Corvallis polluted drinking water. Email by Monday!

[K A]

Dear Transportation Action Team,

I don't want Corvallis to have polluted drinking water nor restricted watering schedules from lack of water.  Clearcutting old growth forests also makes the sun heat up the ground, making our summers hotter, decreasing the likelihood people will want to bike, bus, or walk.

If you agree, you must comment to the Bureau of Land Management (see below) by Monday (3/23).  The BLM plans to clearcut Marys Peak, which provides Corvallis and Philomath with drinking water and irrigation water.  If the Marys Peak area is clearcut, then when it rains, tons less water will be absorbed into the ground for us to use in summer.  Instead, it will quickly flood into streams and be gone.

We will have less water if the huge trees currently on Marys Peak are clearcut, as they absorb rainfall with their leaves and branches.  The rain slowly drips downward through the trees and gradually gets absorbed by the dirt.  If the area is clearcut and replaced with 8 inch baby trees, there's no big trees to absorb the rain and slowly feed it into the ground, for our summer use.  Instead, the water will run off, creating flooding and mudslides.

Marys Peak is a crucial source of water for our community – but if BLM clearcuts the area we will have summer water shortages and irrigation restrictions.  And our drinking water will be polluted with the herbicides/pesticides sprayed every year to grow the tiny replacement trees.

Here's an example comment to BLM.  Feel free to create your own.   

email:   BLM_OR_Revi...@blm.gov

Example Subject Line:  Don't Clearcut near Marys Peak, Benton County

Dear BLM District Manager Burghard,

Please do not clearcut the Marys Peak area in Benton County.  This nearly pristine area of trees is crucial for gathering, storing, and purifying the drinking water for Corvallis and Philomath, and surrounding areas.  If the trees are clearcut, we will have less water in the summer and it will be polluted.  I don't want to have watering restrictions  nor polluted drinking water due to BLM's clearcutting our water supply area.

[name, city, state, zip code — no street needed]

Newspaper articles:

“Feds look to increase logging in Oregon, includes Marys Peak”       

https://gazettetimes.com/news/local/business/article_403b40ef-bc4c-510b-8455-3f998b174c52.html

“Marys Peak, Alsea Falls Targeted by Trump Administration Clearcutting Plan”
https://corvallisadvocate.com/marys-peak-alsea-falls-targeted-by-trump-administration-clearcutting-plan/

Thank you.  : )

"The smallest good deed is better than the grandest good intention."