Upper Lochsa land deal opponents feel snubbed: But Forest Service says open house dealing with controversial plan not meant as forum for debate

MOSCOW - A steady stream of people hoping to weigh in on the proposed Upper Lochsa Land Exchange attended a U.S. Forest Service open house here Tuesday.

But opponents of the exchange said they were literally left out in the cold.

Marilyn Beckett and Kathy Judson, spokespersons for a grassroots group called Friends of the Palouse Ranger District, said they requested an inside table at the open house to offer reasons for their not-one-acre stance on the proposed exchange. Their request was denied.

Teresa Trulock, spokesperson for the Forest Service, said the gathering and three others this week are aimed at providing the public with information, not offering a forum for debate. In addition to the Forest Service, representatives of Western Pacific Timber and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation had inside venues.

"We've been left out in the cold," Judson said of her group's table just outside the door at the Latah County Fairgrounds. Ironically, Beckett and Judson said, the treatment smacks of how the entire controversy started more than two years ago.

The proposed exchange, as originally drafted, called for trading as many as 28,000 scattered federal acres, mostly on the Palouse Ranger District, for about 40,000 acres in the Upper Lochsa River basin near Lolo Pass owned by WPT.

Critics charge the proposal was hushed up and a "done deal" had all but been struck until a group of retired Palouse District rangers and other retirees blew the whistle. They said the proposed swap amounted to giving precious public lands to a timber company in exchange for mostly logged-over ground.

The controversy brewed for nearly two years and the Forest Service, after collecting public input, recently revealed a new proposal that includes a preferred alternative calling for an initial trade of about 6,000 federal acres for the Lochsa acres, followed by about three years of trying to find dollars to pay for the difference, or perhaps trade more land to seal the deal.

Trulock said the latest option is the product of public input gathered and the ultimate decision, which will be made by Forest Supervisor Rick Brazell, could hinge on new public input. She said persons wishing to submit written public comment have until Feb. 23.

Beckett, Judson and other members of Friends of the Palouse Ranger District aren't budging. At the very least, they said the Forest Service should start the process over. At best, they said the agency should abandon any thought of swapping any land out of the 145,000-acre Palouse Ranger District.

"We don't just use it for recreation," Beckett said. "We live off the land." She said once people understand what land is under consideration, they'll realize only WPT stands to benefit from the proposed deal.

"This is wrong. This is stealing the land from the public," Judson added.

Andy Hawes, spokesman for WPT, said his company is interested in doing what's best for the majority while making sure the swap is equitable.

"We want to be in the timber business and we want to be in Idaho," he said of the land management company's motives. Hawes said the Upper Lochsa acres should be in public hands because it will make management easier in that region for timber and wildlife. A written company statement says the Forest Service stands to have a net gain of 20,000 acres in the exchange, local tax bases will be increased, job opportunities will be created, and in accordance with WPT policy, the public will continue to have access to lands acquired by WPT.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation endorsed the exchange concept on grounds it will help ensure future management of elk herds in the Upper Lochsa region.

But Beckett and Judson said elk numbers continue to increase on the Palouse District, in part because of past management practices, and turning habitat over to a timber company makes no sense.

A similar open house was in Elk River Monday, and another is scheduled for today in Orofino at the Clearwater National Forest Supervisor's Office from 1 to 7 p.m. The final open house will be offered Thursday at the Elk City Ranger Station in Elk City from 1 to 7 p.m.

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Johnson may be contacted at djohnson@lmtribune.com or (208) 883-0564.