The Western North Carolina Alliance is urging action against a proposed 472 acre logging project below Devil’s Courthouse in the headwaters of the French Broad River. The area is adjacent to the popular Art Loeb Trail and in the view-shed of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, according to the nonprofit environmental advocacy organization. Here’s the message via the group’s email newsletter:
On Dec.19, Pisgah National Forest posted the notice for the Courthouse Timber Sale.
This means the public has until Jan. 18 to comment on this 472 acre logging project below Devil’s Courthouse in the very headwaters of the French Broad River.
The Western North Carolina Alliance is opposed to this project for many reasons.
• 192 acres of timber harvest is planned in an area known as the “Pisgah Ridge/Pilot Mountain Significant Natural Heritage Area” identified by biologists with the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program as one of the most important areas of middle and high elevation forest in North Carolina.
• Logging will have impacts on at least three rare species: Vasey’s azalea, small footed bat, and brown creeper, a bird that thrives in old-growth conditions.
• Current plans turn this important natural area into a timber farm including 576 acres of past clearcuts, 472 acres of commercial logging, and 357 acres of non-commercial tree cutting.
• Courthouse Creek is an outstanding wild trout stream at the headwaters of the North Fork of the French Broad River. Steep slopes and the some of the greatest annual precipitation in eastern North America make erosion after logging and damage to water quality a concern.
Logging is proposed directly adjacent to the popular and scenic Art Loeb Trail and in the view-shed of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.Please take the time to write to Pisgah National Forest and communicate your thoughts about the Courthouse Project.
Submit comments to: Dereck Ibarguen, District Ranger 1600 Pisgah Highway Pisgah Forest, NC 28768
Or email comments to:
comments-southern-north-carolina-pisgah-pisgah@fs.fed.us
(Please put “Courthouse Project” in the subject line.)You can find the entire project proposal at the following link:
im glad to hear the court house creek area can be selective cut,.Fir the last 20 years it has catered to hiking,biking and let the wildlife starve.30 years ago it was the most sought after hunting area in western north carolina.There are homes still standing that was built from the lumber that came from the ground years ago.In this world of today people forget where there homes come from and try to stop any natural product from being harvested,when the groups stay out of the public business and let each and every person have a say things will get better.Our wild life is more important than a new trail head,the trails have caused alot of erosion and brought alot of the wrong kind of people here and even cost some there lives.It is time for the local area to get back some of its natural resorce.im 57 and born and raised in western nc and this area at one time offered us every thing and it can again.So i hope and pray we get some new growth coming on to feed some wild life here.