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

PANORAMIC Photo By Jose Luis Escudero

THP 1-16-130 MEN (Dunlap THP) Mendocino Redwood Company, 478 acres; 53% group selection, 47% transition logging.  Lower North Fork Big River (MD: T17N R15W Sec.17, 18, 19, 20).  Winter operations, moderate erosion hazard, steep slopes over 65%, landslide terrain, road failure sites, 26 road drainage work sites, impaired 303.d watershed, herbicides, coho watershed, spotted owl, 3 sensitive plant species, scattered large trees.  Estimated public comment deadline: 01/27/17. VIEW

This THP is about 12 miles SE of Fort Bragg, CA and about 12.5 miles SW of Willits, CA at an elevation of 200 to 1,000 feet.  Mendocino Redwood Company is planning a tractor based logging operation on steep and unstable slopes in redwood and Douglas fir forests. The THP Area Flows into the Big River which is listed as an impaired watershed for sediment and temperature.  There are 13 landslide terrain sites in the THP area; including 11 sites which were excluded from operations, and 2 sites within THP units (dormant debris slope/fill slope failure and debris slide gully).  Mendocino Redwood Company wants to use ground based equipment on steep slopes over 65% grade, and construct 100 feet of an existing road that crosses an unstable area.  Two short segments of tractor roads are proposed for use that enter a class II (mid sized) watercourse area, 1 short segment of tractor road is proposed for use that enters a class III (intermittent) watercourse area, and 2 landings are proposed for use inside a class I (year round) watercourse area.  26 road drainage sites are planned for work including rocking, dip construction, ditch cleaning, and culvert repair/replacement.  California pine foot, glory bush and Oregon goldthread were reported in section 17.  There are 5 spotted owl nesting territories within .7 miles of the THP area.
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