Gifford Pinchot National Forest

	USDA Forest Service Gifford Pinchot National Forest
For Immediate Release: March 21, 2008
Contact: Chris Strebig (360) 891-5005

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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US Forest Service
Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Vancouver, WA
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument - Amboy, WA
Last Modified: Thursday, 10 April 2008 at 12:42:41 EDT