 On Wednesday, June 18, the Oregon Department of Forestry auctions off some of the oldest trees left on state forest lands. The Lone Surprise Timber Sale contains dozens of centuries-old trees critically important to the declining Northern Spotted Owl population in the Elliott State Forest. This is in spite of Governor Kulongoski's campaign pledge not to cut old-growth.
The Lone Surprise timber sale (pictured) contains old-growth trees rarely found on the Elliott because, after the 1868 fire, the remaining old-growth was the first to be logged. Recent studies have found that these few remnant old-growth stands are vitally important to the survival of Owls on the Elliott, and recommends they not be logged. None the less, Roseburg Forest Products (541-679-3311) was seen cruising the sale to prepare a bid price. Why is Oregon Department of Forestry selling this forest to be clearcut when even Governor Kulongoski (503-378-3111) promised not to cut old-growth as a campaign pledge.
On the same day, the Larson Headwaters sale will be sold. ODF has rated this sale as "High Hazard for slope stability". The "probability" of a slope failure to enter a stream is rated as "High" and becoming a channelized debris flow is also rated "High". Downstream, Larson Creek still supports endangered salmon. But a NO tree-buffer (zero feet) will be left on the small tributaries flowing into Larson Creek, in spite of the landslide risk and endangered fish downstream. ODF claims cutting old-growth and clearcutting high-landslide-risk slopes in the Elliott is especially good for school children because the Elliott is "common school fund lands". The auctions on June 18 [occured] at 2:00 p.m. at the Coos District Oregon Department of Forestry, 63612 Fifth Road, Coos Bay, Oregon 97420. 541-267-4136 (voice) and 269-2027 (fax). For more information see umpqua-watersheds.org/local/elliott_state_forest.html [ Read More ] [ http://umpqua-watersheds.org ]
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