Bagby privatized and Nestle approved

Dear Barker,

In last week’s Oregonian story about the Forest Service privatizing management of Mt. Hood’s remaining campgrounds and Bagby Hot Springs, the agency spokesperson said it “…will ensure facilities are safe, clean and well-maintained.” Why aren’t they already safe and clean? Where are our tax dollars going? The sad answer is below, and so are opportunities for you to help.

Sincerely,
Alex P Brown, Executive Director

PS- We’re excited to have Meredith Cocks join Bark as our new Grassroots Organizer! Meredith’s passion for Oregon’s forests is contagious, and you should count on hearing from her soon with important ways that you can help protect Mt. Hood. Better yet, meet her in person at our NEPA 101 Training on March 15th.


Bark-Out: Don’t let PGE clearcut our forest!
Bark-About: Hike the Molalla River Recreation Area to see active logging in the Annie’s Cabin Timber Sale
Giving Tree: Bark needs your stuff, here’s the wish list…
Bark Bites: Nestlé’s first permits granted, what comes next?
Bark Burns: The cost of fighting the Dollar Lake Fire


Bark-Out
PGE wants to clearcut in Mt. Hood National Forest: Two chances to tell them NO!

Energy infrastructure is once again threatening delicate Mt. Hood ecosystems. Portland General Electric proposes to construct 209 miles of power lines from the Boardman coal plant to the Salem area, clearcutting a 250-foot-wide swath through more than 30 miles of Mt. Hood and Willamette National Forests. The Cascade Crossing project would impact vital habitat for endangered species and bisect the iconic Pacific Crest Trail. We think this is a bad deal for the forest and for ratepayers who will ultimately pay for the project, despite a set of idle power lines just a stone's throw from the proposed project (pictured here).

PGE will host an open house in Portland next Tuesday, March 13th, from 4-7pm, and Bark will be there to let them know we are watching. Join us Tuesday and tell PGE that you don’t want to pay for more clearcuts in Mt Hood National Forest!

Can’t make it to the open house on Tuesday? Send in your comments opposing PGE’s Cascade Crossing energy transmission corridor to the Forest Service now.


Bark-About
Discover what active logging looks like at the Annie’s Cabin Timber Sale
Sunday, March 11th, 9am-5pm

Join us as we explore the Annie’s Cabin Timber Sale, where logging has been occurring for the last two months, including over a popular trail within the beautiful Molalla River Recreation Corridor. This hike provides a unique opportunity to see firsthand the impacts of industrial logging on our public lands. During the hike we will discuss the trend of federal agencies prioritizing logging over recreation, through sales like Annie’s Cabin as well as the privatization of Mt. Hood campgrounds and Bagby Hot Springs.

You should expect to walk up to three miles on and off trails for this month's hike. Please bring lunch, water, and sturdy boots. The weather is very unpredictable this time of year, so please be prepared for various weather conditions.

Bark-Abouts are led on the second Sunday of every month and are free to the public. Click here for more information about this month’s hike.


Giving Tree
Bark needs some office items, maybe you have them?

• Desk
• PC (only important specification is 1Gb RAM)
  
• Monitors (we need flat screens since our desks are small!)
  
• One-sided paper, we reuse the non-printed side!
  
• Cleaning services for spring cleaning (especially carpet cleaning)
  
• Pens
  
• Tea/coffee
  
• Water filter that attaches to sink faucet
  
• Mini hot water heater for sink
  
• Office chairs with good back support
  

If you can donate any of these items, please contact [email protected]. Don’t have any wish list items? Then consider that Bark doesn’t waste member donations; instead we put your support directly to our work protecting Mt. Hood National Forest. Please make a donation today!


Bark Bites
Oregon Water Resources Department has granted the first necessary permits for Nestlé, what comes next?

Last week, Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) issued the first set of permits necessary to facilitate Nestlé’s proposal to take and bottle our water in the Columbia River Gorge. This decision came despite overwhelming public opposition to the proposal.

But the story doesn’t end here! Bark and the Keep Nestlé Out of the Gorge Coalition have committed to appealing the OWRD decisions and Nestlé still requires additional permits. The details are extensive, so if you want to learn more about where Nestlé stands in the permitting process, click here to read an article explaining the next steps in detail.


Bark Burns
Fighting the 2011 Dollar Lake Fire cost $15,826,319

Did you know? The Forest Service allows for a blank check approach to funding fire suppression and resulted in a cost of $15,826,319 for fighting the 6,000 acre Dollar Lake Fire on Mt. Hood. Meanwhile, the Forest Service identifies budget restraints as the justification for privatizing management of Bagby Hot Springs and an inability to fund restoration without associated logging revenue.

What do you think? Should fire suppression take funding priority over all other programs on Mt. Hood? Click here to answer.