While scientists have consistently recommended inviolate ancient forest reserves as part of a protection strategy, Option 9 allows logging in reserves. In reserves on the eastern slope of the Cascades, the salvage is even less controlled. Agencies entrusted with the federal forests have consistently used salvage timber sales as a means of logging healthy ancient forest. The abuse of salvage logging is well documented, and allowing agencies any discretion to log in old growth reserves will be akin to letting the foxguard the hen house. Perhaps most destructive are the roads that may be built to carry out these salvage and thinning operations.
Roads do immense damage to ecosystems, causing severe erosion and siltation of streams.
Inviolate ancient forest reserves with no logging and no roads, must be a key component of the Forest Plan. Full Protection for Wild Salmon and Forest Streams. In the past, agency scientists have made recommendations for stream protection that were included in Option 1, but weakened in Option 9. Option 9 cuts only provides half the recommended protection for intermittent streams outside of riparian preserves. These small streams are critical to the survival of many species, including amphibians, mollusks, and fish.