Cohousing-L Mailing List: Of dire cross list importance: Please read!

[Michael John Omogrosso (omo]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 1996 12:01:22 -0800
From: Carl Vilbrandt <carl [at] marge.cyber-dyne.com>
To: omo [at] darkwing.uoregon.edu
Subject: Roadless Old Growth Watershed in the Umpqua ia Falling...

  Dear Michael :


Defend the New Millenium Grove - Umpqua National Forest

ACTION !!   RALLY  - Monday, March 25th, 9 AM
  AT: Forest Service Building, Roseburg, Oregon
      Rides will be leaving from the Growers Market,
      Willamette & 5th, Eugene  at 7:30 AM

"First" and "Last"  cannot be allowed to fall, or the "last" ESOG
 and the Boulder Creek roadless area will be no more.
                     * * * * * * *
Older than the Chartes Cathedral.  Older than the Magna Carta.
760 years old when the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Tree borings taken this week determined that a grove of trees
1000 years old are being clearcut on the Umpqua National
Forest as a result of the Rescissions Act Timber Rider.

The grove is part of 299 acres of Ancient Forest that are being
clearcut as the "First" and "Last" timber sales on the Umpqua
National Forest near Roseburg, Oregon.

The clearcut will be in late successional reserves, "key watersheds,"
and prime habitat for the winter steelhead, coho salmon, and
Umpqua cutthroat trout -- of which there are less than 100
individuals surviving because of past logging.

The sales had been withdrawn by the Forest Service in 1990 because
of environmental impacts, and would not be sold except for the
timber rider.  "First" and "Last" are being cut now by Scott Timber, 
the timber purchasing arm of Roseburg Forest Products, even as high-level 
negotiations continue in Washington to stop the sales.  Roseburg Forest
Products has claims on 25 timber sales under the rider, totalling 200 
million board feet.

For more information call:
Ken Carloni, (541) 672-1914 Roseburg, OR
Francis Eatherington, (541) 673-7649 Roseburg, OR
      email:  francis [at] teleport.com
Cascadia Forest Defenders (541) 746-3371 Eugene, OR
The Forest Service biologist with expertise on the impacts of the sale on fish 
is:
             Dr. Jeff Dose, (541)672-6601

ACTIVISTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE ON THEIR WAY TO OREGON
TO DEMAND AN END TO THIS INSANE DESTRUCTION OF IRREPLACEABLE 
PUBLIC FORESTS. YOUR PRESENCE IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER 
IN THIS TIME OF CRISIS!  

HOW TO GET THERE: To get to "First," "Last," and "Abe's Wren,"
follow these simple directions. Take I-5 to Roseburg in Central Southern 
Oregon, and exit onto Rt. 138 East (Diamond Lake Rd). Follow Rt. 138 East 
through Roseburg until 1 mile before Glide. You'll see a sign on your right for
Little River Rd. (Rt. 17) and The Wolf Creek Conservation Camp. Turn right 
onto Rt.17. Go 15 miles and veer left onto Forest Service Rd. 27. Follow 27
for about 1.5 miles and veer right onto Rd. 2719. This road leads to Abe's 
Mtn., 
Big Squaw Mtn., and an extensive unlogged roadless area. Stop at the Citizen 
Base Camp at the Cool Water campground on Rd. 27 for maps and information
on protest activities.
Forest defenders are blocking Rd. 2741 off Rd. 2719 approx. 10 miles east of 
Tiller.
Plenty of camping space is available at South Umpqua Falls, Boulder Creek camp, 
and Dumont Creek Camp all on Rd. 28 near the action.

             * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
As of early on Thursday morning, 15 forest defenders are blocking Roseburg
Forest Products fallers from logging 1000 year old trees in the First timber
sale in the Tiller Ranger District near the South Umpqua River.  Urgent
negotiations are continuing between the administration, the Forest Service,
and RFP.  These timber sales were originally withdrawn by the Forest Service
in 1990 because of impending court injunctions due to their extreme
environmental consequences.  The "Salvage" Rider, however, has mandated that
they now be clearcut.

Age measurements on trees in the First timber sale revealed that the
dominant trees are over 1000 years old.  Environmentalists have moved into
the area vowing to defend this critical habitat which is designated by the
Forest Service as Ecologically Significant Old Growth (ESOG).  These sales
are also in roadless Key Watersheds in Late Successional Reserves.  On Oct.
23 1995, the National Marine Fisheries Service testified that these sales
were in critical habitat areas for the endangered Umpqua searun cutthroat
trout and the threatened Coho salmon.

These are the types of areas that would be protected under the Northwest
Forest Plan.  The "Salvage" Rider now suspends all environmental laws that
would protect the pristine, healthy ancient forests found in the First and
Last timber sales.

Dozens of Umpqua National Forest Service vehicles and Douglas County
sheriffs cars lined up inside the closure on the First timber sale Thursday
afternoon, gaping up into the woods as protesters wailed their pain for the
forest every time a big tree fell to the ground. The protesters, in the
unit being cut, refused to leave the closed area. A paddy wagon waited near
the gate. However, no arrests were made, as the protesters disappeared into
the woods after the loggers quit their destruction for the day at 1:00 pm.
At the road closer, about a half mile down the road, the Roseburg
News-Review, and other members of the press requested entrance into the
area after protesters and loggers had left. The Forest Service and County
Sheriff denied them access to photograph the 1000+ year old trees left
standing and laying on the ground.

THERE ARE A LOT OF BIG TREES LEFT!  THERE IS STILL TIME TO 
TAKE A STAND. There are two units bordering a road.  There are three
more units that will be accessed by a new road to be built into heart of
the roadless area. Road construction has not yet begun.

"A tree age measurement taken yesterday in the First Timber Sale, 
showed a tree that was 1,044 years old!
I walked among these giants today. This ecosystem is as important to our
existence as the air we breath and the water we drink. We must save it!"
Francis Eatherington of the Umpqua Watersheds - March 21st 1996

Phone and/or write: 
Ask them to to STOP the logging in Tiller; negotiate a buy back, whatever it 
takes.

                    James R. Lyon  
                    Natural Resources and the Environment  
                    US Department of Agriculture
                    Room 217E   
                    Administration Bldg.
                    Washington, DC  20250
                    Tel. No. (202) 720-3076

 Phone:
                     Don Otsby
                     Forest Supervisor
                     Umpqua National Forest
                     Tel. No. (541) 672-6601

                     Allyn Ford
                     Roseburg Forest Products
                     Tel No. (541) 679-3311
 
Phone, Fax, Email, Write to DC to REPEAL THE SALVAGE RIDER:

President Bill Clinton
Whitehouse Comment Line (9-5 EST) 202/456-1111
Fax: 202/456-2883
Email: president [at] whitehouse.gov

Vice-President Al Gore
202/456-6224
Fax: 202/456-2710
Email: vicepresident [at] whitehouse.gov

Your Senators and Congressman 
At the Capitol Switchboard: 202/224-3121

Visit the beautiful South Umpqua - See "First" and "Last" while they still 
stand.
Be a witness in defense of the earth, the water, the air, the life that gives 
us life ...

Websites with more info & maps:

           http://www.teleport.com/nonprofit/umpquawater.html
           http://www.applied3d.com/eco


..