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November 21, 2000
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) have reached a landmark agreement to repair, maintain, and close federal forest roads to better protect water quality. National Forests that are within the State of Washington include Olympic, Gifford Pinchot, Mount Baker- Snoqualmie, Wenatchee, Okanogan, Colville, and Umatilla.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is aimed at improving water quality for people and fish. Forest roads are the most significant contributor to water quality degradation in the forests, which is why the most significant element of the agreement is an aggressive commitment to a road maintenance schedule that mirrors the requirements of the 1999 Forests and Fish state legislation.
Focus Sheet and Memorandum of Agreement
Here are some photos that show the impact road failures can have on water quality.
The first two photos are of the Boundary Creek Road System near Port Angeles. A high slope road failed, causing a landslide that devastated three miles of forest land and scoured the creek to bedrock.
Another example of a road failure adversely affecting water quality is the 2860 road system in the Dungeness watershed. When road fills become saturated, due to lack of maintenance, these roads can slide off the hillside. The first two photos show the road failures, followed by a compilation of after photos documenting some of the work that was done to stabilize the road.
