Army Corps caves and reinstates suspended permit; campaign continues

by

After taking a strong stand against Caltrans’ multiple violations in the wetlands by suspending their work permit on June 20, the Army Corps of Engineers on July 10  caved in and reinstated the 404 permit. The permit was reinstated under conditions, but many conditions are promises that Caltrans has been making all along. Caltrans committed to accelerate work on the complicated and extensive mitigation for wetlands destruction, and add additional mitigation, supposedly to compensate for delays in starting mitigation work. Will that mean successful mitigation?  Ask the fish and the birds. The value of the wetlands being lost is immeasurable …

Read more

Activists Defend Old Growth in Mattole River Valley

by

Timber Wars Continue As Humboldt Activists Begin New Tree Sit To Defend Unlogged Forest In Mattole Watershed: Resistance to Humboldt Redwood Company’s (HRC) plans to cut hundreds of acres of previously unlogged forest have escalated with the creation of a new tree sit blocking road access to the Long Ridge area in the Mattole. “We see HRC’s plans to log old growth Doug fir in the Mattole watershed as a ‘testing of the waters’, in that if they get away with it, more old growth forest will come crashing down” said the activist tree sitter who is suspended 70 ft. …

Read more

Categories Uncategorized

Caltrans Permit for Willits Bypass Project SUSPENDED!

by

Willits, CA—In a move that was welcomed by but that stunned long-time opponents of the highway project and stung Caltrans, the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) suspended the permit for the Caltrans Willits Bypass on Friday, June 20, reported ABC News. ACE is the agency that regulates impacts on federally protected wetlands.   “This appears to be the first time ACE has ever pulled a permit on an approved project under construction,” said Ellen Drell, co-founder of the Willits Environmental Center, one of the project’s opponents.” We are surprised and elated that ACE has finally acted, although we have been …

Read more

Join Us for Stomp the Stumps annual music & dance benefit ! Friday, May 16

by

      The 16th annual Stomp the Stumps! brings together some of the Bay Area’s most dedicated political rock and dance bands for fundraising concerts to help save what’s left of natural Northern California. Longtime Stumpers the Funky Nixons and the Gary Gates Band perform before fellow returnees Curly cap the night. A rockin’ benefit for Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters at Ashkenaz Club: MAY 16! 1317 San Pablo Ave. at Gilman, Berkeley 94702 doors @ 8; music @8:30   3 dance beat bands: Funky Nixons, house band of Peoples’ Park and proponents of all good causes in the Bay brings …

Read more

Caltrans is out of step with the times, says independent study. Write a letter today to add your voice for redwoods and wetlands!

by

Sometimes—if you keep broadcasting your message logically, accurately and persistently, the echo comes back to you when you hear those in decision-making capacities using the same words.   Please write to Brian Kelley, Secretary, Calif. State Transportation Agency, Sen. Mark DeSaulnier, Chair, State Senate Transportation Committee, with cc to Gov. Jerry Brown (addresses below)   Caltrans is seriously out of step with the times, with the needs of the state of California, and with the ecological imperative. We have been voicing this for a long time, and now an independent study has come to that same conclusion. The Report, the …

Read more

Please Write This Letter to the Water Board Today!

by

Regional Water Board Should Issue Cease & Desist Order on Caltrans for Permit Violations   Please write to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB) and urge them to put the issue of Mendocino wetlands being drained and filled without a mitigation plan by Caltrans on their March 13 agenda, and act on Caltrans’ intransigence in carrying out the Willits Bypass project. Caltrans, as part of their contract for their Bypass project in Willits was required to have an approved mitigation plan funded, in place and staffed before proceeding with the draining of the wetlands. The lack of …

Read more

Richardson Grove Update: WIN in Appeals Court!

by

Appeals Court Reverses State Court Giving Green Light to Richardson Grove Highway Project   See our report from the Courtroom in our Jan. 21 update here. The following is excerpted from the Center for Biological Diversity’s press release:   The California Court of Appeal today ordered Caltrans to reevaluate the environmental impacts of a controversial highway-widening project in Humboldt County that would harm irreplaceable old-growth redwood trees in Richardson Grove State Park. The appeals court unanimously found that Caltrans failed to follow the law in assessing impacts on ancient redwoods and providing mitigation measures to reduce potentially severe harm to …

Read more

Protester gets reduced charges ::<>::<>:: Bypass opponents to converge on Water Board meeting

by

  Update on trial of Caltrans Bypass protester, journalist and Crane-Sitter Will Parrish, scheduled for trial Jan. 28 and facing possible 8 years in jail:      (See Jan. 21, 2014 post)   After a hearing in Mendocino County Court Jan. 23, a settlement was reached that cancelled the upcoming trial, scheduled for Jan. 28.   The particulars of the settlement are:   *15 of the 17 misdemeanors were dropped, retaining two charges of trespass, which drop to infractions after a probation period of 24 months. *100 hours of community service *Two years probation, during which entry of judgment is deferred –i.e., …

Read more

Two court reports: Richardson Grove redwoods last week; Willits Bypass Protester in Court this week

by

  Report Back from Jan. 15, 2014 Court of Appeals in S.F. hearing arguments to reverse the previous State Court decision in the Richardson Grove case EPIC attorney Sharon Duggan delivered excellent and compelling arguments before the 3-judge panel, showing that the potentially catastrophic impacts on the ancient redwoods were not addressed by Caltrans in their EIR, saying “there is nothing minor about 73 redwood trees being impacted.” This, contrary to Caltrans documents saying there would be “no significant impact” from their pneumonic spade equipment 2 foot deep excavation around the roots of the old growth redwoods.  The Caltrans attorney …

Read more

Richardson Grove Court Hearing: Jan. 15, 9 a.m., Court of Appeals, S.F.

by

You are encouraged to attend a hearing at the State Court of Appeals that will hear oral arguments challenging previous findings from the State Court re. Caltrans’ plans to “realign” Highway 101 through the old growth of Richardson Grove State Park in Humboldt County. Lawsuits to stop highway work within the park were launched in both State and Federal Court. The injunction from environmentalists’ win in federal court have held off heavy equipment thus far–you will hear more about the federal case soon. The same environmental groups, however, lost in state court via an unfortunate decision by a judge in …

Read more