UPDATE ON HEADWATERS RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN

UPDATE ON HEADWATERS RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN

PROTEST PERIOD IS OPEN UNTIL NOV. 10, 2003

The proposed Management Plan and final EIS/EIR for the portion of Headwaters Forest that is publicly owned has been released by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the public can comment and register protest during a 30-day period, ending Nov. 10, 2003.

The management plan for the approximately 7500 acres is the last step prior to implementation in a long planning process, that began after the forest land was purchased via the Headwaters Deal in 1999. As those of you keeping up with BACH activities know, we have been very involved in the process, advocating for maximum protection for the wildlife habitat. We submitted extensive comments on the draft plan, and many of you sent letters and postcards to BLM during that comment period, with some positive impact on BLM resulting.

In brief, there are both positive and negative changes in the final plan, but overall the plan reflects the strong case that has been made to protect the diminishing habitat for species dependant on old growth redwood forest. We were successful in getting BLM to propose Wild and Scenic River designation for streams in the Reserve, trail development is minimal, and the southern access (Salmon Creek trail) allows only docent-led hikes into that area particularly rich in marbled murrelet nesting sites.

However, whereas bicycles were not allowed at all in BLM's preferred alternative in the draft plan, the final plan proposes to let bicycles onto the initial part of the northern access (Elk River trail). BACH opposed any bicycle intrusion into this tiny Reserve, pointing out the myriad opportunities for recreational bicycling in northern California, including in redwood forests.

There was pressure from bicycle groups, as well as equestrian groups, but what the redwood forest biome is lacking is protected areas for wildlife that do not overlap with recreational use, whereas recreational areas abound. It has been found that the impact from human use, even hikers, can be significant on the threatened marbled murrelet, since one of the greatest threats to this very endangered bird is predation by crows, jays and ravens, which are attracted by food scraps brought by humans.

Another blow to the plan came a couple months ago when a Bush administration policy change disallowed wilderness designation to new areas, so that the forest proposed by BLM to be in Wilderness Study Area (precursor to genuine wilderness designation) will not be so designated, but it will be managed for wilderness characteristics.

One very bright spot is the restoration work being carried out by BLM. Less than half the Reserve is virgin old growth, and the remaining land needs serious rehabilitation before it will be quality habitat. BLM has been carrying out restoration work, including the decommissioning of logging roads built by Pacific Lumber. After two years of work, BLM contract crews just finished the huge project of decommissioning what had been called the "Death Road", a large road Pacific Lumber carved into the heart of the virgin forest in Headwaters Grove before they were stopped in court. The Death Road
is no more.

We will release a more detailed analysis of the document very soon. Copies of the plan are at the BACH office (We will place a copy in the Ecology Center information resource area for public perusal, open 11-6 Tues-Sat.). The plan is also on BLM's website at http://www.ca.blm.gov/arcata. You can get copies of the plan in book form and on cd's through BLM's Arcata office. (707) 825-2300.

USDI, Bureau of Land Management, Arcata Field Office
1695 Heindon Road
Arcata, California 95521-4573

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NOTE BACH's NEW EMAIL ADDRESS

Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters (BACH)
Ecology Center
2530 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94702
phone: 510 548 3113
email: bach at headwaterspreserve.org
http://www.HeadwatersPreserve.org
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BLM photo.... http://www6.ca.blm.gov/blm/main.jsp