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Giant sequoia plan goes public

By Shannon Darling
Staff writer


A forest management plan for the Giant Sequoia National Monument that calls for
substantial logging to prevent forest fires will be presented to the public
Monday during a two-hour meeting in Porterville.

Sequoia National Forest officials will answer questions and make presentations
on the 2 1/2-inch-thick plan.

The meeting, officials say, is a chance for the public to learn about the plan
and ask questions.

Oral comment will not be recorded. Forest officials encourage written comments
instead.

Six alternatives are presented in the Plan draft plan. One will be chosen for
the monument. Forest Service officials indicate that the preferred alternative,
Alternative 6, allows for logging of up to 10 million board-feet of trees
annually. A logging truck can carry about 3,000-board-feet, so the plan would
permit more than 3,300 trucks loaded with timber to be hauled out of the
monument every year.

On April 15, 2000, President Clinton signed a proclamation designating 327,769
acres as the Giant Sequoia National Monument within the 1.2 million-acre
Sequoia National Forest.

Forest officials say Alternative 6 is appealing after a near miss last summer
by the 150,000-acre McNally fire, which came close to groves of giant sequoia
trees.

"We want to protect the trees, have a good healthy environment and protect the
community," Sequoia National Forest Supervisor Art Gaffrey said.

Critics say the preferred plan is a disguised method of profiting on lumber
sales.

Alternatives

The six management alternatives presented in the document a


Alternative 1: Follow the Sierra framework, the management plan that applies
to the rest of the forest, and look to former President Clinton's proclamation
for other direction.

Alternative 2: Similar to Alternative 1, but this plan would allow for
increased recreation opportunities based on demand with the exception of
off-highway vehicle use outside of the Kings River area.

Alternative 3: This would only use prescription burns and hand treatment,
which only includes the use of chain saw or other hand-held tools, for
management. No ground-based equipment would be used.
Roads would be closed under this plan.

This plan would not allow any overnight camping facilities, would restrict
camping in groves and would restrict off-highway vehicle use with the exception
of the Kings River area.


Alternative 4: Similar to Alternative 3, but areas not in a giant sequoia
grove could use heavy logging equipment. Inside the groves, no trees larger
than 12 inches in diameter would be felled.

Alternative 5: This alternative would allow for management to be
grove-specific and include prescribed burns and logging with heavy machinery.
Expansion of overnight camping near and in groves would be encouraged. Existing
roads would be retained for recreation and logging use.

Alternative 6: Similar to Alternative 5, but rules do not apply to specific
groves, and one of the reasons forest managers say they like it is that it
gives them flexibility.
"We are trying to leave a healthy, resilient forest," Gaffrey said.

While public discussion is encouraged, these meetings are not intended to be
formal hearings or forums for taking public comment.

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Get involved

Copies of the draft Giant Sequoia National Monument Management Plan are
available at Sequoia National Forest headquarters, 900 W. Grand Ave.,
Porterville, and at five Ranger District offices. It is also available at
www.r5.fs.fed.us/giant_ sequoia. The public comment period ends March 17. Send
comments to: Jim Whitfield, 900 West Grand Ave., Porterville, CA 93257




How to attend


Officials will discuss plans to manage the Giant Sequoia National Monument from
6-8 p.m. Monday at the Veterans Memorial Building, 1900 W. Olive Ave.,
Porterville. Another meeting is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Holiday
Inn Select, 801 Truxtun Ave., in Bakersfield