"Rico" wrote in message rthlink.net...
"Paul Schnettler" wrote in message
...

Why can't you see that the existing
aquifers can't support the forests
you envision. You fail to include
the human factor in any of your
dreams. We're here in numbers that
just didn't exist back in the days
you dream of. There's hardly enough
water to support the trout streams
in the northwest yet you call for
huge tracts of forest land with old
growth trees everywhere and a more
natural forest canopy. It's not going
to happen with the water usage that's
depleting the aquifers faster than
ever. This aint the utopia you envision.
Why is that so hard to
understand?


I'll let Jerry speak for exactly what kind of utopia he
envisions (though it seems you might be helping him a little too
much in explaining himself).

As to the question about our numbers and what they imply about
what we can afford in the way of unspoiled nature, I'd say there's
a huge difference between doing what we must to have the water we
truly need (which itself is a very debatable issue), and using the
Nat'l Forests as a gov't subsidized resource for corporations to
profit from -- whether we're talking about logging or large scale
agriculture -- without paying a fair price for that right. A huge
difference.

Hope this helps.

Rico
Forests are rapidly becoming the next battlefield in the West. Water
is one of the major reasons. Many of the coastal trees of the PNW have
developed over time to extract large quantities of water by "combing"
fogbanks with their specially designed needle structures. Pine, fir,
hemlock, spruce: all have points on the tips of their needles which
allow droplets of water to fall easily from them, releasing the
increased weight of water from the branches.

Not allowing fires to play their natural role in forest succession
comes at a price. Major forest fires erupted, such as the Tillamook
complex of fires. It has only been during the last 5 years that tree
harvest has been allowed from these extensive fires, which were caused
at least in part by the introduction of non-native species into the
environment, such as gorse and scotchbroom.

Introduction of Sudden Oak Death may similarly impact forest health in
the future. It may cause extensive tree fatalities in some areas, but
not affect any trees in other areas. Where tree health is affected,
water quality and retention will be dramatically reduced.

Forest health and water rights will therefore be of paramount
importance in the West, if only for the water everyone (and
everything) needs.

Daniel B. Wheeler
www.oregonwhitetruffles.com