Badlands: Designation as wilderness possible

August 19, 1999
By Jim Witty
The Bulletin

A campaign to turn a 32,000-acre chunk of Bureau of Land Management real estate just east of Bend into a wilderness area appears to be gaining steam.

And at least one rancher with grazing rights on the Badlands Wilderness Study Area may be willing to relinquish his permit if his allotment could be permanently retired from grazing.

Environmentalists pushing for protection of the area hope the idea catches on.

The tract of desert land is north of Highway 20 near Horse Ridge, about seven miles east of town and adjacent to the Millican Valley off-road vehicle area. It's a severe landscape of gnarled junipers and volcanic remnants.

`It's ground that looks like a beach,` said Bill Marlett of the Oregon Natural Desert Association. `It's sand and lava rock. From a rancher's perspective, it's probably the most pathetic land you've ever laid your eyes on. But it's great wildlife habitat.`

The land supports populations of mule deer, elk, antelope and other wildlife, Marlett said.

In an Aug. 3 letter to President Clinton, Sen. Ron Wyden contended that the Badlands `merits wilderness or other special protection.`

`Conservationists view the Badlands as a unique opportunity to restore a native high desert ecosystem in a quickly urbanizing area where the demand for wilderness, recreation and open space is increasing,` the Oregon Democrat wrote.

But environment alists argue that any designation would ideally go hand in hand with permit retirement. Otherwise, livestock could still graze there.

That would require legislation giving the BLM authority to permanently retire grazing permits rather than passing them on to other applicants.
Area cattle rancher Ray Clarno said the idea has merit.

`A permittee should have the option of permanently retiring his permit if he sees fit,` said Clarno, who has a 16,000-acre allotment within the Badlands. `I'm in favor of that.`

Clarno said he's not prepared to commit to retiring his permit should the opportunity present itself, but he's considering it as an option.

Permits are attached to deeded land and carry a monetary value when property changes hands, which is one reason ranchers may be reluctant to relinquish them.

Deschutes County Commissioner Linda Swearingen likes the concept of retiring grazing permits on the Badlands but balks at the mention of a wilderness designation for the area.

`The county isn't looking for a designation,` she said. `If you designate something as a special wil derness area, you invite the public in there without providing money for security or trails.`

In the past, the BLM has had a problem with people cutting trees, dumping trash and creating off-road trails in the Badlands.

A wilderness designation would ban motorized vehicles from the area.
One of three grazing permittees on the Badlands, Clarno is pushing for protection of the land.

`I'm interested in anything that will get the motorized vehicles off there,` he said. `People cut fences, cut trees, dump garbage and there's too much off-road vehicle activity.

`A lot of people come out and hike and enjoy it. But the illegal activities have increased significantly. A lot of it has to do with population pressures. It's going to get worse rather than better.`

Terry Silbaugh, founder of the now-defunct Central Oregon Desert Racing Association, said it's a classic case of an unruly minority spoiling
things for law-abiding users.

`I can sympathize with the ranchers,` Silbaugh said. `A lot of (those who misuse the area) are leaving gates open. It's a lot of the independents doing this. It's the outlaws. About 2 percent are causing the problem.`

But Silbaugh is `totally opposed` to turning the Badlands into a wilderness area.

`People should be able to drive on certain designated roads,` he said. `Especially the elderly and handicapped. It's the only way they can get out there.`

Despite the interest, a wilderness designation is far from a done deal.
A proposal to turn the Badlands into a wilderness area reached the desk of President George Bush in 1993. He signed the recommendation and sent it on to Congress, where it has languished ever since.

Meanwhile, Wyden has asked Clinton to work with him `to secure additional protection` for the Badlands and several other areas in the state.

Marlett and other environmentalists embrace the prospect of a cattle-free Badlands.