A federal judge has blocked a logging plan in Northern California’s Shasta-Trinity National Forest aimed at wildfire risk reduction, which would have removed some northern spotted owls’ habitats. Environmental groups sued, arguing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s “no jeopardy” assessment was flawed. The judge found the analysis lacking and vacated the biological opinion, requiring new environmental studies on owl populations. The government argued the project was essential for fire prevention, but the judge emphasized the need for a thorough review, noting the competing interests of forest restoration and species conservation.
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Wildfire Mitigation Efforts Halted to Safeguard Spotted Owls near Mount Shasta
By Terrain News
