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The Six Rivers National Forest plans to build nearly a mile of permanent road in the Underwood Roadless Area above the South Fork Trinity River. This would fragment the Underwood Roadless Area and threaten critical fish and wildlife habitat values above the Wild and Scenic South Fork Trinity River.
The proposed road would give Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) cheap access to a "landlocked" 160 acre parcel containing never-logged stands of Old Growth forest.
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During the National Environmental Policy Act Process, the Forest Service evaded public review by building the road during the public commenting period, ostensibly on an emergency basis to fight a forest fire. This despite the fact that that SPI's Timber Harvest Plan has expired and the company has no current legal right to log this forest.
WHAT'S THE HARM?
The proposed road would split the Underwood Roadless Area
in half making it nearly impossible to be designated as
Wilderness.
Development of this remote parcel may impair water quality
and harm state and federally protected coho salmon,
imperiled spring run Chinook and steelhead by increasing
water temperatures and sediment in the critical cold water
refugia of Underwood Creek.
The proposal would amend the Six Rivers Forest Plan (LRMP)
to allow road building despite the Plans ban on
developments in roadless areas.
Roads are a key threat to fisheries, a vector for invasive
plants and a primary cause of habitat fragmentation.
The South Fork Trinity River is a Key Watershed and a Wild
and Scenic River designated because of its importance as
habitat for fish.
Species such as the Northern Spotted Owl, Peregrine Falcon
and others that depend on old growth forests may be
harmed.
Other impacts include damage to cultural resources,
increased risk of fire and increased rate of OHV
trespass.
