Forest Issues Group

       2007 Newsletter

 

                                    

           

WE WON! The Cottonwood decision was withdrawn! See below for more comments.

Besides the victory, the Forest Issues Group (FIG) main efforts in 2007 were to comment extensively on proposed Forest Service projects meant to implement the 2004 Supplemental Amendment to the original Sierra Framework adopted in 2001.     

 

Cottonwood

 

FIG and other Conservation groups celebrated a victory in their nine year battle to restrain the Tahoe National Forest from spraying herbicides on native vegetation in public lands. In a letter dated May 4th, Sierraville District Supervisor Sam Wilbanks issued a statement declaring that he has withdrawn his Record of Decision made in February 2005 on the Cottonwood Fire Vegetation Management Project EIS. The Record of Decision authorized the application of herbicides to thirteen thousand acres of native vegetation that reestablished after the “Cottonwood Fire” near Loyalton, which burned over 46,000 acres in 1994.

 

The Court later in the year ruled that the Forest Service was obligated to pay FIG attorney fees and certain court costs of the case.

 

With the Record of Decision now withdrawn, it remains to be seen if the Forest Service will pursue the issuance of a new decision with the required additional public and environmental review.  The conservation coalition does not intend to drop their lawsuit until gaining assurances that their full suite of complaints with respect to the Cottonwood area is adequately addressed by the Forest Service.

 

We will be keeping a watchful eye on Cottonwood to make sure that the Forest Service does not interfere with the ecosystem continuing to restore itself naturally without herbicide spraying.

 

Montez

 

This project in Sierra County is part of those projects meant to implement the Quincy Library Group pilot program to provide an extensive fuel break system. Unfortunately not only is this project far from any Wildland Urban Interface, it will take place within the Castle Peak Proposed Wilderness, and along the Perazzo Canyon Creek (eligible for Wild and Scenic) and adjacent to Willow Flycatcher habitat. It includes a Spotted Owl Home Range Core Area and Goshawk habitat. We will be providing comments on this egregious project, which completely ignores cumulative impacts from this and nearby SPI THP projects and the Phoenix project.   

 

Phoenix

 

The Final EIS for the Phoenix project has been issued. We will work with Sierra Forest Legacy to review the decision and consider the next steps. FIG provided extensive comments on the Phoenix FEIS, focusing on the questionable use of the Reineke Stand Density Index (SDI) as a means of support for the taking of larger diameter (> 20” dbh) trees as proposed in the FEIS for Phoenix. Other comments focused on the illegal use of the 2004 Supplemental Framework decision.

 

OHV Route Designation Process

 

The Forest Service has issued a Temporary Forest Order that prohibits cross-country motorized vehicle travel in the Tahoe National Forest (TNF) and requires all motorized vehicles to stay on existing roads, motorized trails, routes or areas. For a one-year period or until TNF finishes the Environmental Impact Statement, it is designed to stop the creation of new routes and to protect the resources of the National Forest. FIG made extensive comments on the scoping document, and will be deeply involved in preparing comments on the EIS when it is released in 2008. Concerns include lack of review of previously designated system route damage, and any new trails that may be approved. 

 

Other projects – Public and Private Sector

 

FIG submitted comments to the Forest Service on various projects including Red Ant and Bassetts Fire Salvage. For the Brumby, Dinkum and Kangaroo Aspen projects, we commented that the project design of group selection treatment stands would largely fail to result in the desired outcome, as expressed in the Purpose and Need of the Scoping Letter. On all of these projects we are concerned with the use of the Reineke Stand Density Index (SDI) as a means of support for the taking of larger diameter (> 20" dbh) trees (as proposed in the DEIS for Phoenix). Our research into the design and use of the Reineke SDI has convinced us that its use in forestry management is questionable, especially when applied to analysis of un-even aged stands as proposed in the Phoenix project

 

We provided critical comments on various Timber Harvest Plans submitted by Sierra Pacific Industries including the Buck THP along the Missouri Bar trail down to the South Yuba River, and continued to map the cumulative impacts from corporate forestry. 

 

Education/Outreach

 

·        FIG Outreach. In 2007, FIG members educated the public on forest issues through radio and TV shows, letters to the editor, and regular meetings. We met with other organizations on OHV routes and Aspen restoration.

·        Website. We continue to maintain the FIG website at www.forestissuesgroup.org. Please visit it for the latest information on FIG activities.

 

Please become active with the Forest Issues Group to help protect the Tahoe National Forest and its associated checkerboard lands. Our meetings are the fourth Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. at SYRCL's office at 216 Main St in Nevada City.

 

Call 530-477-7502 or email rivenes@sbcglobal.net for more information.