Introduction

My name is Shaeli, and I grew up here in Bend, Oregon. The current term is my last full term for a B.S in Natural Resources, Conservation and Technology. I am taking FES 365 on campus at OSU Cascades in Bend, and I am looking forward to critically thinking about natural resource issues that we will be facing in the future.

The three natural resource issues most important to me are:

1. Fresh water availability

2. The implementation of the Endangered Species Act of 1973

3. Adaptive resource management in the face of climate change

Fresh Water
There is quite a bit of controversy surrounding water rights, endangered species, ecosystem function, the water bottling industry, and others. While conserving water in simple ways has been suggested to school children for years (turn off the water while brushing teeth, take shorter showers), I believe that these suggestions and others won't be widely implemented until the human population is severely affected by widespread water shortages. At this point the system may be too depleted to support the growth of the human population, much less the ecosystems and wildlife that also depend on the resource.
Current practices of transferring water to deserts to irrigate crops that shouldn't be there in the first place cause evaporation water losses en route, and remove critical gallons from the ecosystems of origin. Numerous swimming pools are also "vectors" of water loss. A particular pet-peeve of mine is toilet water. Here we have perfectly clean, crystal clear, drinkable water...and we crap in it. What the heck?!

Endangered Species Act (ESA)
This act, though well-intended, is very poorly implemented. It focuses on individual species protection instead of overall ecosystem function and biodiversity. Many species depend on other species (both plant and animal) to survive. Primary and secondary cavity nesters, co-evolutionary pollinators and plants, some burrowing critters, all depend on factors which may not be protected under the ESA. There is no consideration for the effects of climate change, and recovery potential is a weak point as a measure of importance in listing a species. The ESA, at this point, seems to serve as lawsuit fodder for abusive environmental groups to put an end to logging and industry that many communities depend on. There are better ways to go about species and critical habitat protection, but this legislation isn't it.

Adaptive Management & Climate Change
Flexibility. With such strict land management laws and public-suspected government abuses regarding land management, there is little opportunity for land managers to make changes in the overall plan for an area. With the effects of climate change becoming more apparent, adaptive management of natural resources is critical for maintaining a balance of biodiversity, ecosystem function, and private industry including grazing allotments and logging. Climate change is going to shift eco-regions, and does not recognize land-ownership boundaries. Agencies, private land owners, and industry is going to have to work together to ensure that everyone's needs are met, with compromises, to maintain a stable natural and economic environment moving forward. Unfortunately, the current attitude towards land managers is poor, bordering on violent at times. Inclusive adaptive management should be promoted in the near future. Civil, respectful conversations between stakeholders and land managers needs to include the requirement of compromising individual goals for the greater good, and an understanding of the importance of those goals to the stakeholders.