FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015
THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS — 9
Local
County Commissioners urge John Day,
Snake RAC
USFS timber salvage
meetings
scheduled
BY TODD ARRIOLA
Todd@TheBakerCountyPress.com
On Wednesday, Baker
County Commission Chair
Bill Harvey, Commis-
sioners Mark Bennett and
Tim Kerns, and Executive
Assistant Heidi Martin
were joined by Wallowa-
Whitman National Forest
Supervisor Tom Montoya
and Whitman District
Ranger Jeff Tomac for a
second U.S. Forest Service
coordination meeting, held
at the County Courthouse.
Attendance also included
Baker Natural Resource
Advisory Committee
(NRAC) Coordinator Eric
Wuntz, Ed Hardt, Cyn-
thia Long, Jan Alexander,
Wanda and Tork Ballard,
Bobbie Danser, Chuck
Chase, and Alice Knapp.
The 2 ½ hour meeting
included heavy emphasis
from Harvey many times
on the U.S. Forest Ser-
vice (USFS) declaring an
emergency, and allowing
as much salvage/danger
timber to be removed from
areas affected by wildfires
as possible.
“Have you requested
the declaration?” Harvey
asked Tomac, to which he
responded, “No. We’re
still looking at the data, on
whether or not it’s viable to
go after larger than a 250-
acre, or a couple of 250-
acre CEs (Categorical Ex-
clusions) for Windy-Cornet
(Cornet-Windy Ridge
wildfire area), because, it’s
not viable right now for
the other three fires (El Do-
rado, Eagle Complex and
Dry Gulch).”
Tomac had provided the
Board with maps indicat-
ing 82 miles of County
roads, around which
personnel are currently
marking 46 miles of them
for danger tree removal.
He said there was a
discussion between the
Oregon Department of
Transportation (ODOT),
the Oregon Department of
Forestry (ODF), and the
USFS, about which trees to
remove.
“My concern is, looking
at your map, I don’t see
any potential (timber) sales
or anything, so, I have no
idea what you’re looking
at,” Harvey said, to Tomac.
Tomac explained that
he didn’t realize the map
wasn’t clear enough, and
he pointed out color-coded
areas with potential sal-
vage timber.
“It’s not a lot—about
1,000 acres,” of 29,000
burned acres, on Dooley
Mountain, Tomac said.
Tomac explained to the
Board that the board-feet
estimate is about 4,000
to 5,000 per acre, or
1,000,000 to 1,250,000, for
Todd Arriola / The Baker County Press
At far left, Tom Montoya and Jeff Tomac of the USFS meet with Baker County
Commissioners Bennett, Harvey, and Kerns.
a 250-acre area.
“The 250 acres we’ve
identified for Baker is stuff
that’s valuable—logs that
are of value—and, it’s
in areas that the industry
would look at going in
there and taking it out,”
Tomac said.
Harvey noted that,
according to the map pro-
vided, most of the identi-
fied acreage is on the north
side of Dooley Mountain,
and close to roads, but,
he said, “I see, on most of
the fire, there’s little to no
attempt to salvage logs,
at this juncture…We have
48,000 acres (lands man-
aged by the USFS) of fire,
and we’re only getting 250
acres out of it?”
Tomac pointed out again
the 46 miles of marked
County roads for danger
tree removal, and the es-
timate of 6,000,000 board
feet from that process, with
possibly one or two 250-
acre CEs additionally.
“Do we have any idea
how much burnt timber is
out there?” Harvey asked
Tomac.
Tomac responded that of
the 29,000 acres burned on
Dooley, about 1/3 was a
high intensity burn, about
1/3 moderate, and about
1/3 low intensity. “I don’t
know the exact numbers,
but there’s a certain per-
centage of those trees that
are dead or dying,” Tomac
said, and the areas would
be analyzed to determine
what salvage is viable.
“Topography, value,
accessibility—the yellow
(color-coded areas on the
map, 1,000 acres) is what
we’re, for right now, com-
ing up with for opportu-
nities,” Tomac said, in
response to Bennett’s ques-
tion about including other
larger areas as potentials
for salvage purposes.
There was a discussion
between primarily Har-
vey and Tomac regarding
the costs and difficulties
versus the need to remove
salvage timber, and Harvey
said, “The tree is there.
It should be removed,
because it does have some
value. We can’t leave two-
thirds of it standing there,
just because we don’t want
to do more studies, or, we
don’t think we’re going to
get enough dollars out of
it… My point is, it’s stand-
ing there, right in front of
our face. We need to make
every possible attempt to
get every single tree that
has some market value to
the market.”
“The answer to your
question is, there is no
market value,” Tomac said,
explaining the difficulties
involved with the timber
market, and selling sal-
vaged timber.
Tomac said that there
will likely be a 250-acre
CE with the Eagle Com-
plex fire, resulting in a
board feet estimate of
1,000,000 to 2,000,000.
He also said that there’s
not much potential for
salvage timber in the El
Dorado fire area, and a
CE is not likely in the Dry
Gulch fire area.
Discussion continued
primarily between Harvey,
Tomac and Montoya, with
Harvey reiterating the
need to move the process
along, and remove as much
salvage timber as possible,
and Tomac and Montoya
responding with safety and
litigation concerns, and
that they’re implementing
the proper process, and
lacking sufficient data to
move more swiftly.
Bennett noted that there
needs to be a map with
more thorough informa-
tion, including overlays,
and said, “If we had an
overlay of, where the tim-
ber is at, that’s moderately
burned, that would be mar-
ketable timber, in relation
to these roads…that would
be logical.”
Later in the meeting,
Harvey said to Tomac,
“I’m hoping and assum-
ing correctly that we don’t
have to worry about the
21-inch rule, on anything
dead or dying, correct?”
Tomac said, “I would
say no, we’re not worried
about it along the roads,”
however, it was unclear
whether that would be a
concern otherwise.
The 21-inch rule refers
to a requirement that trees
larger than 21 inches in
diameter have to be dead
before they’re cut.
Kerns voiced concerns
during the meeting, and
said, “I can’t understand
why you wouldn’t be
already applying for a dec-
laration of an emergency,
looking at filing an EA
(Environmental Analysis),
while you’re doing the
CE… You should be doing
all of the above …”
Bennett said, “We need
to be nimble. I mean,
really, because, whatever
you’re doing, let’s be ready
and get moving…”
Harvey stated issues
with the National Environ-
mental Policy Act (NEPA)
process, and said that
sometimes, there is favorit-
ism toward environmental
factors, and less consider-
ation given to other details.
Tomac responded that he
believes there is a balanced
approach being implement-
ed, and that he and Harvey
could discuss specific
examples of Harvey’s con-
cerns in the near future.
New exhibit opens at Oregon
Trail Interpretive Center
A new special exhibit
at the National Historic
Oregon Trail Interpretive
Center uses interactive ex-
hibits to help visitors of all
ages explore the cultural
and natural history found
along the Oregon Trail.
The Oregon Trail Dis-
covery Room opens on
October 26 and will be on
display through Janu-
ary 17, 2016. The exhibit
features a shadow puppet
theater with a storyline
about the animals found in
Snake River Country. Visi-
tors can also discover more
about animals that make
their home in Oregon’s
forests, interact with a
map of Oregon’s geologic
geography, or try on pio-
neer era replica clothing.
Interactive displays delve
into quilting, homestead-
ing, Native Americans and
historic trails.
The exhibit is in the
Flagstaff Gallery within
the Interpretive Center.
Live presentations, films,
and activities related to the
exhibit are scheduled in the
Leo Adler Theater.
The National Historic
Oregon Trail Interpretive
Center, operated by the
Bureau of Land Manage-
ment, is located five miles
east of Baker City, Oregon
on Highway 86. Take
Exit 302 from I-84. The
Center changes to winter
hours on October 18 and
will be open 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. daily. Admission for
adults is $8.00; for seniors
it’s $4.50; children 15 and
under are admitted for free.
Federal passes are accept-
ed. Call (541) 523-1843
for updates on programs
and events.
Visit oregontrail.blm.gov
for information.
The next John Day – Snake and Southeast Oregon
Resource Advisory Council (RAC) meetings are set for
Monday and Tuesday, October 26 to 27, 2015. The John
Day-Snake and Southeast Oregon RACs will hold a
joint workshop Monday, October 26, 2015, at the BLM
Prineville District office, 3050 N.E. 3rd Street, Prineville,
Oregon, followed by separate business meetings Tuesday,
October 27, 2015. The Monday, Oct. 26, meeting will run
from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The two RACs will meet
separately Tuesday, October 26, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.,
with the John Day- Snake RAC meeting at the BLM
Prineville District office, and the Southeast Oregon RAC
meeting at the Ochoco National Forest Office, 3160 N.E.
3rd Street, Prineville, Oregon.
Agenda items for the October 26 joint meeting include
learning sessions on the 2015 fire season, Wild Horse
and Burro management, a Greater Sage-grouse update,
a discussion on RACs role in land designations, and
community engagement. The John Day-Snake RAC will
continue Oct. 27 with an update on the Lower Deschutes
River, Hells Canyon and Snake River fee proposals, com-
mittee and member updates, and an Oregon proposal for
Wild Horse and Burro. The Southeast Oregon RAC will
continue Oct. 27 with RAC officer elections, an Oregon
proposal for Wild Horse and Burro, and committee and
member updates.
The public is welcome to attend all portions of the
meeting and can contribute in-person or via phone during
the official public comment period at 11 a.m. on October
27, 2015. Those who verbally address the RAC during
the open session are asked to also provide a written state-
ment of their comments or presentation.
The Secretary of the Interior appoints citizens to
staggered three-year terms on the Council, so one-third
of the member terms expire yearly. Every year the BLM
encourages Oregon residents to apply, or nominate others
to apply for open positions they would like to represent.
Membership is balanced to reflect the array of interests
and users of public lands with categories in commodity
interests, conservation, and general community interests.
For further information on the John Day – Snake RAC
or the upcoming meeting, contact Lisa Clark at the BLM
Prineville District Office at (541) 416-6864 or Larisa
Bogardus at the BLM Lakeview District Office at (541)
947-6237 for the Southeast Oregon RAC and upcoming
meeting. Additional information about both RACs, as
well as the call-in number can be found online at: http://
www.blm.gov/or/rac/index.php
Wolf delisting
meeting ahead
On November 9, 2015, the ODFW Commission will
meet in Salem to consider the status of gray wolves
under the Oregon Endangered Species Act. Specifically,
the Commission will determine if sufficient information
exists to justify delisting the wolf from the Oregon List
of Endangered Species and in making this determination
the Commission will review the best available scientific
information and other data to determine if the criteria set
forth in the OESA have been met.
In an effort to consult with agencies, organizations,
local governments, tribes, other states and interested
persons, we invite you to review the October 9, 2015
updated biological status review document by going to
the ODFW web site.
Comments and materials can be submitted from the pub-
lic by October 30, 2015 to: Russ Morgan, Wolf Program
Coordinator, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife,
107 20th Street, La Grande, OR 97850.
Grande Ronde
Symphony to
hold concert
The 2015-2016 Chamber Concert series, sponsored
by the Grande Ronde Symphony Association, will kick
off Friday, October 23, at 7:30 p.m. This first chamber
concert of the season will be held at the home of Lanetta
Paul, 60751 Wood Road, in La Grande.
The GRSA is so very pleased to feature our former
concertmaster, Lisa Robertson. Lisa will be performing
with fellow musical friends James Cook on piano, Lucia
Orr on viola, and Edward Dixon on cello. The concert
program will include Mozart’s Quartet in G minor, KV
478 and Brahms’s Quartet in C minor, Op. 60.
Season ticket passes (four chamber concerts) may be
purchased for $100 per season pass through the GRSA at
P.O. Box 824, La Grande, OR 97850. Single tickets may
be purchased at the door for $25 each. Refreshments,
wine, and punch will be offered following the concert, a
perfect way to cap a wonderful evening of music.
For further information please contact Patty Sandoz at
541-963-7595 or at psandoz@eou.edu.