***UPDATE! Bark filed a lawsuit September 13th, 2012 challenging the Salem District BLM decision on the Airstrip Timber Sale. You can read the press release and lawsuit as attachments to this page.*** Logging of the Airstrip Timber Sale can begin as early as September! The Airstrip Timber Sale would log 207 acres of naturally regenerated forest just north of the Clackamas River, in the popular recreation area of LaDee Flats. Bark's primary concern with this logging project is the proposed construction of nearly a mile of new road, which would facilitate logging on just 20 acres - forest which happens to be the only area of remnant old growth trees and snags in all of LaDee Flats. It would greatly damage one of the few remaining intact ecosystems among a sea of managed plantations and industrial clearcuts. This backward move by the BLM is one that the ecosystem can no longer afford. The 4,900 foot road, or right-of-way, would log a rare area of old growth and legacy features that is crucial for habitat and biodiversity, includes very steep slopes, and would construct 20 landings, an average of one landing every 250 feet along the length of the road. Each landing could be up to 60 feet by 80 feet in size, and has the equivalent impact of a clearcut. The road would necessitate the felling of two old-growth, six-foot diameter snags, which may provide habitat for 4 different sensitive bat species, listed as species of concern and allow incidental cutting of old growth and designated wildlife trees. Additionally, the BLM would close Road 4610 during active logging, a heavily used road which is one of the only access points to this popular recreation area including the La Dee Flats ORV area. For more information call the Bark office at 503-331-0374.

• Unusual Logging Proposal Challenged in Court
  "By planning roads and logging landings on top of these old growth features, the BLM is claiming that the logging of old growth is incidental to the timber sale, but in reality this old growth is the most commercially appealing aspect of the sale to timber companies and the most detrimental loss to habitat and forest health."
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• Bark to sue over Mt. Hood old growth
  Bark needs help to challenge logging in the lower Clackamas River Watershed
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• Bark Alert: Old growth assault and illegal fees on the Clackamas
  September 2012 Bark Alert
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