In a precedent-setting action, the Chapter received very important legal help from the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund on the Ant Ridge, Ancient Forest, Timber Sale Appeal. On May 14, the NC/NRCC created a Mendocino National Forest Task Force, with myself as chair, that will make possible additional help and funding for the forest effort, especially as it applies to ancient forest and wilderness issues. Coming up is the EIS Scoping for proposed timber sales in the Black Butte Roadless Area, a prime Citizens Forest Plan proposed wilderness area in the forest. We are receiving help from Audubon, Wilderness Society, and local Earth First! activists. Steve Evans, representing Friends of the River, asks if we wish to participate in a Black Butte RA public participation campaign featuring the sending out of ready-to-mail-in postcards. The Mendocino Pass and Cold Creek environmental assessments are being reviewed at this time for consistency with the Citizens Forest Plan for the Mendocino, with possible appeal action in the future if necessary.
Of increasing Chapter-wide importance, Mendocino County government has allowed, or has actively participated in closing off traditional beach access in many locations in the name of property and development rights. This has occurred at the Ten-Mile and Albion River estuaries, at Seaside Creek, Ward Avenue (near Cleone), Pudding Creek (north Fort Bragg), and at Buckhorn Cove (Little River area), to name a few. A private attorney, Karl Leipnik, will give the county 30 days to begin the process of re-establishing public beach access rights and re-opening closed or partially closed beach accesses, before legal action begins.
A major problem is that the Coastal Commission, because of staff and budget cuts, is no longer able to act in the public interest to keep these beach accesses open. The Sierra Club, when and if the time comes, should consider joining this important legal effort.
The Coastal Conservation Committee proposes to develop a plan for purchase from willing sellers and restoration of remnant Noyo Harbor wetlands. The plan will be presented to the Coastal Commission, Coastal Conservancy, Department of Fish and Game, and other pertinent state agencies. Funding will hopefully come from Tobacco Tax money.
A visionary proposal for public purchase and management of presently abused corporate timberlands. Needs funding details, buy-out schedules, and other finalization before possible Sierra Club action.
A precedent-setting lawsuit is now being handled by a private attorney that would require cumulative logging impact analysis and watershed planning over an entire watershed before individual logging plans could go forward. If successful, the concept is sure to spread to affected watersheds statewide. Sierra Club support is not requested at this time.
The Sierra Club will support the Albion Resident's Association request that the Board of Supervisors reconsider their approval of subdivision and development of the Albion Headlands. The Sierra Club will also support the purchase of the Albion Headlands for public use, and the establishment of a Coastal Walking Trail.
A movement initiated by the Coastal Conservation Committee is alive and well with a video and Congressional questionnaire being prepared for nationwide distribution through the Sierra Club. The Committee will have a booth at the upcoming Sierra Club International Assembly, promoting Ocean Sanctuary as a 1990-91 Sierra Club conservation priority
is 921 acres surrounding Westport, Mendocino county, with many important natural features. It is to be purchased (4.25 million) with Environmental License Plate Fund monies, and donated in all or part to the Department of Parks and Recreation. Residential and commercial development in critical areas could still occur if Dept. of Parks and Recreation declines to accept the entire 921 acres into the State Park System. The State Coastal Conservancy would then be responsible for selling parts of the ranch off to meet the demands of local developers. (Westport is quite justly famous for its crew of expand or expire, tub thumping, growth and development promoters). Recomendation: The entire ranch should go into the state park system, with development permitted for park purposes only.
Sierra Club - Redwood Chapter
Conservation Committee
Ron Guenther
29900 Highway 20
Fort Bragg, California 95437
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2003
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