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Topic:
Forests
Sudden Oak Death found in Humbodlt County
Sudden Oak Death Approaches Mattole Watershed
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Sudden Oak Death susceptible species
As of this writing, Sudden Oak Death (Phytopthera ramorum) has been found in 16 native California plant species. These include three true oaks and tanoak. All of these species except the Shreve oak are found in the Mattole.
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Another look at old growth
Beyond the implications of politically charged buzzwords like “old growth”, there is a science which has been emerging over the last 20 years that focuses on the inner workings of old growth forests. Old growth forests, also called late successional forests, are characterized by large, uninterrupted stands of trees with various ages and sizes creating a multi-layered canopy, interlaced with downed trees and standing dead trees. Most agree that forests begin to develop these characteristics anywhere from 100 to 350 years of age. These stands maintain a steady state of reproduction through the death and rebirth of individual or a small collection of trees. Late successional forests provide unique structure and habitat features unrivaled by the closed canopy of second growth and the exposure of open lands. They create their own climate conditions such as moderate temperatures, higher humidity, lower wind speed, and slower temperature change. The massive old trees also receive and provide moisture through capturing summer fog. While academics and foresters debate the definition and amount of late successional forests left in the U.S., much can be agreed upon. Research has revealed that the canopy, snags and downed trees, soil and wildlife in old growth forests are biologically unique.
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Rainbow Ridge Campaign Update
The first thing that the Mattole Restoration Council would like to say is THANK-YOU SO MUCH to all who have written letters in support of protecting the old growth in the Rainbow Ridge area that is owned by the Pacific Lumber Company (PL). We have copies of beautifully written, eloquent and impassioned letters to document your efforts. Several state agencies and the governor received several hundred letters from as far south as San Diego, as far north as Canada, and as far east as Maine. This has brought the Rainbow Ridge project to the attention of our decision makers.
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MRC GIS old-growth Forest Mapping Update
This summer from August 12-15th the MRC will be offering a first time institute for all Mattole teachers. The institute is in an educational framework called EIC, or Using the Environment as an Integrating Context for Learning. EIC defines a frame-work for education which utilizes interdisciplinary, collaborative, student-centered, hands on, and engaged learning.
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Rainbow Ridge Update
As our regular readers are aware, the Lower North Fork forest in the Rainbow Ridge area, owned by the Pacific Lumber Company (PL), is the largest coastal old-growth Douglas–fir forest in the state of California. This 2700+ acre forest, intermixed with open grassland, is wild and beautiful, often draped with ribbons of fog, and home to a myriad of sensitive, threatened and endangered species. One of the reasons has not yet been harvested is that it sits on some of the most steep and unstable slopes in the state. The Rainbow Ridge area is rife with natural geologic instabilities, is in spitting distance of the Triple Junction fault line, and is pelted with an average of 100 inches of rainfall a year.
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14 January, 2004 | Copyright
2003 Mattole Restoration
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