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Judge Lodge gives forest project a thumbs upJuly 29, 2003
The Iron Honey project on the little north fork of the Coeur d'Alene River includes a 1,400-acre timber harvest as well as some road and culvert removal. Judge Edward Lodge has ruled that the Forest Service project adheres to all environmental regulations. Mike Peterson of The Lands Council in Spokane says they plan an appeal of the judge's ruling "We believe this is one of the worst timber sales we've seen come out of the Panhandle," says Peterson. "This is a highly-roaded, highly damaged ecosystem, and to put in another timber sale with 1,400 hundred acres of almost clearcuts is blatantly irresponsible." Coeur d'Alene River District Ranger Joe Stringer defends the project, especially against allegations that the timber harvest will increase erosion of heavy metals in the banks along the main fork of the river. "We're decommissioning about 76 miles of roads, which is going to eliminate substantial risk of sediment delivery of sediment into the stream system through removal of undersized culverts," Stringer says. "It's also going to improve wildlife security. So the overall benefits to the water quality will be tremendous." The Lands Council spokesman feels the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will be more sympathetic to their views than was District Judge Lodge. By Steve Jackson |
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