Allenspark Wind Article for March 2026
Roger Sherman

So a few years ago, my wife, Mary, and I visited Lassen National Park in Northern California.  It is one of the lesser known Parks bordering on the Great Basin.  It features many geothermal features and is sort of a mini-Yellowstone.  Signage told of the story of the first settler in the area who started to exploit the sulfur springs in the late 1800s.  I remember being struck by this as it seemed a perfect example of part of the American heritage to first exploit resources.  California, Colorado and Alaskan Gold Rushes are also examples. 

It really was only in the latter part of the 19th century that a new conservation sensibility took hold and with Teddy Roosevelt’s help we began the National Park System and realized that perhaps our public lands were worth more than their market value. But we are, as a country, still torn between exploitation and conservation.  And right now it seems that the exploiters are in charge.

But the move to privatize and/or sell off public lands is not an issue that is getting the attention and press it needs.  There are so many things that clamor for attention.  I don’t want to be a broken record but gutting the Park Service, the Forest Service and BLM staff puts “America’s Best Idea” at risk.  America still attracts visitors from all over the world to our untrammeled landscapes which are so precious to us.

The process of understaffing public lands creates the argument that the government is not up to the job and we must let private industry do it or worse, sell off lands as we as a country can’t afford them.  John Muir wrote during the Hetch-Hetchy fight a century ago,

            “Every national park is besieged by thieves and robbers and beggars with all sorts of plans and pleas for possession of some coveted treasure. Nothing dollarable is safe, however guarded.”

And they are still at it.  The potential new head of the Park Service, Scott Socha’s company, Delaware North, trademarked names of places in Yosemite National Park  that  then had to be purchased from them.  It seems to me that the person to run the Park Service should not be the concessionaire whose mission is profit but someone whose mission is that on conserving scenery, wildlife, history and nature for future generations.  (For more information please search for Will Pattiz, More Than Just Parks)

And there are other fronts.  Bill Ellis forwarded news that the Forest Service has issued new rules speeding up Oil and Gas leasing on federal land citing a “National Energy Emergency”! We already lease oil and gas as well as grazing permits at well below market value.

As I said last month, I don’t want to rant but if we lose our public lands they are likely gone forever.  Not a great legacy.