More than a decade ago, the Shoshone National Forest announced its intent to log in the Ellsbury area, approximately 30 miles northwest of Cody on the Absaroka Front. After 10 years of controversy, a federal judge finally killed the proposed timber sale, ruling that the Forest Service had failed to properly complete a biological evaluation and watershed analysis.
Now, several more years later, the Forest Service is attempting to resurrect its old Ellsbury proposal, now dubbing it the Deadman's Bench Timber Sale. The sale, as approved, is twice the size of the illegal Ellsbury proposal and predicts a board-foot harvest twice as large.
The proposal, and subsequent approval, surprised citizens and the conservation community since the Forest Service failed to notify the public of its plans, as required by law.
Conservationists were particularly concerned by the Forest Service's resurrection of the sale given the area's importance to wildlife and water quality. Since the 1988 Clover Mist fire burned much of the land immediately adjacent to the sale area, Deadman's Bench serves as critical cover and a vital migration corridor link for elk. Further, the sale area is within the Cathedral and Reef Creek drainages which the Forest Service itself has identified as "watersheds of concern," stating that they are incapable of sustaining future activities, such as logging, without violating the Clean Water Act.
WOC, American Wildlands and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition asked the Shoshone National Forest to withdraw the sale, documenting its illegality and threats to wildlife and water quality. Forest officials denied our request, so we will likely file an administrative appeal early this year. |
Privacy Policy