The Bear Creek watershed, located between Humboldt Redwoods State Park and the town of Stafford, drains approximately 5,360 acres of land and is owned entirely by Pacific Lumber Company. Bear Creek was showing signs of recovery from intensive logging fifty years ago, but more logging-related landslides caused extensive damage last winter. There are currently several active logging plans in the watershed, and four additional Timber Harvest Plans (THPs) are in various stages of the approval process.
The majority of the Bear Creek watershed was first logged between 1942 and 1955. When heavy rains came down in December of 1955, landslides were triggered that "caused the channel to be filled with 20 feet or more of soil, rocks, and debris" (July 31, 1959, memorandum, L.H. McCollum, Forester for Pacific Lumber Co.). With time and extensive stream restoration projects, however, Bear Creek was regaining the components of healthy fish habitat, and coho salmon were detected there in 1992.
Meanwhile, logging intensified again in the watershed, and almost 3,000 acres, or 56%, were approved for cutting since Maxxam took over Pacific Lumber in 1986. Heavy rains during the winter of 1996-97 once again destabilized the freshly cut slopes, and landslides originating from logging roads and cut-over lands wiped out vegetation and stream banks down the entire length of the creek. According to the Department of Fish and Game (DFG), representatives of which visited the area in September of 1997, all but one of the "...84 instream habitat improvement structures have been completely destroyed or buried." These structures were put in place by the California Conservation Corps to help recover salmon habitat in Bear Creek at a public cost of almost $100,000.
DFG filed a scathing report on the Bear Creek debris torrent, noting that the stream channel had been buried under several feet of sediment, and that downed logs and other woody debris that provide crucial shelter to young salmon during the summer low-flow period were completely eliminated. According to the report, the debris torrent also resulted in "near complete elimination" of sheltering pools in the stream, and vegetation along the main stem of Bear Creek (which provides critical shade in hot weather) had been enitrely destroyed.
A THP that was withdrawn by Pacific Lumber because of these problems, 1-97-273, is expected to be resubmitted in upcoming weeks. Two additional THPs were submitted in November, 1-97-463 and 1-97-487. 1-97-463 proposes to log 133 acres and build approximately 8,000 feet of new road. It would clearcut 20 acres, a portion of which was selectively logged only two years ago. 1-97-487 proposes to log 200 acres.
THP 1-96-574 was approved in July of this year. Long-time restoration activist Richard Gienger subsequently filed a lawsuit on the plan, writing briefs and presenting arguments himself. The judge approved a temporary restraining order in August to delay logging at least until the case was heard, but only if Gienger could supply a
million-dollar bond.
Tree-sitters occupied the area for three months, yet today nearly the entire
THP area has been logged. Pacific Lumber indicated they will argue for dismissal
of Gienger's lawsuit because the completed logging now makes issues in the
case moot, but Gienger says he will continue to pursue the case to prove the
agencies abused their discretion in approving the plan. To support Richard
Gienger's work to protect and restore this damaged habitat, please send donations
to EPIC and note that you would like them to go toward this project. If you
are interested in writing comments to oppose these timber harvest plans, please
contact Cynthia at (707) 923-2931 or epic@wildcalifornia.org.
