Friday, November 11, 2011

A view from Marblemount

Here's a little snippet from an article printed last month in the Skagit Valley Herald:

The threat of restrictions has raised concerns among some, including Marblemount business owner Don Clark. His family has owned Skagit River Resort since before the park was formed.
He watched firsthand the original proposal for the park, which promised economic prosperity, but instead shut out industries like logging and depressed nearby towns. Ideas like a tram, expansive trails and visitor centers didn't happen, he said.
"With every five-year plan revision they've removed more of what was promised," Clark said.
He doesn't believe the expansion would do anything but restrict use and hurt the area, which is already struggling to stay viable.
With a federal budget crunch, the last thing politicians will spend money on is developing a national park, he said.
"What is the economic climate in the U.S. right now? he said. "The U.S. government is busted and they're not taking on things like this. What guarantee do these communities have that a single dime would be spent in their communities when this designation occurs?"

1 comment:

  1. What is reported in this article is only the tip of the iceberg. One only has to take the time to ask the locals in Stehekin (or places like Ashford outside Mount Rainier) and you'll quickly learn that past promises made were NOT promises kept.

    The supposed interest by the Park Expansion proponents in "allowing hunting" or "allowing mountain bikes and dogs" all sounds good until the last minute when those provisions are stripped (all orchestrated of couse) by Congress.

    When faced with manufactured "future threats", one needs only to turn to the record of history to see that management by the National Park Service is no silver bullet when it comes to careful management of our natural resources and federal lands.

    Folks need to take the time to get educated and prepare for the coming push in Congress - or risk losing the access and opportunities we all enjoy and share today.

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