Williams Community Forest Project

Nice article and beautiful photos from Ashland hiking group… about the Layton Ditch trail, which we recently did trail work on. Beautiful weather, it’s time to hit the trails!!

www.ashlandhiking.org The last Monday hike of April gave us a glorious day with Spring in the air and on the trail. We chose to do the Lower Layton Mine Ditch Trail above Williams in Josephine County. We did part 2 of a 3-part trail network, which is 21 miles long in total.

Celebrating Earth Day With Action!
ASA Filed a Lawsuit Against the BLM’s SOS Logging Project in March. Today, for Earth Day, We Filed for Preliminary Injunction to Stop the Logging While the Case Works its Way Through Court!
While the country is celebrating Earth Day, Applegate Siskiyou Alliance is demonstrating our commitment to the environment of the Applegate Valley by filing a Motion for Preliminary Injunction for the BLM’s SOS logging project. We filed suit with Crag Law Center against this massive logging project on March 3, 2026 over a failure to properly analyze impacts to the Northern spotted owl and the endemic Siskiyou Mountains salamander. We also filed suit due to significant inconsistencies between authorized actions and project level implementation. This includes the excessive removal of hardwoods throughout SOS timber sales, the construction of new unauthorized road segments, and unauthorized logging in Riparian Reserves.

Now on Earth Day, we are filing for an injunction for the two active timber sales, including the Apple Saws Timber Sale above Cantrall Buckley County Park and on the eastern face of Ben Johnson Mountain, as well as the Holcomb Hollow Timber Sale on Woodrat Mountain, which are actively being logged right now, creating severe impacts to the forests, wildlife and scenic skyline surrounding Ruch. If we are granted a Preliminary Injunction it would stop the logging of these two active timber sales, and it would also preclude logging of the Thom Bone Timber Sale above Thompson Creek, which has been authorized by BLM and sold, but has not yet seen active logging. The halt in activities would enjoin these sales until the court has the opportunity to resolve this case on its merits and we have the opportunity to be heard and have our day in court.

ASA is taking action on Earth Day, and working hard every day to support the protection of the Applegate-Siskiyou. We hope that while you celebrate Earth Day, you will also make a commitment to taking action in any way you can. The threats to our region are mounting and there is no time like now to act!

Read the Motion for Preliminary Injunction Here:https://applegatesiskiyoualliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SOS-PI-Brief.pdf

This is a warning of forest activity near Medicine mountain.

The BLM is brushing the road from East Fork to the yellow gate at Medicine mountain and then on the BLM road through the yellow gate.There is heavy equipment on the BLM road beyond the yellow gate and the occurrence of salvage logging. (Dead trees logged near the road and trail)

The Layton Ditch Trail south from Medicine mountain is parallel with the BLM road and the trail is on a short section of the BLM Road. Hikers in the area need to use caution and avoid the logging activity to deter accidents.

When we know the time of day and days of the week when the operator will be there we will pass the info on.🌳🌲🌳✌🏿☮💚

Thanks

WCFP

Ruch residents raise concerns over nearby timber sales Residents of Ruch are raising concerns as their once quiet community now finds itself at the heart of three timber sales, with two currently active.

Join us this weekend at the All Thing Fire Fair! We are excited to be a part of this great event. Hope to see you all there!