Bark Beetles, Timber & the BLM in the Applegate Valley

Bark beetle mortality in the Ferris Gulch watershed. This stand was thinned in the early 1990s in the Ferris Lane Timber Sale, supposedly to increase resistance to bark beetle mortality; however, the area became the center of the 2016 bark beetle outbreak.

Applegate Neighborhood Network (ANN) and Klamath Forest Alliance (KFA) have just published a detailed report examining the ecology of flatheaded fir borers, the ecological effects of the 2016 bark beetle outbreak in the Applegate Valley, and the connection between BLM logging practices and concentrated bark beetle mortality in the Applegate Valley. 

In the spring and summer of 2016, a large-scale bark beetle outbreak swept through the Applegate Valley, triggered by extreme drought and warm winter temperatures. The low-elevation foothills of the Applegate Valley were particularly affected, causing mortality in Douglas fir trees throughout the watershed. In some areas mortality was very selective, in other locations significant overstory tree mortality was taking place.

While conducting timber sale monitoring on BLM land for Klamath Forest Alliance (KFA) and Applegate Neighborhood Network (ANN) I began to notice a pattern. In many cases, the largest concentrations of bark beetle mortality were occurring in managed stands. Many of these stands had been commercially logged by the BLM between 1990 and 2014.  In watersheds like Thompson Creek, Ferris Gulch, Sterling Creek and Star Gulch, extensive commercial logging projects had been implemented by BLM, supposedly to increase individual tree vigor, therefore, increasing resilience to drought, fire and beetle infestations. Ironically, these same stands became the center of the 2016 bark beetle outbreak.

Flatheaded fir borer mortality on Thompson Creek. The entire ridgeline shown in this photograph was commercially helicopter logged in the Lower Thompson Timber Sale in the late 1990s. The area has since experienced the highest level of bark beetle mortality in the Applegate Valley. Take note: the reddish/bronze colored trees in this photo have succumbed to flatheaded fir borer beetles.

The Environmental Analysis and the Endangered Species Act Consultation conducted by Fish and Wildlife for BLM timber sales relies on assumptions that tree vigor will respond positively to  commercial logging operations; that canopy cover conditions will recover relatively quickly; that wildlife habitat will benefit, and stand conditions will become more healthy, more complex and more resistant to bark beetle induced mortality. In many situations, the actual on-the-ground results are quite different. In 2016, commercially logged stands experienced decreased resistance to bark beetle mortality and became the center of the outbreak.

This photo taken in 2016 shows bark beetle mortality in the 2014 Sterling Sweeper Timber Sale.

In our report we compare maps of bark beetle mortality in 2016 to previously implemented BLM timber sales. We conduct an extensive literature review of bark beetle ecology and science. We also document our extensive on-the-ground field monitoring of past timber sales and bark beetle outbreak areas in the Applegate Valley. We question many of the assumptions built into timber management, BLM environmental analysis, and Endangered Species Act Consultation in southwestern Oregon and the Siskiyou Mountains.

To read the full report:
Bark Beetles, Timber & the BLM in the Applegate Valley

To read the Executive Summary:
Executive Summary: Bark Beetles, Timber & the BLM in the Applegate Valley 

Bark beetle mortality on Ferris Gulch. This unit was logged in the Ferris Lane Timber Sale in the early 1990s to supposedly increase resilience to bark beetle mortality. Obviously, the logging treatments did not have the intended results and beetle mortality was especially high in these previously logged stands.

Pickett West Units Withdrawn, New Timber Sale Proposed by BLM

Unit 35-11 in the Pickett West Timber Sale was withdrawn due to impacts to the red tree vole. The unit was identified by on-the-ground monitoring conducted by Klamath Forest Alliance, Applegate Neighborhood Network & the Deer Creek Association.

The Grants Pass BLM has withdrawn portions of the Pickett West Timber Sale!

A coalition of local environmental organizations, including Klamath Forest Alliance, Applegate Neighborhood Network and the Deer Creek Association joined forces this past year to conduct extensive on-the-ground field monitoring in units throughout the massive Pickett West Timber Sale. What we found in the Deer Creek watershed outside Selma, Oregon was troubling. We found many old-growth forests proposed for heavy industrial logging. Many of these forests provide important habitat for the Northern spotted owl and its prey source, the red tree vole. 

The red tree vole lives high in the canopy of old-growth Douglas-fir trees. The species is a habitat specialist, requiring old-growth Douglas-fir trees and complex forest habitat for nesting, foraging and every other aspect of its survival. These same old-growth forest conditions are important for the red tree vole's main predator, the Northern spotted owl. They also provide habitat for the Pacific fisher, thermal cover for local ungulates, and habitat for innumerable species of wildlife. 

Unit 27-14 was withdrawn due to impacts to the red tree vole, a species dependent on old-growth Douglas-fir trees.

Due to historic logging impacts, low-elevation ancient forests are rare. Low-elevation ancient forests are very important for habitat connectivity. The Pickett West Timber Sale was targeting many of the last old-growth habitats in the Deer Creek watershed for heavy industrial logging, and many people in the nearby community were outraged.

Our monitoring efforts identified many "high priority red tree vole sites" located within proposed logging units. We also found that in numerous units, Northern spotted owl habitat determinations were inappropriately designated. Our findings were turned over to U.S. Fish & Wildlife, who then requested that the BLM review these units to ensure accurate habitat determinations were made for Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultation. 

Unit 26-2 was withdrawn and will not be logged in the Clean Slate Project.

Recently, the Grants Pass BLM has withdrawn portions of the Pickett West Timber Sale in the Deer Creek watershed due to impacts to "high priority red tree vole" sites. Our monitoring efforts, combined with red tree vole survey results, appear to have significantly altered the sale, with many old-growth units being withdrawn due to impacts to the red tree vole. 

In the Pickett West Timber Sale, BLM originally identified 2,070 acres for treatment in the Selma area. They have now initiated scoping on a new timber sale in the Selma area called the Clean Slate Forest Management Project. They have identified 486 acres within the same planning area as Pickett West. This means 1,584 acres have been withdrawn due to citizen and community activism!

Unit 3-11 from the former Pickett West Timber Sale is old-growth forest proposed for logging in the Clean Slate Forest Management Project. The unit must be canceled.

Unfortunately, the BLM is still proposing heavy industrial logging in old, fire resistant stands, riparian reserve logging and in a few units of significant concern. In particular, five units we identified in our monitoring efforts have been included in the Clean Slate Forest Management Project. These units were identified in the Pickett West Forest Management Project as: 3-9, 3-10, 3-11, 21-12, and 22-5. These units contain old-growth characteristics and should not be logged. For more information on these particular units please follow these links:
Units 3-9, 3-10 & 3-11 
Units 21-12 & 22-5 

The Clean Slate Forest Management Project includes numerous units we have yet to monitor and document. We hope to monitor these units throughout the winter in preparation for an upcoming Environmental Assessment of the Clean Slate Forest Management Project. Our goal is to protect as much old forest habitat as we possibly can and advocate for science and conservation-based management on our public lands. If you would like to support our continued on-the-ground monitoring efforts, please consider making a donation to Klamath Forest Alliance (KFA) and make a note that funds will support the Clean Slate Monitoring Project. To make a donation follow this link. Donate to KFA.

Unit 21-12 of the former Pickett West Timber Sale is being proposed for logging in the Clean Slate Forest Management Project. The unit must be canceled.

Please consider commenting on the Clean Slate Timber Sale. The comment period ends December 8, 2017. All comments can be sent via email to ffisher@blm.gov

Clean Slate Forest Management Project Comment Guide

• Cancel units 3-9, 3-10, 3-11, 21-12 and 22-5 from the former Pickett West Forest Management Project. These old forests do not need logging, fuel reduction or "forest restoration" treatments.
• Drop all riparian reserve logging units.
• Maintain all Northern spotted owl habitat designation and a minimum of 60% canopy cover. 
• Build no new roads.
• Do not log old forest stands over 120 years old.
• Consider an Alternative for NEPA analysis developed by local Selma area residents and foresters. This Action Alternative would treat stands under 120 years old based on the Natural Selection Alternative developed by Orville Camp and the Deer Creek Association.