Hoosier National Forest-German Ridge

Protect Our Woods
Working to preserve our rural heritage and quality of life in
southern Indiana since 1985

Home

Site Map

Contact Us

Home

News & ALERTS

Issues

Forum

Archives

Conservationist's Alternative

Klawitter Memorial

Downloads

Join Us

About Us

Contact Us

Site Map

Links

ALERT - December 4, 2006: Protect Our Woods joins allies to submit a response to the Draft Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the German Ridge Restoration Project in Hoosier National Forest

14. The Size of Clearcuts

What are the sizes of the clearcuts on German Ridge?

The German Ridge FEIS is unclear and confusing in regards to the size of the clearcuts allowed in the German Ridge Project area. The Hoosier LRMP limits the size of clearcuts to 10 acres or less, except in Management Area 3.3, where the Forest Service will attempt to clearcut up to 40 acres.

However, Table 2-1 seems to show that the clearcuts will be larger than 10 acres. For example, in stand 42/60 the total stand acres is 50 acres, and the pine cleacuts will be 45 acres. How then will the cleacuts be less than 10 acres?

Table 2-1. Alternative A - Description and Proposed Vegetation Management Activities

Comp / Std	Total Stand Acres	Dominant Vegetation Type	Hardwood Residual Basal Area	Pine Removal (Acres)	Thinning (Acres)	Shelterwood (Acres)	Prescribed Burning
39/34	49	shortleaf pine	20	35	14	0	Yes
41/2	43	shortleaf pine	40	0	4	10	No
41/13	57	shortleaf pine	30	36	11	0	Yes
41/17	44	red pine	10	35	9	0	Yes
41/18	32	shortleaf pine	20	21	11	0	Yes
41/19	7	white pine	10	4	3	0	Yes
42/15	20	shortleaf pine	20	18	2	0	Yes
42/29	60	shortleaf pine	30	41	19	0	Yes
42/47	20	red pine	20	17	0	0	Yes
42/60	50	shortleaf pine	20	45	5	0	Yes
42/64	16	shortleaf pine	50	0	16	0	Yes
42/73	25	shortleaf pine	20	19	6	0	Yes
44/7	36	shortleaf pine / hardwood	35	0	13	23	Yes
44/8	77	shortleaf pine	35	0	23	54	Yes
44/12	83	shortleaf pine	40	48	35	0	Yes
44/23	40	shortleaf pine	60	0	10	30	Yes
44/27	44	shortleaf pine	30	23	21	0	Yes
44/29	23	shortleaf pine	30	13	10	0	Yes

TOTALS				335	215	120

*all acreage figures are approximated and rounded

Furthermore, in between the issuance of the German Ridge FEIS, the Forest Service issued the new Hoosier LRMP. In between the DEIS and the FEIS of the Hoosier LRMP, the Forest Service increased the size of clearcuts allowed in this management area from five to ten acres. However, in the DSFEIS, while we have an acknowledgement that the size of the clearcuts on German Ridge will be increased to ten acres, we do not see an assessment of the cumulative, direct and indirect effects of these larger size clearcuts on wildlife, water, soil, etc. This is a major change and requires another SDFEIS.

From the German Ridge DSDEIS Page 5:

“Limit temporary openings created by clearcut and shelterwood harvest to 10 acres.”

Click here for Part 15. Blowdown of Hardwoods – Where is the Evidence?

Protect Our Woods
PO Box 352
Paoli, Indiana 47454