Forest & River News

Forest & River News TREES FOUNDATION 60th Edition SUMMER 2018 GRASSROOTS CONSERVATION & RESTORATION IN THE REDWOOD REGION Best Practices in Action G A Community-based, Watershed Approach to Organizing Land Owners and Residents in the Emerald Triangle G Eel River Recovery Project Targeting New Watersheds for “Best Practices” Implementation G Patterns of Occurrence: Toxic Cyanobacteria in the Eel River G David Nathan “Gypsy” Chain Memorial Scholarship Editor’s Note Index Summer is in full swing as the rolling hills Cannabis of Humboldt change to various hues of gold. Tributary Collectives...................................................................................................................... 3 Th e rains have subsided and the landscapes A Community-based, Watershed Approach to Organizing Land Owners and Residents in the Emerald Triangle that surround us give way to another season Sanctuary Forest of farming. Some might say, “if only these Eel River Recovery Project Targeting New Watersheds hills could talk—the stories that they would for “Best Practices” Implementation ........................................................................................ 7 tell.” The hills of Humboldt, Mendocino, Eel River Recovery Project and Trinity Counties have been the bearer of fruit for many families and individuals Forests & All Creatures alike—providing a livelihood and a Th e Collector ...................................................................................................................................22 Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities sanctuary. The start of 2018 has brought about a change to this livelihood and the Forest Carbon Plan Released .....................................................................................................24 Environmental Protection Information Center sanctuary that many fl ed to and relied on for many decades. Th e Klamath National Forest is “Salvage” Crazy ...............................................................27 Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center Many questions have been posed: How will A Community Eff ort: Invasive Pampas Grass on California’s Lost Coast ................28 our county survive these changes? How Lost Coast Interpretive Association will the cannabis industry coexist within our natural landscape? How will we, as Water, Rivers, & Fish a community, navigate these transitions Patterns of Occurrence: Toxic Cyanobacteria in the Eel River ....................................12 and most importantly work together to Eel River Recovery Project implement best management practices Two Years of Data Confi rm no Frog Impacts from Benbow Dam Removal ............23 within our rolling hills and watersheds? Eel River Recovery Project The summer 2018 issue of Forest & River Th e Young Scientists: Th e Next Generation ........................................................................25 News highlights two articles that look at Friends of the Van Duzen River how community collaboration is working Mercury Guidelines for Eating Humboldt Bay Fish & Shellfi sh ..................................26 to restore, protect, and educate landowners Humboldt Baykeeper in high risk watersheds that could be Recovering a Lost Floodplain ....................................................................................................29 impacted by cannabis farms. Th e initiatives Salmon Protection and Watershed Network being taken by Sanctuary Forest and Eel River Recovery Project demonstrate the Fire importance of community-based activism, Evolving with Fire: Understanding Flammability and Rethinking Burn Windows ...................................20 and how starting locally and regionally can Lenya Quinn-Davidson make an impact on a larger scale. From My Perspective We hope that as you read these stories they Diggin’ In...Th e Gienger Report .................................................................................. 16 manifest a sense of hope and pride in what Richard Gienger, Restoration Leadership Project our community is capable of; let them be a reminder that these golden hills rely on our Announcements voices and activism. David Nathan “Gypsy” Chain Memorial Scholarship .....................................................11 Large Wood Technical Field School on the Mendocino Coast ....................................30 Salmonid Restoration Federation st Cover photo: Harmony among cannabis, a frog 21 Annual Coho Confab in the Smith River, August 24-26, 2018 ............................. 31 hangs out in a cannabis plant. Salmonid Restoration Federation Tributary Collectives A Community-based, Watershed Approach to Organizing Land Owners and Residents in the Emerald Triangle By Galen Doherty “Every time we turn around, look at our phone, or talk to someone, a new storyline is developing. We are collectively going through what history may ultimately describe as a once in a life transition.” – Terra Carver, Executive Director, Humboldt County Growers Alliance Generation after generation have perpetuated a boom and bust cycle on the North Coast. The Tan Bark logging era at the turn of the century, the redwood lumber industry of the 1930’s and 40’s, the Gyppo logging industry from the mid 1940’s to mid-60’s, and the corporate timber industry of present day—each successive cycle has wrought further damage on the wild landscapes and river systems of Humboldt County. During the last go-around, these lands were hit hard, Diversified cannabis and food production at Briceland Forest Farm with the majority of merchantable timber PHOTO C OURTESY B RI C ELAND F OREST FARM removed and the economy contracting, land was sold for next-to-nothing, paving strains of high THC and CBD cannabis, Executive Director, “Stakeholders the way for the growth of the cannabis earning the counties of Humboldt, from all perspectives worked hard to industry. This parcelization of the Mendocino, and Trinity the “Emerald develop a framework that protected the landscape into small, remote properties Triangle” name-brand recognition. environment, public health, and public resulted in increased population growth Within a couple of generations, the safety, while seeking the balance of and development, and, in some places, a back-to-the-land movement gave way industry needs.” This was followed with rich counter-culture that valued openness, to massive growth in this black market a huge spike in demand for ‘grow parcels’, ingenuity, collaboration, and neighborly industry; more and more people flocked skyrocketing land prices, and just eight good-will. During this time many core to the Emerald Triangle to join the months later, the passage of Proposition community institutions were established, green rush. Many growers continuously 64 (Adult Use of Marijuana Act). Now, including watershed restoration councils, expanded production, purchasing, as the cannabis industry is transitioning community centers, radio stations, and leasing, or subletting additional out of over 100 years of prohibition, more. However, this development also properties, and cutting corners to overproduction (among other factors) resulted in further land use impacts maximize profits at the expense of is resulting in severe loss of profitability. from year-round use of poorly installed the environment and the people who At the same time, many growers are roads, higher water use, and a host of brought this industry into existence. facing immense regulatory burdens to other urban-wildland interface resource become compliant and operate in a new In February of 2016, Humboldt County management issues. legal market. adopted the first commercial medical Many of these back-to-the-landers were land use ordinance in the State of Today, six months into legalization “Mom and Pop” growers; pioneers of high- California. According to Terra Carver, in California, things aren’t going well grade sensimilla. They developed distinct Humboldt County Growers Alliance according to Hezekiah Allen, Cal Growers www.treesfoundation.org Page 3 Executive Director, “High regulatory cost and a multitude of barriers have prevented most growers in the state from getting permits and licenses. While there is certainly a segment of the population that chose to stay in the unregulated market, the barriers are having a disproportionate impact on the smallest, most modest grows.” In Humboldt, the same small 40- 80 acre properties that would have sold for close to $1M, have been listed with ‘price reduced’ for months, and local realtors feel that we have not yet hit the bottom of the market. During the final days of the timber boom, many loggers recognized they were cutting many times over the growth rate, driving profitability down through oversupply, and taking forestry jobs away from future generations. The green rush is only the latest boom in the McKee Creek Tributary Collective Meeting North Coast economy. Now we are faced PHOTO BY SAN C TUARY F OREST with an impending bust, and as before, many of these small rural communities, Increasing regulatory and enforcement impacts—many of which occurred 40- directly or indirectly reliant upon pressures are not solely limited to the 70 years previously. Between navigating cannabis related income streams, will cannabis industry. With extreme low-to- the County, State Water Resources be substantially negatively affected by no flows occurring in most streams in most Control Board, North Coast Resource the loss of this primary economic driver. years, higher than average temperatures Quality Control Board,

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