O’Lickety Timber Sale: Illegal BLM Logging and the Continuing Loss of Northern Spotted Owl Habitat in the Applegate Valley
Extensive blowdown in unit 61-1 of the O’Lickety Timber Sale. Canopy reduction was drastic in many logged units in the O’Lickety Timber Sale, leaving the remaining trees more susceptible to mortality associated with blowdown, drought stress and beetle infestations.
The BLM’s O’Lickety Timber Sale was logged by the Murphy Company in November of 2013. The BLM’s Environmental Assessment (EA) for the sale claimed all logging units would “treat and maintain” northern spotted owl habitat, meaning existing habitat designations would not be compromised by logging treatments. Analysis in the BLM’s EA and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) consultation was based on a presumption that “treat and maintain” prescription parameters would be met. Unfortunately, the prescriptions and tree removal mark approved by the BLM failed to meet the requirements identified to “maintain” northern spotted owl...