Forest Watch

The Kootenai Environmental Alliance (KEA) has been an aggressive watchdog of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests (IPNF) since KEA started its Forest Watch Program in 1990.  The goal of Forest Watch is to preserve and protect aquatics and biological integrity of the IPNF.  We want the forests to be sustainable and provide sufficient habitat to support viable populations of fisheries and wildlife.  We want our forests to be a source of clean water and recreational opportunities.

When the Forest Service proposes a timber sale, KEA starts its review.  We examine associated documents and submit detailed comments to the specific Ranger District that is proposing the timber sale. 

 If we believe the proposed timber sale to be unacceptably damaging and perhaps illegal, we file an administrative appeal when the decision allows for an appeal. Some Forest Service decisions do not allow for administrative appeals. In a few cases we pursue our concerns in court.

Forest Service document acknowledge that over 50 years of logging and road construction has damaged areas on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.  Their own estimates disclose that over 70% of the streams in the IPNF are so degraded, according to their definition, that they are either "not properly functioning" or "functioning at risk."  These streams used to have abundant native west slope cutthroat trout, and now there are only a relatively few streams on the IPNF that support viable populations. 

The following information describes an important ruling regarding a proposed timber sale, Iron Honey, on the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District.

Iron Honey