A creek near the Aquarius Natural Research Area adjacent to the Mallard-Larkins Roadless Area. Brett Haverstick photo.
Our efforts have won protections for waterways, wildlife, and wildlands. We use every possible tool to protect biodiversity, including grassroots organizing, education, advocacy, and when necessary, litigation.
In general, we do not lobby for legislation, but do support ambitious bills like the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act, or NREPA.
Since 1987, FOC has defended more than a million acres of roadless areas in the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests from logging and road building.
Working together, FOC and allies have accomplished important goals, including the following:
in roadless lands contiguous to the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness with allies. The FOC campaign helped pressure the Forest Service to take steps toward protecting remaining roadless wildlands throughout the national forest system.
Fish & Hungery Creek (North Lochsa Face), White Sand, Weitas Creek, Kelly Creek, Pot Mountain, Meadow Creek, and Mallard – Larkins Roadless Areas and in roadless proposed Wilderness land adjacent to the Gospel-Hump Wilderness.
Fish & Hungery Creek (North Lochsa Face), White Sand, Weitas Creek, Kelly Creek, Pot Mountain, Meadow Creek, and Mallard – Larkins Roadless Areas and in roadless proposed Wilderness land adjacent to the Gospel-Hump Wilderness.
from helicopter intrusions by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
from unnecessary expansion of landing strips by the Forest Service.
in the Wild & Scenic Middle Fork Clearwater and Selway River drainages.
from turning roads along the Wild & Scenic Middle Fork Clearwater and Lochsa Rivers into an industrial corridor for “mega-load” infrastructure with the Nez Perce Tribe, Fighting Goliath, Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment, Idaho Rivers United, and others.
in the South Fork Clearwater, key tributaries of the North Fork Clearwater and Lolo Creek from timber sales and suction dredge mining by appealing and litigating for water-quality standards.
in unroaded backcountry through monitoring, appeals, and litigation, although much work remains.
an attempt to give away high-quality public lands in exchange for over-logged private inholdings with a diverse group of allies.
on issues affecting the Clearwater River Basin, including roadless areas, old growth, and clearcutting . These reports have garnered national attention.
on issues affecting the Clearwater River Basin, including roadless areas, old growth, and clearcutting . These reports have garnered national attention.
Friends of the Clearwater-led in-depth analysis of policy, science, and on-the-ground monitoring in the Clearwater
An investigative report on the growing trend of “supersized” clearcuts above 40 acres in size within US Forest Service Region 1. Such clearcuts have been accelerating on publicly owned forest.
How effective are the National and Idaho Roadless Rules? FOCs investigation shows thousands of acres of wildlands have been logged and roaded in Idaho and Montana between 2000 and 2020.
This first-of-its-kind report, written by Dr. John Talberth of the Center for Sustainable Economy, details the damaging climate impacts of the Nez Perce-Clearwater Forest Plan
This report, by FOCs Jeff Juel, explores the science of old-growth ecosystems as well as the threats these rare places face from the US Forest Service
