USFS plans rehab near Jack Creek

The Sisters Ranger District hopes to publish a final environmental assessment January 24, 1996, of the Jack- Canyon Vegetation Management Project on 16,600 acres of national forest land west of Camp Sherman.

The project area includes the drainages of Jack Creek and Canyon Creek, both major tributaries of the Metolius River which provide high levels of dispersed recreational activity.

In a recent letter, District Ranger Karen Shimamoto asked for public reaction to the project description by December 8. Comments should be directed to Ron Archuleta, planning team leader, at the Sisters Ranger District, 549- 2111. Copies of the project description are available from him. In addition, the planning team expects to finish a final draft of project alternatives by Thursday, November 30.

A 20- day public review period will follow release of the final environmental assessment in late January.

True firs have become the dominant species in the understory and overstory of trees in the project area. Many of these trees been defoliated by a spruce budworm infestation.

Forest Service plans include thinning and removal of dead and dying trees, thinning of overstocked green trees, thinning of young plantations and sapling/pole stands, prescribed underburning, road closures, subsoiling of compacted skid trails and landings and creating regeneration units in moderate and high tree- mortality areas.

The project also aims at protecting bull trout habitat in streams within the area and enhancing known and potential habitat for two sensitive plant species, tall agoseris and Peck's penstemon.