Forest Seeks Public Comment
on Kirk Thin
RANDLE,
WA – Maintaining forest health and vigor and providing
wood products to the regional economy are the goals of a proposed Gifford
Pinchot National Forest Kirk Thin project on the Cowlitz Valley Ranger
District. The US Forest Service is encouraging the public to submit written
comments on the proposed project by April 23, 2008. Additional information
about Kirk Thin may be found on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest website
at http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/04projects/
including maps and harvest unit information.
Kirk Thin is located in the Yellowjacket and McCoy Creek drainages south
of Randle, WA. Through this proposed project, about 630 acres, consisting
of about 300 acres of managed and 330 acres of natural stands, primarily
Douglas fir and western hemlock, would be thinned. Units range from 50-105
years in age. Treatments using tractor and skyline methods would include
no-cut islands, canopy gaps, and retention of late-successional features.
Riparian areas within units would be treated and protected in accordance
with the Aquatic Conservation Strategy.
To improve safety and efficiency of the transportation system used for
the project, about 0.3 miles of permanent road construction is proposed
to restore access to a portion of the project and about 0.5 mile of flood
damaged road would be closed and stabilized or decommissioned. In addition,
up to 7 miles of existing road reconstruction may occur, and about 0.5
mile of temporary road may be built.
To help identify issues and the development of alternatives to the proposed
action, the public is encouraged to submit comments by email to ballison@fs.fed.us
or by mail to:
Bonnie Allison
ACT2 USFS Enterprise Unit
P.O. Box 377
63822 Highway 96
Happy Camp, CA 96039
Your comments will also be accepted at the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District
office or by email to comments-pacificnorthwest-giffordpinchot-cowlitzvalley@fs.fed.us.
Comments will be accepted throughout the planning process, but would be
most useful for alternative development if received by April 23, 2008.
For questions on this project, the public can contact Bonnie Allison,
Project Leader at ballison@fs.fed.us
or by phone at: (530) 493-1758.
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