Watershed Update from the Mattole Restoration Council
March 1, 2003
Greetings from the Mattole! The Mattole River watershed, located in southern Humboldt County, empties into the Pacific south of Cape Mendocino, the farthest west point in the state, about 50 miles south of Eureka. The Mattole River provides crucial spawning habitat for imperiled populations of Coho, Chinook, and steelhead. Its slopes drain into the Upper and Lower North Forks of the Mattole. Most of the headwaters area of these streams is owned by the Pacific Lumber Company (PL).
Since 1947, 92% of the old-growth forest in the Mattole watershed has been logged. PL owns the last remaining unprotected old-growth stands in the watershed, which coincidentally contain one of the largest coastal old-growth Douglas fir forests in the California. A myriad of endangered or threatened species reside here. Unfortunately all of the old growth that can be legally harvested is slated for removal.
In May 2001, the Mattole Restoration Council (MRC) with help from numerous individuals and groups, undertook a campaign to convince the state to purchase the property from PL. It became the Rainbow Ridge Project. Hundreds of letters were written and the message came across loud and clear. With the passage of Proposition 40 in March 2002 our hopes were high. Even PL seemed to be delaying logging already approved timber harvest plans. The company had publicly stated that they were in deep trouble and that they really wanted to concentrate their holdings on redwood. Unfortunately, after numerous meetings the powers that be at the state level confided in us that they would not buy such a large chunk without local support and other sources of funding. Local support we had shown. Other sources of funding are still needed.
Without the greenbacks waving before them, PL started harvesting all the approved plans last June. Tears poured while many tried to stop them. A devastating 675 acres were harvested from the Rainbow Ridge area, almost twice the cut from the year before. There are 3 current plans, one pending approval by CDF for 125 acres, one pending second review with 113 acres, and another 80-acre plan which is coming up for review. The MRC still reviews and provides comment on all the THPs in the watershed. We are regularly in contact with the state agencies responsible for upholding the public trust. The Rainbow Ridge Project continues to seek further funding. It is harder and harder to witness the forests unraveling. Yet for the survival of all the critters in such a precious forest and for the integrity of the watershed the struggle continues.
For further information see the Mattole Restoration Council's web site at www.mattole.org.
