Mendocino Redwood Company to log on steep and unstable slopes SE of Elk, CA.

PANORAMIC Photo By Mike Phillips

THP 1-16-031 MEN (May Springs THP) Mendocino Redwood Company, 545 acres; 75% group selection, 20% variable retention, 5% transition logging. Upper Elk Creek (MD: T13N R16W Sec.1, 2; T14N R16W Sec.23, 24, 25, 26, 36).  Wet weather operations, high erosion hazard, steep slopes over 65%, steep roads, landslide terrain, road failure sites, 17 road drainage work sites, herbicides, coho watershed, spotted owls, trees up to 42" dbh.  Estimated public comment deadline: 05/21/16. VIEW

This THP is about 7.5 mi SE of Elk, CA and about 7.5 mi SW of Philo, CA along the Mendocino coastline.  Mendocino Redwood Company is planning a tractor and cable logging operation on steep and unstable slopes in redwood and Douglas fir forests at an elevation of 500 to 1,600 feet.  The THP area contains 13 landslide terrain sites including earth flows, debris slide slopes, debris slides, and soil creep.  There are multiple road failure sites including cut bank failures, fill failures and washed out crossings.  Mendocino Redwood Company is planning to use heavy equipment on unstable areas (deep seated landslide terrain), and use heavy equipment on steep slopes between 50% grade and 65% grade with a high erosion hazard in units 1, 6 and 8.  They also want to use heavy equipment on steep slopes over 65% grade along the NW corner of unit 1, and construct 2 segments of seasonal steep roads between 15% and 20% grade that exceed 500 feet in length.  17 road drainage sites are planned for work including rocking, dip construction, ditch cleaning and culvert repair/restoration.  There are 5 spotted owl nesting territories within .7 mi of the THP area.
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