Hoaquiam, WA: Frustration comes out at Wild Olympics forum
Monday, December 5, 2011
BY STEVEN FRIEDERICH
The Daily World
More than 250 people packed the gym of Central Elementary School in Hoquiam Sunday afternoon to sound off on a proposal to provide more protections to the rivers and forestland around Olympic National Park. But many left angry that their voices weren't heard.
The forum -- one of four done across the Olympic Peninsula -- was hosted by the staffs of U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Congressman Norm Dicks.
Recreation and conservation groups have been working on a proposal known as the Wild Olympics Campaign to provide more wilderness protections around Olympic National Park, declare some rivers in and around the park "Wild and Scenic" and allow the park to expand if landowners in certain areas want to sell to the government. Logging and thinning practices would be eliminated. Hiking would remain, but it may take longer to reach some trail heads because access by car would be eliminated in some areas.
Dicks and Murray took the bulk of the Wild Olympics plan and are using it in their "Path Forward on Olympic Watersheds Protection Proposal."
After about a half hour, with nearly every seat in the gym filled, staff members for Dicks announced there would be no formal presentation. Instead, a number of tables were set up where congressional staff asked for individuals to come ask questions.
The response was met with boos and angry shouts.
About a quarter of the audience left immediately. Some told The Daily World they have been seeing signs in the community both supporting and opposing the plan, but had no specific questions to ask and wanted more information. Others said they had their minds made up already and had nothing more to contribute.
David Mascarena, wearing a button in favor of the proposal known as the Wild Olympics Campaign, declared, "I came here to listen to public, oral testimony."
His comment was met with cheers from both sides of the issue.
"Let's take 10 people from that side and 10 people from our side and call it a day," Mascarena said.
"We want to speak our piece!" came multiple shouts from the audience.
"We will talk to you," said Dicks staff member Pete Modaff. "Just come and talk to us. ... This has worked at other workshops. It doesn't matter if you have the same question, just come up to us and ask."
"Dicks says in the newspaper this is for future generations," another man says, stepping in front of Modaff. "But there are 6,500 acres of rotting timber in the woods (from the 2007 storm) and he hasn't done a damn thing about it!"
Modaff told the man that Dicks was aware of the issue.
Former county commissioner Bob Beerbower said he had come specifically to hear why Dicks and Murray were supporting the controversial plan.
"Why would you have such a huge audience here and not be prepared to talk to them all at once?" Beerbower asked.
Modaff said that the staff had made a decision that it didn't make sense to have a microphone and two sides argue over the issue. He said it was more constructive to put ideas down on comment cards.
"We're asked to just put our questions on a card and we're not getting any answers," said Linda Haggin of Montesano.
"I came all the way from Montesano just to pick up a few pamphlets?" said Emery Haggin. "I'm worried about jobs. I'm asking questions about jobs and not getting answers."
Bill Bennett of Hoquiam said he was disappointed that the forum wasn't being conducted during a congressional recess so either Murray or Dicks could attend personally and do a proper town hall meeting on the issue.
"They have staff people but can't they schedule these meetings during their time off?" Bennett said. "This is a very important thing to this community and this area. Why can't they come and face the people? ... How do you get dialogue if you can't hear from both sides?"
The gym was decorated like it was the eye of a political storm. There were dozens of slick blue and green signs talking about how the Wild Olympics Campaign would protect watersheds. Proponents wore bright blue buttons declaring themselves a "supporter."
Wild Olympics consultant Al Carter said his group had called about 1,000 supporters before the event.
Those who opposed the plan had huge signs declaring the whole thing a "land grab." There were hand-written signs stating, "You've taken enough from the people," "Neighborhoods are no place for wilderness or wolves" and collages of newspaper clippings showing the economic hard times.
Montesano Mayor-Elect Ken Estes grilled Shawn Bills, a staff person who works for Murray.
Pointing a finger at photos on display that show pristine trees surrounded by rivers, Estes declared, "There's too much emotion on this issue and not enough facts. You show these photos and talk about saving the forests but don't talk about how this will do it."
Estes noted that there are many groups on the Harbor who are opposed to the Wild Olympics plan, including the city of Aberdeen, the Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce and multiple legislators.
"The challenging part is that a lot of groups signaled their opposition to this plan without seeing this version," Bills said, saying that the plan has changed from what conservation and recreation groups had proposed.
For instance, in the Lake Quinault area, there are now buffers between proposed wilderness areas and private landowners, as well as 500 feet from SouthShore Road. Areas where timber had been cut have also been removed. In all, 577 acres of Lake Quinault-area land within the timber base have been removed, including timber that is less than 80 years old. About eight miles of roads have also been removed.
Another opponent to the plan challenged Bills, saying the federal government doesn't have the money to enact the proposal right now, so why not wait three to five years from now?
"If you wait three years, five years, you'll cost our children's future," declared Lindy Parker of Aberdeen. "This land needs protections now."
"We have to start somewhere to protect our children," she added later. "I'm frustrated that the other side is so hostile. I'm a proud supporter, but we're a quieter group and we can't let them be aggressive and pushy."
Lillian Broadbent of Ocean Shores told a Dicks staff member that the protections were important.
"There's a lot of rhetoric going on here about the jobs that are lost," she said. "But I think it's important for the health of the Peninsula in the long run that it's being protected."
Asked if she thinks the rivers aren't being protected, she replied, "I grew up on a river and when I was in high school we would wade into the river and catch fish with your hands. You can't do that anymore. It's something my grandchildren won't see."
Steven Friederich, a Daily World writer, can be reached at (360) 537-3927 or by e-mail atsfriederich@thedailyworld.com