McKay Community Forest Approved for 197-acre Expansion
Press release from the County of Humboldt:
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors today voted to approve the purchase of 197 acres of forestland southeast of Eureka to expand the McKay Community Forest. The parcel to be acquired from Green Diamond Resource Company is located east of the unincorporated community of Ridgewood Heights.
Funding for the property acquisition will be provided by the California Natural Resources Agency, CAL FIRE, and the Long Foundation. The project has been facilitated by The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national conservation organization with extensive involvement on the North Coast. The Wildlife Conservation Board was actively involved with administering the state funding for the project. Close of escrow is expected by June 30, 2020.
The McKay Community Forest was established on Aug. 21, 2014, when Humboldt County acquired 1,000 acres of forestland from Green Diamond. The McKay Community Forest is managed for multiple objectives including public access and recreation, sustainable timber harvest, and watershed and resource protection. Humboldt County expects to release the final Trail Plan for the McKay Community Forest this Fall, providing a blueprint for developing nearly 30 miles of trails to support recreational and educational activities. Public trail access to the new addition for the McKay Community Forest will be provided from the designated parking area located on Northridge Road.
Humboldt County will soon initiate preparation of a Forest Stewardship Plan and Non-industrial Timber Management Plan to guide forest management. Revenues generated through timber harvest will offset the costs of management and maintenance and fund the development of trails, access points, and other amenities.
“The McKay Community Forest is a long-term investment for our community,” said Rex Bohn, Humboldt County First District Supervisor. “We can provide outstanding recreational and education opportunities right at Eureka’s back door while supporting local jobs and maintaining the ecosystem services provided by the forest. We’re working hard to be ready to start building trails and opening the community forest for all county residents to enjoy. I appreciate Green Diamond’s recognition of the benefits of creating a community forest at the Eureka area’s urban interface and their exceptional efforts to make this expansion possible.”
Green Diamond Property within McKay Tract to receive Conservation Easement
Concurrent with the expansion of the county-owned McKay Community Forest, CAL FIRE is planning to acquire a conservation easement on approximately 5,967 acres of forestland retained by Green Diamond within the McKay Tract. The easement will permanently restrict development while allowing the property to continue to be managed as a working forest.
The McKay Tract is situated within the Ryan Creek watershed which is a tributary to Humboldt Bay through Eureka Slough. The McKay Tract is one of the most productive forestland properties in Humboldt County and contains habitat for coho salmon, northern spotted owl, and a variety of aquatic and terrestrial species. In 2009, Green Diamond and TPL initiated a conservation plan to preserve the natural communities and water quality of the Ryan Creek watershed through creation of a community forest in two phases and establishment of a conservation easement on the majority of Green Diamond’s holdings. The conservation easement will allow continued active forest management while preventing habitat impacts associated with forest fragmentation and water quality impacts associated with urbanization.
“We welcome the close of the final two phases of the McKay land sale and conservation easement,” said Green Diamond Vice President and General Manager Jason Carlson. “This completes a concept that was initiated over a decade ago in conversations with then Supervisor Jimmy Smith. We appreciate the efforts of Supervisor Bohn, The Trust for Public Land, and the multiple funding agencies that helped bring this long-term plan to fruition. The McKay Community Forest is a unique asset to the community and the conservation easement covering approximately 5,967 acres of land east of Ryan Creek ensures the tract will remain as productive timberland in perpetuity.”
“CAL FIRE is pleased to be part of this private-public partnership to conserve a working forest landscape that will deliver carbon sequestration, clean air and water, local timber resources and employment, and provide a place for public recreation for future generations,” said CAL FIRE Director Chief Thom Porter.
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For more information contact:
Rex Bohn, First District Supervisor Hank Seemann, Deputy Director, Public Works Gary Rynearson, Manager Forest Policy and Communications [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 707-498-2228 707-601-5776
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The county will loose money on this purchase and manage it as terribly as they manage our roads and everything else. Green Diamond makes sure they slaughter the timber before they sell it to all these govt. agencies. A lot of this timber is spruce of zero value and beat up third growth redwood. Why dont they just manage the county parks they already have which are in terrible condition and user unfriendly.
Lose
Dude, this is a good thing. Be happy!
Low timber value is one of the things that made the acquisition feasible.
??Wow more illegal grow property. ?⚖
It’s not that far east of eureka
The parks are open?
No money to help the EPD, but they bought a piece of land to make trails and homeless camps. A stupid move in my book!
“Funding for the property acquisition will be provided by the California Natural Resources Agency, CAL FIRE, and the Long Foundation. The project has been facilitated by The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national conservation organization with extensive involvement on the North Coast. The Wildlife Conservation Board was actively involved with administering the state funding for the project. Close of escrow is expected by June 30, 2020.”
Umm, where did it say that the County spent taxpayer’s money for this purchase? Appears to me that the funding came from others. Also, a lot of people like trails and exploring our local forests… I say it is a good investment, especially since the upfront costs to purchase the land was not provided by the County, er, taxpayers.
Also, why would the County provide money to EPD? The County has the Sheriff Department….
I love trails, who do you think supports Cal Fire, yep the taxpayers. The council cut $175,000 from the EPD budget, and the last time I looked, they are in Humboldt County. They are going to help pay for the land by logging, oh hell no, the EPIC nuts will put a stop to that. And you will be able to walk on the trails as see all the tree sitters. Spray a blue X to indicate the tree is to be cut down.
You know the difference between State and County, right?
Thirdeye, I sure as hell do know the difference, and frankly it does not matter. Still money wasted!
I think I know where your third eye is located. Can you guess?
Sounds good. Now for extending it all the way down to elk river…