ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST – WATER QUALITY IN CRISIS

Dec. 3, Fortuna, CA – They could have been something. They could have done something meaningful. But instead, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board failed to stop Maxxam's Pacific Lumber from going for the jugular – the upper main stem of Freshwater Creek. Nor will the cutting stop in other areas of the struggling watershed, nor will it stop in Elk River.

The question in Wednesday’s meeting was whether or not the board would adopt recommendations in the Final Report by the Independent Science Review Panel, who concluded the only way to curb flooding and degradation of the watersheds is to slow down the rate of logging. Many affected residents of the beleaguered watersheds spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, using the allotted time of sixty seconds apiece, to explain the increase of flooding and damage to their properties, which began after Maxxam instituted a five-fold increase of logging on the hills above their homes. Members of the Pacific Lumber Company, who were (of course) paid to be in attendance, also addressed the board to dismiss the concerns of Freshwater and Elk River residents, who they said are living on a “flood plain.”

The Water Quality board said their actions at the meeting were “even handed.” Although they will not interfere with logging operations set to begin in January, which is precisely what is needed, they’re going to put other regulations on logging in Freshwater and Elk starting in 2005, after another cycle of irreparable destruction is done. For Freshwater Creek and the residents who live there, 2005 will be too late.

It is obvious the Water Quality Board does not understand what is happening in the two watersheds despite the amount of time, money, and science used to study the matter. To them, ignorance is not only bliss; it is part of the job. The Water Quality Board’s staff have been filing “non-concurrences” on Timber Harvest Plans for years due to further degradation caused by Maxxam’s liquidation logging, but the board continually refuses to take action.

The logging conducted in these two watersheds, and logging throughout PL’s 220,000 claimed acres, is based on fraud. It is also based on a fatally flawed Sustained Yield Plan that was thrown out by Judge John Golden in June 2003. Regardless, the cutting continues, and neither Judge Golden, the Department of Forestry [sic] nor the Water Quality Board find it necessary to stop it, let alone slow it down.

Following the meeting, residents of the Elk River Watershed noticed Pacific Lumber conducting timber operations until at least 11:00 pm, and trucks carrying baby trees were still coming out early Thursday morning.