I’ve been putting off traveling up the McKenzie River corridor for about 10 months since the fires in September 2020 because I knew it would be a traumatizing experience. However, the trauma was multiplied because the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Oregon Department of Transportation decided to take unfair and corrupt actions to remove as many ancient trees along any road, hazard or not.
The amount of logging occurring along the McKenzie was something I had not witnessed since I moved to Eugene in 1991. The highway was almost choked with log trucks. The millions of dollars of new logging equipment along the highway was also mind boggling. It was the clearest sign of disaster capitalism I had ever witnessed.
These large and ancient trees, even if killed by the fire, could provide habitat to hundreds of species as well as store huge amounts of carbon for centuries into the future. While standing as snags they provide shade for new saplings and habitat for many dozens of species like woodpeckers, bats, insects and other cavity dwellers. When an ancient tree falls to the ground it attains even more ecological value by providing refuge and homes for hundreds of species of insects, mushrooms, as well as slugs, snails, frogs, salamanders, snakes, lizards and small rodents. In addition the ancient logs store water into the dry hot summers and because of this they often become nurse logs for hemlock and huckleberries while simultaneously providing natural fire breaks slowing future fires.
It is most traumatizing to know the Forest Service, BLM and state agencies like Oregon Department of Forestry and ODOT have changed little over the last 40 years, and in some cases have become more destructive.
Shannon Wilson
Eugene
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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