Bark’s January News & Updates
Action Alert! Stop the giveaway of Mt. Hood public lands
Back in December, Bark became aware of H.R. 655, a bill introduced by Oregon Rep. Cliff Bentz that seeks to transfer ~150 acres of federally held lands in Mt. Hood National Forest to the city of The Dalles, Oregon so that they can expand their water reservoir as Google’s water demands grow. Given the rapid growth of Google’s data centers in the area, the fact that the bill allows for these lands to be transferred freely without compensation to the federal government or the public, and the fact that the transfer would allow the city to raise the reservoir without USFS oversight—potentially sidestepping environmental analyses that would be required on federal lands—this bill sets a dangerous precedent.
Bark staff have been following this bill closely and have met with The Dalles’ Public Works Director, local Mt. Hood NF Forest Service staff, staffers in Ron Wyden’s office, and have been interviewed for stories by OPB and SFGate.
For Bark, this is more than just a story about threats to fish and wildlife, though these are important. As Bark’s Forest Watch Program Manager, Jordan Latter, puts it, “This is a story about power and influence over water, a human right that is foundational to the well being of all people.”
Take action! Use the script provided on our website to call Sen. Wyden at (202) 224-5244 & ask him to oppose this bill!
Wish you could do more? Consider donating to Bark to help us defend and restore Mt Hood National Forest today!
Federal Court in Oregon strikes down loophole that allowed large-scale commercial logging without environmental review
Federal Court in Oregon strikes down loophole that allowed large-scale commercial logging without environmental review
Read the full text of the ruling here
Read coverage by Inside Climate News
In other news we’re following, a federal court in Oregon has ruled that a decades-old Forest Service rule allowing large-scale logging without environmental review is unlawful. The decision invalidates “Categorical Exclusion 6” (CE-6), a policy the agency has used since the 1990s to fast-track commercial timber projects—often spanning tens of thousands of acres—under the banner of wildfire mitigation, without conducting required environmental analyses.
The court found that the Forest Service failed to make a “reasoned decision” when it created and applied CE-6, noting the absence of limits on project size and a lack of evidence that such expansive logging has insignificant environmental impacts. As a result, CE-6 can no longer be used anywhere in the United States, and approvals for several large Oregon projects were set aside.
While Bark was not a party to the lawsuit, some of our partners and supporters were, and this ruling will have real implications here at home for the Mt. Hood National Forest—and for national forests nationwide. Bark has warned the Forest Service not to use this CE in particular and so we’re glad to see that it has been struck down. Congratulations to Oregon Wild, WildEarth Guardians, and Go Alliance on this momentous victory!