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Old-growth Habitat : Under the Clinton Forest Plan, salvage logging in Late 

 Successional Reserves (LSR's) should have a "positive effect on late-successional forest 

 habitat." The objective of LSR's is to protect and enhance conditions of late-successional 

 and old-growth forest ecosystems. This unnecessary and destructive logging wilt have a 

 negative effect on old-growth habitat. 



Prevention of Wildfire?: The Forest Service claims that salvage is necessary to 

 prevent future wildfires in the area affected by the looper. However, stand-replacing wildfires 

 are extremely rare west of the Cascades. The last stand-replacing wildfire in the 

 Independence LSR occurred in 1834. The Forest Service's ovwi studies show that standing 

 dead trees actually retard spreading fires. Furthermore, logging activities may increase the 

 risk of fire by increasing human presence and spark-generating activities and leaving behind 

 logging slash. 



Roadless Area: The large block of old-growth forest along the east and northeast sides 

 of Olo Mountain is a 1000 acre roadless area. Many of the highly defoliated areas that the 

 Forest Service is likely to log are located within this roadless area. Roadless areas are so 

 rare that they must be protected. 



Forks Recreation Trail Will be Destroyed: The Forks trail is a remnant trail, still 

 enjoyed by countless individuals and families, which used to go from Granite Falls to Three 

 Fingers Mountain. It is located mostly within a patch of high defoliation, and also includes 

 many old-growrth green trees as well. In order to reach the highly defoliated area, many 

 healthy green old-growth cedar and hemlock trees must be cut. The recreational experience 

 of this trail will be completely destroyed if this sale goes through. 



Effects of the Clearcut Rider on the Democratic Process: Because of the 

 Clearcut Rider, if the Decision Notice is signed on this sale before September 30th, no 

 citizen challenge to the sale will be allowed. This destructive sale demonstrates the need 

 for citizen involvement in timber sale planning and the need to restore our democratic rights 

 that have been removed by the rider. Under the proposed Craig "Forest Health" bill, this area 

 would be allowed to be called an "emergency", and environmental review and citizen input 

 would be shortened or not allowed. 



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