Grandstanding putting American's public lands at risk

By Bryan Bird
Guest columnist
Posted: 05/30/2014 08:43:38 PM MDT

Every American should be aghast at the latest news that Otero County officials plan to forcibly remove fences protecting sensitive streamside habitats on the Lincoln National Forest.

After all, the Lincoln National Forest belongs to every American, and as such the U.S. Forest Service has sought to safeguard clean water, healthy forests, and vibrant wildlife habitat to ensure this vital landscape isn't lost forever.

Sadly, Otero County officials disagree that public lands are important to every American. Rather than work with the Forest Service, which has sought to balance the needs of livestock with the need to protect imperiled wildlife, they're now apparently demanding that any use other than ranching be completely eliminated.

Even worse, they're now ordering their law enforcement officials to illegally tear down fences — purchased with taxpayer dollars, no less — destroy locks on gates, and declare the Lincoln National Forest to be the property of Otero County ranchers ...