Opposition to the Project
Residents of the Olympic Peninsula are very familiar with logging practices. Recognizing the need for lumber and fire protection practices, we understand and often accept the steps the US Forest Service is required to take to protect towns, people, and wildlife. However, in the case of Mount Walker, there is no evidence that such thinning is required at this time.

The area in question is rich with old growth Douglas firs and cedars. The undergrowth comprises of rhododendrons and salel - all thriving and very healthy.
Dick Carlson, timber and vegetation program manager for the Olympic National Forest, stated that "patches that are thinned would retain two-thirds of their total wood volume and would lose between a third and half of the total number of trees, or 'stem count'." This translates to approximately 110 trees left standing per acre - a figure that is not acceptable.

To further complicate the issue, it was noted that the targeted areas would not be 'tagged' - thus, leaving the outsourced logging crew to cut according to prescribed dimensions. In spite of assurances by the USFS of the once-a-week presence of an inspector, this can easily invite "mistakes" of old trees being felled - once on the ground, it's too late for reprimands. The USFS apparently does not have any sizable monetary penalties in place to assess the logging company in the event of such mistakes.

Whereas the USFS states that it will be cutting approximately 1/3 of the trees (translates to a minimum, not a maximum), the evidence from previous cuts appears to be that the canopy will be drastically changed, possibly exceeding 50%. This means that Mt. Walker will essentially lose its "magic" as a view attraction for the area. We simply cannot afford to lose any of Mt. Walker's magic.

Alternate Proposal
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