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SUNNY Temp: 94 °F Wind: NW at 4 mph Sunday, September 28, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 25, 2003 Ashland split onplan for fire prevention By TONY BOOM Mail Tribune ASHLAND — A July fire on the edge of the city’s watershed and increased numbers of dead trees visible in the hills above town have heightened fears of wildfires in the area and brought calls for action. But city officials say a plan under development for thinning the area might not be realistic without some means of paying for it. A city Forest Lands Commission is nearing completion of a restoration plan for 640 acres of city-owned watershed land, but the plan has been developed without cost projections. Commission members hope the plan, more than two years in development, will go to the Ashland City Council in October and that thinning could occur during winter months. The commission, however, rejected a suggestion from Mayor Alan DeBoer to come up with a version of the plan that would pay for itself through the sale of timber that’s removed. The plan under development does not address costs. Councilman Chris Hearn, liaison to the commission, presented the mayor’s proposal in a July meeting. Advertisement "The commission has so much on our plate that we are just going to focus on our proposal," said Vice Chairwoman Liz Crowson on Friday. She presented a response to the mayor’s suggestion at an Aug. 13 meeting. "I think everyone just wants to see some work happen," said Crowson. "We’re trying to facilitate that." DeBoer said the July 13 Horn Gap fire that breached the upper corner of the watershed worried residents. "We need to push this forward and go in and treat this area for wildfire," said DeBoer. "I want to make sure that they bring us something that will not cost us $10 million. It will mean some commercial logging of trees." The commission members, however, rejected the mayor’s proposal for a second plan. "The feeling of the committee’s response was that they’d put in a lot of months into this process so far," said Hearn. "They felt it was a bit late to come up with two proposals. The one they have is one where cost is not considered." While costs are not attached to the plan, council members still could easily get an estimate of revenue that would be generated through timber removal, says the city’s contract forester. Marty Main has marked trees that would be removed under the draft plan developed by the commission. The marking allows commissioners and citizens to hike through the forest to see what will be cut. But it also could be used by timber cruisers to determine values, says Main. "A good portion of the unit has been done," said Main. Main said he could have revenue estimates ready in a month or two. Tentative plans call for helicopters to remove timber to protect the area’s ecology. Final acreage for thinning hasn’t been determined. "There’s lots of helicopter jobs around that make a profit," said Main. "The city’s got to make a decision on the commercial portion of the project." City thinning would address only part of the problem and commission members want to make sure that its handling does not create more problems. "All the city-owned land is a small percentage (of the watershed)," said Hearn. "The committee believes it can set a precedent for the Forest Service that might be followed on other land." Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search 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 A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley 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