December 19, 2011
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The easement, among other things, requires certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which includes an approved Management Plan, within three years. RFFI is developing a Stewardship Plan which will be consistent with FSC requirements and incorporate management for silviculture, watershed restoration, education, recreation, cultural protection, and ecological health. This is going to be very intense, both because of the rigor that will be needed to complete and implement such plans--and the need to be able to retire the debt to Bank of America from the $65 million loan made in July 2007 for the acquisition. This is uncharted ground, and we are going to need assistance in accomplishing the kind of forestry and community-based relationships that are inherent in the RFFI mission and goals. Please keep in touch through the RFFI website and help support the RFFI organization in ways that are possible for you. The RFFI non-profit organization needs adequate funding and personnel for this arduous journey. Your help can make the difference.
Following up on some ongoing items and issues:
* The Usal Road/Waterfall Gulch Project had this year's first round of restoration work done in late September and early October. An incredible team, largely coordinated by Mark Lancaster of the Five Counties Salmon Conservation Program, and including personnel from Mendocino and Trinity Counties, Pacific Watershed Associates, Campbell Timber Management (CTM) and contractors, RFFI, Intertribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council, and others cooperated in taking action to stop sedimentation from the Usal Road into Waterfall Gulch Creek. Significant areas that were contributing sediment to the creek have had corrective measures implemented. There is more work to be done on the road through the watershed and another `workshop/work session' endeavor is planned for next year. Funding from the California State Coastal Conservancy and Mendocino County were essential this year and VERY greatly appreciated. In-kind contributions from RFFI, CTM, and the URF were also vital for this year's success. This partnership project has positive aspects beyond just improving the condition of the Usal Road--extending to helping to achieve better practices on unpaved roads throughout the range of salmon and steelhead. Of course, the over 25 miles of the Usal Road have just barely begun to be adequately treated--but this year's work was a start.
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Fear and panic reigned for weeks (even directly affecting the Usal Road project) and will have a long lasting adverse impact on peoples' relationships to North Coast Forests and beyond.
* The Mattole Program Timberland Impact Report (PTEIR) was approved by CalFire. Three or more Program Timber Harvest Plans (PTHPs) are being prepared, and hopefully will be implemented in 2012. Check in with the Mattole Restoration Council for related information.
* Recently there was a reversed-version of the normal show-and-tell forest field tour. Instead of the usual timber company shows-the-public, this time it was the Mattole Restoration Council and the Mattole Salmon Group doing a tour for the benefit of Humboldt Redwoods Company (HRC). The featured sites included incredible efforts to stabilize a large landslide in the Upper North Fork Mattole River (near Honeydew) and the installation of very large collections of large wood for fish habitat in the Mattole Estuary. That evening the normal presenter-presentee relationship was resumed with HRC making presentations at the Mattole Grange on HRC's Mattole Watershed Analysis.
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* 2012 is going to be hot and heavy in the California Legislature as regards forestry/watershed/fisheries issues. Assemblymembers Wesley Chesbro and Jared Huffman have committed to doing legislation for emergency measures for coho--and major efforts for imposing fees for THPs and `streamlining' the THP approval process are all in heated and controversial play. For some glimpses of the legislative denizens at work, check out these links:
Timber Harvest Plan Fee Hearings:
*calchannel.com/channel/viewVideo/3062*
*calchannel.com/channel/viewVideo/3063*
Coho Hearings:
Part 1: *calchannel.com/channel/viewVideo/2906*
Part 2: *calchannel.com/channel/viewvideo/2907*
Part 3: *calchannel.com/channel/viewvideo/2930*
Part 4: *calchannel.com/channel/viewVideo/2931*
Part 5: .*calchannel.com/channel/viewVideo/2932*
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a Planning watershed basis, was sailing along (passed the Assembly unanimously) until the Department of Fish and Game torpedoed it on the Senate-side--with disingenuous budget arguments. The bill required DFG participation in the determination of adequate riparian recovery measures in the pilot project referenced above--it's their mandated responsibility. Last year AB 380's predecessor was knocked down by a similar move by CalFire when it got to former Governor Schwarzenegger for signature. This year the blindside was by DFG. The bill will be baaaack.
Please get involved in ways that are effective and meaningful for you, and that contribute to real solutions...rg
Since arriving in the Mattole Valley of Humboldt County in 1971, Richard Gienger has immersed himself in homesteading, forest activism, and watershed restoration. Richard's column covers a range of issues including fisheries and watershed restoration and forestry, plus describes opportunities for the public to make positive contributions in the administrative and legislative arenas as well as in their own backyards.
For More Info:
Board of Forestry www.bof.fire.ca.gov
Assemblyman Chesbro http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a01/
RFFI *RFFI.org*
Richard Gienger rgrocks@humboldt.net
Wildlife Conservation Board www.wcb.ca.gov
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TOC for Forest & River News, Winter 2011