Posted on 03/13/2002 4:47:04 PM PST by mommadooo3
Little Darby Creek wildlife refuge proposal is dead, U.S. official says
Wednesday, March 13, 2002
Michael Hawthorne
Dispatch Environment Reporter
The Bush administration yesterday confirmed what local landowners and lawmakers have known for months: There won't be a Little Darby National Wildlife Refuge west of Columbus.
In the end, three years of studies, hearings and rallies were boiled down to a few paragraphs sent to the local members of Congress who pressured the Interior Department to scuttle the project.
"We believe that conservation of the agricultural and natural resources of the Darby watershed is important,'' wrote Craig Manson, assistant Interior secretary for fish and wildlife and parks, in letters to Republican U.S. Reps. Deborah Pryce of Upper Arlington and David L. Hobson of Springfield. "The strong interest expressed in protecting the rural nature of this area indicates that it is best that all levels of government work with local citizens to find a preferred approach to conserving those resources.''
The refuge proposal, he wrote, will be officially withdrawn soon.
In 1997, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials proposed the refuge as a way to protect the Little Darby Creek, a national and state scenic river that boasts one of the most diverse collections of aquatic species in the Midwest.
The service wanted to purchase 23,000 acres from willing sellers in Madison and Union counties and buy development rights for an additional 26,000 acres to ensure that the land would be kept as fields and woods.
But federal officials soon ran into opposition from farmers, some of whom feared that they would lose their way of life or not receive enough money for their land. Landowners slapped deed restrictions on 18,000 acres.
Moreover, after months of courting by the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nature Conservancy, a national land-preservation group, one of the largest single landowners indicated that it wouldn't sell to the federal government.
Orleton Farms Joint Venture, a partnership between the J. Sayer Co. and Metropolitan Life Insurance, owned about 5,000 acres on both sides of Rt. 29 north of London. In November, about a year after it rejected the government's overtures, the partnership sold the land to a Michigan company that has several large confined-animal dairy operations in Ohio and other Midwest states.
Mike Boerger, a Mechanicsburg farmer and leader of an anti-refuge group, said the wildlife refuge wasn't needed to protect the creek.
"Our children witnessed the power of concerned citizens who joined together,'' he said. "Now our community has regained its role as the primary stewards of the creek. And we'll continue to do a good job.''
Hobson and Pryce issued prepared statements reaffirming their support for efforts to protect the creek that are supported by local citizens. One alternative being discussed is a federal program that pays farmers to plant trees and establish buffers between fields and streams.
Some refuge supporters have their own ideas.
Last year, U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine secured $900,000 in federal money to expand Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park, which surrounds the confluence of the Big and Little Darby creeks. Metro Parks already has added 740 acres to the park during the past two years.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources also is buying land along the two creeks. With the recent purchase of a tract where Rt. 40 crosses the Little Darby, the department now owns or retains conservation easements for about 400 acres.
"We've known the refuge proposal was all but dead for quite a long time now,'' said Mike Dawson, spokesman for DeWine, an Ohio Republican. "The senator's interest has been, and continues to be, efforts to protect this precious national resource.''
Just as it should be,Mr.DeWine.
Thanks for the ping,mommadoo.
Good to know it's finally official.
I sent the article along to Jay Walley and prc.
Can you hear 'Taps'? :)
Wants to Dwell
Where Farmers
Refuse to Sell
No Darby Refuge!
One victory. But we have numerous other ones to fight. 'Pod
We joined the Grim Reaper Convoy to the Darby Farmland Rally in September 2000.
We went to Florida in October 2000 to work for the George W. Bush campaign.
We travelled to Klamath Falls in May 2001 to be a part of the Bucket Brigade.
The anti-gun movement has lost its momentum.
The Darby Refuge is dead.
George W. Bush is president
Irrigation water will be turned on in the Klamath Basin for the upcoming growing season.
We are four for four.
Conservative & Proud.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.