Okanogan, WA: Proper selective logging would clear the understory vegetation without the dangers of prescribed fire. Has this been considered?
Harvesting and thinning are important components of a restoration effort. The forest activity table in the Draft EIS (table 3-6) shows levels for both types of logging as well as prescribed burning. Although it carries a risk, prescribed fire can do some things that logging cannot (such as recycle nutrients and carbon), and in some cases fire is more economical or the only action allowed (such as wilderness areas.) 104. Spokane, WA: Timber growth in much of the region understudy grossly exceeds harvest levels. This imbalance causes heavy fuel loads which causes extreme wildfire conditions. How are you going to rectify this imbalance without increasing harvests or causing smoke management problems? Answer: The alternatives give a range of possibilities from increasing harvest levels (Alternatives 1 and 3-6) to letting nature solve the problem through wildfire with smoke as a by-product (Alternative 7). Alternative 2 would continue the current course.
Related Questions
- Okanogan, WA: Proper selective logging would clear the understory vegetation without the dangers of prescribed fire. Has this been considered?
- How does prescribed fire benefit warm season grasses and promote vegetation growth and productivity?
- Which logging practice is worse, selective logging or clear cutting?
