Mendocino Redwood Company to log on steep and unstable slopes NE of Gualala, CA.

North Fork of the Gualala River By Peter Cafferata 

THP 1-19-191 MEN (Combo Main THP) Mendocino Redwood Company, 408 acres; 43% selection, 32% transition, 17% variable retention, 8% rehab logging.  Doty Creek, South Fork Garcia River (MD: T11N R15W Sec 3, 4, 5: T12N R15W Sec 31, 32, 33).  Winter operations, high erosion hazard, steep slopes up to 70%, landslide terrain, road failure sites, 74 road drainage work sites, impaired 303.d watershed, herbicides, coho watershed, spotted owl, 3 sensitive plant species, trees up to 36” dbh.  public comment deadline: 12/25/19. SUBMIT COMMENTS,  VIEW THP

This THP is 4.5 miles NE of Gualala, CA, and about 3 miles east of Highway 1 at an elevation of 200 to 800 feet.  Mendocino Redwood Company is planning a tractor and cable logging operation on steep and unstable slopes in redwood and Douglas fir forests.  The THP area flows into the Gualala River which is listed as an impaired watershed for sediment and temperature.  There are 38 landslide terrain sites in the THP area (units 1, 2, 3 and 4, and 10) including multiple debris slides, 23 of which have road related fill slope and cut bank failures.  Mendocino Redwood Company is planning to use ground based equipment on slopes between 50% and 65% with a moderate erosion hazard, use ground based equipment on 2 existing skid trails with slopes over 65% inside units 5 and 6, and use ground based equipment on unstable areas within units 1, 2, 3 and 4. 74 road drainage sites are planned for work including rocking, dip construction, ditch cleaning, culvert repair/replacement and restoration of washed out crossings. Humboldt milk vetch was found in section 33, Bolander’s reed grass was found in sections 4 and 32, and Swamp harebell was found adjacent to unit 2 in section 4.  There are 5 spotted owl nesting territories within .7 miles of the THP area.
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