What a WOPR - BLM Proposes to Trash Old-growth Reserves
author: reposting from Cascadia Wildlands Project e-newsletter
August 17, 2007
IN THIS UPDATE:
* BLM Proposes to Trash Old-growth Reserves
* Upcoming Hikes to Wild Areas, RSVP Now!
* Northwest Ecosystem Survey Team Locates Dozens of Red Tree Vole Nests
* Vote Cascadia Wildlands Project in the Eugene Weekly Survey
* Save the Date: Hoedown for Cascadia's Ancient Forests, October 6
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* BLM Proposes to Trash Old-growth Reserves
On August 10, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its long-awaited Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Western Oregon Plan Revision (WOPR). As expected, the draft proposes to dismantle the reserve system across 2.5 million acres of low elevation western Oregon BLM lands-public lands owned by you and me. Public comments are due by November 9.
The plan revision came about due to a lawsuit filed by the old-growth logging industry and the Association of Oregon and California (O&C) Counties in 2002, who challenged the validity of the reserve system of the Northwest Forest Plan. They believe O&C lands (western Oregon BLM lands) should be managed solely by the 1937 O&C Act, which identified timber production as a dominant use. Instead of defending the Northwest Forest Plan in court (which was set up in 1994 to keep the northern spotted owl from going extinct), the Bush administration happily settled the lawsuit and agreed to revise all six of the western Oregon BLM management plans (Salem, Eugene, Roseburg, Coos Bay, Medford and Klamath Falls Resource Area) by the end of 2008. The settlement agreement required the BLM to consider analyzing an alternative that opens up old-growth and streamside reserves to logging.
Expectedly, the BLM is pushing for Alternative 2, which would increase logging of trees over 200 years old by seven fold over the next decade as reported by the Oregonian, much of which would be in areas formerly protected as reserves. You can read the entire 1,600 page document or various sections at  http://www.blm.gov/or/plans/wopr. The Cascadia Wildlands Project believes this is the single greatest threat to old-growth forests in the region since the 1995 Salvage Rider, and we will be working on all fronts to halt it. We need your help.
To take action, send a letter to the BLM at link to www.cascwild.org and
http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/. In addition to telling them to oppose the WOPR, be sure to let them know we need a legislative solution that will permanently protect remaining older forests in the region.
To view recent WOPR media coverage in the Register-Guard, see the following article and editorial:
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2007/08/10/a1.blm.0810.p1.php?section=cityregion
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2007/08/12/ed.edit.wopr.0812.p1.php?section=opinion
* Upcoming Public Hikes to Wild Areas, RSVP Now!
Join the Cascadia Wildlands Project and Oregon Wild for our Summer and Fall hikes series. This is a great way to get involved in efforts to protect remaining older forests in the region. You have to see these threatened areas to really get a sense of what is at stake.
Saturday, August 25th: South Waldo Lake
Hike one of several loops on the south end of beautiful Waldo Lake, depending on conditions. Explore scenic views, mountain lakes and meadows, and gorge on wild huckleberries. Also learn about recent developments in efforts to preserve the wilderness experience on and around Waldo Lake. Hike is moderate to strenuous, about 8 miles, about 1000 feet elevation gain.
Saturday, September 22nd: Drift Creek Wilderness
Few know that there is Wilderness in the lush Oregon Coast Range, but Drift Creek is a gem to be discovered. The area is home to bedrock creeks, Northern spotted owls, hardwood forests, and huge Douglas-firs. We'll take in the late-summer spectacle of the old-growth forest along the Horse Creek Trail, and discuss management of the surrounding public and private lands. Hike is moderate to strenuous, about 6 miles, 1200 feet elevation gain.
Saturday, October 13th: McKenzie Headwaters
Visit the birthplace of the McKenzie River, the source of Eugene's drinking water and endless recreation opportunities. We'll complete the loop around Clear Lake's crystal waters through unique geology, old-growth forests, and stunning fall colors. Hike is moderate, 6 miles, pretty flat.
Saturday, October 20th: Local BLM Old-Growth Forest
Hidden away on small pieces of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and surrounded by clear-cuts are some of the oldest and biggest trees in Oregon. Explore some of these hidden treasures and learn about threats to BLM old-growth forests on this fall trip into little-known but spectacular old-growth stands. Hike is easy to moderate: 1 to 3 miles with very little elevation gain.
Please RSVP to Chandra at Oregon Wild 344-0675; , or Josh at Cascadia Wildlands Project 434-1463. Carpools will leave from the Kinko's back parking lot (13th & Willamette) in Eugene at 9:30 am. Fall weather can be unpredictable: hikers should bring warm clothes, rain protection and good hiking
shoes. Bring a lunch and plenty of water. Most hikes will be back by about 6:00 pm.
* Northwest Ecosystem Survey Team Locates Dozens of Red Tree Vole Nests
The all-volunteer Northwest Ecosystem Survey Team has spent the summer surveying the upper canopy of older forests in the Siskiyou Mountains specifically looking for the elusive red tree vole, an arboreal mammal that spends its entire life in the upper canopy of conifer forests. The species is endemic to western Oregon, meaning it is found no where else on planet Earth. The red tree vole is required protection under the Northwest Forest Plan's Survey and Mange Strategy, which the Bush administration has been working to dismantle for over five years.
Thus far, NEST has located 51 red tree vole nests at the Granite Joe timber sale, 30 nests at the Althouse Sucker timber sale and 11 at the South Deer timber sale (all located on the Grants Pass Resource Area of the Medford BLM). These are all discoveries that the Bureau of Land Management failed to located in their survey efforts. The data will be leverage to the agency in the effort to protect the threatened forests. Monetary donations for NEST's survey work can by made out to the Cascadia Wildlands Project, earmarked "NEST" and sent to POB 10455, Eugene OR 97440.
* Vote Cascadia Wildlands Project in the Eugene Weekly Survey
Help get the word out about the work the Cascadia Wildlands project does by filling out a Eugene Weekly Survey. Go to the following link http://ballot.eugeneweekly.com/index.php?sid=4. You will then be sent an auto email with a link to proceed with voting. We suggest the following:
Best cause of local uproar -- BLM Old Growth Logging (the "WOPR")
Best community effort -- Save The Wild Rogue
Best place to volunteer -- Cascadia Wildlands Project
* Save the Date: Hoedown for Cascadia's Ancient Forests, October 6
The Cascadia Wildlands Project's annual "Hoedown for Cascadia's Ancient Forests" is right around the corner! Be sure to mark your calendar now. It will be held on the evening of Saturday, October 6 at Avalon Stables on Cottage Grove. We will be providing a bus shuttle service as always. If you've been before, you know it is an event not to miss. We will be once again graced by the old-time picking of the Conjugal Visitors: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=44074592. Hope to see you there!
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Josh Laughlin, Conservation Director
Cascadia Wildlands Project
P.O. Box 10455
Eugene, OR 97440
541.434.1463 (voice)
541.434.6494 (fax)
The Cascadia Wildlands Project is dedicated to defending the forests, waters, and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest. Visit www.cascwild.org to learn more about wildlands issues and our leadership in the conservation movement. Become a member today at http://cascwild.org/support/support.html. Your support makes a difference!
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