Kimberly Baker, employee of the Environmental Protection Information Center has been appointed to a four-year term on the Humboldt County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC).  The committee is responsible for allocating funds to projects that are located on (or affecting resources on) federal lands.  

Baker’s appointment is a great opportunity for the voice of a public land advocate to be represented in one of the decision-making processes that affect public lands and resources within Humboldt County.  When asked to comment on her appointment, Kimberly said “as a member of the Humboldt County RAC, I will do my best to encourage projects that incorporate native traditional ecological knowledge and hope to see some real progressive steps towards stimulating  local workforces and the well being of our watersheds.”

Each RAC consists of 15 members appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.  Committee members represent the community interests in three broad categories: resource based industry groups;  environmental organizations; and elected officials.

The Humboldt RAC carries out the requirements of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, which enables the Secretary of Agriculture to restore eligible resource advisory committees for the Forest Service.  According to the RAC overview: “the SRS Act authorizes the use of RACs as a mechanism for local community collaboration with federal land managers in recommending Title II projects on federal lands or that will benefit resources on federal lands.”

Title II funds may be used for projects that improve the maintenance of existing infrastructure, implementing stewardship objectives that enhance forest ecosystems, and restoring and improving land health and water quality, with at least 50 percent of all Title II funds must be used for projects that are primarily dedicated to road maintenance, decommissioning, or obliteration or restoration of streams and watersheds.

This map is available at Humboldt County General Plan GIS maps website.

Take action to protect our forests! Attend the Planning Commission Hearings throughout May and June. The Commission intends to continue the ongoing discussion of the Forest Resources section of the Humboldt County General Plan. Currently, future hearing dates identified include: May 20^th and 27^th and June 10^th , 17^th & 24^th.

It is important that we participate in the long range planning of our forests by ensuring that the General Plan preserves undeveloped timberlands and ensures long-term sustainability of timber resources.

The health of our forests is at stake. Some of the areas slated to be rezoned from Timber to Residential under the proposed General Plan alternatives include: at least 20 areas north of Highway 299 that are owned by Green Diamond Resource Company; land in and near the McKay Tract, Fieldbrook, Jacoby Creek, and Westhaven; and other places we may not yet know about.

The Commission will determine additional meeting dates depending on the volume of testimony and time necessary for deliberation. We need the community’s help to provide checks and balances in our own backyards. To view your neighborhood on the County’s interactive map that includes zoning under the General Plan Alternatives visit the County’s GIS Map website.

An example of one of the areas of concern is the McKay Tract. Developers have petitioned the County numerous times to rezone a portion of the North McKay Tract in Cutten from Timber Production (T) to Residential Low Density (RL). The proposed rezone would facilitate a sprawling 320 unit mixed use development in a forested area that exists outside of district and city boundaries. Although the County never approved the General Plan Amendment to rezone the property, it is proposed to be changed from T to RL under all of the General Plan alternatives (except the “D” the No Project Alternative). This area is of particular importance because it is adjacent to the Ryan Creek Watershed, which is habitat to the Northern Spotted Owl and Coho Salmon. (more…)

The Environmental Protection Information Center would like to thank Peggy Anderson and all of our supporters at Chautauqua Natural Foods for helping us sustain EPIC by providing us with generous contributions. In celebration of Earth day, the owners of Chautauqua Natural Foods have donated 10% of the their Earth day profits to EPIC!

Donor gifts to EPIC make a difference for the environment and in the lives of the people within our unique community and beyond. Recent funds have been helping support many projects aimed at protecting our environment, including efforts to Save Richardson’s Grove and many other ongoing projects that protect our irreplaceable natural resources. It’s contributions like this that make our work possible.

Again, thank you for your gift; we appreciate it immensely!
Sincerely,
EPIC Staff