Middle Applegate Pilot Projects: Monitoring and Information

The Middle Applegate Pilot Project is being touted as a new and innovative approach to forest management, emphasizing forest restoration and the retention of old-growth trees. The project is based on the dry forest restoration principals created by Norm Johnson and Jerry Franklin and claims to focus on reducing fuels, increasing forest resiliency, and treating overly-dense forest stands. The prescription calls for retaining all trees over 150 years of age, yet in the project's initial timber sale (Pilot Joe) old-growth trees were logged along with other trees that, although not over 150 years of age, were not consistent with project objectives, principals, prescriptions and guidelines. The logging of these trees contradicts the claims and analysis in the Environmental Assessment, as well as statements made by BLM officials at public meetings, field trips, and other outreach efforts for the Pilot Joe Timber Sale.
In the midst of this controversy the BLM has proposed stage two of the Middle Applegate Pilot Project, the Pilot Thompson Timber Sale. This time public citizens have initiated a Community Monitoring Report to review and document the trees marked for removal in the Pilot Thompson Timber Sale. The review is still in progress but an initial report can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/a7n3ezf5dcru15e/Pilot%20Thompson%20Community%20Monitoring%20Report.pdf

To view Middle Applegate Pilot: The Myth and The Reality, a photo essay of the impacts at the Pilot Joe Timber Sale and the proposed Pilot Thompson Timber Sale click on the following link:
www.dropbox.com/s/j1tizckl4vbgvi0/Pilot Joe The Myth and The Reality.pdf

Unit 19-4 The yellow marked tree at the center of the photo is marked for retention, the other trees are proposed for removal by the BLM. These fire adapted Douglas fir trees may be over 150 years old.