Mass failures of mountain sides are affecting native ecosystems.
Road failures in Moscow, as described, are inconveniencing humans
mostly. The landscape Greg refers to is an exotic one. Idaho Fescue and
Squirrel-tail have been replaced by winter wheat. If erosion has
deleterious affects on the production of this wheat, or displaces other
exotic highway-shoulder-inhabiting flora, I shed not a tear. As an
ecocentric, I just don`t give a shit to the degeneration of a landscape
which was lost long ago.
OK, hit me with your stick.
*Michael Murray*
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On Wed, 13 Dec 1995, Greg Brown wrote:
>
>
> Two weeks ago, I posted a message describing the crime that was
> being committed in the construction of a Hwy 95 subdivision (across from
> John Deere dealership). At that time, I stated it was a crime against
> nature and I personally mourned the massive destruction of the Palouse
> in this manner. Tonight's Daily News story (thanks Greg Burton) reports
> that this subdivision may indeed be a violation of law as well, stating
> that the EPA is investigating the construction company for violations
> of the Clean Water Act as mountains of mud from cut-and-fill activity
> flow down onto Hwy 95 and into neighboring streams and rivers.
>
> Readers on green-talk are acutely aware of the tragedy of the
> Clearwater forest and the excesses of road-building that have come
> to light in the last 2 weeks. There is no need to venture into the
> woods to find massive, anthropogenic destruction of landscapes.
> It is happening right under our noses with the full blessing of
> the Moscow City Council and the Planning Dept. Go look. See what
> happens with massive road building on unstable soils.
>
> So who is responsible and where does the buck stop? In my last
> posting, I said we are all responsible for the destruction of our
> landscapes. The people of Moscow put the Boys Annexation and
> Development (BAD) Council into office. Indirectly, the people
> of Moscow are responsible for the destruction of the Palouse
> south of town.
>
> There are 4 things that will prevent such tragedies in the future:
>
> 1) Politcal candidates who do not represent development
> interests.
>
> 2) A planning deptartment with some spine to stand up
> to abusive development practices.
>
> 3) An impact review ordinance requiring developments to undergo a formal
> environmental review. (This is perhaps most important as there are
> absolutely no protections to prevent such abuses, or even to learn
> of such potential abuses.)
>
> 4) A vigilant citizenry.
>
>
> As the din of special interests crescendos in the West calling
> for local control in land use planning, visit the destruction on
> Hwy 95 south and ponder the following questions, "Why did the EPA
> have to get involved? What happened to the local government who is
> supposed to be familiar with local land uses? Who is watching the
> watchers?"
>
>
> --
> Greg Brown (gregb@uidaho.edu)
> Computer Services
> Adjunct Assistant Professor, College of Forestry,Wildlife,& Range Sciences
> University of Idaho
> Moscow, ID 83843 (208) 885-2126 Fax: (208) 885-7539
>
>