Bush Seeks Smaller Conservation Grants 2-11-06

This story published in the Tennessean newspaper on Saturday, February 11, 2006. It was written by John Heilprin of the Associated Press.

Washington - Grants to state and local governments for land and water conservation would be cut 40%, and money for the Environmental Protection Agency's network of libraries for scientists would be slashed severely under President Bush's proposed budget.

Cuts and proposals to sell some for the government's vast land holdings, including nearly 3,000 acres in the 640,000-acre Cherokee National Forest in eastern Tennessee bordering North Carolina, have upset the environmentalists.

As many as seven Tennessee counties could be be affected: Carter, Cocke, Johnson, Monroe, Polk, Sullivan and Unicoi. About a quarter of the Tennessee lands is in Carter County, while the largest block, nearly 500 acres, is in Sullivan County,

The lands are typically part of a "checker board" pattern of small parcels surrounded by suburban or urban areas, Interior officials say, and have been identified as holding little natural, historic, cultural or energy value.

The administration anticipates selling them for $2,000 an acre. The Forest Service plans to sell 170,000-200,000 acres in 41 states, according to The Wilderness Society. The environmental advocacy group Southern Environmental Law Center said 2,996 of those acres are in East Tennessee and nearly 10,000 are in North Carolina in national forests near the border with Tennessee.

By contrast, Bush next year would spend $322 million for "cooperative conservation," up from $312 million that Congress approved last year, to encourage more private landowners to protect endangered species, conserve wildlife habitats and do other nature work traditionally done by government.

Other proposed increases are $50 million more for cleaner-burning diesel engines and $5 million more for drinking water improvements. Low-interest loans to state for treating wastewater, cutting other water pollution and managing watersheds would be cut by 22% to $688 million.

Early in his presidency, Bush called for restoring the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund to the full $900 million authorized by Congress.

Last year, it was approved at $142 million. For 2007, he wants just $85 million in grants for creating and preserving non-federal parks, forest land and wildlife refuges, a 40% cut.

"This is the most troubling budget we've seen from this White House," said Heather Taylor, deputy legislative director for National Resources Defense Council.

The proposal sent to Congress this week would trim EPA's budget by nearly 5%, down to $7.2 billion, and the Interior Department's budget by 2.4% , to $9.1 billion.

The budget also would cut $89 million from the National Park Service's nearly $2.6 million budget.

Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt., said it shows the environment isn't a Bush administration priority. "We cannot allow this dangerous trend to continue," said Jeffords, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Interior Secretary Gale Norton and EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson said their budgets represent, within the context of reducing the federal deficit, a responsible reallocation of resources that will still lead to environmental improvements.

Lil Bluff Creek Road 2-5-06

Today was for exploring a new road. Not for hunting. The shotgun, of course, comes along for the ride. Koko and Daisy were also along. Daisy did very well coming when I called her. For the most part she hunted and hung with Koko. Koko is a good influence on her.



The road was Lil Bluff Creek Road. It heads north off of Wiley Pardue road. It was closed with a cable gate and locked. I can't remember if the cable was down during deer season. The road is 17.1 miles from the house.



The plan was to follow this road to its end, which appeared to be about two miles on the map. At the end of the road, I would go about a tenth of a mile cross country to a creek, which according to the map, would be a straight shot south to were the truck was.

I saw no game animals and very few signs of live game. I did see three turkey droppings. I also saw the bones of deer scattered at the beginning of the road. I couldn't tell if it was a buck or doe, the top of the skull was missing. The lower jaw had six fully developed teeth on each side.

The road had several vantage points from which you could see for miles.

I saw two pairs of blue birds.

About 1.23 miles into the road, is a food plot. It looks to be planted with a wheat type grass - not the turnip type in Turkey field. All around the field were well worn paths, entrance ways for game. This is definitely a place to hunt during deer season. Probably, best during the late season when the crowd dies down.
At the end of the road, there were remnants of a campfire. Although, camping is not allowed here. I also found this skull, which is clearly from a buck. You can see where the antlers were sawed off. There were still hair mattings and skin - probably shot this year. It had six fully developed teeth.

I followed the decline of the ridge to what should have been the stream that would lead south back to the truck.


I followed this stream for a mile and ultimately met back with the road. Along the way I came across another deer skeleton. It was in the stream. I wonder if the skeleton belonged to the skull pictured. It is possible the hunter killed the deer at the bottom of the ridge and couldn't get it out, so he only took the head for the antlers. Probably not - hopefully not, but I hear a lot of stories about people wasting what the kill.

Apparently, I didn't get to the right stream. It must be a bigger stream I am looking for, because the stream I followed is not big enough to be on the map.

The entire hike was 3.66 miles, 2 hours 20 minutes. It stared out at 37 degrees and ended at 48 degrees.