Mattole Forest Defenders have resurrected ongoing protests of Maxxam's liquidation of the Mattole Watershed on the Northcoast of California. The protests had taken a lull since October of 2001 when the logging in the Mattole had ceased. The Rainbow Ridge area has been dubbed the "Headwaters Sacrifice zone" by many in the community who helped to protect the infamous "Headwaters" area in the Elk River watershed.

One protester was arrested on August 13, 2002, while locking down to a front end loader off of Rainbow Ridge. The loggers grabbed slash and battered the protester along with tying her up, while she was locked down. Apparently, the hands off approach of, "wait for law enforcement policy" established in the wrongful death settlement of David "Gypsy" Chain has been revoked. There was also Forest Peace Alliance established in the Chain settlement to descalate the violence in the woods, but the talks have not developed into any credible policy or sensibility.

Other actions in recent weeks have included a road blockade off of Rainbow Ridge where a pod sitter was arrested on July 15th, 2002. The lockdown to a log truck on Highway 36 outside of Maxxam/PL's mill in Carlotta on July 25th, resulted in four people being cited on site and given court dates for the charges they face. Prior to August 5th, 2002, forest defenders had requested to open a dialogue with Pacific Lumber regarding their concerns in the Mattole, but the calls went unanswered. They parked a car in front of Pacific Lumber's corporate headquarters door in Scotia where another three arrests took place.

Meanwhile, the Freshwater tree-sitters remain strong and have vowed to stay up in the gigantic trees they are sitting in. The Gypsy mountain tree-sit has been ongoing since January of 2002, and indicates peoples resistance to Pacific Lumber's ongoing destruction of the environment and disregard for loss of life.