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[pct-l] Logging on PCT
From the one of the most conservative "news"papers of the western
hemisphere, The Oregonian:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/99/04/st040411.html
Copyright 1999
Oregon Live ®
Activists protest early start to logging
Environmentalists are upset that a contractor has begun cutting timber in
the Mount Hood National Forest despite a pending lawsuit
Sunday April 4, 1999
------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Jackie Scott of The Oregonian staff
ZIGZAG -- Environmentalists who filed suit last summer trying to block
logging near the Pacific Crest Trail in the Mount Hood National Forest are
angry that a logging company already has begun to cut timber in deep snow.
Grimm Logging Co. of Willamina is cutting timber on 118 acres southeast of
Trillium Lake. The winter logging operation is the first phase of the
Abbott-Salmon timber sale in the Zigzag Ranger District.
Regna Merritt, water protection advocate with the Oregon Natural Resources
Council, said the U.S. Forest Service should not allow logging so early in
the year, because the work might disrupt birds and animals trying to breed
or raise young.
However, industry experts say logging on top of snow may be less damaging
to the environment than logging over bare ground. The area, dubbed the
Roundup timber sale, is covered by about eight feet of snow.
Merritt said the Oregon Natural Resources Council and several other
environmental groups filed suit in U.S. District Court in Seattle to stop
the Abbott-Salmon sales, claiming the Forest Service did not survey the
area for rare plants and animals.
"We did not want them to do any logging until they had done a survey, which
is required by the Northwest Forest Plan," Merritt said. She said the
Forest Service should have waited until June, when the court is expected to
rule on the lawsuit.
The Forest Alliance of California, Portland Audubon Society, Umpqua
Watersheds Inc. and the Gifford Pinchot Task Force were among organizations
that joined the suit.
Gary Larsen, acting forest supervisor, said he could not discuss specifics
of the Roundup timber sale because of the litigation. However, two years
ago, Forest Service officials said they had scouted the Abbott-Salmon area
carefully and that selective cutting would improve the health of the forest
and habitat for wildlife.
The plan to cut trees on 2,000 acres in the Zigzag district has drawn fire
from environmental groups since 1997, when the Forest Service conducted an
environmental assessment and held public meetings and an open house.
Opponents say the plan violates federal acts designed to preserve scenic
values and pristine watersheds in the Zigzag district.
Mike Redmond, environmental coordinator for the Mount Hood National Forest,
said the agency received no bids for the Roundup timber when the sale was
advertised last fall.
In early January, Grimm Logging offered to harvest the timber for $550,696,
which was the Forest Service's minimum bid. Logging began in January.
Redmond said workers plowed Forest Service roads to the logging site, and
Grimm has logged over the snow.
"It's possible this was due to economics," Redmond said of the winter
logging operation. "The market may have been good for a certain type of
timber."
He said snow-covered ground offers two advantages. Snow cushions the ground
when trees are felled, and logging equipment working on snow causes less
damage.
Redmond would not speculate on the rest of the timber sales proposed for
the Abbott-Salmon area south of Mount Hood.
"The timber sales advertised previously received no bids," he said. "We
have not decided on whether or not those sales will be re-offered."
In 1997, opponents argued that improving the looks of nine old clear-cuts
was not a good enough reason to cut old-growth timber south and southeast
of Trillium Lake.
Forest officials hoped to feather the edges of clear-cuts that appeared
patchy to tourists looking down from Timberline Lodge. Opponents said
cutting timber close to the Pacific Crest Trail would offend hikers and
make for a less pristine wilderness experience.
Forest officials said loggers would preserve a corridor of uncut forest on
both sides of the Pacific Crest Trail. Trees beyond the corridor would be
thinned selectively, leaving no stumps or slash piles in view of hikers.
The Abbott-Salmon timber area, including the Roundup sale, could yield 13
million board feet of lumber. Trees include Douglas fir, silver fir and
hemlock.
Redmond said each timber sale is governed by a set of regulations but that
winter logging is not unusual. The Forest Service can grant a waiver
allowing loggers to cut trees in winter or early spring.
Last April, Roberta Moltzen, then supervisor of the 1.1 million-acre Mount
Hood National Forest, said she would shift timber sales to the pine forests
east of the Cascades. However, her decision did not affect the
Abbott-Salmon sales, which had already been through an environmental
assessment.
Moltzen said one reason for moving out of the Zigzag district was the lack
of public support for logging forests on the west side of the Cascades. The
Zigzag district also contains watersheds of high-profile streams, including
the Sandy, Salmon and Zigzag rivers.
ZIGZAG -- Environmentalists who filed suit last summer trying to block
logging near the Pacific Crest Trail in the Mount Hood National Forest are
angry that a logging company already has begun to cut timber in deep snow.
Grimm Logging Co. of Willamina is cutting timber on 118 acres southeast of
Trillium Lake. The winter logging operation is the first phase of the
Abbott-Salmon timber sale in the Zigzag Ranger District.
Regna Merritt, water protection advocate with the Oregon Natural Resources
Council, said the U.S. Forest Service should not allow logging so early in
the year, because the work might disrupt birds and animals trying to breed
or raise young.
However, industry experts say logging on top of snow may be less damaging
to the environment than logging over bare ground. The area, dubbed the
Roundup timber sale, is covered by about eight feet of snow.
Merritt said the Oregon Natural Resources Council and several other
environmental groups filed suit in U.S. District Court in Seattle to stop
the Abbott-Salmon sales, claiming the Forest Service did not survey the
area for rare plants and animals.
"We did not want them to do any logging until they had done a survey, which
is required by the Northwest Forest Plan," Merritt said. She said the
Forest Service should have waited until June, when the court is expected to
rule on the lawsuit.
The Forest Alliance of California, Portland Audubon Society, Umpqua
Watersheds Inc. and the Gifford Pinchot Task Force were among organizations
that joined the suit.
Gary Larsen, acting forest supervisor, said he could not discuss specifics
of the Roundup timber sale because of the litigation. However, two years
ago, Forest Service officials said they had scouted the Abbott-Salmon area
carefully and that selective cutting would improve the health of the forest
and habitat for wildlife.
The plan to cut trees on 2,000 acres in the Zigzag district has drawn fire
from environmental groups since 1997, when the Forest Service conducted an
environmental assessment and held public meetings and an open house.
Opponents say the plan violates federal acts designed to preserve scenic
values and pristine watersheds in the Zigzag district.
Mike Redmond, environmental coordinator for the Mount Hood National Forest,
said the agency received no bids for the Roundup timber when the sale was
advertised last fall.
In early January, Grimm Logging offered to harvest the timber for $550,696,
which was the Forest Service's minimum bid. Logging began in January.
Redmond said workers plowed Forest Service roads to the logging site, and
Grimm has logged over the snow.
"It's possible this was due to economics," Redmond said of the winter
logging operation. "The market may have been good for a certain type of
timber."
He said snow-covered ground offers two advantages. Snow cushions the ground
when trees are felled, and logging equipment working on snow causes less
damage.
Redmond would not speculate on the rest of the timber sales proposed for
the Abbott-Salmon area south of Mount Hood.
"The timber sales advertised previously received no bids," he said. "We
have not decided on whether or not those sales will be re-offered."
In 1997, opponents argued that improving the looks of nine old clear-cuts
was not a good enough reason to cut old-growth timber south and southeast
of Trillium Lake.
Forest officials hoped to feather the edges of clear-cuts that appeared
patchy to tourists looking down from Timberline Lodge. Opponents said
cutting timber close to the Pacific Crest Trail would offend hikers and
make for a less pristine wilderness experience.
Forest officials said loggers would preserve a corridor of uncut forest on
both sides of the Pacific Crest Trail. Trees beyond the corridor would be
thinned selectively, leaving no stumps or slash piles in view of hikers.
The Abbott-Salmon timber area, including the Roundup sale, could yield 13
million board feet of lumber. Trees include Douglas fir, silver fir and
hemlock.
Redmond said each timber sale is governed by a set of regulations but that
winter logging is not unusual. The Forest Service can grant a waiver
allowing loggers to cut trees in winter or early spring.
Last April, Roberta Moltzen, then supervisor of the 1.1 million-acre Mount
Hood National Forest, said she would shift timber sales to the pine forests
east of the Cascades. However, her decision did not affect the
Abbott-Salmon sales, which had already been through an environmental
assessment.
Moltzen said one reason for moving out of the Zigzag district was the lack
of public support for logging forests on the west side of the Cascades. The
Zigzag district also contains watersheds of high-profile streams, including
the Sandy, Salmon and Zigzag rivers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can reach Jackie Scott at 294-5943 or by e-mail at
jackiescott@news.oregonian.com
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