The U.S. Forest Service announced that they would not be moving forward with their plan to reopen a large portion of the Willamette Forest affected by the 2020 Labor Day fires. In a press release issued on Wednesday, the Forest Service announced they have withdrawn the decision memo for the 2020 Fires Roadside Danger Tree Reduction Project following legal challenges posed against the project by four environmental groups.
The project authorized the felling of fire-killed or injured trees, which pose a danger to roads and those traveling along them across about 404 miles of road affected by the Beachie Creek, Lionshead, and Holiday Farm fires of 2020.
“I have decided it is in the best interest of the public to limit the continued time and expense associated with ongoing litigation surrounding this project,” said Willamette National Forest Supervisor Dave Warnack. “Our work to safely restore public access to areas burned in the 2020 Labor Day fires continues to be top priority. Upon withdrawal of this decision, my staff will conduct another review of the purpose and need of this project and will consider a new approach to addressing this important issue. We will re-engage with community partners and other interested parties toward solutions and opportunities to facilitate safely reopening fire affected areas.”
Lawsuits were filed against the project by Cascadia Wildlands, Oregon Wild, Willamette Riverkeeper, and Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics. The public will have the opportunity to participate in future planning for fire affected roads before any new decision is made.
By Jennifer Williams
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