CLINCH RANGER DISTRICT

Ron Bush, District Ranger
9416 Darden Dr.
Wise, Va. 24293-5900
phone (276) 328-2931
fax (276) 328-3544
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/clinch/

updated May 9, 2008

Bark Camp (Still Watching!) -

Today, under the leadership of the Clinch Coalition, local citizens are engaged in post-logging monitoring at Bark Camp, promoting trails in the Clinch Ranger District, and conducting stream monitoring under the Virginia Save our Streams protocol. For more updates and information on hikes, meetings, and events in the area, see www.clinchcoalition.net

One of the most controversial logging projects on the Jefferson National Forest, the Bark Camp timber sale is located at the center of an area described by the Nature Conservancy as "the single most diverse hexagon in the continental United States." Rare mussels are found only a few miles downstream, and a number of rare bats, wildflowers, salamanders, and songbirds may be found in the general vicinity as well. The timber sale site lies in the middle of some of the Cumberland bioregion's highest mountains, an area with outstanding recreational assets like Chief Benge Scout Trail, Bark Camp campground, Big and Little Stony Creeks, and scenic High Knob. Many families in the area have hunted, fished, hiked, and ridden their horses on the mountains surrounding High Knob for generations. Unfortunately, massive logging projects of hundreds (and some approaching and exceeding a thousand) acres on the Clinch Ranger District have become almost routine in recent decades. The Forest Service (FS) has admitted that the Clinch Ranger District is more heavily logged than any other Ranger District on the Jefferson National Forest, and, in turn, the High Knob area receives more logging than any other part of the Clinch Ranger District. In 1997, the Forest Service proposed 1413 acres of logging stretching across five miles of the area. In response, the Clinch Coalition, a local group quickly mobilized to stop the project and gathered thousands of petition signatures from local residents opposed to the project. Because of the controversy surrounding the sale, the FS held meetings, in an attempt to assuage the opposition, but still came up with a very large 700 acre project - with more intensive even-aged cutting in many of the units than the original proposal. In 2001, during the summer after the sale was approved, a floods and landslides occurred in Big Stony Creek, a watershed that had been heavily logged by the FS in the '80s and '90s. The decision for the sale was revised, but still remains over 600 acres in size and leaves many watersheds (like those in the upper tributaries of Little Stony Creek) unprotected. Loggers were recently invited to bid on part of this timber sale in the Joel Branch area for the third time. No bids were received on the previous two bid notices for Joel Branch. The Forest Service has responded by making the sale even more uneconomical.

CURRENT AND UPCOMING

Back Valley timber sale – New decision signed, Apr. 2008. Ron Bush, district ranger, withdrew an earlier decision on the project in 2007 after an appeal from local citizens and conservation groups.

Back Valley is a 371 acre sale, which is located on Dry Creek just outside of Dungannon in Scott County. It brought about concern from most of the local residents immediately downstream when it was first announced a couple years ago.

At a public hearing, citizens expressed their concerns about past flooding that had taken place in that watershed. ??After that public hearing, one Dry Creek watershed resident said of the proposed cutting: "I can't believe that anyone would even consider doing this in such a short period of time...At the town meeting I personally showed Mr. Bush the pictures of the devastation created by the last flood. Since he has been shown what can result and chooses to ignore the lessons of the past, then he should be held accountable for the results of his decisions."

A Dungannon resident, who lives less than two miles from the Back Valley project said in a formal statement prepared for the hearing: "It is now beyond reasonable doubt that Dry Creek is prone to flooding, particularly from heavy run-off across lands where timber has been removed. The notion that the Forest Service can remove timber from 400 additional acres* of this steep watershed, whether in one push or over 3 years, without significantly increasing the prospect of more flooding — that notion is absurd on the face." *the acreage of the original proposal, now only slightly reduced to 371 acres.

Citizens are concerned about the scope of the project and have raised concerns about logging on steep slopes, landslides, flooding, scarring the landscape from the intensive, heavily concentrated logging and burning operations, and the need for protecting the area for recreation, fishing, and hunting and for protecting rare species downstream.

Wells Branch timber sale - Proposed 216 acres of logging, 2900 acres of burning, and 6.5 miles of road construction/reconstruction that could impact the Roaring Branch RARE II (roadless) area, the Roaring Branch proposed wild river corridor, and scenic values and biological communities around Keokee Lake.

Pickem Mountain timber sale - A 70 acre timber sale proposed under new "Categorical Exclusion" provisions of the Healthy Forest Initiative (aka, Stealthy Logging Initiative) that allow the Forest Service to proceed with logging projects with greatly limited public input opportunities. This project consists of logging an uncut unit that was part of the controversial 996 acre Clear-Machine-Burns (CMB) Timber Sale. The uncut unit was dropped due to significant concerns about cerulean warblers found in the area. Cerulean warblers thrive in deep forests with large trees. The project calls for heavy thinning within rich mature forest located on a north-facing slope. For the most part, the project would involve heavier logging, more roadbuilding, and more intensive ground-based logging (in lieu of helicopter logging) compared to that approved in the original project. Yet the Forest Service is seeking to exclude the public, utilizing a "categorical exclusion." The forest in the project area tends to be relatively widely spaced and has small natural canopy gaps throughout, so there is no legitimate justification for logging here. This timber sale is located a short distance above the Clear Creek Park in Ramsey, Va. Part of the project is located in the Pickem Mtn Natural Heritage Program-identified special biological area.

Proposed gas development in North Fork of Pound roadless area - As part of a federal lands mineral lease from decades ago, Equitable Resources of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has notified the Forest Service that they intend to drill multiple gas wells and construct several roads and pipelines throughout the length and breadth of the 4,756 acre North Fork of the Pound roadless area, one of the largest remaining roadless areas in the entire Cumberland bioregion.

North Fork of Pound Roadless Area: Old Giants near the path of proposed gas development road site (in the Original 2002 Proposal) More Photos

Proposed:
- 21 Wells - federally held minerals under lease
- 4 Wells - privately held minerals (in addition to federal minerals)
- 11 mi. of New Roads to access federally held minerals
- 12 mi. of Pipeline (about 11 mi. follow the Roads and ~1 mi. in addition to these)
- 13,500 ft. of additional New Road to access privately held minerals
-  Receiving "expedited review" under the Bush administration's recent Executive Order # 13212
- At Stake:
- According to the FS, 4836 acres of public land is under a lease dating to the early  1980s
- 3496 acres within the 4756 acre North Fork of Pound roadless area is under lease (about 73.5%)- plus possible additional public lands acreage outside of the roadless area (private minerals)
- Mixed mesophytic forests in the heart of one of the most diverse ecosystems in North America
- Public water supply for the town of Pound, Va., population 1,800
- At least 135 acres of old growth is documented in this area
- 565 acres of 890 acre Cane Patch Ravines special biological area (Va. Natural Heritage(VDNH)) could be impacted
- Portions of the 390 acre Indian Grave Gap special biological area (VDNH) could
be impacted
- Portions of 215 acre Pine Mtn. Tunnel special biological area (VDNH) could
be impacted
- Other rare biological communities could be impacted

Gas development on federal lands south of Pine Mountain (Flannagan Reservoir-Corps of Engineers). Photograph courtesy of CIDC More Photos

The Forest Service took initial comments for this project in July 2002.  The public should keep alert to the possibility of new developments regarding this project.  If the project is not stopped by vigilant members of the public, a decision on the project may be made as early as October 2005.   There should be additional opportunities to comment before then.
Please continue to spread the word about the dangers of oil and gas development on public lands.    Please write the Forest Service TODAY to express your concern about the proposed wholesale destruction of this roadless area, and to request a copy of the Environmental Impact Statement, to be released in the near future.

RECENT

Jaybird timber sale - proposed 300 acre project involving logging and other habitat manipulation south of Coeburn, Virginia.  The Forest Service is expected to accept initial comments on the project in February 2005 or later. UPDATE: TCC News: Logging Jobs Closed Down! - Members of The Clinch Coalition (TCC) have been inspecting logging jobs on the Clinch Ranger District. As a result of these inspections two loggers have pulled off two separate jobs. More information (including photos), (posted online Jan. 30, 2007)

Old Sawmill ATV project - UPDATE: Oct. 07, 2005: Forest Service Drops Plan for ATV Trails - New trail system would have unacceptably harmed water resources in the Clinch River watershed. Read VAFW Press Release
Proposal for a development of ATV trail system in the remote Stock Creek watershed. The Stock Creek area is a sensitive area that is a few miles upstream from dozens of federally-listed and rare freshwater mussels in the Clinch River. The Clinch River is one of the most important centers of mussel diversity in the world. Most freshwater mussels are indicators of high water quality and can be impacted by sediment. Three sizeable old growth forests - the Pick Breeches, Flannery Ridge, and Cove Creek Headwaters forests - are found in the area. The Pick Breeches Ridge and Flannery Ridge old growth forest is 900 acres & is one of the largest old growth tracts on the Clinch Ranger District. The Forest Service proposes locating parking lots, loading areas, and trails adjacent to (and in two cases directly through) portions of these old growth forests. The project area is also documented habitat for the cerulean warbler, a declining songbird that is often found in extensive tracts of forest with abundant large trees. The area is a potential stronghold for wide-ranging species of wildlife that need large blocks of habitat. The trail system would be open seven days a week from June to the end of September. Constant noise and disturbance from ATVs would drive wildlife from this area. Quality hunting would be adversely affected: Some game would likely move out of the area and the numerous wildlife openings in the area would likely be turned to muddy playgrounds. Fishing would also be adversely affected: A number of the routes pass near streams. ATVs could easily drive through streams, loosen soil, and stir up sediment, causing harm to streams and fish. These kinds of impacts have been observed in other areas where extensive ATV use occurs in the Appalachians. ATV riders have already created a vast network of illegal routes in this area - crisscrossing private and public land. Riders bypass gated Forest Service roads with impunity. Now the Forest Service proposes legitimizing this illegal use by officially opening the area to ATV use. Virginia Forest Watch has documented landslides on at least two roads in this area and we believe other areas may be vulnerable to slides as well. One of the proposed ATV routes runs on one of the routes where slides have occurred. If this proposal were approved, all but ATV riders would be excluded from the trail system. During the operating season, hikers, mountain bikers, anglers, horseback riders and all others would be banned from the trail system seven days a week! As a result, non-motorized recreation would suffer and citizen monitoring on foot would be rendered impossible. As part of the project, the Forest Service would also convert an open public road running through the middle of the area to an ATV-only route, cutting off access to those owning private land in the area. If damage occurs on this trail system, there is no guarantee that the Forest Service will detect it or properly correct it. The Forest Service consistently fails to monitor impacts of ATV trails. For example, at the Jefferson National Forest's only other ATV route, the Patterson Mountain ATV trail (Eastern Divide Ranger District), the Forest Service failed to consistently monitor impacts or implement mitigation measures for wildlife, soils, and other resources. (FOIA Request received by Virginia Forest Watch). Serious damage has occurred to this Patterson Mountain trail system, requiring major repairs in 2003, and significant damaged areas remain even after repairs. The Forest Service admits that ATVs can cause "serious injuries or even death in a collision" due to "the speeds these vehicles are capable" of traveling at (SN 4), but the agency does not have adequate law enforcement staff to adequately patrol this proposed 25-mile rugged trail system. These are but a few examples of why this major federal project is controversial and is likely to have significant environmental impacts.

Kane Gap - This 978 acre timber project, approved in the winter of 2003-'04, is located on a steep slope of Powell Mtn. just above the North Fork of the Clinch River, part of river system famed for its globally rare populations of freshwater mussels. The project is just north of Duffield, Va., a short distance from the huge Powell Mtn. II logging project. The project area is located in a municipal watershed; slumping and other sedimentation sources have already been identified. Some isolated older forests in the project area may be logged. A decision has been issued on this project. The FS has billed the project as a "forest health" project. It remains to be seen whether this logging project will affect forest health for better - or for worse.

Powell Mtn. II - a 582 acre timber sale approved in the spring of 2003. The timber sale will consist of logging across one-fifth of the project area. This is an area that has already seen logging across 35% of its area since 1965. The project is purportedly being logged for grouse - even though early successional habitat is already abundant in the area, and studies have shown that grouse thrive in a variety of habitats, even old growth. Like the proposed 978 acre Kane Gap project, Powell Mtn. II is also located above the North Fork of the Clinch River, part of river system famed for its globally rare populations of freshwater mussels. Virginia Division of Natural Heritage (VDNH) has identified the Lovelady Coves special biological area (SBA), an area with cove forests and large trees, within the project area, adjacent to several of the cutting units. When the SBA was first surveyed in the mid-90s reported that FS logging and roads (perhaps the FS's Lovelady timber sale) were already impacting the special biological area. Now the FS has approved MORE logging around the periphery of the area, fragmenting and isolating the area further. Following the FS's decision to approve the timber sale, Virginia Forest Watch joined a Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project appeal of the Powell Mtn. II project.