Richardson Grove

Caltrans Bypass Battle Escalates as 12 activists are arrested defending trees

by

Caltrans has been pushing ahead with attempts to start work on their hugely destructive boondoggle highway project in Mendocino County as they bring heavy equipment into the Willits Bypass planned site, and protesters in their way have been arrested . Their work is starting with the cutting of an oak woodland, with many old, mature trees that should be protected under the Migratory Bird Act during nesting season. Last Thursday (3-21) and again on Tuesday (3-26) activists showed up on the Caltans work site to witness and to stand in the way of tree felling. Eight people were arrested late …

Read more

Caltrans Battle in Willits Wetlands Heats Up As Activists Sit Down, Blocking Equipment

by

Local opposition is rising as activists, including a tree-sitter, keep vigil on the construction site of Caltrans companion project to the Richardson Grove highway “realignment”project (on hold for now due to stellar legal work). The Caltrans Bypass project in Willits, as outlined in earlier alerts, would drain and destroy significant wetlands and take down an oak woodland used as nesting habitat for migratory birds.  Caltrans has been trying to literally bulldoze their way through federal and state regulations, bringing activists to sit down in front of heavy equipment, call in state wildlife agency biologists, and maintain a presence that has …

Read more

Activists Block Construction as Warbler Sits in Tree at Caltrans Bypass site

by

tree sitter and Willits farmer Warbler in the path of Caltrans’ plans “Warbler’s” tree sit in the path of the Caltrans Willits Bypass is over four weeks strong, and this week activists sat down in front of heavy equipment, effectively stopping Caltrans crews from fencing off the area.  Caltrans is ignoring the fact that as of Feb. 1, the Migratory Bird Act is in effect, prohibiting removal of vegetation without first surveying for birds or nests. Yellow-breasted warblers, a migratory songbird from Central America has been spotted by activists and is known to nest in the area.  The stand-off Monday was repeated on Tuesday, and …

Read more

Tree-Sit Defending North Coast Wetlands Continues!

by

Update from the Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters As readers of these posts know, a Caltrans project related to the Richardson Grove highway project (on hold for the moment) through what we believe are Caltrans’ ultimate goals (an I-5 size highway up the coast) is starting up in Willits. On the start-up date for the Willits Bypass project through sensitive wetlands and significant oak woodlands, Earth First! and local activists turned out to oppose the project in a successful rally on the site. A tree-sit was launched, and as a result, Caltrans did not work all of last week, after …

Read more

Willits Bypass Update: Caltrans Set to Start Work Jan. 2013

by

Willits Bypass Update Caltrans Work Set to Start End of January 2013 We last updated you in November re. this Caltrans boondoggle project in Mendocino County that would affect significant wetlands, an oak woodland, salmon and steelhead habitat and endangered plant species. Now, after delays and false starts, construction on the Willits Bypass is officially set to begin Jan. 28, 2013. Caltrans has received their last remaining permits from the Water Quality Board and State Fish and Wildlife Departments, giving them the green light to “top” and limb oaks, remove vegetation in the Bypass footprint and punch a haul road …

Read more