Oldgrowth Logs From SPIs "Windmill" Logging Plan

submitted

Though there have been many sightings of trucks carrying "one log loads" out of Sierra Pacific land near Petrolia this winter and spring, this is the first picture that documents this. These were seen coming down the wildcat (road from Petrolia to Ferndale) last month. To learn more about the Oldgrowth logging plan near Petrolia, Ca. and Sierra Pacific Industries check out these links.

SPI Oldgrowth Logging
Sierra Pacific Info.

note: this is a public road with two way traffic.

Marbled Murrelet Surveys Required In 90 Acres Of Oldgrowth In SPIs "Windmill" Logging Plan

Update: Download KMZ file for use on Google Earth. It shows the units that are now off limits.

Wildlife surveyors working for the proposed Shell wind energy project have recently been looking for Marbeld Murrelets in the Bear River ridge area of Cape Mendocino, north of Petrolia, Ca. To do this they use portable radars. They found many more Murrelets at the mouth of Bear River than had been reported in 1994 after widespread audio/visual (AV) surveys at that time. Apparently Sierrra Pacific Industries was relying on these same surveys from 1994 to claim that there where no Murrelets using the forests in Davis Creek where much of thier "Windmill" logging plan is located.

The Department of Fish and Game now says that 87 acres of forest needs to be surveyed for Marbled Murrelets who are rapidly approaching extinction due to loss of habitat and food. These stands are in logging units numbered 08-88 and 08-90.

7 acres needs surveying of a Golden Eagle nest that has already been located. Unit number 08-91.

This plan has already been approved for logging and operations are currently underway. The Dept. of Fish and Game has now told SPI not to cut in these areas until surveys are completed. Will SPI go ahead and log, or will they wait the usual 2 years that are required for the Murrelet surveys to be completed?

PL/Scopac-Larabee Creek-"Granny Smith 2"

UPDATE
Plan Returned to Sender

Briefly-

"Granny Smith 2" #1-07-053

211.4 acres total.

149.6 acres clearcutting

Conifer average age in excess of 100 years in three of the six logging units.

Class D and C Marbled Murrelet stands.

Plans to contruct "Layouts"- using a bulldozer to create a pile of branches that cushion a giant tree when it hits the ground.

Located on the Chalk Mountains near the crest between the Van Duzen and Eel Rivers.

Tractor Yarding and Mechanical site prep for most of the plan area. This will damage the topsoil.