34
Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem
Management Project
Russell T. Graham
34.1 Introduction
The economic and cultural development of the
United States is closely associated with the use and
consumption of natural resources. Water, wood,
and forage were the primary resources facilitating
the western expansion of the United States (Malone et al., 1991; Schwantes, 1991; Robbins and
Wolf, 1994). Wood was used in large quantities for
shipbuilding early in the 19th century and later used
to fuel and build railroads (Hutchison and Winters,
1942; Schwantes, 1991). As the West developed,
shrub and grasslands supported domestic livestock
grazing. Also, some lands were recognized for their
crop potential and irrigation dams were constructed
early in the 20th century (Wilkinson, 1992; Dietrich, 1995). In all cases, resource use required inventories, descriptions, or some other assessment
that described the amount, location, or value of the
resource and often how it could be utilized
(Leiberg, 1897). Assessments in one form or another have always been part of natural resource use.
During the western expansion era, the intensity
and size of natural resource assessments depended
on the questions asked and the resource evaluated.
Assessments ranged in scope from deciding where
to graze a flock of sheep or harvest timber to locating proposed state boundaries (Schwantes,
1991). Similarly, today assessments are being conducted to help make decisions about natural resource use and management. Often, these assessments describe site-specific activities such as
proposed timber harvests, grazing allotments, or
road locations (Quigley et al., 1996; Hann et al.,
1997). But frequently the effects of resource decisions transcend jurisdictional, ecosystem, or assessment boundaries. Issues and concerns about resource use are not only important locally, but often
they are regionally and nationally significant
(Haynes et al., 1996; Quigley et al., 1996). In ad496
dition, a wide range of laws and policies, from
local to national, affect resource management
(NEPA, 1970; FLPMA, 1976; NFMA, 1976).
Therefore, to make more informed decisions on the
use and management of natural resources, assessments need to address multiple issues across various spatial and temporal scales.
Natural resource use is often closely associated
with life-styles and community stability (McCool
et al., 1997). Logging, ranching, mining, and
tourism are only a few of the industries that depend
heavily on natural resources. Also, the resources of
the western United States are not only a concern to
the local people, but are also important nationally
and even internationally (Noss and Cooperrider,
1994; McCool et al., 1997). At the local level, most
National Forest Plans issued in 1989 and 1990 were
scheduled for revision in the late 1990s and early
2000s. Nationally, the harvesting of old-growth
timber was an important issue, as was the use of
water. In response to concerns on the use of grassand shrublands for grazing by domestic livestock
throughout the western United States, the Bureau
of Land Management started an initiative on rangeland reform. A strategy to conserve Pacific salmon
throughout its range in Oregon, Washington, Idaho,
and California was developed. This anadromous
fish habitat and watershed conservation strategy
(PACFISH, 1994) was to last 18 months. During
this same era, the conservation strategy for the
northern spotted owl was released and the Blue
Mountains Forest health report was delivered. The
President's Forest Plan was presented, as was the
Forest Ecosystem Management Team (FEMAT,
1993) report. In addition, it became apparent in
these efforts that cumulative effects and ecosystems
transcend administrative, state, and other political
boundaries.
In addition to all the above concerns, jobs, commodities, and industries were rapidly changing.
Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem
Management Project
Russell T. Graham
34.1 Introduction
The economic and cultural development of the
United States is closely associated with the use and
consumption of natural resources. Water, wood,
and forage were the primary resources facilitating
the western expansion of the United States (Malone et al., 1991; Schwantes, 1991; Robbins and
Wolf, 1994). Wood was used in large quantities for
shipbuilding early in the 19th century and later used
to fuel and build railroads (Hutchison and Winters,
1942; Schwantes, 1991). As the West developed,
shrub and grasslands supported domestic livestock
grazing. Also, some lands were recognized for their
crop potential and irrigation dams were constructed
early in the 20th century (Wilkinson, 1992; Dietrich, 1995). In all cases, resource use required inventories, descriptions, or some other assessment
that described the amount, location, or value of the
resource and often how it could be utilized
(Leiberg, 1897). Assessments in one form or another have always been part of natural resource use.
During the western expansion era, the intensity
and size of natural resource assessments depended
on the questions asked and the resource evaluated.
Assessments ranged in scope from deciding where
to graze a flock of sheep or harvest timber to locating proposed state boundaries (Schwantes,
1991). Similarly, today assessments are being conducted to help make decisions about natural resource use and management. Often, these assessments describe site-specific activities such as
proposed timber harvests, grazing allotments, or
road locations (Quigley et al., 1996; Hann et al.,
1997). But frequently the effects of resource decisions transcend jurisdictional, ecosystem, or assessment boundaries. Issues and concerns about resource use are not only important locally, but often
they are regionally and nationally significant
(Haynes et al., 1996; Quigley et al., 1996). In ad496
dition, a wide range of laws and policies, from
local to national, affect resource management
(NEPA, 1970; FLPMA, 1976; NFMA, 1976).
Therefore, to make more informed decisions on the
use and management of natural resources, assessments need to address multiple issues across various spatial and temporal scales.
Natural resource use is often closely associated
with life-styles and community stability (McCool
et al., 1997). Logging, ranching, mining, and
tourism are only a few of the industries that depend
heavily on natural resources. Also, the resources of
the western United States are not only a concern to
the local people, but are also important nationally
and even internationally (Noss and Cooperrider,
1994; McCool et al., 1997). At the local level, most
National Forest Plans issued in 1989 and 1990 were
scheduled for revision in the late 1990s and early
2000s. Nationally, the harvesting of old-growth
timber was an important issue, as was the use of
water. In response to concerns on the use of grassand shrublands for grazing by domestic livestock
throughout the western United States, the Bureau
of Land Management started an initiative on rangeland reform. A strategy to conserve Pacific salmon
throughout its range in Oregon, Washington, Idaho,
and California was developed. This anadromous
fish habitat and watershed conservation strategy
(PACFISH, 1994) was to last 18 months. During
this same era, the conservation strategy for the
northern spotted owl was released and the Blue
Mountains Forest health report was delivered. The
President's Forest Plan was presented, as was the
Forest Ecosystem Management Team (FEMAT,
1993) report. In addition, it became apparent in
these efforts that cumulative effects and ecosystems
transcend administrative, state, and other political
boundaries.
In addition to all the above concerns, jobs, commodities, and industries were rapidly changing.