SPI Plans Intensive Old-Growth Logging

Public comments are needed on an extreme logging plan proposed by Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI). For two years, SPI has been pushing for a 540-acre logging plan that would clear-cut on steep slopes that “frequently exceed 100%,” according to a regional manager at the Department of Fish and Game. The plan, which is laid out over the Davis Creek and Bear River watersheds, proposes to cut 29 units to create a patch work of clear-cuts in old-growth forest that is home to threatened and endangered species, including Northern Spotted Owl, Golden Eagle, Mountain Beaver, Sonoma Tree Vole, Chinook and Coho salmon.

SPI chairman Red Emmerson is the largest private landowner in North America. He owns 1.5 million of the 4.57 million acres of timber industry land in California. Mr. Emmerson is ranked #192 on the Forbes 500 list of private corporations in the U.S and is ranked #165 on the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans (based on an estimated worth of $1.5 billion) and ranked #378 on the 2003 list of world richest people, up from #421 in 2002.

In the 1970’s, the forest was magnificent with many trees exceeding 10’ in diameter. The current harvest plan area was then owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) until a land swap with SPI in 1983. This land swap was a part of a package deal to consolidate land holdings in the BLM King Range. This land had remained mostly un-entered virgin forest until a series of Timber Harvest Plans were filed by SPI starting in 1990. Since that time 14 harvest plans have been cut in the planning watershed which removed all but 4% of the original forests in the area. The sensitive area and the rapid rate of harvest in this watershed have left a series of impacts that have worsened over time and are not addressed in this harvest plan.

Davis Creek has been greatly impaired by the logging of large trees in zones near waterways. Landslides from recent harvesting caused a higher than natural rate of aggradation in this small coastal salmon bearing stream. Every inch of salmon habitat is precious to the people of the state of California.

As tree farms proliferate and wood–products substitutes come on the market, cutting of old growth is an antiquated practice. The value of old growth cannot be measured in current market price by board feet only. The value of Old Growth must also be measured in conservation values such as acres of habitat provided for isolated populations of endangered wildlife, and stability for sensitive and unstable hill slopes. The higher value of these trees is in their conservation values. It is economically feasible for SPI to exclude ancient trees and inner gorge areas from this logging plan.

The end of public comment period is on or around March 3, 2005, depending on timing of a written response from SPI’s Registered Professional Forester (RPF) that addresses the concerns and issues aired by the Dept. of Fish and Game and citizens during a January 26th review hearing held at the Fortuna office of the state Department of Forestry.

Send Public comments to:

California Department of Forestry
Attn: Forest Practice
135 Ridgeway Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA95401
santarosapubliccomment [at] fire.ca.gov

For more pictures of the threatened area, go here: http://gallery.wildcalifornia.org/THP-1-03-232-Sierra-Pacific-Industries