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CATHERINE M. SHAW, MAYOR
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July 1, 1998
Linda DuflY
Ashland Ranger District
Rogue River National Forest
645 Washington Street
Ashland, OR 97520
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Dear Linda:
Thank you for your presentation to the City Council regarding the decision the Forest Service has
made for the Ashland Watershed protection project: HazRed. I want to express to you, on behalf
of the City of Ashland, our genuine gratitude for the very thorough work conducted by you and
your staff. Your analysis of the environmental conditions, hazard to the City's water supply from
large scale wildfire and involvement of citizens is commendable. I can't think of anything I would
have asked you to do differently in your effort to arrive at this complex decision, and I fully
support your implementation of the project. This is time consuming, labor intensive, costly, and
very important work that needs to be done. It is my hope that the efforts expended by the City on
its own land, the incentives we have put forth for citizens to implement on private lands, and the
Forest Service efforts will dovetail into an integrated forest management process that both
reduces fire risks while preserving that natural resource.
I understand that you are in discussion with Paula Brown about ways to leverage City, Federal
and private funds to accomplish as much work as possible - please let me know if I can be of
assistance.
Sincerely,
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Catherine Shaw
Mayor
CITY OF ASHLAND - OFFICE OF THE MAYOR' 20 EAST MAIN' ASHLAND, OR 97520
Tel. 541.488.6002' Fax 541.488.5311- Email: mayor@ashland.or.us
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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
ADMINISTRATION: (541) 488-5587
ENGINEERING: (541) 488-5347
CITY
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CITY OF ASHLAND
20 E. MAIN STREET
ASHLAND, OREGON 97520-1814
FAX (541) 488-6006
April 4, 1997
Linda Duffy, District Ranger
Ashland Ranger District
U.S.D.A. Forest Service
645 Washington St.
Ashland, OR 97520
Re.: HAZRED Forest Operation
Dear Ms. Duffy:
The City of Ashland Forest Commission supports the Ashland Ranger
District's proposed "HAZRED" timber sale. This forest operation
is consistent with the City of Ashland's forest lands primary
goal of protecting the City's water supply by reducing the risk
of catastrophic wildfire.
Scientific knowlege continues to grow regarding effective
management of fire dominated forest ecosystems. The forest
management principals behind this sale are consistent with the
best information currently available to the City of Ashland.
This proposal will help the Ashland Watershed return to an
ecosystem that will be more resilient when exposed to natural
wildfire processes. Artificially reducing fuel loading and
timber stand densities by thinning and introducing controlled
burns begins to mitigate the impact of 100 years of fire
suppression. The "HAZRED" projects help return the watershed to
a fuel loading level where the forest is less prone to complete
destruction by wildfire.
While we applaud the concern and oversight of Headwaters and
other citizen environmental activists, we believe it is in the
best interest of the City of Ashland for this Forest Service
project to be implemented expeditiously. The Ashland Watershed
has been protected since September 23, 1893 by an Act of Congress
for the commercial function of protecting the City of Ashland's
drinking water supply.
Sincerely,
Ashland Forest Commission