Malheur National Forest

Malheur Forest, photo by Asante Riverwind Blue Mountain Ranger District

1. Galena "Forest Health" Project - This 38,200 acre project is located on both sides of the Middle Fork John Day River. The proposed logging units are located along Vinegar Creek, Vincent Creek, Blue Gulch, Little Boulder Creek, Hunt Gulch, Windlass Creek, Tincup Creek, Deerhorn Creek, Davis Creek, Placer Gulch, and other unnamed creeks and tributaries.
   
   The stated objective is to address "current fire hazard and forest health needs of the area, including reduction of both hazardous fuels and bark-beetle risk. ... The project would involve approximately 2,800 acres of pre-commercial thinning and fuel treatments, 6,900 acres of commercial harvest and fuel treatments, and approximately 24,100 acres of prescribed burning within a project area of 38,200 acres." More information on this project, including the scoping letter and maps, is available on the Forest Service Galena Project web page.
   
   The Sierra Club has serious ecological and legal objection to the Galena Project, which largely fails in its initial assumptions to be based upon credible science, and the natural variability of the area’s ecological processes, functioning, and resilience. NEPA requires project analysis be objective, and fully disclose area conditions, pertinent science, and ecological and listed-species maintenance and recovery needs.
   
   It is clear from reviewing the proposed project actions, and the actual impacts of the similarly premised logging projects in the Malheur and elsewhere in the region, that implementation of the proposed logging activities would irreparably degrade forest ecology, wildlife habitat, and impair water quality in the area’s watersheds, and be inconsistent with credible science and the purported ecological and fire risk reduction objectives of the project. Proposed logging in old growth forest areas, conversion of forest stand structure, logging in goshawk territories including nesting and PFA areas, new and so-called “temporary” new road building; thinning of mature sized and mature and old characteristic trees; impacts to listed species, indicator species, and species of concern including (but not limited to) goshawks, flammulated owls, neotropical migrant and native interior forest bird species, lynx, wolverine, marten, elk, deer, wolves, bear, cougar, small mammals, bats, and other wildlife species; impacts from ground-based heavy logging machinery; ground and airborne sedimentation into area salmonid watersystems; and cumulative impacts from this and other area projects would  undeniably result in further significant degradation of the ecological integrity, wildlife habitat, soil hydrology, and aquatic systems in and around the project area. The full text of our comments can be read by opening Galena Scoping Comments. (4-14-09)
2. Thorn Post-fire timber sale - Located near Dayville, OR, spanning a couple thousand acres in roaded forests near Fields Creek and the eastern portion of Aldrich Ridge. Sierra Club and allied efforts succeeded in protecting thousands of acres of old growth and roadless area forests, dropping these from this timber sale in a landmark ecologically protective appeal settlement agreement, reached in late May, 2008. The full text of the settlement: Memorandum of Understanding and Settlement Agreement. The agreement protects the greater 1,500 acre Aldrich roadless area, a rare ecological treasure that has never been logged, and has had very little livestock grazing. The area has supported a wealth of native species biodiversity found in few other places in the Blue Mountains outside of designated wilderness. Along with two adjacent large roadless areas (together totaling approximately 50,000 acres), it is deserving of wilderness status, and has been proposed for wilderness designation in the past. The area provides irreplaceable habitat for numerous wildlife species, including pine marten, wolverine, lynx, bear, cougar, elk, deer, numerous woodpeckers, raptors, and native and migrant birds, and many others. Volunteers have hiked, surveyed, camped in, and flown over the project area during the past year. Conservation efforts successfully stopped a timber sale in the same area in the late 90’s, thanks in large part to the help of many active volunteers. Once again, efforts succeeded in protecting this irreplaceable area from logging. Volunteers are needed helping survey and photo document settlement logging in adjacent roaded area forests, ensuring settlement agreements are kept and holding the agency accountable for logging impacts in ongoing educational outreach efforts addressing the folly of postfire logging. 
3. Blue Mountains Forest Partners (BMFP) - Damon Scotty Restoration Project - Volunteer help is needed participating in this collaborative group restoration project, identifying and incorporating conservation issues and objectives into the developing project's design. BMFP is a diverse collaborative group with representatives from the local community, timber interests, county government, the Forest Service, and conservation organizations. Their focus is developing and implementing ecological restoration projects in the area's Malheur National Forest, benefiting wildlife, watersheds, and forest recovery as well as the local communities.
4. Starr HFRA - This collaborative project is in its initial analysis phase. Located in forests to the west and north of Seneca, the project is premised upon restoration of forest ecological resiliency and reducing risk of uncharacteristic severe fires in forests near residences. Forest Service planners are working with conservation, community, and timber representatives exploring common ground and scientific research recommendations in developing this thinning-logging project. Recent disclosure by the Malheur NF that it lacks the funds to develop this project, and local timber industry mill closures and economic downturn have called to question the future of this project. Volunteers are needed to assist conservation surveys in project area forests, identifying ecological conditions and concerns, wildlife and plant species, and restoration & protection needs.

Prairie City Ranger District

1. Damon Wildland Urban Interface Project - This project proposes: commercial logging thinning of 12,315 acres of forest; commercial logging across 8,301 acres using ecologically damaging heavy ground based machinery including removing trees up to 21" in diameter; actions (undefined) on 338 acres of "replacement old growth" and "pileated feeding areas"; 342 acres of logging, thinning, and burning in old forest; 327 acres of conversion of multi-strata old forest to single strata forest; 175 acres of multi-strata old forest logging of mature and old trees up to 21"; logging in goshawk areas; logging in aspen stands and RHCAs; biomass removal across 282 acres; construction of 7 miles of new roads; and ground based tractor logging affecting 7,845 acres.
   
   The notice proposes a series of scientifically insupportable logging/thinning actions. Such actions have generally proven to cause far more harm than benefit, with the varying degree of harms dependent upon the extent of thinning employed and the location and timing of thinning actions. The proposed project actions would likely irreparably degrade forest ecology, wildlife habitat, and impair water quality in the area’s watersheds, and be inconsistent with credible science and the purported ecological objectives of the project.
   
   This project is similar to the Dads Creek Project (see below) and shares many of the same concerns. We recommend delaying further action on Damon until the Dads Creek project has completed its implementation in whole or large part, and an assessment is made regarding that similarly premised project’s impacts and restoration objective effectiveness, or lack thereof. The full text of the Sierra Club comments can be read at Damon Wildland Urban Interface Project Comments. (4-02-09)
2. Dads Creek Challenge, photo by Asante Riverwind Dads Creek Wildland-Urban Interface Project - The Malheur NF revised its published legal notice to meet our ecological and legal concerns, dropping unroaded area units and road construction. The agency agreed to keep the project within the common ground ecological recommendations of the Blue Mountains Forest Partners collaborative group. As a result, two timber industry and one Grant County HFRA objection(s), were filed, necessitating the writing and filing of legally strong conservation organization objections (see Dads Creek Wildland Urban Interface Project Objection, October 2008) to maintain legal standing and prevent this first collaborative restoration project from being transformed into a harmful logging project. Communication with the Malheur Supervisor, local allies, county officials, and the timber industry finally succeeded in the agreement of all parties to withdraw their legal objections (see Dads Creek Objection Withdrawal, October 2008), allowing the project to proceed within the scientifically founded restoration parameters developed by the collaborative group and the agency. Simultaneously, work included ongoing communication with allies and collaborative group on the next proposed restoration project, Damon Scotty. Ongoing review and communication concerning changes to proposed collaborative agreements and developing restoration plans.
3. Crawford, Big Creek Aspen, Canyon Creek, 16 Road, and Dans Creek Blowdown timber sales - All of these "fuels reduction" and/or "aspen recovery" sales have been changed to incorporate significant conservation concerns. Canyon Creek was changed as a result of negotiations during its appeal period, others were changed as a result of issues raised through public comments and ongoing communication with agency staff. Projects are located in areas with vulnerable wildlife species and salmonid waterways. Volunteer help is needed monitoring these projects as they are implemented, documenting and assessing impacts, ensuring protective ecological provisions are followed.
4. Knox timber sale - Proposed logging across 1,840 acres of forest. Initial agency plans propose using heavy soil damaging logging machinery throughout the area. Sierra Club scoping comments submitted last year raised the need to analyze and disclose ecological conditions and concerns. Volunteer help is needed hiking and documenting the project area, assessing project impacts on wildlife species and salmonid waterways, and assisting in addressing ecological and legal issues. Comments on the EA were submitted in October 2008 and can be read at Knox Hazardous Fuels / Forest Health Project EA Comments, October 2008. More information on this timber sale is available on the Forest Service web site: Knox Hazardous Fuels / Forest Health Project.

Emigrant Creek Ranger District

1. Jane HFRA Project - This project lies in the Calamity Creek watershed between the communities of Drewsey and Seneca, and is eastward of US-395 at about the midpoint between Burns and John Day. The Forest Service stated purpose of the project is to reduce the risk of risk of fire to life, property, and natural resources in Harney and Grant counties. It is the Sierra Club position that this project is not credibly or legally applicable for use under the Hazardous Fuels Reduction Act (HFRA).  The full text of our comments can be read at Jane HFRA Project EA Comments. The Forest Service project description, including the Scoping Letter, can be found at Jane Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project. (8-07-09)
2. Egley postfire timber sale - A postfire roadside hazard-tree logging sale near Delintment Lake northwest of Burns, Oregon. To meet conservation concerns with Egley, the Malheur revised their initial plans. The current proposal limits logging to only roadside hazard, safety objectives in campgrounds, and around management facilities/livestock water troughs, etc., dropping their original interior forest logging plans. Volunteer help is needed monitoring the project as it is implemented, assessing ecological impacts and concerns, and helping with ongoing conservation outreach in area communities.
3. Oregon Solutions/Harney County collaborative group - Local conservation participation is needed in this collaborative process addressing proposed landscape scale stewardship logging-thinning projects throughout forests east of Hwy 395 north of Burns/Hines. Plans also may include a proposal to locate biomass energy production plants in the area. There is also a similar early-stages plan for a biomass plant and large-scale thinning in the Seneca/Canyon City area. Volunteer help is needed monitoring developing proposals, addressing conservation issues, and surveying affected area forests.
4. Black Rock - Appeal negotiations successfully modified this small postfire timber sale, with the agency dropping old growth forest areas from logging, and marking mature and old snags for retention, as well as all live trees greater than 21" diameter. The remaining timber sale was concentrated in burned young forests that had grown in since fire suppression that began earlier in the 1900's. Volunteer help is needed documenting the impacts of the resulting logging, assessing if conservation agreements were adhered to and if these effectively helped protect the area's older forests and dependent wildlife.
5. Van Grazing Allotment - Working with local volunteers and allies, an appeal of the agency's decision to re-authorize livestock grazing in the Van allotment after only 3 to 5 years of rest from grazing was submitted in November 2008 (see Van Allotment Appeal, November 2008). ONDA and BMBP joined in our appeal. The agency issued its decision unchanged from their original proposal only 12 days after the comment period closed. Allotment areas include portions of the proposed OS Harney restoration project noted below, however the agency decision fails to meaningfully consider closing some or all of the area to grazing entirely, or to include any provisions resting the planned restoration-thinning/burning areas to allow these to recover before grazing is resumed. As the initial implementation of the decision will rest the area for at least 3 years, the appeal was filed largely to maintain legal standing should the agency resume livestock grazing that would harm the area once the rest period is concluded.  See Van Allotment on the Malhuer NF website for more information.