Russian River logging plan reopens to public comment
Nearly a year after the close of public comments, Cal Fire has reopened the public comment period for the 224-acre Silver Estates Timber Harvest Plan (THP) near Guerneville.
In a letter dated 2 December, 2021, Cal Fire noted that ‘significant new information’ has been added to the detailed 500 page plan and, as a result, it is required by law to solicit public comments. The new 30 day public comment period will close on Monday January 3, 2022.
What has changed…?
Much of the new significant information pertains to concerns raised by members of the public and the Guerneville Forest Coalition (GFC). More than 300 comments were submitted to Cal Fire during the last comment period in 2020.
The GFC has reviewed the revised plan and, unfortunately, few of the changes adequately address the most pressing concerns. For example:
despite some changes, logging will still occur on the very steep, landslide-prone slopes of Neeley Hill
there is no specific plan to repair the failed culvert on Neeley Road prior to logging, risking run-off into the Russian River
the soil erosion hazard rating has now been corrected from ‘Moderate’ to ‘High” risk but there have been no corresponding changes to proposed logging operations
no further protection for the 2,000 year old Clar Tree has been proposed leaving an inadequate 75ft buffer zone around this majestic 340ft high Redwood tree
there has been no independent assessment of the visual impact of the logging on the Hwy 116 Scenic Corridor (Sonoma County is responsible for reviewing THPs that might impact the scenic corridor but claims it has no criteria with which to conduct such an assessment)
The plan still allows for logging operations on unstable areas during the winter
Undemocratic Process…
Cal Fire has reopened the new public comment period in the middle of the holiday season, making it nearly impossible to source expert opinion on the revisions to the THP. It has also delayed the delivery of records requested under the Public Records Act, a request submitted by the GFC in early October. These records are required to understand whether the mitigations proposed in the revised THP are sufficient.
Cal Fire has also failed to respond to the hundreds of public comments submitted during the last public comment period.
The GFC has requested that the new public comment period remain open at least 90 days after both of the following have been completed: (1) Cal Fire has fulfilled the acknowledged Public Records Act request, and (2) Cal Fire has responded to the public comments submitted during the last review period.