In her testimony, Kathrine explained the unique importance of Wisconsin’s only National Forest and the aggressive logging practices that have threatened the forest’s health in recent years.  Katherine’s testimony outlined steps the US Forest Service can take to manage the forest in a way that balances recreation, natural resources values and logging.

Read Kathrine’s testimony here.

What: House Agriculture Committee Field Hearing on forest resource management in Northern Wisconsin

When: Monday, July 20th, 9:00am

Where: Radisson Paper Valley, 333 W. College Avenue, Appleton WI 54911

Details are also available on the House Agriculture Committee schedule.

This is an exciting and rare opportunity, and you can make sure conservationists have a seat at the table!

Here five easy ways you can help:

1. This hearing is open to the public, and anyone can attend.  Share this information with interested friends in the Appleton area. RSVP by email or phone to ahorn@elpc.org or 608.204.9735.

2. Do you have a blog or a mailing list? Inform other conservationists about this hearing!

3. Can’t attend? Show your support for preserving the CNNF by writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.  Contact ahorn@elpc.org if you would like guidance or a template letter that you can personalize and send.

4.  Send a letter to Congressman Kagen, thanking him for drawing attention to this important issue and urging him to protect important natural resource values in the Northwoods.  Personalizing your letter helps you make more of an impact.  

5.  Submit written testimony.  Anyone is free to submit written testimony to the following mailing address:

Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry
Committee on Agriculture
1301 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The agreement requires the Forest Service to consult with ELPC and other stakeholders in Project Year 3, before any logging occurs in the deferred area. The parties will meet to discuss and assess new scientific information, and to determine whether and what kind of supplemental environmental impacts analysis needs to be done. This agreement commits the Forest Service to re-evaluating the Cayuga Project in three years, and it ensures that ELPC will be involved in that re-evaluation process. This exciting development suggests that the Obama Administration is starting to take a fresh look at forest management.

Administrative Proceedings – Camp Four and Grub Hoe
ELPC filed detailed legal and scientific comments in the administrative proceedings on the proposed Grub Hoe timber sale on June 15, 2009. Grub Hoe is located east of Eagle River, immediately adjacent to three other ongoing and proposed sales (Northwest Howell, Long Rail, and Fishel). ELPC recommended that the Forest Service adopt a project alternative that proposes no new road construction and reconstruction in the project area and that limits logging of old-age aspen, particularly in the corridor of the Pine River, which is a candidate for federal designation as a Wild and Scenic River.

On June 5, 2009, the Forest Service approved the Camp Four timber sale, located east of Park Falls, Wisconsin. ELPC and our clients filed detailed legal and scientific comments on the Camp Four timber sale earlier in the administrative process. ELPC hopes to persuade the Forest Service to proceed responsibly on these new sales.

New Appellate Court Lawsuits – Twentymile and Fishbone
In early 2009, a federal district court judge issued final decisions in our challenges to the Fishbone and Twentymile timber sales, both located on the Chequamegon side of the National Forest. Unfortunately, the Court’s opinions deferred to the Forest Service and found that the Forest Service had complied with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) in approving both timber sales. ELPC has appealed both decisions to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. We are currently engaged in mediated settlement talks in an effort to resolve these cases in a way that balances natural resources protection, recreation, and logging interests.

Temporary Success & Continued Litigation – McCaslin and Northwest Howell
ELPC succeeded in two related lawsuits against the McCaslin and Northwest Howell timber sales in March and August 2005, when the federal court held that the Forest Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act, granted injunctions and remanded to the agency to go back and do it right. Unfortunately, the Forest Service papered over the record and issued “same old, same old” supplemental environmental impact statements on both timber sales. We are back before the federal court on those two cases, contending that the Forest Service has again failed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act.

New Timber Sale – Twin Ghost
In November 2008, the Forest Service announced a new timber sale, the Twin Ghost Project, which proposes nearly 12,000 acres of logging immediately adjacent to the now-settled Cayuga Project and the proposed Twentymile Project. In February 2008 ELPC and our clients traveled to Glidden, Wisconsin, to meet with Forest Service representatives to discuss modifications that would improve wildlife habitat, protect clean water, and maintain good recreational opportunities in the project area.

Other Favorable Negotiated Settlements – Boulder and Long Rail
In March and May 2007, we negotiated favorable settlements with the Forest Service to protect key waterways, biodiversity and wildlife habitat that were prioritized by our scientists in the Long Rail and Boulder timber sales. The Forest Service agreed to: (a) not cut designated large old northern hardwood and aspen stands in areas important for threatened species protection and clean water; (b) create experimental 124-acre buffer areas to protect northern goshawk nests; and (c) discuss ways of improving the overall process of evaluating cumulative environmental impacts. ELPC is now engaged in implementing and monitoring the settlements as logging proceeds.

Click here to view a map of the area.

New Activist Tools to Protect the Northwoods

Learn more about the history of ELPC’s work on preserving the CNNF.

ELPC and Habitat Education Center (HEC) have agreed to a settlement with the US Forest Service on the Cayuga Project timber sale, which approved logging of more than 5,200 acres in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest near Clam Lake, Wisconsin. The settlement will defer logging and road building for four years on 2,000 acres that scientists have identified as critically important for wildlife habitat, clean water, at-risk species protection and the overall health of the forest.

Read ELPC’s press release.

What: A one-hour phone briefing and Q&A on ELPC’s work to preserve Wisconsin’s Northwoods.
Who: ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner
Professor Mark Leach, Bro Professor of Regional Sustainable Development,
Northland College, Ashland, Wisconsin
Date: Tuesday, February 3rd, 12:00 PM (Central Time
RSVP: Register for the event here

The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (CNNF) has been identified by scientists as one of the 10 most endangered national forests in the nation. The harmful impacts of such extensive logging on waterways, key habitat and threatened species, and conservation goals are significant.

The Forest Service has approved too much logging, too fast and in too many of the wrong places when it comes to preserving important natural resources values.  Under the Obama Administration, we hope for a more balanced approach.

To read more about ELPC’s work to protect the threatened Northwoods forest ecosystem, please click here.

You can help, too—ELPC has launched an online Activist Toolkit that makes it easier for you to voice your opinion on how our forests are managed. Click here to learn how you can take action.

Join us for the phone briefing on Tuesday February 3rd at noon (CST).

If you would like to participate, please register for the call here.

Scientists and conservationists filed extensive comments expressing concern that the Forest Service was allowing too much logging in the proposed Cayuga Project, which is next to other large timber sales and contains old growth forests and high quality trout streams. In addition, more than 300 citizens submitted letters urging the Forest Service to more fully consider the combined impact of the timber sales on the environment.

Thanks to all the advocates who wrote asking the Forest Service to reconsider its decision!

Read more here

The Forest Service has repeatedly attempted to shut ELPC and our scientist colleagues out of the appeal process for the Fishel timber sale. The Forest Service tried to award the logging contracts before the Court resolved our case on the merits. The preliminary injunction preserves the status quo.

ELPC is working hard to protect clean water, threatened species and important wildlife habitat, biodiversity and other important natural resources in Wisconsin’s Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The Forest Service is proposing too much logging, too fast and in too many of the wrong places. Let’s preserve this special place!

Take Action on another timber sale: Please ask the Forest Service to reconsider its proposal for the Cayuga timber sale near Clam Lake in Northern Wisconsin. Click here to send a letter to Regional Forester Kent Connaughton.

Wisconsin’s Northwoods mean something different to all of us, and every story from these woods is another reason they should be protected.

Please use the comments on this page to share your story of what the Northwoods mean to you. Your stories will help us protect Wisconsin’s threatened forests. You can contact us to share photos or other information.

Share your Northwoods Story