Dear public land owners,
The Forest Service is continuing its assault on our National Forests by drastically increasing logging levels on the Nez Perce and Clearwater National Forests. Please consider submitting a comment on the below projects.
The White Pine Project on the Palouse Ranger District is near the popular Palouse Divide Nordic Ski Club, with a cutting unit(s) along the White Pine Scenic Byway. Over 2000 acres would be logged, including areas considered old growth by the Forest Service within the past decade or so . Logging would also occur in streamside “protected” buffers. Four miles of permanent roads would be built, as well as an undisclosed amount of ”temporary” roads. This is the only opportunity for public feedback. Click here to learn more.
The Smith Ridge Project on the N. Fork Ranger District is adjacent to the heavily-visited Mallard-Larkins Pioneer Area. The Forest Service is proposing to log 500 acres on the steep slopes that lead up to the ridge from Isabella Landing. Damaging logging occurred in this same area years ago. The agency is listing this new project as a Categorical Exclusion, meaning little environmental review will be completed, and the only opportunity to comment runs until November 16. Submit a comment here.
The Clear Creek Integrated Res toration Project is back. The Forest Service dropped the original proposal after the Nez Perce Tribe filed a lawsuit in 2016. Over 8000 acres could be logged, including massive clearcuts 500 acres in size. Much of the upper watershed does not currently meet forest plan standards for fish habitat and water quality. The project also threatens habitat for moose and elk. Clear Creek is a tributary of the Wild & Scenic M. Fork Clearwater, just upstream from Kooskia. Send a public comment by clicking here.
Thank you for your help in protecting the Clearwater!
Sincerely,
Brett Haverstick
Education & Outreach Director
Friends of the Clearwater
