This sale would devastate the surrounding areas of Birch Creek, thrashing the watershed and ruing the natural beauty and way of life! Please use the letter below, personalize, and send to the BLM by August 8th.
Thank you.


August 7, 2005

Kristi Mastrofini
Ashland Resource Area, Medford BLM
3040 Biddle Rd.
Medford, OR 97504

Dear Ms. Mastrofini,

I am concerned about logging and road-building in the Little Applegate Valley as
currently proposed by the Medford BLM. These are my comments on the Environmental
Assessment for the "Bald Lick Landscape Project."

I believe that a project of this size and scope requires more time than the 30-day public
review period that ends on August 8. In addition to inadequate time for review, I believe
that the proposed project has enormous potential for significant environmental impacts in
the Little Applegate watershed, therefore an Environmental Impact Statement is required.

Non-controversial fuels reduction treatments in the project area have moved forward
unopposed, and have been implemented throughout the last year. While some fuels reduction
work in the Little Applegate is appropriate, logging older forests and building roads is
not. In fact, is it against what most Americans want for their public lands.

Large trees and forest canopy closure greater than 60% provide disproportionate values
for wildlife and recreation, as well as provide the least likely forest type to
experience hot fires. Reducing the forest canopy and building roads will increase fire
risk in an already arid valley. Increased roads will result in increased OHV use, noise,
dust, and the spread of noxious weeds. I strongly encourage the BLM to maintain older
forest structure throughout the Little Applegate and to not build any additional roads in
the Little Applegate and Applegate-McKee watersheds.

The Little Applegate Valley boasts important recreational values for residents of the
Applegate and Rogue Valleys, as well as for tourists who travel from far away to enjoy
the scenic beauty of our region. I strongly encourage the BLM to stay out of roadless
areas and critical habitat for the threatened Northern Spotted Owl, and to protect
invaluable aquatic resources.

Please focus on treating dense plantations and other genuine forest health projects (like
fuels reduction near homes, improving spawning habitat, replacing culverts, and
obliterating defunct roads).

Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing your response.

Sincerely,