In the Summer of 2011 the Diamond Lake District of the Umpqua National Forest is once again attempting to log ancient forests that is inside the Dread and Terror Roadless Area, that encompasses the Dread and Terror Trail, and is adjacent to the Wild and Scenic North Umpqua River corridor.

The Umpqua National Forest has been attempting to clearcut and/or log this 300 acre stand of ancient forest for over two (2) decades and again and again they have been turned back by lawsuits and public controversy.

However, the Forest Service has this inclination to try to get away with breaking the law and the public's will again and again in the hopes that no one is watching them.

 

This time the Forest Service is attempting to avoid the protection for the red tree vole which is a protected species under Northwest Forest Plan's Survey and Manage provisions.

Each active red tree vole nest could get 10 acres of protection. Allegedly a survey was done in the Summer of 2011 but not one single tree in the 300 acre unit was identified to be climbed and surveyed. I recently walked through about 15 acres of this 300 acres and found no less than 8 trees that had broken tops, cavities, and very large limbs that could easily support red tree vole nests (see picture below for hard evidence not just my word). Surely if I could find no less than 8 trees there must be scores more that should be marked for climbing.