Public invited to provide feedback on restoration project

Contact: Lisa Romano

(541)-750-7075

Public invited to provide feedback on restoration project

Waldport, OR: The Forest Service is seeking public input on a proposal to restore parts of the Deadwood Creek and Lake Creek watersheds northeast of Florence, OR. Proposed by the Central Coast Ranger District of the Siuslaw National Forest, the Deadwood Creek Restoration Project aims to restore terrestrial and aquatic habitats. The draft environmental assessment describes the project proposal, a possible alternative, and includes analyses on potential environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic impacts of the proposed actions.

Based on conditions in the project area, the proposal includes, among other actions, noxious weed removal; planting of native species; thinning young, dense, planted forested areas in order accelerate the development of wildlife habitat as well as to provide commercial timber products; replacing undersized culverts with structures that fish are able to pass through; floodplain reconnection with stream courses; decommissioning old logging roads that are causing resource damage and are no longer needed; and arranging wood and logs in streams to create fish habitat.

“As with all of our projects it’s important that we hear from the public. You're a crucial part of this process.” said Michele Jones, Central Coast District Ranger.

The complete Environmental Assessment, including project area maps, are available at:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=55601 or by contacting the Central Coast Ranger District at 541-563-8400.  Public comments will help inform the Forest Service’s final decision on the project proposal. Only those who submit timely, project-specific written comments during the public comment period will be eligible to file an objection to the final decision. The Forest Service will accept comments on this proposal for 30 days following publication of the legal notice which is scheduled to happen this weekend.

Written comments should be submitted electronically to comments-pacificnorthwest-siuslaw-centralcoast@usda.gov. They can also be mailed to Michele Jones, Central Coast Ranger District, P.O. Box 400, Waldport, OR 97394, or hand delivered to 1130 Forestry Lane, Waldport, OR, during business hours (M-F 8:00am to 4:00pm, excluding legal holidays). For detailed information about how to submit comments see the project website or contact the Central Coast Ranger District.