Austin Creek Alliance News

CDF Being Challenged
by Pamela Conley, Austin Creek Alliance
in the Bodega Bay Navigator

On July 23rd, two timber harvest plans were challenged by several concerned citizens, residents near the areas, and several organizations, such as: Russian River Residents Against Unsafe Logging, Citizen's for Watershed Protective Association, and Austin Creek Alliance. The first public hearing was in regards to the Clar Tree Plan no. 253, and the Jack London Grove plan no. 218. Approximately 40 people showed up at the public hearing at 10:00AM. None of the owners of the THPs attended.

The meeting began adversarially when the CDF Reviewer refused to allow the meeting to be taped. Helen Libeu challenged his position which resulted in a 20 minute time-out. The result was decided by a Department lawyer. The decision was that since this was a public hearing, tape recorders would be allowed. During the meeting several concerns and valid complaints were registered, such as: public safety in regards to landslides, flooding, fire damage, and road closures. Other concerns were made in regard to the threatened coho, and steelhead, spotted owl, and ancient murrelet nesting habitats, and inadequate and improper silvicultural planning.

None of the other relevant agencies were in attendance. The public demanded that the Fish and Game, Mines and Geology, and Water Quality experts take a look at these plans before being approved. Helen Libeu said that no. 218 was a bad plan with many contradictions and issues not being addressed. Many concerned citizens requested that the Reviewer, Dennis Hall, send it back for clarification. Mr. Hall replied, "The information before this meeting regarding the plan, and the information at this meeting, is not enough to make me return this THP to be revised."

The Clar Tree plan includes the famous tree, the largest redwood in the County of Sonoma, which already went through litigation in 1986 when it was threatened by Louisiana Pacific Corporation. The grove of trees that includes the largest tree, is directly above the Russian River and already experiences landslides.

The Jack London Grove is the grove of trees that can be seen from Duncan Mills north, on Hwy. 116, starting at Duncan Mills. The grove is adjacent to two other large logging plans that are situated directly above Austin Creek, which is a major Russian River tributary with important fish habitat. Mr. Hall said he did not think that the logging, clearly viewed from scenic Hwy 116 near Duncan Mills would have any negative impact of the visual enjoyment of the area. If these plans go through, they will encompass 648 acres, and will be one of the largest cut in Sonoma County, if not the largest to date.

Did You Know? by Pamela Conley, Austin Creek Alliance
in the Bodega Bay Navigator

I remember flying over Oregon and Washington on my last flight as a flight attendant back in 1985. Looking down, I saw a sea of green forests that appeared to go on forever. Seven years later, my husband and I flew over the same area on a trip to Alaska. I stared out the window in absolute disbelief. No carpet of green was there to be seen anymore.The ground appeared to be like a checker board. Patches of clear-cut forests zig-zagged across the two states. The patches of green were fewer than the ugly, scarred patches of what use to be living forests. No place to hide the desecration from anyone up here, I thought. Cold with fury, angry tears streamed down my cheek. How could the people of Oregon and Washington states allow this to happen in a short seven years?

I knew at the time that they would be moving south, and that I was probably going to be an activist in saving trees. But I never dreamed that I would become passionately involved in saving one of the largest acreage of trees in Sonoma County from going down, and that it would be directly behind my house.

My husband, Dennis and I, have on several occasions hiked up Kohute Gulch. This is a first class stream and every summer, we have found up to six inch threatened steehead swimming in large holes. Trapped in these holes, they continue to survive until the next rains come and wash them down to Austin Creek, and eventually into the the Russian River. We also have a neighbor who says he has seen spotted owl in this canyon. Dennis has found large fir trees with strong limbs covered with moss, perfect nesting habitat for endangered ancient murrelets.

We have read the timber harvest plan and it is a bad one, riddled with contradictions and with many issues that have not been addressed. We attended the first public hearing. It was my first experience directly with the CDF. Never have I witnessed such arrogance. In my opinion, the CDF exists for only one reason, to cut trees down. Many concerned citizens, spoke articulately and addressed many valid concerns.

Did you know that the only reason we knew about that PUBLIC HEARING was because a few of my neighbors called everyday to find out when it would be scheduled? I have been told that this behavior is completely typical, the reason being, short notice prevents the public arriving at the review. Did you know that the National Marine Fisheries Service sent a strongly critical letter to the State Board of Forestry, stating that the rules were clearly not working to protect California's fish? Helen Libeu, long time activist to save trees, bless her heart, asked to see this report, and was denied. It was only after threat of a Public Records Act lawsuit, that this detailed and controversial document was made public.

Did you know that the CDF reviews an average of 1,200 THPs a year, and that approximately 1,200 THPs are approved each year? I will say it once more, the CDF exists to cut trees down. Their ability to blatantly ignore the rules is outrageous and must be stopped. There will always be greedy people out to make a buck, with no care at who's expense, or thought to what he or she may morally be doing is just plain wrong. This is why we have rules and regulations to keep us civilized. We don't need more rules and regulations. What we do need is the CDF to do their job, and enforce the regulations we already have.