Baker City Watershed Fuels Management Project objection period now open
By Garrett Christensen on Wednesday, November 6th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY – (Release from the U.S. Forest Service) The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest is announcing the commencement of the objection period for the Baker City Watershed Fuels Management Project, which started on October 30 and will last for 45 days. This project is a crucial step towards enhancing the safety and health of the Baker City community and its watershed.
The Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for this project was released on March 9, and the public was initially invited to comment during a 30-day period that concluded on April 9. Now, as the project moves forward, interested parties are encouraged to review the project details and submit any objections they may have.
The primary objectives of the Baker City Watershed Fuels Management Project are to reduce the risk of high-intensity wildfires, ensure the protection of water quality for local residents, and restore the overall health of the forest ecosystem. The project proposes to treat approximately 23,000 acres through a combination of prescribed burning and tree thinning. Specifically, 14,000 acres are designated for non-commercial thinning of trees under ten inches in diameter, while nearly 3,000 acres will undergo commercial thinning.
The Final EA, Finding of No Significant Impact, and Draft Decision Notice is available for review on the Forest Service website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/wallowa-whitman/?project=58480
