One of the best articles I've seen regarding Richardson Grove!

Maybe our local North Coast Journal could take some lessons from the author.

Great article Matt!

In Humboldt County, It’s Redwoods Versus the Phantom Wall-Mart

by Matt Baume on July 20, 2010

Drive north from San Francisco for a few hours, and the 101 will gradually melt into a slim road between giant sequoia trees. You've found your way to Richardson Grove State Park, where you can see thousand-year-old redwoods, the South Fork Eel River, and lots of campgrounds, but you won't see any big box stores.

That's thanks, at least in part, to the narrowness of the 101. With a speed limit of 35 miles per hour, most tractor-trailers are banned from the park. This has helped keep sprawl to a minimum, but some Humboldt officials have long complained that it isolates the county and limits commerce.

In response to the politicians, Caltrans spent about a decade working on the Richardson Grove Improvement Project, which culminated this May in a Final Environmental Impact Report.

As described, Caltrans' project would widen the highway and eliminate detours for trucks, shortening the trip from Oakland to Eureka from 725 miles to 279.

And that's where things get controversial.

Rest of article

We will stop Caltrans!

Richardson Grove is BIG news...


6-19-10 Suit says Highway 101 plan threatens redwoods SF Chronicle

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/19/BA5P1E1B9T.DTL

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Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening CBS 47 - ‎4 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening KGET 17 - ‎4 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening KPSP Local 2 - ‎4 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Suit says Highway 101 plan threatens redwoods San Francisco Chronicle - Peter Fimrite - ‎11 hours ago‎ The widening of Highway 101 through Richardson Grove State Park in Humboldt County would pave over and sever the roots of 87 old-growth redwood trees, ... Environmentalists sue state over tree removal KGUN - ‎13 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Suit filed to halt 101 widening in Richardson Grove istockAnalyst.com (press release) - ‎13 hours ago‎ Caltrans has promised to remove only small trees when it widens the two-lane highway winding through famedRichardson Grove State Park, an effort aimed at ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening Daily Comet - ‎14 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening Ventura County Star - ‎14 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening MyMotherLode.com - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening KTVN - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening KIONrightnow.com - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening Fresno Bee - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening KMPH Fox 26 - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening San Francisco Examiner - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening Modesto Bee - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening Washington Examiner - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening KSWT-TV - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening Press-Enterprise - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening Marin Independent-Journal - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros Sue To Block Hwy 101 Widening CBS 13 - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening San Diego Union Tribune - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening Contra Costa Times - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening Times-Standard - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros Sue To Block Hwy 101 Widening CBS 2 - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening Sacramento Bee - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening Monterey County Herald - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Enviros sue to block Hwy 101 widening San Jose Mercury News - ‎15 hours ago‎ The suit alleges that state environmental laws were violated when the highway widening plans were approved for the Richardson Grove State Park project. ... Suit filed to halt 101 widening in Richardson Grove Santa Rosa Press Democrat - Glenda Anderson - ‎18 hours ago‎ Caltrans has promised to remove only small trees when it widens the two-lane highway winding through famedRichardson Grove State Park, an effort aimed at ... Caltrans Sued Over Highway Project Through Redwood Forest SF Weekly (blog) - Peter Jamison - ‎Jun 18, 2010‎ 18 2010 @ 11:30AM ​Environmental activists are suing Caltrans over plans to expand and reroute a highway that passes through Richardson Grove State Park, ...

Isn't it interesting, by C Goodson, Fortuna

Letter to the Editor

Posted: 02/21/2010 01:15:30 AM PST

After attending the scoping meeting for the wind turbine project proposed for Bear River Ridge, it is my contention that the rush to widen Highway 101 through Richardson Grove is to facilitate Shell Oil's wind turbine project. They stated that huge trucks will haul all the needed equipment up Monument Road to Bear River Ridge out of Rio Dell. So how to get the trucks, cranes, turbine parts and tons of other materials, such as concrete, to Rio Dell? If 101 is widened, then Shell Oil will have the ability to haul their equipment to Humboldt County. Isn't it interesting that the timing of the road widening happens to be just "the right timing" for Shell Oil Company. And I was not impressed to learn that the meetings held in Fortuna and Eureka only concern "Phase One" of the wind turbine project. A Shell representative said that only 25 to 30 turbines are to be built, in Phase One. When asked, one Shell rep suggested many other phases of the project will follow with the number 300 total wind turbines planned. Why else would Shell have secured 35,000 acres for the wind turbine project? You don't need 35,000 acres for 25 to 30 turbines. So what impact would 300, 300-foot tall wind turbines have on Bear River Ridge? Shell Oil is who will profit from widening Highway 101, not the communities, the wildlife or the citizens.

C Goodson

Fortuna

Marked Old Growth Trees in Richardson Grove! What are the white paint dots?

On June 10th, 2010, we noticed these giant freshly marked trees during a tour of CalTrans' proposed R.I.P (Richardson Grove "Improvement" Project) for the participants of the "Families in the Forest" event. The tour involved the northernmost area of Richardson Grove State Park where Caltrans wants to widen Highway 101. The property is known as "Singing Trees":



















The trees were marked with white paint dots -without the property owners knowledge. Presumably, the dots where painted on the large trees by Caltrans during a survey one week before we discovered the mysterious markings. However, Kim Floyd, the Caltrans project manager for the R.I.P has denied any knowledge of the freshly marked trees. Here are more photos, that include the Caltrans orange markers that have been present for quite some time. (Note that Highway 101 is uphill from the photographer's position, and the recently white-dotted ancient trees are between the orange markers and Highway 101.)



















What do the white paint dots mean?

Could they be marking the location for future construction of a retaining wall- through the Singing Trees property - as part of the proposed CalTrans road widening project through Richardson Grove?

Could they be designation an equipment staging area for the proposed CalTrans project?

Could the white paint dots be indicative of a vehicle detour planned by CalTrans for its proposed project?


Any way we think about it, it doesn't seem good. Road construction usually requires retaining walls, equipment staging areas, and vehicle detours. Does CalTrans think their gonna take out those huge ancient trees (in addition to the ones whose roots they want to "pave over") to accomplish their plan?

Some people have suggested, "Maybe CalTrans is marking the trees that would NOT be cut or destroyed." But, we all know, that is not how things work.

Perhaps more of us should contact Kim Floyd, the Project Manager, and inquire about the white paint dots on the big awesome trees. Here's her CalTrans phone number and email:

Kim Floyd
Phone: (707) 441-5739, TTY 711
Kim_Floyd@dot.ca.gov

These trees are white dotted, too!


























NO WIDENING THE HIGHWAY THROUGH RICHARDSON GROVE!
NO MORE CRACKING OPEN THE REDWOOD CURTAIN!

Great stuff!

Listen to the EPIC Environmental Show from 7 p.m on 6-22-10 at the KMUD.org archives!

With:
-Jan Bramlett Lost Profits or Lost Paradise
-Rogers Dark Trucks are Coming & Corporate King and Queen,
-Joanne Rand Richardson Grove Song Sing to the Redwoods
-Jefferson's RG song and message
-Ron Ward poem about redwoods,
-Aliana's lovely message & welcome artists.
-other interesting callers.
-Poem: Redwoods Last Stand, by Clinton Codding

Click here and enjoy the show. And don't forget to support KMUD community radio!

Suit says Highway 101 plan threatens redwoods

Peter Fimrite, Chronicle Staff Writer

San Francisco Chronicle Copyright San Francisco Chronicle. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Saturday, June 19, 2010

A coalition of environmental groups and individuals filed a lawsuit this week in San Francisco challenging a plan by the California Department of Transportation to widen a highway through an ancient redwood grove.

The widening of Highway 101 through Richardson Grove State Park in Humboldt County would pave over and sever the roots of 87 old-growth redwood trees, according to the suit filed Thursday in San Francisco Superior Court.

"We've got arborists and foresters who will say the paving over and cutting of the roots will put the ancient redwoods at risk," said Peter Galvin, the conservation director for the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the plaintiffs in the case. "This is a very delicate ecosystem. Though the ancient redwoods won't be cut down, they will be killed as a result of this project."

Rest of article

Families in the Forest Thank You!

"Families in the Forest"

Community Camp out with Old Growth Redwoods in

Richardson Grove State Park

Dawn Redwood Group Camp

June 6-10

Thanks to all who could make it out to Richardson Grove State park last week. We saw a variety of wildlife, and listened to the redwoods upper canopy, sway and squeak, in the coastal winds/ I led guided walks on redwood root ecology, and we examined firsthand how redwoods respond to damage. We studied Caltrans FEIR construction maps, including what trees are proposed to be removed, what trees are proposed to endure root damage, and areas proposed to be cut, filled, and paved. We offered information to the public and displayed a 3D topographic map of Richardson Grove, built by my father. We watched the sun rise, shimmer, and set over the Eel River for five days. We saw shooting stars, sang songs around the campfire, and with permission from residents at the Over Packer's Resort, we painted a rock garden at the south-bound entrance of the grove. Although the event was publicized on MUD radio, the Independent newspaper, and flyers were distributed in Redway, Garberville, Eureka, Arcata, and Trinidad, attendance was low. Donations are still happily accepted and much appreciated. For more information email kellykaraba@hotmail.com

Henry Devoy and Family in Richardson Grove c. 1924

(Donated grove to State Parks)

Richardson Grove Rocks!

Interpretive Walk

Famous Wind Fall Tree with Remarkable root system in Richardson Grove