(Addressed to various State agencies.)3/31/99
This communication regards a serious situation that has developed on several timber harvest plan operations on the Gualala River. Presently the "Powerline" (1-96-373 SON) and "Buckwheat" (1-97-392-SON) clear cuts appear to be in violation of EPA regulations, the Basin Plan, and the Clean Water Act.
These plans involved clear cutting on steep slopes and burning in close proximity to Buckeye Creek and the South Fork of the Gualala River. This last year they were ignited utilizing napalm and helicopters. Most of these two plans were burned between October 29th and November 3rd, 1998.
Weather conditions changed during the burn and the North Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District was called in to investigate the air quality conditions which resulted.
The Power Line plan which was burned on October 29th quickly developed into an extremely hot and dangerous fire that eventually caused an area of escape on its eastern, upper boundary.
The present conditions of these plans is serious. The fire was so intense that there is no redwood regeneration on the Power Line plan and little or none on the Buckwheat plans. The ground was so sterilized that as of last week there is absolutely no vegetative matter growing on the steep erosive soils other than 12" planted seedlings. Sediment is washing into the Class 3 watercourses and in some instances being delivered to Class 2 and Class 1 watercourses. The Power Line plan has a steep, formerly rocked road that follows the power lines and is constructed perpendicular to the contour of the hillside. There is no water barring installed and it is experiencing 12" deep gullies and sediment flow.
A visual assessment of these two plans clearly shows no conifer regeneration, bare, sterile and scarified soils and black, large woody debris falling into the eroding Class 3 watercourses. The intensity of the fire broke much of the exposed rock.
These are only a few of the many recent plans in the German Rancho Planning Watershed. With past and future sivicultural activities taken into account, this watershed will have been effected in 90.74% of its area in the last ten years. (See also pending THP 1-99-028 SON). Another plan which was burned in this same time period was the "German Rancho" (1-96-276-SON). It too should be inspected as to its present condition.
It is hereby requested that your agency send a representative to assess the plans mentioned for evidence of violations of the Forest Practice Act/ Board of Forestry Rules, the Basin Plan, and the Clean Water Act. This watershed is listed as impaired by the EPA under 303d. Class 3's are now recognized as the single largest source of sediment in a watershed. Continued siviculture as evident in the German Rancho Planning Watershed cannot continue without continued cumulative impacts.
With the highly erosive soils, steep slopes, and the San Andreas Fault actually running through or within yards of these plans, it is mandatory that the present damage be mitigated, future clear cutting and burning be greatly reduced, and more stringent monitoring be put in place.
In addition, we ask that presently pending THPs in the watershed and in particular by the timber owner in question, Gualala Redwoods Inc., be put on hold until all parties inspect the plans in question and needed mitigations and guidelines for future THPs are in place.
We look forward to your immediate attention to this matter.
Chris Poehlmann
Gualala River Improvement Network
P.O.Box 61
Annapolis, CA 95412
707-886-5182
