INDUSTRIAL LOGGING IN OUR AREA

VIKKI PACHERA AND ALLAN ERBES

It was just over a year ago, when Allan and I received notice from Roy Webster that the large band of forest wrapping around Villa Del Monte in the Burns Creek Canyon was to be logged. We were shocked and outraged. Could it be true that jet helicopters would be hauling logs just yards from our house, that huge logging trucks would share the streets of the neighborhood along with our children and pets, and that the hillsides supporting our properties would be exposed to slides?

We soon learned that this was just one of many areas of the Santa Cruz Mountains targeted for logging. Communities like ours were beginning to organize and to fight back. And, we learned that in 1992, our neighbors in San Mateo County minimized industrial logging in residential areas by creating a 1000-foot buffer zone despite being (unsuccessfully) challenged in court by Santa Cruz County’s own Big Creek Lumber. We learned that real estate was being purchased in record numbers by loggers with roots upstate. In fact, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat ran an article thanking Santa Cruz for all the redwoods we ship there for processing.

In Mendocino, and in Humboldt Counties -- where residents turn their cheek to the wake of clearcutting and subsequent slides, even when lives are lost, in return for economic gain -- the loggers are a powerful force. They control jobs and they control political votes. The arrogance of these loggers is understandable. Up there, they're kings.

The year 1997 brought national attention and disdain, not so much to logging per se, but to the attitude of the logging community. Whether it's the outrageous arrogance of downing 2000 year old redwood trees in the Headwaters Forest by Pacific Lumber and multimillionaire Charles Hurwitz, purely for further financial gain, the sadistic videos of Humboldt's law officials swabbing pepper spray in teenage protesters eyes, or the U.S. Forest Service's $50 million annual subsidy of logging roads construction, the story of what the logging industry was all about was being told. And the story was ugly.

The people who told us that we cannot stop 'them’ from logging Burns Creek Canyon were wrong. Very wrong.

The logger's filed a Timber Harvest Plans (THP) to log the upstream portion of the property early in the year. We called up each and every state agency and demanded they attend the walk through to determine if the plans could be approved. Although they rarely, if ever, attend walk-throughs, each agency sent a representative. The government officials found that the plans called for logging in a 'wet-lands', that illegal cutting had already taken place, and that the plans did not meet state regulations. The walk through was aborted, the THP was withdrawn and round one was won.

We continued to document and research our primary objection that logging Burns Creek Canyon represented a significant geological hazard to the adjacent residential area. The U.S. Department of Agriculture determined in a study of Siuslaw National Forest conducted in 1997 that of the 1,686 landslides surveyed, 77% were associated with clearcutting or the creation of forest roads. Burns Creek was logged in the early '80's creating many logging roads. Despite the highly touted and seemingly politically correct 'no clearcutting' policy of Santa Cruz County, large areas are allowed to be clear-cut for 'landings' and for roads. Additionally, since the rules call for no more than 60% cutting of trees every ten years, logging this land would leave two trees where there were ten in 1982.

We banded together with groups formed across the mountains, including those fighting logging at Byington Winery, Molasky Creek, Gamecock Canyon, and many more. We also worked with Citizen's for Responsible Forest Management (CRFM), the Sierra Club and other environmental groups. Our presence was felt at many Santa Cruz Board of Supervisor's meetings where we battled against our opposition to restrict logging through existing zoning.

Our efforts resulted in a temporary moratorium, effective until April of 1998, prohibiting logging on land zoned SU/without a timber overlay. This means that Burns Creek is safe for now. Additionally, the Board formed TTAC, an advisory committee with representatives from both the logging community as well as the environmental community. The purpose of this committee is to come up with a set of recommendations and ideas, aimed towards finding common ground between the two groups on logging issues.

Although it's been a very successful year, it's been a long and difficult one. An amazing amount of effort was poured into this project by many of our neighbors. We formed a non-profit organization, and raised several thousand dollars to fund geological, biological and legal experts.

Of special note were the very significant contributions of Kathy Wells and Steve Stewart, Jo and John Barnum, Carol and Bill Lard, Ellie Tershey, Neil Wiley, Breck Robinson and Corwin Lakin. This group, often meeting several hours weekly, remained the central force in our efforts throughout the year. Individually, their tremendous dedication to endless tasks enabled us to be as successful as we have been.

We'd also like to thank the overwhelmingly supportive residents of the community of Villa Del Monte as well as the neighboring areas of Summit Road, Summit Woods, Laurel and Schulties Road.

As we look forward to 1998, we are in the midst of strategizing various alternatives to save this beautiful canyon and to protect Santa Cruz County from the brutalities of the chainsaw. We know it will continue to be a tough battle, but we are up for it.

Summit Watershed Protection League is a California Non-Profit Corporation, Federal non-Profit status pending. Donations are gratefully accepted. Call 353-6147.

31 July 97

SUMMIT LOGGING UPDATE

Neil Wiley

The Koppola, et. al. and Benbow THPs off Summit Road have been withdrawn for geological study. Now, since they are zoned as SU parcels, it looks like they may saved by county zoning.

SU-zoned land can't be logged without a timber resource overlay. So says Dave Hope, County Resources Planner. Others think he is too optimistic.

An appellate court ruling says that counties can determine land use through zoning. This suggests that if a property is not zoned TPZ, it can't be logged. Although this ruling does not affect TPZ parcels, it blocks logging for parcels with other zoning.

It's time to be cautiously optimistic.