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PRINTED ON 100% POST CONSUMER WASTE, CHLORINE–FREE PAPER Spring 2005 Spring Spring 2005 Spring KS WILD NEWS WILD KS The Journal of the Klamath-Siskiyou the WildlandsJournalof The Center and more... and Schedule Hike Crags, Castle GraybackMtn. on Cows FourMore Years UpdateBiscuit Inside: Siskiyou the StandforUp YoungOld and The Journal of the Klamath-Siskiyou the WildlandsJournalof The Center and more... and Schedule Hike Crags, Castle GraybackMtn. on Cows FourMore Years UpdateBiscuit Inside: Siskiyou the StandforUp YoungOld and KS Wild Gray Wolf Regains Protections Many thanks to all our supporters: Staff In February, a federal court found that the Volunteers, Collaborators, Artists and Musicians: Lesley Adams Bush administration Ralph Bloemers, Susan Jane Brown, Cascadia Wildlands Project, Ginger Cassady, Outreach Coordinator illegally weakened Regina Chichizola, Romain Cooper, Melissa Crabtree, Bob Cremins, Alice Di Micele, federal protections Francis Eatherington, Shelley Elkovich, Sarah Elvington, EPIC, Evan Frost, Scott Erin Madden for the Gray wolf. A Staff Attorney Greacen, Greenpeace, David Grimes, Kyle Haines, Scott Harding, Kathleen Hitt, Nick District Judge reversed Joslin, Jay Lininger, Brian Litmans, Ivan Maluski, Jasmine Minbashian, National Forest David Levine the April 2003 U.S. Fish Protection Alliance, Rich Nawa, Northwest Ecosystem Survey Team, Oregon Natural Administrative Director and Wildlife decision Resources Council, Oregon Sierra Club, Oxygen Collective, Pacific Environmental George Sexton that reclassified the Advocacy Center, Stephant Parent, Peace House, Siskiyou Regional Education Conservation wolfʼs range and Photo: Defenders of Wildlife Project, Rolf Skar, Barry Snitkin, Isaiah Thalmayer, Trace, Amaroq Weiss, Zack Director downgraded its status Williams and many others. from endangered to threatened. The courtʼs ruling restores Stephanie Tidwell Endangered Species Act protections for the wolf in the lower Special thanks to our hardworking canvassers: Executive Director 48. KS Wild was one of 19 plaintiffs in the lawsuit to prevent the Nurelle Hillman-Harrigan, Hazel Robin and Pete Wallstrom premature de-listing of this endangered species. Joseph Vaile Please support these businesses because they support us: Campaign Director The ruling orders Fish and Wildlife to reverse federal rules that Ashland Food Co-op, Ashland Mountain Supply, Buckhorn Springs, Carey Massage, KS Wild News is allow ranchers to shoot wolves if they are attacking livestock. Claudia Beausoleil Mediation Service, Dan the Backhoe Man Excavation Service, Evoʼs produced by the Unfortunately, media coverage of the court ruling quoted Coffee Lounge, Full Circle Sports, Geppetos, Green Springs Inn, Greenleaf Restaurant, KS Wild staff. ranchers threatening the safety of wolves by implementing Heartsong Chai, Herb Pharm, Inc., Horizon Herbs, Kalb Chiropractic, Morningstar a, “shoot, shovel and shut-up” strategy. Three wolves have Healing Arts, North Coast Chiropractic, Northwest Nature Shop, Plant Oregon Nursery, KS Wild knowingly migrated from Idaho into Oregon since the recovery Sunshine Natural Foods, Trillium Natural Foods, Williams General Store. effort began. One of the wolves was captured and sent back to Offices Deep gratitude goes to: Idaho, one was killed by a car, and the third was illegally shot. Scott Allison, Elizabeth Coker, Joy Cotter and Larry Soll, Lake and Steve Connelly, Membership: P.O. Box 332 Cascade Siskiyou National Monument Astrov Fund, Michael and Linda DuBose and Aftermarket Technologies, Walter and Williams, OR 97544 The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released their long- Conny Lindley, Herb Pharm, Inc., Rex and Deanna Bell, Shannon Clery, James Grey 541-846-9273 awaited Final Management Plan for the Cascade-Siskiyou Hecht, Brad Horwitz, Sally Mackler and the Suzan R. Mackler Fund, Margaret Purves, National Monument in February, and comments were accepted Fredric & Lundy Reynolds, Matt Riley, Peter and Karen Salant, David and Jonathon Conservation: Tourzan, Carrie Ward, Jerard and Carol Weigler. P.O. Box 102 through mid-March. The BLM received nearly 11,000 com- ments, with more than 90% urging the BLM to fully embrace the Ashland, OR 97520 Thanks to the following foundations for supporting KS Wild: Monument Proclamationʼs protection mandate. Anti-Monument 541-488-5789 444S Foundation, A Territory Resource, Bullitt Foundation, Burning Foundation, forces – especially certain Bush Administration officials – are Deer Creek Foundation, Richard and Rhonda Goldman Foundation, Hugh and Jane Legal: hoping to water down mandated Monument protections through 917 SW Oak St. Ferguson Foundation, Heller Charitable and Educational Fund, Outdoor Industry this Final Plan process. Portland, OR 97205 Conservation Alliance, Patagonia, Inc., Norcross Wildlife Foundation, Inc., Ralph L. 503-796-7811 Smith Foundation, Wilburforce Foundation. After the BLM reviews and responds to formal protests and For current news general public comments on their current Final Plan, it will issue KS Wild Board of Directors: and updates, visit: a Record of Decision that can modify the current Final Plan. Jim Bowne, Susan Jane Brown, Shannon Clery, Liz Crosson, Stuart OʼNeill, Keith Quick, Laurel www.kswild.org This Decision, expected out in September, will guide Monument Sutherlin, Derek Volkart management for at least ten years. Cover Photo: Cave Junction resident Joan KS Wildʼs Mission: Norman sits on the Green In final comments, KS Wild, the Soda Mountain Wilderness The Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center (KS Wild) works to Bridge leading to the Fiddler Council, and 34 other environmental organizations urged the Old-Growth Reserve timber protect and restore the outstanding biological diversity of the sale at Biscuit. Joan refused BLM to adhere to the Monumentʼs Proclamation by retiring cattle Klamath-Siskiyou and south Cascadian Ecoregions of south- to leave her chair and was grazing if BLMʼs “Grazing Impacts Study” shows cattle grazing arrested shortly after this west Oregon and northwest . We use environmental photo was taken. Photo by to be “incompatible” with protecting the plants, animals, and law, science, education and collaboration to defend healthy L. Adams special features the Monument was established to protect. This ecosystems and help build sustainable communities. is not a National Cow Pasture. Itʼs a National Monument. 1 14 Focus on our KS Wild Family Biscuit Boondoggle Continues as Old-Growth Reserve Logging Begins Gray wolf (Canis lupus) - A pack animal with Photo: Defenders of Wildlife a complex and fascinating social organization, by Lesley Adams the gray wolf is the largest wild canid on the planet. While usually gray in color, wolves While Biscuit logging has been Photo: can also be shades of red, white or black. ongoing for nearly two years,

Wolves are about 2.5 feet tall and 4-5 feet controversy of the oversized L. Adams long, and weigh an average of 85 pounds project escalated when logging in (males average 90 and females average 80). designated Old-Growth Reserves Gray wolves can run up to 35 mph and jump began March 7. Silver Creek up to 12 feet! Timber began cutting the Fiddler Old-Growth Reserve timber sale These carnivores (meat eating) eat anything ranging from field mice to huge caribou. at the trailhead to Babyfoot Lake As predators, gray wolves help to maintain balance in the food web. The loss of wolves and South Coast Lumber began in ecosystems has lead to the overpopulation of other animal species. Gray wolves cutting the Berry Old-Growth communicate to each other through howling, body language and scent. Wolf packs Reserve sale in the Indigo Creek consist of 8 to 35 inidividuals. On a calm night, howls can be heard from as far as watershed bordering the North 120 miles away. Wolves use their faces and tails to indicate their emotion and status Kalmiopsis Roadless Areas. Five Unit 7, Fiddler Old-Growth Reserve timber sale. in the pack. additional Old-Growth Reserve sales imminently face logging crews. The wolf used to be the worldʼs most widely distributed mammal, occupying the northern hemisphere north of 15 degress latitude. The wolf is currently doing well in As a result of non-violent acts of civil disobedience, 48 arrests have been made so far Canada, Alaska and Russia, but is either endangered or extinct in the Middle East, on Fiddler Mountain since logging began. At press time, Joan Norman, 72 year-old India, Europe, southeast Asia, most of Mexico and the United States (except for Cave Junction resident, was the only person remaining in jail, refusing bail. Joan was successful reintroduction efforts in Idaho and Minnesota). arrested on March 7 for refusing to move out of her chair on the Green Bridge leading to the Fiddler sale (cover photo). Joan was arrested again on March 14 along with twenty Spencer Lennard - One passion- other women who blocked access to the Fiddler sale. ate, intellectual, and gentle person, Spencer is a longtime conservation KS Wild and other plaintiffs had oral arguments in District Court on March 22. Magistrate leader and founder of KS Wild. A well- Cooney should issue findings in late April. This case concentrates on soil and water known rock climber, Spencer pioneered quality impacts, logging in Old-Growth Reserves and violations to the Roadless Rule. a lot of difficult climbs in the 70ʼs, 80ʼs, Another lawsuit filed by the Cascadia Wildlands Project and others is challenging the and 90ʼs. To KS Wild staffers, however, purpose and need of post-fire logging, project proximity to a Wild and Scenic River and Spencerʼs most impressive feat lies in wet season operations on the spread of a fatal root disease to Port-Orford Cedar. creating our extraordinary group and nurturing it through thick and thin. As if the project was not already enough, the Siskiyou National Forest is setting their sights on the designated Roadless Areas at Biscuit. Forest Supervisor Scott Conroy is Spencerʼs passion for big critters like preparing to auction off Mikeʼs Gulch - the first Roadless Area timber sale planned as mountain lions, bears and wolves and part of the Biscuit logging project. Mikeʼs Gulch would log 335 acres of roadless forest big wilderness like the Klamath-Siskiy- in the South Kalmiopsis Roadless Area. The logging plan would leave just 1.5 legacy ou is legendary. He was instrumental trees (“snags”) per acre - a virtual clearcut. Meanwhile, many other roadless area in the passing of the 1994 statewide logging projects are being prepared by the Forest Service. Biscuit is the first large- initiative banning hound hunting and scale logging project to threaten Inventoried Roadless Forests since the Roadless Rule baiting of bears and cougars in Oregon, and is currently fighting efforts to undermine was created. It could set a precedent for many millions of acres of roadless federal this important victory for wildlife. forest across the nation.

While Spencer has handed over the reigns of KS Wild, he will continue to stay Write or call Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and ask him to protect designated connected, helping support the group he established nearly a decade ago. He is an Roadless Areas by publicly opposing Biscuit roadless logging. incredible strategist and visionary and the earth has more protected wild places today Governor Ted Kulongoski - 254 State Capitol, Salem, OR 97310 - 503-378-4582 because of him. Thank you Spencer! 13 2 The Meteor Timber Sale: Welcome Stephanie Tidwell KS Wild Stands Tall For 744 acres along the Salmon River by George Sexton KS Wild is excited to announce the arrival of our new Executive Director, Stephanie Tidwell. Stephanie has years of experience in the non-profit sector, most recently as Executive Director “The unfortunate reality is that many people presently do not trust us to do the right thing. of the Utah Environmental Congress in Salt Lake City where Until we rebuild that trust and strengthen those relationships, it is simply common sense she performed all fundraising activities, wrote a bi-monthly that we avoid riparian, old-growth, and roadless areas.” newsletter and oversaw all aspects of the UECʼs program work. - Former Forest Service Chief Michael Dombeck speaking to the Senate Commit- She received a Masters in Journalism with a Certificate in tee on Energy and Natural Resources. Environmental Policy from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Stephanie has worked for the CU-Boulder Environmental In the last issue of KS

Photo: Photo: Center, Rocky Mountain Animal Defense and Sinapu. She has Wild News we reported also worked on sustainable living campaigns for many years on how timber sale and is currently building a zero-emission, rammed earth home planners in the Klamath Camp Matthew just outside of Ashland. National Forest intend to log thousands of acres of ancient forests surround- ... and Milo Canyon ing the Salmon River. Since then, KS Wild, the We are thrilled to welcome a new healthy boy to Environmental Protection the family, born on March 13 to KS Wild Board Information Center (EPIC) of Directors President Shannon Clery and Rob and the Klamath Forest Sweeney. After an entire day of hard labor, the Alliance (KFA) have filed baby came into the world at a weight of 8 lbs., 6 litigation to protect this oz., measuring 22 inches in length. ecological gem from the chainsaws. The Wild and Milo Canyon was born a few hours after a Wild and Scenic Salmon River Scenic Salmon River is giant meteor fell into the Pacific Ocean off the world-renowned for its southern Oregon coast, and he will no doubt beauty, its water quality, its wild forests and for the Chinook and Coho that still call bring excitement, joy and cosmic wonder to it home, and we intend to do everything within our power to keep it that way. We are his parents, friends and family. being represented by Susan Jane Brown of the Pacific Environmental Advocacy Center (PEAC) and Joshua Borger of the Environmental Law Foundation (ELF). # Bad News For a Good Watershed Please Join KS Wild Today! The recently challenged Meteor old-growth timber sale calls for logging 6 million board feet of native forest within a Key Watershed for salmon recovery that serves as a Yes, I want to support KS Wild’s efforts to protect the remaining wild forests of Northern Spotted Owl Critical Habitat and is located in and around Wild and Scenic the Klamath-Siskiyou Ecoregion with a tax-deductible membership donation of: river corridors. o o o o Key Watersheds were identified by the Northwest Forest Plan as watersheds “that serve $20 $50 $100 Other $ as refugia for maintaining and recovering habitat for at-risk stocks of anadromous... Name Date and resident fish.” Thatʼs a fancy way of saying that Key Watersheds are supposed to protect Salmon. Yet the Forest Service wants to log old-growth trees on unstable Address slopes, drag trees out of the forest across fragile soils with tractors, and log within riparian reserves within this Key Watershed; all practices that are known to directly City State Zip harm water quality. Spotted Owl Critical Habitat refers to forests that were identified by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as literally critical to the survival and recovery of Email Phone ( ) the threatened Northern Spotted Owl. Yet in the Meteor timber sale the Forest Service wants to log old-growth trees within a Northern Spotted Owl Critical Habitat Unit. Mail this form along with your membership donation to: Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center, P.O. Box 332, Williams, OR 97544 3 12 The agency attempts to justify logging critical habitat for a threatened species by Sexton G. Photo: Litigation Updates claiming that maybe it isnʼt really critical By Erin Madden habitat and even if it is, logging most of the big trees will improve owl habitat. In fact,

The Bush Administration has kept KS Wild quite busy the Forest Service has marked healthy Photo: G. Sexton G. Photo: over the last few months. Forest Service and BLM large diameter trees and valuable wildlife attempts to limit citizen input mechanisms for destructive snags for logging that would destroy the projects has resulted in increased litigation to protect our most important habitat values. native forests. Hereʼs an update on several of the cases KS Wild is involved in. Wild and Scenic Rivers are supposed to be protected by a 1/4 mile buffer on Threatened Northern Spotted Owls: In 2003, KS Wild either side of the river in order to protect and other organizations challenged the U.S. Fish and their “outstanding remarkable values.” Wildlife Serviceʼs Biological Opinion for the Northern The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is clear spotted owl, which allows the destruction of thousands of that the Forest Service must protect the acres of critical owl habitat throughout Southern Oregon. recreational rivers so as to “not substan- Although Plaintiffs did not prevail in district court, we tially interfere with public use and enjoy- recently received a favorable opinion from the 9th Circuit ment of these values…” and that “primary requiring the district court to revisit its decision in light emphasis shall be given to protecting its of a another recent Ninth Circuit ruling suggesting the aesthetic, scenic, historic, archeological FWSʼ method for analyzing the impacts of logging on the and scientific features.” Yet the Klamath spotted owl is flawed. Condrey Mountain National Forest has targeted old-growth Douglas-fir trees over four feet in diameter Condrey Mountain Roadless Area: Late last year, KS Wild and local residents of within the Wild and Scenic river corridor. Tree marked for cut in the Wild and Siskiyou County, California filed suit against the Forest Service challenging its authori- Evidently the Forest Service believes that Scenic River corridor. zation of road and helicopter landing reconstruction and use by Fruit Growers Supply stump fields are both “wild and scenic.” Company (FGS) to facilitate logging of ancient forests within the Condrey Mountain Roadless Area and Johnny OʼNeill Late Successional Reserve (LSR). In early March, Good Claims Against a Bad Agency FGS was allowed to intervene as a defendant in the case and briefing is underway. We expect a decision in the case by mid-summer. Because FGS must still conduct If there is a silver-lining to the Forest Serviceʼs aggressive targeting of old-growth in Key surveys for spotted owls in the vicinity of the area proposed for logging, it is unlikely that Watersheds, Spotted Owl Critical Habitat and Wild and Scenic Corridors for logging, it operations will occur this year, providing additional time for KS wild to seek funding for is that there is no lack of legal claims to halt such practices. a buyout of this amazing expanse of forest. While we would prefer that the Forest Service voluntarily listen to the vast majority of Elk Creek Late Successional Reserve: In our last newsletter, we highlighted an impor- Americans who want their remaining ancient forests protected, when the agency ignores tant win in district court challenging the Timbered Rock post-fire salvage sales, which the public and the law we are prepared to go to court to keep the forests standing. So would have logged over 800 acres of native forest within a “protected” LSR. Recently, on February 14th KS Wild, EPIC and KFA filed suit in Federal Court to be a voice for the federal government sent notice to Plaintiffs preserving their right to appeal this case the Salmon, Spotted Owls and the humans that call the Salmon River home. to the 9th Circuit. We are confident that the appeals court will uphold Judge Aikenʼs well- reasoned opinion. Due to a permanent injunction issued by Judge Aiken, logging may not When timber planners in the propose reasonable thinning of go forward even while the case is pending before the Ninth. existing fiber plantations, and small diameter thinning around homes and communities to improve fire safety and forest health, we are the first to pat them on the back. But as National Forest Management Act: KS Wild, along with over a dozen other organiza- long as the Forest Service targets old-growth forests for logging, KS Wild will continue tions, is set to file a lawsuit against the Forest Service challenging the recently released to defend the forest with everything weʼve got. National Forest Management Act (NFMA) regulations, which govern the use of 192 million acres of public lands across the country. Unlike the old regulations, which set What You Can Do fairly strict standards for the management of our national forests, the new regulations Call or write the Klamath National Forest and ask that they focus on plantation thin- are vague and standardless, leaving all decision making to the discretion of Forest ning rather than logging mature and old-growth forests. Peg Boland, Klamath Forest Service officials. This is directly contrary to NFMA, which requires the Forest Service to Supervisor - 1312 Fairlane Road, Yreka CA 96097-9549 - (530) 842-6131 develop standards within the regulations for protection of water quality, streambanks, and biodiversity. 11 4 keep cows out of sensitive areas at Big Grayback. Fencing in this wild area has its own Four More Years, More of the Same set of impacts, and the smartest thing to do is retire this allotment. By Joseph Vaile and Lesley Adams Buyouts Public lands ranchers should be bought out of allotments such as Big Grayback. This would save taxpayer dollars within ten years, as the cost of administering this allotment is far more than what the government gets back in revenue. Ranchers should be compensated at a handsome price so they can invest in other pastureland or alternative feeding operations for their cows.

Please write to Peter DeFazio and Ron Wyden and ask them to buyout the Big Grayback allotment. Tell them the highest and best use of this land is as a recreational and ecological gem, not a cow pasture. Tell them to save taxpayer dollars in the long term by offering the rancher a buyout option.

Senator Ron Wyden Representative Peter DeFazio 310 West 6th St, Room 118 612 S.E Jackson Street, Room 9 Medford, OR 97501 Roseburg, OR 97470 (541) 858-5122 (541) 440-3523

Paul Conrad Spring Hikes with KS Wild

IF A TREE FALLS IN THE FOREST AND NO ONE HEARS IT... April 30 - Rainie Falls Photo: Four miles roundtrip on-trail to Rainie Falls

As with many of the Bush Administrationʼs policies in the first term, the use of manipula- on the lower Rogue. See osprey, bald eagle L. Adams tive and clever rhetoric will undoubtedly continue in the next term. Bushʼs first term and maybe river otter. Easy-moderate. brought with it the “Healthy Forests Initiative,” Clear Skies Initiative” and projects like Biscuit Fire “Recovery.” While these plans sound great, they are disguising the true May 14 - Kelsey-Whisky intent: to weaken environmental regulations to help industries at the expense of society Views of the lower Rogue River canyon and the environment. and parts of the Kelsey-Whisky timber sale. Moderate-difficult. Fair amount of You are probably thinking that it canʼt get much worse. Unfortunately, we believe the driving and off-trail hiking. administration intends to spend some of its perceived “political capital” to further unravel May 28 - Condrey Mountain decades of environmental safeguards. But we are better equipped to counter their lies Great views, abundant wildflowers and and distortions and stop these polluting and environmentally dangerous policies dead an old-growth forest within this Roadless in their tracks. Here are some of the things we predict will threaten the health of wild Area scheduled for logging. Moderate-dif- places and the environment in the Klamath-Siskiyou during the next four years: ficult. Steep, off-trail hiking. June 11 - Grizzly Peak A recent hike to Kelsey-Whisky. Endangered Species Five miles roundtrip on-trail through a forest We expect intensified efforts to gut the Endangered Species Act, a safety net that that experienced a fire event in 2002. Easy-moderate. prevents the extinction of unique organisms that have evolved over time. Enacted in 1973, the ESA is a profound, hopeful and popular law that codifies our nationʼs com- June 25 - Kelsey-Whisky mitment and responsibility to preserve the earthʼs biological heritage. Bald eagles, Moderate-difficult - see description for May14. peregrine falcons and wolves are all symbols of America that we have intentionally prevented from going extinct. There are still thousands of species that need our help. Always be prepared! The Klamath-Siskiyou has some of the highest concentrations of rare and at-risk Bring lunch, water, sturdy hiking shoes and a good attitude. All hikes leave from species in the country. Evoʼs Coffee Lounge in Ashland at 9:30am. Kelsey-Whisky and Rainie Falls hikes also leave from Sunshine Foods in Grants Pass at 10:30am. For more information While more than 1,800 species of plants and animals are listed on the ESA, and more and a full hike schedule, visit www.kswild.org or call Lesley at 488-5789. 5 10 deserve listing, the law is consistently undermined by a lack of funding and legal support. Wilderness Area or Cow Pasture? The entire law is under a fierce and sustained assault. For years, GOP congressional by Joseph Vaile leaders have attempted to weaken the landmark law with little success, but they vow to not give up. House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) and Would you graze cows in the Greg Walden (R-OR) have led the charge by proposing bills that would weaken “critical Sistine Chapel? Of course Photo: habitat” provisions and create a review board, chosen by the Bush-appointed Interior not. Would you get your drink- Secretary, to examine science on a species proposed for listing. ing water from a cow pond? Nawa Rich Heck no. Thatʼs about how Pacific Northwest Forests smart continuing to graze In the last four years we saw the Bush administration rollback protections for forests in the Big Grayback Allotment the Pacific Northwest. These rollbacks include weakening protections for clean water, on the Siskiyou Crest is, yet fish and other at-risk species by removing requirements that were key to the manage- the Forest Service is plowing ment strategy of the Northwest Forest Plan. ahead anyway. Now, in response to a timber industry lawsuit, the government has agreed to rewrite KS Wild recently commented management plans for all Bureau of Land Management land in Oregon. The agree- on the Allotment Management ment orders the BLM to consider removing environmental protections from “O&C” land. Plan for the Big Grayback BLM in Oregon is 87% O&C land. Environmental protections on BLM land are vital for Cattle Grazing Allotment. The ecological connectivity between National Forests as designed by the Northwest Forest plan calls for grazing cows Plan. The BLM intends to accomplish this revision process, which potentially threatens on both the Rogue River and 800,000 acres of ancient forest, before Bushʼs second term is over. Siskiyou National Forests. There is quite a bit more than Cows in the Bigelow Lakes Botanical Area. Wrapped in an obscure piece of public land history, O&C land originated from an a cow pasture at stake. 1866 federal land grant to the Oregon and California Railroad Company. The railroad company cheated the government and sold much of the old-growth laden land to timber One of the Last, Best Places on Earth companies until the federal government reclaimed the land in 1915. A contentious piece Just a quick glance at this allotment – and the damage that cows are doing – would of legislation, the 1937 O&C Act, has since managed the land that was reinstated into have any reasonable person conclude that grazing is just plain silly. The allotment the public trust. overlaps the very large (about 150 square miles) Kangaroo Roadless Area, which sur- rounds the Area. The area contains three separate Botanical More Fire Hysteria, More Plantations Areas and the Oliver Matthews Research Natural Area. High elevation lakeshores and The administrationʼs use of wildfire hysteria to justify logging healthy forests gained meadows contain plants that are so rare, such as the Elegant Gentain, that grazing has traction in the first term, and we anticipate renewed efforts to mandate logging after fire moved them toward extinction. events. Since all forests burn at some point in their evolution, such a logging policy would, on principle, make all forests eligible for logging and conversion into tree plantations. Recreation is important in the Big Grayback area: it contains the Boundary Trail that connects to the famous which thousands of hikers frequent every Timber interests claim that after a fire, clearcut logging is needed in order to replant year. Plant enthusiasts visit the Botanical Areas to take in the beautiful and rare speci- a forest. What they really want to accomplish is to convert the remaining 5% of wild mens. Sadly, cows welcome hikers climbing to view the incredible vistas on Grayback forests into biologically void fiber plantations. Remaining wild areas should be kept as Mountain, and the natural springs where water is available stink of cow excrement. the national heritage that they are. Thinning thick forests near communities and tree Cows graze in streams above threatened fish stocks and in the drinking water supply plantations in the backcountry should be our priority, not entering native forests. for the Oregon Caves National Monument, threatening the downstream water with E. Coli and Chryptosporidium contamination. What You Can Do In the Red Communicate with Oregon and Californiaʼs Delegation. Tell your Senators and Repre- sentatives, regardless of anyoneʼs political persuasion, that protecting the environment The economics of public lands grazing would make Enron executives proud. Grazing is a no brainer. Tell them that gutting laws that protect endangered species, clean water, in areas like the Big Grayback allotment, where there is potential for serious harm to ancient forests and human health is against your wishes. Write your local and regional recreation, water quality and wild areas, is a taxpayer subsidy like no other. Cows are newspaper editors supporting strong environmental protections. grazed on public lands at far below market value ($1.36 per month for one cow and calf). The cost of federal land grazing to taxpayers is estimated at $500 million per year. The Forest Service is proposing an additional $30,000 to $400,000 of fencing to Congressional Switchboard: 1-800-839-5276 or 202-224-3121

9 6 Featured Hike Road Threatens Grayback Old-Growth by Erin Madden and the Wilderness by George Sexton Heading towards the Oregon Sexton G. Photo: Caves National Monument, one cannot help but stare in awe at the beauty of the Sucker Creek watershed. Despite logging and road building over the years, this watershed still boasts some of the most beautiful old growth forest in the Sis- kiyou. Its ecological values are currently under threat, however, by a proposed

Photo: G. Sexton G. Photo: logging road through the Grayback Late Successional Reserve (LSR) designed to facilitate logging of adjacent private land. Tree in the proposed roadway.

Under the Alaska National Interest Land Conservation Act, the Forest Service is required to provide reasonable access across public lands to private inholdings within National Forest Castle Crags is well known for towering spires and steep-sided canyons. boundaries. For decades, private landowners have exploited this provision in order to Castle Lake has got it all going on: wild roadless forests, high alpine lakes, hidden obtain access to remote areas for logging, mining and other destructive activities. springs, otherwordly rock formations, and the best views of Mt. Shasta that youʼre likely to find. Standing on top of one of the many unnamed peaks surrounding Castle Lake, Indian Hills LLC is seeking permission from the Forest Service to build a road through one can look down and see oneself perfectly reflected in the clear water hundreds of the Grayback LSR to access a private inholding. The Forest Service is more than happy feet below, or look east and see Mt. Shasta looming so close it seems like you could to oblige, and has stated that a Categorical Exclusion (CE) is the proper mechanism for reach out and touch it. If you turn your gaze south the rugged maze of rocks and spires reviewing the proposed road under the National Environmental Policy Act. A CE allows of the hint of endless back-country hiking and climbing routes. the Forest Service to approve the road with little analysis of the environmental impacts and precludes members of the public from commenting on the project or appealing the Winter snowshoeing and back-country skiing at Castle Lake is so popular that the road decision, leaving litigation as the only means of stopping this proposal. is plowed year-round. You might think that the easy access to high elevation snow and stunning back-country wilderness would result in an overwhelming mob of recreators, The project area contains some of the only remaining old growth forest in the vicinity but as soon as the SUVs in the parking lot are behind you, the crowds vanish and as it is bordered on two sides by logged over private land. Huge Douglas firs, some the wilderness gets real wild. During the snow months, the wilderness skiing and 4-5 feet in diameter, tower above an understory dominated by chinquapin and salal, snowshoe options are limitless; and during the dry months, the high elevation hiking and many are slated to be cut to make way for the road. To make matters worse, a and swimming makes it real hard to head back to town at the end of the day. previously undiscovered pair of spotted owls resides within 1500 feet of the proposed road. The pair successfully fledged two owlets last year. Additional logging and roading Getting there - Take I-5 to the central exit for the town of Mt. Shasta. Look for the threatens the ability of these owls to disperse from their parentsʼ nest. overpass heading west over I-5. Just west of the overpass there is a sign for Castle Lake Road. Surprise! Thatʼs your road. Follow it to its terminus at the lake approximately 9 Given that the surrounding private land has previously been logged, KS Wild questions miles southwest of the freeway exit. Suggested hikes: Castle Lake itself is magnificent, why the means of access utilized by Indian Hills in the past does not constitute reason- but you need to see the back-country. There are trails to nearby Heart Lake and Little able access today. Although the Forest Service is not accepting public comment on this Castle Lake, both of which provide great jumping off points for trail-less cross-country project, KS Wild has documented conditions in the area and sent information to the exploration. Be sure to get a copy of the Forest Service map called “A Guide to the Forest Service discussing why full environmental analysis is necessary for this project. Mt. Shasta Wilderness & Castle Crag Wilderness.” Also, if you donʼt want to make the We expect a decision to be signed this Spring. vultures very happy, please take plenty of water and a compass. Happy trails!

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