Willamette National Forest Plans More Than 4,400 Acres of logging near Three Sisters Wilderness

The McKenzie Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest has created and signed A Record of Decision (execution) for the Green Mountain timber sale which includes 4,400 acres of logging with nearly 500 acres comprised of ancient forest ecosystems (like the one pictured below) in the South McKenzie River watershed. This is south of the Cougar Reservoir adjacent to Forest Road 19 which borders the western edge of the Three Sisters Wilderness Area.

To see a copy of the Willamette National Forest Green Mountain Final Environmental Statement and all other documents.

To see a Willamette NF - McKenzie District generated map showing Green Mt. proposed logging units (but conspicuously not the border of the Three Sisters Wilderness). FYI. Regeneration Harvest described in this map is another name for clearcut or even aged harvest logging.

Write the Willamette National Lumber Service to loudly object.

Tracy Beck, Forest Supervisor (I am sure he has has been promoted in the ranks as is all Forest Supervisors who go along to get along. Can we say he's pro "Human Extinction"?).

3106 Pierce Parkway Suite D

Springfield OR 97477

541-225-6300

E-mail: Supervisor's Office

Terry Baker, District Ranger (Oops! This mercenary is done planning thousands of acres of ancient forest destruction and destroying the climate on the McKenzie District. I am sure he has been promoted in the ranks as is all District Rangers to go destroy other places in the USA. ).

57600 McKenzie Hwy

McKenzie Bridge, OR 97413

541-822-3381

FAX 541-822-7254

E-mail: McKenzie River Ranger District

This picture shows the headwaters of the South Fork Mckenzie where the oldest forest stands are being targeted for destruction. The famous National Scenic Aufterheide Drive proceeds up this valley and into Box Canyon where the frigid waters of the Roaring River gushes out of ancient volcanic underground aquifers.

The South Fork McKenzie River still supports ESA Listed "Threatened" Bull trout as well as other ESA listed threatened species like the Peregrine Falcon and the Northern Spotted owl.

Pictured below is a small sample of some of the ancient forest (some trees estimated to be well over 150 years old and forest soils that are thousands of years old) proposed to be logged as part of the Green Mountain project.

It is sad to note that Oregon's mainstream environmental groups seem to be asleep at the helm to head off these ancient forest timber sales. They are seemingly too fat with salaries and benefits from corporate funded foundations to take notice.

Here is what some units would look like after cut. This "regeneration harvest" unit adjoins unit 5810 pictured above. It was logged more than 20 years ago at nearly 5,000 feet in elevation. It has not recovered and likely will not in anyone's lifetime. A tree plantation in the background was likely logged more than 30 years ago.

What Can You Do about this?

Please Contact the Forest Service Supervisor and District Ranger and let them know you are opposed to such plans to log these last remaining wild forests.

Write a letter to the editor showing your displeasure with the idea that politicians, agencies (and Oregon's environmental groups) would allow a return to the good old days of ancient forest logging with impunity.

Here is a sample of some of the ancient trees within another Green Mountain unit that was dropped from the proposal.

Below is a sample of a recent (2010) Northwest Forest Plan regeneration harvest (a clear-cut with a smily face) near the Green Mountain project and the Chucksney Mountain road-less area.Many of the Green Mountain logging units could look like this below if allowed to proceed.