Comments due August 10th, 2020 on the draft Environmental Assessment.



Comment Writing Resource page



Bark’s Concerns:

The Zigzag Planning Area contains critical habitats for threatened coho and Chinook salmon and steelhead, which have seen huge recovery in recent years after proactive restoration by the USFS. Roadbuilding and logging on steep slopes above this habitat would pose a significant threat to salmon recovery and setback years of costly restoration efforts.

This timber sale would not establish public collaborative process, nor fund any restoration activities in the area through the Forest's Retained Reciepts program.

These forests attract thousands of visitors annually for cultural practice and free, public recreation. Areas within and surrounding the timber sale (which include the towns of Zigzag, Welches, Government Camp and Rhododendron), will be affected by any potential impacts and closures to areas like Trillium Lake, Ramona Falls, Burnt Lake, Old Maid Flat, Top Spur Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail.



Horseshoe Project Area

This project boundary comprises of 46 harvest units within the Upper Sandy subwatershed with approximately X acres of treatments on the western flank of Mt Hood. Elevation in the project area ranges from 3000 feet to approximately 4,500 feet along the Cascade Range. The plant association for this project area is within the Pacific Silver Fir Zone. The over story is predominantly Douglas-fir, Pacific silver-fir, noble fir, and western hemlock. The understory consists of blue huckleberry, salal, and rhododendron.

The soils in the project area have formed in medium-textures glacial till. The till consists of silt to boulder sized material of mixed geological origin. Rock fragments are primarily andesite but some tuffs and breccia may also be present. Precipitation ranges from 85 inches to 115 inches annually.

The area of potential effect (APE) for the Horseshoe project area is within the 6,820 acres of the Upper Sandy River sub-watershed. The APE takes into account all project activities, including yarding systems, harvesting activities, landings, decking, vehicle staging areas, or other activities. The APE falls within the Bull Run Lake and Hickman Butte Quadrangles.



Mud Creek Project Area

This project area is encompasses 56 harvest units within the Salmon River subwatershed with approximately X acres of treatments on the southern foothills of Mt Hood. Elevation in the project area ranges from 2300 feet to approximately 4,600 feet along the Cascade Range. The plant association for this project area is within the Pacific Silver Fir Zone. The over story is predominantly Douglas-fir, Pacific silver-fir, noble fir, mountain hemlock, and western hemlock. The understory consists of blue huckleberry, bear grass, prince’s pine, service berry, and rhododendron.

The soils in the project area have formed in unconsolidated, medium textured glacial till. Materials are of mixed geologic origin. Precipitation ranges from 70 inches to 130 inches annually.

The area of potential effect (APE) for the Mud Creek project area is located within the 9,222 acres of the Salmon River sub-watershed. The APE for the Mud project area is roughly located on the southwest flank of Veda Butte and Eureka Peak west of the Cascade crest and south of Mt Hood. The eastern and southern portion of the project is bounded by the Salmon River. The APE takes into account all project activities, including yarding systems, harvesting activities, landings, decking, vehicle staging areas, or other activities. The APE falls within the Government Camp and Wolf Peak Quadrangles.