Citizen Action What YOU can do!
Gnat Timber Sale Threatens St. Helens Wildlands January 31, 1999
Gifford Pinchot Task ForceThe eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980 allowed us to observe a process that has been shaping the evolution of the Pacific Northwest for millions of years. The forests of the St. Helens area are recovering from the blast and scientists as well as naturalists are learning valuable lessons by observing that recovery.
One of the most interesting areas of recovery is along the edge of the blast zone. Here, mature forest abuts right up to the devastated area where trees were blown over and often times “salvaged” for the timber market.
Smith Creek Butte is just south of the blast zone on the east side of the mountain. This area was intended to be part of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument but was left out due to political maneuvering at the time. The forest there is mature with most stands being less than 200 years old. There are some pockets of residual Old Growth on Smith Creek Butte. These forests are essential for the recovery of adjacent blast zone forests. Seeds from mature forest species on Smith Creek Butte will find their way into the blast zone and continue the forest’s evolutionary process.
The Forest Service is currently in the planning stages of the Gnat Timber Sale on Smith Creek Butte. The sale would involve nearly clear-cutting 9leaving 15% of the trees) forests that are important to the recovery of the Mount St. Helens area.Issues
The Smith Creek Butte area is within the Bean Creek Roadless area over 5000 acres that was ignored during the Roadless Area identification process of the late 70’s. The Bean Creek area is suitable for addition to the Monument or to be designated as Wilderness. The timber sale would diminish these qualities. For this reason, an Environmental Impact Statement should be prepared for this sale.
The access road to this area is in really bad shape. So bad in fact, that the Forest Service keeps it gated to avoid people getting hurt in the blast zone. Logging trucks on this road would further degrade it, or would necessitate improvements to the road. If this road were permanently closed, the area would make an excellent addition to the Monument.
Old Growth groves on Smith Creek Butte should be protected with at least a 300’ buffer. This would minimize edge effect that could result in blow down of the old trees.
What You Can Do
Write a letter to the Monument Manager, Gloria Brown, letting her know what your views on this particular project are.Mount St. Helens NVM
4218 N.E. Yale Bridge Rd.
Amboy, WA 98601gbrown/R6PNW_GPefs.fed.us
Forest Service Planning to Clear-cut next to Mt. Rainier National Park January 31, 1999
Gifford Pinchot Task ForceThe Cowlitz Valley District of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest is in the early stages of planning a timber sale near Ashford, Washington. Area residents stopped a similar sale ten years ago. Ashford residents need our help to stop this sale.
The sale, called Bronze Billy, would cut Old Growth adjacent to the Glacier View Wilderness, which borders Mt. Rainier National Park. The sale would also involve building roads into areas that could be added to the Wilderness or the Park in the future. This cutting would negate, now and forever, the expansion of the National Park into existing wildlands right next door.
The clear cuts associated with this sale would be visible from the highway leading into the Park, Route 706E. This would affect the aesthetics of Mt. Rainier itself. At this time when visits to and use of the National Park are increasing annually it seems ill advised to permanently alter wildlands nest to the Park that provide wilderness experience for Park visitors.
The topography of the Goat Creek area is very steep and clear-cut hills have a tendency to add vast amounts of sediment to creeks and rivers. This area drains into the Nisqually River. The Nisqually is an important salmon producing river, famous for its Chinook Salmon, soon to be listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
What You Can DoNow is the time to let the managers at the Cowlitz Valley District know what you think about this proposal. Your input now can help to avert this project from going forward. Our continuing diligence can once again divert cutting next to Mt. Rainier National Park.
Please write a brief letter or card asking Harry Cody, District Ranger not to go any further with the Bronze Billy timber sale.
Cowlitz Valley Ranger District
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
PO Box 670
Randle, WA 98377-0670