Fwd: BLM Project Number DOI-BLM-ORWA-0000-2026-0001-RMP-EIS Proposal to log over 2 million acres of old growth forest

[Daniel Wood]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Daniel Wood <oddth...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Mar 9, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Subject: BLM Project Number DOI-BLM-ORWA-0000-2026-0001-RMP-EIS Proposal to log over 2 million acres of old growth forest

Please forward to correct committee

Upon reading the details of this proposal, besides Marys Peak, among the 2 plus million acres (primarily comprised of old growth groves currently designated for conservation), listed for increased or drastic logging is the "Valley Of The Giants" in Polk County, which I understand is a pristine multispecies forestland of considerable value.

here is a link to the proposal 

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/19/2026-03290/notice-of-intent-to-revise-resource-management-plans-for-northwestern-and-coastal-oregon-and

I have taken the liberty of including my personal opinion as a draft for use if you desire to use portions of it.

I am writing in opposition to proposed plans to log old growth tree groves in Oregon that are currently protected under conservation status; specifically to include the following two locations,

1. Marys Peak in Benton County. This nearly pristine section of trees sequesters rainfall that is the main source of naturally cooled and filtered water supplying the Rock Creek Watershed, which supplies high quality water to the cities of Philomath and Corvallis with a combined population of 66,316 (2025) as well as adjacent locations. Multiple forestry studies have clearly demonstrated that removal of old growth tree groves result in increased levels of erosion and runoff containing higher levels of sediment due to the inability of exposed soils to retain rainwater, unlike the combined root systems and undisturbed understory found in old growth groves. 

2. Valley of the Giants in Polk County is a rare example of irreplaceable multispecies North American forestland. This remote section of land belonging to the public is currently mostly inaccessible and in addition to any logging, building roads to access the trees will do further irreparable harm to the wildlife and watersheds that exist in this irreplaceable ecosystem.

In the big picture, examples of old growth forest lands are becoming extremely rare, where they support a vast array of flora and fauna dependent on the vast diversity found in these undisturbed environs, which cannot be duplicated through regrowth and monoculture forestry practices. In addition these old trees serve as a carbon sink while providing cleaner air. To callously log these public resources for short term profit and wood supplies will result in robbing the American taxpayers of high quality recreational and educational resources while ensuring increased extinction of multispecies flora and fauna, while degrading water quality emanating from these valuable watersheds which serve to cool and filter water flowing into streams and rivers supporting the survival of fish and other aquatic species.

Logging protected conservation lands is a major error that cannot be reversed. These publicly owned lands should be saved to ensure our quality of life in America.

here is a email link for submitting your own comments

BLM_OR_Revi...@blm.gov

I hope we can all make our voices heard,

Daniel Wood