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41 °F 5 Day Forecast Thursday, December 4, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend November 1, 2003 Sides see eye-to-eye on forest plan BLM’s tree-thinning pilot project receives guarded praise from environmental group By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune GRANTS PASS — While a national debate has raged over forest thinning projects to reduce wildfire threat, just such a project along the Rogue River has been quietly approved — and with the support of environmentalists. The Rogue River Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project calls for a joint effort by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and other property owners to thin nearly 8,700 acres. The property lies along the recreational section of the river between the confluence of the Applegate River downstream to the mouth of Grave Creek. Abbie Jossie, the BLM’s Grants Pass field manager, earlier this week selected an alternative that includes removing brush and cutting trees up to 12 inches in diameter along the stretch a quarter of a mile wide on both sides of the Rogue. The other three alternatives contained in the agency’s environmental assessment included everything from no action to cutting larger trees. Advertisement "With this plan, we will be providing for fuel hazard reduction and wildfire suppression safety while still maintaining the scenic quality and other outstandingly remarkable values of the river," Jossie said. The project has drawn guarded praise from the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center in Ashland, an environmental group known for its outspoken opposition to many BLM timber sales. The 5,090 acres of BLM land included in the project are not earmarked for timber production in the BLM’s Medford District management plan. The rest of the property included in the project is owned by the state, Josephine County or the private sector. Those property owners are encouraged to participate but are not required to, according to project spokeswoman Jeanne Klein. The river corridor along that stretch is designated recreational under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The only BLM project of its kind in the state, it was one of 10 initially proposed in the nation last year as an outgrowth of President Bush’s Healthy Forest Initiative. Bush announced the program during a visit to Jackson County in August of 2002. Emphasizing structure protection along the corridor, the agency anticipates helping to develop 20 to 30 neighborhood plans over the next two years. The first will likely be at Rand beginning late this year or early in 2004. Rand is about four miles upstream from Grave Creek. The thinning work will be done through both manual and mechanical methods. The use of a mechanical "slashbuster" will be limited to seldom seen areas between the mouth of the Applegate down river down to Hogg Creek, Klein said. The focus is on improving the forest health while reducing the threat of fire, said Doug Henry, a BLM forest planner. "We don’t know yet if there will be a commercial demand for a 12-inch (diameter) tree," he said, noting that would be a bonus. "As we develop these neighborhood plans, working with other property owners, we have to consider how to get the work done in the end," he added. "We hope the neighborhood process will become a joint responsibility effort." The entire cost of the project is estimated to be between $2 million and $4 million with much of that expected to be contracted out. It’s a project that should be replicated throughout the district, said Joseph Vaile, a biologist with the Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center. "We like the fact it is focusing on fuels reduction around communities," he said. "This definitely represents what we would like to see. "The agencies should focus on the smaller stuff that is susceptible to fire, not go after big stuff that has survived fires for centuries,." he added. George Sexton, the group’s conservation director, agreed. "I’m cautiously optimistic," he said. "For the Medford District, this is a huge step forward." Local property owners who want to become involved in the project should call the district office at 618-2200. For more information about the project, check out www.or.blm.gov/medford . Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times