United States Department of the Interior 



BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT 

Salem District Office 

1717 Fabry Road S.E. 

Salem, Oregon 97306 

http://www.or.blm.gov/salem/ 



 

1790 (084) 

 

 

September 27th, 2006 


 

 

Dear Interested Party: 

 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is considering three forest thinning projects in 
the Cascades Resource Area of the Bureau of Land Management, Salem District. The 
purpose of these projects is to achieve specific objectives identified in the Salem BLM 
Resource Management Plan (RMP) for Matrix and Riparian Reserve Land Use 
Allocations on approximately 2800 acres of BLM-administered lands by reducing the 
density of trees in developing forest stands. Other potential activities may include road 
construction or the renovation of existing roads that access thinning areas, and the 
decommissioning or blocking of roads after thinning. 

 

The Gordon Creek project is in the Gordon Creek watershed approximately 5 miles east 
of the City of Corbett in Multnomah County, Oregon. The proposed thinning units are 
located within Sections 1, 3, 9 11, 13 and 15 of Township 1 South, Range 5 East, 
Willamette Meridian. The BeeLine project area is in the Lower Molalla and Upper 
Molalla watersheds approximately 4 miles southeast of Colton in Clackamas County, 
Oregon. The proposed thinning units are located within Sections 3, 10, 17 and 21 of 
Township 5 South, Range 4 East, Willamette Meridian. The McDowell Creek project 
area is in the Hamilton Creek watershed approximately 6 miles north of Sweet Home in 
Linn County, Oregon. The proposed thinning units are located within Sections 21, 25 and 
27 of Township 12 South, Range 1 East, Willamette Meridian (see enclosed maps). 

 

You have been identified as someone who might have specific knowledge or interest in 
this area. The purpose of this letter is to give you an opportunity to share any information 
or concerns you may have about the projects. The input you provide will help an 
interdisciplinary team of BLM natural resource specialists to develop design features for 
the project and to assess the potential environmental effects. 

 

The enclosed maps show the locations of the potential thinning units. Detailed maps are 
available upon request. Also enclosed are Question and Answer Information Sheets and 
Project Comment Forms. I would appreciate your written comments by October 26th, 
2006. Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will be available 
for public review at the Salem District Office during regular business hours (7:30 a.m. to 


2007 Thinning Projects 

Question and Answer Information Sheet 

September 27th 2006 

 

 
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recognizes the potential public interest in this 
project. Below are some questions and answers that we hope will provide helpful 
information about this project. Be sure to return the enclosed Project Comment Form 
with your name and address if you wish to be added to this project’s mailing list. 


 

 

What is BLM’s management direction for this area? 

 

The BLM-administered lands in these projects are identified in the Salem District 
Resource Management Plan (RMP, May 1995) as having a General Forest Management 
Area (GFMA) or Riparian Reserve Land Use Allocation. 

• Management direction for GFMA calls for providing a sustainable supply of 
timber and other forest products in a manner that contributes to community 
stability and jobs while providing for important ecological functions. 

• Riparian Reserves are designated corridors around streams and wet areas with a 
management direction that focuses on meeting the Aquatic Conservation Strategy 
(ACS) objectives identified in the Salem District RMP. Thinning may be applied 
to acquire vegetation characteristics needed to attain ACS Objectives. 

 

Why are we proposing this project now? 

 

Our timber management planning process has identified approximately 2800 acres of 
BLM-administered lands in the four watersheds (See Project Maps) for which thinning 
would maintain or enhance healthy growth. These stands range from 30 to 115 years in 
age, and are overstocked with trees. Stands with very high tree densities generally have 
slower tree growth, increased tree mortality, and reduced overall forest health and 
diversity. Thinning these stands now will contribute to the management objectives 
identified in the RMP for each land use allocation, and will result in more diverse wildlife 
habitat conditions in a shorter period of time.