In late May 2021, the Houston Regional Group and Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club (Sierra Club) met with the U.S. Forest Service (FS) in Sam Houston National Forest (SHNF) for a field trip in Compartments 109/110/111. This field trip was approved by national Sierra Club with COVID restrictions. Some of the issues/concerns addressed included:
Trash dumping is a major issue on Forest Road (FR) 221 (South Red Road). New and existing trash dumping was evident along the road. Community engagement and law enforcement are important strategies to address this issue. An initiative to address South Red Road as a focus area is appropriate. Additional funding is needed.
The FR 221P gate, which is near the southeast boundary of Compartment 111, Stand 19 (Red Road Hunting Club), was open again. The road is eroded, flooded, and in bad shape.
In the southwest corner of Compartment 109 a wildfire burned recently and there is a destroyed FS sign. This fire appears to have been started by humans.
Compartment 109, Stand 30, during thinning (logging) a trespass into Stand 25 of about 30-40 feet occurred. Stand 25, wasn’t included in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Decision Memo (DM) and Categorical Exclusion (CE). This stand was used for a turnaround for trucks and a tree debris disposal area. Tree debris hadn’t been lopped/scattered in two-foot lengths and placed in Stand 30. This is a noncompliance (violation) of NEPA because Stand 25 was not included in the DE/CE.
The Sierra Club is concerned about this incident because the public was not told the full extent of environmental impacts that the proposal would have on all areas. This removes from the public, the transparency of FS actions and ability to comment on the proposal, environmental impacts, and mitigation for those impacts.
From the Sierra Club's perspective this is not acceptable. The Sierra Club wants the FS to take this issue seriously. During the field trip, it did not appear that the FS took this incident seriously. The Sierra Club requested that the FS provide it with an explanation of how it will avoid such incidents in the future via implementation of corrective measures.
In Compartment 111, there are two sites where roads were closed with logs, dirt, and debris. There was a discussion about how to close these roads so that they look good. The Sierra Club believes that if these sites look sloppy it is an invitation for trash dumping.
These roads could be narrowed at their intersection with FR 221, logs that block the road could be put closer to FR 221 to make it more difficult to dump trash, and the sides of the roads could be planted or landscaped (revegetated) so they look good and forest vegetation would then be reclaimed (restore).
The Sierra Club requested the bid, contract, implementation plan, sales preparation documents, prescription, and maps which show log landings, roads, and other important features of stands that will be cut and FS handbook and manual requirements for logging. The Sierra Club wants to continue the discussion about the process used after a NEPA decision has been made, bid/sale preparation, during logging, and close out of logging.
The Sierra Club agreed with the FS that prescribed burning is important for ecosystem restoration. The FS stated that in the next two years approval for burning will be up for re-approval. The FS said due to nonattainment air pollution issues it’s harder to burn. The FS will prepare decisions that allow it to mulch (masticate) more so that it will be prepared if the State does not allow it to burn. The Sierra Club stated that it was willing to write a letter of support for prescribed burning in SHNF.
The Sierra Club appreciates that the FS has engaged with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and other entities about roads in SHNF. Wilderness, wildlife, red-cockaded woodpecker, and recreational uses are harmed by more, wider, and busier roads. The Sierra Club supports the FS in ensuring that these road issues are addressed and that crossing structures that protect wildlife and humans are installed.
The Sierra Club walked part of Stand 25, Compartment 110, with the FS. The lop/scatter requirement (2 feet long) was not implemented well in this and other stands. The Sierra Club stated flatwood forests are naturally moister so when logging occurs the need for hardwood tree protection is greater than on upland sites and must be emphasized. The Sierra Club requested that the FS document how it will ensure that the lop/scatter standards are implemented well.
The Sierra Club wants to meet next with the FS to discuss Compartment 53, Stand 5, which is Forest Type 51, Post Oak - Black Oak, 32 acres, immature sawtimber, and discuss why this stand shouldn’t be masticated (small trees are ground-up) but should be prescribed to be burned.
Author: Brandt Mannchen