Outfitters Damaging Environment

Washington Hunter

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Another good article from the FSEEE web site. The Pasayten Wilderness is a popular area for mule deer hunting in north central Washington, especially for the early rifle hunt in September. This article just shows how the actions of outfitters and hunters can have a negative impact on the way we are viewed by non-hunters.


<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Recreational Use in Washington's Pasayten Wilderness

For years, Forest Service wilderness rangers have been documenting environmental harm stemming from recreational use in the Pasayten Wilderness. The Pasayten is a highly scenic and remote 500,000-acre wilderness that straddles the Canadian border in north-central Washington.


Resource damage associated with large groups of people and packstock, including the large groups that commercial outfitters and guides often lead into the wilderness, has become a point of mounting concern.


The Pasayten is home to a variety of plants and animals, including lynx, wolverine, grizzly bear, wolf, and a large number of sensitive plants. Unfortunately, Forest Service resource specialists have reported significant damage to sensitive plants and soils due to improper or excessive stock use (see Botanist's report, Appendix E of the Pasayten Activity Review http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/okanogan). In addition, improper food storage, waste disposal, poorly sited camps, grazing in prohibited areas, streambank trampling, and other problems may have adversely affected water quality, and fish and wildlife populations in portions of the wilderness.


This year, FSEEE reviewed allegations that the Okanogan National Forest has failed to take the enforcement actions that one would expect in light of documented violations of the Wilderness Act, federal regulations, and forest plan standards. We teamed up with other watchdog groups—the Washington State office of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and Wilderness Watch—to request that the Forest Service apply appropriate enforcement measures when user violations occur.


In April, we met with Regional Forester Harv Forsgren, Forest Supervisor Sonny O’Neal, and District Ranger John Newcom to discuss our concerns. As a result of that meeting and other outside pressures, the Forest Service initiated both in-house and external investigations of the violations and the Forest Service's response to them. FSEEE awaits the results of those investigations.


For the 2001 season, one outfitter has been placed on probationary status (the first time the Okanogan National Forest has taken such action in the Pasayten Wilderness). We hope the agency will take additional enforcement actions when employees report significant violations. We will be monitoring the situation closely to ensure that the Forest Service responds appropriately.


EXCERPTS FROM WILDERNESS RANGER REPORTS, 1992 to 2000
"[At an outfitter camp] holes for human waste were dug and covered but were on bank above creek within 50 feet of the creek." Ranger report, 2000


"Electric fence [for outfitter's stock] has at least doubled, maybe tripled barren area [of this campsite]." Ranger report, 2000


"Current area [Bald Mountain camp] where stock are being tied is affecting trees — there is no place in the immediate area of the camp for a proper highline…Need to figure a better way to contain stock if [outfitter will] stay at present camp location." Ranger report, 2000


On 9/21/00 I found a camp fire which had been left hot and containing litter (plastic, aluminum, and steel can lids)…This is a common occurrence late in the season, but still illegal and I have to put them out." Ranger report, 2000


"[The ranger] was at the camp as they were preparing to leave and found the fire was still burning and large areas were beat out among the trees by the stock. [The outfitter] said he had used a highline but if so he tied the stock within 8 feet of the trees. After they left, [the ranger] found piles of human waste and toilet paper scattered throughout the area adjacent to camp including one pile within 75 feet of the creek." Ranger report, 1999


"[Outfitter] camp next to trail near Spanish Camp. Drug in tree (dead) for firewood via horse…Client told me she felt kind of guilty being on a trip that created such impacts and she said she can't imagine that this type of use can continue much longer in this day and age." Ranger report, 1999


"Horse groups have, by far, the greatest impact on the trails and vegetation in the areas we covered. Commercial groups have large numbers and are by far the biggest offenders. Stock numbers tend to be greater than the recommended size." Ranger report, 1999


"Observed fragrant violations need prompt, punitive penalties. Many go unobserved. The more a fee-paying outfitter tries to follow the rules, the more that outfitter is penalized, even mocked, by the results of our inaction." Ranger report, 1999


"Never has so much been sacrificed for so few. Comfort, luxury, and dependence are what many outfitters sell to their clients…[A] high ratio of stock to clients is required. This translates into beat up trails and corral size areas around camps being impacted." Ranger report, 1999


"After I mentioned that I was headed toward their camp, one of them raced back to camp to beat me there. When I arrived, the rider had departed (out the back way)…They had cut numerous green boughs to accommodate their five tents." Ranger report, 1998


"There were several drop camps of horse outfitters which obviously were unaware of wilderness regulations and minimum impact ethics. Cutting green trees, escaped campfires, and poor campsite selection were the most common problems." Ranger report, 1995


"Hikers were concerned about impacts from horse users, most frequently with the amount of manure in campsites and resource damage from containment methods. Horse users were most concerned with regulations which may restrict horse use in wilderness. Both user groups expressed concern about the size of outfitter guide groups and the frequency of encounters with them." Ranger report, 1995


"I visited [an outfitter's] Bald Mtn. Camp the day after a wrangler packed it up and out. A 4-foot fire pit sided by two new pine log benches and an own-built 6-foot table remained. Tent trenches had not been filled in. I photographed as well as radioed [to my supervisor]..." Ranger report, 1994


"The impacts that are tolerated are severe. As use increases with population, and as recreation receives more emphasis, changes in policy need to occur to protect the integrity of the Pasayten as a wilderness. Professional steps can be taken now, rather than radical changes and rehabilitation that will catch up as a result of delay." Ranger report, 1994


"[A]bout one-third to one-half of the backpackers I spoke with had some question about the amount of resource damage that horses caused. Several people complained that horse damage to trails was inconvenient, and that some of the big, beat-out campsites …affected the quality of their wilderness experience." Ranger report, 1993


"The day after [a ranger] and I spent hours eradicating Coral Lake of…excess campsites, an outfitter guide packer appeared with a drop camp. He dropped the group off (with stock) at an area where there was no established site or even a hint of any prior use. I spent an hour helping the group move to one of twelve to fifteen previously established campsites. This year, I've been even more convinced of the need for outfitter guides to have special training in minimum impact." Ranger report, 1992


WHAT YOU CAN DO
Currently, the Okanogan National Forest is preparing an Environmental Analysis (EA) for the possible renewal of up to nine outfitter/guide special use permits in the Pasayten and Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness areas. The special use permit and its associated operating plan provide the primary vehicles for regulating commercial use of the wilderness by outfitters and guides. We encourage all interested persons to get involved.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1">[ 02-17-2003 12:08: Message edited by: Washington Hunter ]</font>
 
I was under the impression that outitters were licenced, isn't part of that process a test and/or classes, or do they just put down the money and all the sudden become outfitters?
 
All of the sites that I know of in National Forests that are used by outfitters are generally photographed when the outfitter takes the permit out and then again after the season. These are then picked over with a fine toothed comb and the outfitter pays a fine for any damage or degradation. Don't understand why this wouldn't work in Washington State..Actually that looks like the drift of the article. "Failure to take enforcement action"......

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I thought outfitters had to post a bond of sorts.

I'm glad it happened in the wilderness, otherwise it would get blamed on the ATV riders.
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Them hay burners keep stompin on things and damaging plants, even when ya park'em.
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Seriously though, I think the use by the outfitters, in this area anyway, has surpassed the capacity of the land to recover from the use.
 

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