewood to the needy but its members are getting
too old to continue the service.
Recreational Activities
See Section Three.
B. Trends,
Themes and Citizen Issues
Related
to Community Life
Trends
Cost of living
increases, especially homes and property
More seasonal and
retired residents
More recreation
focus and less timber focus
Continued
seasonality with recreation, with attendant social and economic consequences
Citizen
Themes
1. "There's a
spirit of independence here." People have had to rely on themselves to survive
this mountainous area, especially during the winters when fewer people are
around and transportation is more difficult.
2. "The fast
summer pace and the slow winter pace make our community unique." People have to
make many adjustments to these conditions, in the summer tolerating many
visitors and in the winter tolerating (and enjoying) the slower pace.
3. "Newcomers must
make an effort to become part of the community."
4. "It's turning
into Yellowstone, Aspen or Bend." This theme relates to the concerns voiced
throughout the community of the future of the McKenzie River Valley in light of
existing trends.
"We don't want more
development along the McKenzie River."
5. "The
communities are run by volunteers, a small group of people trying real hard to
get things done. It's a lonely job."
6. "We study and
get studied but no one is able to implement." Residents say that the McKenzie
Valley has had a plethora of people come in to look their situation over, but
little action has resulted. The University of Oregon did a study, the Blue
River Community Development Corporation did a strategic plan, and other efforts
have been undertaken.
"To do anything in Blue
River, you have to buy the town and start from scratch."
"The federal government and
the county asked us to create a strategic plan, but there isn't anyone to
implement it."
Citizen Issues Related to Community Life
Community
Development
"When we first bought our
house, it was worth $17,000. Now it is worth $300,000. Young families cannot
buy into the community."
"With the declining school
population and the aging population in the area, there should be some efforts
to put together a senior center or something to reunify the communities."
"Homes are getting fixed up.
During the last 6 or 7 years, a number of people have purchased homes and
restored them. That has stimulated others to do the same."
"We don't have a meeting
place anymore since the Blue River Forest Service office closed." [Vida, Blue
River]
"Blue River needs a community
center now that the Forest Service has pulled out."
"The flood plain status for
Blue River should be removed because the dam is in now. Being in a flood plain
zone limits development." [513]
"A lot of people moved their
older mobiles out here because Eugene passed a law that only newer ones are
allowed in city limits. We had no where else to go."
"The clinic is not convenient
to get to and they aren't open the hours we need. We don't have a car so we
take the bus into Eugene [for health care]."
"EASE [Emergency Action
Services] is good to have for ambulance transportation, but it takes 45 minutes
to reach them."
"Transportation is hard on
the poor. Often cars barely work or only sometimes work."
"Roads in Blue River are bad.
The county vacated road maintenance in the town, so now it's up to storeowners
and homeowners to raise funds or pay out of pocket to resurface or rock roads.
There are huge potholes everywhere."
"We need to be recognized as
economically depressed so that we can attract outside resources. The new census
should help."
Drugs, Crime
and Law Enforcement
Concerns
about drug use was probably the most frequent issue voiced in the community. A
sampling of comments include:
"The INET task force has cracked down on meth labs in the area."
"Drugs are more of a problem
for the parents than the kids. There's basically no law enforcement. Drinking
is an issue."
"Blue River has a lot of
unemployed youth and ran away kids. It's better since a fee was imposed for the
hot springs."
"There's just no law
enforcement here. No wonder drugs are bad, although it's gotten better lately."
"We don't try to control
drugs anymore. You tend to tolerate things since drugs are always going to be
around."
Residents
voiced concern about vandalism, burglary, and domestic disturbance in the area.
"Everyone jokes that the
police reports are the biggest section of the paper."
"How come more people aren't
involved in Neighborhood Watch? Don't these things affect everyone?"
"The lack of law enforcement
really hurts the community. People know there are no consequences to criminal
behavior. The County Commission does not understand rural life."
"After the school safe was
robbed for the second time, people really started talking - the state police, the
sheriff station and Neighborhood Watch. We have to figure out how to protect
each other." [School official]
Jobs and
Economic Development
"The Cougar Dam project
should put our people to work, not just bring in workers from Eugene."
"The hydro project is good as
long as local people get work. I know a few people in the area that have
already found work because of the project."
"A couple of years ago, the Register
Guard did an extensive study of the future of the McKenzie Valley.
Ninety-five percent of the people said that they did not want to the river to
be further developed."
"Some things are deterring
growth like tight land use regulations and a lack of land for development. We
are a long distance from transportation. Maybe small businesses will come in,
but nothing large."
"E-business is growing but
because there's no broadband coverage, rural communities are being left
behind."
"The Basketball Camp was
supposed to hire local people but it hasn't happened."
"We need more restaurants. I
hear a new café might open." [common]
"A flea market is being
planned to run twice a year in the empty lot where the restaurant used to be."
Section
Two:
Communication
Strategies
A. Informal Networks and Communication
Gathering Places
The golf course,
especially for retired people, Eugene elite, and "trophy" homeowners.
McKenzie Bridge
Store
Harbick's Country
Store
Rainbow community
center
Lane Community
College at McKenzie High School
The Tea Trader
(Lower McKenzie, 41305 McKenzie Highway)
Blue River Market,
especially in the mornings
Key Community Contacts
Margaret Harbick,
Vida Post Office
Ken and Louise
Engleman, newspaper
Anne Raftree,
McKenzie Bridge, (541) 822-6001; araftree@hotmail.com.
Anne is a long time resident and teaches school in Blue River. She is well
regarded in the community.
Ron Hitchcock,
Superintendent and Principal of McKenzie High School, (541) 822-3313.
Clay Robson, Vida,
Oregon, (541) 822-3639; clayrobson922@cs.com.
B. Formal Groups and Communication
Figure 63
Organizations With Interest in Public Lands in the Upper
McKenzie Area
|
Organization
|
Contact Information
|
Mission
|
|
McKenzie River Chamber of Commerce
|
44643 McKenzie Highway,
Leaburg, OR 97489
Rhonda
(541) 896-3330
[393]
|
Not new business but
improve existing business
|
|
McKenzie Neighborhood
Watch
|
(541) 822-3794
|
Crime watch
|
|
Vida-McKenzie
Neighborhood Watch
|
(541) 896-0474
|
|
|
Leeburg Community Center
|
(541) 896-3988
|
|
|
McKenzie River Trust
|
532 Olive St.
Eugene, Oregon 97401
(541) 345-2799
|
Purchasing wetland and
wildlife area along McKenzie river
|
|
Blue River Community
Development Corporation
|
Cookie Swetland
(541) 822-3819
|
Community improvement
|
|
McKenzie Watershed
Council
|
Jim Thrailkill
P.O. Box 53
Springfield OR 97477
jimt@pond.net
|
Watershed improvement
|
|
Upper McKenzie Community
Center
|
(541) 822-3794
|
|
|
McKenzie Arts Forum
|
Sally Metcalf
Vida
(541) 822-3459
|
Goals of an arts coop,
teach classes, set up gallery and gift shop, community studio
|
|
McKenzie Residents
Association
|
Contact through the
Chamber of Commerce
|
|
|
McKenzie River Artist
Guild
|
(541) 726-5094
|
|
|
McKenzie River Guides
Association
|
(541) 896-3136
|
|
Section
Three:
Public
Lands Perspective
A. Recreation Activities and Orientation
to
Public Lands
McKenzie River
residents are active users of the river and the land. Being outdoors has been
part of everyday life from the beginning. In the early days, it was work in the
woods but even leisure time was outdoors as well.
Although the focus
on timber production has declined, the attraction to the out of doors is still
the settlement driver for newcomers, for retired and seasonal residents. As in
years past, outdoor life for kids and youth today is still strong, although now
it is supplemented with more trips to town and "entertainment" oriented
activities.
As large number of
visitors have become part of community routines, especially in summer, local
residents have made their adjustments, breathing sighs of relief when the slow
season approaches, protecting their favorite spots from overuse, and continuing
to use long term relationships with private landowners to secure access to less
crowded places.
This population
likes to hunt, fish, and be on the river. One person said that kayaking on the
McKenzie River has gotten big in the last several years. Snowmobiling is not
big, apparently, because the quality of the snow is not consistent. Workers for
HooDoo Ski Area live in Sisters, even though the facility is on the McKenzie
District.
Seniors like to
play bingo at the Leaburg community center every 1st and 3rd
Saturday of the month. Revolving pinochle in people's homes is popular as well.
Belknap Hot springs is one of the favorite local places. From its spa days
early in the twentieth century, it had deteriorated through the 1960s until it
was purchased by the family that redeveloped it.
The Forest Service
downsized the Blue River Ranger Station two years ago, moving most of its staff
to a combined district located at McKenzie Bridge. Three to four people still
work in Blue River for permitting and information, but the office will soon
close completely.
The loss of the
Forest Service in Blue River was described as having "cascading consequences."
For example, the Blue River office used 15% of the water resources available to
the water district, resulting in a significant revenue for the district that is
now lost. That will impact the fire station and then the school and so on.
The Blue River
Market sells Forest Service permits, maps and outdoor supplies. Their biggest
sales are hot springs passes, making 5 cents per permit. They make no money on
the maps, buying and selling them at face value. Now that the Forest Service
office has relocated to McKenzie Bridge, the owner of the market believes that
Forest-related business will significantly increase. This activity already
takes a fair amount of clerk time. In the summer, it is expected that many more
people will stop at the store asking for information about campground, boat
launches, and trails.
A new ranger
station was built at McKenzie that was designed as a visitor "portal" for the
area. All the magnificent timbers for the building were milled from local
trees. The building is a showcase for community art. Over 80 local artists
recently showcased their work through the Arts Forum recently, and the Forest
Service office was one of five venues. Over 700 visitors came to the office on
that Saturday.
Forest Service
employees are important community members, serving in a variety of capacities
including the school board and the fire department. The District office, of
course, has key relationships with river guides, private property owners,
recreation people, local businesses and key opinion leaders by virtue of its
ongoing management activities.
The agency issues
special lease permits for summer homes built in the 1930s and 1940s on national
forest land. The district also has about 50 outfitters under permit and these
people tend to hire others in the summer. As the permitting agency, the Forest
Service ends up being an intermediary between the Eugene Water and Electric
Board (EWEB) and residents related to use of utility corridors, water run off
problems and so on.
The agency
participates as a member of the McKenzie Watershed Council, which is credited
with raising awareness of basic watershed conditions. In some ways, its
activities has led to a muting of criticism of the Forest Service because
citizens have become aware of the poor quality of many private lands. The
voluntary nature of the Council has made it a primary vehicle to foster
cooperative relations and joint projects among the various interests along the
river. The Forest Service contributes funding for water quality monitoring,
provides technical help, and provides staff support for various projects
according to the expertise needed. The Forest Service has also contributed
grants to improve the Blue River Water District, and has assisted the Blue
River Community Development Corporation in town improvements.
The Forest Service
is active with the McKenzie School District, with staff on the school board,
and being active in natural resource education. An outdoor school reaches all 4th
graders. Fire ecology and fire prevention are taught in local forums. The
McKenzie District also administers Title One and Title Two monies, although the
extent of this contribution to the local economy was not enumerated for this
report.
B.
Themes and Citizen Issues Related to
Natural
Resource Management
Themes
1. "We get drawn
in." One theme from the Forest Service was the notion that the agency gets
drawn into community conflicts because of its role as a decisionmaking agency
or because of its expertise. It is a permitting agency for EWEB, for example,
so citizens with EWEB issues come to them. Citizens looked to them for support
in dealing with Camp Yale, even though as private development, it is
administered by the county, because of its expertise in hydrology and riparian
management. A third example is the conflicts over the bridge and road near
McKenzie Bridge that began way back with the flood of 1964. Residents wanted
the road paved, although summer residents did not, and the bridge needed
replacement. The County, although it apparently had accepted ownership of the
road, did not want to bring it to standards. Again, the Forest Service was in
the role of intermediary and finally agreed to be the holder of funds and
served other functions to get agreements implemented. Example four relates to
the support role the agency takes with the water district on water rationing.
The positive spin
on this theme is that the Forest Service has become an important facilitator to
align community interests with the interests of other institutions that serve
it. Staff made clear that a "cookie cutter" approach to community concerns does
not work, that each situation is unique and requires its own answers.
Nevertheless, despite the language of reluctantly being "drawn in" to these
conflicts, staff also expressed recognition of their emerging expertise to
successfully navigate these waters.
2. "We are a river
people." The McKenzie River has been a major draw for settlement, livelihood,
and leisure from the beginning of white settlement.
3. "The
partnership should be strengthened." The loss of the Blue River Forest Service
office has been hard for residents in Blue River and in the larger community.
Many residents openly discussed the direct social and economic benefits that
have been lost. It is clear that many emotions are involved in this change and
the sense of being abandoned is palpable. The leadership vacuum and the morale
concerns loom large and could be expected to affect Forest Service/community
relations for many years to come. Nevertheless, this theme relates to optimism
and expectation that present opportunities will create community-based
partnerships in the future.
Citizen
Issues Related to Natural Resource Management
Wild and Scenic
Designation
"Those homes along the river
built 5 or 6 years ago had lots of issues because the river is designated 'Wild
and Scenic' and it stipulates certain landscaping to be especially sensitive to
riparian habitat."
"A citizens' task force
worked well for the Wild and Scenic designation. Citizens worked an alternative
that we just put in the Forest Plan as a special interest area. The boundary
was changed to meet citizen interests." [Forest Service employee]
Public/Private
Woodland Management
"Yale Camp was controversial
because they started logging it. It was all wooded and then one of the owners
logged his holdings. It didn't seem that they were following the county rules
like the rest of us have to. It was a visual issue - this national scenic byway
is one that is more primitive and then this county development changes the
character of the area."
Community and
Economic Development
"These communities should not
become dependent on recreation. Recreation is not economically stable."
"The Arts Forum would like a
building in Blue River. Is the Forest Service building available?"
"The community really wants
to acquire the Blue River Ranger Station. The lower level would be great for
the fire station. It would create a benefit out of a loss."
"The Forest Service should
not have moved. It helped make this community [Blue River] work. They were part
of parties, BBQs, and everyday life. Now all the Forest Service people commute
so we loose out on lots of socialization."
"The Forest Service should
live in the community where they make decisions so they are aware of their
effects."
"I'd like to see the Forest
Service continue to support the summer program through the high school. It
would be better if their staff would be a permanent part of the local
curriculum. If they left Blue River will they also leave the High School?"
Recreation
""They're [the Forest
Service] putting all this money into tourism but not money for garbage cans and
toilets. They have to help maintain tourist amenities."
"What is going to happen with
all those people that used to stop in the Blue River Ranger Station in the
summer? Where will they get information and assistance? It's already starting
to happen, that we have to answer questions the Forest Service used to answer."
[Blue River Market]
"We don't have public
restrooms and the restrooms at the boat launch are gross. Blue River needs
public restrooms." [Blue River Market]
"That EWEB proposal on the
McKenzie River caused a stir. We have no representatives on their board. They
get use of the river, we get nothing."
C. Management Opportunities
The Forest Service
should continue to support the community goal of economic diversification. It
makes the remaining forest products work ever more important to protect and
support, and the needed efforts to create alternate forms of economic activity
should be supported as well.
The Forest Service
should be deliberate and systematic in its attempts to maximize economic return
from forest products. The economic innovators in woods products enterprises
should be identified, their issues identified, and strategies undertaken to
support and broaden these enterprises. While it may not have to take the lead
in this endeavor, the agency could facilitate other leadership, such as the
Chamber of Commerce or the Watershed Council, to undertake business incubation
and support services. As one example, many of the specialty businesses in the
area, including those focused on wood products, could benefit from the niche
marketing that the Internet makes possible. A "yellow pages" on the Internet
for these businesses, or individual web pages, would prove immensely beneficial
for the valley. In addition, marketing and accounting are typically functions
not performed well by small-scale entrepreneurs, but these services spread out
over several clients are affordable.
A more systematic
look at the lone eagle phenomenon in the McKenzie River Valley could reveal
fairly widespread activity. These businesses tend to be invisible since they
don't have storefronts. As their presence became known, opportunities for
capitalizing on their presence would emerge. Integrating these folks into
community life is especially important. In other areas of the West, such as
rural Washington State, this activity is becoming an economic engine.
The Forest Service
could foster additional cooperation among the various communities of the Upper
McKenzie. The Quality Service grant is a good example of the benefits of such
cooperation and there would be many more. A regional learning opportunity could
be very helpful for residents - for example, the Dallas, Independence, Monmouth
communities have done very well in recent years banding together for mutually
funded projects. This coordination, and demonstrating regional vision, is very
effective in drawing philanthropic and state funding support.
The McKenzie
District could foster local capacity in applying for Rural Community
Assistance, administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The extent of the
kayaking phenomenon could be explored and locals assisted to position for
economic benefits.
The Forest Service
could be an active supporter of the proposed alternative program in the school,
particularly since many of the business supporters of the program are forest
related.
The owner of the
Blue River market suggests several measures to manage the loss of the Forest
Service office, including a kiosk with information near the store, a discount
for Forest Service products sold in the store, and lending personnel to the
store during peak months. The market should be made an ally of the Forest
Service for information, outreach, and visitor services.
Blue River
residents have wanted a sign for years that would announce the proximity of the
town, the loop road that eases entry, and the services available. This is an
example of the kind of issue that is not the direct responsibility of the
Forest Service, yet would yield great dividends if the Forest Service could
facilitate, not necessarily direct, its resolution.
The agency could
begin a process of what JKA calls "Social Cost Benefit Accounting." Although
Forest Service directives support community development efforts, collaboration,
and community-based partnerships, little in the agency budget is oriented to
supporting staff time for these activities. Nevertheless, many staff do make
contributions to the community, both in an official capacity and as members of
the community. Also, effective management that fosters local empowerment and
avoids disruptive issues creates a huge benefit for society that remains
unmeasured. Social Cost Benefit Accounting catalogs the time and activities of
these pursuits, assigns dollar values to them, assesses their contribution to
the community, and prepares budget processes that are not just commodity driven
but driven by a wider set of social and economic indicators. Some examples of
the activities on the McKenzie District that would be captured with this method
are:
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