Where I Stand -- Mike O'Callaghan: Action with less states and fed talk could save trout

NO OTHER NEVADAN has been more critical of the farce called the Elko County grand jury. It was put together to keep federal and state conservation workers from doing their work. Also, it was conducted as a tool to bash state and federal governments and the results shocked decent people at both ends of the Silver State.

I've heard that some of this same kind of thinking exists on the Elko County Commission, which sometimes seeks to find reasons to blame other governments for its self-created ills. Some people would have us believe the recent road work on the West Fork of the Jarbidge River by the county could be considered an example of this attitude.

The road repair, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, "destroyed at least 300 yards of river by filling it with material from adjacent hillsides and old flood debris. The entire flow of the river was diverted into a sterile, newly created channel." The agency adds, "All streamside vegetation was removed, including mature trees. Silt from the work has spread for several miles downstream of the site. If continued, this unauthorized road construction would result in the direct loss of 27 percent of the known bull trout habitat found there."

This mess resulted in the Jarbidge River bull trout population being emergency-listed as "endangered." So, this ends all trout fishing on one of Nevada's most attractive streams until a solution is found?

Because the Elko County Commission went ahead with the road repairs without consulting or notifying either the Forest Service or the Fish and Wildlife Service, they evidently have again shown their disregard for other government agencies. We may wonder why this road repair had to be done in a rush today because it was damaged during a flood in 1995. That's three long years. On the other hand, where have the federal agencies been for the past three years?

The federal agency news release tells us, "The county's work occurred on the Jarbidge Canyon Road (also known as the South Canyon Road and Forest Development Road No. 064), a Forest Service road to the Jarbidge Wilderness that was washed out during a flood in 1995. The Forest Service is evaluating alternatives for providing access to the wilderness boundary while minimizing or eliminating adverse impacts to bull trout habitat. The Fish and Wildlife Service has been consulting with the Forest Service, as well as other state and federal agencies, on the alternatives since December 1997."

Big deal. Three years of doing nothing or merely consulting, but still no action. No wonder the local commissioners did something because it is evident the feds were going to keep consulting and doing nothing.

With the help and cooperation of Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt and Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, there's no reason this entire mess can't be straightened out. It's a real shame that it happened, but there's plenty of blame to spread around to all of the people involved. The Elko County Commission, for what they did, and the federal agencies, for what they didn't do, are all to blame. In this case it appears that the feds created a frustrating situation for reasonable local officials that resulted in actions they now condemn. After three years of stalling by the feds, it's no wonder the Elko County officials took action.

Where were the state officials when all of this was going on? What action did the 1997 Nevada Legislature take to resolve an obvious problem? Nothing. They were too busy giving big bucks to foolish projects and shutting down a facility that cared for abandoned and abused children.

When all is said and done, it appears the Elko County officials were forced into taking action during the road-repair months of 1998. Now it's up to the state and the feds to do something more constructive than just ruining a fishing stream with one of their many rules.

Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt says he will attempt to solve the problem and be the peacemaker. Good luck, Mr. Secretary.

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