Sierra Pacific Industries to clearcut and sanitation salvage log near Emigrant Gap and I-80.

PANORAMIC Photo By Tyler Blake

THP 2-17-012 NEV (Scotch THP) Sierra Pacific Industries, 593 acres; 43% sanitation salvage, 28% no-harvest, 20% clearcut, 7% commercial thin, 1% selection logging.  Scotchman Creek Diamond Creek, Fuller Lake, Upper Steephollow Creek (MD: T17N R10E Sec.23; T17N R11E Sec.13, 21, 23).  Winter operations, high erosion hazard, steep slopes up to 70%, 7 unstable areas, 5 road drainage work sites, impaired 303.d watershed, herbicides, CA spotted owl, northern goshawk, osprey, foothill yellow legged frog, Sierra Nevada yellow legged frog, Sierra starwort, feltleaf violet, scattered large trees.  Estimated public comment deadline: 06/26/17. VIEW

This THP is about 4 miles NW of Emigrant Gap and Interstate 80 at an elevation of 3,200 to 5,400 feet.  Sierra Pacific Industries is planning a tractor and cable sanitation salvage and clearcut logging operation on steep and unstable slopes in ponderosa pine, sugar fir, white fir, Douglas fir, incense cedar and Pacific yew forests.  There are 7 unstable areas mostly related to historic gold rush era mining activities within sections 21 and 23 in the THP area.  Sierra Pacific Industries is planning to use tractors to log across unstable areas at 2 locations within section 23, and use an existing haul road and landing within unstable areas in section 23.  They also are planning to use an existing tractor road within a class III (intermittent) watercourse in section 23, and use an existing landing inside a class II (mid sized) watercourse in section 23.  Five road drainage sites are planned for work including rocking, dip construction, ditch cleaning and culvert repair/replacement.  An osprey nest was reported to be within 1 mile of the THP area, and in 2004, a northern goshawk was reported 1.34 miles away in section 18.  Nine foothill yellow legged frogs were reported between .28 to 2.19 miles from the THP area, and five Sierra Nevada yellow legged frogs were reported from within the THP area to 2.33 miles away from the THP area.  Sierra starwort was found in a previously harvested areas and within retention areas in the THP area, and felt leaf violet was found in an open gravelly area within the THP area.  Eleven CA spotted owl sightings were reported from within the THP area (2 occurrences) to 1.12 miles away from the THP area.
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