Gridlock Impacts Post-Rim Fire Federal Land Management

Recent Controlled Burn on the Mendocino NF

Having both played and worked in timber country (Humboldt County -circa early/mid 1970s), I have a strong appreciation for well-managed private and federal forest lands.  That support has only deepened over the last 24 years based on my current career as an advocate for sustainable recreational opportunities which are dependent on healthy forests.

Many of us watched as the 2012 82K acre Mill Fire burned out the core trail network at the Stonyford OHV Area on the Mendocino National Forest.   That fire closed the area to all public access – including both casual and permitted OHV activity- for one year.  For any number of reasons (planning gridlock, fear of environmental lawsuits, appeals, burdensome regulations, etc.) the Forest Service was not able to get the salvage sale out in a timely manner and any merchantable trees were destroyed by the bark beetle.

Pre-Fire Fuels/Timber Project

Today as over 200 logging trucks per day haul salvage trees off of private timber lands damaged by the 2013 257K acre Rim Fire that burned in the Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park, and other lands, not one logging truck has hauled a load from NF lands. The agency appears to be jammed up by the same political, legal, and regulatory planning-noose that plagued the Mill Fire.

Article on the Rim Fire Planning Jam

http://www.capradio.org/articles/2013/11/19/californias-rim-fire-sparks-controversy-over-logging/

In an effort to become part of a potential solution to this stalemate,  I proudly answered the call to represent recreation on the Mendocino National Forest’s Firescape Collaborative.  This is part of the Fire Learning Network’s effort to bring diverse stakeholders together to see if we can agree on some forest health projects that can protect both the resource and other related interests such as private property owners, recreationists, and local businesses.

Example of Shaded Fuel Break Project 

Fire Learning Network

http://www.conservationgateway.org/ConservationPractices/FireLandscapes/FireLearningNetwork/Pages/fire-learning-network.aspx

I don’t have the answer to the aforementioned planning and project gridlock.  However, it is clear to me the current paradigm is not acceptable.  Prescribed fire has been used for thousands of years to manage timber lands and must be introduced back into the environmental equation.  I believe it is also important to reintroduce both pre and post-fire timber harvest into the planning mix. 

Trail/Resource Impacts from 2012 Mill Fire

Healthy forests and vibrant local economies are concepts that should be supported by both sides of the land-use debate.  Gridlock serves neither.

Christmas Update on Mill Fire Salvage Sale

Photo from Logging Operation in Sierra NF

 

HQ wanted to give the riders and fans of Stonyford a pre-Christmas update on the proposed Mill Fire Salvage Timber Project.   First, thanks to all of you who sent in letters.  I heard from several of you that it was the 1^st time you had ever written a comment letter - good on you for being part of the solution.  HQ was impressed with the number of letters submitted as well as the content.  I have heard the FS was impressed as well.

 

Based on discussions with agency staff last week, I believe the FS will utilize many of our comments in a revision of project and craft it to minimize impacts to system trails and to restore those trail segments back to trails after the project.  Also, HQ understands they will schedule the project so as to not impact the Fall enduros (i.e.  Fall enduros will happen in 2013 and beyond) and only work during the week when ridership is low.

 

HQ understands the OHV Program Manager and the Forest Recreation Officer are now official team members of the project.  Giving recreation and trails a seat at the planning table is a good thing!

 

Logging on federal lands (including post-fire salvage operations) is a very complex issue in the 21^st Century.  Trails, sensitive and threatened species, storm water runoff, forest resource goals, congressional mandates, court rulings, recreation, and potential litigation are all part of the puzzle that must be pieced together by agency staff in preparation for the timber sale.  Salvage timber sales are even more complicated by time sensitivity due to insect predation on the dead and dying timber if the agency (and taxpayer) expects to sell any of the logs to help pay for the project (and create some local jobs in the process too).

 

HQ would like to encourage you to read a rather long article on various concepts related to post-fire salvage operations on federal lands – it is a good read.

http://news.wildlife.org/twp/2012-winter/a-new-forest-fire-paradigm/

 

HQ is optimistic that as we head into the Christmas and New Year Holiday season that OHVers have averted being given a lump of coal by the Mendocino NF’s original proposal and instead have the promise of being able to once again enjoy OHV recreation there including permitted events for many seasons to come.

 

Merry Christmas,

The Recreation HQ

 *Feel free to leave comments about this blog.

The Roads of My Father

The General had a rare and unique “step back in time” experience this weekend while riding the Lost Coast Dual Sport Ride in NW California. As some of my followers know, I was born and raised in Cutten, a small community on the outskirts of Eureka.

*Click on photo for larger view

After WW2, my dad worked in the logging industry from 1950-1961 and then was hired as a foreman for Burman Construction Company. As a kid (aka The Cuttenkid), I remember driving on many of Humboldt County’s roads with my dad. Back in those days, the timber industry was going strong and many small communities had vibrant populations, grocery stores, and gas stations. Today they are mostly ghost towns.

In the early 1970s, The General worked at a lumber mill in Blue Lake that was eventually put out of business by the establishment of Redwood National Park. The sorter crew that I worked on actually set a mill record of pulling/sorting 220,000 board feet of lumber in an eight hour shift.

Seeing this small “logging museum” along one of the back roads in the Fort Seward area brought back some fond memories of driving on those same roads with my dad or handing him up a sandwich when he was running the dozer.

Thanks North Bay Motorcycle Club for the great ride and for allowing me to once again experience the backcountry roads of Humboldt County.

NBMC
http://www.northbaymc.org/content.aspx?page_id=9&club_id=709509

PS - My dad passed away in 1998