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Show ." In this report is the statement: "An ecosystem and Evaluation Report, Five Years timber to is approach management being implemented on the Monticcllo Ranger District" Really? How can this be if the old growth issue is not being addressed? In the "Response to Comments" appendix to the "Elk Ridge Recovery Projects Environmental Assessment," the Forest Service responded to my comment: "When are you going to issue the Old Growth management policy for Ponderosa Pine on the Manti-LaSNational Forest?" with the statement: "MoabMonticello personnel are currently conducting an analysis of the South Cottonwood Elk Ridge portion of the district to identify resource conditions and needs. As part of this analysis it is our intention to consider desired ecological conditions, including serai stage characteristics across the landscape and management options for ponderosa pine. This will help guide our management in this area for the foreseeable future. Decisions relative to desired vegetative structures in ponderosa will be addressed, along with other needed changes, in Forest Plan pine types Forest-wid- e amendments or revisions as necessary." Now read that response again. It is typical of the bullshit responses the Manti-LaSNational Forest uses to avoid answering a direct question. Nowhere in the response is old growth mentioned. Nowhere is there any commitment to reestablish an old growth component of the forest on Elk Ridge. And notice that public participation in the process is not mentioned. It's just a bunch of meaningless verbiage. So the answer to the question of whether an old growth forest will ever be seen again on Elk Ridge is still unanswered. The Manti National Forest is ignoring the mandate from Washington to address the old growth issue, and it will apparently require action from Janette Kaiser's superiors to change this situation. 1987-1991- The most recent timber sales on Elk Ridge are below cost sales; the taxpayers are subsidizing the Forest Service's failed timber management policy. The mess that now exists on Elk Ridge could be changed with enlightened management. However, as long as the Forest Service refuses to listen to ideas from outside of its ranks, we can expect new forest health "crises" to occur on a regular basis. al The next issue is the " Lame Issue," so this series of articles will take a one issue break. Instead of reading about the Forest Service bureaucracy, you will be introduced to the first recipient of a new environmental award. al SUBSCRB&TO La-S- -- OR ms CfWJRfe Ml COM: ID OJRHCUSfcWDNWJVOU. aeaWTCN NFOWTCN CN thSfe 3 LIVE WITH FRIENDS What is needed now? With the present management direction, the Ponderosa Pine forest on Elk Ridge will Service ecologist would call a "healthy" probably never return to what a fire and cattle If condition. logging, suppression were eliminated from Elk Ridge, grazing, Nature could probably create a healthy forest in a few centuries. But there is a better way. The 111395 issue of "High Country News" included an article on research that has been done by Northern Arizona University on the Ponderosa Pine forests in the Flagstaff area. The goal of the research was to learn how to recreate the healthy forests that existed before the area was settled. While the issue is complex, the trees research indicated that three conditions need to be met: First, leave all has Service Forest - trees more than 100 years old. fin the recent Elk Ridge timber sales, the fires. (Just refused to do this.) Second, fire needs to be used to mimic now is docs Service Forest the litter as torching the accumulated slash and forest unacceptable.) Third, the smaller diameter trees need to be drastically thinned. (The timber management policy now is to maximize timber production. This practice keeps the forest too dense and therefore unhealthy.) Obviously a radical change in timber management on National Forest is needed, but there is no indication that the Forest Service the Manti-LaSis interested in change. non-Fore- st AS NEIGHBORS IN A RURAL COMMUNITY CO-HOUSI- NG 100 acres near Moab with creek & springs Private and common land ownership Environmental & Social sustainability Reasonable Financing pre-settlem- Ifir - seeking members Box 1171 Moab Utah 84532 al Nelson's Heating & Refrigeration PRETTY BIG STOCKING "Serving Moab since 1962" 1 075 BOWLING ALLEY LN. LENORE BEESON 259-562- 5 4ft . Center St. Moib. UT 84532 (801) 259-265- 0 (H) OV V.W9- - sloe in 33B3BSE FAX: 259-941- 9 259-269- 9 Jfj. |
