California: Logging pollutes streams so industry must prevent rules that protect streams

The Board of Forestry is currently considering proposed revisions to
the Threatened and Impaired Watershed rules which currently provide
more, but not enough, protection for listed salmonids. In February,
the timber industry, once again, managed to keep progress to a
minimum. It was disheartening.

The agencies had a strong presence with multiple mem bers of DFG and the North Coast Waterboard present. There was also a rep from the Central Valley Waterboard, NMFS and multiple CAL FIRE representatives. Essentially, the agency folks were in agreement about tightening the rules. Proposed changes include a 30′ no-cut buffer along Class II streams and additional retention standards in the WLPZ.

But there is tremendous resistance from industry. Cajun James, scientist for Sierra Pacific Industries, kept coming back to the issue of ‘proximity’, claiming that tightened rules should not apply more than 600 feet upstream of a Class II. As if sediment inputs further upstream do not travel that far downstream. I attended the January meeting and listened to one timber industry representative essentially filibuster for nearly five hours while the
committee tried to discuss changes to flood plain rules.

While this RPF repeatedly said he did not want to do flagging only to find out on the PHI that he would need to move his flags over 10′, it turned out
that his real concern was his extensive road system currently in an
area (the flood plain) which could become off limits. Committee
deliberations will continue on March 2 in Sacramento, but at the
glacial pace set so far, the fish may all go extinct before the Board
has a chance to take action.

For the text go to:  http://www.bof.fire.ca.gov/board/board_proposed_rule_packages.aspx Scroll down to Threatened or Impaired Watersheds (T/I) Regulatory Review, 2008 and check out the December 2008 documents.

Jodi Frediani – Director, Central Coast Forest Watch – JodiFredi@aol.com