The Whitman Ranger District is getting closer to making a decision on the Sheep Creek Vegetation Management project.

It is proposing to extend the Trail Creek Green Dot road closures for an additional two months as part of this project, even though 95% of the project is located outside of the Trail Creek Travel Management Area. All proposed TMA Green Dots that would extend road closures in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest should be delayed until the new travel management plan has been finalized.

Let us hope that the county commissioners in Union, Baker, Grant, and Wallowa counties, and U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, are actively making sure the Wallowa-Whitman does not jump the gun on these road closures.

David Thiesfeld

La Grande