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Three environmental groups have filed an appeal in protest of a logging project designed to improve pine health near Lemolo Lake.
Roseburg-based Umpqua Watersheds, Oregon Natural Resources Council and Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center charged the U.S. Forest Service with violating federal environmental guidelines in its project plans. The groups filed the appeal Friday.
In March, Umpqua National Forest Supervisor Jim Caplan approved the project, which would log 16 million board feet within the Diamond Lake Ranger District.
The project also calls for restoration including repairing roads, pruning pines and loosening soil that had been compacted in old temporary roads and landings.
The conservation groups support those aspects of the project.
"We're grateful that the Forest Service made a much better project out of this than what they had originally proposed," said Francis Eatherington, conservation director for Umpqua Watersheds. But, she added, "We still have concerns," including that the agency plans to cut too many old trees and build too many roads.
The agency's plans call for leaving all trees larger than 30 inches in diameter, but the conservation group says in slow-growing, high elevation forests, many old growth trees are smaller than that. In addition, conservationists object to building nearly three miles of new roads, especially the almost two miles planned in areas that are currently roadless.
The appeal says some species, such as wolverines, depend on large, contiguous blocks of land. Though wolverines have not been found in the area, it could provide habitat in the future.
The appeal says the groups will approve of plans that use helicopter logging to avoid building new roads and afford stronger protections to trees 120 years and older.
A second appeal was filed Friday by Roseburg resident Richard Sommer, who has been following the project closely.
The former owner of Hillcrest Vineyard, he said he'd like the agency to carefully research the area, which is at a high elevation. He is concerned the agency could cut too many trees and put the soil at risk to frost.
"It's a unique ecosystem that needs special care," he said.
John Ouimet, Diamond Lake district ranger, stood by the work of the planning team. "I think it's a fine project and we've modified and added alternatives based on public input," he said. "We've gone the extra mile on this and far and away the public agrees with our conclusions."
He said because the project occurs in "matrix" lands that the 1994 Northwest Forest plan designates for logging, building roads and cutting trees smaller than 30 inches is appropriate. The Northwest Forest Plan doesn't have a diameter limit for what trees can be cut.
"(Appellants') definition of old growth in this appeal is certainly a far cry from what we consider old growth according to the Northwest Forest Plan," he said.
Paul Beck, a forester with Herbert Lumber Co. who has been following the project since it began in 2001, was frustrated to hear environmental groups had appealed the project.
"That project has been modified and modified to meet their every whim," he said. He pointed out the agency decided not to cut large trees after receiving comments from conservation groups.
Forest Service officials will arrange to sit down with appellants to discuss their concerns within the next 15 days.
A team from the regional office will also review project plans and make a recommendation to Caplan, who will decide whether to reject the appeal or make changes. After, if appellants aren't satisfied, they can take their case to court.
"Ideally we'd reach some sort of agreement," Ouimet said.
* You can reach reporter Diane Huber at 957-4218 or by e-mail at dhuber@newsreview.info.
Roseburg-based Umpqua Watersheds, Oregon Natural Resources Council and Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center charged the U.S. Forest Service with violating federal environmental guidelines in its project plans. The groups filed the appeal Friday.
In March, Umpqua National Forest Supervisor Jim Caplan approved the project, which would log 16 million board feet within the Diamond Lake Ranger District.
The project also calls for restoration including repairing roads, pruning pines and loosening soil that had been compacted in old temporary roads and landings.
The conservation groups support those aspects of the project.
"We're grateful that the Forest Service made a much better project out of this than what they had originally proposed," said Francis Eatherington, conservation director for Umpqua Watersheds. But, she added, "We still have concerns," including that the agency plans to cut too many old trees and build too many roads.
The agency's plans call for leaving all trees larger than 30 inches in diameter, but the conservation group says in slow-growing, high elevation forests, many old growth trees are smaller than that. In addition, conservationists object to building nearly three miles of new roads, especially the almost two miles planned in areas that are currently roadless.
The appeal says some species, such as wolverines, depend on large, contiguous blocks of land. Though wolverines have not been found in the area, it could provide habitat in the future.
The appeal says the groups will approve of plans that use helicopter logging to avoid building new roads and afford stronger protections to trees 120 years and older.
A second appeal was filed Friday by Roseburg resident Richard Sommer, who has been following the project closely.
The former owner of Hillcrest Vineyard, he said he'd like the agency to carefully research the area, which is at a high elevation. He is concerned the agency could cut too many trees and put the soil at risk to frost.
"It's a unique ecosystem that needs special care," he said.
John Ouimet, Diamond Lake district ranger, stood by the work of the planning team. "I think it's a fine project and we've modified and added alternatives based on public input," he said. "We've gone the extra mile on this and far and away the public agrees with our conclusions."
He said because the project occurs in "matrix" lands that the 1994 Northwest Forest plan designates for logging, building roads and cutting trees smaller than 30 inches is appropriate. The Northwest Forest Plan doesn't have a diameter limit for what trees can be cut.
"(Appellants') definition of old growth in this appeal is certainly a far cry from what we consider old growth according to the Northwest Forest Plan," he said.
Paul Beck, a forester with Herbert Lumber Co. who has been following the project since it began in 2001, was frustrated to hear environmental groups had appealed the project.
"That project has been modified and modified to meet their every whim," he said. He pointed out the agency decided not to cut large trees after receiving comments from conservation groups.
Forest Service officials will arrange to sit down with appellants to discuss their concerns within the next 15 days.
A team from the regional office will also review project plans and make a recommendation to Caplan, who will decide whether to reject the appeal or make changes. After, if appellants aren't satisfied, they can take their case to court.
"Ideally we'd reach some sort of agreement," Ouimet said.
* You can reach reporter Diane Huber at 957-4218 or by e-mail at dhuber@newsreview.info.
