HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-26-21 Public Comment - G. Monahan - BMW ProjectFrom:Glenn Monahan
To:Agenda
Subject:Comments for All City Commissioners: LOGGING
Date:Monday, July 26, 2021 10:30:32 AM
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July 26, 2021
To the Bozeman City Commission:
Please add the following comments to the public record.
I am herein commenting on the subject of logging and forest management in thevicinity of the City of Bozeman. Specifically, my comments refer to the following
locations: City of Bozeman Watershed, Kirk Hill, Gallatin Front, Brackett Creek,
and Fairy Lake Road.
I am not a forest scientist, however my training and experience as an earth scientistequip me with skills needed to research and interpret scientific documents. In this
regard, over the past 4 years, I have done extensive research into the area of western
wildfires, and forest management.
Based upon the actions of the Commission, I conclude that the Commission isrelying on antiquated science and largely ignoring the best available science in its
discussions and conclusions regarding forest management.
The city’s municipal watershed should not be logged to “prevent a future fire”!There is abundant recent evidence - as well as peer reviewed science - thatlogging/thinning is ineffective in preventing forest fires. In fact, much recent
wildfire science indicates that logging/thinning actually increases the severity and
spread of fires. This is because: 1> these practices open up the forest to wind –which is a major factor in wildfire acceleration, and 2> opening a forest canopyincreases the growth of ground vegetation, thus adding highly combustible small
fuels.
A glaring example of the fallacy that “forest management” reduces wildfires can beseen in the Bootleg Fire in SW Oregon that is presently uncontained and has burnedover 500,000 acres. This fire is burning through a highly managed landscape that
has been clearcut, selectively cut, thinned, controlled burned, and roaded. None of
these past management actions appear to have slowed the fire, and in fact, when thefire reached a wilderness area (no forest management), preliminary reports areindicating that the fire’s advance was significantly slowed. The bottom line is that
wildfires spread as a result of drought and wind, and no amount of forest
management can control those 2 variables. In fact, on a global scale, NOTLOGGING is a highly significant manner to sequester carbon, thus helping to
control climate change.
Regarding the other locations that I mentioned above, I understand that the
Commission does not manage Forest Service lands. However, the FS will givedeference to your advice, and I urge you to petition the FS to stop its aggressivelogging around our city. The highest use of these lands is carbon sequestration,
wildlife habitat, and recreational value. Given the slow rate of regrowth at our
latitude and climate, all of these logging projects should be condemned by theCommission.
I vigorously urge the entire commission to spend some time researching some of the
most current publications on fire science. You will discover that the idea of logging
to prevent wildfire is questionable and of doubtful value. All of your energies
should be placed upon mitigating and preventing climate change, and leaving ournative forests intact is a powerful tool for that.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Glenn Monahan
420 N 10th Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715