Only by understanding the change that led to the degraded conditions of riparian areas are we able to understand what may need to be fixed or, as Aldo Leopold delicately states in Round River, "to keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution to intelligent tinkering."

During these last weeks where we have the opportunity to weigh in, we will be sharing a series of blogs focusing on specific issues we're thinking about as an organization and as a community of people who care deeply about the health of the ecosystems within eastside forests. This blog focuses on the threats that the proposed plans pose to old and mature trees, an irrefutably vital character in the story of ecosystem health.

Wallowa River - Northeast Oregon How do you beat the smoke when it has been lingering for nearly a month? Head to the water, or more specifically, build like a beaver. That is exactly what we did on a late July summer day on the Wallowa River. We had folks join us from all over the Blue Mountain Ecoregion, including Halfway, Baker City, and Walla Walla. The goal: build a post-less beaver dam that mimics the appearance and, more importantly, the function of a beaver dam. Post-

The Blue Mountains Forest Plan is currently being revised, and the FINAL 90-day public comment period is now open. Over the next three months, we will be diving into various aspects of the plan so you can be more informed about what's being proposed for your public lands.