Wolf Creek, Colorado Ski Area Expansion Halted
1/20/99
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Wolf Creek, Colorado Ski Area Expansion Halted
Source: Forest Guardians
Status: Distribute freely with proper credit to source
Date: 1/20/99
FRONTLINE NEWS
Wednesday, January 20, 1999
http://www.fguardians.org
NO. 45
WOLF CREEK, COLORADO SKI AREA EXPANSION HALTED
Forest Service Must Further Study Effects on Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout
FOREST GUARDIANS APPEALS FIRE SALVAGE ON THE GILA NF
Leggett Sale Threatens Owl and Goshawk and Would Log Old Growth Forest
OREGON TIMBER SALE SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGED
Forest Guardians Appeal Sends Siskiyou, NF Timber Sale Back to Drawing
Board
FOREST GUARDIANS STAFF ELECTED TO TWO BOARDS
Logging Program is Focus of Platforms
WOLF CREEK, COLORADO SKI AREA EXPANSION HALTED
Forest Service Must Further Study Effects on Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout
An appeal of the Wolf Creek Ski Area expansion by Forest Guardians and
Carson Forest Watch has temporarily stopped the project. Wolf Creek ski
area is seeking permission from the Forest Service to expand into
undeveloped backcountry adjacent to the current resort. The area proposed
for expansion lies in the heart of the San Juan-Sangre de Cristo Bioregion
which is the focus of Forest Guardians' bioregional reserve design
efforts.
This region of southern Colorado supports potential habitat for lynx,
wolverine, grizzly, and native Rio Grande cutthroat trout. Protection of
the remaining undeveloped habitats in the San Juans is critical in order
to preserve habitat of the lynx as the state of Colorado moves forward
with its reintroduction effort. The USFS likely will have to modify its
proposal, but it will undoubtedly resurface in the coming year.
APPEAL CHALLENGES FIRE SALVAGE ON THE GILA NF
Leggett Sale Threatens Owl and Goshawk and Would Log Old Growth Forest
Forest Guardians filed an appeal on 1/19/99 of the 1.3 million board foot
(260 log trucks) Leggett Fire Salvage which would log "dead and dying"
ponderosa pine trees along NM 180 west of Reserve, NM. The appeal claims
the environmental analysis failed to disclose the costs and revenues
associated with the timber sale, especially those related to the benefits
of standing forests (burned or unburned) or the costs of logging to
society. Forest Guardians' appeal also claims the Gila national forest
failed to comply with 1996 forest plan amendments which included new
standards to protect the Mexican spotted owl and Northern goshawk. The
appeal asked the Leggett decision to be withdrawn and that further timber
sale planning cease until the Gila national forest can provide substantial
evidence of its compliance with the amendments. The Forest Service
justified cutting live trees, some over 24" dbh, on the prediction that
they will die
OREGON TIMBER SALE SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGED
Forest Guardians Appeal Sends Siskiyou, NF Timber Sale Back to Drawing
Board
In response to an appeal filed by Forest Guardians, the Native Forest
Council and other appellants, the USFS has withdrawn its decision to sell
trees in the Replacement Volume Timber Sale on the Siskiyou NF in Oregon.
The Replacement Volume sale, which has been in the planning process for
several years, would have logged 8.7 million board feet of trees (1740 log
trucks) from 217 acres. The USFS withdrew this decision once before
because of concerns about the marbled murrelet, a federally listed
threatened bird species. On 1/8/99 the USFS regional office withdrew the
decision in order that additional documentation of economic issues raised
by Forest Guardians be developed. Forest Guardians' appeal focused on the
adverse economic effects of logging National Forest lands and the economic
benefits of intact forest ecosystems.
FOREST GUARDIANS STAFF ELECTED TO TWO BOARDS
Logging Program is Focus of Platforms
Forest Guardians staff members were recently elected to the boards of
regional and national conservation groups. Conservation biologist Bryan
Bird was elected to the Executive Committee of the Rio Grande Chapter of
the Sierra Club. Sam Hitt, Forest Guardians' President, was elected to
American Land Alliance board. Both ran on platforms to end commercial
logging on national forests.
John Horning
Watershed Protection Program
Forest Guardians
1413 Second Street
Santa Fe, NM 87505
505 988-9126
505 989-8623 fax
www.fguardians.org