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Forum set on Ashland watershed Five alternatives to be discussed By PAUL FATTIG ASHLAND -- A forum to discuss the draft environmental impact statement for the Ashland Watershed Protection Project will be held Wednesday. The three-hour session begins at 6 p.m. in the Stevenson Union at Southern Oregon University. The meeting is being held to prepare the public to respond to five alternatives contained in the draft plan as well as to explore other possible alternative options, according to Forest Service officials. Ashland Ranger District staff, community members and others will discuss the draft EIS released Aug. 20. The goal of the project is to reduce the potential for severe fires while protecting the watershed. "I think we can use this project as a platform for the community and the Forest Service to jointly find solutions," said Linda Duffy, Ashland District ranger. "If we look at how to best treat the land to meet community values and needs together, there's an opportunity for our communities to help develop the alternatives and influence the decision for action in this watershed." The district's proposed alternative calls for the Forest Service to burn brush on 1,097 acres in the 14,500-acre watershed. Another 452 acres would be logged by using helicopters, skyline cable or tractors. There would be no limit on the size of trees removed. Implementation of the project would take eight to 12 years, officials say. The draft EIS is a reaction to the agency's earlier decision which was successfully administratively appealed by Headwaters and the Rogue Group Sierra Club in 1998. The environmental groups said the Rogue River National Forest initially planned too much disturbance and not enough study of the impact. The Rogue Group asked the agency to do more analysis and prepare an environmental impact statement. The proposed alternative would reduce the fire hazard by maintaining eight miles of existing shaded fuel breaks on 205 acres, constructing new shaded fuel breaks on 13 acres, managing shaded fuel-break flanks on 401 acres, reducing fuel density on 301 acres and managing understory vegetation on 629 acres. Public comments on the proposal will be accepted until Oct. 18. Comments should be sent to: Linda Duffy, Ashland Ranger District, 645 Washington St., Ashland, OR 97520. The fax number is (541) 858-2402. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA