Sierra Pacific Industries to clearcut log near Chester, CA and Lake Almanor.

PANORAMIC Photo By Piefoot

THP 2-17-033 PLU (Louse Creek THP) Sierra Pacific Industries, 734 acres; 75% clearcut, 22% fuelbreak, 3% selection, 1% roadside logging.  Louse Creek (MD: T28N R6E Sec.1, 2; T29N R6E Sec.14, 23, 26, 35).  Winter operations, low erosion hazard, 15 road drainage work sites, impaired 303.d watershed, herbicides, Sierra Nevada red fox, bald eagle, osprey, northern goshawk, cascades frog, Rocky Mountain chickweed, scattered large trees over 30” dbh.  Estimated public comment deadline: 10/25/17. VIEW

This THP is a mile NW of Chester, CA and a few miles NW of Highway 36 and Lake Almanor at an elevation of 4,600 to 5,200 feet.  Sierra Pacific Industries is planning a mostly clearcut tractor based logging operation in Jeffrey pine, ponderosa pine, sugar pine, white fir, incense cedar and Douglas fir forests.  A 1.25 mile long shaded fuel break is proposed along Warner Valley Road.  15 road drainage sites are planned for work including rocking, dip construction, ditch cleaning and culvert repair/replacement.  There is a bald eagle nest .16 miles south of the THP area on Collins Pine lands in section 2, and an active (2017) bald eagle nest was reported across from the Church of Christ along the Warner Valley Road 1.3 miles east of the THP area.  From 2002 to 2003 a rarely seen Sierra Nevada red fox was reported to be within 1 mile of the THP area in section 27, and in 2000, a goshawk nest was reported .36 miles west of the THP area in section 34. There are some older (historic) wildlife sightings including: an osprey (1971) nest site .43 miles south of the THP area in section 11, a Sierra Nevada red fox (1996) sighting .13 miles east of the THP area in section 6, and a Cascade Frog (1924) sighting .76 miles west of the THP area in section 27.  Rocky Mountain chickweed was reported to be growing in section 23 within unit 203, and in sections 14 and 24.
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