12 September 2013
Negotiations Fail… Herbicide Application Begins Today
Heceta Water District President Bob Hursh has had several conversations in recent days with Doug Charnock, one owner of a 62-acre parcel that was logged earlier this summer. Most of the property drains into Clear Lake, the district’s sole water source. It was logged earlier this year and is being prepared for replanting in accordance with the Oregon Forest Practices Act. Hursh said the district had offered to pay any additional expenses incurred if Charnock would hold off on spraying for one year.
Bob Hursh – “They have elected to not pick up this option, and they’re going to go ahead. But he also, as I mentioned before, they’re not going to use those nasty chemicals on the 22 acres.”
Those “nasty chemicals” are a combination of at least three strong herbicides normally used to kill brush and weeds and give replanted seedlings a chance to grow. While disappointed that the spraying would go on as scheduled, he was pleased that only the chemical Roundup would be used on the entire parcel. He had some praise for Charnock, who was willing to engage in conversation and hear any proposals that were brought forward.
Hursh says the negotiations about herbicide use within the Clear Lake Watershed Protection Zone have shined light on just how little protection the zone provides.
The line, drawn on a map and surrounding Ackerly, Collard, Clear and Munsel Lakes, is intended to highlight areas where restrictions on things like septic systems, industrial uses and fertilizer applications are monitored and subject to restrictions.
Manual application of the herbicide Roundup begins today on 40 acres above Clear Lake. The inability of the district to delay or stop the spraying is disappointing to Hursh.
Bob Hursh – “My future goal is to look into the protection zone and hopefully strengthen it so this can’t happen again.”
According to industry information the weed killer does not move more than six inches deep in the soil where it’s applied and it is quickly broken down into carbon dioxide by microbes. If it does get into surface water, it will remain there from anywhere between a few days to more than 90.
Return of the Rhododendron Drive In… if only temporary
Long ago, but not so very long ago drive in movies were a common sight in communities all over America. They covered a lot of land, and as cities and towns grew, that land became more valuable for other uses.
That was true in Florence as well… the old Rhododendron Drive-In was on the northern edge of town, well off the highway and surrounded by shore pines and scrub brush and it eventually became Miller Park.
The Rhododendron Drive In will make another return this weekend, in cooperation with Portland’s American Cinema Equipment and Florence’s Boys and Girls Club, during Coast Radio’s Night at the Movies promotion. The park will be transformed into a drive in movie with the feature being the Disney Pixar movie Cars… The 15th street gate opens at five pm Saturday with the feature beginning at eight.
Search Warrant Served; No Information Released
Lane County’s “Rapid Intervention Team”, made up of members from various different police forces in the region served a search warrant at an RV Park east of Florence yesterday morning. One person was reportedly arrested, but the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, which was in charge of the operation, has not responded to requests for information. Florence police officers assisted in the action that began shortly after ten yesterday morning at the Siuslaw Marina RV Park in Cushman.
In an email Thursday Morning, Lane County Sheriff’s Sergeant Steve French confirmed the service of a search warrant in the Florence Area related to a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Heroin, but declined to provide any other information citing an ongoing investigation.
Pursuit Ends in Four Flats
Florence officers were busy earlier this week when a Westlake man led them on a 20 mile pursuit that ended with four flat tires to the man’s vehicle. Lieutenant John Pitcher said a local store refused to sell alcohol to 55-year old Jerry Carl Evans Wednesday evening because they said he appeared to be intoxicated. As he was driving away, an officer tried to make a traffic stop, but the driver refused to stop. He led officers south on Highway 101 at speeds between 40 and 65 miles an hour. The chase ended just north of Gardiner when Douglas County deputies deployed spike strips on the highway. Pitcher said Evans drove over them, flattening all four tires and came to a stop. Evans is facing several charges including driving while intoxicated, and suspended; attempted elude and numerous traffic violations.
