Medford BLM Targets Galls Creek Old-Growth For Logging

The BLM continues to log old-growth habitat on public lands, despite the fact that old-growth dependent species continue to decline.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently released an Environmental Assessment for the Galls Foot timber sale south of Gold Hill (and just over the ridge from Jacksonville).

While the BLM continues to claim that they are concerned with “forest health” the proposed timber sale calls for extremely destructive practices such as 545 acres of tractor yarding, 556 acres of old-growth “regeneration” logging and road construction in this heavily degraded watershed.

When in Medford in August of 2002, BLM Director Kathleen Clarke stated to the Medford Mail Tribune that, "The projects I've been out on, they are leaving all the big trees and going in for the smaller ones - that is standard practice out there now."

Unfortunately this statement was simply rhetoric, and the Medford BLM continues to target fire-resistant old-growth trees for “regeneration.”

Please write a short letter to the Medford BLM asking that they refrain from logging ancient forests and building more logging roads.

1. Galls Creek already has more than 4 miles of road per square mile of forest. According to the Watershed Analysis the extreme  road density is harming water quality and steelhead production. The watershed needs fewer, as opposed to more, logging roads.
2. Given the social and environmental value of old-growth forests, the BLM should focus on thinning existing tree-plantations rather than logging ancient forests.
3. The BLM should work collaboratively with the public rather than treating public comments and concerns as obstacles to overcome.
4. The BLM needs to conduct honest fuels reduction projects that are not linked to, or part of controversial old-growth logging.
5. All suitable Northern Spotted Owl habitat should be retained, rather than logged, to allow for recovery of this endangered species.

John Gerritsma, Field Manager

Ashland Resource Area, Medford BLM

3040 Biddle Road

Medford OR 97504

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