Tom Gogola, NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN
A Humboldt County businessman appears poised to get the green light from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) to log most of a forested 160-acre Healdsburg parcel crossed by Felta Creek.
Felta Creek is a tributary of the Russian River and one of a dwindling number of regional creeks where endangered wild coho salmon spawn.
Ken Bareilles’ timber harvest plan (THP) has gone through two rounds of review at Cal Fire and awaits a proposed July 28 sign-off from the Santa Rosa regional office of the agency now reviewing public comments. Then it heads to Cal Fire director Ken Pimlott or his representative for a final approval, according to an online Cal Fire explainer detailing the THP process. Cal Fire forestry official Anthony Lukacic has been the agency’s point-person through the process.
Bareilles says he has every expectation that Cal Fire will approve his THP, which will be executed by Redwood Valley logger Randy Jacobszoon. If they don’t, he’s suing Cal Fire. And if they do, a coalition of opponents has pledged to sue Cal Fire as well, to seek an injunction against the harvest.
The final sign-off is contingent upon the consideration of more than 70 public comments submitted to the THP by residents and an array of environmental and fisheries organizations concerned about the salmon. The fate of the coho are among an array of issues that have arisen as the plan has made its way through the approval process this year.
Ken Bareilles’ timber harvest plan (THP) has gone through two rounds of review at Cal Fire and awaits a proposed July 28 sign-off from the Santa Rosa regional office of the agency now reviewing public comments. Then it heads to Cal Fire director Ken Pimlott or his representative for a final approval, according to an online Cal Fire explainer detailing the THP process. Cal Fire forestry official Anthony Lukacic has been the agency’s point-person through the process.
Bareilles says he has every expectation that Cal Fire will approve his THP, which will be executed by Redwood Valley logger Randy Jacobszoon. If they don’t, he’s suing Cal Fire. And if they do, a coalition of opponents has pledged to sue Cal Fire as well, to seek an injunction against the harvest.
The final sign-off is contingent upon the consideration of more than 70 public comments submitted to the THP by residents and an array of environmental and fisheries organizations concerned about the salmon. The fate of the coho are among an array of issues that have arisen as the plan has made its way through the approval process this year.
Read more at: Fight for Felta | News | North Bay Bohemian