USFS to log old growth roadless areas on Montana's Blue Ribbon Rock Creek

http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/lolo/project...uels/index.htm

"


12) "The EA admits that old growth forests in the Lolo may have
declined from 50-60% to as low
as 1-7% (EA3-3).
Response: This statement applies to the entire Northern Region, not to
the Lolo. A considerable
amount of this reduction is due to population growth, agriculture, and
past harvesting practices as
well as a lack of natural fire cycles. The Lolo has strived to
identify and retain levels of old growth
to meet Forest Plan objectives. Old growth inventories were conducted
in 1991, identifying old
growth stands in the Rock Creek drainage. Based on these surveys,
there is approximately 15%
of current or replacement old growth within the analysis area. Recent
analysis of Forest Inventory
and Analysis Data (Czaplewski, et. al. 2003; Project Record, Section D
– 8.10) also supports the
conclusion that there is sufficient old growth within the Rock Creek
Analysis area to meet Forest
Plan Standards of 8%."



15% left, and they want even more. Nice balance. The Lolo national
forest should be proud. Im sure with the help of the "Healthy Forests
Initiative", they can get it down to 8% in no time.


NEWS RELEASE
July 29, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

http://www.wildrockiesalliance.org/n...rockcreek.html


CONSERVATION GROUP CHALLENGES ROCK CREEK ROADLESS LOGGING

The Alliance for the Wild Rockies announced today that they are asking
the Forest Service to reconsider its plan to log 1113 acres in the
Lolo National Forest near Rock Creek. On Monday the Alliance for the
Wild Rockies submitted their appeal of the Rock Creek logging project
to the Forest Service's Regional Office. The timber sale would log 477
acres of Silver King, Welcome Creek, and Quigg Peak roadless lands.
The process would kill westslope cutthroat trout and the threatened
bull trout by increasing the amount of sediment by 1400% and discharge
toxic herbicides into Rock Creek, one of Montana's two blue ribbon
trout streams west of the continental divide.