Mendocino Redwood Company to log on steep and unstable slopes west of Comptche, CA.

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THP 1-17-022 MEN (Melbourne THP) Mendocino Redwood Company, 560 acres; 64% group selection, 36% transition logging.  Middle Albion River, Upper Albion River (MD: T16N R16W Sec.2, 3, 4, 10, 11).  Winter operations, high erosion hazard, steep slopes up to 70%, landslide terrain, road failure sites, 26 road drainage work sites, impaired 303.d watershed, herbicides, coho watershed, spotted owl, scattered large trees.  Estimated public comment deadline: 04/21/17. VIEW

This THP is 1 mile west of Comptche, CA and about 9 miles SE of Mendocino, CA and Highway 1 at an elevation of 160 to 920 feet.  Mendocino Redwood Company is planning a tractor and cable logging operation on steep and unstable slopes in redwood, Douglas fir and grand fir forests.  The THP area flows into the Albion River which is listed as an impaired watershed for sediment and temperature.  There are 12 landslide terrain sites in the THP area including rockslides, earth flows, disrupted ground, debris slides, fill failures, and cut slope failures related to watercourse areas and roads.  Three road failure sites are located inside the THP area including a seasonal road with an eroding ditch near an unstable area, a road with a cut bank failure and a road with a fill failure.  Mendocino Redwood Company is planning to use ground based equipment on steep slopes over 65% grade, and use ground based equipment on 10 segments of skid trails within unstable areas.  They also are planning to construct a new segment of road inside a class I watercourse area (North Fork Albion River), and use an existing skid road inside a class I watercourse area (Albion River).  26 road drainage sites are planned for work including rocking, dip construction, ditch cleaning and culvert repair/replacement.  There are 3 spotted owl nesting territories within .7 miles of the THP area.
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