The proposed action would cover approximately 4,000 acres including clear-cuts
(some greater than 40 acres) and thinning in ponderosa and Douglas fir stands
where "the number of trees per acre is too high to sustain the forest at a
healthy level..." according to a letter from Forest Service District Ranger
Karen Shimamoto to planning participants.
The plan also calls for reducing fire fuels by burning or mechanical means, and
a north-south fuel break would be created to aid fire containment.
The goal is to reduce "dangerously high fuel loading as quickly as possible,"
according to Shimamoto's letter.
Steve Huddleston of the Central Oregon Forest Issues Committee feels the plan
is inconsistent with its stated goals and will result in great environmental
harm.
Referring the Forest Service's own environmental assessment for the project,
Huddleston says that if the goal is to reduce fire danger, the Forest Service
should work at removing slash piles and down material left over from previous
logging operations.
Instead, he alleges, the Forest Service's own assessment indicates the
clear-cut of 1,700 acres in the sale area could lead to the death of three
pairs of spotted owls, potentially destroy the bull trout population in Jack
Creek and risk landslides and pollution of creeks in the drainage.
"The Forest Service says they are pursuing this because of a fear of
catastrophic fire. I agree if you cut down most of the trees you reduce the
chance of fire, but the way they are going about it is ecologically unsound,"
Huddleston said.
The Forest Service reviewed other alternatives that would involve much of the
same treatment but on a smaller scale, and taking no action, allowing the
forest to change with natural disturbances such as insect and disease
outbreaks, wildfire or wind.
Huddleston said if the Forest Service needs to log to improve stand health, the
agency should concentrate on areas with high mortality.
Instead, he alleges, they plan to treat the 4,000-acre area "with a large area
logging scheme, where they can take live trees up to 21 inches in diameter.
This is not necessary."
Huddleston said that the Forest Service's own environmental assessment conceded
that the project could impact the bull trout population, which he said was
recognized as the healthiest in the state.
Ron Archuleta, biologist with the Sisters Ranger District, said that while the
assessment acknowledged potential impact, the Forest Service would be meeting
next week with the federal Fish and Wildlife Service to discuss the project
"and make sure there would be no adverse impact on bull trout."
That is part of the reason for the 30-day comment period, Archuleta said, and
elements of the project can be redesigned.
Archuleta said the project had been planned with "riparian reserves," buffers
between logging activity and riparian habitat, and that "units will not
have a significant impact on the watershed."
As to the possible impact on spotted owls, Archuleta agreed that there could be
such an impact, but that this was allowed under the Northwest Forest Plan
in "matrix" areas, as this project area has been designated.
Despite plans to leave the required minimum of 100 core acres around each
spotted owl nesting site, "These owls may be what is called an `incidental
take,' " Archuleta said.
In her letter to planning groups, District Ranger Karen Shimamoto said she
preferred the more aggressive alternative "because the additional effects to
the project area resources are outweighed by the reduced risk associated
with this alternative, especially the risk of losing large areas to stand
replacement fires and insect and disease outbreaks. As a whole, I favor
Alternative 3 because it provides a stronger basis from which to begin the
recovery of this area."
Huddleston says the Forest Service plans to remove about 31 million board feet
from the sale area, and that the first 17 million board feet are exempt from
appeal by environmentalists because they come under the 1995 Recision Act.
Also known as the "salvage rider," and labeled "Logging Without Laws" by
environmental groups, this federal legislation prevents appeal.
For more information contact Ron Archuleta of the Sisters Ranger District at
549-2111.
