Cabin Coalition 2: Progress Update from Pete Bailey

Following the many requests you received for grassroots support, that we made this past winter and spring, we felt giving everyone a break was okay. Getting legislative change during this very challenging time requires a long term commitment from us all. This modest break in the action however, did not mean that the Cabin Coalition 2 has been resting on their laurels.

Since the Natural Resources committee hearing in late April, we have gained many new bill sponsors. You can follow the bill at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-4888. We now have a total of 24 co-sponsors, in addition to our champion Rep. Doc Hastings. The Cabin Fee Act (CFA) is a truly bi-partisan bill as 12 Democrats and 13 Republicans have signed on. Recent grassroots efforts in California have been very successful, with the addition of Reps. Woolsey, Eshoo, Farr, Lofgren, McNerney, Speier and Thompson (all Democrats). Special thanks to all of those folks in the Bay Area that have been engaged!

C2 is working with Mr. Jim Streeter, Minority staff for Natural Resources, and their legal counsel, developing a letter to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) requesting a preliminary evaluation (or scoring) of the revenue impact of the CFA. We seek a neutral scoring that implies no revenue loss to the Treasury from the legislation. We have explained that the FS projections fail to include several market realities, i.e., the decline in the real estate market, the potential loss of cabins (and fee revenue) due to inability to sell given high fees, the 30% lower valuations in second appraisals and the cost savings of eliminating the appraisal process and its inherent headaches. Several documents have been developed and will be attached to the CBO letter supporting our positions. A CBO response may take another few weeks. A July report is expected or hoped for.

We have made a few clarifying recommendations to House Natural Resources that address the transition from CUFFA to the CFA and expanded the review and appeal section of the act. These recommendations could be considered at mark-up. A mark-up session for H.R.4888 (which is held by the full committee, rather than the sub-committee) has not been scheduled, but we are hoping for a July date. The Natural Resources committee may wait for the CBO opinion before committing to a date. So we are in a waiting pattern, with the CBO scoring and the mark-up session both in play.

We have also been active on the Senate side. A draft companion bill has been developed. Key Senators are being approached in hopes of finding a potential bill sponsor, while also further expanding our lobbying and educational efforts. Please anticipate a request from C2 for you to call, email and write your Senators concerning this potential companion bill. Once again, we will need grassroots support from all states and cabin owners everywhere. Our success to date is clearly due to previous support. More will be needed!

Our progress gives us hope of success, however, a moratorium for 2011 fees remains on the table. We expect to more aggressively pursue this possibility early in the fall if any delays in the passage of H.R.4888 occur. Our best bet is for the CFA to be attached to an appropriations bill or omnibus Lands’ bill in the lame duck session late in the fall. So we will remain vigilant concerning the moratorium timing and need.

Remember The National Forest Homeowners website is a great source for information and Cabin Fee Act updates, too. We are found at http://www.nationalforesthomeowners.org/.

Best Wishes as we enter the Cabin Season across the country! Happy Re-Creating!

Pete Bailey, NFH Director and C2 Legislative Contact Committee, Chair

Cabin Coalition 2 Report from Sharon Karr

Oregon Update – June 24, 2010

C2 continues to work closely with Oregon’s political delegation, asking for their support of the Cabin Fee Act (CFA), H.R. 4888, the legislation replacing the CUFFA appraisal method of setting permit fees. Just this week, another Oregon co-sponsor has signed on, Rep. Wu from Oregon’s 1^st district! This brings the bill’s co-sponsors to 25, already including Rep. Greg Walden. Walden has 756 cabins in Oregon’s 2nd district, many belonging to tracts with the highest appraisals in Oregon such as the Lake of the Woods, Rocky Pt., Odell Lake and Crescent Lake. Although Rep. Wu does not have Forest Service cabins in his district, many cabin owners live in this geographic area extending from the west-side of Portland, to the coast, and south into Yamhill County.

Throughout the spring, meetings have been held by C2 and cabin owners with the staff of Oregon representatives DeFazio, Schrader, Wu, and Blumenauer, along with Senator Merkley’s office. The focus of each meeting is answering their remaining questions, addressing revenue from permit fees and asking for their support. Assisting C2 in Oregon is the firm Ball Janik, thus engaging the support of local lobbyists. Ball Janik’s involvement is beneficial to bringing focus to political meetings by briefing cabin owners on the interests and agenda of politicians and their staff beforehand, helping us address the important issues.

One comment I found particularly interesting in a May meeting with political staff was the staff recommends a second appraisal when cabin owners call in and comment on their high appraisal result. What was not understood by the staff was the second appraisal date is the same as the first appraisal. The staff thought the cabin owner could pick a current date, thus benefiting from the impact of the economic downturn and lower real estate values we’re experiencing across Oregon. Addressing misunderstandings and explaining the long-term benefits of the CFA is an important aspect of these meetings, while emphasizing the affordable continuance of Oregon tracts like Lake of the Woods, Rocky Pt. and McKenzie River where permit fees will exceed $6,000 per year.

Without the letter writing by, and generous support of tracts and cabin owners across Oregon, C2 would not be on the cusp of change. C2 has received donations from many Oregon tracts and individuals, some donating multiple times. Thank you for your continued support.

All Oregon Cabin Lot Appraisals Completed

All appraisal results of typical lots for Oregon tracts are published. The following table summarizes the disparity in results for tracts appraised in 2008 versus the appraisals completed in 2009.^[1] Permit fee revenue projections C2 has obtained from the Forest Service are pre-2009 appraisal completion. It is clear from this table, in Oregon alone, original revenue projections based on 141% average increase per cabin permit was not upheld by the 2009 Mt. Hood appraisal. Thus revenue collected from permit fees will be less than projected by the Forest Service’s early estimates. The importance of this revenue issue is described in Pete Bailey’s national report on the next page.

Appraisal Year	Oregon Tracts	# of Cabins	Average % Increase per Cabin
2008	31 tracts across the state	1117	141%
2009	10 Mt. Hood tracts	553	22%

Enjoy the July 4^th holiday,

Sharon Karr
NFH Treasurer & C2 Representative/Oregon C2 Political Liaison – Diamond Lake Tract

Interpretive Walks

Summer, 2010

Interpretive Walks

Sponsored by the Friends of the Metolius. 

Everyone is encouraged to participate, at no charge.
Children are welcome. Dogs are not really all that appropriate; sorry.
Wear sturdy footwear.
Bring water and sunscreen.

1. July 3, Saturday. Metolius River Walk - Store to Allingham Bridge. 9:00 to 11:00 AM. Learn about the unique riparian habitat of the Metolius ecosystem, enjoy summer wildflowers, and observe changes to the river to enhance fish habitat on a walk from the Camp Sherman Bridge to Allingham Bridge and back. Meet near the Camp Sherman Bridge fish viewing platform at 9:00 AM - Leaders: Susan and Megan Prince. For information call 541-595-6910.
2. July 10, Saturday. Suttle Lake - Camp Sherman Trail. 9:00 to noon. Walk 4.5 miles downhill from Suttle Lake to Camp Sherman along the basin’s newest trail. The trail parallels the north fork of Lake Creek through fir, larch, and ponderosa forest and will take you through the northern portion of the Deschutes Land Trust Metolius Preserve. Meet at Black Butte School at 9:00 AM to carpool to Suttle Lake. - Leader: Kent Gill. For information call 541-595-2269
3. July 17, Saturday. Birds, Butterflies, & Plants along the Metolius. 8:30 to 10:30 AM. Follow the West Metolius River Trail below the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery to the Nature Conservancy site. Observe wildflowers and birds with a knowledgeable and keen observer of the Central Oregon outdoors. Meet at the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery Kiosk at 8:30 AM - Leader: Norma Funai. For information call 541-549-2104.
4. July 24, Saturday. Metolius River - Store to Riverside Campground. 10:00 to noon. Explore the upper river from the Camp Sherman Bridge to the site of the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps camp at the Riverside campground while learning about the natural and human history of the Camp Sherman area. Meet near the Camp Sherman Bridge fish viewing platform at 10:00 AM. - Leader: Scott Blau. For information call 541-595-6439.
5. July 31, Saturday. Head of Jack Creek. 10:00 to noon. Walk a mile to the magic world of the springs that feed Jack Creek. Our way will take us through a ponderosa forest, along the creek, to a pine plantation, and back through an area charred by the B&B fire. Mostly a flat walk. Meet at the Black Butte School bus barn, west of the Camp Sherman Store at about 10:00 AM to carpool to the trailhead. A trail parking pass or fee is required. - Leader: Kent Gill. For information call 541-595-2269.
6. August 7, Saturday. Birds, Butterflies, & Plants along the Metolius. 8:30 to 10:30 AM. Follow the West Metolius River Trail below the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery to the Nature Conservancy site. Observe wildflowers and birds with a knowledgeable and keen observer of the Central Oregon outdoors. Meet at the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery Kiosk at 8:30 AM - Leader: Norma Funai. For information call 541-549-2104.
7. August 14, Saturday. Forest Walk. 10:00 to noon. Walk on an informal trail for about two miles in the area north of the school to observe interesting forest phenomena and specimen plants. Meet at the Black Butte School bus barn at 10:00 AM - Leader: Kent Gill. For information call 541-595-2269
8. August 21, Saturday. Birds, Butterflies, & Plants along the Metolius. 8:30 to 10:30 AM. Follow the West Metolius River Trail below the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery to the Nature Conservancy site. Observe wildflowers and birds with a knowledgeable and keen observer of the Central Oregon outdoors. Meet at the Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery Kiosk at 8:30 AM - Leader: Norma Funai. For information call 541-549-2104.
9. August 28, Saturday. Metolius River - Store to Riverside Campground. 10:00 to noon. Explore the upper river from the Camp Sherman Bridge to the site of the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps camp at the Riverside campground while learning about the natural and human history of the Camp Sherman area. Meet near the Camp Sherman Bridge fish viewing platform at 10:00 AM. - Leader: Mark Dohrmann. For information call 541-595-2150.
10. September 4, Saturday. Metolius River - Store to Allingham Bridge. 10:00 to noon. Learn about the unique riparian habitat of the Metolius ecosystem, explore early Camp Sherman history, and observe changes to the river to enhance fish habitat on a walk from the Camp Sherman Bridge to Allingham Bridge and back. Meet near the Camp Sherman Bridge fish viewing platform at 9:00 AM - Leader: Scott Blau. For information call 541-595-6439

*** FREE FREE Clean up in the Forest Tracts ***

Yes well it's late notice if you didn't see this in the newsletter already but like last year the FIREFREE group has funding to do a pine needles pick up and will make rounds sometime beginning (but not before) June 26th.  To participate all you need do is put your needles out at the head of your driveway, near but not IN the main roadway.  It takes them several days to get ALL of the tracts, but once your group has it's pickup that's it>...The Forest Service is no longer letting us use the dump site we had used for so many years.

Last year the largest amount of needles ever removed from the tracts was collected.  Our properties (and the Forest) are that much safer when we do this.  Hope you can work it in...

C2 & Cabin Owners Attend Wyden Hearing ~Message from Sharon Karr~

June 6th, 2010 at 21:10

Last Friday, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) was in Bend, OR to hold the second hearing on his bill, S. 2895, to overhaul management of Central and Eastern Oregon forests. With him were the Energy and Natural Resources Public Lands and Forests subcommittee, which he chairs, his D.C. and Oregon staff, and Frank Gladics, minority staff member of the subcommittee.

The national forests included in this bill also include eleven cabin tracts with a total of 424 cabins, with fees ranging from $350 to $5,500. The tracts I’ve visited exist in forest conditions where cabins have burned in forest fires and permits were lost when rebuilding wasn’t allowed. The forest conditions need attention and this seemed like an opportunity to hear both sides of the debate and see Senator Wyden at work, perhaps learning a little about his style of chairing a hearing.

When C2 has a companion bill (to H.R. 4888) in the Senate, the hearing will be held before Wyden and this subcommittee. Wyden knew his topic well. His questions and dialog with the 11 witnesses was a no-holds-barred style, demanding answers and when the answer wasn’t forthcoming, asking the witness to get back to him with the information. All sides of the debate were presented, from the timber industry, the conservation and environmentalist movement, and the Native Americans who reside and work within the east-side reservations surrounded by national forests.

What was very interesting to me was the timber industry is divided internally as are the environmentalists. This deeply perplexed Senator Wyden. He asked repeatedly why one timber operator hasn’t spoken with the opposing timber operator; why one conservationist group opposes what other environmental groups support. He wanted everyone at the table to communicate, with one another, with him, and with his staff.

I find a valuable lesson in Wyden’s insisting everyone communicates in all directions. C2 has followed the model of communicating and sharing information since the beginning. Continuing to talk, meet, answer questions and educate the agency and political staffers in a bi-partisan way is to C2’s advantage and will appeal to Wyden.

Thanks to the local cabin owners from Crescent Lake, Diamond Lake and the Metolius who attended the hearing, showing your interest in Senator Wyden’s proposal for central and east-side Oregon forests. By simply signing in as a cabin owner on USFS land lets Wyden, his staff and the committee know cabin owners and C2 are organized, still working and serious about a solution. Although the hearing lasted almost three hours, your time was well spent, using this as an opportunity to let Wyden know cabin owners are united and are vested in the health of the forests and the future of our cabins.

Upcoming Community Events

MRFHA ANNUAL JULY MEETING
Saturday, July 3rd, 1:00 PM at the Camp Sherman Community Hall. We will nominate a new board member. Board meeting to follow afterward.

FIREFREE PARNERSHIP
The FireFree Partnership will be facilitating another pick up starting June 28th. Be sure your material is placed curbside along the tract road.

ADOPT A RIVER WALK
Sunday, September 6th, 9:00 AM at the Camp Sherman Store. Groups will be designated by Tract. Come enjoy a lovely morning walk while helping to maintain the pristine quality of our beloved Metolius River.

MRFHA ANNUAL PICNIC
Sunday, September 9th, 4 to 5 PM Social; 5-6:30 PM Potluck at the Johnson Cabin near the Head of the Metolius. Bring your cabin guests, a favorite dish, plates and eating utensils. Non-Alcoholic beverages will be provided by MRFHA.