GRANT COUNTY The evolving proposal to designate a Special Management Area in the Aldrich Mountains is sparking controversy among some residents.

 The critics spoke out after an article about the proposal was printed in the Dec. 22 Blue Mountain Eagle. In that story, Aldrich Mountains Working Group spokesman Mark Bagett outlined the groups progress toward a proposal over the past year.

 Concerned residents also contacted the Grant County Court, assuming that it had already taken a stand on the SMA. It hasnt done so, County Judge Mark Webb stressed last week.

 The working group says the primary intent in seeking the special designation is to maintain fish and wildlife values for perpetuity, but also to continue traditional uses such as grazing and forest management of the land. They seek the land now under the control of Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to be united by one managing agency and plan.

 The process was set in motion by Trout Unlimited, a national conservation organization that seeks to restore and preserve cold-water fish habitat. Trout Unlimited hired Bagett, a local outdoorsman, to organize the Aldrich work.

 The organizations involvement was a red flag for ranchers Ken Holliday of John Day and Loren Stout of Dayville. They say environmental groups already have stopped salvage logging of fire-burnt timber in the area, and have blocked other economic activity in the region.

 The SMA could be a whole new avenue of locking up public land, said Holliday.

 The ranchers are concerned that a special designation would interfere with traditional uses such as hunting, cattle grazing and road access.

 Holliday said hes met with Bagett five times and has yet to hear a good reason for the designation, which would require Congressional approval. The plan as it stands, would take up an estimated one-fifth of land currently managed by Malheur National Forest, he said.

 Holliday isnt happy with ODFWs management now, but hes also concerned that, if approved, a separate, as yet unspecified agency would become responsible for the areas management. He and Stout say theres no guarantee that multiple uses will be allowed, if the designation goes through.

 It isnt fair to pile this on the local people And politically, its a horrible time, he said, given that the Forest Service has recently released its plan to prohibits cross-country use of ATVs. Stout shares the concern about ATV use.

 The organizations website says is it not opposed to motorized access, and its hunter members use ATVs. However, it seeks stronger enforcement of laws to prevent destructive riding and stop cross-country, off-trail travel the kind of rogue, illegal ATV use more often found closer to populated areas, Bagett said.

 Bagett said he expects any new designation would be consistent with the coordinated travel management plan already in effect for Aldrich.

 Stout fears that, given the backing of the environmental group, economic assets such as oil and mineral rights could be be locked up in the quest to primarily use the land for fish and wildlife values.

 Stout says those assets could lead to new jobs in the county and revenue for the financially-lagging state and local county schools.

 Wouldnt it be great if we did find oil? We could support our schools, said Stout.

 And the ranchers also charge that the group has been too remote from the public, but has been quietly contacting legislators and public officials to craft its plan.

 The members are hand-picked, said Holliday, who said he wasnt allowed to be involved although Bagett approached him to support the concept.

 Bagett said the working group includes professionals, sportsmen and stakeholders with an interest in the area. The list includes Scott Myers, a Grant County commissioner.

 At last weeks County Court session, Judge Webb said Myers participation may have led people to assume that the Court was involved and approved of the Aldrich proposal.

 Myers stressed that he was not acting for the County Court in that role, however.

 I was asked to participate because Im a fisherman, he said. Im a citizen member, by coincidence thats also a county commissioner.

 Myers said he could understood that some citizens might jump to the conclusion that his was an official role. However, he said, I also have a different life.

 He said that when he became involved, it was out of his love of the outdoors and fishing. He was drawn to the idea of continuing the existing uses grazing, timber, public access while also protecting habitat for fish.

 Hes comfortable with the intent so far, and with the involvement of Trout Unlimited.

 As far as I know, its an honorable group, he said. If I find out anything different, Im done.

 Bagett has contacted Webb and Commissioner Boyd Britton individually, but made no formal presentation to the Court.

 Webb said the court wont take a position until theres a proposal on the table. However, he has some reservations now.

 Overall, Webb worries about the way new designations create liabilities for private landowners. He said that was seen in the Idaho Power transmission line siting process. Trying to work around all the special protection areas left officials with few options other than look to private lands for viable routes, he said.

 Special designations also tend to limit local control, Webb said.

 And hes not confident that the proposal will do what proponents say it will maintaining historic uses like grazing and timber while adding protections for habitat. New designations usually bring new restrictions, he said.

 Webb said he wished the group had come to the Court early on, so they could have discussed such concerns.

 Britton cautioned that the discussion is early.

 If anything goes, its going to have to go before Congress, he said, and the countys position will be important.

 Webb said members of the Congressional delegation have indicated that they wont back any such proposal without the Courts support.

 Responding to written questions, Bagett insisted that the community will ultimately be the biggest part of this process.

 He said he knows that Rep. Greg Walden, for one, wont entertain a proposal unless it has solid local support. When that happens, hell be able to show Congress an outstanding piece of legislation that the community has helped to craft, Bagett said.

 He said cited hard work by the stakeholders participating in the process so far.

 Weve spent exhaustive hours visiting with the individual public as weve worked to develop some initial ideas, and weve now reached that point in the process where were looking to the public as a whole. Public meetings are next on the agenda, he said.

 Overall, he said he was saddened that what I perceive to be outside influences such as continued litigation decisions and travel management implementation, would spawn such mistrust and misconception about a community-based effort to improve our resources and protect our local heritage.

 Bagett, who formerly worked for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, said his job now is with TUs Sportsman Conservation Project, which promotes the interests of both anglers and hunters.

 Anyone who has lived here and known me for any length of time should know that Id be one of the last people youd find associated with an environmental group, he said.