Challenge for EPIC’s Richardson Grove Legal Fund:

We need to raise $10,000 this week

Please help us achieve our goal!

Please join EPIC in protecting the old growth redwood ecosystem in Richardson Grove State Park. With your help, we can ensure the grove receives the type of stewardship that a world-class park deserves. For the last four years EPIC has successfully stopped Caltrans from starting construction on their ill-conceived project. To continue in those efforts, we need your support right now.

I am writing today to ask for your help to raise ten thousand dollars, for our Richardson Grove Legal Fund.

Will you be a part of the EPIC Challenge, and pledge your support this week?

Ancient redwoods are some of the tallest and oldest living things on earth. Old growth redwood forests provide important habitat for endangered species and a cathedral-like, peaceful setting for personal reflection. The incredible roots of these trees provide the lifeblood for their health and the structural integrity they need to stand tall. These globally famous organisms are found nowhere else on the planet except for Northern California.

Caltrans has plans to impact the structural root zone of at least 87 trees, averaging about eight feet wide, within Richardson Grove State Park.

Caltrans claims that their actions will not hurt the trees, but the California State Parks issued guidelines that clearly direct the agency on how to conduct their construction projects within parks.

“There should be no construction activities in the Structural Root Zone of a protected tree….Any Intrusion into this zone is usually accompanied by significant injury to roots further from the trunk; this will shorten the useful life of the tree in the developed area by reducing vigor and introducing root disease. Furthermore, damage to any structural roots may cause an already structurally compromised tree to become hazardous,” California State Parks Standards on construction.

Caltrans’ plan to widen Highway 101 at Richardson Grove does not address the real risks to this ancient grove, and downplays the significant economic and ecological value of our state parks. Our state parks are being starved of funds, while the narrow management focus on highway development in Richardson Grove is completely insufficient for beginning to resolve the complex economic and ecosystem protection needs of our community.

We need your support in order to stop this shortsighted project and advocate for responsible parks stewardship and transportation management in our region. Thus far, EPIC and our allies have engaged in an effective legal strategy in state and federal court that has succeeded in delaying construction. Last month, Caltrans signed a stipulation to postpone the bidding of the project until at least July 1.

This is the time to build on that momentum and to contribute to assertive advocacy for our remaining redwood ecosystems. With the incredible dedication of our supporters, EPIC has risen to the challenge facing our parks, and stepped up as a leader to protect Richardson Grove.

This message marks the launch of a fast-moving community action, as we must take assertive actions in legal arena to insure that the merits of our case are heard before any construction takes place. Your contribution helps make these actions possible.

Your donation will also help elevate our grassroots efforts to reach lawmakers in Sacramento and insure that our voices are heard.

As a community we can stop this project!

Please consider adding your support to the growing number of people pledging sizable donations to this cause. All donations are tax-deductible. Donations can remain anonymous, or can come with a public Thank You that will be part of our comprehensive strategy to achieve environmental protections across the Northwest California region.

“It seems that we have no other choice than to bring our message straight to the decision-makers,” said Kerul Dyer, EPIC’s Richardson Grove campaign coordinator. “Even with two lawsuits pending, the agency continues to barrel ahead with tunnel vision. They seem dead set on damaging the gateway into the redwood region.”

Over the last three years, the campaign to protect Richardson Grove State Park from the ill-advised Caltrans project has collected thousands of letters in opposition, generated tens of thousands of online protest actions and organized dozens of events to educate the public about the myth that local businesses need the project to thrive.

“The many citizen activists who have led this coalition have carried a message forward, but to deaf ears,” said Dyer. “These people can see no other option than to stage a rally at the doors of Caltrans. Perhaps then they will have to listen to the public’s concerns for the trees, and our local community.”

While EPIC, the Center for Biological Diversity, Californians for Alternatives to Toxins, and five citizen plaintiffs are engaged in a lawsuit challenging the plan in California and Federal courts, the grassroots campaign continues to gain momentum. A public update and planning event will take place at the Bayside Grange February 2, at 5 p.m.. In Southern Humboldt, Richardson Grove Action Now organizers have extended an invitation to meet on Sunday, February 6 at noon in the Garberville town square to coordinate efforts for their rally next monday.

For more information about the rally or other events, call (707) 602-7551 or write rgroveactionnow@gmail.com.

We are teaming up with the Center for Biological Diversity, Californians for Alternatives to Toxins and local citizens Loreen Eliason, Trisha Lee Lotus, Bruce Edwards and Jeff Hedin in our upcoming court battle.

Our plaintiff group is confident that we can protect the ancient trees at Richardson Grove, and unravel the misinformation campaign that Caltrans, big business interests and local officials have waged to promote the project.

I want to offer a special thank you to all of the amazing supporters who have made our own challenge to raise $5000 in one week to support this effort. With your help, we have had great success in exceeding our goal!

Please take a moment and read our joint press release, and keep checking back for more updates.

This filing marks an important elevation in our campaign to protect the grove, but it is only the beginning.

In addition to winning on legal merits, we must continue to build momentum so that we also might win in another, very important arena. The court of public opinion has been swayed by years of lobbying and deal-making by a few businesses influencing Caltrans and local officials to support this disastrous project.

To achieve these efforts, we will need volunteers and further financial support, as well as the support of our cultural activists, including musicians, poets and artists who support our campaign to protect Richardson Grove.We look forward to bringing our community a number of entertaining events locally to highlight the offerings made to us from a plethra of artists.

We look forward to finding many more creative ways for people who oppose this project to participate in a grassroots campaign to protect these ancient trees from harm.

Additionally, please feel free to download our Endorsed Richardson Grove Complaint (petition for writ of mandate).

Thanks for your attention!

Kerul Dyer

Richardson Grove Campaign Coordinator

Please help EPIC protect the old growth redwoods in Richardson Grove State Park. With your help, we can ensure the grove remains fully protected.

Right now, EPIC needs your help to make the kick-off for our Richardson Grove Legal Fund a success.

Already  four dedicated people have pledged to match up to $2500 to support the kick-off.

Will you be a part of the EPIC Challenge, and pledge your support this week?

Ancient redwoods are some of the tallest and oldest living things on earth. Old growth redwood forests provide important habitat for endangered species and a cathedral-like, peaceful setting for personal reflection. The incredible roots of these trees provide the lifeblood for their health and the structural integrity they need to stand tall.

Caltrans plans to impact the structural root zone of 87 protected trees, averaging about eight feet wide, within Richardson Grove State Park.

Caltrans claims that their actions will not hurt the trees, but the California State Parks issued guidelines that clearly direct the agency on how to conduct their construction projects within parks.

“There should be no construction activities in the Structural Root Zone of a protected tree….Any Intrusion into this zone is usually accompanied by significant injury to roots further from the trunk; this will shorten the useful life of the tree in the developed area by reducing vigor and introducing root disease. Furthermore, damage to any structural roots may cause an already structurally compromised tree to become hazardous,” California State Parks Standards on construction.

EPIC has now analyzed the 1200+-page environmental document. We have found substantial flaws in this defective document, leaving it vulnerable to legal challenge. We are confident that our  strategy can provide full protection for these trees and the expose the myths Caltrans and lobbyists use to mislead the public.

On May 18, Caltrans approved the record for this plan and registered it with the state. With only a month to develop a legal challenge, the deadline for EPIC to file is quickly approaching.

I am writing you today to invite you to be a part of that challenge!

This notice marks the launch of a fast-moving community action. We need to raise five thousand dollars in the next week, to make this campaign kick-off a success. As a community, we can stop this project on legal merits.

Please consider adding your support to the growing number of people pledging sizable donations to this cause. All donations are tax-deductible. Donations can remain anonymous, or can come with a loud, public Thank You.

Caltrans originally prepared a Categorical Exemption, attempting to do minimal environmental analysis for the proposed project. However, with the involvement of EPIC and other environmental advocates, Caltrans has been forced back to the drawing board to do more extensive research, stalling the proposed project in the planning process for the past year. The trees have been allowed to remain while Caltrans conducts further analysis, preparing an Environemtal Impact Report on the impacts associated with the proposed “Richardson Grove Operational Improvement Project.”

The Save Richardson Grove Campaign has already stalled Caltrans, now its our job to stop them. You can be part of winning this battle right now by joining the campaign, educating yourself, signing postcards, petitioning your elected officials, reviewing the environmental documents for inadequacies, publishing opinion articles in news outlets or by doing your own unique something to spread awareness and stop the project!

Click on the links below to view Caltrans’ environmental analysis documents for the proposed Richardson Grove highway widening project:

• Caltrans’ Draft Environmental Impact Report - Full Report
• Appendix I Natural Environment Study - Includes analysis of biological resources
• Appendix L Layout Maps – Includes maps of proposed tree and root removal
• Purpose and Need

The Save Richardson Grove Campaign has been accumulating community support for efforts to stop Caltrans’ widening project through the grove. View the pages below to learn more about the Campaign to Save Richardson Grove and find out how you can get involved:

Take Action Now!

Caltrans plans to release their final proposal in May of 2010, and will stop accepting public comments at that time. Please visit EPIC’s action center to send a letter to Caltrans, to let them know your feelings about the Richardson Grove project.

Sign up for EPIC’s Save Richardson Grove listserve

You can receive regular updates about upcoming events and campaign developments. We can update you on our efforts to stop the Caltrans project threatening old growth redwoods in Richardson Grove State Park.

Join the Coalition to Save Richardson Grove.

This group of organizers has kept the heat on CalTrans and have brought many issues to light.  Already this group has successfully forced CalTrans to produce environmental planning documents to examine expected impacts of the proposed project.

The Big Picture: A Sacred Place, Not a Truck Rodeo

Widening the highway through Richardson Grove is just the first step in a larger scheme to alter the character of the county; to rob it of its quaint charm and turn it into a replica of so many Los Angeles suburbs.

Donate to EPIC’s “Save Richardson Grove Fund”

The power is in your hands, EPIC needs support from people like you to keep the Richardson Grove campaign going. We are up against large scale developers with unlimited budgets. Every donation helps.