Loading....

Take Action To Protect The Salmon River Watershed, Wildlife, And Wild Salmon Fisheries!

Old-growth forest in unit 80 of the Bear Country Timber Sale on lower Matthews Creek. Photo by Luke Ruediger.

The Klamath National Forest is proposing a new timber sale within the Wild and Scenic Salmon River watershed. The Bear Country timber sale includes over 4,000 acres of commercial logging in some of the last fire-resilient mature and old-growth forests in the river canyon, and within some of the only occupied northern spotted owl sites in the region.

Known for its exceptional beauty and rugged canyons, the clear blue pools of the Salmon River are created from the many streams and creeks that drain from the Marble Mountains, Trinity Alps and the Russian Wilderness. This region of the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains represents some of the most remote intact wild lands and diverse conifer forests in the world. Many streams in the Bear Country project feed into key watersheds, critical for the survival of wild salmon. The Salmon River maintains the only viable spring chinook salmon population in the Klamath River watershed and some of the last completely wild salmon and steelhead runs in the Pacific Northwest.

The recently released Environmental Assessment proposes 4,195 acres of commercial logging, 3,704 acres of which are mostly unlogged mature forest stands. Nearly 800 acres of logging is proposed in streamside areas. The project also includes 15 miles of “temporary” road reconstruction, an estimated 5 miles of new road construction, the creation of 19 new log landings, 2,271 acres of mastication on 24.4 miles of remote ridgeline, 5.2 miles of commercial hazard tree logging, and the use of excavators to reopen previously built dozerlines used to suppress wildfire events. Of this total, 2,330 acres and 3.8 miles of roadside logging is located inside the Eddy Gulch Late Successional Reserve.

A heavy mark in Unit 197 proposes to leave only a single large tree at the very center of this photo, and would remove the remainder of this old forest grouping. Photo by Luke Ruediger.

Portions of the project appear to be focused on community fire safety, ingress/egress concerns and non-commercial thinning in plantations above Forks of Salmon. However, the project would remove 223 acres of nesting and roosting habitat and 700 acres of foraging habitat for the northern spotted owl “in perpetuity”. Most of the mature forest habitat proposed for removal is within stands designated “critical” to the survival and recovery of this imperiled species. In addition, the Bear Country project would reduce fire resilience and community safety, impact scenic values in the Wild and Scenic Salmon River corridor, degrade Inventoried Roadless Areas as well as habitat for the Pacific fisher and a multitude of other wildlife species.

Disguising mature forest logging as community wildfire safety is counterproductive, irresponsible, disingenuous and dangerous. We can only support the portions of the project that actually promote community fire safety, maintain important wildlife habitat, and support fire resilient forest conditions. Our communities and the incredible Salmon River watershed deserve far better from public land managers, who are threatening both biological and community values with the proposed Bear Country Timber Sale.

*Background photo is the South Fork of the Salmon River. Photo by Kimberly Baker.

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Address, line 1*

City*

State*

Zip Code*

I'd like to receive updates from this organization

Take Action

Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) is a tax-exempt non-profit organization, under the section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and therefore all charitable donations are deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

A bout Us | C ontact Us | Donate Now

Klamath National Forest Leaders & Salmon River District Ranger

Subject: Bear Country Environmental Assessment

Message:

I love the deep blues pools of the Salmon River. It is the jewel of the Klamath National Forest. The rugged mature forest slopes of the river canyon are unparalleled not only in their beauty but their importance as intact habitat and climate refuge. The Bear Country area and its inhabitants, like the last stronghold of wild salmon in the Klamath River, deserve the highest priority for long-term preservation and recovery. The proposed project could significantly harm the human, aquatic and wildlife communities in these watersheds. I understand the importance of protecting communities in wildfire events, that is why I support the portions of the Bear Country project that will better prepare these rural neighborhoods for fire events, like plantation thinning, prescribed burning and small diameter vegetation treatments along strategic ingress/egress roads. I am strongly opposed to the 3,700 acres of logging in mature forests, especially the removal 223 acres of nesting and roosting habitat and 700 acres of foraging habitat for the northern spotted owl “in perpetuity.” This should not be allowed, particularly in Critical Habitat or in the Eddy Gulch Late Successional Reserve. I am opposed to the nearly 800 acres of Riparian Reserve logging in this key watershed that serves as vital refuge for at-risk salmon. Further, the proposed —15 miles of “temporary” road reconstruction, the estimated 5 miles of new road construction, the creation of 19 new log landings, the 2,271 acres of mastication on 24.4 miles of remote ridgeline and the use of excavators to reopen previous dozerlines —would all increase habitat fragmentation and long-term degradation in these last fire resilient mature forests that serve as a stronghold for threatened and endangered species. The Bear Country project would also impact scenic values in the Wild and Scenic Salmon River corridor and degrade the Black Inventoried Roadless Area. The Salmon/Scott River Ranger District needs to prioritize treatment areas that are manageable and maintainable before disrupting and degrading more key watersheds and mature forests. For instance, the adjacent Jess project fuels treatments still fail to be implemented, as does much of the prescribed burning proposed in the Eddy Gulch LSR and other projects on the district. The final EA should focus on thinning flammable plantations and vegetation treatments on strategic roads and around homes. The Bear Country watersheds are critical for wild coho and chinook, pacific fishers, goshawk and one of the last remaining strongholds for the Northern spotted owl. We are all experiencing biodiversity and climate emergency, please protect this last remaining refugia by maintaining mature forest habitat and connectivity. Please reconsider and choose an alternative that will keep older fire resilient trees and forest canopy intact and focus the project on treatments that are manageable and maintainable.

Characters remaining:

Environmental Information Protection Center (EPIC) is a tax-exempt non-profit organization, under the section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and therefore all charitable donations are deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

A bout Us | C ontact Us | Donate Now

Take Action To Protect The Salmon River Watershed, Wildlife, And Wild Salmon Fisheries!

Thank you for taking the initiative!

Donate Today and Make Your Impact Even Larger

Go back | Donate today!