HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-0830 Documents Submitted at Mtg Speaker Request Form �-7
-- THIS-FORM-LS A-PUBLICRECORD -All INFORMATION PROVIDED WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC
1) Complete this form and return it to the City Recorder prior to the discussion of the item you wish Q� /�
to speak about. -* h n li1Jl
2) Speak to the City Council from the table podium microphone. �C
3) State your name and address for the record.
4) Limit your comments to the amount of time given to you by the Mayor,usually 3 or 5 minutes.
5) If you present written materials,please give a copy to the City Recorder for the record.
6) You may give written comments to the City Recorder for the record if you do not wish to speak.
(Comments can be added to the back of this sheet if necessary) -T �1
7) Speakers are solely responsible for the content of their public statement.
Tonight's Meeting Date
Name�����.r
�� O�eplMe prim
Address (no P.O. Box)_ le ■■ �0
Phone 11v Email
Regular Meeting a w�Nj
Agenda to iditem number ��i T sODDLL bod «�f
Topic for public forum (non agenda item) fi
Land Use Public Hearing
Please indicate the following:
For: gains
Challen r Co ftt nt r
on ar (a c r a 1�Eonerict i
or bias, a ton comp ete with suppoz to r it
imm y. The Presidin r ea challenge with the mem er.
resp of the proceeding trop llso provide t ony about the challen
when you testify durinPPP��� orde of proceedingy� • '4
Written Co len�e` N
fir. o.�` eE #IF A 41�
E0N
1� The Public Meeting Law requires that all city meetings are open to the regon igw does not
always require that the public be permitted to speak The Ashland City 7o-#qLg%efaX i
public to speak on agenda items and during public forum on non-agenda ite s n s
limit public testimony. No person has an absolute right to speak or participate in every p f a
proceeding. Please respect the order ofproceedings for public hearings and strictly follow the directions
of the presiding officer. Behavior or actions which are unreasonably loud or disruptive are disrespectful,
and may constitute disorderly conduct. Offenders will be requested to leave the room.
Comments and statements by speakers do not represent the opinion of the City Council,City Officers or
employees or the City of Ashland.
Tom Marvin ug. 30, 2011
1. 1 am opposed to the expansion for about 10 good reasons, and -
2. lam opposed to the SUP transfer for one excellent reason: it is an idiot's bargain.
It makes no sense for Ashland to turn over any of its right for Input into what happens on Mt.
Ashland to a party that can only want those rights in order to go beyond where the City might
otherwise allow. There would be no other reason for MAA to choose increase its liability.
(which it isn't of course).
3. 1 claim our public interest is already maximized by our public holding of the SUP --and any
proof that an external agent can best deliver our public Interest has not been shown. It has
only been surmised, at best.
4. Worst of all--the future. We-- right herein this room -- barely know what has happened
in our ski business during the past 40 years. In another 40 or 80 years,we cannot imagine
what might come to Mt.Ashland. But when the permit to use it lies outside our hands, we will
have far less input, if any.
Future Ashlanders could easily wake up one day wondering how some global corporation got
ahold of some rights to that mountain. However,there will still be people who tell you it's in
the public interest.
The Transfer and the Public Interest. August 30, 2011
It is a logical fallacy that MAA must own the special use permit in order to better serve
the public interest. There is currently nothing MAA needs to do [in its business] that is
good for Ashland and that must come through the SUP that MAA cannot obtain by
direct request from the City, as permit holder. If a requested action is in our interests,
we the public have the sense to know it, and we can agree to it, as the SUP holder.
Conversely, there may exist actions for which the permit is needed that MAA, or its
future successors, want that might indeed fall well short of the public interest. In that
case, we better hope the City still holds the permit.
Summary: right now the City holds the permit and it can always understand the public
interest of its people better than can a subset or external organization with its own
interests. If it comes to a matter of trust to provide for the public interest, let us keep the
tool for doing so in public hands.
This is the cautious, deliberative way to proceed.
arvin
shland
io cptos\oFnli�o cm$ tAkM ,
w�`-� 1_\KE 'co rdCP2�S M`1 S'tl¢�1Cr �=PFZ�tTIOtJ /1Q1�19�_'U;•TD
THAN c7F ct+£ L JSE �EiLt �\Ch1TC� t'�D F3\' TFCE GTY d'-
P�st1tPNO Vts k J\t T\yE Mow.tr �t1tR�lD SYS P so pv u tnYcD
QQaVATE YaTeonTr Tt*: MCOJ I'c p�FtQdJ� p�S�Ct�T\OtJ- T\�S A c AB\s R�ptJ
pF R_ t4S M\t-\T1 l'f7tR TtVe i� WC.- st H JRRDSH\P pF oNF aF out
t MYo�caN` ( S - THE t1eAR�r�T E PS of WPTtsf c ED VKQIIA W INNOA
Wg 'DEW�� 'TFtE FEIGN Q�AI 1T't' �NY�\l�l(r W(?�rL Su\'Fl"� St-tRT \AMA ZUE!O
�� C�'s\srRJcc� P.ritE� AS flMO\�U -�� `�C�' \tJ •�\� NRT\ctJ.
T+� Mr � A�cUt�•ttotJc �c-a�tt�D EXY�1S\o� of Tam �S
tS �F" 1�. 1F3K7.n �2• Fl 1 'Yo TttE 1� .(Z C '^MUN rC� o�
PSEtIIkNO. Tkti� AQE VET\' �-\� ��`+TC►JS � C� t�lFtE�E'CL 'T'ttE
q ikzco�l kkP6 htE P�cC tS�TC �PFEISCLCATfc�1 AA-
To SJCCE5SFU11 \" MA\ 1A� zFtE\2 eK\STtrSC Ott-- ROkJ&r MvcH ids TFIt:
�PNNEq �(pfitlS�dN� hN9 CC-�CWtt�I11' "\RNe VAQ bgzo-�t� To Cc*AS1D�--R
TNi` CSJMPI-Y7C C.S��.1St 'EF'ROt�S R'N10 Kat'M\FtC.�1TIONS Or, IMPPC-ft-tG1Cnr�-�OUQ-
WFlTC25C \s AN cvx- NrzRTIot t T\,PK- EARS � "-'�` tap To
F wKQUPTC`t' T\MES w PA-aeNOY( iQ .
'Ersaxr•a\C- CLtMPM 'r"Pt-, •SkEM T4tL' NRVE
P,x tJ oaDEP- "R) C-A--C Tk\1S 'FefL W\T\t `Tw P19NS1ON
Y¢ceSAL• TAt t2 ASIU lY ib Z2At�Si tPC P� C Rf3S� tV4
VtRF3L>"C RJJSt\ JS 't�.1\T\tD.JT NOD `�Q_ � -@-- PSS15'Ci•.\NC 1SO�ht\1�
F FRot CEfLCPn'N . Lt7�\4}T \S C71RtW \S Gi\fC �EtE �qiAR CfL �
waceiLStD HAS ��N �QC>V1D\NCr Rq� \F��jLcr� OF d7R CAMMUNILY�
AS WEU- {�S MANY OM 6\6i�C,\CRC CPYAMUV\TIES , To¢, A Fm\oD tp
T\ME 612 � "n,4P N Oje_ CALL Ci\/ti MEt\no(2�' CA4
Ta Its& TK\S P2FC\ovS QeSpUP--C.:r-- eka 3ENat OF
Rti n onttsR �s\R\u�\
vus C ,C•tOl�1 t SVPR p �\' A\J t\:GOPtiYt SB ANP 1NE�FRE:� `'
?,�to E.I,S_ +S TKO FP1�ON\E tereoNS\giur{.
THE R\SKS NWE 9EKcNAU AaZ VVMI6UVEY>
TL\'QCUGNG�7T 'RtF SiE� S1D(� cF TNt= CF.PILLRRY S`c'S-tEAh O� -cpj6�S'C'AQ.1�S
"t0 l�TASL. • S'@3P.S o\J SvCt\ S'"CEEi' StaPES RCS \w1NE2E\VTL�
Ut,ZSTA 3 Z ANo C iRNT cN -"A;E -�ST Rarr',
TD MAINTR\nl T\Frc\2 \NTECsPsT`\'. TF\� P-EMOVRL 6F -"ANESE -RnEES P&OVZ
W4J� gk\re R SU(3S'TRt 1T1'RL NEGR'CCVE \MPt�C,r GN THE W',T E Ojou y ce
OVQ COMML)N\TZ' � � . Ti1tS IS To SA-t, NOTvt%
GF WpEf c
CIff �PSCNJ�d- Ah4> C�a V 1P M crt%T ZY1 RT WCLS-
Cy(F�C�Q�3FTE TF1E 1MPRCT + HNO T"'E \f ACr -V" JA CPtSCADtt.1G- �S �
DISaUYR6ta ZFttS 'PaWLE p\70i " CU(Z, PIM ~R Tot1S Zb
\PRePIJhC�At3LE 0C05YSMNA. CFF� S.U.\' \S c McRV)- ti3\' wNtCk\ \T\E
U2Yt PS 'nNC Eu-'�CTED StcE1�PT\VCS Cr CN> Q CIF PSFlLWNp
.MA'( EXC4USE S t3=y 2DSH \'P OF' T�H!\S V\TRH Tale Goev +
60eA CC- "�tONS 'F� cCjME . `lY (VbT SFIt'RtL `�\.,�
Speaker Request Form �54 ftxVd 9/ftA
- — - ----------THIS FORM-IS-A-PUBLIC-RECORD
ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED WELL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC
1) Complete this form and return it to the City Recorder prior to the discussion of the item you wish
to speak about.
2) Speak to the City Council from the table podium microphone.
3) State your name and address for the record.
4) Limit your comments to the amount of time given to you by the Mayor,usually 3 or 5 minutes.
5) If you present written materials,please give a copy to the City Recorder for the record.
6) You may give written comments to the City Recorder for the record if you do not wish to speak.
(Comments can be added to the back of this sheet if necessary)
'n Speakers are solely responsible for the content of their public statement.
Tonight's Meeting D�at{e� U
Name
('least int)
Address (no P.O.Box)-
CC�yO (� \
Phongs�i D7-0 y [ / Email h kcreG--f (NI L-C ceot
Regular Meeting
Agenda topic/item number O p 7-R
R p
Topic for public forum (non agenda item) SU P l FtP-_
Land Use Public Hearing �!✓EpoM
Please indicate the following:
For: Against:
Challenge for Conflict of Interest or Bias
If you are challenging a member(a city councilor or a planning commissioner)with a conflict of interest
or bias, please write your allegation complete with supporting facts on this form and deliver it to the clerk
immediately. The Presiding Officer will address the written challenge with the member. Please be
respectful of the proceeding and do not interrupt. You may also provide testimony about the challenge
when you testify during the normal order of proceedings r rr� //
Written Comments/Challenge: 5 Coyr� /S L- 4 on
c tx_U P 6 OKO kas a-VciC� A • k 40 �
e sup xyj aive
eo e o v e lea re r
oUA Yh So lc � S
re5ov- aid OW �e5oU vc .-CGAe eonci I gi v e �� M'
Th Pub tl'c Meeting Law requires that all city meetings are open to the public. Oregon law oes not
always require that the public be permitted to speak The Ashland City Council generally invites the
public to speak on agenda items and during public forum on non-agenda items unless time constraints
limit public testimony. No person has an absolute right to speak or participate in every phase of a
proceeding. Please respect the order ofproceedings for public hearings and strictly follow the directions
of the presiding officer. Behavior or actions which are unreasonably loud or disruptive are disrespectful,
and may constitute disorderly conduct. Offenders will be requested to leave the room.
Comments and statements by speakers do not represent the opinion of the City Council,City Officers or
employees or the City of Ashland.
Vim * lh
rh �rR Sup
On the Record statement to the Ashland City Council regarding input to
the proposed Ashland Ski Expansion Project.....................August 30, 2011
My name is Scott English and I reside at 324 Terrace Street in Ashland. I have lived
in Ashland for over 30 years. I am a Biologist and was part of a team of Scientists
that examined the proposed Ski Expansion in 1999 to document the wetlands
within the ski area impact zone. Our team described and mapped several acres of
jurisdictional wetlands in the project impact zone. Since the wetland study was
done 12 years ago, new information has come to light that I would like to share
with the Council. I suggest you table tonight's deliberations until you can take the
following information to the Forest Service.
• The wetland studies are out of date and according to Army Corps of
Engineers (Corps) criteria. The wetland delineation and mitigation plan will
need to be redone and submitted to the Corps and Department of State
Lands (DSL) for review and concurrence.
• A Joint Fill and Removal Permit must be submitted to the Corps and DSL
and approved prior to any ground disturbing activities.
• The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Forest Service
and the Corps regarding permit exemption of timber harvest activities does
not apply due to the change of use from forestry to recreation and thus a
Permit from the Corps is required prior to any tree removal/ground impacts
• I have seen recent data that illustrated that State Water Pollution Permits
were violated 19 times from the waste water treatment facilities at the
current Ski Area facilities and this concerns me due to the proposed
treatment facilities draining into the Ashland Creek Basin.
• I recently saw a slope stability and landslide presentation by geologists Bill
Hicks, Steve Ellen, and Michel Vannier which focused on the Ski Ashland
Expansion area. The state-of-the art presentation illustrated the potential
for disaster regarding huge landslides and debris flows that could damage
Reeder Reservoir and the City of Ashland. I strongly suggest that a detailed
Risk Analysis be performed to determine what worst-case events could be
triggered by the proposed Expansion on Steep, unstable slopes in Ashland.
The Eco-Community Dialogues
Brought to you by Nancy Nelson,Pasadena Neighborhood Leadership Institute graduate class of 2005
Saturday,June 27,2009,at 4 p.m. Panel Discussion of Green Ecology vs. the First Amendment with
panelists David Fertig,Jon Furman,Marvin Schachter,Kevin Ulrich,Michelle White,and Larry Wilson.
Sunday, July 26, 2009, at 2 p.m. Pasadena's own urban homesteader, Jules Dervaes, is showing his
documentary film Homegrown Revolution that Oprah showed on Earth Day. After the film Jules' will talk
about The Path to Sustainable Living in the City. The presentation is being filmed.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009, at 7 p.m. Rachelle Carson-Begley, co-star of the Discovery channel's
Green Planet TV Show Living with Ed, is discussing her experiences in going green as the wife of
environmentalist Ed Begley Jr.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009, at 7 p.m. Sherry Simpson-Dean, Executive Director of the Pasadena
Foothill United Nations Association of the USA is presenting, Water as the Most Important Civil Rights
Issue of the Century.
Sunday, November 22, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. Sandy Fox, of the Blue Water Planet radio show on 1 Am
Healthy and close associate of renowned water researcher Dr. Masaru Emoto, brings environmental world
water issues to the fore. Speakers were Sandy Fox, Lex Lang,Angela Petruso, Kory Seaton,Lisa Hall,and
Kristen Kosinski. It is being filmed.
Wednesday,January 20, 2010, at 7 p.m. Founder of Visionary Culture, Raw Inspirations, and Anchor
the Dream,Laura Fox is well-known as festival emcee,panelist, panel host, event producer, radio host,and
workshop facilitator with a mission to uplift and inspire humanity. She is giving a fun introductory,
Visionary Stewardship for Planetary Transformation Playshop.
Wednesday,February 24,2010,at 7 p.m. Bruce Rayner, Triathlete and Chief Green Officer of Athletes
for a Fit Planet, comes to speak with us on the heels of the Pasadena Marathon of February 21. He will
share,Green Sporting Events, An Environmental Teaching Moment.
Wednesday,March 24,2010,at 7 p.m. Carol Holst, former partner with the Simple Living PBS TV series
Simple Living America, and recent new founder of www.l)ostconsumers.com which launched in January
2010. Her offering is,Building a Post-Consumer Movement.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010, at 7 p.m. Diane Yamamoto Skowron, owner of Chassom Tea Salon on
Green Street, is sharing eco-friendly advantages that her tea shop offers, and keeping us in suspense as to
how East meets West Through Tea. We all love surprises.
Wednesday, May 19,2010,at 7 p.m. Wednesday,June 30,2010, at 7 p.m. Live presentation by very
special guest speaker, Brian Biery, of the Flintridge Foundation in Pasadena about local non-profit
organizations involved with eco issues and conference room availability at the Flintridge Foundation.
Nancy cancelled the remaining guest speakers,and moved to Oregon,
Wednesday, May 26, 2010, at 7 p.m. Dr. Alfred K. Neumann, MA, MD, MPH, FACPM is Professor
Emeritus and Senior Advisor with the UCLA Department of Community Health Services. He is
presenting,Climate Change and the Role of Women.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010, at 7 p.m. Christopher Nyerges is a field guide, editor of Wilderness Way
magazine, and author of SELF-SUFFICIENT HOME and other books. His School ofSelf-Reliance offers
classes in Wild Food, Survival Skills, and Self-Reliance. Come dialogue with Christopher about primitive
earth skills,earth wisdom,self reliance, wild food,and living lightly on the earth.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010 AND Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 7 p.m. Holistic lifestyle coach Tina
Thornton and raw food expert Parisa Banks discuss a plant-based diet and the basics of sustainable food.
5uh-nine 00//j
Aff,9- 3-(�p
Rivers Brown 067 Ashland Street, Ashland 30AUG11
I know what Good Ole Boys look like. Can even smell um, from my half-century
in Louisiana.
Your names, as all public servants, and even citizens, will be 'chiseled in stone'
for what you either did 'for' or 'to' your constituency.
Hopefully our minds aren't chiseled in stone and that they are o
New evidence, beyond the simple common sense of anyon e who's been up
there, says it's risky business (as usual) to scar up the source of our drinking
water. These chickens are for sure comin' home to roost!
As ! said years ago, the plan is 'unsane.' The business model and board of
directors are inept. The mountain is unstable. And we need pure clean mountain
water more than anything.
I think now is the time to keep this very valuable resource of the Special Use
Permit (SUP) as it will be more important to us in the future than even now. It
would be like giving away our sup(per) after a hard days work.
To loose it, or give it away would be criminal, from the moral perspective of the
City being able to defend and develop it's only watershed, the most primary and
vital link in our survival and thrival here.
When the first settlers came into the valley they picked Ashland in 1852 for it's creek.
Now, 159 years later, we citizens of 2011 want to preserve our water supply from any
and all threats within the boundaries of its watershed.
'what will you, each of you, say to future citizens if you vote to approve this surrender
and it turns out to be a disaster for the town, as so many people are warning?'
We call upon you, our elected representatives, to listen to our plea, and search your
souls and minds deeply about how to best work 'for' our town's well being; vote to
keep the SUP in our City's hands.
To do otherwise would not be prudent, or wise.
I respectfully thank you for your attention and consideration.
M A-A-
My na is Luke Ruedige I was raised in Ashland and am alife-long resident of SW Oregon.1,
remember the le in the early 1990's.to",save Mt.,Ashland".The community came forward and,
raised the funds'to buy an economically failing ski resort,this was a unifying effort broadly supported
around S.Oregon.The citizens through this effort owned a small, local resort to be managed responsibly
as a asset.forthe.community.The permit to operate the resort was placed in the hands of this city•r•.: , ,
council to be managed in an economically;ecologically,and socially responsible manner.This made the
resort accountable to its owners,the people. It allowed for meetings like tonight where citizens can
share their views and have a 'voice in the management of this public asset.An asset the community
worked hard to"save".
In contrast,the ski expansion has been a divisive,controversial,and polarizing issue in the
community.The issue of who holds the permit and the city council's role in it is one of accountability
and representation.The Mt.Ashland Association(MAA) is a special interest group with a controversial
political agenda,a group that is not accountable to all citizens of Ashland.Their board is not
representative of all the diverse viewpoints surrounding the issues of ski expansion,environmental
quality in the watershed,and the management of this publically owned resort.The MAA board is not
democratically elected.The MAA board is appointed by those on one extreme of this polarizing issue.To
transfer the permit to the MAA is to abandon a large segment of the population and their values. It is a
way of elevating one view over another. It will severe the ties between the resort and the people of S.
Oregon. It will be an end to accountability and representative democracy in this process. It will shut out
portions of the population and lead to decisions that are less economically,ecologically,and socially
just. It will ensure that a small elite will dominate the process. It is a violation of the trust the community
extended to this council in 1993,when the city was granted permit on behalf of the people.The city of
Ashland has incentives to protect water quality in its watershed,the MAA does not.The city is
accountable to its citizens,the MAA is not.
Alan Deboer speaks of"reducing the cities liability",a liability he and others have manufactured
by pushing an economically risky expansion with severe environmental impacts within the city
watershed. In essence,the expansion itself is a major liability with potentially devastating impacts.This
manufactured liability amounts to political blackmail on behalf of the MAA,saying give us the permit or
be liable for the mess we create.This mess is ecological,social,and economic. On one point I would
have to agree with former mayor,a$17 million expansion at this marginal resort is a liability,a liability
the city should oppose.Clean drinking water should be the council's priority.
The city of Ashland has a long history of advocacy for the environmental health and water
quality of the watershed. In fact, in 1893 these positions lead to the creation of the "Ashland Forest
Reserve" now known as the Ashland Watershed and a precursor to the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger
District.The area was set aside specifically to protect the city's water supply and was patrolled by early
rangers to reduce impacts. In the 1920's the USFS and the city signed a memorandum putting a
premium on the protection of water quality.Again in 1946 the city passed a water bond and the Daily
Tidings commented that"that what the people wanted was plenty of water, and a good quality of
water. (June 26, 1946)". This has always been a priority for city residents. Sedimentation in Reeder
Reservoirrdrastically.increased following the 1963 ski development and erosion from the.resort 1:
continues to be a problem!Given this long history in Ashland, I.must ask where is our,foresight and .
vision?Are we to be.the people who will turn our backs on this,history?rWill.history look back at this; ,. :i
time,perhaps this meeting'as the'end of clean water and'the city's commitment to V Willahis council ;.;
be remembered as those.who allowed our headwaters to be.developed,-exploited,and.destroyed'or at •r,
those who protected our water and our watershed from those who would exploit and.abuse it?The
choice is.yours,history;and the voters will remember your decision. Please protect the water,.keep the
permit;and keep.the MAA honest, because many,belleve-they are not:Thank you.
';,. .. _.._!.l;'Jci 1. 7y •i',. .1'.,-2'.4:.`, ,. . . . . fFi: ! ' f: :1.�'7r.-�'., .. .r1„ . lr .,.
Luke Ruediger
nfi ri •.tpJ.' T : . . 4.. -.. 'F. ':7 .. ` : r . 'b)':::�'_... �c.. _:;. fi�. :.i; ^ i C
':.+rl:p: .i.. .. _ .'n .. ; .!il �Pi: .,•,I ,.i. .. ._. illJ' _�'b' . . t,�-. !io . .d". � :^'f ...
.. ..'-Gf; . +�v � .,. .. :1.'y ti• . 'f0 i!;'}I!}O;.[,71 f': . '!t' ,F' . i?:':. _`(Si . � ..
t:..J f:'f. • t._ to - !'i I:i , 1pP1 .. . �_ 1fl'_T is _ ..
, .\).. ' fLL \) .nJI��IIII� o ..b:11:.. �':. ..; •. :�- i1: . ..l .: %7:_..i . -r. ,.a 17 �: . .
_ � _ � . � t. _ ;.i�Y••„ ... � ::)... . . � ' � 'i�.cl:� ... .•_ ... . . a
"C(r•:'
{f r.. .. ..., ' r,'. :({-( .•f, n.i1 •. .I: r.! .. ' �.. _ rn ..'1=_ C. l .. . _. -1. .. ,
.. .a. _ilF f{: - 'i if t'7•i'i., ".r..i� :i 1,. .-:.G . _ . , i.': ,1 . -.A^} .. _ .�1f`. _ .�:
ji,e. .J°ri lcJa•' _ i : IiC'..G°s: I'l y /, t _',.. .. n e•. .{. "�,. `^' .. . . }<. P.r ::\ .
t
U! Of di .'lir ']f. (I! 1'..n ✓, 1„
.i 'd: J J1'>. r'. '!:'..:.�L
P" :':'_ .r.i,:'. .7,].ri?fn < ;;, , . 4*:� (•ri? .In� f:' .. .. ,,-r•; .,it : ...... .. t:• _• .. � ' `-
:!rcll
{:.,•\ '�1: • . .'];j ` 3il:i ':Jr F.0 `i') Vj'r:t''111. ':
.^...'lSl .'ir it?')f;l;\;:i. .''.1-,il �.tllF-�J�%Sr ',S" •. \11T.i.l b. 1f', ^tJ .:q''it.Vlg a: :P: .�It'; ''. i:>;. pii' , :1J1.•.
4
Ashland City Council '�5 142—
August 29, 2011
1 am George Badura, a professional Soil Scientist that conducted the Soil
Resource Inventory for the Rogue River National Forest. My experience includes
over 34 years of conducting soil surveys and making interpretations on how soils
react to different management situations. I offer the following areas of concern
about the Ski Ashland Expansion for your consideration in keeping the Ashland
watershed and water safe for the residents consumption.
First, the area up in the bowl where a planned lodge is being considered.
This area is the headwaters for the western portion of the East Fork of Ashland
Creek and supplies a very large quantity of water runoff to Reeder Reservoir. This
area naturally receives the snow and rainfall which slowly inters into the ground
water. When the area is altered by construction the snow and rainfall will be on
areas"where the there is very little or no infiltration and runoff will be greatly
accelerated resulting in erosional conditions which will start the destruction of
the wetlands below. (An example of this is the accelerated runoff from rooftops
and parking lots where the runoff is 100% of the precipitation)
The second area of concern is at the lower area where the base ski terminal
is planned. This area is where the ground water concentrates before surfacing in
the creek below. The creek channel below this point is very steep and if the lift is
put in with excavated cutting into the slope (which will be necessary) the ground
water will be drained into the creek and extreme erosional forces will cause
downcutting to the steep stream channel. There is no way to stop the
downcutting due to the steepness and the location. This downcutting will be a
source of sediment for years to come. I inspected the ski lift location and there
was a blowdown tree in the area where ground water is within 12 to 18 inches of
?L3 Z°f" a
the soil surface. A tremendous about of water will be intercepted when the ski lift
terminal is excavated resulting in water with erosional forces to be directed into
the oversteepended channel.
A third concern is the planned outsloped road planned to this lower ski
terminal. This road will need constant maintenance to maintain the grade and
runoff characteristics of the water. These soils with the sandy textures will deposit
rapidly at any reduction of grade or when runoff is reduced resulting in the next
precipitation to be diverted from off-flow to concentrated flow and then
overloading the slopes below where it does runoff. Accelerated erosion is the
result if the road is not constantly maintained after each precipitation event. This
is currently occurring below the existing outsloped road in the existing ski area.
The fourth concern I have is the location of the septic leach field that was
put in earlier to the east of the existing ski lodge. I wrote a letter to the Ashland
Ranger District stating that the location is in a fault zone with fractured bedrock
and subsurface drainage. This is easily seen in the watershed side of the zone with
the water seeping out and the water dependent vegetation on the slope. This
letter I wrote was ignored. I do not know if the city has experienced any water
contamination after the leach field was put in but I would expect there is some
occurring.
S l
To
a
'> 3 c
ea e +xww
wx
m :z
@ N F w x x y .i3 n SX
wttt�Gn m
�W1" �" aw/n �� !�1%' ' a'Q` FiQ�a a A�SY e lg``: ��.s A�PL fi Nx "YD."'�m'S':,Z�S aa •R*S�E'd E4 G Q Na 3
Weis #
0 loops
s
f
d- o,�,x,,✓m "�. _ m,x�,n,. xim�x, exa& ._sae r`°� ,='4.7e� e mx'rn >� � mer xla� s�c.� ms'
-
'sa'� mK"«X Y hfi9#+ 5syx� {� �s fvn '�fixzl F a �YD x
x ttsN§z'm ' fra
k x�m3 �gu fo
� 0 J 'Z" u
amS ,1�x
-
z���,
cu ��t �� ,°a'� ,rasa �,a xre a% � � A° � 'x
MIJ N A ez� «,mma� ' a s mY ;
'�ai,�'�":, a;
° "f.
mv
on quo no
Alan t ,.m m mss, .4,� .. X x v
NOW
sz^rr m+*? x 'Ri' ra 'kas*
S h z-.k, `4 atia' lsW a # _R.i '.w�°
2, Tm m 3 F q3°' -r 4.a• 4 �4'-nsa s. '3...
r �w -
ly 4bymxp#'y�'`r
�f#zp4.zz wa ic ,
'✓a ady ti bn:O'3�,pfsEM'sw%"i"- +m -»'"a$ a,m ma•�r %i ffi W axk ir404A
.a'
5as
Sn�nr, s L �' w'^ d•• r
'b ^ w9'�Y ' y�¢m4A LK. >w' S '.'✓ f 4J
yF
"JAMES?`X,MONTd OMERY,CONSITLTING ENGI1�tEER$ INC� � ,� f
Lru
3O[5.5�'^FORT CAUO`ER GALE LA-S tlEGAS- CHAA LEaT�N WV WASH kNGTO*.1i ' m
+4. # C d G ENGLUEER iNG (7'O WTCAk6 -;ROSE BURG SALEM^OR) °` I
�. ,ev AS
r
Introduction
LOCATION
i
The Ashland Creek Watershed Study Area and City of Ashland are located approximately 230 miles
south of Portland, Oregon, in Jackson County, as shown in Figure 1-1. Ashland is approximately
fifteen miles north of the Oregon-California border.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The City of Ashland has obtained water from the Ashland Creek Watershed since the early 1880's.
1 In 1893, the watershed area was proclaimed a Federal Reserve. President Theodore Roosevelt, in
Jorder to provide better protection for the city's water supply, enlarged the reserve in 1906. In 1928,
Reeder Reservoir was created by the construction of Hosler Dam, a concrete dam below the
confluence of the East and West Forks of Ashland Creek. The reservoir has a capacity of
280,000,000 gallons. Almost all lands within the watershed are under the control of the U.S. Forest
Service. The Secretary of Agriculture and the City of Ashland entered into a cooperative agreement
in 1929 in order to protect and conserve the city's water supply. A copy of the agreement is shown
in the Appendix. The Ashland Creek Watershed was put under Multiple Use Management in 1955.
Access roads were constructed in the watershed soon after it came under Multiple Use Management
in 1955. Logging within the watershed occurred from 1958 to 1965, with a total of approximately
1,000 acres or 7 percent of the watershed being logged.
IIn early 1960, Mt. Ashland ski resort, with an area of approximately 180 acres, was developed. The
ski resort opened in 1964. Prior to Multiple Use Management of the Ashland Creek Watershed in
1955, it is estimated that the annual sediment cleaning of Reeder Reservoir resulted in less than
4,000 cubic yards of sediment being flushed into Ashland Creek. The City of Ashland reports that
beginning in the early 1960's, a greater effort was required each year to clean the sediment from the
reservoir, especially following heavy storms. Recent major storms in 1964 and 1974 resulted in very
l large amounts of sediment in Reeder Reservoir, approximately 60,000 and 122,000 cubic yards
I respectively. Following each occurrence, it was necessary to dredge the sediment to keep the low
level dam outlet in .operation. The latter cleaning operation was not totally complete until 1976
when an additional 70,000 cubic yards were removed.
l GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
} The primary agencies involved in the Ashland Creek Watershed are the U.S. Department of
Agriculture - Forest Service, Rogue River National Forest, City of Ashland and State of Oregon
Department of Environmental Quality. In addition, the Oregon State Department of Forestry has
broad authority over activities on all timberlands through the Forest Practices Act. This act has
sections relative to protection of water quality in streams.
The U.S. Forest Service, through the Rogue River National Forest, is responsible for managing
almost all of the lands in the watershed. The City of Ashland utilizes as its primary water supply
source Reeder Reservoir which impounds the drainage of the watershed.
The City of Ashland must annually or bi-annually remove the sediment from the reservoir in order
Ito maintain it in operation. In the latter years it has been necessary to clean every year. Since the
1-3
Introduction
sediment is sluiced back into Ashland Creek it is considered a point source discharge by the Oregon
Department of Environmental Quality, and is permitted under the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES). A copy of the latest permit is in the Appendix.
WATERSHED PROBLEMS
The Ashland Creek Watershed includes approximately 14,400 acres which are totally within the
Rogue River National Forest. Prior to Multiple Use Management in 1955, the watershed yielded
only limited amounts of sediment, perhaps only 3,000 to 4,000 cubic yards, which settled out in
Reeder Reservoir. The corresponding maintenance which was required by the City of Ashland to
operate the low level outlet and maintain reservoir capacity was minor.
Following adoption by the Forest Service of Multiple Use Management for the watershed,
approximately 40 to 45 miles of roads were constructed during 1956-1963. Logging was undertaken
on 1,000 acres during 1958 - 1963, which was about 7 percent of the watershed. In the early 1960's
the Forest Service permitted Mt. Ashland ski resort, 183 acres, to be developed. In total about
10 percent of the watershed was disturbed by road construction, logging and the ski area
development.
Following adoption of the Multiple Use Management for the watershed, the City of Ashland
reported greater effort and cost was required each year to clean the reservoir of sediment, especially
following years of heavy storms. In 1962, a 2-inch rainfall in December generated a relatively large
amount of sediment, and in 1964 a very wet December occurred, with 3-inches of rainfall reported
at Ashland on December 22. The large amount of sediment inflow affected the operation of the low
level outlet of the dam. In 1966-67 it was necessary for the city to undertake a costly dredging
operation to clean the sediment from the reservoir. Rough measurements of the sediment removed
by dredging and discharged to Ashland Creek indicated at least 60,000 cubic yards had entered
Reeder Reservoir, primarily as a result of the 1964 storm.
Deposition of sediment in the reservoir continued at a relatively high rate during the period
1968-1972, with about 20,000-30,000 cubic yards per year reported. In 1973, approximately
70,000 cubic yards were removed. Following a major storm in January 1974, large trucking and
dredging operation was necessary to remove approximately 122,000 cubic yards. This cleaning
operation was not totally complete until 1976, when an additional 70,000 cubic yards were
removed.
WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
Specific information on water quality relative to turbidity and suspended solids during periods of
reservoir cleaning are minimal. Tests by Oregon Department of Water Quality in March, 1973,
indicated that turbidity levels in Ashland Creek reached approximately 1,500 Jackson Turbidity
Units (JTU) and was being carried on into Bear Creek and the Rogue River, the turbidity in Bear
Creek at Medford measured 50 JTU. It was reported that water quality and aquatic habitat were
broadly impaired. The 208 program is currently doing additional monitoring.
The Oregon State Game Commission was concerned that the sediment discharge occurred during
the peak season for the annual adult steelhead trout migrations. The turbidity conditions also
violated existing Rogue River Basin water quality standards.
1-4
l
l
1
1 SECTION 2
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
�1
The Ashland Creek watershed is located entirely within a granitic batholith and the soils within the
1 watershed are extremely susceptable to slope erosion and failure. Reeder Reservoir is located within
the watershed at the confluence of the East and West Fork of Ashland Creek and is the major water
supply source for the City of Ashland. In 1929 the Forest Service and the City entered into a
"Cooperative Agreement for the Purpose of Conserving and Protecting the Water Supply of the City
I of Ashland, Oregon". Prior to the Forest Service adopting Multiple Use Management of the
watershed in 1955, only limited man-related activity occurred. Prior to 1955, the problem with
j sediment accumulation in Reeder Reservoir was minor and was easily sluiced through the dam into
J Ashland Creek without significant cost or reported downstream impact. It is estimated that the
annual average sediment yields in the watershed was approximately 3,500 cubic yards.
Following Multiple Use Management of the watershed, approximately 37.3 miles of additional roads
were constructed, 1,000 acres were logged and the Mt. Ashland ski area was constructed. The total
acreage disturbed was approximately ten percent of the 14,400 acre watershed. The corresponding
sediment yields from erosion, and mass slope failure are well known and documented. The road
building and timber harvest occurred from 1956 to 1963.
Since 1962, large amounts of sediments have been deposited in the Reservoir, ranging from 20,000
to over 122,000 cubic yards per year. It has been necessary on two occasions, 1966-67 and 1974, to
perform very costly dredging operations to remove the sediment for operation of the dam outlet.
The corresponding water quality impacts on Ashland Creek downstream of the dam during sluicing
or dredging of the sediment has been major. Turbidity measurement of over 1,000 times natural
have been measured. Fisheries and other downstream uses have been reported to be impacted.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued the City of Ashland a National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Waste Discharge Permit. This permit requires the
city discharge accumulated reservoir sediment only during November 15 to March 31.
FUTURE WATER SUPPLY NEEDS
Water requirements for the City of Ashland were obtained from historical water use patterns, and
projected through the year 2000 by utilizing anticipated population and land use data developed by
the City Planning Department.
1 Past population and water consumption data revealed an average gross annual consumption rate for
Ashland of 370 gpcd. The population in Ashland is anticipated to increase about 2 percent
annually, and in the year 2000 is estimated to be about 23,300. An average daily water requirement
of 63 mgd is expected, and an annual consumption requirement of 7,040 acre-feet (AF) is
projected.
1 2-1
Summary and Recommendations
A comparison of year 2000 demands with historical runoff data on Ashland Creek during a severe
low-yield period determined the need for additional storage of over 2,800 AF on Ashland Creek to
meet the water requirements from this source alone.
MANAGEMENT OF THE ASHLAND CREEK WATERSHED
In the watershed section of this report, the processes of erosion including mass, surface and channel
erosion are described. The Forest Service analysis of erosion in the Ashland Watershed for 1974 was
analyzed and it is concluded that while mass soil movement was evaluated adequately by the Forest
Service, surface erosion particularly from the road prism, was not. A mass balance involving erosion
over a period of 22 years was done. This indicates a very high annual "base load" contribution of
sediment from the road surface. The cut/Pill areas as well as the ski area are also high contributors of
sediment. Various management options are examined and conclusions reached concerning
compatibility with protection of the water resources in the Ashland Watershed.
WATER QUALITY
In general, water quality in Ashland Creek. is quite good. During reservoir sluicing or flushing
operations suspended solids, turbidity and bacteria levels can increase far beyond those normally
experienced. The removal of sediment deposits from Reeder Reservoir is essential in maintaining the
domestic water quality and storage capacity of Ashland's municipal water supply. In order to
accomplish this, and minimize downstream environmental damage to fisheries and water quality it
has been determined that rapid removal and discharge of sediment into and through Ashland Creek
during the highest winter flow periods will help mitigate its harmful effects. The only practical
method, based upon available data, for the rapid removal of sediment without draining the reservoir
is by hydraulic dredging, which has been utilized in the past. While this will substantially increase
the short term solids load carried by Ashland Creek, USFS data indicates this material moves
rapidly through the system, and that within several days after dredging is complete, suspended
solids levels return to about normal. However, some deposition of solids will occur in some areas of
the stream channel.
EXECUTIVE ORDER 11752
Federal law, specifically the FWPCAA of 1972 (1972 Water Quality Act of PL 92-500), directs that
requirements by local and state governments for. the protection of water quality be adhered to by
federal agencies. This provision, Section 313 of PL 92-500, is considered an important basis for
water quality protection action relative to Forest Service management of the Ashland Watershed. It
states:
"Sec. 313. Each department, agency, or instrumentality of the executive,
legislative, and juridical branches of the Federal Government (1) having
jurisdiction over any property or facility, or (2) engaged in any activity
resulting, or which may result, in the discharge or runoff of pollutants shall
comply with Federal, State, interstate, and local requirements respecting
control and abatement of pollution to the same extent that any person is
subject to such requirements, including the payment of reasonable service
charges. . ."
2-2
1
Summary and Recommendations
This provision has been expanded upon by Executive Order No. 11752 (Dec. 19, 1973) which
states:
}1 "Section 1. Policy. It is the purpose of this order to assure that the Federal
1 Government, in the design, construction, management, operation, and
maintenance of its facilities, shall provide leadership in the nationwide effort to
i protect and enhance the quality of our air, water, and land resources through
compliance with applicable standards for the prevention, control, and
abatement of environmental pollution in full cooperation with State and local
governments. Compliance by Federal facilities with Federal, State, interstate,
and local substantive standards and substantive limitations, to the same extent
that any person is subject to such standards and limitations, will accomplish the
} objective of providing Federal leadership and cooperation in the prevention of
11 environmental pollution. In light of the principle of Federal supremacy
embodied in the Constitution, this order is not intended, nor should it be
interpreted, to require Federal facilities to comply with State or local
administrative procedures with respect to pollution abatement and control.
Section 2. Definitions. As used in this order:
(4) The term "facilities" means the buildings, installations, structures,;•
land, public works, equipment, aircraft, vessels, and other vehicles an&
property, owned by, or constructed or manufactured for the purpose of
leasing to, the Federal Government.
Section 3. Responsibilities. (a) Heads of Federal agencies shall, with regard to
all facilities under their jurisdiction in the United States:
(I) Ensure that applicable standards specified in Section 4 of this order
are met on a continuing basis.
Section 4. Standards. (a) Heads of Federal agencies shall ensure that all
facilities under their jurisdiction are designed, constructed, managed, operated,
and maintained so as to conform to the following requirements:
(2) Federal, State, interstate, and local water quality standards and
effluent limitations respecting the discharge or runoff of pollutants
adopted, in accordance with or effective under the provisions of the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended.
l The exemption mentioned regarding administrative procedure would pertain, for example, to a
1 requirement for applying and obtaining a state or local permit before taking action. The federal
agency would apparently not be required to obtain the permit but would have to comply with
specific or substantive "requirements" (e.g. an ordinance specifying regulations for water quality
protection purposes) specified by a state or local government.
I
2-3
Summary and Recommentations
AGREEMENT BETWEEN FOREST SERVICE AND CITY OF ASHLAND
The agreement between the Forest Service and City of Ashland, "Cooperative Agreement for the
Purpose of Conserving and Protecting the Water Supply of the City of Ashland", was signed in 1929
and is still in force. The agreement provides: 1) input from the city prior to cutting or timber
removal relative to safeguarding the water supply; 2) full consideration to preserving the volume and
purity of the city's water supply, and if proper state or federal agencies determine the supply to be
diminished, contaminated, or polluted through permitted operations, and there is no other more
practicable remedy, the Secretary of Agriculture, so far as he has legal authority, will cause
permitted operations to be restricted, modified or discontinued; 3) grazing of livestock will not be.
authorized except with consent of the city; 4) Forest Service will extend and improve the forests
upon the land by seeding and planting, and by the most approved methods of silviculture and forest
management; 5) Forest Service will administer and protect the area in connection with adjoining
national forest lands; and 6) both parties reserve the right to terminate the agreement at any time,
provided all obligations under the agreement up to the date of termination have been met.
The broad intent of this agreement clearly is to conserve and protect the water supply of the City of
Ashland, as its title implies. The Forest Service has in the past permitted activities in the watershed
that have without any doubt, significantly and detrimentally affected the city's water supply.
Certainly, this was not done intentionally, as is indicated by their current moratorium on road
building and logging and restricted use of the watershed. However, past activities permitted by the
Forest Service have had, and will continue to have a significant detrimental impact on the city's
water supply and downstream water quality in Ashland Creek, Bear Creek and the Rogue River.
OPERATION OF REEDER RESERVOIR
The primary function of Reeder Reservoir is to provide stored water to supplement Ashland Creek
when the domestic demand for water exceeds the natural flow. This can occur.in the cold months,
December through mid-March when streams can freeze; and in the summer from June through
October, when water demands are high and stream now is low. Consequently, with past sediment
removal practices, it has been too risky to drain the reservoir until mid-March. In order to minimize
the loss of storage capacity by sedimentation, the city has regularly drained the reservoir and sluiced
the accumulated sediment. Following major storms in 1964 and 1974, it has been necessary to
dredge and dragline the sediment to allow the use of the bottom outlet pipe for sluicing and keeping
the water supply outlet to the treatment plant open.
Based upon the projected future water demands, the city must maintain the capacity of the
reservoir by sediment removal, as well as develop other water supplies. Alternative methods of
sluicing and sediment removal were evaluated together with structural modifications to the dam.
The modifications were evaluated to provide greater reliability in the water delivery system to the
water treatment plant, maximize water storage in dry years and greater flexibility in sediment
removal concerning impacts on water quality and fisheries.
No realistic, cost effective and environmentally acceptable alternative was found to discharge the
sediment from Reeder Reservoir back to Ashland Creek. The viable alternatives considered were to
discharge the sluiced or dredged sediment to Ashland Creek in a manner and during such times as to
minimize the downstream impacts.
2-4
1
1
Summary and Recommendations
iALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLIES
The evaluation of projected water needs in Section 4 determined an additional water storage
I requirement of over 2,800 AF by the year 2000. To satisfy this requirement several alternative
sources of supply were analyzed, including additional reservoirs on Ashland, Neil, and Cove/Walker
Creeks, increased use of TID water, exchange of water with other agencies, and development of
j groundwater supplies.
} The alternative supply project determined to be most cost-effective for the city is a combination of
j a new reservoir on the West Fork of Ashland Creek, and increased utilization of TID water via the
j Ashland lateral. Increased use of TID water requires construction of a pump station and supply line
to the city water treatment plant. The new reservoir at the Winburn site would impound an
additional 1,600 AF, and acquisition of an additional 600 AF from TID above the present water
rights agreement is necessary to satisfy city storage requirements through the year 2000.
GENERAL
` Since no practical alternative exists, at this time, to the City of Ashland for discharge of sediment to
l Ashland Creek, the primary question concerns when and how it can be discharged to minimize
downstream impacts. Consequently, the most effective means of reducing the sediment problem in
Reeder Reservoir is better management of the watershed, where the problem originates.
RECOMMENDATIONS
INSTITUTIONAL AGREEMENTS
a. The existing cooperative agreement between the Forest Service and the City of Ashland
1 should be continued and used as the basic institutional mechanism for implementation of
the recommendations on management of the watershed.
b. The Forest Service fully review the broad intent of the 1929 Cooperative Agreement
between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and City of Ashland for the purpose of
conserving and protecting the water supply of the City of Ashland, Oregon, relative to
current and future management of the watershed, considering the severe sediment
1 problem in Reeder Reservoir since 1964 and corresponding degradation of downstream
water quality.
MONITORING PROGRAM
J a. The Neil Creek or other water quality/erosion study by the Forest Service, must fully
address surface erosion and measure actual affects of a timber sale to be applicable to
J Ashland Creek watershed. Of particular importance is the evaluation of total natural vs.
total man-disturbed effects. It must analyze the interaction of cutting practices, slope,
l aspect, stand per acre, various factors of road construction, slash .disposal and
J revegetation. Base load data, both prior and after the sale, must be determined.
b. Monitoring programs in the watershed should be expanded to include bedload sampling.
channel stability and capacity and channel aggradation and degradation. Additional
monitoring stations should be developed.
'_-6
Summary and Recommendations
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
a. No further road construction should occur within the Ashland Creek watershed, except
by mutual consent (Forest Service and City of Ashland). Existing roads should be
maintained to the minimum possible extent. Maintenance practices appear to be a major
source of erosion. Roads that are not needed for critical watershed protection purposes
should be stabilized, revegetated and used only for custodial management.
b. Except for fertilizer in revegetation projects, fire retardants and chemicals for water
quality control in the reservoir(s), chemical use should be prohibited in the watershed. All
chemical use should be approved by the.Forest Service and City of Ashland. It is further
recommended that the Forest Service adopt a schedule for repair of existing damaged
areas.
C. Revegetation of all cut and fill areas and cleared areas should be accomplished by the
Forest Service. Any future cut, fill or damaged areas should be repaired by the entity
having responsibility for the damage.
d. Mining activity and particularly any exploration activity should not be allowed; therefore,
mineral withdrawal should be initiated for the watershed. Existing patented claims should
be purchased.
e. Recreational uses of and access to the watershed should be tightly regulated. The Forest
Service should inventory and study potential recreational uses of the watershed jointly
with the City of Ashland before recreation.use is allowed. All such uses should be
consistent with water quality protection.
f. Mt. Ashland ski area must provide for proper revegetation and sediment control. No
enlargement or expansion of the ski area should.be considered until the disturbed areas
have been stabilized and approval of an environmental impact statement on any proposed
enlargement or expansion has been made.
g. Forest harvest should not occur unless the Forest Service can conclusively demonstrate to
the City of Ashland and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality that a further
increase in sediment accumulation at Reeder Reservoir, or degradation of water quality or
aquatic habitat, will not occur. Timber removal should be allowed only for special cases
(non-commercial cutting) where both the Forest Service and City of Ashland agree. Any
timber harvest in the watershed should follow the guidelines presented in Chapter 5.
h. The Forest Service should continue with the present fire protection program as outlined
in the Rogue River National Forest "Fire Protection Plan." The Forest Service should
seek additional funding for more intensive fire protection management.
i. Forest Service should continue and expand present sediment control measures at slope
failure areas, as indicated from evaluation of the ongoing programs.
2-6
l
lAshland Creek Watershed
i
Megahan (1974) found that erosion rates per unit of disturbed area following road construction
were three orders of magnitude greater than on undisturbed lands. After almost forty years they
were still one order of magnitude greater (ten times). This research is viewed as being particularly
important for the Ashland Watershed, since most of the characteristics of the Idaho Batholith study
area are very similar to the Ashland Watershed. Particularly important in both areas are the granitic
batholith type soils which are highly erodible.
While the production of sediment generally decreases within the first two to five years after road
construction and logging, erosion from the road prism does continue. Reinhart and others (1963)
found that disturbances to the road surface (e.g., resurfacing) continually produced a new supply of
fine soil particles that were then subject to erosion and downstream movement. This would be
expected in varying magnitudes during high, average or low runoff years.
Natural fire in uncut watersheds and fire on cut-over watersheds (either natural or for purposes of
residue management or regeneration) is a factor to be considered relative to sediment production.
Burning is one of the more widely used methods for reducing logging residue on clear cuts. In some
1 areas, it is also very desirable for regeneration purposes to remove the duff layer through burning.
l Severe buming can alter surface soil characteristics efficiently to bring about increases in erodibility,
f however, moderate and light burning often have very little direct effect on soil properties. One of
the most important potential effects is the destruction of the vegetation and litter which protect the
' soil surface. Packer (197 1) found that in logged and burned larch-Douglas-fir sites in Montana the
1 effects of prescribed burning on soil and vegetation can impair runoff and soil erosion control.
Broadcast buming reduced the protective plant and litter cover, decreased the soil surface macro
porosity and increased the soil bulk density. Overland flow and soil erosion also increased;however,
these effects were temporary and returned to the prelogging and prebumed state within four years.
l Brown and Krygier (1971) found that after clear cutting and burning, sediment yield increased
about five fold and maximum concentration increased from 970 to 7,600 parts per million after
burning. Fredriksen (1970) reported that during the two years after clear cutting, skyline logging
and slash burning, sediment concentrations were 67 and 28 times greater than an undisturbed
control watershed. Tarrant (1956) found that even with severe burning that reduced the percolation
rate in the soil and increased soil runoff causing soil erosion, the overall influence on moisture
properties of the soils was minor, since the severe bums covered a very small portion of the total
surface of a slash burned area.
One of the most applicable research studies (to the Ashland Watershed) was by Megahan and
Molitor (1975). This research concerned two small watersheds on the Idaho Batholith, one of which
was logged and the other unlogged. Within one year after logging, a very hot wild fire swept through
both areas. It was found that the fire was more intense on the clear cut watershed, but that on the
uncut watershed, stem scorching had killed all the trees; however, the needles of the overstory trees
on the uncut watershed were not consumed. It was found that considerable accelerated erosion
,occurred on the clear cut and bumed watershed. Annual sediment yield on the clear cut watershed
Jwas estimated at 430 cubic yards per square mile. No eroded material left the uncut and burned
drainage. Megahan and Molitor concluded that the prefire clear cutting was the most probable
causative factor in the increased erosion following the forest fire. It was concluded that the clear
cutting had a twofold effect: (I) it removed protective canopy cover (and an important source of
1 5-9
Ashland Creek Watershed
post-fire litter which protected the soil surface on the uncut area),and (2)it increased surface fuel
loading that led to a more intense bum. It was also found that there was a tendency for greater
water repelency on the clear cut watershed.
These research studies indicate that wildfire under certain conditions in natural (or uncut) forested
watersheds may have little impact on water quality. On the other hand, wildfire or slash burning
with unfavorable,conditions on clear cut/logged areas can increase the production of sediment.
The cutting method and skidding of logs also influences the production of sediment from a
watershed, although this is generally considered to be relatively small when compared with roads
and road construction. Swanston and Dymess (1973) found that the most soil disturbing method of
yarding was tractor logging, followed by high lead, skyline and balloon. Tractor logging is generally
considered a poor choice for logging in areas where soil erodibility is a problem (EPA, 1975).
Fredrikson (1970) found that clear cutting and high lead yarding in three small western Oregon
watersheds produced sediment in streams averaging more than 100 times the undisturbed condition
over a period of one year. As a general rule, silvicultural systems rank in the following order
regarding potential impact on water quality (most impactive first): (1) clear cutting, (2) seed tree,
(3) shelter wood, (4) selection (EPA, 1975). Balloon and helicopter logging are considered the least
impactive methods of yarding, although the running skyline system is generally considered to be
more economical and similar in exerting a relatively small impact on water quality.
ANALYSIS
HISTORY OF DISTURBANCE AND SEDIMENTATION
The Ashland Watershed lands were maintained in a relatively undisturbed condition prior to
intensive timber management in 1955. Before 1955, the principal source of disturbance was
lightning-caused fires, of which seven were reported for the period 1940-1956. However, the fires
were relatively small (less than two acres; USFS) and apparently had little effect on water quality or
sediment production in the watershed.
Several activities were undertaken following adoption of the "Multiple Use Management" program
in the and 1950's. From the standpoint of sediment production, the following man-caused
disturbances are important:
• Approximately 37.3 miles of logging roads, disturbing 'a total land area in excess of 270
acres, were constructed in the period 1956-1963. This brought the length of roads within
the watershed to a current total of 52.7. The area within road right-of-way is 383 acres,
or 3 percent of the watershed lands. There are 33.5 miles within the portion tributary to
Reeder Reservoir 21.2 miles of which have been constructed since 1956.
• Timber harvest, including clear cutting, partial cutting, thinning, sanitation salvage, high
lead logging and tractor logging was undertaken in the period 1958-1965. A total of
1.000 acres was harvested as follows:
5-10
I
Ashland Creek Watershed
I
Clearcut 269 acres
Shelterwood 577 acres
I Thinning 154 acres
Total 1,000 acres
i o In the early 1960's the Dot. Ashland ski resort, with an area of 183 acres, was developed.
The ski area was opened in 1964.
i Altogether, these activities subjected over 10 percent of the lands within the watershed to
unprecedented disturbance due to clearing of vegetation and construction and grading of roads.
The City of Ashland has reported a contemporaneous increase in the amount of sediment in Reeder
Reservoir, which they have had to remove, since the beginning of intensive timber management in
the 1950's. Before 1956, annual sediment cleaning operations consisted of cleaning out the small
- basins located above the reservoir of approximately 1,200 cubic yards per year. Little in the way of
labor or earth-moving equipment was reportedly needed to assist the sluicing operation before
1956. Although measurements of the amount of material flushed from the bottom of the Reeder
Reservoir are not available for this period, it seems likely that on the average the annual amount,
including that trapped in the debris basins upstream, was two to three thousand cubic yards.
Beginning in the early 1960's, the city reports that a greater effort was required to clear the
reservoir of sediment each year, especially following years of heavy storms. In 1962, a 2-inch
rainfall in December generated a relatively large amount of sediment, and then in 1964 a very wet
December occurred with 3 inches of rainfall reported at Ashland on December 22. This large
sediment inflow affected the operation of the low level outlet of the dam, and in 1966-1967, a
costly dredging operation had to be undertaken to clear the bottom of the reservoir. Rough
measurements of sediment discharged during the dredging indicated that approximately 60,000
1 cubic yards had become trapped in the reservoir as a result of the 1964 storm (Lund, 1974 and
discussions with City of Ashland staff, 1976). Reservoir profile data are not available to compare
with these estimates.
1 Deposition of sediment in the reservoir continued at a relatively high rate of approximately
20,000-30,000 cubic yards per year during the period 1968-1972. In 1973, some 70,000 cubic
1 yards were removed, and following a very intense storm in January 1974, a major trucking and
dredging operation was necessary to remove 122,000 cubic yards. This cleaning operation was not
totally completed until 1976, when an additional 70,000 cubic yards were removed, finally
restoring the reservoir to its original 1928 bottom configuration.
Based on the history of major floods for the Rogue River at Grants Pass (Wilson and Hicks, 1975)
the recurrence intervals for the 1964 and 1974 floods appear to be from 20 to 50 years. More
detailed flow frequency data is not available.
A chronology of events in the watershed and reservoir which are significant from the standpoint of
sediment production is presented on Figure 5-2. Table 5-2 summarizes data pertaining to sediment
removal during the last two decades.
5-11
Ashland Creek Watershed
TABLE 5-2
REEDER RESERVOIR
REPORTED SEDIMENT REMOVAL HISTORY
Years Sediment Removed, Information
cubic yards Source
Before 1956 1200 cy/yr average from upstream Shaw (1956)
debris basins
1956 - 1963 No data-but increasing amount City Staff(1977)
(say, 10,000 cy/yr)
1966 - 1967 60,000 cy dredged from reservoir Lund (1974)
City Staff(1977)
1968 - 1972 Up to 20-30,000 cy by sluicing from DEQ (1973)
reservoir (say 20,000 cy/yr avg) City Staff(1977)
1973 70,000 by sluicing from reservoir DEQ (1973)
City Staff(1977)
1974 122,000 cy by truck and dredge City Staff(1976)
USFS (1976)
1975 5000-7000 cy by sluicing City Staff(1976)
(say, 6000 cy)
1976 68,000-78,000 cy by sluicing City Staff(1976)
(say 70,000 cy) Earth Sciences (1976)
1967 - 1976 Rough estimate from
TOTAL 428,000 cy above.
1956 - 1976 Rough estimate from
TOTAL 508,000 cy above.
5-12
l �
-! ASHLAND WATERSHED CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS RELATED TO EROSION
l Year "Weather Conditions Watershed Activity Sediment Problems
11 1920- 1928: Dam built;850 ac ft reservoir
.I (1.4 x 106 cy)
1930-
1940-
12/47-1/48: heavy rain 8" total
(USFS 1975) 1940-1956: 7 fires in watershed;
.I
1950- minimal mancaused disturbance Before 1956: annual sediment
was about 1200 cy/yr in up-
stream basins, plus a relatively
1955 - 12/55: Flood, 11" rain in Dec-Jan small amt. sluiced from main
(Shaw 1956, USFS 1975) reservoir(Shaw, 1956;City
1956: Began construction of staff, 1977)
40+ miles of road, which con-
tinued until 1960's. (USFS, 1977)
1958: began clear cut and partial
cut logging(USFS, 1975)
1960-
12/62: 2" rain in Dec., after 7.2" in 1963: completed most road con- 1962: sediment inflow in Dec
Oct, causes storm damage(USFS, struction; 37.3 miles, 270+acres flood (USFS, 1975)
1975) (USFS 1977) 1963:
12/64: big flood, with 7" rain in Dec, 1964: open ski area; 183 acres
3" on Dec 22(USFS, 1975) 1964: big sediment inflow in
1965 - 1965: most logging and Dec flood (City staff, 1976)
1 thinning completed-1000 acres
1966-67: dredged 60,000+cy
1 (USFS, 1975) (Lund, 1974;City staff, 1977)
6/69: 2" rain storm (USFS, 1975) 1969: moratorium on logging 1968-1972: sluiced 20,000-
and road construction (USFS), 30,000 cy each year(DEQ,
(1975) 1973)
1970-
1973: sluiced 70,000 cy(DEQ,
1973)
1
1/74: big storm; 10" rain in 2 days 1974: dredged and trucked
l in Ashland (USFS, 1975) 122,000 cy(City staff, 19 76)
J 1975: sluiced 5000-7000 cy
(City staff, 1976)
1976: sluiced 70,000 cy (City
staff, 1976)
"Note: rainfall records are for Ashland FIGURE 5-2
MAP III-12. McDonald Peak InA'ventoried Roadless Area
it
ar tg� Aa--,Ashland t
'�>" `-• $ § '" "r` ? ' Special Use Permit?
Boundary { '
8 � ,1 4 9g °w, ` - _ Existing Roads I i
National Forest 1
Boundary
Inventoried
Roadless Area
,< O' National Forest "
' "�„ -_ System Lands
C
_,�� r A1cDoneldPeak
s Roadless Area
E
the USDA Forest Sernce uses the
P'
available Existing resti urre c e do e
and I
.� �` �r �:•� W,.�,( ! r � �` and,i$rngeod proposed boundary
GIs dera dpriarsere wacymete l
¢¢ vaiy. Using and Impact cu ter ponx
vb'wthangsw aroduc'h toey%versea
xi1&n than those 1d ra=i they sere
�,. L C
1-- InferMed may yiNd irtaccarata a
1
t � �q„O+�. � s I nealeedinQ r�u @i
a
if
,�g ,,�^a ^ 051"
IRS
✓r¢°4.A S., � ro°�s
Q P
jig E r , fit `` �� � prix�++y+"� �a � y� a�i` a ""``- ^�J` g� r
is,J +g s' .w�"R ,y. j' g a,9... - I '�
ra 'Sly,Pd ^� � a`.ia,� "�"8 e'97 4 `'
£. () 1— �
r ♦ f 5
t
°ae e s as � + + �
9 Srr s Ta9$� NJ a�� ;" j
r
Ot
N v
A °`"
ew .. a b am .. +2oa
Final EIS III - 17 rfo QQ e4 t. Ashland Ski Area Expansion 1
/ 1
t
� .
t
i
a Jd -•^
All
Wf
®a` ��"®� � ^. .., rr... ,.fir•.c /,�?
A�tILATIV
T
■
The Ashland Watershed :•: � �4,
Ashland, Oregon
About
The Ashland Watershed contains the municipal •Watershed size: —14,000 acres
water supply for the city of Ashland, Oregon and is City elevation: 1,959 ft
jointly managed by the city and the U.S. Forest Mt. Ashland elevation: 7,533 ft
Service, one of only a few such partnerships in the Average precipitation, lower watershed: 20"
country.Within the Watershed are historical sites Average precipitation, Mt. Ashland: 60"
such as the Winburn property, as well as many City population: 22,000 in 2010
threatened or endangered species such as the City average max.temperature,Jul: 78.3" F
Northern Spotted Owl, Pacific Fisher, and the Mt. City average max.temperature, Dec:46.1' F
Ashland Lupine.The Watershed lies within the Soil type: granitic, highly erosive
Siskiyou Mountains, which are generally considered Common native wildlife: cougar, black-tailed deer,
to be the most ecologically diverse forested area in black bear, bobcat, screech owl, coyote,fox, rabbit
the country. • Common native flora: ponderosa pine, madrone,
Douglas fir, oaks, lupine, Henderson's horkelia
The Watershed is protected by a partnership • Major fires: 1901, 1910, 1959, 2009 and 2010
between the City of Ashland and other stakeholders • Major floods: 1964, 1974, and 1997
through community partnerships,the Ashland
Forest Resiliency (AFR) and the Ashland Forest
Lands Commission (AFLC). Can You Find?
• Mad roneTrees
Recreation •Winburn Parcel
• Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)
Because of sensitive fire,flood, and water quality • Bear
concerns in the Ashland Watershed, please observe • Pine Trees
recreational rules: • Spotted Owl
• Fir Trees
./ Bike only on marked trails • Rabbit
Hike only on marked trails • Kayakers
Swim only in designated areas of Ashland Creek • Four Corners
X No camping • Peace sign
1 i
or Art by Pokey McFarland
Map development by the Ashland Forest Lands Commission
,� www.AshlandWatershed.org
CITY OF www.Ashland.OR.US/watershed
-AS H LA N D Copyright «� 2011 City of Ashland
I
NATIONAL FOREST PROTECTION ALLIAINCE
Alternatives to National Forest Wood
The U.S. wood market has shown that it can absorb a decline in federal timber, as it has
already decreased by more than half since 1994. Although national forests account for
2%of total U.S. wood consumption, one of the challenges from a conservation standpoint
is to avoid shifting the burden to other endangered forests. Below is a brief description of
a few ways that companies and consumers can find alternative to purchasing wood from
national forests or endangered forests.
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC): The FSC does not certify national forests and
assess their management practices under a stringent set of environmental and social
criteria. FSC products are not always readily available in stores, but consumers can help
increase their supply by expressing a clear preference for these products when shopping
for lumber, flooring, furniture, paper, and other wood products.
Wood efficiency in construction: Efficient practices and materials typically reduce the
wood used in building a home by 15 to 30%. They can therefore help alleviate pressure
on national forests. Approximately one-sixth of the wood delivered to a construction site
ends up in the landfill. Reducing wood waste can also save builders hundreds of dollars.
Builders who have adopted construction site waste reduction programs have saved $300
to $800 on a single job, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council's report,
Efficient Wood Use in Residential Construction: A Practical Guide to Saving Wood,
Money, and Forests.
Reclaimed lumber: Reclaimed wood from buildings, barns, and railroad tracks is an
excellent alternative for decks, frames, and windows.
Composite lumber: Growing in popularity, this method combines recycled plastics with
wood. The end result is a wide variety of high-end products for decking, door, and
window frames without the extra costs of traditional wood maintenance.
Non-wood alternatives: Along with using certified, recycled, or composite lumber, there
is a growing list of non-wood options. In construction, lumber may be replaced with other
materials such as stone, straw bale as structural components, or homosote, a chemical-
free building material made out of recycled material that can be used for many structural
materials.
Paper alternatives: Purchase products that have 100% recycled paper content or are
produced using alternative fibers, such as agricultural residue, kenaf, or hemp. Reduce
consumption of paper overall.
For more information, contact the following organizations:
- Rainforest Action Network—www.ran.ort (415)-398-4404
- ForestEthics—www.forestethics.org, (415)-863-4563
- Dogwood Alliance—www.dogwoodalliance.org, (828)-251-2525
- Forest Stewardship Council —www.fscus.org, (202)-342-0413
Chain of Custody for National Forest Wood Products
Congress appropriates T �.a4.:.r,. , ;�` -`"�"'
y�t. � Forest Service awards
over$1 billion per year to `µ NAIIL�?NAI FO 1? '
a timber sales to
subsidize the Forest Service °°'° '`+'� '
9hoFUS^tl4 , p 0''ep es to nad loggtngcompanies
to log national forest � z a,Ty a -w
Give contributions to key - - 77
members of Congress „ w LOGGING COMPANIES'
for re-election campaigns
SAWLOGS/VENEER LOGS
LUMBER MILL/ PROCESSOR
—Furniture. cabinets, doors —Dimensional lumber
—Flooring, decks —Beams
—Pallets
CPULP PAPER,AND CHIP MILLS Moldings, window firmer
—Plywood, oriented strandboard, 3,
a' c insulation board
(@ a LUMBER
i WHOLESALER
al ri
i�
.j
F TURE AND DO-IT-YOURSELF RETAIL STORE$/
q 'y DERS AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS
4WP9 �9
PRINTERS PAPER PRODUCTS DISSOLVING PULP PROCESSORS MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS
— Books MANUFACTURERS Post,— Foods — l Poles and Pilings
—Magazines — toilet Paper, l issue — Connetics, Toothpaste —F•iuel woof/
— "ara/rtperr —Writing paper — Paint, Ink, Adhesives —,Shingles, crates, barrel,Parking material
--Catrdogs —Packaging — Clothing
—(,,"mdbnrsrd, Liner board ,
RETAILERS 3 ' aim CONSUMERS
yr
.
� �'"'(IndtotduaLr J�' a.er
mly get{ Govemm[nt s
•�
pxI
an rriC 4kni. x n u 's u, s,'y4 ' DISPOSAL
—Landfill
—Incineration
—Re-use
—Re-cycle
Myco-Rise-UP Foundation
Working to Restore Earth Culture
This Foundation is based on community-oriented tactics, which have been
developing worldwide for centuries. We will help inspire the creation of"Living
Industries", which serve the people, and the environment. With cutting edge
research and development, Earths ancient mushrooms have been proven by
science, to be highly effective for treatment of most human ailments, and
environmental concerns.
This is a Foundation, which is committed to preservation of these ancient
species, and is therefore presenting a business model, which will help administer
a database of revenues from "Living Industries".
• Phase I of the plan is to host mushroom preparation seminars and
inoculation, training workshops, to educate the public on how to grow
mushrooms in their backyards, and subsequently map out our restoration
efforts.
• Phase II introduces and implements the modalities for giving mushroom plots
the proper care for a fruitful harvest 3-6 months later. Taking groups out to
learn in the field, and helping in the efforts of restoration by planting seed
balls and spores in damaged ecosystems. Mushrooms can also be very
effective in the decommissioning of roads, filtering of water near heavily
contaminated areas, as well as protecting cut forests from parasitic fungi,
which are the root cause of the bark beetle outbreaks.
• Phase III incorporates research of our forests in this Bioregion, which is being
officially supported by Paul Stamets, as well as biologists at Southern Oregon
University. We will be collecting data and samples of rare mushrooms for use
by top scientists in the development of some of the strongest anti-viral and
anti-cancer extracts ever documented.
Phase 1111 is focused on job creation in maintenance, harvest and delivery of
the specialty items created through this project, which will still maintain the
vibrancy of the lush intact ecosystems of the Northwest, while increasing the
resiliency of this Nations people.
Please contact Carrie Zoll for more information-
^ carriezoll @hotmail, 1-541-505-4699
Nrk , r
I
1 did you know?
r
In a recent study, a polysaccharide com-
� v"r p ou n from maitak mushrooms led to
'r
en -ry,o:
- the d ea th of breast cancer cells In the e lab.
ctr Wild chaga mushrooms grow on
tiring trees, frequently birch trees.
Rich in sterols, stcoid-like substances j
r3$ that maintain the health of cell walls
and help protect the holy Iron) inec-
IT they also contain beta glucan,an
anticancer agent. "It is well established
that chaga niushroom extracts ac'livate
n-: I
the immune System," notes Cass Ingram,
ty secrets. DO, in The Cure is ir1 People Pavan trots is i
line oI both healthy people and those I
with chronic chscasc.-
mushrooms as medicine
Among the most CIIn`el and uCd lil"
fungi in traditional Chinese medicine,
Cordyceps sinensis has been used to
They're growing quietly in the dark and damp of the regulate and restore the immune System.
forest, and they can help you fight off illness. studies indicate that it has potential in
treating autOinununc(lisceses like lupus
Medicinal mushrooms have been used related nul5hrooms, has been shown u, and HIV. It has also been used to help
for centuries in Asia,ands new holy of fight off bacterial infection and flu Virus People recover Gant cehaustion and
scientific research backs up the immune- in animal studies. Researchers front regain energy. —janc Eklund
boosting capacity of suppler cuts ma(Ic Beijing suggest that mushroom-derived — —.---
tout them. aCtlVC COII)pOUt1d may improve pCOI)IC•s "Active Hexose Correlated Compound Enhances
Resistance to Klebsiella meumomae Infection in
Mushrooms"tell some of the chances of Surviving HINIinlluenzab), Mice..."byHernanAvd,,sel at.JAnPlPhvs,ol
most elective hnmunc-suppUl'ti\T stimulating then immune s)'Stems. 4/03•The Cure is in the Forest by or Cass Ingram
($2495.Knovaedge House 2010)•The Health Ben.
supplcn)cnts in the natural IOOCIS Indus- Known in Japan as"the king of efits of Medicinal Mushrooms by Nara Stenciler.ND
tly,"writes Mark Stengler, ND, in his mushrooms,"maitakes are a rich source ($4.95,Basic Health.2005)0"A Hypothesis:Supple.
mentation with Mushroom-Derived Active Com-
gtdclehook Thr Health Benefit,o Nic licH of beta glucans, contplCN natural Sugars pound Modulates Immunity and Increases Survival
nal,m nsllrUUnis. that promote the imulnue SyStem. 'No in Response to Influenza Virus(HINI)Infection"by
H.0wnchao and J,Guo,Fadence-Based Co rnple-
matterwhetheraninfectionishaciCllal, rne,nary and Al(ernahvh Medicwa 20110"Maitake
Meet the Mushrooms viral, lungal,or parasitical—maitake's (D traction)Mushroom Extract Induces Apoptosis in
Breast Cancer Cells by BAK-1 Gene Activation"by
II \'0ll•1'C a IOOd IC,you probably appre- beta glUcans pOw'CTIUII)'aCllvalf the R-Shares el al..J pled FOOd 6/11•Maltake Magic by
cia1C the ICNiUrc and robust flavor of immune system and enhance the body's IWry P,euss.Mo.and Snnsuke Konno.PhD,$15.95. i
Freedom Press.2009)•"Supplementation with
shlltal(c mushrooms. But you might healing response,•kviiie Harry PICUSS, Active Hexose Correlated Compound Increases the
not know that AHCC (active.hcNOSC MD,and SC115uke Konno, PhD, in Innate Immune Response of Young Mice to Primary I
Influenza Infection"by Borry W.Ritz et )t. inorhal of
correlated compouncD,an extract of Maiiake Magic. r wloon.10/23/Cr
consider
WWI
Ghaya is the world's top Medicinal mushrooms ;�Itltf $ I I By hybridizing mushrooms
source of the super- are known to help the kfQa C';." i used in traditional heal- t
antioxidant SOD. body adapt to physical, � ,fir ing,Japanese scientists
North American Herb chemical,and emotional developed a natural extract
&Spice has developed stress. Mushroom Wisdom offers that helps maintain immunity
a line using raw wild chaga— an extensive line of mushroom products and alleviate fatigue,Amen-
including a topical cream, enhanced with Maltake D-Fraction,a can BioSciences IrnmPOwer-AHCC is a
espresso, liquid extract,,and beverage. proprietary and powerful ingredient. research-proven,supportive supplement.
I
September 2011 1 i"cnmCLI1PS is
Today is the Day!
If there's one thing that is important enough to drop everything for, it is Water. Tonight at 6pm, let's
show up in our finest, as we have one final chance to stand up for something as important as the
Headwaters of our local drinking supply! This will be remembered for years to come, as being a turning
point for the City of Ashland, and ultimately for the State of Oregon. We have one last chance TONIGHT
to speak pointedly about why we should not hand over the Headwaters of Ashland Creek to loggers, and
the Mt. Ashland Ski Ass's.
Here are a few talking points for tomorrow:
• There are steep slopes in areas marked to be logged which are directly above the Headwaters.
• There are large boulders right above marked areas which will tumble into delicate areas in the
Headwaters.
• This would be similar to cutting off the capillaries of the bodies system; you can see the results of this
in the streams which are located near the lift shop.
• There are rare and endemic fungi present all throughout the areas which are marked to be logged, and
WERE NOT EVALUATED IN THE EIS, OR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RECORD OF DECISION!!!
• These mushrooms include, but are not limited to:
*Ganoderma aoolanatum; Used for millennia, these hardwood conks have been found to have
antibacterial,anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties. In addition, they have
therapeutic effects for lung and respiratory issues. (Sasaki et al 1971, Ikekawa 1969)(Mycelium Running,
Paul Stamets, pg. 38, 226)These conks are very important for forest health, and vibrancy, and are only
found in Late Succession Old-Growth Forest Ecosystems.
*Myco-Heterotrophs; Myco-heterotrophy is a symbiotic relationship between certain
kinds of (p ants and fungi, in which the plant gets all or part of its food from parasitism upon
fungi rather than from photosynthesis. A myco-heterotroph is the parasitic plan t partner in this
relationship. Myco-heterotrophy is considered a kind of cheating relationship and myco-
heterotrophs are sometimes informally referred to as "mycorrhizal cheaters". This relationship
is sometimes referred to as mycotrophy, though this term is also used for plants that engage in
mutualistic mycorrhizal relationships.
*Coral fungi; These mushrooms are rare and only found in Late Succession Old-Growth
Forest Ecosystems.
*Shaggy mane, (Coprinus comatus); Edible,Natural Anti-biotic, Anti-tumor, and
specifically used in breast cancer cases. Though this mushroom is not thoroughly examined for
its medicinal properties, there are numerous benefits listed below.
Bioactive compounds
Carbohydrates
Using the Limulus Factor G test, the amount of(1-3)-p–glucan has been quantified in C.
comatus (in addition to various other fungi). The Limulus Factor G test is normally used to
measure me tt s)-F–glucan content inhuman serum resulting from infection by disease-
causing fungi like Candida or Aspergillus, to help clinicians in early diagnosis of infection.
However, it is also suitable for detecting (1-3)-p-glucan content in crude mushroom
polysaccharide extracts. C. comatus was identified as having `superior' (1-3)-(i–glucan content,
compared,to 18 other medicinal or edible species (Yang et al.. 2003).
The chemical structure of a water-soluble fucogalactan obtained from the crude intracellular
polysaccharide of Coprinus comatus mycelium was characterized by sugar and methylation
analysis along with 1 H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The polysaccharide is composed of a
pentasaccharide repeating unit (Fan et al., 2006).
Medicinal Properties
Anti-tumor activity
The water extract of Coprinus comatus was recently identified as containing potent antitumor
compounds for breast cancer. Because breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer
among women worldwide, and because there is no effective therapy for estrogen-independent
(ER-) breast cancer, these findings are highly significant. The antitumor potential of the water
extract was shown to manifest itself in three ways:
1) it inhibited the growth of both ER+and ER- breast cancer cells
2) it induced both ER+ and ER- cells to die (apoptosis)
3) it inhibited tumor colony formation in vitro
(Gu and Leonard. 2006)
An alkaline protein named y3, purified from fruiting bodies of C. comatus, was shown to inhibit
a gastric cancer cell line with an ICso of 12 µg/mL (Wu et al., 2003).
Serum lysozyme activity is used as a general indicator of immune system fitness. In addition to
breaking down polysaccharides found in bacterial cell walls, lysozyme can also bind to the
surface of some invading bacteria and make it easier for white blood cells to engulf them.
Chinese research has shown that polysaccharide solutions extracted from C. comatus and given
to mice had the ability to increase serum lysozyme activity (Li et al., 2001).
Hypoglycemic effects
A number of studies have demonstrated that consumption of C. comatus can help regulate blood
glucose concentrations. Feeding mice a diet containing powdered dried fruit bodies of C.
comatus (one-third of their food intake, by weight) reduced their plasma glucose concentrations
and improved intraperitoneal glucose tolerance. Also, body weight gain was halted, even though
total energy intake was not substantially reduced. Plasma glucose was marginally lowered 10
hours after intragastric administration of dried C. comatus (3.6 g/kg body weight). The results
suggest a slowly generated, mild hypoglycemic effect of C. comatus in normal mice,
accompanied by metabolic effects capable of interrupting body weight gain (Bailey et al., 1984).
In other studies, the hypoglycemic activity of fermented mushroom of Coprinus comatus rich in
vanadium was investigated. Vanadium salts have insulin-mimetic activity, and vanadium
compounds are being studied as potentially orally active replacements for insulin. Vanadium
salts mimic most of the effects of insulin in vitro and also induce normoglycemia and improve
glucose homeostasis in insulin-deficient and insulin-resistant diabetic rodents in vivo. One study
showed that Coprinus comatus fermentation liquid and sodium vanadate inhibited ascension of
blood glucose in mice (Han et al., 2003). The blood glucose and the HbAIc (glycosylated
hemoglobin—used to measure plasma glucose concentration) of the mice were analyzed. Also,
the sugar tolerance of the normal mice was also determined. After the mice were given the
vanadium-rich mushroom mycelia, the blood glucose and the HbA 1 c of hyperglycemic mice
decreased, ascension of blood glucose induced by adrenalin was inhibited and the sugar tolerance
of the normal mice was improved. Also, the body weight of the alloxan-induced hyperglycemic
mice was increased gradually. In the fermented mushroom of C. comatus, vanadium at lower
doses in combination with C. comatus, induced significant decreases of the blood glucose and
HbAlc levels in hyperglycemic mice (Han et al., 2006).
Polysaccharides extracted from the mycelia] culture of C. comatus and administered
intraperitoneally into white mice at a dosage of 300 mg/kg inhibited the growth of Sarcoma 180
and Ehrlich solid cancers by 100% and 90%, respectively (Ohtsuka et al., 1973).
Anti-nematode activity
Coprinus comatus is known to contain compounds that kill nematodes (Li and Xiang, 2005).
Specifically, this fungus immobilizes, kills and uses free-living nematode Panagrellus redivivus
and root-knot nematode Meloidogyne arenaria. It does so by making a structure called a `spiny
ball', a burr-like structure assembled with a large number of tiny tubes. Nematodes added to C.
comatus cultures grown on nutrient agar become inactive in hours. Electron microcopy shows
that C. comatus infects P. redivivus by producing penetration pegs from which hyphae colonize
nematode bodies. Within days, the infected nematode is digested and consumed by mycelia]
hyphae. It is thought that this may be a mechanism to help the fungus thrive in nitrogen-poor
environments (Luo el al., 2004).
Antioxidant activity
Over fifty years ago, shaggy-manes were found to contain ergothioneine, a thiol compound with
antioxidant properties (List ,1957). The anti-oxidant activity was later confirmed (Badalyan et
al., 2003).
NH CH3
N�-
S NH H C CH3
3
The fungal antioxidant metabolite, ergothioneine.
Compositional analysis
A study of flavor compounds present in C. comatus(Dijkstra and Wiken 1976; Diikstra, 1976)
revealed a variety of compounds in the water extract from the fruit body, including:
• 3-octanone
r
p, Magnificent Mushrooms: The Cast of Species 225 + '
,i
I i +ii
< FIGURE 259
Steve Cividanes visits a massive artist conk deep in the old-growth forest on the i
Olympic Peninsula.This mushroom may produce enough spores to encircle the Earth 41
(see page 130).A small fragment of this conk was cut from the leading edge and
brought to my laboratory,where I cloned it and created a culture. -)
r
> FIGURE 260
This statuesque snag hosts G. applana-
from.Three years later,the fungus had
disintegrated this snag,leaving aI,
T,Y, feathery white pulp in its wake.The
mycelium of this mushroom attracts
many forestland insect species and is {
crucial in the recycling of nutrients in
forestlands. it
i
f
Ganoderma applanatum(Pers, ex I , m:
Walk) Pat. iI n
I tii Cunnnon iVanres: :Arlin conk, ynrnl shelf Innyua, + i
Irec tnnyur. Mi tc uurtticd rut uwsbnunu. kotul.ilakc
to �
�I
z; 1'omononric Scnoucrus and (:onsiderations: I'n/)- ,r'
+ ronrc applunolus WCIS.1 Willr_: Mnncs applanrdus
h
I I d'cnJ(:ill. �
Introducliun: A N,idcsprcarl and ollcn mmnnudh
j ,pccics knrncn and used fur urillcnnia. (his+nus6ruu+n '
i
+ i
6;u unmc oltributcs that \ccre a>cbd to our Palcnlithic
,mcmloo oud Twit dusccndolls. C. upplmrnhrm is a
V;£
n'Iiv percuuial polcpore that can iF•c lui�{I la 511 tcan,per- i. �'
baps Iougc r. 'I'he inishrnuin produces it lark, lalend ) 1.
�-
�rr ,hclf, Hat m prolllc. It, spores fall from the pores an
;q Ibe undo:001e of lire coil duc to electrostatic and p FIGURE 261 t "'
16unnal diffc;cnlia Lt iuonc of tlrc spores float uIAN,ll l
It, cuic on the lop of ILc.cap, dushw, the upper snr- G.applanatum grows annual concentric rings that harden and '
- become art of its internal structure;the leading edge builds
�..' lace,villa n bru,cn porar cr Iscc h7n rc _GI I. P 9 9
C+ new cells as it grows outward. Note the brown spores collecting
F Ibis rs one of the lamest nmshronrns in the ,mold. _
,' . . on the upper surfaces.
hnldiug ;i Ilmd-place pnsihnn behind Rwoluporus
bA.r:4F n� '
d t >liy l•.
i
x r ,
F +
1 5 14
y
and h d�
t...+
� I fir•°�,�'r{`�
Jl,ll �� ;J.r,?•e
t
226 MYCELIUM RUNNING
111
�. �� ulnrariu.v (the lan7csl) used Bnid�euprrnlc nnbilivsimus (Toni the Ircc. 'I'hc ms$Icnl mtt�clinuu lime pnnluo
+I t (tile sccoud IargcsU-This wassirc umshrooun is pnrnni- another (oink in nr near the location of the ow,ine
ncul ni old "lomIt forests ands cl7ccticc is mo autimi- specimen llsin7 i sprae oNalcr, rmse tic spnres fron
crobwl went ;oid inomuic enh,mccr: For these reasons, the lop of llmcup nlna bucket.loin c:u+gathcr billion
it can be said IhatC applanalum ser%esits it slccnrd not finui it well-de%eloped cook it)smmncr.odic It;ire use
ooN for the ecological 11ea1111 of\coodlands hill also hn fill in nnenrestomhnn elnitcgics.
r r�
iinpinvn+;ghealthof tbcir lru+nao inbabilanls. s
Nutritional Profile: Not \el kuo\tn In this author. It
',° ') Description:A planar\coed cool., i-90 use broad and the (intro(, we plan It)folk a11ah c this spuics.
n w
III iM,4i �l 3-20 uo thlek:StIFEWc cnuthkc, snonotb usualh cot-
vR �11k k -
Medicinal Properties: Sasaki ;uid Iclluvt rescurchcr
crcd mth it la\cr of brown spore(lost.']'lie underlavci
1197 1 6 aloof;\%ilh the pionecrnig inccolu,\,,isl Ikckatc
is pored and white. staining brogan whcu touche(l.
f 1969), first studied C. alrhlanatunr for its militmmni
1 ,' Mesh abo%c Hoe I1%cr is corky, .S-5 con. (hick. 'I'Inis
JIy pmperlics. Protirl and Milers (1 )901, lAw'lucn alit
t,l conk licks it stun, grov%ing perennialh for seeen+l
others (1991 ), +mel Chaired and l lacashi 119911 idea
_ cIc•cades but usualh clunasin;;milbiu 10 \ens. �Mush-
��' - tificd hitcrpc11c.s told Steroids from C. applanahon.
MOWS can glm\ to ur to I meter in \udlli. smres
1+ ro I Snwnia cl al. 1 19991 Ibuud Ihal a n+cihanol Chad of
�I chocolalc hnn%n,(S-9S be S—i lino.
- G. applanalum fnnilbndr, fivlhcr frachonalcd vtith
4'„ I Distribution: \\'idclr distributed throughout the hCSanC and etIld acetutc, sho\ccd significant eclieity
vvsold vvhcrevcr trees grove_ 'Phis is nut of the moll against it wi(Ic r;mge of hactcna,includinc,I scheria6ia
common nmshroo+us i❑ the world. - enli and Staphylococcus aureus. OIher studica hate
Natural Habitat Crummg on roan% h,ndwood tree lanced into constituents of these unisl000nu Ihal mat
1 .species bill also on conifers especially old-grimth h:nvc utinniernbnl neti%il% i,,mal Vschunchia coli
1• I)uuglas fie( u1 the P.iutic Norlhvvcst. ('I'hnum,v cI a . 1999, Sua% ct id, 21111111. In nldilion.
1'ypc of Rot White, nutticd_ Ming ;111(1 others 120021 identifi(d a nett aldch\e1e,
one of man% uoccl c0110411cnts rcccnN% disc'otcred
I; hragri nce Signature of +Mycelium: Il4ust%, s%uocls%, within this species.
{, plea.sant, s\%cctl%fiun7nid.
Natural Method of Cultivation: Plug,01 lope spawn, rl w
prcfernhl% innendated into largerchameter conifer
s ..
,..
- he•cs or their shunps, cspcualh hemlocks and Don-
+�
gigs firs. 'I lie nurvs of the tree or Shoop directly influ- z Ngla.v firs. I'he nn;u'n of the tree or.ehmap directly influ- t N
RP euccs the size of the fiuit hod\'. ,� a
� r Season and'I'emperlhlrc Range for Mushroom For-
�( oration: Since this noahrornn is a perennial, it call he
1' found throughout the %car. Cro\%Ih spurts arc osually
pconfined to the v%nrnner nnoodh.r of lbe %car, usnally'
sunmucrtinnc in tilt oorlbcnn lalilteles, when Icnrpel-
s nhncs borer bctv%ccn 65 mill 9i°f, j
A FIGURE 262 1'
larvest (-lints: When the spore lacer fails to procluce
during the sounner season, this mushroonn has coot- G applanatum makes a magnificent canvas for artists to
99
etch upon.
plete•d its life Simpl% break off the mush«ruin
�P
Magnificent Mushrooms:The Cast of Species 227
I'larur, Preparation, and Cooking: ;\ biller mush unishroom mat he a facuhatice parecte—IIIcm'ing that 1 V
rotes ern sit trees. Icat m ( ,
rums Ica a mode from boiling the Clinks in a fashion t oppurhunsti(alle o S 5
f A
suuilm In (hill dcaciibcd tier Ponies Imnenlunus on hcallhc ones alone In me mind.Ibis empotcers the for
p", e ??i I he dried unik can he buried, ennllin;"' a cd Ihnn'gli the force+of natural selection. ,
plcum't, rile(((-rcpcll it , 8u0kc the diinclic and
1 le S cl 1 Znno st ' W . Curtis: Fries)
nlengr ,oloniembi anoerma
potcuti:d as a purgotit-c Inr iutcainal parasites and as it Karsten and Allies
trC;Lllllent for bacterial infection,. � , r
Common Names: Rcislii (Japanese for "((seine" Or t 1
C,
\kcor(shtrationPoturhd (:itcnihttidcsprcn(Iran;;c 'spiriloal inosl0000''). ling chi, ling chill, ling Ali
,md percimial nature, lhisspcaicstint be see])us one of ((:hinese fur "lice of life iuushruonr"); wal ncntake ( ��,( ;' , n
the sentinel's of lures( uose,gcnis and it f.iul:islic rece- (lep;n'ese for "111(11111-tun nnishroon'"),mushroom of
(lei of de ul bees A piodigiuns prodo(cl of spoics tills numorI lit_%: the panacea polepore
uuubnano (an be suiplil-cd bt lo,,,;ers usiu,, spore- i
infnx•d ch ern sate oils \clivc 1(5 iiusl slaph .md col- 'I'aeonurttic Seuonrms .111(1 Considerationv Once r a
ilnnn bncler ra, Ibis spuau roar hare broad spectrum published under the "Lillie liolefus lucidms VV Cmt., tai r' t
anllmicrubial properlicc Its role in dcanupnsiot; bees m Curtiss I lure 1,ondiensis (publishc(l 1817-2S0.
in 6ircols Iinnighout the anrl(I uudecccures its in'pnr- his plole of this mushroom has been chosen as the
tancc as n tunyal Ic:ulcr in trend rccccliug. A nuilllc(I t'
tdtite rotter. Ibis nnishunnn offer' occurs in lanxlew
trills tmkcc tails hl'rumetes recsmrdurj suh7etilins 11(me
Ihul loin these ? species together could help restore °
IuCic habdals tnccrc tcoud is nbuodnot
},
Continents: Oftcu used as it °e;mc;is" br artists, the ! :
large cook. of C. upplunutun, h.ne tchilish pores that
slain bumu tcher bmisc(h allomot;fur line (Ir.nt n'g. I ,
bare seen huge, bcntitulir 'curcd specimens, depict- !
'It"pastoral ;md sdt;i❑ scenes,cntluoncd as the center- (I".
piece in the lit iug nuns of the cuslo(liul Icmporvt�
� i
rntucr, urrcohogisl I):n'id :\'era. Artists call etch upon I
fresh specimcue using it sharp ucedlc. or thee- can (in @
the conks into] then burn inwges oulu Item using a hot
etching tool. tic careful tehcn hau(Iliug the cooks, as p sp
unur lingerpirnls in hmtcu can appu r 1(u the delicate, t
tcliilc-pnicd under( loci derclop,„, like;,phntngr ipLic f,.
priul i1(a darkronro \majestic pccics for l uulsc ipca,
the percunial conks can be used :u uelural tables nr
shckcs,
1),n id Arum ul>u su[nesh that Ib n A FIGURE 263
is nuuhnan . ( .f
uucc h,incstc(I, is useful fur n'eking scuts fur slouls. it I�
(:dbcrls'n curl Rcr;u(lcu(1%(6- 7)nolc that mans Regal mushrooms, G. lucidum and allies are annual polypores.
- The white leading edge of the cap margin grows rapidly In
triad-throtrn aspens i1( Colorado sport this un'shCOO1O warm temperatures. �¢
Lit their base.Cnnscquenlle-,tee might theorize that this
I
„P+t
w
��,� a �' • .
_ wbolo-�/V Gl
72) 16Ve--� Ce-�
�f �l,4fr jg�P
�e ;�OIA74 cpl�e7�
4-rlr�&9tC- aWZ-4 w AAf O-eoee- �
%� {�j
0 V�GL G
����' `l9szo 3o2011
�1iLN
U
ivn
7
x
0
0
b �
0
N ° JA) Jscffi%
7"12
4 A
rz
y w N
C G
y N
r
�i 2-1
7
8-30-2011
Letter to the Ashland City Council,
First, thanks for taking on the onerous task of looking at relinquishing the city's role as
the permit holder for Mt Ashland
Many years ago,the city of Ashland helped save the ski area,by being willing to.taked
on the role the permit holder.
Now,it is time for the city to relinquish the permit, to allow the Mt Ashland Ski area to
thrive and grow on its own.
I know mine may not be the dominant view you are receiving. The extreme
environmentalists are good at producing a lot of noise and fury. I do not know whether
their view represents the majority view within the city of Ashland. I tend to doubt it,
Although I suspect that the main feedback you are getting right now is coming firom the
representatives of the extreme environment community.
This topic has been looked at ad museum for several years. In the interim, several of the
large trees in the expansion area,which are quite shallow rooted,have already fallen
down, and created erosion, and sent sediment into the watershed. I suspect that the
mitigation proposed by Mt. Ashland will actually do less damage to the watershed than
allowing these trees to fall over in windstorms.
So,thank you for your common sense. I hope you do agree to relinquish the permit, and
allow Mt. Ashland to move forward.
If you do not, if the extreme environmentalists have their way,the ski area is unlikely to
remain viable.Mt Ashland, Its steeper here,does not really work. Mt Ashland either
becomes a more family friendly ski area,or it will fail. Mt Ashland Ski area failure would
be a major loss to our whole Rogue�V/allexCommunity. .
Thanks-
Marc Heller �� RECEIVED
1800 Peachey Rd.
Ashland OR 97520 AUG 3 0 1011
egg - ��� q
cc� s� c (�o� vq ov
Mayor and Council,
The Mount Ashland Association and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival have a lot in common.
They both needed the City of Ashland to launder the taxpayer-funded grant monies through to their
organizations in their hour of need at start-up time.
In the case of OSF, the City ended up with the Economic Development Grant monies and hence , with
help of matching funds, also became the owner of considerable extra downtown real estate.
In the case of MAA the City ended up with a similar grant that allowed it to own a Permit- the "Special
Use Permit" (as well as the mountain's ski fixtures and fittings)-that the Council is now being asked to
relinquish tonight.
Both organisations ended up by Leasing that acquired taxpayer-funded property from the City.
When they both wanted to expand their operations, they both ran into citizens' objections.
The groundswell of opposition to the MAA's own vision for expansion has been well covered in recent
years. But I would like to remind you all of the 1999 proposed demolition by OSF of their well-loved
historic Carpenter Hall building in order to build a new theater. The Mayor at the time (Catrhy Shaw)
said in the Daily Tidings (3/13/99) " the city ordinances have little power to prevent it...". The future
Mayor (Alan DeBoer- whose brother Sid also just happened to be the OSF Board member tasked with
the expansion) was willing to put up his own money to break the building into pieces and assemble it on
another site across town.
But thanks to a vigilant citizenry, OSF soon came to see sense and decided instead to save Carpenter Hall
by putting forward an alternative proposal.
"We are relieved that the future of Carpenter Hall is safe, said historic preservation advocate
George Kramer. I'm pleased that they have listened to the community." [Daily Tidings 10/6/99 ]
i
I
Similarly, MAA has been offered alternative, community proposals that would allow them to better their
business model, while keeping clear-cutting and road -building out of the City's sensitive wilderness
headwaters.
While OSF in their wisdom, negotiated a fresh Lease to encompass the newly expanded campus, MAA
chose to sue the City in Court to keep them silent on the expansion matter.
OSF's fundraising soon obtained money from Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
MAA's needed funds have yet to materialize and their expansion vision has absolutely no hard evidence
to support their contention that it would be in the public interest. (or the economic interest of the region)
Is there a lesson here to be learned here about co-operation with our citizenry? Perhaps MAA should
think again?
The City Council shouldn't let the SUP pass from it only if it is certain that without it it can better
influence the MAA's expansion plan decision and if it can guarantee that no pre-emptive old-growth
clear-cutting will take place.
After all Mayor DeBoer himself has said that his illegal pre-dawn raid to fell Ashland's Tree-of-the Year
2000 was "one of my bigger mistakes.".
[Daily Tidings 12/29/04]
Let's hope MAA heeds Alan's words of caution and that the sensitive forested slopes above
our reservoir remain in place.
So I urge you all, our elected representatives, to once again step up to the plate to "Save
Mount Ashland" (and allow the Ski operation to save itself), by voting to keep the Special Use
Permit entrusted to the City and its citizens and instead work with Staff to negotiate a fresh
Lease with the MAA Board to ensure the continued protection of Ashland's property.
Colin Swales
143 Eighth Street. Ashland
2
C( -7 oor1wGlL O/2���� O
DTgjEgv ,
AUG 2 5 2011 1�I
r IoM
0 fox 4z 7
4 7
S �Z 02
r� • �
AUG 242011 lI�
BY------------- -----
August 24,2011
Barbara Christensen
Recorder/Treasurer, City of Ashland
20 E. Main St.
Ashland,OR 97520
Ms. Christensen:
I understand that the Ashland City Council is considering transferring the Special Use Permit(SUP)from
the City to the Mt. Ashland Association (MAA).
When the community came together to purchase the mountain and save it from closing, MAA had not yet
achieved its tax exempt status. In order to allow patrons to write off their donations, a short term solution
was envisioned where the City of Ashland would hold the SUP, thus making donations to buy the
mountain tax deductible. The City did not contribute any funds to the purchase. It was never intended that
the City would hold the permit for the"long term."
I support the transfer of the SUP from the City of Ashland to the Mt.Ashland Association.
Thank you for your consideration.
Ki reg
D PvidS�y
3837 Annettes Way
Medford, OR. 97504
541.554.2273
To: Mayor of Ashland and Ashland City Council
Fr: B.G. Hicks, Consulting Engineering Geologist, 190 Vista, Ashland, OR
Dt: August 30, 2011
Re: Transfer of the Forest Service SUP and concerns about expansion proposal risks
Dear Mayor and Councilors,
I am in California for a family ceremony of ash-spreading of my brother Francis Marion in their
fishing grounds in the Sierras, so I cannot attend your meeting tonight pertaining to the Transfer of
the Forest Service SUP for Mt. Ashland Ski Area.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding with the Forest Service,the City has the right and
responsibility to alert the Forest Service when proposed activities in the Ashland Watershed may
threaten the City and the interests of its citizens. Most notably, the City must protect the sources
for our drinking water supply.
I am therefore writing in advance to respectfully urge you to extend your deliberations over the
SUP transfer, allowing time for an analysis of the new 2010 LiDar maps by the Oregon Department
of Geology and Mineral Industries. This new information needs to be explored in depth by the
Forest Service and the City of Ashland Public Works Department.
I urge you to delay your vote on the SUP on August 30 for a reasonable waiting period, because of
(a) the need for a rigorous risk assessment for the proposed ski area expansion design and (b) the
need for your leadership in minimizing risks in future decision-making processes.
A. New technologies and analyses of landslide risks must be employed by the Forest Service.
The Forest Service has spent many years and many hours of field and office work to complete the
documents required for this Environmental Assessment for the ski area expansion proposal. In this
time period new terrain analysis tools have been developed, and new principles of landscape
evolution have been learned. I have been involved in remote sensing technology and landscape
analysis developments over the past 10 years.
There is a brand new technology, combining new LiDAR digital imagery (recorded in airplane
flyovers) and computer software (TopoMorpher by 18software.com)to produce detailed, stereo
3-D images of terrain. It is a powerful new tool that reveals amazing detail. The intricacy of
landslide forms and features, fault zones fracture systems—which control groundwater flow into
and through landslide terrain —is now visible in ways only seen by S3-D viewing. The imagery
reveals features of the land surface previously unknown to geomorphologic or geologic specialists.
This essential new tool and analysis method was not used in the Forest Service NEPA analysis. The
planned expansion has simply not been adequately or thoroughly studied with current technology.
The omission of this particular technology in the Forest Service analysis is partial reason for my
objection to the current environmental document. See details below.
B. The proposed ski area expansion design poses undisclosed risks.
Resolving the conflict over the expansion design requires a scientific test of facts, truths, and
observations, in order to provide adequate data to prove that the expansion proposal represents
an acceptable risk to the City, the Ashland Watershed, and the water supply from Reeder
Reservoir.
More thought and reading on my part, informed by the new LiDar imagery of the terrain
(especially near the proposed low-elevation ski tower), has produced a deeper understanding of
interconnections between terrain and trees/plants. Thus, the negative aspects and risks of the ski
area expansion proposal are now more obvious.
In the sections below, I do my best to articulate facts, truths, and observations that will help
protect all these valuable resources in the public interest.
1. The Forest Service environmental documents recognize that the terrain in the existing ski area
is different than the basin proposed for expansion. However,the extreme difference in stability
and potential problems with polluted groundwater flow are not highlighted and appear to be
played down as a serious hazard.
These hazards are related to impacts from construction, maintenance, road cuts,fills of granitic
sandy soils, bare or nearly bare ski runs, occasional loss of sewage pump systems capacity or
sewage storage capacity, and soil disturbances (especially near the new low-elevation ski-lift
tower).
Although the maps appear to show that the planned ski runs do not intersect the landslide
deposits (coded as "QI" by the Oregon Dept. of Geology and Mineral Resources, or DOGAMI),
these ski runs will indeed cause water flow concentrations and diversions to areas mapped as
unstable with sufficient impact.
These "QI" landslide deposits cover 40% of the proposed expansion area, with the following
hazard characterization by DOGAMI:
"Irregular bodies of chaotically mixed rock, soil, and colluviums deposited by landslides. Triggering
mechanisms for landslides include intense rainfall, earthquakes, devegetation, excavation, loading
and loss of root strength following forest fires. Many large landslides have probably been
intermittently active over hundreds or thousands of years, and all are areas of existing landslide
deposits should be considered at risk for further slope movement."
I have described and worked on three areas a few miles to the east of the proposed expansion
basin (outside the Ashland Watershed). The nearest active landslide annually and periodically
closes old Highway 99 just below Callahan's Motel and Restaurant. At present these reactivated
landslide deposits match the DOGAMI landslide description quoted above. This is clear evidence
these landslides are unstable and can be activated.
2. No attempt was made to compare past Ashland Watershed landslide failures to the "QI"
landslide deposits, recently mapped by DOGAMI. The EIS documents discuss general landslide
hazard areas (e.g., LHZ, etc.), but these are generalized descriptive zones. The Forest Service does
not portray landslide activity or compare failures in the watershed during the last three major
storm cycles (1964, 1974, or 1997). 1 see no indication the Forest Service used current and
modern publications or techniques in their assessment.
In contrast, I have been involved in landslide hazard identification for over 10 years, involving a
statistical evaluation of all failures that have occurred in a similar terrain. The slope configuration
is determined for each failure and used to predict the highest risk terrain. The original models use
algorithms which included slope, convexity, divergence, uniform water flux, spreading water flux,
concentrating water flux (all relationships derived from digital imagery), steep slopes to streams,
etc. These analysis measures are important and necessary.
3. The Forest Service did not employ the LiDAR imagery, which is the current and modern tool for
interpretation of all land and geologic features. Major "QI" landslide deposits inside the expansion
area were identified by DOGAMI using recently acquired LiDAR imagery by the Rogue—Siskiyou
National Forest. The combination of the new geologic mapping with Stereo 3-D has yielded even
greater interpretative results, but are not in the USFS environmental documents. See part A.
above.
4. There has been no study of the deep basin above an interpreted natural 'dam' at the basin
terminus, believed to be filled with coarse and fine soil and rock debris. This 'dam' is below the
planned lower ski lift station. Change in the stability of this 'dam' and the failure/loss of the basin
fill could release thousands of cubic yards of material into Reeder Reservoir.
5. There appears to be no study of the combined interpretation by the Forest Service geologist,
soils specialist, and biologist that this basin is in a quasi-stable condition and only leaks small
volumes of fine sandy soils into the West Fork of the East Fork of Ashland Creek when stream
discharge is high, which is then transported to Reeder Reservoir.
6. There is no acknowledgment or study from the Forest Service analyzing the interconnections
between the Engelmann Spruce vegetation and the portion of the creek channel in the West Fork
of the East Fork described as a 'dam' or obstruction in the channel. This Engelmann Spruce
vegetation is interpreted as essential to the stability of this natural 'plug' or 'cork' in the channel
area, helping to filter and stabilize this zone.
7. Sewage from both toilet facilities in the proposed expansion basin are planned to be pumped to
the existing treatment plant located at elevation 6,440 feet just east of the Mt. Ashland Lodge. The
upper Moraine Lodge toilet facility would be at elevation 7,170 feet, and the lower toilet facility
would be at 5,880 feet. The current proposal requires a sewage pump station capable of lifting
about 300 psi (pounds per square inch)from the lower toilets to the treatment plant, and a gravity
station for the Moraine Lodge toilets with check valves or intermittent holding tanks to reduce the
entry pressure at the treatment plant.
This expensive system must be heavily insulated and heated, with fail-safe features to insure that
these concentrated sewage discharges do not fail. Failures could produce massive debris
avalanches and/or significantly pollute the stream systems and Reeder Reservoir. Roads must be
designed for permanent, year-round access (24 hours and 365 days)to insure their integrity of the
sewage pumping systems.
Construction of the the pump station for the lower toilets, plus construction of access roads,
would have major unknown impacts to the watersheds of several streams including the expansion
area.
8. The Forest Service plans to monitor the effect of any development at specific locations where
impact is expected. In this landslide-prone terrain, this approach is totally inadequate. Such
monitoring was designed to be used only for rill or shallow surface erosion.
Once movement in these types of materials is initiated, the failure has occurred and the sediment
load is transported to the stream and on down slope. In most cases the slope or gradient of the
stream is sufficiently steep, so that the failure produces a 'slug' of dense, erosive soil, rocks, and
vegetation which gouges its path downstream, rapidly increasing in volume and speed. It is slugs
as these that have reached Reeder Reservoir during past storm events.
C. Conclusions
I worked for the Forest Service from 1969 to 1992. 1 began work in the Ashland Watershed in 1973
and was deeply involved in study and restoration work after the 1974 storm. I worked privately in
the Ashland Watershed and City interface (adjacent to Forest Service land) before and after the
1997 storm, analyzing slope stability and landslide studies for fire hazard reduction planning.
While with the Forest Service, I mentored and assisted in training of some of the Forest Service
staff involved in the preparation of the environmental documents for this project.
It is with respect that I submit my critique of the expansion proposal, which I consider presently
inadequate and incomplete. If Forest Service professionals were to use the new mapping
technology described above, they would conclude, as I have, that (a)the risks are too great, and
(b)the unknowns and unknowable factors outweigh the known factors.
In closing, I repeat what I have stated above and heard from professionals, knowledgeable
individuals, and citizens of Ashland. We are not ready for this project to proceed as planned.
Signed,
B.G. Hicks, Consulting Engineering Geologist