Forest Service Approves Watershed Logging

The U.S. Forest Service has turned down appeals from environmentalists of a plan to log in the Baker City watershed to reduce danger of a catastrophic fire.

The Baker Ranger District three years ago proposed logging 4.1 million board feet of dead and green timber in the watershed, source of the city’s water.

The Forest Service and the City Council had been concerned that trees killed by insect infestations would fuel a disastrous wildfire.

Environmental groups argued that the logging was more of a threat than the prospect of a fire.

The Blue Mountain Environmental Council of Baker City, Oregon Natural Resources Council of Portland, Eastside Protection Project of Bend and Inland Empire Public Lands Council of Spokane joined in trying to stop the logging.