Development
Threatened in the Name of Environmental Protection
The Debate Surrounding the Future of Silver County
Region Ensues
By Sammie Snoop, Staff Reporter
Silver County– Few issues in Silver County have stirred
up as much emotion as the land management planning that is underway
for Silver County Forest. Private forestry, recreation and land
management -- long-lasting traditions in the Silver County region
-- are among the issues under fire in the proposed amendments
to the Silver County Forest management plan.
Environmentalists would like to see minimal future development
and human usage of the Silver County Forest region. They are pushing
for rigorous recreation and development restrictions on nearly
45,000 acres of forestland in order to protect the habitat of
the Yellow-Breasted Toad, remediate pollution in the Wamasana
River, reduce the risk of forest fires, and protect the environmental
integrity of the region.
Despite assurance from developers, environmentalists on the Silver
County Forest Planning Team have reservations about the planned
development of the Crimson Mountain Housing Developments, the
Mineral Mountain Estates, and Highway 128. Some of the land is
home to the Yellow-breasted Toad, whose population in the region
has been dwindling in the past 15 years. In addition, the sites
for Mineral Mountain Estates and Hwy. 128 lie on former logging land
that Forest officials have been trying to reforest for several
years, and Hwy. 128 would cross over the already polluted Wamasana
River. Environmentalists also site the threat of forest fire as
a deterrent to the planned development.
Chip Wheeler, President of the Vermillion Chamber of Commerce
has a much different view. He declares that limitations on this
development could pose an immense threat to the region’s
economic vitality. “The City of Vermillion is doing better
than at any time in its history. Exponential levels of population
growth coupled with the quality and number of jobs in this City
make Vermillion one of the most competitive regions in the state,”
Wheeler states. “Without attractive places to live and manageable
levels of traffic congestion, people and businesses are going
to be disinclined to locate and remain in our city.”
Abigail Fisher, President of the Silver Area Network for the Environment
(SANE), thinks that the region needs to put environmental protection,
not development, at the top of their list in the upcoming years.
She cites the encroaching development of the Silver Cliff and
Vermillion communities as the largest threat to environmental
integrity that the region has seen. “If we fail to make
environmental protection our number one priority in planning for
our future, unfettered population growth will turn this pristine
region into one large, treeless strip mall that lacks any of its
original environmental qualities,” Fisher argues.
Some of the proposed provisions, including the federal designation
of the Wamasana River as a Wild & Scenic River, would have
permanent implications.
Ben Cartwright, President of the Silver Cliff Chamber of Commerce
feels that permanently restricting land use is not a prudent move.
“The classification of the Wamasana River as a Wild &
Scenic River would permanently prohibit usage of the River for
energy-generating purposes. This is a dangerous proposition considering
the region’s recent population growth and resulting energy
demands.”
In addition, some feel that environmental arguments are based
on feeble information. John Fowler, Professor of Natural Resource
Management at Vermillion University points out that the federal
government has not recognized the Yellow-breasted Toad as an endangered
species, and evidence regarding the danger of pollutants in the
Wamasana River is inconclusive.
“Basing long-term, widespread decisions on questionable
information is not only counter-productive, it is downright foolish,”
he states. He feels that planned development based on demonstrated
facts is the best alternative for future development of the region.
The Silver County Forest Planning Team will be holding a public
debate regarding these issues on Tuesday, November 26 from 6 to
8 p.m. at the Vermillion Public Library. The Planning Team will
present alternative plan objectives to the public and invite attendees
to comment on planning goals. Public comments and concerns will
be taken into account during the forthcoming stages of the planning
process. For further information please contact Silver County
Forest Ranger, Mike Mills, 555-555-5555.
