From the Sept. 26, 2013 edition of the Asheville Citizen-Times:
ASHEVILLE — The U.S. Forest Service will proceed with a logging project in the Courthouse Creek area of the Pisgah National Forest within view of popular hiking areas near the Blue Ridge Parkway, drawing mixed reaction from forest user groups.
Pisgah District Ranger Derek Ibarguen on Wednesday announced the final decision, which includes revisions from the proposal released late last year, taking into account the more than 500 comments received during the 30-day public comment period.
…Linda Pearsall, community affairs director with the state Natural Heritage Program, said the agency accidentally included some areas within the SNHA boundary that did not qualify for the special designation.
“The site was incorrectly mapped in 2008 when adjacent lands of lower ecological quality were included in the boundary,” she said.
Because of that, now only 65 acres of the natural heritage area will be included in the logging project. That still doesn’t sit well with some conservation and recreation groups. Bob Gale, ecologist and public lands director with the Asheville-based WNC Alliance, said the timber project will still have a significant impact on a sensitive area.
“We commend the Forest Service for having public input, but the changes they have made are minor,” Gale said.
One change Gale commends is removing Stand 88-16 from the logging area. That area of Farlow Gap was of great concern because it is home to the golden winged warbler, a forest concern species.
Full story at the link. (Note: The Citizen-Times website has a paywall.)