August 19, 2009
Central Coast Forest Watch (CCFW) has kept busy this year, both reviewing timber harvest proposals and weighing in on state regulatory packages. CCFW submitted an extensive comment letter on the Bohemian Grove Non-Industrial Timber Management Plant (NTMP) on the Russian River, outlining the ways in which that plan has misinterpreted the Forest Practice Rules to try to qualify for the in-perpetuity NTMP permit. That plan is still under review by CAL FIRE. We also prepared in-depth comments on the Eureka Gulch Timber Harvest Plan on Corralitos Creek in Santa Cruz County, which along with DFG and County non-concurrences, helped get a winter cut-off rainfall amount included in the plan, instead of open-ended winter operations.
On the statewide front, CCFW has worked alongside a host of environmental and fishing organizations, testifying repeatedly before the Board of Forestry in response to proposed rules for Threatened or Impaired Watershed Protection. While these rules will provide added protections for some watersheds, they are too lax in others. The timber lobby is strong and it still remains to be seen how our efforts may help to keep this rule package from being overly weakened.
CCFW has also testified at the Central Coast Regional Water Board, which, unfortunately, gutted their timber waiver program over our objections. Staff cited major budget cuts and poorly substantiated claims that logging is a low-risk activity regarding water quality. We were successful, however, in stopping an eleventh-hour attempt by the timber industry to delist one of our important (and still impaired) coho streams.
CCFW continues to put out a monthly electronic newsletter in conjunction with Sierra Club, Santa Cruz Group, and will be finishing up our revision of a citizens' handbook to timber harvest review.
For more information: jodifredi@aol.com
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TOC for Forest & River News, Summer 2009