To the editor:
I am concerned about the proposed spraying on Starker Forest property by drones in Lincoln County, particularly the parcel east of Yachats called Willamson BC.
The spray area is only five miles from the town of Yachats, and not far from their water sources. It has been shown that pesticides can drift through the air up to 10 miles from the spray site. I am also concerned about how the drone can be properly controlled in rough terrain, since I believe this hasn’t been tried here before.
Many of us in the community are unhappy with any spraying at this point, no matter how it is done. Other forms of weed control were used in the past, and it seemed to work without poisoning the ground and killing the wildlife. This may be legal, but it’s a terrible idea, and we are watching closely. It’s time for timber companies to realize we are not okay with the current way things are being done, and we will fight it loudly and persistently.
At the very least, I hope that there will be government on-site supervision of this new method of aerial spray, as there was last fall on South Beaver Creek. Best case scenario, Starker Forests is interested in taking community input into account and finding a better way to do this.
- Laura Gill/Waldport
If this Starker Forest property is on Williamson Creek it would drain into the Yachats River and be only a ridge east of the North Fork of Big Creek which is the main source for SWLCWater PUD.
Apparently Beavercreek still has problems as they are still picketing. We would all like clean water without these chemicals leaching in to our drinking water, so if in Yachats it drains into the river, then what are these chemicals doing to the fish and other wildlife?? Is the spraying really necessary? Is there another way to do whatever it is that your wanting to accomplish without affecting the peoples health or the rivers or wildlife?