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In the beginning. . .
We were asked to pity the plight of the cattle who had to be off-loaded from smaller trucks to the larger ones across the Mendocino county line. After legislation was passed to exempt these trucks from the length restriction, other business owners were rallied to make the argument that their transportation costs should be subsidized by taxpayers through road-widening. And though it is true that some businesses pay extra costs for off-loading, there is no comprehensive evidence that suggests that all businesses and/or residents would be better off if Highway 101 were widened. At stake are issues of economic growth, the nature of doing business here, and what our sense of place means to all of us in Humboldt, not to mention how the redwoods will survive the construction.
EPIC joins other groups in Humboldt County in calling for Caltrans to conduct a full Environmental Impact Study/Report in order to realistically assess the effects of their plan on the ancient redwoods and endangered species that populate Richardson Grove State Park.
Why is the realignment so important, and what are some of the potential impacts of this project?
Highway 101 through Richardson Grove State Park is not built to federal specifications under the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, which generated regulations for road building and transportation standards.
Currently, longer trucks used for interstate transportation ("STAA trucks") are prohibited from travel on this part of Highway 101, which some say is the narrowest stretch of its entire distance. Some business owners in Humboldt County have to pay higher transportation costs in order to accommodate off-loading from larger trucks to smaller vehicles outside the restricted zone and have been looking for a way to alter the highway so that the STAA trucks could come through. For more specifics on STAA truck requirements, download this PDF (document courtesy of Caltrans).
In 2001 Caltrans conducted a feasibility study to consider various alternatives, including a tunnel running under eastern bank of the Eel River and a bypass that stretched across the mountains east of the river. These alternatives were extremely expensive--the cheapest at $75 million and the highest at $600 million, estimated in 2001 dollars. The two bypass proposals and the tunnel plan would have incurred far greater environmental impact than what is planned for the realignment project.
The Wiggins Bill
A law permitting an exception for cattle trucks recently "sunsetted" (that is, its time limit was reached and its effect expired). State Senator Patricia Wiggins introduced Senate Bill 773 to extend this exception until January 1, 2012, which the California legislature passed in October 2007. This bill also authorized Caltrans to conduct a "comprehensive study of the effect the exemption...has on the public safety..., make recommendations on future exemptions... and appropriate safety improvements."
Whose business is Humboldt's business?
Originally posed by County business boosters as a problem for Humboldt's cattle ranchers, recently Humboldt County, through its Economic Development Department, sponsored a survey to "research" the effects of the trucking restrictions on other businesses. The survey is specifically directed toward businesses that import or export goods, and is not a needs assessment of Humboldt businesses in general.
In a recent presentation to members of the Eureka Chamber of Commerce, several business owners from northern Humboldt County reported paying high premiums for transporting goods in and out of the county because of access restrictions on Highway 101 as well as other points north (Routes 199 and 197 in Del Norte County) and east (Route 299 towards Redding). See Del Norte County's Goods Movement Action Plan for clues on how STAA trucks fit into their development plans, and how it might be related to Humboldt County's vision for our future.
It's a TRUCK problem
Drivers can be ticketed, and currently we see many STAA trucks thundering through the Grove, not all of them transporting cattle. But many trucking companies will not take this chance, requiring local businesses to pay additional fees and make arrangements to schedule smaller, intermediate trucks to travel beyond the restricted area to offload and reload merchandise and supplies. Often it's just a matter of switching cabs, which shortens the overall length and thus meets access requirements. The truck drivers have to await return of the trailer, getting paid for their time and expenses as they wait--sometimes incurring the costs of lodging as well as meals and hourly wages. Undoubtedly, this is an added expense for businesses that choose to operate in Humboldt County. Despite the survey, however, we do not have any idea how many businesses in Humboldt County are affected by this restriction, nor do we know what percentage of businesses are affected by these restrictions. The North Coast Prosperity survey is what's called a "push-poll," producing specific information to support a particular point of view without regard for the overall problem. No case has been made for statistically significant economic damage being done with regard to the County's overall business base.
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What is the economic impact of the construction and the resulting change to Richardson Grove, the first breath of ancient redwood forest as travelers arrive in Humboldt?
Humboldt County, and much of northern Mendocino, depend on the natural resources for our industries of attraction, thus a change in configuration of Richardson Grove and the possible resulting increase in traffic of huge tractor-trailers through our Grove would hardly improve our economy and could very likely damage the ancient trees. Lacking deep taproots, ancient redwoods instead depend on an extensive matrix of shallow but powerful interconnections throughout the "A horizon" or the top layer of soil, on the forest floor. Caltrans says they will have to cut these roots in places where the road will be moved into the forest (up to about 17 feet at one point), and, although they believe the trees won't be harmed, they really don't know that the trees will survive such injury. There is some belief that the impact of road compaction on redwood root systems could be a factor in the die-back we see among the redwoods along the Avenue of the Giants (personal communication, S. Sillett). Although we have had difficulty locating scientific studies that were specifically conducted on redwood roots, it is common forestry knowledge that root compaction causes severe injury, even death, in trees. See report by University of Georgia Professor of Forestry, Dr. Kim D. Coder: "Soil Compaction Impacts on Tree Roots."
Moreover, if we lose local businesses, our ability to support a critical emergency services unit based in Piercy would be severely undermined. The economic impact of the construction itself must be evaluated and appropriate compensation considered for Piercy Fire District, as any reduction in employment among the businesses in that cluster around the Humboldt/Mendocino County line will affect the volunteer pool for the District and thus paralyze the life-saving emergency rescue capacity they now provide to citizens from Benbow to Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area.
What are some of the potential impacts of this project?
Caltrans originally planned to release their environmental studies in November 2007. They have postponed the release date until April 2008, which is when their studies will be available for public comment. Of immediate concern are Marbled Murrelets, an endangered species that nests in ancient redwoods. Caltrans has said their preliminary studies indicate the murrelet will not be affected by the project. They expect to produce what is known as a "negative declaration," which means they have determined that there will be no significant impact on the resources under consideration. Both Kim Floyd, the plan's project manager, and Deborah Harmon, Caltrans District One's Chief of Environmental Planning, have stated that they are conducting environmental studies according to state and federal guidelines and nothing they see so far indicates the need for a full EIS/R. Such documents are specifically directed protocols under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and produce a much more extensive and inclusive range of issues than the EA/Negative Declaration Caltrans is conducting.
Slopes
How will the shaving of two hillsides worth of earth and undergrowth, taking up to 30 trees just beyond the north perimeter of the Park property, affect not only the remaining trees, but the overall canopy of the area? Certainly the aesthetic value of that stretch across from the Singing Trees property will be impacted without those trees shading the road. We are only now beginning to comprehend the quantities of water released by trees and their contribution to the watershed through transpiration. Any trees we lose in this Grove will cause additional water loss for the Eel River. In addition, geological maps suggest that the landslide problem just north of the area where Caltrans will be cutting back hillside growth and constructing a 260-foot-long retaining wall may be exacerbated by dislodging of so much earth, yet there are no plans to address that slide spot.
Fill areas
We are greatly concerned about the proposal to shift the road east some 17 feet into an area of the Park that in addition will need to be raised by several feet. Caltrans claims that an unspecified number of trees will come down, including a "young" redwood, which they have declined to identify. When asked how many trees would be cut, Project Manager Kim Floyd has said that the numbers are still being "refined" and that an answer would be forthcoming in April, when the environmental studies are published. Although the project design calls for ecologically sensitive methods and materials in creating the fill, official statements by Caltrans discuss their need to cut redwood roots, which will surely have a harmful impact on the overall health of the forest. It may very well result in die-back among our ancient trees, which has not been seen in Richardson Grove, as it has in other areas like Avenue of the Giants.
Air quality
Without a full EIS/R, we won't have data about how this project will affect greenhouse gas emissions, but we can say without a doubt that taking out upwards of 30 trees and their undergrowth in a 350-foot stretch along the highway will contribute to the decline in air quality that occurs with deforestation in general. Will the Caltrans Environmental Assessment take into account the impact of tree transpiration on this ecosystem, on this watershed, the value of trees' contribution to air quality, climate control, and rain production? California has committed to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. A scientific assessment of how the proposed project would affect traffic patterns and impact global warming is thus called for.
No-Build Alternative
In addition to people living in Humboldt County, many other citizens both near (in northern Mendocino, for example) and far (in the Bay area and beyond) have joined with us in expressing their rejection of more growth for the sake of growth, in rejecting the trumping of the bottom line over all other values and concerns, and in calling for Caltrans (once again) to stop this assault on the fragility and natural beauty of Richardson Grove.
What Will Five Million Dollars Buy Humboldt County?
Governor Schwarzenegger's proposals for the 2008 State budget slash, by millions of dollars, Health and Human Services, K-12 and Higher Education funding--hurting the poorest and least prepared, damaging our future by short-circuiting the most basic needs of our families. Couldn't we spend this money elsewhere in our county or elsewhere in the State? For example, the cost to replace the current 40mph advisories with 30mph signs would address public safety issues as well as dramatically reduce the cost of the project, environmentally and fiscally. Observe the precautionary principle: DO NO HARM!
Tell these people
HANDS OFF RICHARDSON GROVE!
Will Kempton
Caltrans Director
1120 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Senator Pat Wiggins
50 D Street, #120A
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Assemblymember Patty Berg
235 Fourth Street, Suite C
Eureka, CA 95501
Congressman Mike Thompson
c/o Liz Marguia
317 3rd Street
Eureka, CA 95501
Ruth Coleman, Director
Dept of Parks & Recreation
1416 9th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Donald J. Robinson, Chairman
California State Parks Foundation
PO Box 548
Kentfield, CA 94914