Hungry Ridge forest project gets green light

A large restoration and timber project on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest southeast of Grangeville is moving forward.

Forest Supervisor Cheryl Probert signed a final record of decision for the Hungry Ridge Restoration Project recently. The work sandwiched between Mill Creek and Johns Creek south of the South Fork of the Clearwater River will include more than 7,000 acres of commercial timber harvest that will produce about 173 million board feet of timber.

Jeffrey Shinn, ranger of the forest’s Salmon River Ranger District, said the harvest is an outgrowth of restoration work aimed at multiple objectives, including reducing fire danger in thick stands of timber, protecting adjacent private property from fire, increasing natural disturbance patterns and improving water quality and wildlife habitat.

“The main focus is trying to restore forest health on the landscape,” he said.

The area suffers from poor forest health that is largely the result of decades of successful fire suppression. That has led to overstocked forests, where insects and disease are more prevalent. Tree species more resilient to fires, like ponderosa pine and western larch, are being crowded by shade-tolerant species like grand fir and Douglas fir.

The logging will include some clearcuts, and a forest plan amendment will allow logging in old-growth stands. But the harvest will target young trees growing beneath the old growth.

In addition to logging, the project includes about 12,300 acres of prescribed fire.

“This will take us back to a more natural state,” Shinn said.

To carry out the work, about 9 miles of permanent road and 23 miles of temporary roads will be constructed.

The project has its critics, which includes the Moscow-based environmental group Friends of the Clearwater. Gary Macfarlane, ecosystem defense director for the group, said he is considering challenging the project in court. Among his concerns are the large scale of the project and its potential impact on water quality, protected fish species like bull trout and steelhead, old-growth forests and its proximity to the End of the World Project, another Forest Service restoration effort that includes logging.

“It’s big and it’s bad, and we are consulting with some folks about potential litigation,” he said.

Barker may be contacted at ebarker@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2273. Follow him on Twitter @ezebarker.