Update – November, 2019: Added Pre-Harvest Inspection report by California Department of Fish and Wildlife, along with the attached “Revised Flood Prone Area Assessment of the Little THP” and two maps from that attachment. Also added a letter from National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) commenting on the Little THP. — see below. Gualala Redwoods Timber has submitted another floodplain logging …
Read More »The Latest from FoGR
Wine Moguls Destroy Land And Pay Small Fines As Cost Of Business, Say Activists
by Alastair Bland, Nation Public Radio’s “The Salt,” November 18, 2019 [excerpt:] After California wine industry mogul Hugh Reimers illegally destroyed at least 140 acres of forest, meadow and stream in part to make way for new vineyards sometime last winter, according to a report from state investigators, state officials ordered the Krasilsa Pacific Farms manager to repair and mitigate …
Read More »Redwood Coast Land Conservancy buying 112 acres near Gualala River and regional park
by Mary Callahan, The Press Democrat, November 4, 2019 [excerpt:] A 112-acre swath of land just inside the mouth of the Gualala River, including 13 acres of river frontage adjacent to Gualala Point Regional Park, is on its way to permanent preservation for public recreation and habitat conservation. Long sought by the community to improve public access to the river …
Read More »Intact Forests in the United States: Proforestation Mitigates Climate Change and Serves the Greatest Good
Climate change and its consequences are arguably the biggest existential threat to mankind and life on earth. Any foreseeable levels of reductions in greenhouse gas emissions will not be enough to meet the conservative 2.0º C target that climate scientists say is needed. We need to increase carbon sequestration in existing forests, wetlands and soils. This study points to conserving …
Read More »Forest regs a self-defeating glut
by Paul Mann Mad River Union, June 10, 2016 [excerpt:] Timber industry officials and environmental activists warn that the state’s logging safeguards have become a bureaucratic snarl that can drag out rule-making for a decade and a half and more. Experts say that 43 years after the enactment of the Forest Practice Act, timescales are so out of joint that …
Read More »How a Timber Harvest Plan Works, and How to Comment on THPs – EPIC
The Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) provides a wealth of information on forestry issues in northern California, including: How a Timber Harvest Plan Works Timber Harvest Plans in California: Review, Tracking, and Comment Writing – THP Workshop EPIC is a community based, non-profit organization that advocates for science-based protection and restoration of Northwest California’s Forests.
Read More »CalFire approves third Dogwood THP; legal fight continues
by W. W. Keller August 9, 2019 © copyright 2019, Independent Coast Observer, Gualala, CA reprinted with permission In a letter dated July 31, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection or CalFire approved the third controversial Dogwood timber harvest plan stating, “You may begin timber operations proposed in the plan.” But while the letter says that property owner …
Read More »Our local watershed protection organization: Friends of Gualala River
by Tempra Board Soundings, Summer, 2019 © copyright 2019, The Sea Ranch Association reprinted with permission Friends of Gualala River (FoGR) has been in the news lately for its efforts to compel state agencies to protect sensitive Gualala River watershed habitat from the latest in a series of Timber Harvest Plans (THPs) proposed by the Gualala Redwood Timber (GRT) company. Get …
Read More »Gualala River park idea garners 1,100 signatures
and 3,000 signatures oppose third Dogwood logging plan by W. W. Keller news@mendonoma.com May 31, 2019 © copyright 2019, Independent Coast Observer, Gualala, CA reprinted with permission The Gualala River Park Coalition, a grassroots environmental organization, has collected more than 1,100 signatures from people who would rather turn the Gualala River floodplain into a public park than see its redwoods …
Read More »Students Protecting the Coast
ACORN Partners in Education’s Students Protecting the Coast program with Pacific Community Charter School 6th-8th grade students and Friends of Gualala River.
Read More »Ladies’ Day Steelhead – December, 1915
This photo is typical of how it was, back in the day when fishermen could walk across the backs of steelhead and Salmon in the Gualala River. No one considered conservation, because there were so many fish. Unfortunately with habitat degradation and people all killing their limit, things have changed radically. Now that the regulations require catch and release, …
Read More »Dogwood floodplain logging plan, comments by Dr. Peter Baye, May 2019
Comments by Dr. Peter Baye (coastal ecologist, botanist) on the latest version of the “Dogwood” floodplain logging plan (THP 1-15-042-SON): Download & read the entire letter (8 pages, 310 KB) The entire letter is well worth reading, but here’s a short excerpt (not a summary) to whet your appetite: Seasonal wetlands are widespread in the floodplain of the river, …
Read More »Opponents of logging plan along Gualala River dream of expanding park
by Mary Callahan, The Press Democrat, April 25, 2019 [excerpt:] Provoked by a new round of scrutiny over hard-fought plans to harvest timber in the Gualala River floodplain, a contingent of North Coast residents has launched a petition drive to use the land for expansion of a public park instead. It’s the stuff of fantasy for the moment, given the …
Read More »Vision for a Gualala River Park
Spanning from bridge to bridge along a wild and scenic river A unique and majestic coastal redwood park with paths wandering along the Gualala River – protected and preserved for this and future generations to visit and enjoy. The park would preserve a seven mile corridor important for wildlife and complete with natural beauty. Public access to world class second …
Read More »Dogwood floodplain logging plan reopened for public comment
CAL FIRE has reopened the Dogwood Timber Harvest Plan (THP 1-15-042-SON) once again for public comment. Friends of Gualala River’s (FoGR) preliminary assessment of the recirculated Dogwood THP is presented in summary form below, for consideration by any citizen or organization preparing comments on the recirculated THP. FoGR encourages all commenters to independently read and assess relevant parts of the …
Read More »Invitation to Earth Day in Gualala: Monday, April 22
Friends of Gualala River (FoGR) will be hosting a table at the upcoming community Earth Day at the Gualala Community Center on Monday, April 22, 2019 from 2-5 PM. The theme for this event is climate change and what our community can do. We invite you to visit our table, hear the general presentations, enjoy light refreshments and join discussions. …
Read More »Dear Supporters of Friends of Gualala River
Friends of Gualala River (FoGR) held a successful Public Forum recently. One of the highlights was the presentation of the importance of the Gualala River’s floodplain by Dr. Peter Baye. If you missed the Forum, you can download a pdf version of Peter’s slideshow presentation. Peggy Berryhill of KGUA radio also recorded some of Peter’s presentation that night, though …
Read More »April 27-28, 2019: “The Beautiful Tree” – A Regional History of the Tanoak
Download flyer (pdf) Annapolis Historical Society presents “The Beautiful Tree” A Regional History of the Tanoak An exhibit celebrating the local legacy of a coastal resource Old Horicon Schoolhouse Saturday – Sunday, April 27-28, 2019 12 – 5 p.m. Free to the public Light refreshments provided
Read More »Importance of the Gualala River Floodplain: Presentation by Dr. Peter Baye
Presented at Friends of Gualala River’s Public Forum on March 5, 2019. Download: Download a pdf version (4 MB) of the presentation: Importance of the Gualala River Floodplain: Presentation by Dr. Peter Baye Audio excerpts: 1. Peter Baye describes Gualala River floodplain: 2. Peter Baye describes the evolution of the floodplain: 3. Peter Baye explains which agencies are …
Read More »Tues, March 5: Friends of Gualala River invites you to a Public Forum
Tuesday, March 5, 2019 5 to 7 p.m. Gualala Community Center 47950 Center St., Gualala, CA 95445 You are invited to join members of Friends of Gualala River (FoGR) at a Public Forum at the Gualala Community Center on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, from 5 to 7 p.m. Jeanne Jackson, author of Mendonoma Sightings Throughout the Year, and ICO …
Read More »-
More floodplain logging – the “Little” THP
Update – November, 2019: Added Pre-Harvest Inspection report by California Department of Fish and Wildlife, along with the attached “Revised Flood Prone Area Assessment of the Little THP” and two maps from that attachment. Also added a letter from National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) commenting on the Little THP. — …
Read More » -
How a Timber Harvest Plan Works, and How to Comment on THPs – EPIC
-
CalFire approves third Dogwood THP; legal fight continues
-
Under California cap-and-trade program, North Coast forests turn carbon uptake into cash
by Guy Kovner, The Press Democrat, January 3, 2016 [excerpt:] They say money doesn’t grow on trees, but a nearly 75,000-acre swath of redwood and fir forests blanketing the wildlands of Sonoma and Mendocino counties is generating millions of dollars as it contributes to California’s ambitious campaign to curb greenhouse …
Read More » -
Preservation Ranch saved in record deal – June, 2013, San Francisco Chronicle
-
Sonoma Deal Aims to Combine Logging and Preservation
-
Sonoma County redwood forest spared from conversion into vineyards