USFS bid to salvage log windfall in Idaho and Montana

[44hunter45]

Wondering if the opponents have actually been in the woods and seen the tangles from the recent wind damage. ?
Good for forest management and good for the elk. I have no problem with this one.

https://www.dnews.com/local-news/forest-service-unveils-massive-salvage-logging-project-e6f68eac

 

[TheTone]

The amount of blowdown in some areas is insane. I wonder though how they are going to designate areas for salvage and do things anywhere close to timely if speed is part of the real concern.

I can look at one of our local fire salvage log operations as a good example of being no where close to timely. By the end of that project I was told by the forester the logs were worthless but required to be cut anyways as per the contract. That area is in many ways worse off than it was before with the amount of slash that was left behind. I’m confident some of the hillsides will not have a person walk across them in my lifetime due to the amount of stuff left

 

[BAKPAKR]

A couple North Idaho trails I hiked recently had several sections blocked by windfalls. I walked up on a goat that was licking salt left from sweaty people crossing a windfall.

 

[Bonasababy]

True salvage or an excuse to cut the good wood that didnt go down? Can be a great or very bad thing depending on how its done.

 

[TheTone]

True salvage or an excuse to cut the good wood that didnt go down? Can be a great or very bad thing depending on how its done.

Typically isn’t hard to walk the edges of a logging job and find a few big stumps outside the cutting boundary.

 

[mtmuley]

True salvage or an excuse to cut the good wood that didnt go down? Can be a great or very bad thing depending on how its done.

We should tie it up with red tape instead of cutting what can be saved. mtmuley

 

[INMT]

It’s already happening in my neck of the woods in NW MT. Logging just finished last winter so not sure if their contract was still current.

Glad they’re doing it because slash or no slash that shit was unnavigable in its current state of blowdown.

 

[INMT]

We should tie it up with red tape instead of cutting what can be saved. mtmuley

#letitrot

 

[mtmuley]

#letitrot

Not a big emoji or hashtag guy. mtmuley

 

[INMT]

Not a big emoji or hashtag guy. mtmuley

Sorry good sir. I will remember from now on.

 

[mtmuley]

Sorry good sir. I will remember from now on.

Thank you good sir. mtmuley

 

[BigHornRam]

We should tie it up with red tape instead of cutting what can be saved. mtmuley

Fire up the chainsaw and cut some fire wood, mtmuley. Just leave the piss fir for Bonasababy to burn.

 

[Forkyfinder]

True salvage or an excuse to cut the good wood that didnt go down? Can be a great or very bad thing depending on how its done.

Assuming the worst of what you say is true - would it be better or worse off than current state? Long and short term?

Theres some wild blowdown this year in MT from the spring we had - to the point that access through it becomes challenging to be possible - independent of time consuming. It isnt capable of sustaining much wildlife when its widespread.

 

[BigHornRam]

Assuming the worst of what you say is true - would it be better or worse off than current state? Long and short term?

Theres some wild blowdown this year in MT from the spring we had - to the point that access through it becomes challenging to be possible - independent of time consuming. It isnt capable of sustaining much wildlife when its widespread.

When the blow down dries out, it burns real good. So the good live wood that is right next to it that Bonasababy is worried about, burns too.

 

[lastlight]

The wind storm this winter was a once in a lifetime event IMO. I can’t access most of my hunting areas on N Idaho. Green timber giants uprooted in large swaths like someone dropped a nuke. The USFS local employee said don’t expect this mess to be cleared in the next decade basically. I’ve spent several days sawing my way into remote areas and it’s going to take many more days if ever. I’m actually considering hunting southern Idaho for the first time for elk.

I don’t see how any logging operation would tackle the areas I’m talking about, especially foot only trail systems. The sheer mass of trees it would take every logger on deck and a few years work in this area.

 

[bowhunterjae]

Wondering if the opponents have actually been in the woods and seen the tangles from the recent wind damage. ?
Good for forest management and good for the elk. I have no problem with this one.

https://www.dnews.com/local-news/forest-service-unveils-massive-salvage-logging-project-e6f68eac

I agree. Allowing salvage (personal and commercials) would help Calf and fawn Predation. I talked to a bio that told me recruitment was close to zero in a large track of Beatle blowdown, due to predators. This area was wide open to wood cutting for personal use. Local transportation only because of Beatles.
So another question would be. (Would hauling to another location to be processed commercially spread insects and or disease)?

 

[bowhunterjae]

The wind storm this winter was a once in a lifetime event IMO. I can’t access most of my hunting areas on N Idaho. Green timber giants uprooted in large swaths like someone dropped a nuke. The USFS local employee said don’t expect this mess to be cleared in the next decade basically. I’ve spent several days sawing my way into remote areas and it’s going to take many more days if ever. I’m actually considering hunting southern Idaho for the first time for elk.

I don’t see how any logging operation would tackle the areas I’m talking about, especially foot only trail systems. The sheer mass of trees it would take every logger on deck and a few years work in this area.

Just got home from my hunting grounds in Northern Idaho. WOW, Blowdown is right! i am glad I didn’t wait until season start to take a look. Devastation in large areas.

 

[lastlight]

Just got home from my hunting grounds in Northern Idaho. WOW, Blowdown is right! i am glad I didn’t wait until season start to take a look. Devastation in large areas.

I feel bad (not really lol) for the NRs that will undoubtedly show up to their usual spots in N ID opening week just find out they can’t either drive in, or their hiking trail is 100% unnavigable.

As if this region wasn’t already a jungle to hunt now with record blow down it’s going to be a hoot!

 

[Bonasababy]

Assuming the worst of what you say is true - would it be better or worse off than current state? Long and short term?

Theres some wild blowdown this year in MT from the spring we had - to the point that access through it becomes challenging to be possible - independent of time consuming. It isnt capable of sustaining much wildlife when its widespread.

I have seen very good...really better for habitat than if it had been traditionally logged...and very bad salvage operations.

On average...dealt with a lot of them over my years...Id say hopes they will "clean up" all the damage never are accurate. For one, it can be very difficult to get at let alone remove much of the down timber. Part of that is logistical, part due to legitimate safety concerns for operators.

Ideally they take some of the damaged timber, clear paths through it where needed, and take some healthy timber (typically some is needed to entice loggers to do the work) in a manner that creates good habitat.

Worst case they take way too much live timber, including large areas with no or minimal damage, and ignore past required habitat considerations while doing so.

I've seen both happen. The key is whether folks looking out for habitat have any say or not in how, where, and what timber is taken.

And thats my concern...it is no secret that the current administration is not allowing foresters and biologists they allowed to remain to consider requirements that detract from top dollar maximum resource extraction.

Its also no secret that some in the timber industry, and administration friendly politicians want to turn forests over to the industry and allow unrestricted logging. To achieve that they continually blame the lack of logging as the cause and solution to forest problems.

So...I suggest not blindly jumping for joy at salvage plans and encourage doing so responsibly, with habitat considerations in mind.

 

[Bonasababy]

Question...is there potential for high value...due to blue stained wood in conifer species prone to that...in much of the insect damaged areas there? Here, while it has value, foresters want to get after salvage within weeks to avoid that.

I think that is influenced by our larger market forces who primarily want clear wood lumber.