S. Fork Stillaguamish River valley to be subjected to "landscape scale thinning" unless you write!

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the forest ....

A 65,000 acre “Project Area,” of which 6,750 acres are to be thinned in the S. Fk. Stilly drainage!  This is the popular west side of the Mountain Loop Scenic Byway, just east of Granite Falls, an hour's drive from Seattle, and a very popular recreational area.

We urge you to send your comments to MBS opposing this project immediately. You might note that “Vegetation Management”  = logging.

The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (MBS) is beginning the environmental analysis for the South Fork Stillaguamish Vegetation Project. This project proposes a landscape scale thinning of second-growth stands within the S.F. of the Stillaguamish River drainage, including Canyon Creek. You are invited to review the proposed project and provide comment on what issues the analysis should address.
This vegetation management project is located on the Darrington Ranger District, east of Granite Falls in Snohomish County, Washington.  The project would thin second-growth timber stands within the S.F. Stillaguamish River drainage to promote forest stand structure that would serve as habitat for old-growth associated species and maintain and enhance Riparian Reserve conditions.
Additional information on the proposed project is posted on the Forest web site S.F. Stillaguamish Vegetation Management Project: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=48837In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 36 CFR 220.4(e)(1), USFS is initiating scoping for the project, and is soliciting your input on the proposal and the identification of potential environmental issues associated with the proposed action.   Scoping comments will be considered in the environmental analysis, and may be used to modify the proposed action, develop alternatives, identify mitigation measures or analyze environmental consequences. Currently, the project analysis is proposed to be documented in an Environmental Assessment (EA) to be released following the scoping process.
Your scoping comments will be most useful if received by April 4, 2016. Emailed comments are encouraged to be sent to: comments-pacificnorthwest-mtbaker-snoqualmie-darrington@fs.fed.usComments may also be submitted at the Darrington Ranger Station, mailed to:
     Attn: S.F. Stillaguamish Vegetation Project     
     Darrington Ranger District
     1405 Emens Ave. N.
     Darrington, WA 98241
 Darrington Ranger District office hours for submitting oral, telephone, or hand-delivered comments are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Comments may also be faxed to (360) 436-1309. For further information, please contact Phyllis Reed at (360) 436-2332.
Comments received in response to this invitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the Project Record and available for public review. We appreciate your continued interest in the management of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.