Photo by Carol Woronow
By Brandt Mannchen, Lone Star Chapter Forestry Chair
In August, the U.S. Forest Service (FS) approved salvage logging of about 1,700 acres on the east side of Sam Houston National Forest (SHNF) after trees were blown down during Hurricane Beryl. The FS has requested bids from logging companies for the logging of downed, snapped off, leaning, and other damaged trees.
The Sierra Club was notified about a public meeting 1 week before it was held. Information about the proposed salvage logging proposal wasn’t released until the August 15, 2024 public meeting. At the public meeting the SHNF District Ranger stated that the public meeting was for public comments and that bids would be opened as soon as August 20th, which later was changed to August 28th. The Sierra Club submitted comments about this hurried-up salvage logging proposal on August 16, 2024. The Sierra Club comments stated, in part:
“The timeframe for this proposal has been hurried up so that the Sierra Club and public doesn’t have time to make substantive and site-specific comments based upon site visits over a reasonable period of time. This inadequate timeframe has provided the Sierra Club and public with inadequate time to prepare comprehensive comments.”
“A reasonable period of time for Sierra Club and public comments would be, for the FS to announce in a public notice a public comment period of at least 14-days. Today, there are only 5 days before bids are taken for the public to find out about and attempt to visit these areas and provide the FS with comments.”
“The FS SHNF District Ranger said the FS would tier their decision for the Hurricane Beryl salvage logging project to the September 26, 2013 “Wind Events” 10-year EA/decision.”
“The Sierra Club asked how this could occur when that EA/decision had run-out of the time allotted it, which was 10 years?”
“At the August 15, 2024 FS meeting, the Sierra Club brought up the November 25, 2013 Forest Supervisor’s “Implementation Guidance for Texas Wind Event Environmental Assessment” and asked whether the FS would adhere to this document.”
“The Sierra Club requested that the 4 requirements of this document, about coarse woody debris, off highway vehicles, streamside management zones, and trails, be adhered to.”
“At the August 15, 2024 FS public meeting, there was considerable discussion between the Sierra Club, public, and FS about protection of the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT) during any proposed salvage logging.”
“The Sierra Club requests from the FS that the LSHT and the Trail Between the Lake (TBTL) have a protected trail corridor created that is at least 20-50 feet wide on both sides of the trail (40-100 feet in total width) where logging isn’t permitted, and that the scenic and other values of these trails are fully protected during any salvage logging in all Compartments that will be salvage logged.”
“The Sierra Club requests that the FS, for the SHNF… Hurricane Beryl salvage logging projects, mark the areas to be salvaged logged tightly, so that the timber loggers don’t go beyond where moderate and heavy damage is and cause additional natural resource degradation and damage.”
The Sierra Club then responded on August 20th to FS answers to some of its’ questions. This response included, in part:
“Question #1, the Sierra Club finds it unfortunate that the U.S. Forest Service (FS) values logging over taking some additional time for public review, comment, and collaboration with the public. The FS used to provide more time for public comment than it does now. That, in the Sierra Club’s view, was good and there has been backwards movement by the FS (less time) on providing and gathering public participation, input, and collaboration. That’s sad and not appropriate since citizens own the national forests.”
“Question #2, the Sierra Club was involved for over 2 years in the preparation of the 2013 Wind Events Environmental Assessment (EA) … stated to the Sierra Club and others of the public that this EA was for 10 years only.”
“It’s obvious that the FS on SHNF was looking for a very quick way to approve salvage logging since the Wind Events EA decision had runout. This could have been addressed via NEPA using a 30-day public scoping notice, but the FS chose not to do this and instead to misinterpret the NEPA process/procedure that the Wind Events EA went through and that was signed in 2013. That’s a sad way to operate for the public.”
“Question #3, the Sierra Club appreciates that the FS will utilize the “Implementation Guidelines” that were prepared after the appeal that it filed on the Winds Events EA in 2013.”
“Question #6, the Sierra Club appreciates that the FS will monitor salvage logging for this proposed action so that the FS can ensure that environmental mitigation measures are adhered to. Thank you.”
The Sierra Club visited the proposed salvage logging area on August 27, 2024, and provided feedback on that day about proposed salvage logging areas. The Sierra Club sent the FS an email, and stated, in part:
“The Sierra Club saw that within 100-300 feet of Red Road was where tree blowdown was the worst. Many of these areas along Red Road had heavy blowdown versus moderate or light blowdown, although there was some moderate and heavy blowdown areas too. This was in Compartments 107, 109, 110, and 111 along Red Road. The Sierra Club supports, if the FS must salvage log on Red Road, salvage logging within this 100-300-foot distance from Red Road.”
“The Sierra Club requests that the FS not log Stand 25 in Compartment 109. This is a 104-year-old … Bottomland Hardwood-Yellow Pine, stand that has depressional forested wetlands that should be protected and not logged.”
“The Sierra Club noted that FR 221 and FR 217 were both blocked off and the road to Big Creek Scenic Area (BCSA) couldn’t be driven (Compartments 105 and 106). The Sierra Club requests from the FS the FS how long it will be before FR 217 is open to the BCSA parking lot.”
“The Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT) on FM 2666 and FR 217B, on the north and south side of this road, is closed. The Sierra Club urges the FS to install a 50-foot buffer along the LSHT (both sides) where trees that are down across the trail are sectioned, moved off the trail, but no logging is conducted.”
“In Compartment 117, just north and south of FR 259A, there are several hardwood depressional forested wetlands that shouldn’t be logged so they won’t be damaged in Stand 12, which is … Bottomland Hardwood-Yellow Pine. Stand 12 is 122-years-old.”
“In summary, the Sierra Club requests that the FS:”
“Protect hardwood depressional forested wetlands in Compartments 109 and 117 and anyplace else they may be in the salvage logging areas.”
“Protect the LSHT with a 50-foot buffer on both sides of the trail where blowdown trees won’t be logged but will be sectioned so that the trail will be opened as soon as possible.”
“That BCSA parking lot access via FR 217 be provided as soon as possible.”
The Sierra Club intends to monitor where and how the FS allows salvage logging in SHNF and Sabine National Forest