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Updated 4/01/01

Mildred Kanipe County Park

Mildred Kanipe Park is a 1,100 acre county park east of Oakland. If you haven't been there, plan a visit. It is a beautiful, rare, lowland valley, wild area. The park is rolling hills supporting grasslands and scattered Oak woodlands along with some small stands of conifers

Mildred Kanipe left her home to the county to be managed as a park. Thank you Mildred, for your vision. Lowland oak savanna/woodlands are a valuable wildlife habitat that is quickly disappearing due to urban sprawl. Mildred's park is a valuable asset to protect. In her will Mildred said: "All animals, birds and fish are to be protected as in a refuge." She dictated that "No hunting or trapping is to be allowed" and "no motorized vehicles are to be permitted within the park". Mildred also thought that recreation was a compatible use of the park, and encouraged "fishing in the ranch ponds" and "equestrian trails". Mildred wanted an abundance of natural wildlife, and she wanted people to enjoy them.

This protection could have been threatened by mis-guided management (described in gruesome detail below). However, Douglas County Commissioners Doug Robertson and Mike Winters have stepped forward to help us sort out our visions. Because of their leadership, Douglas County has hired Thomas Bedell, a well qualified rangeland management specialist, to organize a Comprehensive Resource Management Plan. Umpqua Watersheds is participating in the Mildred Kanipe Steering Committee, along with other interested citizen groups and individuals, to help write the plan. We hope to have it completed by the end of summer, 2001.

How we got here:



The following article was written on June 15, 1999, when clearcutting was still being considered. Even though this has changed, information below is helpful in understanding the history of the park and management options that could be considered.

June 15, 1999

The logging plan

Douglas County foresters have decided that logging the park will best meet Mildred's wishes. Logging could have begun in the summer of 2000. The 1995 "Kanipe Range Timber Sale Proposal" considered constructing over one mile of a new logging road right through the ranch in order to "clearcut approx 25 acres, overstory removal on another approx 10 acres, for a total net volume of 375000 bd. ft. and an estimated 200 tons of hardwood chip material." The plan wants to "chemically treat brush" after logging by spraying herbicides. The county says: "The hardwood and pasture lands have potential for conversion to conifer plantation... A road system would need to be developed..."

In June of 1999, Jeff Powers, the County Parks Director, told us the 1995 logging plan quoted above was being revised, though nothing else was in writing. They were still going to clearcut, but perhaps a lesser amount in the first logging operation, plus do some thinning ('overstory removal'). One proposal for the thinning area is to reduce the 64 trees per acre down to 25 trees per acre, and give priority to logging the "dead, diseased, and damaged trees first" (the most valuable wildlife trees!). The vision was to log within the park to fund the maintenance of the park.

After all, Mildred did write in her will: "No timber shall be cut or harvested except as may be necessary" for the wildlife preserve, and if timber is cut, "all revenue from timber cutting used by the County in capital improvements upon this park". We must question then, is it really "necessary" to build logging roads and clearcut to fund the park? Have we tried other ways?

A large aerial photo of Mildred's wildlife preserve takes up most of a wall in the Douglas County Parks department. Every area where trees grow is circled on the map, and assigned a TU (timber unit) number. The logging plan says: "seven units were identifiable as merchantable timber." Each unit has been cruised and a range of volumes have been assigned. Douglas County has figured that if they log the entire park (which there are no immediate plans to do, I hope), they could get as much as 3 mmbf (about 600 log truck loads). The 1999 plan was to clearcut TU 2, and/or to do overstory removal on TU 3. The picture below-right is Timber Unit 2 where the clearcut would have occurred over a popular equestrian trail.

Mildred's view of logging

In an article about Mildred Kanipe on file at the Parks Department, she is pictured standing on her caterpillar. The caption says that she "did some logging on the property... Friends say she only took logs that had fallen on their own." Once Mildred was encouraged to log live trees, but she refused, saying: "I wasn't going to cut those trees, those fir trees. I was always crazy about trees. Land and trees, grass and stock -- that's my interests. Nope, I said, I ain't gonna cut them trees."

Mildred thought she was doing "good forestry" by logging only dead and down trees, as was the belief of conservationists at that time. Now we know that there is more wildlife in dead trees than live trees, and that a lack of dead and down trees means a lack of wood peckers, wood pecker holes (called cavity nests), and many of the birds who live in cavity nests.

But road building and clearcutting in the park clearly is not addressing what is best for wildlife needs and what Mildred wanted. Since this park was never a "wilderness" (it was a cattle ranch), a completely 'hands-off' approach to managing it for wildlife needs does not seem warranted. So the question is: What is appropriate management in the park to meet wildlife needs and how do we finance it?


Money

Currently the park receives about $10,000 a year from leasing sheep grazing pasture, and about $6,000 a year from Mildred's estate. Some of the park's expenses include the up-keep of the picnic area, the salary of the caretaker and the caretaker's residence costs.

Perhaps an additional source of income could be from the federal government. The US Fish and Wildlife service has named the park one of the top three "secured" habitats for the endangered White Tail Deer, and point to the park as the reason for removing protections for the deer under the endangered species act. Could the US Fish and Wildlife financially support the "secured" status they bestowed on the Park? Another reason the Fish and Wildlife might be interested are the valuable wetlands in the park . The picture on the right is some of the wetlands adjoining (downhill) timber unit #3.

Perhaps an additional source of income could be from the state. Bachelor Creek is a fish bearing stream, but it's stream banks are eroding. Currently there is a lease to graze livestock. The Oregon Salmon Restoration Initiative is trying to find projects to fund to restore fish bearing creeks, and Calapooya Creek is a top priority for them. Bachelor Creek flows into Calapooya Creek. This could be potential funding of fish habitat restoration. I'm sure Mildred would love it.

An immediate financial need for the park is a bridge across Bachelor Creek so horse riders can more easily access the western portion of the park without damaging the creek banks. People who ride their horses in the park have offered to contribute materials and work. The county has not yet taken them up on their offer. Perhaps an additional source of income could be from the County. The County was given an award for 'cooperating' in the delisting of the White Tail Deer. They could now appropriate some funds for the park.

Let's make a plan

Before Douglas County can clearcut (or even remove just the biggest and best trees), they must have a long range plan for restoration and preservation, with scientific credible analysis of the benefits to wildlife. How much of a money deficient is there to properly maintain a wildlife preserve? What are the options for raising that money? What are the long-term needs of the wildlife in the park, and will the money raised by logging meet long-term needs and have a net benefit for wildlife? Jeff Powers told me that one vision for the park is to build small yurts scattered in remote locations, for hikers to spend an overnight in. While this is a wonderful idea, clearcutting in the park to pay for it is not. The proposed clearcut unit goes right over the top of a popular and well used equestrian trail (see picture above). Restoring the creek banks and other wildlife habitat, the presence of an abundance of wildlife, and a beautiful unspoiled setting will attract far more visitors than yurts will. The picture on the right (below) is timber unit #3 where 'overstory removal' could sell the largest trees.

Visit the park

Visit Mildred's wildlife preserve this summer. Bring a day-pack and hike to the many beautiful and remote corners in the park. Be prepared to walk through tall grass and wade over Bachelor Creek to get to the western half of the park (and most of the forested areas). Poison oak abounds in the forests, but for the most part it is a low ground cover, so long pants should be adequate protection. Stop by the Parks Department to pick up a map and bring your compass (and drinking water) and practice your back country skills. On your way out, stop by the day use area to visit Mildred's grave and thank her for her huge gift to us and to our lowland wildlife.

Tell Commissioners How You Feel

Please write a letter to the County Commissioners and ask them NOT to log the park. There are many other ways to fund our wildlife parks and they need to explore them.

8/19/99 update: We want to thank the public for expressing your opinions on logging the park. Now you can write to thank the commissioners for taking clearcutting off the table, and them encourage to write grants or find other funding sources for park maintenance. Logging dead trees does not benefit the wildlife in this "wildlife preserve".

August 19, 1999 UPDATE (Information summarized from the 8/18/99 News-Review)

Douglas County Commissioners have done the right thing. They have announced they will not clearcut log in Mildred's Park. Though clearcut logging is still the only written plan for the park, Commissioner Doug Robertson said at a meeting yesterday that "That will never happen as long as I'm around." In the meeting, County Parks Director Jeff Powers said they had considered logging the park to finance improvements. The news-review reported: "Kanipe's estate trustees disagreed with that assessment." One trustee of Mildred's will "told commissioners that under his interpretation, the need for money to make improvements would not justify even limited logging within the park." When asked if logging could finance repairs of Kanipe's house, the trustee said he wasn't sure. Therefore, some selective logging is still an option. Jeff Powers said they would still consider logging some dead and dying trees. Our response is that dead trees are extremely valuable wildlife trees, and in short supply on Mildred's wildlife preserve. Umpqua-Watersheds is pleased that clearcut logging is now off the table. But we encourage the County to seek funding from foundation grants or other sources to maintain the park. In the 15 years that the county has owned the park, they have never written one grant proposal. Now is the time to start.



October 10, 1999 UPDATE (Information summarized from the 10/10/99 News-Review)

In October, Don Dole, trustee of Mildredās park, told the Park Advisory Board he had strong evidence of Mildredās wishes, and the park should not be logged. Don Dole said "Kanipe was adamant about not wanting the ranch logged." The newspaper reported that "If the county ever went to court to settle the meaning of the "as necessary" clause... Dole would be able to present evidence on his conversations with Kanipe." The newspaper then reported one of the members of the Board saying: "Then we just wait until he passes away and we manage it the way we want?" In response to this report, Umpqua Watersheds, Inc. is praying for Don Dole's health, and has written a letter to the County Commissioners asking them to develop an updated management plan for the park. Currently, the only written plans for the park are logging plans which include clearcutting and pesticide use for the noxious weeds that the logging will spread. The county has not yet responded to our request.



September 14, 2000 UPDATE

After the failed attempts to log the Park, a lack of management of the park is now threatening it's recreation and wildlife values. On September 14, members of Umpqua Watersheds and Oregon Equestrian Trails (OET) met with County Commissioner Mike Winters and the County Parks Advisory Board to discuss issues with Mildred Kanipe Park. Members of the Park Board pointed to their inability to log the park as reasons for all the park's problems. OET members pointed out that Mildred made her income, and a good income, through grazing, not logging. At various times a member of the Parks Board would mention the possibility of giving the park back to the trustees to be sold. Umpqua Watersheds and OET members strongly opposed this idea. OET has put in thousands of hours in volunteer labor and their own money to improve the park and promote responsible and environmentally friendly horseback riding. They have been hampered by a lack of interest from the County Parks Department.

Umpqua Watershed members pointed out that Mildred Kanipe Park would benefit from a Management Plan defining the long-range goals for the park. As funding became available, these goals could be met. Douglas County Commissioners Mike Winters proposed that the Mildred Kanipe Steering Committee be reconvened and given the task of compiling a draft Management Plan. Commissioner Winters even offered County funds to help the Steering Committee with a facilitator and other needs. Thank you Mike Winters!

Umpqua Watersheds believes that Mildred Kanipe Park can be everything Mildred wanted it to be, and adapted to the changing needs of wildlife and people. Mildred wanted a refuge for "birds and fish and animals". She also wanted people to enjoy and learn from the park. Umpqua Watersheds believes Mildred's Park could be a first-rate example of how a working ranch is compatible with the needs of wildlife, while affording one of the finest recreational opportunities to the county. Umpqua Watersheds would like to thank the Oregon Equestrian Trails volunteers for their work protecting the land and caring for the park.

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francis