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In 2000, Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI), the Sierra's major logging company, approved a Timber Harvest Plan that included several parcels in the South Yuba River Canyon above Edwards Crossing near Humbug Creek. This sparked a firestorm of controversy both locally and statewide. The situation was precarious. Newspapers printed daily stories, Earth First! held a conference, a crew of tree-sitters was reportedly trained to stop the project, and several Wise Use groups responded by holding conferences and attacking the Board of Supervisors.
In an attempt to head off a potentially violent situation, SYRCL joined forces with a number of other groups to create a historic Memorandum of Understanding between SPI, SYRCL, the Trust for Public Land, the U.S. Forest Service, California State Parks, the Bureau of Land Management, and Nevada County. The memorandum was designed to prevent clearcuts in the river canyon while alternatives were being sought.
The Memorandum of Understanding expired in 2001, but SPI held off cutting. Finally, on June 21, 2002, after two years of negotiations SYRCL joined with the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and SPI to announce a deal to protect the 731 acres. TPL plans to purchase the land valued at an estimated $3.4 million from SPI and convey it to California State Parks to expand the South Yuba River State Park. "We worked very hard with SPI and TPL to buy this incredible property for public use. We are pleased that SPI has been responsive and willing to work with the community to protect this stretch of the river which is loved and enjoyed by so many people," said Michael Killigrew, SYRCL's Board President.
SYRCL needs to raise money to cover the costs of holding the land before it is transferred into public ownership. Please send donations to SYRCL at 216 Main Street, Nevada City CA 95959
Find out more:
Spring 2003, Sierra Citizen - "Seeing the Forest Through the Shrub."
Summer 2001, Sierra Citizen - "The Web of Life: Timber, SPI, and the Sierra."
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