Judge allows Los Padres National Forest to move forward with plans to remove trees, brush
A federal court has ruled that a U.S. Forest Service project to cut trees and clear brush from a remote stretch of Los Padres may move forward.
The judge ruled in favor of the federal agency after a coalition of groups and public agencies sued over the plans for a 755-acre area in the Reyes Peak area in Ventura County.
In 2021, the Forest Service signed off on the project to clear thick stands of chaparral and cut down pine and fir trees. Work would focus on smaller trees, mostly those under 24 inches in diameter. Doing so would improve the health of the remaining trees, officials said.
Trees between the 24-inch and 64-inch diameter would be retained unless they pose a safety risk, according to the agency.
"There's all these little trees that are sprouting up in the shadow of primarily the really big trees that are still healthy," said Andrew Madsen, Los Padres spokesman. "If you fast forward 10, 15, 20 years, you're going to have a big thicket of these trees."
The shaded fuel break is planned for an area of Pine Mountain stretching from Highway 33 to the Reyes Peak trailhead. The Forest Service said it would help protect against big wildfires, providing a spot where firefighters could make a stand.
But those opposed said the work may increase fire risk, not lower it.
Coalition sues in federal court
Removing brush would clear the way for nonnative grasses to take over, conservation groups said. Those light grasses dry out early in the year, can ignite easily and spread fire quickly.
Los Padres ForestWatch, Keep Sespe Wild, Earth Island Institute, American Alpine Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Patagonia Works and California Chaparral Institute filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Ojai and Ventura County officials filed similar lawsuits.
"Our concern all along has been wanting to ensure that Pine Mountain stays protected," said Jeff Kuyper, executive director of Los Padres ForestWatch. "We don't want to see – and thousands of residents who submitted comments don't want to see – a commercial logging project involving large trees."
They also don't want to see heavy machinery removing chaparral on the mountain either, he said. The recreational spot is considered important for endangered California condors and other sensitive wildlife.
The groups sued saying the Forest Service violated federal environmental law in its approval of the project. But the judge ruled that the Forest Service did not violate the law, allowing the project to move ahead.
Logging concerns raised
The groups said they are evaluating their next steps.
"I think ultimately what we would like to see is the Forest Service devote resources towards wildfire mitigation measures that are most effective," Kuyper said. "That means focusing on areas that are closer to our communities, not projects like this that focus on clearing out native habitat in really remote and ecologically sensitive areas."
Los Padres Supervisor Chris Stubbs said in a statement that the work is not a commercial logging project. But conservation groups cited the agency’s decision memo, which allows for a commercial timber sale.
The Forest Service called sale of timber and other wood by-product an available tool but said it would not change the outcome of the project. The language is required to qualify for additional funding, according to Madsen.
"We have to allow for the possibility that there might be a way to get some commercial value from what we log," he said. "But to date, there has been absolutely zero interest."
Work is expected to start during the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.
Cheri Carlson covers the environment and county government for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Federal court allows forest thinning to move forward in Los Padres
