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MORGAN Dick A From: RHAY Tim W To: MORGAN Dick A Subject: RE: DRAFT Amazon Basin Conservation Agreement Date: Thursday, May 09, 1996 4:14PM I'll be returning your copy with marginal notes re: the following: p.10 under heading "Site specific" the statement, "Grassy areas, including wet prairie habitat are often mowed." I'd strike the word "often" (A couple of times each year is not "often" as I would define the word.) p.12 (top 2 paragraphs) note that many more plants than thought turned out to be present at the site. I believe this speaks positively to our management of the area, but no such recognition is included in the text of the DRAFT. TNC & NPSO staff /members have consistently told us that the Lomatium in Amazon is some of the most vigorous and healthy among the identified populations. I'd like to see that recognized as well. p. 16, # 6 - The restrictions on changes in maintenance activity are much too cumbersome and restrictive. I'd be willing (as we have consistently done) to consult an available, recognized expert in the local area (we've used Ed Alverson or, if he isn't available, someone from NPSO). But the spectre of the specified process gives control to parties that have no stake in what happens to our local assetts or community without compensatory benefit to the community or any real showing of need to do so. I'm with Thoreau on this one - "Simplify, simplify ". Process for process' sake benefits no one but the "processor(s)" (by creating work and, thereby, legitmacy, and /or granting them power). No thanks! p. 17, # 9 - Comments re: relocation of existing athletic facilities that benefit this community would be similar to those on the item above. (Also see comments re: p. 12) Our population is healthy, vigorous, and much larger than the "experts" at ODFW thought it would /could be. Apparently the presence of the athletic facilities has not prevented this (at a minimum) and may have contributed to it. (The presence of users of the area may have helped to prevent abuses such as unauthorized 4 x4 traffic, illegal dumping and camping, and plant theft that could have had a negative impact on the population.) p. 17, # 10. - I disagree with the dates given. Calendar dates are a poor way to attempt to define mowing parameters. (This is even a problem with our own Obnoxious Vegetation ordinance.) Nature responds to the seasons as they come, but does not read our artificial calendars. We've mowed as early as late June/ first week of July and as late as early August, depending on weather and soil conditions in those given years. (Again, I consulted with an available knowledgeable party - Dr. Love, Dr. Waggoner, or Ed Alverson - before giving the order to mow the Lomatium areas.) Further, the dates given in the DRAFT allow mowing when it would be a disaster for the population. After October /November the clay soils in the Lomatium areas will be saturated and attempting to mow could create large tire ruts and /or otherwise disturb the soil. I'd propose language similar to, "seed set to soil saturation". Anything else will probably miss the mark some years. (Further, fire prevention is always a concern around July 4th and the Fire Marshall /neighbors appreciate our mowing the area before the 4th if we can. Even thought most years we can not.) That's it, at least on first reading. I've given Jesse a copy and asked for his comments as well. The whole thing seems like a dramatic over - reaction to a single incident of negative impact in light of years of positive history which obviously has (at least) not damaged the population and (likely) contributed to its increase. Why do we need such an elaborate "cure" to a non - existent disease? From: MORGAN Dick A To: RHAY Tim W Subject: FW: DRAFT Amazon Basin Conservation Agreement Date: Thursday, May 09, 1996 9:38AM Tim, this is for your info and review. I have not read it yet, so I have no comment at this time! RAM From: MEDLIN Johnny R To: *INRT Cc: HAMMITT Bob Subject: FW: DRAFT Amazon Basin Conservation Agreement Page 1