[Dryerase] Alarm!--New logging in Santa Cruz mountains

[Alarm!Wires]

New logging to begin in Santa Cruz Mountains

The Alarm! Newswire

On August 12, the California Department of Forestry approved the 
50-acre “Ramsey 2” (technically named Browns Creek THP 1-02-064 SCR) 
Timber Harvest Plan (THP) in Ramsey Gulch just north of Corralitos, near 
Mt. Madonna County Park.  Redwood Empire, a subsidiary of Pacific State 
Industries, is an industrial timber company first established in 
Mendocino County and is the company conducting the timber operation.  
Redwood Empire, after conducting operations in northern California, 
opened an office in San Jose and set their sights on the Santa Cruz 
Redwoods.  Four years ago, the corporation logged Gamecock Canyon, which 
borders Ramsey Gulch.  The Licensed Timber Operator for that THP was 
Hayward Logging.  During the course of their work, that company received 
thirty-seven violations of the State Forest Practice Rules from the 
California Department of Forestry.
Redwood Empire will now be extending its operations to Ramsey Gulch 
where they logged two years ago.  The Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors, 
the Department of Fish and Game, as well as the Watsonville Water Board 
have opposed the new Timber Harvest Plan due to the fragile nature of 
the area.  According to Dennis Davie of Santa Cruz Earth First!, the 
current THP, in combination with previous timber operations in Gamecock 
Canyon will likely result in the degradation of the streams they feed 
into:  Browns Creek, Corralitos Creek and, eventually, the Pajaro River.
Santa Cruz Earth First! has organized opposition to the logging by 
establishing “treesits” in two trees within the THP’s area.  The 
treesits are designed to thwart loggers’ ability to cut down the trees 
in the immediate vicinity of the platforms which activists erect in the 
limbs of the trees.  Santa Cruz County’s first treesit was organized 
during the logging of Ramsey Gulch two years ago.  Santa Cruz Earth 
First! claims to have saved between two and three acres of of Coast 
Redwoods and Douglas Firs in the area.  The first Ramsey Gulch logging 
operation was finally halted by successful lawsuits filed by neighbors.
If you would like to help, Santa Cruz Earth First! is in need of 
donations, people to help support the treesit and “a GOOD lawyer”.  Send 
donations to Santa Cruz Earth First!, P.O. Box 344, Santa Cruz, CA 
95061.  The group can be contacted at 423-3202 or cruzef at crusio.com.
 
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