Pacific Lumber Logging Plans Threaten Grizzly Creek State Park

In the long list of destructive logging plans Pacific Lumber is trying to sneak past state review while shielded by bankruptcy proceedings, the Root 09 Timber Harvest Plan deserves special attention. Two hundred twenty-four acres of redwood forests are slated to be cut in the Root Creek watershed, above Grizzly Creek State Park, on Hwy 36 along the Van Duzen River.

If logged, the timber giant will destroy Marbled Murrelet habitat and threaten the stability of sensitive slopes above the sediment-impaired Van Duzen River.

Two of Root 09’s six units, numbered two and three, lie within a "translational/rotational landslide" upslope from the Van Duzen river, and directly above a residential property. As well, unit one is within an active debris slide, further marking this plan as severe and careless forest management.

"Its a total affront to our park system," said Noel Soucy, THP monitor for the Environmental Protection Information Center. "We have set these beautiful areas aside for a forest sanctuary, but now when you go to the park, you will be bombarded by the sounds of screaming chainsaws and giant helicopters.”

Since PL filed for bankruptcy some 18 months ago, the company is essentially insulated from litigation because any legal challenge would have to happen in Texas bankruptcy court. During that period, PL has proposed more logging plans than Soucy can count on both hands.

"There simply isn't enough time to review all of these THP’s,” Soucy said, "to catch the inconsistencies, we would need several people working full time sifting through proposed plans."

After years of successful lawsuits, popular movements and sustained, on-the-ground forest defense opposing clearcuts in the redwoods, Pacific Lumber is still liquidating forests, leaving little for future generations.

Species like the pacific fisher, spotted owl, marbled murrelet, salmon and steelhead already struggle to survive in this fragmented landscape. They will suffer from the logging practices proposed in Root 09 and related plans.

Soucy spent 14 years conducting extensive wildlife fieldwork in Northern California, including ten field seasons specifically studying northern spotted owls for various governmental agencies.

"There are a lot of spotted owls in this area, ten or 11 activity centers within just over a mile of this plan,” Soucy concluded.

EPIC is not the only voice critical of the Root 09 logging plan. Four government agencies, including the California Geological Survey, submitted reviews of the proposed logging. The geologic review points out two areas of concern along a roadway parallel with the Grizzly Creek State Park boundary.

The narrative description estimates that a fill area within a watercourse channel (stream) between the road and down slope property line is about 40 feet thick. While the park recognizes the problem, no plans exist to repair this problem, because the activity itself could compound issues, affecting the stands within Grizzly Creek State Park.

According to the text of the CGS review, public safety is also at risk. "It was also discussed during this focused inspection the potential for threats to public safety by leaving this deep void open.” The holes left could be 40 feet deep.

The CGS review further indicates, “it is clear that the adjacent property, within about 75 feet of this site, will eventually be part of the California State Park system and that hikers could inadvertently wander off site and fall into the deep void."

"If the logging leads to slope or fill failure, as has happened over and over again after ill-advised PL logging, this sediment would end up in the Van Duzen river,” concluded a saddened Soucy.

Thirty year Mateel forest and fishery advocate Richard Gienger explained that without taking action to restore these areas, the situation will only get worse.

“California State Parks and Recreation and PL should have a comprehensive survey of conditions, and a restoration plan with an implementation schedule,” said Gienger.

PL’s Root 09 would log 224 acres, including more than 60 acres of clearcuts. More than two thousand acres will be logged in the region, If all of the Pacific Lumber/Scotia Pacific THP’s receive approval from CalFire. All of these plans were proposed during the bankruptcy process, and are insulated from legal action.

During EPIC's 30-year history, volunteers and staff have labored over documents in attempts to use every available legal tool to defend ecological principals and economic stability for this region.

To get involved, visit wildcalifornia.org, write kerul [at] wildcalifornia.org, or call 707.822.7711.