Update on North Coast Forest Issues on Our Radar: Caltrans Threats to Forests, Wetlands and Native Culture Remain on BACH’s Agenda

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Richardson Grove  Things are quiet at the moment regarding Caltrans’ boondoggle highway expansion      plans through the old growth redwood forest as we await new environmental planning   documents from Caltrans.  Defeated in Federal Court in 2012 by the environmental groups, Caltrans ultimately withdrew the project in December, 2014, but subsequently announced they would start the process over again. The transportation agency insists on taking another whack at this costly and unnecessary project, for reasons unfathomable to most of us. Last year an additional group of Richardson Grove activists expanded the campaign by forming the Coalition for Responsible Transportation …

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Willits News Journalist Arrested at Bypass Construction Suing for False Arrest ::: Trial in San Francisco Under Way ::: Support Good Journalism on Environmental Issues!

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False Arrest Trial Underway in SF Federal Court Related to Caltrans Willits Bypass Debacle Steve Eberhard, a professional (and award-winning) photographer and journalist with The Willits News was arrested in July 2013, while attempting to document a protest against the disastrous (for the earth) Caltrans freeway bypass project.  See links below for more details and a video of his arrest. Eberhard filed a false arrest suit almost three years ago. The case is finally being heard beginning with jury selection on February 22 in San Francisco Federal Court, 450 Golden Gate Ave, Floor 19, Room 11, Judge Donato presiding.  The case is expected to take most of two …

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Judi Bari Day is May 24!

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May 24, 2015 is the 25th anniversary of the attack on Earth First! activists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney by car bomb in Oakland in 1990 as Redwood Summer dawned.   The Judi Bari Day event at the Berkeley U-U Fellowship Hall (1924 Cedar at Bonita) will feature special guest performer LAURIE LEWIS, legendary songwriter, fiddler and vocalist.   Doors  7 PM; the program begins at 7:30   After comments and updates by musician and film-maker DARRYL CHERNEY and others, the documentary film “WHO BOMBED JUDI BARI?” will be screened. Karen Pickett will host the program, and facilitate a Q …

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Comment now: TELL CALTRANS that Richardson Grove, Willits Bypass and 197/199 Smith River Projects Contradict Their Own Goals

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Tell Caltrans that big trucks don’t mix with big trees, wild rivers & wetlands!    Caltrans has released a long-term planning document, called the Caltrans Transportation Plan (CTP) 2040.  The agency opened a short comment period, which ENDS APRIL 17.  In keeping with our Put the Brakes on Caltrans campaign to put a halt to the environmentally disastrous plans on the north coast, we are submitting comments pertinent to those projects. Please take a minute to send Caltrans comments. We need to tell Caltrans that Californians prioritize big redwoods, lush wetlands, threatened species and wild rivers over giant big rigs! The link to submit comments …

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Richardson Grove Attack Redux Announced

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Caltrans Just Won’t Quit Even When They Are Wrong…So Wrong. It appeared for a time that the jackhammer shovels had been called off excavation duty around feeder roots of the redwood giants in Richardson Grove State Park. However, Caltrans just announced they plan to release new documents in the fall of 2015 to restart the project with a goal of making Hwy. 101 more accessible to over sized trucks. This announcement came only three months after news celebrated in early December 2014 that the highway agency would be withdrawing their permit documents in an agreement with the courts. Successful lawsuits–thanks …

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Caltrans’ Construction of Bypass Collapses: Workers Hurt; Alkaline Cement in Salmon Stream

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With a crash and a roar, a 150 Ft. section of Caltrans’ Willits Bypass collapses, sending workers to the hospital. You can view an ABC story with dramatic video at http://abc7news.com/traffic/investigation-continues-on-collapsed-willits-freeway/498503/ On Jan. 22, 2015, a 150-foot section of a 30 ft. elevated viaduct, part of the “Willits Bypass” on Highway 101 in Northern California collapsed as concrete was being poured into forms. With a tremendous roar, the elaborately constructed ‘falseworks’ crashed to the ground in a tangle of twisted steel, splintered timbers, crumpled rebar and wet concrete. Workers said they ran for their lives and several “rode it down”. Five …

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Great News for Redwoods; Demo Report-Back; Caltrans Wants More $$

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First the good news:   I.  Ancient Richardson Grove Redwoods are Safe for the Forseeable Future!   Caltrans has WITHDRAWN its Environmental Assessment and approvals for this ill-conceived, potentially devastating highway expansion project in the ancient redwoods of Richardson Grove State Park, keeping the precious grandmother trees safe from jack-hammer shovels (for now, and we hope forever).  Accompanying this action, the hard-fighting legal eagles waging this battle in court have withdrawn their lawsuits that have kept this project at bay until this victory. This action does not preclude Caltrans from re-proposing the project, but they would have to start over from …

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Join A.I.M. elders, Pomo Indian People & Earth Defenders for a Demonstration in S.F. Nov. 18 to protest desecration of Ancient Pomo Indian Sites!

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On Tuesday, Nov. 18, Native American Tribal members, including direct descendants of the Pomo peoples who once populated the Little Lake Valley (Mendocino Co.) where Caltrans is currently building an oversized freeway bypass, will join environmental groups and AIM elders to protest the desecration of archaeological sites and destruction of wetlands. The protest will be at the San Francisco office of the Army Corps of Engineers, 1455 Market St. at noon. The Army Corps, as the permitting agency, has the authority to down-size the project, sparing both wetlands and many archaeological sites. Instead, they have stonew-alled Tribal members’ attempts to …

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