Many people have stake in preserving access to federal lands

Letter to the editor of Herald and News by Jerry Anderson Klamath Falls February 4, 2007

The Klamath Basin Alliance is a diverse group of Klamath Basin citizens formed in 2003 to keep our public lands under public ownership with multiple use management for the benefit of all users and adjacent landowners.

The great quality of life in the Klamath Basin is in large part due to outstanding national forest lands in our Basin and the unlimited public access to these lands.

All residents who enjoy any and all-year-around outdoor activities can partake in the countless recreational, vocational and economical opportunities these lands provide.

Thousands of tourists visit each year to do those same things in turn supporting tourism in the Basin that funnels huge financial assets to many local economies and businesses.

Federal funds in lieu of taxes are paid to Klamath County each year that helps pay for our schools and road systems.

The Klamath Basin Alliance recently submitted a request to the Klamath County commissioners requesting a resolution solidifying the position of keeping our public land open for everyone to utilize and enjoy.

The Klamath Basin Alliance is hopeful that our commissioners will take a stand for the citizens of the Klamath Basin to go on record as being opposed to the sale of, trading of, or the giving of any current public lands to any other entity and/or sovereignty.

The Klamath Basin Alliance also submits to everyone that, only through open public meetings such as the one scheduled for Feb. 6 with the commissioners, can positive meaningful dialogue develop that helps to preserve the bright future of the Klamath Basin by maintaining the critical ecosystems and crucial watershed as well as the wonderful recreation resources and the huge economic benefits for all citizens and for future generations.