P.O. Box 1046 Virginia, MN 55792 218-365-BWCA (2922)

May 5, 2005

U. S. Forest Service
LaCroix Ranger District
320 North Highway 53
Cook, MN 55723

Project: Echo Trail Area Forest Management Project

Although we agree with much of the Echo Trail Forest Management Plan, and feel that you have used some common sense measures to effectively manage the forest, Conservationists with Common Sense (CWCS) does have a few concerns and comments with some of the particular issues dealt with by the proposed Plan. Visiting several of the project areas gave us a better understanding of the Forest Service's plans. It was very helpful to hear different perspectives from other user groups and that of the Forest Products Industry.

CWCS feels that the Forest Service should give much consideration to several of the loggers' comments dealing with management of timber. CWCS's concerns include:

• Taking into consideration soil conditions and the request to have more flexibility in allowing summer access to higher ground cuttings;
• Consideration of harvesting some white and red pine that may be susceptible to blowdown;
• Providing timber to satisfy the needs of our economy;
• Conducting clearcuts with younger reserves that are more apt to stand beyond the first winter after the cutting are a few of the comments CWCS supports.
• Prevention of wildfires is also of great concern to CWCS.

Management that deals with sustaining a healthy forest was the foundation of the creation of the Forest Service and we believe the USFS should remember this principle that it was founded upon.

Another comment that CWCS must make is to mention the proposed Wellstone/ Tamarack Snowmobile Trail from Ely to Buyck. Ely and Crane Lake snowmobile clubs have been attempting to continue this plan of an Echo Trail Corridor Snowmobile Trail that the late Senator Paul Wellstone proposed during the 1996 Field Hearings in International Falls. The proposed Semi-primitive Non-motorized area northeast of Big Lake may interfere with putting this trail on the ground. We would urge you to manage this area so Senator Wellstone's vision of a snowmobile trail would become a reality.

Also, CWCS would like to take this opportunity to say that the Semi-primitive Non-motorized Recreation designation in the Superior National Forest Plan is nothing more than defacto wilderness without Congress' consent. We question the need for more of this type of management when the immediate area already offers the public approximately 1 million acres of wilderness in the adjacent BWCA.

Although trails are not a part of this management plan, CWCS feels that some of the proposed decommissioned roads should be taken into consideration to meet the public's need for ATV and forest access trails. These roads are a source of recreation for many forest visitors and provide access to many things, from hunting to berry picking.

Thank you for consideration of our comments and we would urge you to adjust your plan in regards to the points that we have outlined.

Sincerely,

Nancy McReady
CWCS President

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