Judge Lets Logging Proceed Amid Wildfire Risk | Portland News

Portland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 4, 2026 · 1m

A federal judge has denied environmental groups’ request to halt a major logging project in Southwest Oregon, ruling that stopping the work would undermine wildfire prevention efforts and hurt local economies. The Bureau of Land Management plans to clear dead trees west of I-5 between Ashland and Medford, a move critics say lacks proper environmental review—especially regarding hardwood removal. While the lawsuit remains active, the judge emphasized public safety, forest health, and the need to protect communities from Oregon’s record-breaking wildfire season, which has already scorched two…