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Tahoe National Forest 

 21. Treasure Salvage Sale 



Ranger District Volume (mmbf) Project Acres Logging Acres 



Sierravjlle 20 22.880 14.180 



Location 



This sale is locaced approximately nvo miles southeast of Sierraville. 



Impact 



According to a scoping letter, dated January 23, 1996, by the District Ranger, "[cjurrently approximately 

 25% of the timber in the analysis area is dead or dying." This means that the vast majority of trees logged 

 will be live, green trees. 



Of great concern is the prescribed logging in a streamside management zone (SMZ). Forest Service regula- 

 tions require a 1 50 foot buffer to be maintained along all perennial streams. This project prescribes logging 

 36 acres in the Rice Creek SMZ. The Forest Service claims that the concentration of dead and dying trees in 

 the SMZ justifies this highly experimental approach to fire risk reduction. However, the reduction of present 

 shading through logging would likely increase the fire risk. In addition, logging would greatly jeopardize the 

 other important benefits provided by dead and dying trees in riparian areas, including reducing blowdown, 

 buffering micro-climates, and providing habitats in the form of down wood. 



The Treasure Sale also includes over 27 miles of permanent road construction in a watershed that is already 

 heavily roaded. 



For additional information: 



James Woods, Sierra Club, 916/273 3793 



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