Update: LandWatch Continues Fight To Protect Critical Wildlife Habitat In The Ochocos

Back in April, we told you about our decision to challenge a timber sale in the Ochoco National Forest called the Black Mountain project. We’re challenging the project because the streams and wetlands of the high Ochocos, and the vital wildlife habitat they provide, are too important and too fragile to allow destructive commercial logging. Earlier this week, we filed our opening brief in the U.S. District Court of Oregon as part of our lawsuit to prevent the worst parts of the Black Mountain project. We argue that the Forest Service’s approval of the project violates federal laws that protect the most sensitive wildlife habitat of the Ochocos.

Wildflowers at the North Fork Crooked Wild and Scenic River. Source: BLM Oregon & Washington

The project includes many miles of new roads, and allows road densities much higher than what the Forest’s own management plan allows. Too many roads spells trouble for many species, notably Rocky Mountain elk. Just ten isolated encounters with people or cars can prevent elk from reproducing.[1] The project also fails to protect the most critical elk habitat – sites along streams where elk breed and give birth – also in violation of the Forest’s own management plan.

The project threatens native redband trout by allowing timber harvest in riparian areas. Trees along streams provide bank stability and shade that keeps water cold. The ground disturbance that comes with mechanical timber harvest, including road building and skid trails, releases sediment into streams that clogs the gills of fish. Forest Service policy prohibits these water quality impacts because fish need cold, clear water.
 
The impacts of this project are acute on sensitive environments along streams and wetlands. That’s why we’re asking the court to invalidate only the portions of the project that authorize logging in these riparian areas.
 
LandWatch repeatedly spoke up for riparian areas during project planning, but the Forest Service moved forward anyway. We think not logging in riparian areas isn’t too much to ask for, and now we’re hoping a federal court will agree.

[1] Phillips, Gregory E.; Alldredge, A. William. 2000. Reproductive success of elk following disturbance by humans during calving season. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 64(2): 521-530