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Green, Old-Growth Being Logged
Near Historic Lewis and Clark Trail
For Immediate Release: June 1, 2005
Old-Growth Cut Down in Roadless Wildland Along Historic
Lewis and Clark Trail on Clearwater National Forest as Part
of "Healthy Forest Initiative" Project
Green, Old-Growth Methodically Targeted by Logging Crews Prior
to Today's Court Hearing
For More Information (including photos and B-roll):
Cameron Naficy or Matthew Koehler, Native Forest Network:
406.542.7343
Jake Kreilick, National Forest Protection Alliance: 406.829.6353
or 406.396.0321
Wayne and Gia Fairchild, Lewis and Clark Trail Adventures:
406.728.7609
Karen Lindholt, Attorney, The Lands Council: 509.994.7423
MISSOULA, MT - A May 31 monitoring trip by the Native Forest
Network and National Forest Protection Alliance has documented
the fact that green, old-growth trees are currently being
cut down in a roadless wildland along the historic Lewis and
Clark Trail on the Clearwater National Forest in Idaho prior
to a court hearing that will determine if the Wendover Fire
Salvage timber sale is even legal.
"What we documented was that the logging crews are methodically
cutting down patches of green, old-growth trees throughout
the Wendover timber sale, while completely ignoring burned
trees that are also marked to be cut," said Jake Kreilick
with the National Forest Protection Alliance. "We can
only assume the logging crews have a marching order to get
as much green, old-growth cut down prior to today's court
hearing in Boise, Idaho because no judge in the country can
stand these green, old-growth trees back up once they've been
cut down."
"People need to understand that most of these logging
units are very remote. In fact, unit 1 and unit 3 are part
of a 6,500 acre roadless area. To access the far reaches of
unit 1, the logging crews need to hike for about 45 minutes
and ironically they're actually walking on the historic Lewis
and Clark Trail to cut down green, old-growth near the Lewis
and Clark Trail," said Cameron Naficy with the Native
Forest Network.
This project is being implemented as a Categorical Exclusion
under the Bush Administration's Healthy Forest Initiative.
"The vast majority of American's would not believe that
cutting down green, old-growth forests in a roadless wildland
along the historic Lewis and Clark trail is an appropriate
use of the Healthy Forest Initiative," explained Matthew
Koehler of the Native Forest Network. "In fact, as America
celebrates the bicentennial of the Corps of Discovery cutting
down green, old-growth forests in a roadless wildland near
the historic Lewis and Clark Trail amounts to nothing less
than vandalism of a historic site."
The Lands Council, Friends of the Clearwater, The Ecology
Center and Eugene and Mollie Eastman have filed suit in federal
district court in Idaho against the Clearwater National Forest
to stop the Wendover Fire Salvage timber sale near the historic
Lewis and Clark Trail. That hearing is scheduled for the afternoon
of Wednesday, June 1 in Boise.
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(NOTE: The following letter was sent to Pyramid Mountain Lumber
by Wayne and Gia Fairchild of Lewis and Clark Trail Adventures)
May 19. 2005
Dear Pyramid Mountain Lumber:
We are writing to you today as fellow Montana business owners
who make our livings because of the spectacular rivers, forests,
wildlife and wild places of the Northern Rockies. Like you,
we depend on the quality of the land that we live and work
on to support our families and the families of our employees.
As you can imagine with a name like Lewis and Clark Trail
Adventures, the majority of our business comes from clients
who want to experience the lands visited by Lewis and Clark
and the Corps of Discovery 200 years ago.
We have just learned that Pyramid Mountain Lumber was awarded
the contract to log the Wendover Fire Salvage timber sale
on the Clearwater National Forest directly adjacent to - and
within the viewshed of - the Lewis and Clark Trail.
We do not believe that an industrial logging project directly
adjacent to and within view of the Lewis and Clark Trail is
appropriate, even less so during the 200th anniversary of
the Corps of Discovery's remarkable journey.
Our clientele do not book trips with our businesses to see
the remnants of industrial logging projects, to have logging
trucks run by them on the road or to have helicopters whizzing
over their heads. They come to see elk and wolves, to see
the native forest that has always been here, and to experience,
as closely as possible, the historic and natural character
of the Lewis and Clark Trail corridor.
If Pyramid Mountain Lumber logs the Wendover Fire Salvage
timber sale, we believe it would further degrade the view
from the Lewis and Clark Trail - an impact that has direct,
adverse impacts on the experience of our clientele and thus
our livelihood.
The Lewis and Clark Trail, where the Corps of Discovery traveled
exactly 200 years ago, is of strong national and local significance
and runs along the top of Wendover Ridge. The Lolo Trail National
Historic Landmark and the Nez Perce Trail also run near Wendover
Ridge.
These historic trails are not single trails on a Forest Service
map, they are a network of trails that wind through a corridor
many miles wide. Our businesses depend on the natural and
historic character of the trails themselves and of the area
surrounding them.
The logging units proposed in the Wendover Salvage timber
sale lie directly in view from these historic trails and represent
a large portion of the unlogged forest that is visible from
some parts of the Lewis and Clark Trail. In fact, some of
the logging units are also in unroaded areas. These areas
are particularly important for fish and wildlife species in
an area that has already experienced heavy logging in the
past.
In order to protect the character of the Lewis and Clark Trail
and other historic trails in the area, we must look at preserving
the character of the surrounding lands, and not just the landmarks
along the route.
There is only one Lewis and Clark Trail. We have only one
chance to preserve what remains of this beautiful, historic
landscape and the wonder that all who come here to see the
Lewis and Clark Trail experience-and it is here now. We cannot
erase the impacts of past industrial logging in this area,
but we can make conscientious decisions now and in the future.
The Lewis and Clark Trail is a wonderful resource and our
livelihood depends on the preservation of its character. We
understand that your livelihood depends on logging projects
like this one, but surely there are better places for industrial
logging than adjacent to this national treasure, especially
during the 200th anniversary of the Corps of Discovery.
Pyramid Mountain Lumber has an opportunity to do its part
to ensure that the Lewis and Clark Trail, and other historic
trails in the area, are preserved for future generations,
rather than being known as the company that logged the forest
that Lewis and Clark walked through with the Corps of Discovery
200 years ago.
Since you are the contract holder to the Wendover Fire Salvage
timber sale we are writing to ask that Pyramid Mountain Lumber
refrain from cutting the Wendover Fire Salvage timber sale.
In order to help resolve this situation, we would like to
invite representatives of Pyramid Mountain Lumber and the
Clearwater National Forest to a field tour of the Wendover
Fire Salvage timber sale at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25.
Sincerely,
Wayne and Gia Fairchild
Lewis and Clark Trail Adventures
Missoula, MT 59801
406-728-7609
raft@montana.com
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(NOTE: The following letter was sent to the U.S. Forest Service
from Stephenie Ambrose Tubbs, daughter of Stephen Ambrose,
author of Undaunted Courage.)
May 31, 2005
Dear Sirs,
I write to you regarding the recent decision to commence salvage
logging operations on Wendover Ridge in the Clearwater National
Forest.
In view of the documented historical and cultural value of
this area I strongly urge you to reconsider this decision.
Simply in terms of public relations this is an extremely disastrous
undertaking for your corporation and for the region. Citizens
from all across America will be taking trips along the trail,
reading about the trail and following, via the internet, re-enactors
as they trace their way to the Pacific. We have the opportunity
to show the nation that this region, this area along the Lewis
and Clark and Nez Perce trails are appreciated and cared for.
We have the opportunity to share our love for this area and
for the stories it recollects as long as we show visitors
we are not unaware of its intrinsic value as a pristine place.
To do anything less, I believe would be an insult to people
who value history and landscape as a vital part of the human
experience.
Stephenie Ambrose Tubbs
atinc@mt.net
900 University
Helena, Mt.
59601
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