Bill Overview
Title: A bill to amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to establish within the Mount Hood National Forest in the State of Oregon Indian Treaty Resources Emphasis Zones, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill establishes within Mount Hood National Forest one or more Indian Treaty Resources Emphasis Zones in areas agreed upon by the Forest Service and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon to protect and enhance treaty resources, protect the reservation from wildfires, and enable a comanagement strategy between the Forest Service and the tribe.
Sponsors: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals impacted by the amendment to establish Indian Treaty Resources Emphasis Zones in Mount Hood National Forest
Estimated Size: 25000
- The bill concerns Mount Hood National Forest located in the State of Oregon.
- The primary stakeholders are the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, as it involves Indian Treaty Resources Emphasis Zones agreed upon by these tribes and the Forest Service.
- The bill focuses on comanagement strategies between the Forest Service and the tribes, indicating significant involvement of tribal members.
- Treaty resources generally refer to resources that tribes hunted, fished, or gathered by treaty right, reflecting the livelihood and cultural practices of the tribes.
- Aside from members of the tribes, other groups such as local residents, stakeholders in forest management, and environmental groups interested in comanagement strategies may also be impacted.
- The target population is likely concentrated within Oregon and surrounding areas affected by Mount Hood National Forest.
Reasoning
- The target population primarily includes around 5,000 tribal members within the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, with potential positive impacts related to cultural preservation and environmental improvements. Additionally, there are indirect benefits to local residents and stakeholders involved in forest management in Oregon.
- Non-tribal residents in the vicinity of Mount Hood National Forest who rely on or engage with forest resources may experience changes, including potentially improved forest health and fire management due to enhanced collaboration and focus on treaty resources.
- The $7 million budget in the first year might focus on setting up infrastructure for co-management and pilot projects in treaty resource zones. This limits the number of direct beneficiaries initially but might broaden as the policy stabilizes and matures over the 10-year span.
- Given the scope and budget limitation, the broader U.S. population outside the directly impacted areas, while possibly supporting the policy ideologically, would not perceive significant changes immediately.
Simulated Interviews
Tribal Leader (Warm Springs Reservation, OR)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see this policy as a genuine effort to respect our tribe's rights and heritage.
- This can strengthen our role in managing ancestral lands.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Environmental Policy Analyst (Portland, OR)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It’s a positive step towards inclusive and responsible forest management.
- The policy will set a precedent for similar actions elsewhere.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Local Farmer (Madras, OR)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If this comanagement reduces wildfires, that's beneficial for all of us in the area.
- I appreciate more local input in federal forest decisions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Graduate Student (Eugene, OR)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a significant case study for my research.
- I support initiatives that integrate traditional and scientific methods.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Bend, OR)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A healthier forest benefits my business through tourism.
- Collaboration with tribes could enhance forest conservation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cultural Anthropologist (Warm Springs Reservation, OR)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative is crucial in recognizing our cultural ties to these lands.
- I am optimistic about joint efforts in resource management.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired Forest Ranger (The Dalles, OR)
Age: 66 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see potential for improved forest conditions through this policy.
- The collaboration might offer innovative approaches to long-standing issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Policy Consultant (Salem, OR)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy reflects a growing trend towards honoring treaty rights.
- I’m interested in seeing how effective comanagement can be.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Forestry Expert (Seattle, WA)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might serve as a model for co-managed conservation elsewhere.
- I'm cautiously optimistic about its implementation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Elementary School Teacher (Warm Springs Reservation, OR)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy improves educational resources about our cultural practices.
- It has the potential to enhance community pride and involvement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $7000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 2: $6000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $9000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 5: $4000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $6000000)
Year 10: $2000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $4000000)
Year 100: $500000 (Low: $250000, High: $750000)
Key Considerations
- This policy will heavily depend on the effective collaboration between the Forest Service and tribal authorities, which could impact the cost and its implementation timeline.
- The policy relies on the sustained commitment from both federal and tribal governments to effectively manage forest resources through shared governance.
- Possible legal disputes over land use or treaty rights could increase costs significantly.