HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 4836
RESOLUTION NO. 4836
A RESOLUTION CONCERNING PROTECTION OF MATURE
AND OLD GROWTH FORESTS IN THE McKENZIE RIVER WATERSHED.
The City Council of the City of Eugene finds that:
A. The public federal forests of the McKenzie River watershed support the quality of
life for citizens of Eugene by providing superb recreational opportunities, sustainable economic
development and clean dfnking water.
Public federal forests in the McKenzie River watershed should be managed for the
greatest good for the greatest number of people over the longest time.
C. It is in the public interest to protect and restore the McKenzie River watershed as a
municipal water source, a recreation area, an amenity to drive tourism, and habitat for old-growth
dependent wildlife.
Ir~ the past, federal agencies have clear-cut old growth forests and built extensive
logging road systems in the McKenzie River watershed, putting drinking ',:cater for Eugene residents
at risk.
E. Logging and road building in mature and old growth forests in the McKenzie River
watershed continue to threaten Eugene residents' quality of life.
F. While most of the Forest Service resources for future project planning is slated fbr
thinning the tens of thousands of acres of previously clear-cut fbrests, ongoing logging projects
threaten mature and old growth forests.
G. In order to preserve and enhance Eugene residents' quality of life, the Council
desires to take steps necessary to protect fbderal lands in the McKenzie River watershed and the
City's rights and interests in this watershed as a water supply source.
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EUGENE, a
Municipal Corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows:
Section 1. The Council requests greater protection of mature and old growth forests on
federal lands in the McKenzie River watershed in the form of congressional legislation or
administrative rulemaking. Such Action should further direct the federal goverr~ment to:
1.1 Protect all mature and old growth forests on federal public lm~ds in the
McKenzie River watershed;
1.2 Cease and prohibit road building and logging in mature and old growth
forests on federal public lands in the McKenzie River watershed;
Resolution
1.3 Establish and fund scientifically-based pr/orities for watershed restoration
and monitoring projects on federal public lands in the McKenzie River watershed.
Section 2. Pending the enactment of such a policy, the Council requests that the United
States Forest Service make necessary changes in any of its timber sales, plans or policies to protect
mat'ure and old growth forests. As used in this Resolution, "old growth forests" are defined as
forest stands at least 180 years old, and "mature forests" are those stands between 80 -180 years of
age.
Section 3. The City reaffirms its intent to maintain the strong working relationship it has
developed with the United States Forest Service.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately -upon its adoption.
The foregoing Resolution adopted the 23rd day of May~ 2{)05.
~it~ Recorde7
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