1. Divide Auger Timber Sale, Mendocino National Forest
Old growth forest adjacent to the Yolla Bolly Wilderness has been targeted in plans to log over 6 million board feet (MMBF) from approximately 327 acres in the headwaters of the Thomes Creek watershed adjacent to the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness. The sale will log large trees, and harm rare and sensitive plants, fish, wildlife, soils, and water quality. In addition, scenic values will be destroyed from picturesque campsites on Thomes Creek that currently offer world-class backcountry recreational opportunities.
WE WON! The judge agreed with EPIC that the Forest Service failed to properly analyze environmental impacts to wildlife, neglected to provide a key biological document for public review, and did not use sound science to protect the viability of wildlife.
2. East Fork Timber Sale, Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Residual, ancient trees are targeted on almost 2,100 acres within the East Fork of the South Fork Trinity River watershed, threatening northern spotted owls, Pacific fisher, coho salmon, and other species that depend on healthy forest ecosystems. The East Fork of the South Fork of the Trinity River has already been heavily logged and roaded, and there are concerns that this project may contribute to significant adverse cumulative effects in the watershed.
EPIC is pursuing an appeal to the Ninth District Court.
3. Slate Thin Timber Sale, Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Ancient forest fragments in checkerboard ownership are targeted in plans to log over 2 MMBF from approximately 360 acres of the East Halls Gulch watershed on the Trinity Divide. Sensitive plants such as the veiny arnica, Scott Mountain Fawn lily, and thread-leaf beardtongue are located within the timber sale area. Northern spotted owl, goshawk, fisher, and marten habitat would be destroyed, and western red bat, cascade frog, foothill yellow frog, southern torrent salamander, and western pond turtle may be harmed or killed.
4. Eagle Ranch Timber Sale, Shasta-Trinity National Forest
The Wild and Scenic Trinity River is threatened by plans to log over 4 MMBF on 264 acres of ancient forest on lands adjacent to Eagle Creek and Sailor Bar Creek. The confluences of these creeks are located on popular river rafting and kayaking stretches of the Trinity River.
5. Deadwood Timber Sale, Six Rivers National Forest
South Fork Trinity Mountain continues to be a focal point for logging, with the latest proposal targeting 3.4 MMBF of old growth forest on 340 acres in the Grouse Creek watershed, tributary to the Wild and Scenic South Fork Trinity River. Northern spotted owl, goshawk, and Pacific fisher habitat will be destroyed.
Deadwood was logged with substantial changes to the logging plan, i.e., there was no logging of old growth, and the Forest Service did not dig a mechanical fireline as they originally planned.
6. Journey Fire Salvage, Six Rivers National Forest
Approximately 2.6 MMBF on 100 acres of burned forest above the Ruth Reservoir are proposed for logging. The logging will remove large, fire-resistant trees, increase the level of small-diameter fuels, damage soils, and retard recovery of the area. In addition, surface erosion from tractor logging will increase sedimentation within Ruth Reservoir, lowering the life expectancy of the dam. Goshawk, Northern spotted owl, and Southern torrent salamander will be impacted.
7. Knob Timber Sale, Klamath National Forest
Rich conifer forests are in danger of being logged on 578 acres within the Wild and Scenic Salmon River watershed. These forests provide critical refuge for bald eagles, goshawks, fishers, martens, northern spotted owls, orchids, and salamanders. Some of the last remaining wild spring Chinook salmon, summer steelhead, and coho salmon runs in the Klamath Basin would be threatened, and world-famous whitewater recreational opportunities would be compromised. Several logging units are located within the North Fork Salmon River corridor, which is designated as "Recreational" under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and is supposed to be managed to preserve the "outstandingly remarkable values" of the river.
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EPIC litigated this in district court and lost; we are appealing to the Ninth Circuit.
8. Whittler Timber Sale, Klamath National Forest
Ancient forests adjacent to the Pacific Crest Trail between the Russian Wilderness and the Trinity Alps Wilderness are in danger of being logged to "improve forest health". Approximately 760 acres will be logged by helicopter and tractors on steep slopes, mostly within a roadless area proposed as the Russian Potential Wilderness Area Addition. The logging units are directly adjacent to the Pacific Crest Trail, degrading the scenic and aesthetic experience of visitors on this world-class trail.
WHITTLER WAS CANCELLED! EPIC convinced the Forest Service that logging old growth in the critical habitat of several endangered species was not a legally justifiable plan.
9. Beaver Timber Sale, Klamath National Forest
The Beaver Creek watershed in the Klamath River basin is threatened by plans to log approximately 975 acres, which includes over 500 acres of northern spotted owl critical habitat and gopher baiting with strychnine. Logging would destroy some of the last remaining intact forest left in the area, even though the watershed has suffered from significant adverse cumulative watershed effects. The Uptown Timber Sale is directly adjacent to this timber sale.
WE WON! The court ruled that the Forest Service should have done a full environmental review and a better job of protecting from the sale's impact on wildlife and forest conditions.
10. Uptown Timber Sale, Klamath National Forest
This timber sale is very similar to the Beaver Timber Sale described above, and also takes place in the Beaver Creek watershed. Approximately 760 acres of ancient forest fragments will be logged using helicopter, cable, and tractor systems, followed by gopher baiting. The impacts from private industrial timberlands, the Uptown, and the adjacent Beaver timber sale will push this watershed over established cumulative effects thresholds, compromising salmon and steelhead in the Klamath River basin.