Coastal Ridges LLC to log on steep and unstable slopes near Willits, CA.

PANORAMIO Photo By Kurt Minard

THP 1-14-003 MEN (Seven Mile Redux THP) Coastal Ridges LLC, 339 acres; 88% transition, 9% selection, 2% no-harvest logging.  James Creek, Upper North Fork Big River (MD: T18N R15W Sec.25, 36).  Wet weather operations, high erosion hazard, steep slopes over 65%, steep roads, landslide terrain, road failure sites, 60 road drainage work sites, impaired 303.d watershed, herbicides, coho watershed, 6 spotted owls within 1.3 mi, golden eagle nest within .75 mi, marbled murrelet grove within 1 mi, peregrine falcon site within .5 mi, scattered large trees.  Estimated public comment deadline: 02/29/14. VIEW

This THP is about 6 miles SW of Willits, CA near Highway 20 at an elevation of 1100 to 1880 feet.  The THP area flows into the North Fork of the Big River which flows into the Big River which is listed as impaired for sedimentation and temperature.  Coastal Ridges LLC is planning a tractor based logging operation on steep and unstable slopes in redwood and Douglas fir forests.  There are several landslide terrain sites including debris slides, cracking and disrupted ground, and multiple road failure sites including fill failures, gullying, cut bank failures and a slide partially blocking a road.  Coastal Ridges LLC wants to use several skid roads within a class III watercourse, use ground based equipment on steep slopes over 65%, and on slopes over 50% with a high erosion hazard.  They also want to re-construction several segments of existing steep roads to reduce the grade.  60 road drainage sites are proposed for work including rocking, dip construction, culvert repair/replacement and road bed re-construction.  For spotted owl site MEN0196; nesting/roosting habitat is deficient and will not be harvested within .7 mi, however foraging habitat will be reduced by 112 acres within .7mi.  For spotted owl site MEN0309; foraging habitat will be reduced by 164 acres within .7mi. More information is available on the THP Tracking Center website.
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