Stafford Left THP#1-08-047

THP # 1-08-047 sounds like an identification number given to a prisoner. The “Stafford Left” Timber Harvest Plan(THP) is one of the few areas left of older forests help prisoner by Pacific Lumber Company(PL). Unfortunately, this area located just south of Stafford along Highway 101, is on PL‘s “death row”. It is up to you to call or write CDF in support of an execution stay for these rapidly deceasing stands of Late Seral Redwoods. This area is up for execution after April 28th, 2008.Stafford Left(dead center), note the steep slopes and location to Hwy 101‘s Avenue of the Giants. Also take notice of the sediment discharge into the Eel River from Jordon Creek(lower left), likely from bordering clear-cuts.

Stafford Left is so close to Redwoods State Park. In fact, you can see the groves of Old Growth along the Eel River just across Highway 101 from Demonstration Forest. These lucky trees were fortunate to be spared from the wrath of PL. Stafford Left could(and should) be annexed to the park, units containing the largest trees are located right alongside the Redwood State Park boundary.

Photo from Stafford Left looking east over Hwy 101 and The Eel River. The Avenue of the Giants is in the background(right).

The town of Stafford has a somewhat unfortunate history in regards to MAXXAM controlled PL. More than a decade ago, residents lost their homes in a massive mudslide that consumed everything in it’s path. It was determined without a doubt that the steep slope logging practices used by PL caused the slopes to lose stability. Everything moved once the rains hit, an inescapable wall of mud and gravel. Families lost their homes. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt.

Stafford Left is steep!

The 50 Acre Stafford THP proposes logging on extremely steep slopes. These sharp inclines are right above the southbound lanes of Highway 101. These slopes are already impaired due to past logging practices. The soil composition is mostly sand and gravel, which is barely hanging onto the sharp hillside. After these areas are wiped out, nothing will stop the slopes from sliding into the highway. Jordan Creek is adjacent to the plan which directly flows into heavily sediment impaired Eel River.

One of the lucky "Leave Trees" marked with white "L". Blue striped trees are doomed!

Large Coast Redwood trees are getting rare and hard to find on PL‘s property. The fight used to be to save the Old Growth. Now there is little left of both Old Growth and Second Growth. These two marked trees are of the scattered lucky survivors left… on Stafford Left.

With so few big Redwoods left, no wonder this plan is called “Stafford Left“, or better said “What is left of Stafford“. The fact that this grove is so close the State Park, Highway 101, and The Eel River makes these trees much more valuable to the State Park, than a view of landslides and clear-cuts on your way North leaving the Avenue of the Giants.

These stands are prime nesting habitat for the endangered Marbled Murrelett.
As these Giants disappear, countless species are affected(including amphibians, plants, and mammals), further pushed to the edge of extinction. As our planet begins to heat up, these vital components of our fractured climate and micro-climate are plundered and sold to the highest bidder, all in the name of greed.

The Eel River is crucial for North Coast salmon reproduction. Sadly, the salmon have had one of the worst years on record due to disease, water turbidity, and river temperature increases. Aside from dams, a majority of these issues are unarguably due to irresponsible logging. Irresponsible forestry practices affect more than just the birds and the trees.

The blue mark of death. Trees marked for execution are usually given a blue spray paint band by PL surveyors.

Please take a moment to write an email to CDF opposing this execution of these defenseless and irreplaceable beings. It’s about more than the trees. It’s about everything that connects us to the Earth.

A view that usually cannot be seen by the travelers along Hwy 101 due to the “scenic corridor“. “Please, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain“.

Visit Humboldt Forest Defense for more information on ways you can save trees.