Skip wrote:
<<Do you have a list of which Nat. Forests are under consideration?>>
Sure do.
Fact Sheet
Final Environmental Impact Statement
Douglas-fir Tussock Moth
Purpose: Release of a Final EIS for Douglas-fir Tussock Moth (DFTM) is
planned for April 21, 2000. The Record of Decision will be issued during the
week of
May 22, 2000.
Areas of Impact:
Nine national forests in eastern Oregon and Washington; Colville, Fremont,
Malheur, Ochoco, Okanogan, Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman, Wenatchee, and
Winema.
Background:
The Douglas-fir Tussock Moth (DFTM) is a native defoliator of
Douglas-fir and true firs trees. It is known to cause significant
defoliation and tree mortality. Once significant defoliation occurs,
it is too late to respond with any short-term management option.
The last widespread DFTM outbreak was in 1974, affecting approximately
700,000 acres in eastern Oregon and Washington. More localized
outbreaks occurred in the Blue Mountains in 1989. Outbreaks tend to
occur every 7 to 13 years, lasting 2-4 years.
Historically only 15 to 20 percent of areas susceptible to
infestations have actually reached outbreak levels.
A Douglas-fir Tussock Moth"early warning system" was developed over 20
years ago and was designed to inform managers of potential outbreaks
early enough so decisions could be made about what action the agency
might take to minimize impacts.
This early warning system indicates that in 2000-2003 eastern Oregon
and Washington could experience significant outbreaks of the DFTM.
The proposed short-term treatment is aerial spraying with a natural
virus (TM-BioControl) that is specific to the DFTM, or a biological
agent (Btk, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki). Spraying does not
completely eliminate the native insect, but can prevent significant
defoliation and undesirable impacts within the treated areas when
application is done in a timely manner.
There is some concern for public health. The bodies of the larvae and
the cocoons are covered with irritating hairs. Exposure to these
hairs can cause welts, rashes and other reactions in many people.
About one-third of the people exposed to the larvae have some level of
allergic reaction.
Treatment under the action alternatives would only occur on lands
where through additional monitoring tussock moth defoliation is
present and outbreak levels of larvae have been verified.
Alternatives being considered in the Final EIS are:
· No Action Alternative ? Would allow the anticipated outbreak to
run its natural course without treatment. With this alternative, the
potential of widespread defoliation and mortality exists.
· Proposed Action Alternative ? Protects approximately 628,000
acres identified as areas of concern. These areas include habitat for
fish and wildlife species, campgrounds and recreation sites, scenic
vistas, and municipal watersheds.
· Expanded Protection Alternative ? Protects the areas of concern
in the Proposed Action and, in addition, expands the treatment area to
include approximately 2 million additional acres of Douglas-fir and true
fir host type where forest products would lose significant value, cause
significant visual change, or cause increased fuel buildup.
· TM-BioControl Only Alternative ? Protects the same acres that
are in the Proposed Action, but only uses the insecticide TM-BioControl.
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