The State - News from June 16, 1989

The U.S. Forest Service has delayed planned timber sales that could affect northern spotted owls in four national forests in Northern California. Forest Service spokesman Paul Barker said the sales were delayed because the Fish and Wildlife Service is considering whether to list the owl as a threatened species. No timber sales will be allowed until the two agencies come to an agreement on how to handle logging in the affected areas--the Klamath, Mendocino, Six Rivers and Shasta-Trinity national forests. “Our intent . . . is to avoid conflicts with the owl while the (sale) listing process is under way,” Barker said. “We want to provide some level of wood supply for mills and, ultimately, the American public. But we must also work to protect the owls.”