PLSO The Oregon Surveyor Sept/Oct 2020

6 The Oregon Surveyor  | Vol. 43, No. 5 From the Publications Committee Samantha Tanner, PLS Publications Committee PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE FROM THE FIELD NOTES O ur publication is now run by a team of people, and we’ve agreed that instead of the standard Let- ter from the Editor, we will have a Field Notes column rotating between the committee members. Please let us know if you would like to contribute. Recently, a friend and I sat down to write down a list of good things that have hap- pened because of, or despite, COVID-19. Here are some of our items: 1. The Black Lives Matter movement has had more progress this year than previously and a lot of that has to do with people having the time to show support by making phone calls, writing emails, and educating themselves because they found themselves out of work. No matter your political stance, what this comes down to is a national increase in civic engagement, which is a good thing. 2. There’s been a stronger sense of community because with so many people without a job or working from home, we actually get to see our neighbors and people seemmore friendly when you run into them on the street. We get to talk with them about what’s going on in the community and with their families (albeit from a pandemic-appropriate distance). 3. We have a better appreciation for relationships with friends and family outside the home because we have to be intentional about who we choose to have on our quaran-team. 4. The Great American Outdoors Act was passed with bipartisan support. According to an interview with Linda Bilmes for The Harvard Gazette, “The legislation has two main impacts. First, it establishes a fund that will provide up to $9 billion over the next five years to fix deferred maintenance with $6.5 billion earmarked specifically to the 419 national park units. This funding is needed badly. The number of visitors to the national parks system has increased by 50 percent since 1980, but the parks’ budget has remained effectively flat. This imbalance has led to a $12 billion backlog of maintenance to repair roads, trails, campgrounds, monuments, fire safety, utilities, and visitor infrastructure—which will finally be addressed. Second, it guarantees $900 million per year in perpetuity for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a flagship conservation program paid for by royalty payments from offshore oil and gas drilling in federal waters. The LWCF is especially important because it helps fund the four main federal land programs (National Parks, National Forests, Fish and Wildlife, and Bureau of Land Management).” 5. My husband ran for District Attorney in Wasco County and campaigning took a completely different turn from what I assume the standard procedure is. I was mentally geared up to be a campaign wife (Can someone please get me a handler? I don’t know how to be in the public eye!), but once the shutdown hit, all events were cancelled . . . hooray for me! What a blessing for an introvert! 6. During the stay-at-home orders, and still to a certain extent, there is less car, air, and boat (looking at you, cruises) traffic worldwide. It had a noticeable impact on the quality of the environment. The air and water quality cleaned up, animals were seen in places they’d been forced out of, and terrestrial and aquatic vegetation and habitats have made a positive turnaround. We all saved money with less driving and eating out since so much was closed anyway. The Great American Outdoors Act was passed with bipartisan support.