Status
In 2017, Y2U along with Wildlands Defense and Alliance for the Wild Rockies submitted scoping comments in response to the Forest Service's John Wood Forest Management Project in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. In January of 2018, Y2U joined the Caribou Forest Initiative (CFI) and had been working the past year and a half as part of this collaborative group that includes Idaho state Legislators, County Commissioners, local industry including sawmills, mining and grazing, local concerned citizens as well as Idaho Conservation League and Greater Yellowstone Coalition to assure that sensitive areas are avoided and that funding is generated from this timber project to accomplish benefit for fish and wildlife through habitat improvement, stream rehabilitation, and corridor protection. This collaborative group analyzed and submitted recommendations to the Forest Service regarding the John Wood Forest Management Project. Unfortunately, the comments submitted were mostly written by ICL and Y2U and none of the other members of the collaborative signed on to the group comments. Due to a lack of meaningful involvement by other members of the collaborative and pressure for Y2U to “water down” our comments on future projects, Y2U will no longer take part in the CFI. Y2U submitted additional and separate comments on the DEIS for this project on February 1st, 2019. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was released mid-summer, 2019 with a Finding of No Significant Impact. On October 2nd, 2019, Kiehsas Preserve, Alliance for Wild Rockies and Wildlands Defense submitted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to sue the forest service on this project in regard to Canada Lynx and Lynx linkage. On November 25th, 2019, the District Ranger in charge of the project issued an order for his staff to revisit the Biological Assessment relative to Canada Lynx and initiate informal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will respond to the determination in the revised Biological Assessment within 60 days. No bids were received for the timber contract and this will be sent out for bids again in the future. Y2U did not sign on to the NOI due to our participation in the CFI during this project planning process. Y2U no longer participates in the CFI.
Work Plan
Y2U will monitor the project to ensure that the agreed upon project protocol and benefit to fish and wildlife is accomplished.
Expected Outcome
Unknown at this time.