Sensitive Watershed Workshops
Sensitive Watershed Workshop II was held in Mendocino in early April. People representing 10 different rivers in Mendocino County attended. Mike Tyrrell, a timber economist, and Allen Cooperrider, a senior biologist with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, were our presenters.
Mike helped us coordinate and agree on a format for mapping our watersheds, including mapping of streams, soils, THPs, geologic hazards and roads. Because this was a hands-on portion of the workshop, people were able to get this important component of a sensitive watershed nomination under way, then and there.
Allen then spoke to us about sources for wildlife information for our watersheds, including the Natural Diversity Data Base and the Wildlife Habitat Relationship System. Allen also discussed the further application of our data-gathering for mapping: not only could it be used for nominations, but as a basis for watershed assessment / monitoring / restoration projects.
If you are interested in participating in this important work for your watershed, give us a call. No experience necessary. Many different skills needed- computers, drafting, telephoning, writing and- my favorite activity- coloring with colored pencils.
Watershed Meeting
In May our Mead Grant funded a joint watershed and toxics meeting at the Willits Environmental Center.
Patty Clary from Californians for Alternatives to Toxics (CATS) in Arcata, was our guest speaker. She spoke on uses of herbicides in our forests (used by timber companies for control of hardwoods) and their deleterious effects, particularly to fish, but also to other wildlife, and to non-target plant species.
For those who were at the meeting for general toxics information, Patty continued with an update on all pesticide use in Mendocino County- including those used in orchards and vineyards, for wood preservatives, etc. Many tons-literally- of toxics are used in Mendocino County every year! Of particular concern in our discussions were health effects on workers and neighboring residents.
The watershed people continued their portion of the meeting with reports from watershed groups; with more information for sensitive watershed mapping, including how to format our mapping so that our data can be entered into computers through use of Geographic Information Systems; and with handouts sharing information on various topics relating to forestry work.
Exemption Plans
One such topic was the number of acres of exemption plans filed by timber companies in 1995 in Mendocino County. These exemption plans allow harvesting of "dead, diseased and dying" trees up to 10% of the average volume per acre and can be filed on unlimited acres, with no public notice and no review or inspection by agencies. Jackson Demonstration State Forest and Gualala Redwoods have filed property-wide exemptions of 50, 200 acres and 28,279 acres respectively! Louisiana Pacific has filed on almost 20,000 acres in Mendo County this year. The impacts from these operations can be intense-including removal of hardwoods, erosion from re-opened roads, and removal of large woody debris from the forest floor. If you see logging trucks on the road with loads of tanoak topped by a huge chunk of old growth which has obviously been in the woods for many, many years, then you are probably looking at the results of an "exemption". Greenwood Watershed Association currently has a lawsuit in the courts challenging this loophole in the Forest Practice Rules. Yes, a lot of logging trucks are being driven through it.
Enchanted Meadow, Albion
The Albion community is still poised in suspense awaiting the outcome of the lawsuit filed by Friends of Enchanted Meadow/Friends of River Estuaries challenging Louisiana Pacific's right to log in our beloved meadow and surrounding forest without having to complete an adequate watershed analysis as required by the Forest Practice Rules. This lawsuit- and the community's determination not to allow liquidation logging in our watershed- are the only roadblocks in the Albion River to LP's attempts to convert to tree farms what should be lush and biodiverse redwood forests. We are depending on the greater community to stand ready to help us protest any such practices in this unique ecosystem.
We have twice scheduled community canoe trips and picnics in Enchanted Meadow only to have Mother Nature cancel them with the substitution of spring rains. O.K. with us, of course. Stay tuned though for notice of when you can redeem your rain check. Another event will be scheduled.
For further info or ideas about how you can help please call Betty at the Mendocino Environmental Center @ 707-468-1660 or Linda Perkins in Albion @ 707-937-0903.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 1995