FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Conservationists, Forest Service Agree on Eastern Oregon Timber Sales

Long term negotiations lead to settlement for Eastern Oregon timber sale. Oregon Wild pleased that old-growth trees spared.

Two Oregon conservation groups have agreed that three U.S. Forest Service timber sales in eastern Oregon can move forward in exchange for dropping 651acres of old growth harvest from the logging plans.

With the help of U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Coffin, the parties worked all day on Dec. 4 to settle a lawsuit brought by the Hells Canyon Preservation Council and Oregon Wild challenging the Bald Angel Vegetation Project on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, which includes three timber sales.

The conservation groups agreed to let the project proceed and the Forest Service agreed to drop 152 acres of late successional and “old structure” stands in the Cold Angel timber sale and another 499 acres of old growth timber from planning consideration in the overall Bald Angel project.  In addition, no new permanent roads will be built.

The Bald Angel and Smith timber sales purchased by Dodge Logging of Maupin, Oregon will proceed on 2,100 acres of harvest with 9.6 million board feet of timber.  The Cold Angel timber sale, with approximately 415 acres of harvest with 2.3 million board feet, will be offered for sale by October 1.

“We’re happy that we were able to come to a mutually agreeable settlement on these issues, and we hope that in the future we can resolve local forest management issues without resorting to litigation,” said Greg Dyson, Executive Director of Hells Canyon Preservation Council.

“Our concern has always been the logging of fire-resistant old-growth trees,” said Doug Heiken, Conservation and Restoration Coordinator with Oregon Wild.  “We are very pleased that this agreement will protect over 650 acres of Oregon's old-growth heritage forests.”

“We are pleased we were able to come to agreement on the Bald Angel project and that the two awarded sales will go forward,” said Wallowa-Whitman Supervisor Steve Ellis.  

The participants also agreed to a field review with the Union County Forest Restoration Board, of a portion of the logging units once complete to assess their impact on wildlife.  

The Bald Angel Vegetation Project is located northeast of Medical Springs within both Union and Baker Counties.

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