We as "The Council" Watching Forest Watch expect Forest Watch to respond to our concerns and questions. We expect that Forest Watch, which expects to consult with the Forest Service, will consult with us. We seek a sea change in the way Forest Watch operates. We look for a Win-Win conclusion for all interactions between Forest Watch and the Forest Service. A Win-Win, is a win for the Forest user and the Forest. Would not we all and the Forest benefit from Los Padres Forest Watch becoming Los Padres Forest Assistance, using their resources aligned with the Forest Service to assist not hinder Listed below are some of our concerns and questions for Forest Watch It appears that Forest Watch was against the Lake Piru land swap, and is now for it. It appears that Forest Watch was "bought" by the long shot possibility of additional lands designated as wilderness. We would like this explained publicly. We would like to see Forest Watch donor list made public with dollar amounts. We would like the exact relationship between the Executive Director and the Board of Directors explained. How is the board chosen? Who actually makes the decisions for Forest Watch, the board or the executive director? We want to see the Forest Watch budget made public. What portion of the 2010 $280,000 budget went to salaries? As of February 25 2012, the tax returns of Forest Watch were not available to the public as the law requires. The California State Attorney General's office is aware that Forest Watch's form 990 for 2010 is not yet filed as required by law. What other basic expenditures, such as outside consultants, legal, fund raising, etc. are budgeted? Our six nonprofits are all operated by volunteers. Our concerns are about a group of paid individuals of a nonprofit that are seemingly working at cross purposes to what we are trying to do. How does Forest Watch justify taking our money, the taxpayers money, to pay for their attorneys that they use to accomplish their objectives. We want to see more financial and decision making transparency from Forest Watch. Snce we work at the same issues in the Los Padres National Forest we expect Forest Watch to consult with us and accept our input before proceeding on actions which affect either the Los Padres National Forest, or the Forest Service. |
Proposed Wilderness Extension Conclusions and Expectations We feel that the Los Padres would be ill served by additional wilderness designation. Since most Trail maintenance on the Los Padres Forest is done by volunteers, denying us the ability to use power equipment dooms our trails to Oblivion. We must consider that the proposed wilderness extensions are proposed by the very same Congressman working to remove nearly 70 million acres of proposed wilderness areas from the inventory. There is a smell test failure here. |
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| Controlled Burns and Fuels Treatment. We expect Los Padres Forest Watch to stand back and allow the Fire Professionals to do their job. |