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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 12, 2006 Timber firms still want Biscuit wood But their desire is fading because of the deteriorating condition of the fire-killed trees By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune Though this summer marks four years since the 2002 Biscuit fire, timber companies remain interested in salvaging the fire-killed trees. But enthusiasm is waning over concerns of wood deterioration in the Siskiyou portion of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. "We are interested in the volume — we need the wood," said Steve Swanson, president of Swanson Group Inc. in Glendale, which purchased a sale two years ago. But Swanson was quick to observe that interest depends on the appraisal and the condition of the wood. "Without a doubt the quality and value of that wood has diminished," he said. "And it’s not going to get any better. The chance of a viable sale diminishes every single day." Advertisement Darrel Bonde, timber manager for South Coast Lumber Co., appeared to agree. The Brookings-based firm has purchased three Biscuit salvage sales. "We’re interested in seeing what they propose," he said of two planned salvage sales in the national forest. "But this year will be the last shot at anything — it’ll all be gone after this summer," he added, referring to commercial value. Forest officials say they will offer two salvage sales — Mike’s Gulch and Blackberry — in the roadless area this year, although no date has been set for auctioning the timber. The logging would be harvested by helicopter to reduce soil damage, officials said. No logging is expected to begin until early summer. The sales inflame opponents because they would be the first salvage in roadless areas that were burned. Environmentalists say any salvage harms the natural recovery under way after a fire and is not economically justifiable. The largest fire in the nation in 2002, the Biscuit spread over an area covering some 500,000 acres. It burned in a mosaic pattern, leaving roughly 100,000 acres largely unburned within its perimeter. The agency ultimately decided to salvage some 370 million board feet but less than 60 million board feet has been salvaged thus far. "My expectation is this would be the final year of salvage," said Rob Shull, the forest’s timber and planning staff officer. However, he cautioned there is a possibility more salvage could occur if sound trees are found that are within the perimeters of the sales program. There are currently no plans for additional salvage sales this year beyond Mike’s Gulch and Blackberry, officials said. Specialists continue to evaluate the two roadless sales, Shull said, noting no volume or appraised value is yet available. Any timber harvested by helicopter would have to be in good shape to make it economically viable, said David Schott, executive vice president of the Southern Oregon Timber Industries Association. The problem, he explained, is the high cost of helicopter logging. "These would also have to be good-sized logs — over 20-24 inches (in diameter) at least," he said. "They’ll have to go quite a ways into the meat to get any good wood." Any timber salvaged now from the fire would have to be kiln dried to kill any insects, he said. This year is likely to be the last year salvage could occur for fire-killed trees harvested by helicopter, given the cost, he added. "I can’t see it extending beyond this year," he said. The Biscuit timber purchased two years ago by the Glendale firm contained good wood, Swanson observed. "We were very surprised by the quality," he said. "But what happens out there is very site specific. It depends on what side of the hill it’s on, what elevation, how bad the fire was in that area. "But we have to see it first," he added. "We have to be very careful with these sales." He supports legislation now before Congress which would hasten implementation of salvage projects. "It’s a tragedy it took all these years to get this thing decided," he said. "We need to be able to react to a natural disaster and not let it rot on the stump." Bonde also believes millions of board feet of wood have been lost by bureaucratic delays, litigation and protests. "A lot of the trees killed outright by the fire — most of them are gone," he said of commercial value. "This whole thing makes me sick." Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at Timber firms still want Biscuit wood ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. 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