Walter testifies on Caves expansion
From our weekly issue dated July 29, 2009
Cave Junction resident Greg Walter spent part of last week at the nation’s capital in Washington, D.C., as he testified in favor of expanding the Oregon Caves National Monument territory.
Walter was invited to testify by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who is sponsoring S.1270. It would expand the monument by more than 4,000 acres, and transfer administration of much of that land from the U.S. Forest Service to the National Park Service (NPS).
On Wednesday, July 22, Walter testified before the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, which is under the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. During his testimony, Walter provided an historical perspective on the monument and its importance to Illinois Valley.
His presentation included: “While 2,560 acres were originally withdrawn for the monument, President Taft designated a small 480-acre rectangular boundary in 1909. At that time, it was assumed that protecting the immediate area above the cave was sufficient to protect the caves.
“Scientific studies over the past century, however, have made it clear that the below-ground caves interact with the environment above ground. It is obvious that protecting the Cave Creek watershed is key to protecting this unique cave system.”
Walter testified that expanding the monument would aid the valley economy.
“According to the National Park Service, 73 percent of visitors would stay longer at the Oregon Caves if there were more to do than the 90-minute cave tour currently offered,” Walter said. “Unfortunately, the surrounding landscape is not marketed to maximize the public enjoyment or economic potential of this unique area.”
Aside from his oral testimony, Walter also provided the members of the subcommittee with additional written information. That included a description of Cave Junction and its economic situation.
“Low wages, a lack of economic opportunity, high unemployment and rural poverty characterize this area,” Walter wrote. “We have basically condemned the community pool, we have no public library and our local Boys & Girls club struggles annually to keep its doors open operating out of the local elementary school with no facility of its own.”
Walter wrote that increased tourism at the monument could drive the area’s economy and generate substantial revenue for small businesses.
“The economic opportunity that Hwy. 199 offers to our small rural community through travel spending is considerable,” Walter wrote. “There are about 300,000 tourist vehicles traveling through this corridor annually, each carrying an average of three people who spend an average of $135 per day on lodging, food, gas and other items. The total spending potential of this tourist corridor is about $40 million annually.”
In a Wednesday, July 22 press release, Lesley Adams of the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center states that NPS proposed expanding the monument in 1939, 1949 and 1999. She also praised Wyden for his legislative efforts.
“We are happy to see this legislation moving forward and thank Sen. Wyden for championing a bill that will help protect a local resource and a national treasure in S.W. Oregon,” Adams said.
“We hope that this legislation will help the Park Service fulfill the intent of its 1999 General Management Plan, which recommended expansion in order to protect cave ecology and water resources.”
In the same release, Wyden expressed his desire to push through with the proposed expansion.
“Today’s hearing was the first step in a process Oregonians have been waiting for since the 1930s,” Wyden said. “I’m going to make sure they don’t have to wait another century to see the Oregon Caves get the protection they deserve.”
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