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leeper_z
Aug 10, 2002, 5:16 AM
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Registered: Jul 17, 2002
Posts: 53
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As most of you who visit the Fern area know, it is a extremely beautiful and unique place. Unfortunatly the US Forest service did not know this and proposed a clear cut. Many paddlers, hikers, and climbers were outraged by this, and began a campaign to change this. The final Forest service plan was released this week, and it turns out to be a victory for outdoor enthusists of all types! The changes to original plan include, a 150 foot zone around ALL creeks in the area. This includes the Mulberry, Little Mill, and Fern Gully (the small creek in the valley of the Fern area). This was extended from the original 50 feet. 150 foot buffer zone along the Fern rim trail. A gravel parking lot and road will be introduced to prevent erosion, and the use of herbicides will not be permited. I don't think many people know how close we were to loosing much of the beauty of this area.
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jmlangford
Aug 10, 2002, 6:33 AM
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Registered: Sep 2, 2001
Posts: 1569
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I didn't know clearcutting was still used. That is unfortunate. However, it sounds like the outcome was more to your liking. I wish they could just clearcut in areas that had no other useful purpose, or no clearcutting at all. P.S.I'll bet I just surprised all of you who think I am some anti-environment wacko!
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aarong
Aug 14, 2002, 4:05 PM
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Registered: Jun 24, 2002
Posts: 180
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I climb in Arkansas quite a bit but I haven't been to Fern yet. I found it on a map and I think it is fairly close to Shepherd's Springs, isn't it? If you have any directions to get there or know of other sites out there that have beta on Fern I would like to visit them. By the way, I'm glad they changed their minds and saved the area. Thanks, A http://fusionfortyseven.com
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marcel
Aug 14, 2002, 4:36 PM
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Registered: Jul 30, 2002
Posts: 523
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If you want to see clearcuts your should see the cuts in Southeast Alaska on the Tongass National Forest. There is some that are now over 10,000 acres. Don’t forget the Forest Service is under the Department of Agriculture. They look at trees as a crop to be harvested. Never mind that some forest take 10,000 years to grow back into a true old growth forest. Just a word of warning. 150 foot buffers, at least in the Tongass don’t work. What happens is that 90% of the time the trees blow over since the other trees that worked as a wind buffer are no longer there. Hope this will not happen in the fern area!
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