Another outdoor decision by Washington

[LongLine]

This will be interesting in the courts. 

 

Administration is proposing to restrict/redefine the word "Harm" in the Endangered Species Act. Historically "Harm" meant you couldn't directly harm the specie (hunt, kill, wound, harass, etc.) or do anything to its habitat that could adversely affect it.  Their proposal is only to have it mean you can't directly harm the specie itself.  

 

Currently if a particular bird nests in a particular specie tree, then they can't harm the bird AND they can't cut down the same specie tree in the surrounding area.  Under the proposal they could cut all those other trees down.  

 

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-and-energy/trump-administration-moves-to-cut-endangered-species-protections

 

https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2025/04/trump-administration-proposing-do-away-harm-definition-endangered-species

 

I'm curious how they would apply this to fish. (2nd article mentions salmon) One less hurdle for any project that could affect the water?  (quality, quantity, structure?) What about food chain, thermal regime, pH, turbidity, aquatic plants?

 

Should be interesting in the courts.

[Gill-T]

This is a good listen on national forests and the current climate created by Washington.  
 

 

[Gill-T]

https://www.science.org/content/article/trump-swings-budget-ax-usgs-biology-research

[Gill-T]

The alewife survey was completed for this year but looks like the data will not get compiled in time before job cuts. Bait levels are reported as good from the trawler survey. 

Edited April 21, 2025 by Gill-T

[LongLine]

THIS SUCKS!

[Gill-T]

When you “drain the swamp”, usually you are left with stinky muck. 

[LongLine]

Spell checker turned off?...(muck). 

[Gill-T]

https://wyofile.com/leaked-federal-roadmap-for-public-land-called-industry-wish-list/
 

 

[Gill-T]

Ya baby!!! Give me more pollution!!! ……

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/senate-votes-to-overturn-epa-rule-limits-7-hazardous-air-pollutants-clean-air-act/

[Gill-T]

https://www.fieldandstream.com/stories/conservation/public-lands-and-waters/budget-cuts-conservation-and-public-land-funding

[Gill-T]

https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/public-land-sales-amendment-withdrawn/

[Al-slamminhogs]

🐟

Edited May 22, 2025 by Al-slamminhogs

[Gill-T]

Not Washington but this may become a trend which disfavors people without money. 
 

https://1819news.com/news/item/state-hosting-auction-to-lease-public-hunting-land-truly-a-win-win-for-the-state-and-hunters

[Gator]

We lease and own, and I avoid public land like the plague during deer season because of the shenanigans I've seen, but I feel horrible for our next generation. I've been told that it's near impossible to find a place to hunt in some states if you don't lease. This is only going to exacerbate the situation. The pay-to-play mentality only widens the gap.

[Gill-T]

Gator, almost all state land tracts in the southern tier are devoid of hunters during bow season 

[Gill-T]

https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/environment-sustainability/trump-administration-proposes-cutting-off-funding-for-pacific-coastal-salmon-recovery-fund

[Gator]

On 5/28/2025 at 12:20 PM, Gill-T said:

Gator, almost all state land tracts in the southern tier are devoid of hunters during bow season 

Yeppers, I grew up grouse hunting down there. Duck in the morning and trompsing through heavy cover bird-dogging it for the older guys in the afternoon. We saw nobody most days. But come gun season...watch out.  My comment was mostly related to the orange army.

[LongLine]

Here's another boner, but closer to home:  Logging increase in Finger Lakes National Forest. Between Seneca & Cayuga)

 

Trump order would open New York’s only national forest to increased logging - syracuse.com

[Gill-T]

As much as I love to see big old trees, I am all for selective harvest of a renewable resource. Old growth forests are pretty sterile unless they have a good mast crop. With all the invasive bugs and diseases that are taking out mature tree species, this is a good time to cut. 

[schreckstoff]

Earth first! We’ll log the other planets later.

[LongLine]

Loggers don't take the diseased or bug-ridden trees.  Hardwood forests need to be left alone.

[reeltrout]

As I've worked for a logger already and logged my own woods and sawed high quality funiture grade lumber over the years I must say When I hunt public land and see these high quality hardwood trees that are mature and ready to be logged but are left there to rot is a shame. The revenue that could be had if these woods were logged and at the same time it would improve deer habitat. And yes if its managed right a good logger will cut down bad trees. 

[Gator]

I agree, old growth forests are pretty but sterile. So long as they're not high grading or some other form of mismanagement, I'm all for limited logging. In fact, I posted up above about grouse hunting - the State did some clear cutting in limited areas to provide new growth poplar for grouse when I was a kid. You get about ten years out of a stand, but during that time it was fantastic hunting.

[LongLine]

5 hours ago, reeltrout said:

The revenue that could be had if these woods were logged

That's what it's really all about.  Scr*w the environment, make some bucks.  

[Gill-T]

Tom, logging can be pro-environment as well. Right now there are reduced numbers of song birds and bees. By providing diverse habitat it promotes more diverse species present. Logging/burning/environmental design has been done in some form since the beginning of man.