Before voting on Lane County Measure 20-373, the watershed “rights” measure, I strongly urge you to check out some of the most important details.

For those of us who are outraged by the Trump administration’s attempts to reverse hard-won protections for our federal forest lands and roadless areas and gut the professional staff of the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, it is tempting to “send a message” and vote yes on this measure.

Unfortunately, Measure 20-373 is fatally flawed. It attempts to supersede federal and state laws that already regulate forest practices on government and private timberland. I would love to make those laws more protective of watersheds, but Lane County doesn’t have that power on its own. There is no shortcut. If we want to improve watershed protections on private and state forest land, let’s do it by going to the Legislature or passing a statewide initiative.

Another weakness of the measure is that it would attempt to restrict actions by all government entities. I’ve already mentioned how a county measure couldn’t be enforced against federal or state agencies, but this measure would also apply to activities of publicly owned utilities like Eugene Water & Electric Board, Springfield Utility Board, school districts and special districts. 

The measure’s prime target is forest products companies, but its definitions sweep in all “corporate, government or other business entities.” That would include nonprofit corporations, even potentially those working to restore salmon habitat and improve the health of our rivers. A disgruntled neighbor who wanted to slow or stop a restoration project could use this measure to file a lawsuit.

Measure 20-373 is so poorly crafted it will almost certainly be successfully challenged in court and never take effect. Taxpayers will pay for its legal defense because the measure also requires Lane County to “enforce and defend this law to the fullest extent possible.” 

If this measure doesn’t accomplish anything positive, it will only further alienate the young voters we most need to be more active in our politics. I’ll be voting no, and I urge you to join me.

David Fidanque
Eugene