A number of Brightwood residents are concerned over a potential logging
project on a hillside property to the north of Barlow Trail Road.

The owner of the property is Fern Hollow Farms, based in Veneta, Ore., and
residents met with Greg Demers, who represented the company, to discuss
the operation in late May.

Brightwood resident Scott McNamara noted that other projects Demers has
been involved with, including the Pilot Rock sawmill wood waste landfill, 90
acres in Crow, Ore. that was clearcut and the mining of Parvin Butte in
Dexter, Ore., have earned Demers resentment in those communities and
some fines.

“This guy leaves a wake of destruction,” McNamara said, highlighting his
concerns over the potential operation, including the risk of landslides, the
impact and potential flooding from culverts added to McIntyre Road and the
danger of logging trucks operating on narrow and twisty community roads.
Bill Simonds, another homeowner concerned about impact on his property,
noted that concerns over the operation, on approximately 20 acres of land,
have been raised with the Oregon Department of Forestry, the Bureau of Land
Management and Clackamas County, but that Demers “seems to be
unstoppable.”

“If that’s the case, our best bet is to make sure he follows the rules,” Simonds
said, adding that he thinks the agencies they have contacted will watch the
project “extremely carefully.”

In a phone interview with the Mountain Times, Demers said, “We bought the
property, we’re going to do a selective harvest on it. Everything’s going to be
done according to state, county and federal regulations.”

McNamara started a website, friendsofbrightwood.com, outlining the
community concerns and announcing meeting times.