Klamath-Siskiyou eNews
Liisa, 27.08.2008 20:48
Klamath-Siskiyou eNews, Issue 127
August 27, 2008
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In this Issue:
KS Wild Improves Orleans Project, Old-Growth Dropped
Salvage Spar in Medford Mail Tribune
Oregon Fair Trade Campaign Releases Report on Forest Job Loss
Update: Get Ready for a Whopper
Help Document Grazing Impacts
Upcoming Hikes: Wild Rogue, Whopper and Oregon Caves/Mt. Elijah
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KS Wild Improves Orleans Project, Old-Growth Dropped
KS Wild has closely analyzed the Orleans Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) timber sale on the Six Rivers National Forest near the community of Orleans. While KS Wild supports the small-diameter thinning, hand-work and prescribed fire elements of the project, we objected to the logging of a number of large, old-growth trees. In early August, KS Wild and partners spent a day in the field looking at the Orleans project with the Forest Service and timber representatives with the purpose of resolving conflicts. The Forest Service agreed to drop the worst logging unit that provides the best habitat for old-growth dependent species. In exchange, KS Wild agreed to drop our objection to the project. As a result of this process, more than 2,600 acres of forest in the middle Klamath watershed will receive some ecologically-based thinning and prescribed fire while maintaining old-growth. That makes KS Wild, and the Klamath River salmon, happy!
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Salvage Spar in Medford Mail Tribune
If you are a consistent reader of the Medford Mail Tribune, you may have read a recent series of editorials related to KS Wild's work. The Medford Mail Tribune printed an editorial on August 15 entitled, "Here we go again" regarding a salvage logging proposal northeast of Medford on BLM land.
Two days later the paper printed a opinion editorial response entitled, "Hard questions about salvage logging," from George Sexton, KS Wild's Conservation Direction.
On August 24, the paper printed another opinion-editorial entitled, "Anti-salvage arguments irrelevant," from Ed Kupillas, a timber industry representative.
Of the proposed 35 million board foot timber sale, KS Wild estimates that up to 20 million board feet of timber could be responsibly salvaged from this blowdown area without sacrificing watershed and fisheries values. That is a lot of wood, yet Mr. Kupillas claims KS Wild is an "unbending extremist" group.
Four creeks in the proposed salvage area are listed under the Clean Water Act as violating sediment standards, which is primarily the result of logging and road construction. Yet the salvage proposal currently calls for the construction of 7.8 miles of new logging roads, which would be detrimental to water and fish. Contrary to what Mr. Kupillas states, we believe it is essential to examine the past in order to make informed decisions today and for the future. We also believe that old-growth and salmon are worthy of steadfast protection.
Take Action: This editorial thread offers the community an important opportunity to discuss issues with regard to responsible logging. If you would like to add to the public discussion, we encourage you to submit a Letter to the Editor (200 words or less) to 
letters@mailtribune.com.
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Oregon Fair Trade Campaign Releases Report on Forest Job Loss
The Oregon Fair Trade Campaign released a report on August 12 documenting the negative effects of unmitigated free trade on forest products jobs in Oregon. The report, based on new statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, shows that trade agreements since 1994 have cost Oregon over 10,000 forest products jobs, with southern Oregon being hit the hardest.
The lion's share of forest products jobs eliminated in Oregon since NAFTA and the WTO were enacted have been lost as a result of increased imports. Under today's trade policies, local businesses are forced to compete against corporations in places like China that pay their workers pennies on the dollar and face almost no environmental enforcement. The way to save jobs isn't to reduce our standards to their abysmal levels in a race to the bottom; it's to require that U.S. imports meet the standards we choose to set.
Free trade deals supported by politicians like Gordon Smith and Greg Walden undercut efforts at sustainability by flooding American markets with artificially cheap, sweatshop-made, environmentally destructive imports. In order to strengthen our environment and economy, KS Wild joins our union brothers and sisters in calling for an entirely new international trade model.
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Update: Get Ready for a Whopper
Most of you are aware of the gigantic trainwreck known as the Western Oregon Plan Revisions, or WOPR (pronounced "whopper"). The result of a 2003 settlement agreement between the Bush administration and the timber industry, WOPR takes us several steps backward and pushes us further away from sustainable management. WOPR proposes to remove 2.5 million acres of public forest managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from the scientific framework of the Northwest Forest Plan. The BLM released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in September 2007 that outlined three alternatives which would all reduce protections for old-growth forests and salmon-bearing streams. The agency's preferred alternative would increase old-growth logging by 700 percent.
The BLM received nearly 30,000 public comments which overwhelmingly opposed the increase in old-growth logging. Not only was the vast majority of the public against this ill-conceived plan, but the BLM's own scientists publicly came out against it, as well as hunters and anglers, retired foresters, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries.
We anticipate the release of the BLM's Final EIS in mid-October. Part of the settlement agreement was that this process would be finished by the end of 2008, conveniently before the Bush administration leaves office. While the public will not have an opportunity to submit comments on the final plan, Oregon Governor Kulongoski will have a "consistency review" period and submit final recommendations to the BLM. Earlier this year the Governor convened a task force to make recommendations on this proposal and the results were less than spectacular for those that value old-growth and salmon.
Take Action: Please take a moment and submit a comment to the Governor's website reminding him to fulfill his campaign promise of protecting public old-growth and helping to recover salmon in Oregon by rejecting the BLM's WOPR.
Stay tuned for updates on WOPR, and see below for a September 20th hike to public lands in the Applegate affected by the WOPR.
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Help Document Grazing Impacts
KS Wild is working to minimize or eliminate the impacts of grazing on sensitive public lands in the Klamath-Siskiyou region. Although the impacts associated with livestock production vary from region to region, and even from ranch to ranch, there is overwhelming evidence that livestock production has impoverished the West's biological capital.
Grazing public lands is inappropriate for numerous reasons. It interferes with recreation, harms important plant and animal habitats and spoils water quality. It also costs taxpayers thousands of dollars every year. Many grazing allotments in the Klamath-Siskiyou are especially egregious due to their impacts on rare botanical resources found in the region.
KS Wild could use your help in photo-documenting grazing impacts in several allotments, including:
1. Shackleford grazing allotment on the eastside of the Marble Mountain Wilderness.
2. Dry Lake grazing allotment (near Alex Hole) on the Siskiyou Crest.
3. Big Greyback grazing allotment in the Williams/Illinois Valley divide in southwest Oregon.
Take Action: If you hike in these areas, or would like to, please consider taking along a camera and documenting grazing impacts to native plants and water resources. Please contact lesley@kswild.org for more information.
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Upcoming Hikes: Wild Rogue, Whopper and Oregon Caves/Mt. Elijah
August 30: Hike the Wild Rogue
Join KS Wild and Siskiyou Project on the last Saturday of every month for a hike into proposed Wilderness along the Lower Rogue River. We will discuss legislation that was introduced in June 2008 to protect this area. Carpools leave the Ashland Shop n Kart at 9am and the Gooseberries Natural Foods parking lot (1533 NE F St.) in Grants Pass at 10am. Bring hiking shoes, clothing layers, food and water. Hikes are moderate and approximately 5-7 miles.
September 20: Long Gulch, Applegate Valley. A one-way down hill hike off-trail from the top of Long Gulch through the drainage of this trellised watershed that is home to the largest block of low elevation old-growth in the Applegate Valley. We will discuss how this area may be affected by the Bush administration’s “Western Oregon Plan Revisions.” Difficult, 3 1/2 miles. Meet at the Ruch Market at 9am.
October 5: Mt. Elijah and the Oregon Caves. Hike to Bigelow Lakes and Mt. Elijah to enjoy expansive views and learn about pending legislation to expand the Oregon Caves National Monument and retire a grazing allotment in this botanically rich roadless area. Moderate, 5 miles. Meet at Gooseberries in Grants Pass at 9am and the Illinois Valley Visitors Center in Cave Junction at 9:45am.
Always bring good hiking shoes, water, food and clothing layers. For more information, call 488-5789 or email lesley@kswild.org
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Don't Forget: KS Wild's Annual Dinner
Saturday, September 27th, 5:30pm
Historic Ashland Armory, 208 Oak Street
Join KS Wild’s staff, Board of Directors, volunteers, interns and supporters for a night of great food and stimulating company. The evening will feature a locally-inspired dinner by Kate Dwyer Catering, a beautiful array of auction items and a lively update on KS Wild’s activities.
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Click here to become a member of KS Wild today! By sending a minimum annual membership of $35 to KS Wild you receive our quarterly print newsletter and protection for the outstanding Klamath-Siskiyou wildlands.
The Klamath-Siskiyou (KS) Region of southwest Oregon and northwest California is a world-renowned hub of biological diversity. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountains, this region houses more conifer species than any other region in the world. From ancient old-growth forests to dry desert climate - and everything in between - the KS is a refuge for wild nature.
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Lesley Adams
Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center
PO Box 102
Ashland OR 97520
541.488.5789
www.kswild.org