Glomalin and Conservation in Humboldt County The 1996 discovery of the soil glue glomalin is changing our understanding of the impact of elevated carbon dioxide, while giving important clues to forest health, watersheds, revegetation, wildfire and carbon sequestration. Here I share what I have found so others may read and draw their own conclusions, and relate it to my own experience, Humboldt County issues and stories from the news.

Monday, June 07, 2004

25. Palco and the Rules 

25. Palco and the Rules
There seems to be at least two levels of non-compliance going on in the continuing Palco imbroglio. On the one hand there is contention over exactly what is in the agreement, how much does the Agreement affect processes on the ground, techniques, practices, legally removable limits, steepness, riparian zones, incidental taking and so forth, all seemingly clearly spelled out. False documents would fall in this category. These guidelines protect the public and the landscape so damage is controlled to areas 'written off' (as lost to industry) through the regulatory process.
On the other hand there is very obvious disregarding of processes underway. Practices like cutting trees marked with red Ls, or Leave trees, seems spiteful, as does disregarding streamside buffers. These guys are either being told to ignore the law or are doing it for spite or ease of working. I mention this last because fallers are paid by the scale foot but must operate within the harvest block plans. So if they are a little short they go in a little further. With select cuts you might be able to do this safely but in this case you are thinning the buffer next to a block cut. Will the company punish non-compliant fallers or are the fallers following orders?
Block cutting in steep Douglas fir lands is asking for long-term trouble as we have spelled put in #3 Our Shrinking Watersheds. Block cutting is a leading cause of sediment, right after road construction, usually leading through forestland to the cut site. It also removes carbon pumps that give life to fungi and clean the air. It creates fine dust particles that foul the summer air, and glues the gravel beds shut on hatching fish eggs. It removes any chance of interacting with precipitation except as victims. It destroys the belowground mechanism that holds it all together.
Palco feels like it is being unfairly targeted, but their track record of the last twenty years bears suspicion out. Pacific Lumber was founded by men who had seen the destruction of forests in Maine and the Lake States, and were not about to repeat those same mistakes. While many other outfits came and went, Pacific Lumber took a long term outlook on their primary natural resource and came up with a plan that still works-select cuts, limited entry, canopy maintenance, minimal roads and skid trails. Intuitively they knew what they were looking at and the cause and cure of it. The current administration shows no sense of this type. One thing all old timers decry is the state of river fishing.
The real problem here is that the law was written to protect the environment but not all the factors were understood when the law was written. Freshwater Creek and Elk River were some of the last remaining coho streams in the area in the early nineties. The Mattole has had a twenty year history of restoration effort. Palco has trounced Freshwater and Elk River, despite more stringent laws, good intentions, and set-asides. The Mattole lands have the highest rainfall, most unstable ground, most old Douglas fir trees, and the least roads. This spells disaster under current rules, rules which fail us repeatedly.
Nothing can dispel the pressure of money wanting to make money better than known facts being laid out in a clear and precise manner. When we understand glomalin and how biological processes hold the forest together, we arrive at a cutting scheme almost exactly like the founders of Pacific Lumber brought with them. It is no wonder Pacific Lumber lands were the last to be devastated by debris flows and sediment loss. We must thank them for reminding us what happens when we ignore the general principals of sustainability. Now it is up to our leaders to hammer out new laws and reshape agreements based on scientific findings that state what is an acceptable amount of damage to our natural resources, and what mitigations are called for as timber is harvested.
The beauty of glomalin-based management is that it may mean only minor reductions in total production, although initially costs will go up. Reduced stream damage and road building will save money as well. The need for restoration money will fade away. More land will come into production as habitat is restored and threatened species recover their numbers. Locally, sport-fishing opportunities should bring some regular income. Good fishing will bring a lot of money. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound for landowners that are willing to keep things looking rustic without looking like Hiroshima. Equestrians, mountain bikers, dirt bikers, and OHVers all crave places they can ride. They are at odds with preservationists defending the last pockets of native forest regularly. Sportsman’s Agreements have worked between companies and states in Maine and New York, and include hunting.
The information is at hand to improve the law. Let’s get it done.

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