Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests move forward with contentious logging project

The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests are moving ahead with a logging project near Grangeville that was rejected two years ago by a U.S. District judge.

An environmental impact statement is being prepared for the so-called “End of the World” project area, which is located about 6 miles south of Grangeville and would encompass about 49,565 acres within the Fish Creek, Cove Creek and North Fork White Bird Creek watersheds.

The area is in the heart of Nez Perce-Clearwater Lower Salmon Wildfire Crisis Landscape and is recognized as wildland urban interface by Idaho County.

The agency proposes precommercial thinning on 1,098 acres and timber harvest on another 17,262 acres to reduce hazardous wildfire fields and improve forest health. The project also includes 7,900 acres of prescribed burning to reduce hazardous fuels and create a fuel break along the Grangeville-Salmon Road to increase public and firefighter safety.

“The primary focus of this project is fuel reduction and decreasing the risk and impacts of high-intensity wildfire,” said Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest Supervisor Cheryl Probert. “This project is of vital importance to many small communities — including Grangeville and Elk City — and dispersed private property and lands within Idaho County.”

In June 2022, U.S. District Judge Candy W. Dale at Boise blocked the End of the World and Hungry Ridge projects, saying the proposals fell short of standards meant to project stands of old-growth trees. Dale sided with the Moscow-based Friends of the Clearwater environmental group when she ruled that forest officials “took liberties outside of a reasonable interpretation of the (Nez Perce National Forest) plan” when counting old-growth timber in the area.

That assessment was required to ensure the agency met minimum old-growth standards in the combined project areas that straddle the ridge separating the South Fork of the Clearwater River Basin from the Salmon River Basin.

The new environmental impact statement is designed to address concerns related to old growth and cumulative effects that Dale raised in her findings.

The agency maintains that other benefits of the project include wildlife and aquatic habitat improvement, soil and meadow restoration and the replacement of failing or undersized culverts to reduce runoff and erosion.

Anyone wishing more information may sign up at the End of the World project webpage: Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests - Home (usda.gov). The federal notice can be found at 2024-08954.pdf (govinfo.gov). The next formal public comment period is expected to be August 2024.

Questions about the End of the World project can be directed to Jeff Shinn, Salmon River District Ranger (Jeffrey.shinn@usda.gov), 208-839-2103.

The End of the World project is named as a tribute to local community members who often gather at the previous Fish Creek Lookout site (located within the project area), which they dubbed “the end of the world” because of the incredible view.

Hedberg may be contacted at khedberg@lmtribune.com