Stevenson Grange #121 meets 9/02

Stevenson Grange #121 will hold its regular 1st Monday meeting on September 2nd, at 6:30 p.m., at the Hegewald Center.  For Grange information, please call Mary Repar, Master, at 509.427.7153.

The Stevenson Grangers are busy this summer with gleaning from local orchards and gardens, with gleanings going to the local food bank and Skamania Seniors;  and, we are also helping with the Stevenson Farmers Market and the Stevenson Community Gardens.  The Grange information booth at the Skamania Fair garnered a 1st place ribbon, too!  There are always enough projects to do and all that is needed are more hands!  At 16 members, the Stevenson Grange is growing but we can always use more members.

At the 124th State Grange Convention, in Ocean Shores, WA, during the last week of June, Stevenson Grange #121 stood fast for the labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), and for the Equal Rights Amendment becoming part of the Washington State Constitution (WA state passed the ERA but 8 more states are needed to reach the 3/4ths required for a constitutional amendment to become law).  Both of these resolutions are now part of the Grange Legislative Handbook.  The Grange has always stood for women's rights and continues to do so.

Stevenson Grange #121 Meeting

Stevenson Grange #121 will have its regular 1st Monday meeting at the Hegewald Center, on Dec. 3rd, 2012, at 6:30 p.m.  Call Mary Repar, at 509.427.7153, for information.

Seeking the Greatest Good

"Seeking the Greatest Good:  The Conservation Legacy of Gifford Pinchot," is a new documentary about the USDA's first Forest Service chief, Gifford Pinchot.  It premiered at the Skamania Lodge on Nov. 16th, but will be also shown on Public Broadcasting Stations.  Check your local stations.  The documentary is short and it might be useful to read Pinchot's autobiography, Breaking New Ground, to get a refined picture of the man, his times, and his outlook on conservation.  The time has come to revisit Pinchot's, Muirs, and Douglass's views on our natural world and what we humans will have to do stay alive in it.  Our very survival is in question.  And yet people are still debating climate change.  The debate is over, folks.  Climate change is here.  Humanity's survival is not a given or predestined in this new world.  We either learn to live with Nature or we will be obliterated by it.  The Earth doesn't care if humans survive.  Do we care if we survive?  The next few years will tell the tale.  We have to look to the past in order to discern our future--and Gifford Pinchot's learned views are a good place to start learning about our past, the past where we humans have extracted the Earth's treasures without thought of the consequences.  "Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it."  (Santayana)  If we repeat our past this time, we will be doomed.

War of ideas between the sexes??

PRESS RELEASE                                                              25 JUNE 2012             

Female Vet Vies for Against 3 Men for Commission Job

Mary Repar, a 15-year US Air Force Reserve veteran, faces three men in the August primary, in the Skamania County District #2 Commissioner race.  In a county dominated by Republicans in elected offices, Repar is going against the odds as an independent Democrat.  Repar states, “Our county faces some rough times, now and in the future.  How we got here should be a lesson learned and this lesson should provide impetus for changing the way business is conducted.  Our future should be based on accountability and transparency in our government.  We should look at these challenges as opportunities to make our county a better place to live and work, for all of us.” 

Considered too radical by some for advocating more vocational educational opportunities for adults and more science training for community children, Repar believes that Skamania’s future lies in becoming a county with the best educated people who will be able to work on the NEON project and other projects that deal with global climate change.  NEON—the National Ecological Observation Network, which has been approved, but still does not have adequate funding, for the USFS portion of the Wind River Nursery, can be an incubator for high paying local jobs.  Repar says, “I see this program as a way to keep and bring our children home to Skamania County.  This project will provide family wage jobs for our community.  I want to make sure that it is our citizens who get these jobs.”

Ms. Repar also wants the Gifford Pinchot National Forest to be used to earn money for the county, but not by cutting down more trees than necessary for forest health.  “Carbon sequestration is an important tool in the fight against global climate change, which is already happening.  Carbon sequestration can help us earn money through cap and trade.  Instead of fighting over the Gifford Pinchot, we can make it work for us and help our environment at the same time.  Why spend our time and energy re-fighting the same old battles?  We can pool our resources to fight for a better future for us and our children.”

Ms. Repar has a scientific and analytical background, having worked as a geophysicist for major oil companies, both in the U.S. and overseas, and having worked as a Intelligence Officer in the USAF Reserves.  She also advocates for county energy independence and conservation.  Her goal is to make homes and businesses energy independent by working to get grants and loans for upgrades and renovations to existing buildings and homes.  “Solar energy and innovative rooftop wind turbines are just a start.  Fuel cells for homes and businesses are now a reality and should be investigated.  The Sixth Northwest Conservation and Electric Power Plan states, ‘…substantial amounts of conservation to be cheaper and more sustainable than most other types of generation… The plan finds enough conservation to be available and cost-effective to meet 85 percent of the region’s load growth for the next 20 years,’” Repar says.  “We can do this.  It’s not impossible.  But we have to think and plan ahead.”

Perhaps Repar’s most innovative goal is to garner Federal dollars for Skamania County through changing the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act into a retooled “Secure Resources Act.”  Ms. Repar states, “Skamania County produces fresh, clean water and lots of nice, clean oxygen for our fellow humans, and I believe we should be rewarded for keeping our county in forests and waterways instead of developing it.  To that end, the Federal government should pay us for our resources.  The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act needs to be re-tooled into the Secure Resources Act.”

Repar has other goals for Skamania.  If elected she wants to work on the following issues:

• Utilities--Undergrounding our utility poles so that we don’t have to worry as much about storm outages, and to provide a safer working environment for our utility workers.  The aesthetics of our locales are being impacted and this impacts our quality of life, and it impacts tourism, one of our main economies.  We can work with other government entities to achieve this benefit for our community.

• Small Business Incubators:  Work on getting our small businesses to be the incubators of our work force.  It is small businesses that will make our community stronger and keep it thriving.  If we depend on one or two big employers, then we will be subject to their ups and downs—and in a small community those ups and downs can be devastating to both our citizens’ and our county’s welfare.
• Affordable High Speed Internet:  If we want to have businesses in rural areas that don’t have the populace to support these businesses, then we will have to help our small business people with affordable high speed Internet services that will open up their economic horizons and bring their products and services to the attention of a wider audience.
• Education:  Work with our school district to provide sites and opportunities for ongoing adult education, night school classes, and other opportunities for adult learning and re-training.

As District #2 commissioner, Ms. Repar will make sure that constituents are kept in the loop on decisions that affect their lives and livelihoods.  “There is no worse feeling than to be blindsided by events about which one knew nothing or was not forewarned.  We have to look to the future instead of dwelling on the past.  I want to work for the people of District #2 and Skamania County.  Together, we can achieve our common goals by pooling our resources and working toward a better future,” Repar says.

Currently, Ms. Repar is the Secretary for the Skamania Lions Club, serves on the Stevenson Board of Adjustment, and is president of the Stevenson Grange.  She has also served on the following:  County Fair Board, Skamania County Public Health Advisory Board, and Stevenson’s Comprehensive Plan Review Committee.  Ms. Repar was president of the Friends of the Stevenson Library for 12 years.  Her hobbies are mushrooming, reading, and artistic endeavoring.

She worked as a geophysicist in the oil industry, and served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve as an Intelligence Officer, retiring as Major.  Her education includes a B.S. in Applied Physics from Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan.

]Mary Repar has a blog, skamanianewsportal.blogspot.com and can be followed on Facebook, Repar for Skamania County Commissioner.  Reach Mary at telephone number 509.427.7153.]

Candidate's Statement for Commissioner, District #2

Candidate’s Statement

Mary J. Repar,

Commissioner, District #2

Our county faces some rough times.  How we got here is a lesson learned and should provide impetus for changing the way business is conducted.  Our future should be based on ACCOUNTABILITY and TRANSPARENCY in our government, and COMMUNICATION with all our citizens.  We must invest in our people instead of buildings.  How we do that is by fostering education opportunities (vocational and academic), creating small business incubators (small business is critical to our economic well-being and survival), creating a economic hub zone for small businesses and start-ups, making high speed Internet affordable for businesses and citizens, and much more.

• Elected Experience:   Elected as Park and Recreational District commissioner, in 2010.  (Not in office, since the levy did not pass.)

• Other Professional Experience: U.S. Air Force Reserve, Intelligence Officer, Major, retired—served as operations and plans officer, political/military analyst, executive officer, supervisor, etc.;  Geophysicist and seismic interpreter for major oil companies, consultant.

• Education: Bachelor of Science (’75) from Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI

• Community Service:  Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 29 years;  Stevenson Board of Adjustment, 12 years;  Skamania Fair Board, 5 years;  Skamania Lions, Secretary, 6 years, present;  Stevenson Toastmasters, 7 years;  Friends of the Library, President, 12 years;  Skamania County Public Health Advisory Board, 2 years;  Stevenson’s Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, 18 months;  Stevenson Grange #121, President, present.

Stevenson Grange #121 Is Back!

Great News!  Stevenson Grange #121 has achieved the required membership for re-charter.  With 14 members, the Stevenson Grange is now on its way to being a fully functioning Grange.  Officers are still to be elected.  Already, there is a volunteer Lecturer (Program Director), who is full of great ideas for our educational programs.  We look to have 25 members by the end of the year so that we will have more members to do all the work that needs to be done for our community!

The next meeting of the Grange is on Monday, May 7th, at 6:30 p.m., in the Stevenson Library Gallery.  Call Mary Repar at 509.427.7153, for more information about our Grange and/or joining.  Yeah!!

Stevenson Grange #121 March Meeting

The next Stevenson Grange #121 meeting will take place on Monday, March 5th, at 6:30 p.m., at the Rock Creek Hegewald Center, at 710 Rock Creek Drive.  Interested community members are urged to attend this very important re-chartering meeting.  New members are needed to revive the Grange.  The Grange is a non-partisan, diverse organization open to all community members.  Call Mary Repar 509.427.7153 for more information.

Notes from our February 6th Grange meeting:  The important news from this meeting is that there may be monies available from some organizations to rehabilitate and preserve the old Grange building--if we qualify and IF we can get the county commissioners to rent the Grange to us (for a very reasonable yearly sum, that is!).  I wrote to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), now called the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and the following is a summary (with some edits for clarity) of their reply:

The short answer to your question about funding for the Grange Hall is “no” there currently is not a funding program through DAHP for rehabilitation, renovation, and preservation work at the hall.

However, the longer answer is that there are other programs out there that may be worth pursuing:

The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation (http://preservewa.org/Washington-Preserves-Fund.aspx) has its Washington Preserves Fund for small rehabilitation projects. I see from the website that applications for 2012 are due in October, so you have time to plan your application. Grants have tend to be small ( in the $500 to $1,000 range) but may be worth checking into.

The Kinsman Foundation in Portland is interested in giving grants for historic preservation projects. Check out their website at: http://kinsmanfoundation.org/ for more information about grant requirements and application procedures.

The Heritage Capital Grant program is probably the most likely source for substantial funding for preservation projects. The program is administered by the Washington State Historical Society. Go to the website at http://www.washingtonhistory.org/heritageservices/grants.aspx for information and getting on mailing lists for the application workshops coming up this spring. As a note, this program has been hit by budget cuts in recent years and therefore available funds are more difficult and competitive to obtain.

Finally, you should be aware that there is much discussion in the current State Legislature about the State selling bonds to finance some construction projects that are “shovel ready.”  Our hope is that if this comes about, it will include some funding for historic properties. Rep. Hans Dunshee is the primary sponsor behind the program. You might want to contact your state representative for more information about the status of the proposal.

In regard to the above programs, funding for projects is often targeted to properties that have a historic designation, such as listing in the National Register of Historic Places, Washington Heritage Register, or a determination of eligibility for the Registers. There is no information on the Grange Hall in the WISAARD historic property inventory database. So, you are encouraged to provide us with any photographs of the building so that  its eligibility can be assessed. If you are interested in doing so, simply email some digital photos (interior shots as well) so that DAHP can provide you with an assessment as to whether the hall might be eligible for the Registers.

So, this is where we are at.  We have an opportunity to revive the Stevenson Grange #121 for our community.  I believe, and so do others, that this Grange can serve as a community focal point for all the various groups that are now out there, gestating in their own efforts.  The Grange can serve as a place for community gatherings, educational venues, etc., and as an umbrella for all those efforts to connect with our Earth.  The Grange can offer structure and organization to all our efforts.  If you are interested in this community revival, please come to the March 5th meeting and meet your neighbors.

  

Repar's Candidate Statement

Candidate’s Statement

Mary J. Repar,

Commissioner, District #2

Our county faces some rough times, now and in the future.  How we got here should be a lesson learned and this lesson should provide impetus for changing the way business is conducted.  Our future should be based on accountability and transparency in our government.

We should look at these challenges as opportunities to make our county a better place to live and work, for all of us. 

As your District #2 commissioner, I want to work on the following issues:

• Energy independence and conservation:  Make our homes and businesses energy independent by working to get grants and loans for upgrades and renovations to existing buildings and homes.  Solar energy and innovative rooftop wind turbines are just a start.  Fuel cells for homes and businesses are now a reality and should be investigated.  The Sixth Northwest Conservation and Electric Power Plan states, “…substantial amounts of conservation to be cheaper and more sustainable than most other types of generation… The plan finds enough conservation to be available and cost-effective to meet 85 percent of the region’s load growth for the next 20 years.”
• Utilities:  Undergrounding our utility poles so that we don’t have to worry as much about storm outages, and to provide a safer working environment for our utility workers.  Our utility poles are getting taller and there are more and more lines on them.  There is a limit to their size and weight.  Also, the aesthetics of our locales are being impacted and this impacts our quality of life, and it impacts tourism, one of our main economies.  We can work with other government entities to achieve this benefit for our community.
• Small Business Incubators:  Work on getting our small businesses to be the incubators of our work force.  It is small businesses that will make our community stronger and keep it thriving.  If we depend on one or two big employers, then we will be subject to their ups and downs—and in a small community those ups and downs can be devastating to both our citizens’ and our county’s welfare.
• Affordable High Speed Internet:  If we want to have businesses in rural areas that don’t have the populace to support these businesses, then we will have to help our small business people with affordable high speed Internet services that will open up their economic horizons and bring their products and services to the attention of a wider audience.
• NEON—the National Ecological Observation Network, which has been approved, but still does not have adequate funding, for the USFS portion of the Wind River Nursery, can be an incubator for high paying local jobs.  I see this program as a way to keep and bring our children home to Skamania County.  This project will provide family wage jobs for our community.  I want to make sure that it is our citizens who get these jobs.
• Education:  Work with our school district to provide sites and opportunities for ongoing adult education, night school classes, and other opportunities for adult learning and re-training.
• Carbon Sequestration:  Carbon sequestration can help us earn money through cap and trade.  Instead of fighting over the Gifford Pinchot, we can make it work for us and help our environment at the same time.  Why spend our time and energy re-fighting the same old battles?  We can pool our resources to fight for a better future for us and our children.
• Federal Dollars:  Skamania County produces fresh, clean water and lots of nice, clean oxygen for our fellow humans, and I believe we should be rewarded for keeping our county in forests and waterways instead of developing it.  To that end, the government should pay us for our resources.  The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act needs to be re-tooled into the Secure Resources Act.

As your District #2 commissioner, I will make sure that my constituents are kept in the loop on decisions that affect our lives and livelihoods.  There is no worse feeling than to be blindsided by events about which one knew nothing or was not forewarned.  We have to look to the future instead of dwelling on the past.  I want to work for the people of District #2 and Skamania County and I look forward to hearing about your issues and concerns.  Together, we can achieve our common goals by pooling our resources and working toward a better future.

Meeting time and place for "Let's Talk Food: Menu for the Future"

Posted by request:

The location and time for the Stevenson Menu for the Future meeting is 6 p.m., on Wednesday evening, Feb 22nd, at Jolinda’s, located on Rock Creek Drive, near the corner of Hwy. 14 and Rock Creek Drive, on the west end of Stevenson.  Anyone interested should just show up at the door.

Let's Talk Food!: Menu for the Future

 Posted by request:

Dear Stevenson/Carson Gorge Grown Residents:

This week the Mosier Gorge Grown is launching a project throughout the Gorge (You may have seen the advertisements in our E-news and Facebook for “Let’s Talk Food!”--that’s what I’m talking about). The project creates discussion groups centered around the Menu for the Future book from Northwest Earth Institute. The book has six modules, and the group gathers for 6 weeks to discuss what they’ve read. The chapters explore the complexities of our food system, and participants gain a true understanding what it takes to make food. You can read about the modules here: http://www.nwei.org/discussion_courses/course-offerings/menu-for-the-future

The Mosier group used this book for their own discussion group last year, and it has had profound changes for them. This is why they are helping groups throughout the Gorge use it too. 

The first meeting for the Stevenson/Carson/Cascade Locks group is THIS WEDNESDAY. The group will be meeting Wednesday evenings, and then all the groups in the Gorge will gather for a potluck in Mosier at the end. 

The book cost $17, but Gorge Grown is providing scholarships so don’t let that deter you. Can’t make one of the gatherings? That’s ok! You can still participate. 

We would love to see the Stevenson Menu for the Future group grow in size to gain additional momentum for all the great projects your community has going on—the Co-op, the food forum, the farmers’ market, and more! PLEASE help us spread the word and forward this to your friends in Stevenson/Carson. We’ve got a great core started, and we’re just trying to get a few more folks for this group. 
To register, call Emily Reed @ 503-360-3532 today! 

Thank you!!

Michelle McGrath
Gorge Grown Food Network

http://www.gorgegrown.com/event/MenufortheFuture.cfm

Breaking News: Repar will run for County Commissioner in District #2

I am running for county commissioner in District #2, as a Democrat.  (I think the county commissioner office should be non-partisan, but that's not the way the system works.)  I believe that our county is on the brink of great opportunities and I would like to be a part of setting our 21st century agenda.  If we want to change our future, we have to stop voting for the past.  We are in for some tough times but we can get through them, all together, if we look to the past and learn from it.  I hope we have a vigorous discussion about the future of our county and its citizens in the coming election season.  I will be posting a more detailed memo on the subject, in the near future.

If any one would like to help my campaign for commissioner, please contact me at 509.427.7153.

River Rally 2012 in Portland, Oregon!

The River Rally 2012, an international gathering of the watershed conservation community, will take place from May 04 - 07, 2012,  in Portland Oregon.  The 2012 River Rally is being co-hosted by River Network: Connecting People, Saving Rivers and the Waterkeeper Alliance.  "River Network is leading a national watershed protection movement that includes more than 2,000 state, regional, and local grassroots organizations whose primary mission is to protect rivers and watersheds."  "Waterkeeper Alliance is the global environmental movement for clean water, uniting nearly 200 Waterkeeper Organizations on 6 continents and 21 countries.  We focus our citizen advocacy on issues that affect our waterways, from pollution to climate change.  Waterkeepers patrol more than 1.5 million square miles of watersheds worldwide."  For more information about River Rally 2012, go to www.rivernetwork.org and on Facebook at www.facebook/pages/River-Network, and www.waterkeeper.org.

Stevenson Grange #121 Meeting on Feb. 06, at Carson P.U.D.

The Stevenson Grange #121 meeting will take place at the Carson P.U.D., at 6:30 p.m., on Monday, February 6th.  This meeting is our ongoing effort to charter the Grange, and is open to the public.  For more information, please call Mary Repar at 509.427.7153. 

The Grange is a community organization open to all.  We encourage all rural farmers, gardeners, future farmers, 4-H members, etc., to come and learn about the Grange.

Women, Farms & Food: Women in Agriculture Conference

The Women in Agriculture Conference is scheduled for February 11, 2012, and will be held simultaneously in 15 county locations throughout the state of Washington.  Go to WomenInAg.wsu.edu for more information, or contact Margaret Viebrock, WSU Extension, at her e-mail, viebrock@wsu.edu for more info. Or call your local extension agent in Skamania county, Todd Murray, at 509.427.3930.  No presentations are scheduled for Skamania, but Klickitat county is on the schedule.  Stay tuned for more information!

Although this is Women in Agriculture, all agricultural producers are welcome to attend.

Stevenson Grange #121 Meeting

The next meeting of the Stevenson Grange #121 (which was in existence from 1901 - 2003, and which we are now in the process of re-chartering!) will hold its fourth meeting on January 9, 2012, at 6:30 p.m., at the Stevenson Community Library.  Open to the community.  New members welcome!  Call Mary Repar, at 509.427.7153 for more information, or e-mail to repar@saw.net.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2012!  May the New Year find all of us living in peace and harmony.

Additions to Mt. Adams Climate Change Conference

 Darryl Lloyd wanted to add the following information, as presented at the Mt. Adams Climate Change Conference, in November:

...Mt. Adams is a large stratovolcano, logging in at 12,276 feet and 230 square miles. A U.S.G.S. map by Hildreth and Fiersten was used as a reference for parts of Darryl’s presentation. 

  

Darryl also thinks the following link is important, as it pertains to climate change:   http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111208173647.htm 

Skamania County Proposes to Open Blue Lake Quarry

On Nov. 21st, I went to the County scoping meeting about the County's proposal to open Blue Lake Quarry, located off Ash Road, just outside Stevenson. I was the only citizen in attendance. There were handouts—the scoping meeting topics; a bundle of comments from state agencies, the Yakama Tribe, the city of Stevenson, and Wauna Lake gated community; WAC 197-11-444, Elements of the Environment; and, the Determination of Significance and Request for Comments on the Scope of the EIS (this version had the SEPA checklist attached). The County was looking for any additions to the scoping list, so I put in my two cents and said that geology and coring should be put with slope stability (the county engineer said that they have been using the quarry for so long that they know the slopes are stable!). The engineer from the contract firm said they would “lay” down the slopes as they quarry out the stone, to prevent slope instability. I said that coring could tell them if there is unstable ground beneath the excavations, and potential slide slopes, fault lines, etc. There are steep roads in this area and heavy trucks will be traveling on them—they estimate that there could be over ONE MILLION cubic yards of road rock taken out of the crushed material and that the quarry could operate for 100 years or more!). Also, I asked if they were going to do a Scenic Resources inventory list and they looked at me funny! I wanted to know what the scenic resources are and I believe the County should address this issue.

Trucks—they are estimating 10 round-trip truck trips, when they do use the quarry, using 10-cubic yard trucks.

The county engineer said that the slope stability or instability would be taken care of in the operations phase—that is, when they are already excavating. I disagreed. They should do a geological survey and have a geotechnical report done BEFORE they start, not after.

I also asked that Cumulative Impacts be added to the scoping discussion. The county engineer asked me to explain what I meant by CIs and so I did. I will be sending them the info on the CEQ’s Cumulative Impacts handbook. If the county is going to have the final say on this—and that is what Karen Witherspoon said they would have, since this isn’t going before the Gorge Commission (unless it is appealed, and then it would go before our Hearings Examiner first, then the GC, then to court, if necessary)—they should at least know how to do cumulative impacts analyses!! I told them the USFS NSA Manager’s office could probably help in this area.

Valerie and Craig will be working on the EIS. I asked about a timeline and Valerie said she doesn’t anticipate an EIS before Spring 2012.

The county has owned the quarry since 1925. They have a DNR permit to quarry, since 1971. In 1998, 5.1 acres were found to be of “non-conforming” use.

Attendees at the meeting: Mark M., Karen W., Jessica Davenport, Valerie Oskoski (contract engineer), Craig Rendell (county Public Works), Tim H. (county engineer).

I thought of one other thing that should be in the scoping analyses—a cost/benefit analysis. It was stated at the meeting that operating this quarry will save the county money. Well, I don’t really know that it will or it won’t because we don’t have a cost/benefit analysis. At a minimum, it should cover how much it would cost the county to actually run the quarry, truck costs, excavation costs, etc. vs. what it costs to buy the rock from some other quarry (which has its own equipment, personnel, etc.). There are probably a lot of other things that go into a cost/benefit analysis and someone who is an expert should be consulted.

Cumulative Effects: The cumulative effects handbook—its full name is Considering Cumulative Effects: Under the National Environmental Policy Act, comes from the Council on Environmental Quality, Executive Office of the President. The following is the definition of cumulative impacts and how to start assessing them:

Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)

Cumulative Effects Analysis

From CEQ Regulations §1508.7 Cumulative Impact

“Cumulative impact” is the impact on the environment which results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions regardless of what agency (Federal or non-Federal) or person undertakes such actions. Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time.

Example: If the park proposes to expand a campground in grizzly bear habitat, other activities that have a combined impact on the grizzly bears must be included in the analysis. This would include other NPS road projects that would occur in grizzly bear habitat, as well as plans for future garbage disposal in the park's gateway communities and last year's Forest Service timber harvest. It doesn't matter who takes the actions, or whether they took place in the past, are taking place in the present, or will take place in the foreseeable future.

From DO-12, Conservation Planning and Environmental Impact Analysis

§4-5, G.6: “Cumulative impact information may be less exact than information on direct and indirect impacts of the alternatives, but a good faith effort to accurately and completely assess major sources of impact and their contribution to resources affected by the proposed action or alternatives should be part of any EIS or EA. For plans or other larger-scope federal actions, the analysis of cumulative effect may be a major focus of the NEPA document.”

Cumulative Impacts = Additive and Interactive

Additive
These impacts accumulate in the same way as a “straw on a camel's back.” Straws keep adding weight until, finally, the camel's back is broken. One impact, causing occurrence, such as a single gas well, may be of little significance. A hundred wells in the same area, however, may profoundly impact a given valued resource.

Interactive
These impacts accrue as a result of assorted similar or dissimilar actions being taken that tend to have similar impacts, relevant to the valued resource in question. Vegetation quality, diversity, density, and general health, for instance, could be affected by several actions. These actions could include unmitigated over-grazing by wildlife/ wild horses/ burros, cattle, plus motorcycle/off-road vehicle use, industrial development, and roads.

How do I start?

1. Consider what the geographic area should be for your affected resource. This area will differ from resource to resource. You might use regional watersheds, for example.
2. Assemble a list of past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions called the “cumulative scenario.” Be sure to include actions that might be taken by other agencies or individuals that could also affect park resources.
3. Work through the cumulative scenario and determine which actions are relevant to your impact topic. Focus on impacts that are clear contributors.
4. Develop the cumulative impact analysis. You may want to think of cumulative impacts as x + y = z (with x being the impacts you have described as a result of actions being proposed under each alternative; y being past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions; and z being the cumulative impacts).
5. Determine the context and intensity or magnitude of the actions. Intensity refers to the severity of the effect. Use the same terms that you used for your impact analysis - negligible, minor, moderate, and major.
6. Describe the total impact for your topic. You should also highlight the relevant contributions of the NPS action proposed for the project or plan (compare x to z).
7. Where possible, use quantifiable data. Realize that your analysis may be mainly qualitative.

Grange Formation Meeting

The next meeting of the Skamania Grange formation group is scheduled for December 5th, at 6:30 p.m., down in the Stevenson Community Library Gallery. Call Mary Repar, 509.427.7153, for more information. This is an effort by interested community members to bring our Grange back to the community.

What we learned at the climate conference

Notes from the Mt. Adams Climate Change Conference, 11 November 2011

Note: These are my notes of how I understood the presentations. Anything out of whack is my own misinterpretation. Please feel free to correct or inform me on anything that you may find amiss.

Beginning:

1. Geography of Mt. Adams Overview, presented by Darryl Lloyd: Mt. Adams is a strato-volcano, logging in at 12,276 feet. U.S.G.S. maps by Hildreth and Fiersten were used in Darryl’s presentation. Four rivers flow off Mt. Adams: The White Salmon (South), the Klickitat (East), the Lewis (West), and the Cispus (North). There are 18 conifer species on Mt. Adams; pine beetle outbreaks have occurred on three sides of the mountain. Mt. Adams has 12 glaciers. Lots of beautiful pictures in Darryl’s presentation!

2. Human Ecology, Culture, and History of Mt. Adams, presented by Cheryl Mack and Rick McClure: Mt. Adams had more mythical references than any other geographical region. William Clark thought Mr. Adams was Mt. St. Helens! A wonderful picture was done by Albert Burstadt, titled “Mt. Adams, WA.” C.E. Rusk’s book, Tales of a Western Mountaineer, is a must read about Mt. Adams. In 1905, the U.S. Forest Service was created. The first lookout on Mt. Adams was finished in 1921. In 1931, the Glacier Mining Company wanted to mine sulfur from the mountain. There was never any real mining development.

The Emergency Relief Organization was created in the 1930’s to put older Americans to work (similar to the Civilian Conservation Corp, or CCC—now, doesn’t that sound like an idea whose time has come?!?). More recreation use happened on Mt. Adams in the 1930’s. 1964—the Mt. Adams Wilderness Area , consisting of 32,400 acres, was created. In 1972, 21,000 acres of wilderness was given to the Yakama Tribe, by Richard Nixon, through executive order.

3. 20^th Century Glacier Changes of Mt. Adams, from 1905 to 2008, presented by Andrew G. Fountain, Portland State University. After the Civil War, Clarence King started to do geological surveys of the West; in 1864, he undertook the first of four great survey expeditions. He identified the Whitney Glacier on Mt. Shasta. In 1872, Muir discovered the glaciers in California. Definition of a glacier: perennial snow and ice that moves!! In 1937, the Mazama Research Program undertook to do aerial surveys and photos of glaciers. The Mazama’s May 1896, Vol. 1, No. 1 publication profiled glaciers on Mt. Adams. There are 11 named glaciers on Mt. Adams, totaling 20 km² , or 9 square miles. The Klickitat glacier’s lower part is covered by rocks and that slows any shrinkage. Based on the 1937 Mazama photo, the Klickitat glacier has shrunk. In a 1936 – 2007 photo comparison, the Mt. Adams glaciers have lost approximately 50% of their size. The Elliot and Newton Clark glaciers, on Mt. Hood, have shrunk an average 34% from 1901 to 2007.

With warmer temperatures, the summer melt will increase, increasing glacial ice loss. Winter precipitation changing from snow to rain will decrease snow fall on the glaciers.

High alpine hydrology: Mt. Adams is the source area for local waters. This matters because the glaciers are the frozen water reservoir for the area. If there is less summer water, then we can expect droughts. (Mt. Hood’s August glacier water flow was 76%, in 2007.) There will be geologic hazards if the glaciers melt. Glacial ice melt will cause debris flows. Steep banks of morains will be left exposed to the rain and then there will be more debris flow.

The future of Mt. Adams’ glaciers: glaciers will continue to retreat; reduction of run off from melting ice in late summer; increased debris flows from exposed areas.

4. The View from Treeline: Climate Change Impacts on Alpine and Subalpine Ecosystems, presented by Jereny Littell, Univ. of WA Climate Impacts Group. Alpine is the environment above the tree line. Change in precipitation would affect the types of vegetation at the treeline. Some limiting factors related to climate: temperature minimums and maximums and the growing season. Climate change might not be hard on the adult trees, but it would impact the seedlings. Temperature and precipitation can increase or decrease growth. Evidence of climate effects on the treeline: dead wood above the current treeline; observational review of modern establishment of vegetation. Sky exposure—affects radiative cooling at night and increases the chances of frost in micro-sites; affects day time sun load; photoinhibition. Successful establishment appears episodic within sites. Climate affects insect outbreaks; increased temperatures decrease time between generations. Global temperatures are still increasing. We will have wetter autumns and winters and warmer summers.

GLORIA—Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments.

Loss of white bark pine would result in caloric decrease for lots of species that depend on it for food. Cumulative impacts: There is a paper out on cumulative effects of climate change for Yellowstone Park.

Contact jlittell@uw.edu, Climate Impacts Group, for more info.

5. Climate Change Effects on Montane Forests: Lessons from California and Nevada, Prospects for Mt. Adams, presented by Dr. Robert Scheller, Portland State University. (His original abstract was Management Option fro Minimizing Wildfire Risk and Maximizing Carbon Storage in Western Forests under Future Climate Changes.) How climate change will affect forests: reproduction—climate and disturbance of the natural cycle; growth—CO2 and competition; mortality—climate and disturbance. Changes—temperature, water, growing season, fire weather, snow pack. There will be a decline in ecosystem services. Resilience—ability of the systems to remain in a desired state. Monoculture, habitat fragmentation, invasive species—affect the ecosystems, and not in a good way.

Southern Sierra Nevada results: fire sizes may increase dramatically due to climate change; current fuels management practices have limited effects on fires. The projections for Mt. Adams: no fire adapted forest cover; drought stress; insect outbreaks. Plan for climate resilience—develop sustainable forest plans; continuous monitoring; develop good policies—public involvement, allow science to inform policy, understand unintended consequences, prioritize; continuous collaboration—facilitates problem solving and planning.

Conference on Mt. Adams in a Warming Climate

On November 11, 2011, the Friends of Mt. Adams hosted their first, annual science-based conference on "Mt. Adams in a Warming Climate," in Trout Lake, Washington. They partnered with the Friends of the White Salmon River, the Gifford Pinchot Task Force, The U.S. Forest Service (Gifford Pinchot National Forest), and the Yakama Nation.

As far as I know, this was the first global climate change conference to be held in our area and to be open to the public. Whatever one believes or does not believe about global climate change, it is here and it is happening now and we will all be affected. We can hide our heads in the sand and pretend all is well or we can start preparing ourselves to meet head on the changes that are occurring all around us.

The topics at the conference were: "Mount Adams (Pahto): A Geographic Overview," presented by Darryl Lloyd; "Human Ecology, Culture, and History of Mt. Adams," Cheryl Mack (archaeologist, retired, USFS) and Rick McClure (archaeologist, USFS, Gifford Pincho National Forest); "Twentieth Century Glacier Change on Mount Adams," Dr. Andrew Fountain (Portland State University); "The View from the Treeline: Climate Change Impacts on Alpine and Sub-Alpine Ecosystems," Dr. Jeremy Littell (University of Washinton Climate Impacts Group); and "Management Options for Minimizing Wildfire Risk and Maximizing Carbon Storage in Western Forests Under Future Climate Changes," Dr. Robert Scheller (Portland State University).

More to follow: What did we learn at the conference?