- a weekly column published in the Pioneer Press

After the northern spotted owl was listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team (FEMAT,) came up with 10 forest management options. “Option 9,” the Northwest Forest Plan (NFP), was the one that was selected in 1994.  

Almost a decade has passed and it is obvious to all that “Option 9” is not working.

Recently, representatives from the four northern California National Forests met for a whole week to review their experience with the NWP and develop an Action Plan.    

The NWFP was intended to be balanced between ecological outcomes and social, cultural and economic “outputs.” The Klamath National Forest (KNF) is producing only about 73% of the volume of timber products promised under the NWFP and this is not coming from the Forests in District 5. Lack of harvest activity has greatly impacted the social and cultural fabric of our local communities. 

The kinds of products are also different than promised. The Klamath National Forest envisioned regenerative harvesting that would produce green sawmill sized logs. Instead, projects have typically consisted of expensive thinning that produces small diameter logs and brush to be burned or crushed

Late Seral Reserves (LSRs) intended for old growth habitat are not being actively managed to promote that habitat. Conversely, only 8-10% of the “matrix lands” specifically designated to produce commodities, are actually being managed for intended purposes.

Some of the reasons why the NWFP has broken its promises include local appeals and litigation; lack of staffing and funding; the time taken and restrictions imposed by ESA biological consultations, the National Environmental Policy Act and Watershed Assessment process.

Another issue is what has been called “survey and manage.” This is a tag on provision added as an afterthought to the NWFP. It requires that Forest managers look for the presence of non-listed “sensitive species” and give them special management consideration. The obscure species include the red tree vole, five salamanders, and dozens of invertebrates such as wildflowers, mollusks, fungi, moss, lichen, and insects. The requirement has been expensive and has caused lengthy delays in preparing projects. All these various hoops amount to what has been dubbed “analysis paralysis.”

In 2001, Congress gave direction for the initiation of a 10 year strategy, called the National Fire Plan. The purpose of this plan is to reduce wildland fire risks to communities. The costs in time and money for required species and other surveys and the restrictions imposed are becoming a real barrier to doing what is needed immediately to protect local towns.

The Action Plan being developed by the KNF will attempt to return to the original intent of the NWFP by restoring the balance between ecological outcomes and social/economic outputs. It will also seek exceptions to burdensome requirements, particularly in the “threat zone” a mile and a half around communities. The KNF is already in the process of developing fuel reduction proposals in Happy Camp, Forks of Salmon, Seiad, Yreka and Tennant.    

Personally, I am looking forward to being able to make some contributions toward development of this plan. The Board of Supervisors has nominated me for appointment to the Klamath Province Advisory Committee and I am now awaiting appointment by the Secretary of Agriculture.