Mountain Resource Group

Despite the many attempts by San Jose Water Company and certain individuals to characterize NAIL members as uninformed and one-sided, NAIL has worked continuously to provide residents with factual, researched and documented information about the dangers of this logging plan. NAIL made the decision not to post on our website the multi-paged FAQ sent to us by San Jose Water because we believed much of the "information" in the FAQ was public relations "spin" designed to obfuscate the true facts and pacify the community about the impact of the logging plan. We believed that the true facts and the true story would be reflected in the wording of the NTMP. Indeed, now that the NTMP is public it can be validated that San Jose Water Co.'s FAQ "story" does not match their intent via the permit language.

NAIL Steering Committee:

Terry Clark, Debbie Daly, Kevin Flynn, Rea Freedom, Rebecca Moore, Rick Parfitt, Linda Wallace

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION
SANTA CLARA UNIT FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN, 2005
(Reproduced from pages 27 and 28)

Battalion Three: (Los Gatos)
Battalion Three is located in Santa Clara County and lies solely in the State Responsibility Area (SRA) bordering the north of Highway 152; west of the Almaden Valley; then east of the Santa Cruz County line; South from the San Mateo County Line. The Battalion includes watershed for local communities, as this watershed flows in to many lakes and streams managed by both the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the San Jose Water Company. The Battalion also is home to a large amount of Coastal Redwoods protected from development by open space districts along with County parks. The Battalion also has a number of small rural communities that have little or no governmental services.

Historically, the major wild land fire occurrence has been in the remote and sparsely populated South western portion of the Battalion Three, the 1987 Lexington Fire and the 1994 Croy Fire were large structure loss incidents in the Santa Clara Unit. The 2004 Fire Cause Statistics are consistent with previous years equipment use being the leading cause for preventable wild land fires. The 2004 Fire Season (May through October) statistics for Battalion Three are: 1 Battalion Chief; 7 permanent and 2 seasonal Fire Captains; 2 Fire Pilots and 2 seasonal Fire Apparatus Engineers; and 25 seasonal firefighters answered the calls with one utility (circa 1986) two fire engines (circa 1985, 1991) one helicopter (circa 1968) and one helicopter service unit (circa 1996) responded to 488 separate incidents, The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has identified (SRA) Fire Hazard Severity Zones as Moderate, High, & Very High - based on homogeneous lands and their fuel 27.

Santa Clara Unit
Fire Management Plan, 2005 loading, slope, and fire weather. In Battalion Three they are located by vertically dividing into three sections: the South section is a Very High (Loma Preita area), the center section is Moderate (West Santa Clara Valley Foothills), and the North section is High (Hwy 85 and Interstate 280) Battalion Three, because of its unique combination of vegetation, topography, climate and population, has one of the most severe wild land problems in the San Francisco Bay Area. Wild land and urban interface, rugged terrain and highly flammable vegetation coupled with high winds make the South West Santa Clara County foothills especially unsafe for development unless adequate fire safe measures are taken. Without regard for wild land fire protection and water sources, continued development in the SRA will heavily impact fire protection and emergency medic services. Solutions center on designing an acceptable level of risks for firefighters and residents that measure all elements of that risk. Pre-fire planning, mutual aid agreements, standard response plans, Mutual threat zones and high fire behavior warnings are necessary elements to measure the risks to reduce losses from wildfires.

45 day minimum review period from the date the initial inspection is completed, or from the date an accepted NTMP is filed, if the Director determines an inspection is not necessary (1090.18)

Timber Harvest Review Process
Domestic Water Supply Inquiry: Property owners should respond w/in 10 days:
• to alert submitter of domestic water use from a water course within the NTMP or within 1000 ft down stream
• to request mitigations to prevent adverse effects to their water source.

Notice of Intent and Plan Submittal: CDF has 10 days to do 1st review

First Review & Acceptance for filing: Plan rejected or accepted for filing
County Supervisor should request night-time public hearing at an easily accessible location

Pre-Harvest Inspection (PHI): to take place w/in 10 days of plan filing.
• Various Review Team members conduct a site visit.
• Review Team is led by CDF.
• Advisory members include:
–California Geological Survey (CGS)
–Department of Fish and Game (DFG)
–San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board (SFRWQCB)
–Santa Clara County Planning Department

Public Hearing:
• This is the chance for the community to voice concerns
• Not a Q & A session (CDF gathers info)
• Usually little or no presentation of issues
• Speakers have from 3-5 minutes each
• CDF must address in writing every significant environmental, public health, & safety concern raised

Review Team Meeting (Review Team):
• Agencies discuss Registered Professional Forester’s (RPF) response to PHI requests
• Takes place in Santa Rosa
–Public can sit in and listen via conference line from Felton CDF office (limited public attendance) Take notes; tape record
–Issues are hammered out here
–Public may have the opportunity to ask questions of RT members
• CDF prepares Review Team Recommendations
• County (DFG) can non-concur w/in 5 days

Close of Public Comment:
• Ten days after last significant info is received by CDF (RPF responses, etc.)
• Call CDF to confirm date (831-335-6740)
• Send comment letters to CDF prior to date:

Decision-Approval:
• CDF Director approves plan
• CDF has 15 days to prepare Official Response to Comments (often takes longer)
• Can be obtained from CDF or is sent to those who submitted comments

Official Response to Comments

Appeal
• Board of Supervisors can vote to appeal the plan
• Need to get vote of Board of Supervisors before Decision Date
• Board of Forestry decides whether or not to hear appeal
• Board of Forestry holds public hearing on appeal (Sacto)
• Rarely upholds appeal

Litigation

The NonIndustrial Timber Management Plan recently filed by San Jose Water Company lists the timber owners of record for the 1000 acres proposed for logging.

Mountain residents might be interested to know that San Jose Water Company is only one of the owners of this land. Please note the other owners on record:

Bruce Kennedy, Loma Prieta Avenue
Charles Kennedy, Loma Prieta Avenue
Mark and Robin Porter, Loma Prieta Avenue

The NTMP is a public document and the named individuals above are on public record as owners of this land that is to be logged for profit.

Thank you to Nick Arreguy for his suggestions to NAIL members and the NAIL steering committee. They were excellent thoughts and suggestions and we would like to reply to them:

Nick: Call press TV and Radio conferences to educate the public on how logging increases Fire danger and harms water sheds. Publicize the inaccuracies and omissions in the NTMP document. Publicity will attract volunteers from colleges and the rest of the Bay area community. We have to build our numbers into overwhelming proportions.

NAIL: We are in touch with reporters from a number of newspapers; the LG Weekly, the SJ Mercury News, The Santa Cruz Sentinel and The SF Chronicle. We have ongoing relationships with the press and are doing everything possible to educate them so that readers can be educated. We recently submitted a first-review article about the innacuracies of the NTMP to the press. A more thorough study of the massive NTMP document by NAIL-hired experts is ongoing and we will be communicating with the press about our findings.

Building our numbers into overwhelming proportions would be an excellent thing to have happen. The probem is that the average person has a general lack of knowledge about logging plans, and specifically NTMP's because it is not something commonly encountered. The learning process takes time. The more you learn about the process, the more you are able to talk to your friends and neighbors about it, the more you are able to speak out to your public guardians about it, the larger our numbers will grow.

Additionally, NAIL is working with consultants who are experts in key areas of the NTMP. They will review it critically and we will proceed in our resistance strategy to stop the plan.

Nick: Picket SJW headquarters and publicize the event to newspapers and TV news organizations. Reiterate messaging above.

NAIL: Residents who would like to organize peaceful public events are encouraged to do so. If you have the time and inclination to lead a public activity to express your opposition to the NTMP, please contact us so we can discuss it with you. During the NTMP process we will need as many residents as possible to attend the public feedback meeting. The date has not yet been scheduled, but we will let everyone know as soon as it is confirmed to us.

Nick: Find out when and where the investors meeting is and present views and or past presentation to Los Gatos City council. If need be, purchase a least one share per protester, in order to enter the meeting.

NAIL: Again, excellent suggestions. Anything and everything that residents can do to show their support for defeating this terrible plan is needed and valued. Remember however that the Los Gatos town council has no jurisdiction over this matter, given that we live in unincorporated Santa Clara County. You might want to direct your views on this terrible plan to Santa Clara County supervisors. They are interested in hearing from you and welcome your commentary. Supervisor Don Gage oversees this area of the county and he has stated that he intends to work with residents and welcomes their communications about the NTMP. Urge the supervisors to vote on a resolution to challenge the NTMP.

Nick: Challenge SJW to use experts and consider studies that NAIL considers relevant.

NAIL: SJWC believes that the experts they have on staff, their hired experts, and those with whom they interface at Big Creek Lumber, are the right experts. As NAIL experts complete reports from studies, those studies will be shared. You can be assured that SJWC is well aware of studies showing that cutting out the canopy will increase the risk of fire, but they reject that information because it does not fit with their goal of making a financial profit off of logging trees.

Nick: Try to force the state to hold approval hearings in our community in venues large enough to hold all interested parties and well publicize the times and locations of and well in advance of the meetings.

NAIL: The county has the ability to request that the public feedback aspect of the NTMP be held at a time and location convenient to the affected population. We have received assurances from Supv. Gage that this request will be made. It is possible that we will be able to attend the public feedback meeting in the evening and probably at the CDF site in Felton. This is better than a morning meeting in Santa Rosa, which could have been the scenario. Stay tuned to the NAIL website for confirmation of meeting time and location.

Nick: Find ways to boycott SJW or major shareholder products. Unfortunately, institutions hold the largest chunks of shares.

NAIL: Again, anything that citizens can do to make it clear to SJWC how much they oppose this plan, is important.

Nick: Explore potential liability SJW Corp might incur if their logging activities (if approved) are shown to increase sediments in Lexington reservoir. Any liability must be considered a part of the fiduciary responsibility of the officers of SJW. Make clear that any fires that occur after logging operations (if executed) will result in law suites against SJW

NAIL: Our expert consultants will be looking at all of this, rest assured. Residents should feel free to voice these sentiments to SJWC, Santa Clara County, CDF and other involved agencies.

Nick: Continue outreach and the forming of alliances with other environmental groups such as Green Peace and Sierra Club and other groups to publicize and fight through legal action and protests if required. If logging in watersheds is allowed, then we will be going down the slippery slope of more logging throughout our region.

NAIL: We have an alliance with the Loma Prieta chapter of the Sierra Club. They have been helping us greatly and continue to be a part of our resistance team. They are on board. We also have alliances with other "green" organizations who are aware of this plan, who are equally alarmed and who are doing work on our behalf, some of it "behind the scenes."

Nick: Show SJW that logging increases fire danger. This could be a prelude in order to take legal action to fight the logging. Consider the tobacco companies. Even though they knew smoking was dangerous to ones health, they publicly maintained it was not harmful. For that stance, in the end, they were legally responsible for the harmful effects of smoking despite legally selling tobacco at the time.

NAIL: There is no SHOWING SJWC that logging increases fire danger. They know this but they choose to ignore it. Again, this NTMP is about making money off of trees on their watershed land. Fire plans, source water quality plans, impact to the environment and to the quality of life of area residents, (as well as the hit to our property values,) is of no interest to SJWC. Neither is the conventional wisdom of most water companies that the logging of watershed land is not a good practice.

We would like members and resident to know that NAIL is working 24x7 on this issue. As stated, we have expert topical consultants and legal consultants working with us. Now that the NTMP has been filed and we can see the REAL language and REAL intent, we are heavily strategizing as to our next steps. We will be holding another community meeting so watch the website for that date.

NIck: Contact the top mutual fund holdings and top institutional investors
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/mh?s=SJW
NAIL: Great suggestion!

Nick: Put a link in the left hand side of the main page to make it easier to find who to contact to express my views and to find the petitions. Link to the documents prescribing the policies for the water sheds of other large West Coast municipalities including San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Marin County, Portland and Seattle

NAIL: We do plan an upgrade to our NAIL site. The committee has been so busy with fighting the plan on different planes that we have had less time for web page adjustments. If anyone would be willing to donate funds to assist us in this task, it would be welcomed.

Nick: Explore ways to increase public participation and enjoyment in SJW’s properties such as hiking trails through the redwood groves.

NAIL: This is a subject that has been addressed before. SJWC has shown no desire to allow the public access to this land. SJWC recently increased the security fencing around entrances to their watershed, and replaced old locks with heavier, newer locks. Hired guards ensure that there is no trespassing on their property. Security is so tight in Aldercroft Heights that if a fire were to shut off resident exit via Alma Bridge, the entire neighborhood would be locked in. All other vehicle exits out of Aldercroft have SJWC locked gates across them, and no one has a key to the locks in the event of an emergency. SJWC will not offer a key even to the Aldercroft Heights Water board. John Tang, SJWC engineer has stated that: "SJWC cannot take responsibility for people who choose to live in a more fire-prone area" but does mention that if there were a fire they'd send up someone with a key. Hope it is in time...!

Additionally, even if SJWC were to open even some percentage of their lands for public use, in the way that East Bay Municipal Utility Disrict does, for example, and forgo the enormous profit they plan to make off of logged trees, they would have quite a bit of work to do just to make the land accessible. SJWC has been a very poor steward of the land in terms of clearing out brush, sudden-death oakfall, and invasive broom.

Again, we thank Nick for his well thought out remarks and suggestions and we hope NAIL members will consider them seriously. NAIL is more than just your steering committee, it is ALL OF US up here who care about this land and the impact the logging plan will have on it, and us. The steering committee can't do it all. We need you and we need our hired experts to stop the plan. Whether you can donate time or money, or both, we need you here and now.

NAIL Steering Committee

10/23/05
I have some suggestions I would like to propose to the members and officers of NAIL. Order does not necessarily indicate importance; it is just in the order I thought of them.

1. Call press TV and Radio conferences to educate the public on how logging increases Fire danger and harms water sheds. Publicize the inaccuracies and omissions in the NTMP document. Publicity will attract volunteers from colleges and the rest of the Bay area community. We have to build our numbers into overwhelming proportions.

* Make clear it is the slash and ladder fuels that is most likely to burn, not the large trees
* Make clear ladder fuels should be removed and most ideally (but expensively) chipped.
* Show photos of areas under Redwood trees free of fuel due to the excess shade.
* Show photos of sunny areas with Scotch Broom and ladder fuels that are nearby above
* Show photos of landslides and sediment inducing issues related to logging
* Highlight the non-logging policies of other West Coast municipalities

2. Picket SJW headquarters and publicize the event to newspapers and TV news organizations. Reiterate messaging above.

3. Find out when and where the investors meeting is and present views and or past presentation to Los Gatos City council. If need be, purchase a least one share per protester, in order to enter the meeting.

4. Challenge SJW to use experts and consider studies that NAIL considers relevant.

5. Try to force the state to hold approval hearings in our community in venues large enough to hold all interested parties and well publicize the times and locations of and well in advance of the meetings.

6. Find ways to boycott SJW or major shareholder products. Unfortunately, institutions hold the largest chunks of shares.

7. Explore potential liability SJW Corp might incur if their logging activities (if approved) are shown to increase sediments in Lexington reservoir. Any liability must be considered a part of the fiduciary responsibility of the officers of SJW. Make clear that any fires that occur after logging operations (if executed) will result in law suites against SJW

8. Continue outreach and the forming of alliances with other environmental groups such as Green Peace and Sierra Club and other groups to publicize and fight through legal action and protests if required. If logging in watersheds is allowed, then we will be going down the slippery slope of more logging throughout our region.

9. Show SJW that logging increases fire danger. This could be a prelude in order to take legal action to fight the logging. Consider the tobacco companies. Even though they knew smoking was dangerous to ones health, they publicly maintained it was not harmful. For that stance, in the end, they were legally responsible for the harmful effects of smoking despite legally selling tobacco at the time.

10. Contact the top mutual fund holdings and top institutional investors
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/mh?s=SJW

11. Put a link in the left hand side of the main page to make it easier to find who to contact to express my views and to find the petitions. Link to the documents prescribing the policies for the water sheds of other large West Coast municipalities including San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Marin County, Portland and Seattle

2. Explore ways to increase public participation and enjoyment in SJW’s properties such as hiking trails through the redwood groves.

Thanks,
Nick Arreguy

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the NTMP plan be filed and how can I get a copy?

The Los Gatos logging plan has been posted by the CDF. The location is

ftp://thp.fire.ca.gov/THPLibrary/North_Coast_Region/NTMPs2005/1-05NTMP-022SCL/

The plan itself is quite alarming and differs in many significant ways from previous public statements made by SJWC. They have been misleading the public about the extent and scope of the plan. The best source to see a physical copy of the filed plan is via the CDF office in Felton, 831-335-6740. You can also electronically download the plan at the above location.

The issues surrounding the San Jose Water Company's plans to log the Los Gatos Watershed are complex. As the community raised issues and public officials registered objections, the publicly stated plans kept changing. We will make every effort to update our community as we gather more information. Remember that our concerns are being heard and the questions we ask will affect the final outcome.

In Summary, What is Wrong with the San Jose Water Company's plans to log the Los Gatos Creek Watershed?
The logging plans are fraught with many problems. Here are just a few of the bigger issues:
• The plans to remove 60% of the most fire resistant trees will promote the growth of underbrush and saplings creating a much greater fire risk.
A 20 year analysis of logging and forest fires by the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress showed that logged areas have an increased propensity for fire. And, according to the USDA Forest Service, in a statement dated September 8, 2000 " The removal of large, merchantable trees from forests does not reduce fire risk and may, in fact, increase such risk."
• The steep slopes of the proposed logging area are geologically unstable. Logging operations on these steep slopes will result in increased sediment in the streams that feed into the water collection system.
US Department of Agriculture studies show that selective logging of second-growth Redwoods can lead to a 500% increase in stream sediments. Communities such as Aldercroft Heights and Chetemeketa Park draw their water downstream from and within the logging area.
• The long term presence of logging trucks, chain saws and helicopters during our summer and winter months will permanently change the character of our mountain community and adversely affect the surrounding open space parks.

Hasn't fire mitigation been part of the logging plan all along?
According to Mr. Andrew Gere, project director at SJWC, there have been discussions with the California Department of Forestry about the need for SJWC to do fire mitigation on their lands. As far as we can determine, there has never been any written plans by SJWC to do the necessary mitigation as requested by CDF until public officials started receiving complaints from members of our community.
While CDF Battalion 3 (responsible for fighting fires in the LG watershed) is actively implementing fire mitigation in our area, SJWC has not been part of those plans. There have been complaints by several CDF officials that they have been unable to get SJWC to respond to such simple request as providing keys to their locked gates and water storage tanks for fighting small blazes before they become unmanageable.

Isn't it true that the San Jose Water Company hired a fire scientist to help them implement a fire mitigation plan?
SJWC has hired a firm that helps companies develop natural resources, TSSConsultants.com. An associate of TSS, David Ganz is a recent graduate of UC Berkeley (2002) with some experience in fire mitigation. We have been told that the contract to hire Mr. Ganz was only completed on October 4th, 2005. When SJWC was asked if Mr. Ganz would work collaboratively with the community, we were told by John Tang, SJWC, that it would be a conflict of interest.

San Jose Water Company claims that thinning the forest will reduce the risks of fire. Isn't this type of logging a good thing?
Originally Andrew Gere and other officials at SJWC have been quoted by local papers as saying that thinning of the trees will reduce fire risks. There is very little truth to this claim and company officials appear to be backing away from this claim.
In fact, CDF guidelines recommends removing the undergrowth and leaving trees over 24" in diameter because they are the most fire resistant.

San Jose Water Company has stated that since this is a second-growth Redwood forest the trees are overcrowded and logging will promote a healthy forest by allowing the remaining trees to grow stronger. Isn't this better for the forest?
Over 90% of the Redwood forests in California are second-growth. A logical extension of their argument would mean that California Redwood forests would be healthier and better off if 40% of all the large Redwood trees in the state were cut. There is obviously little public call for such an 'improvement' to our state's Redwood forests.

Most of us live in wood homes. Isn't logging necessary to meet our ever growing need for forest products?
While some people may be philosophically opposed to logging, most of use wood products and accept the need for logging. There are over 17 millions acres of forest land in California. We are opposed to logging one of the last large strands of old Redwoods in Santa Clara for health and safety reasons as well as concern for protecting our rapidly diminishing open space.

Will logging hurt the watershed and affect the quality of the water that goes to Los Gatos and Mount Serno?

Eighty Five per cent of the water supplied to Los Gatos and Mount Sereno comes from the proposed logging area. In addition, the community of Aldercroft Heights draws its water directly from Los Gatos Creek and Chetemeketa Park uses Los Gatos Creek as a secondary source. Steep slopes and many active tributaries to the Los Gatos creek will contribute to increased sediment ending up in the water supplies. While there are many CDF rules and guidelines designed to minimize this damage or fix it once it occurs, damage will occur. How much damage will occur will be affected by how well SJWC repairs their roads, the amount a rainfall in a given year and other complex factors. This is probably one of the reasons no other major metropolitan area on the West Coast allows logging in their watershed.

Doesn't removing large trees reduce the amount of fuel in case a large fire does occur? Removing the large trees temporarily reduces the available fuel in case of a fire. However, new trees, and brush quickly grow. Opening up the forest canopy leads to the growth of invasive and fire prone species such as Scotch Broom. The new growth is considerably easier to ignite once the large trees are removed. The risk of a fire spreading out of control is actually increased.

San Jose Water Company claims that it will be required to post a bond for any damage done to our roads by the logging trucks. Why are claims being made that our roads will be damaged? The bond will only cover damage due to negligence. The excessive wear and tear caused by logging trucks is not covered by the bond.

It's their land, why shouldn't they be able to do what they want? There are many federal, state and local laws that restrict land use. Many of these laws are designed to create a safe and healthy environment. As one example, building codes are designed to guide us so our homes don't fall down during an earthquake. Laws that regulate logging are similarly designed to make sure we protect our water supplies and environment.

There has been a lot said about helicopter logging. Should I be concerned?

The information in the NTMP confirms that the logging plan will occur year round. Thus helicopter logging will occur in the winter months as well as the summer. What we do know is that these are very large and extremely noisy helicopters. Landing and staging areas for the helicopters will also have to be cleared in the forest area. Unless it is an emergency, they should not be allowed to operate in our heavily populated mountain community. Once logging helicopters are allowed into our neighborhoods, it will be easier for SJWC to expand there use into additional acreage not currently included in the plans.

If San Jose Water Company is not allowed to log, where will they get the money to do fire mitigation?

SJWC has about 220,000 customers. The company has generated billions of dollars in revenue since the 1985 Lexington Fire. They can easily afford to divert a small fraction of their profits to protect the watershed. The real question is why haven't they done so?

If clean water is one of SJWC most valuable assets, why would the do anything to endanger it?

Sometimes companies make mistakes. SJWC has never been in the timber business. The company that is guiding them is not a water company, but a forest products company who's main intent is to maximize the amount of timber they can get out of a forest. The two sets of interest are not the same.
Other large West Coast municipalities including San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Marin County, Portland and Seattle understand the fact that logging and watershed protection are mutually exclusive and all expressly prohibit logging in their watersheds.

If it's true that SJWC has not responded to repeated request from CDF to do basic fire mitigation, why can't CDF force them to do so?

CDF can not force private property owners to follow state guidelines.

How long is the logging permit good for?

The permit, called a Non Industrial Timber Management Plan, NTMP, lasts in perpetuity. The concept is to promote a forest of mixed sized trees that can be sustainability harvested forever. In essence, we will never see the end of the logging trucks, heavy duty chainsaws and loud helicopters in our mountain neighborhoods.

One time SJWC states that 40% of the trees will cut and another time they state only 20% of the trees will be cut, which is it? Both numbers are incorrect. The current NTMP calls for the maximum amount of cutting allowable by law. The NTMP document makes NO mention of trees over 24" in diameter. In fact the plan calls for cutting 60% of the trees 18 inches in diameter or greater (ie leaving 40%). The plan calls for far more cutting of the most fire resistant trees than is mentioned in SJWC's previous public statements. What is most important to understand is the goal. The big trees are the most valuable as lumber products. 60% of the largest trees will be removed. The CDF rules are intended to make sure that a significant number of small trees are left behind to replace the large ones that are removed. Since many of these trees are 115 years old, they are quite large and least likely to ignite during a fire. The small trees that are left behind are much easier to ignite, create ladder fuels and have the potential to make any future fires in our area much worst.

Will Old Growth Trees be cut?

CDF guidelines have no specific provisions to protect old growth. Redwoods can live to be 3,000 year old. Many of the trees being considered for harvest are over 115 years old. They are typically four to seven feet in diameter. we believe they are majestic in stature and worthy of protecting for future generations to appreciate. Given their current age, they are now part of a well established ecosystem.

Is it true that the logging will only occur every other year?

The current NTMP plans call for year-round summer and winter logging and may have to be continued in the following Spring. One of problems with the NTMP process is the ability to easily make changes after the permit is granted without a full review.

Will the value of my property be devalued by logging?

It should be obvious to anyone that trying to sell a home while commercial logging is taking place on your property line is going to affect the sales price. The problem is only aggravated if your home is next to an area that is being helicopter logged.

Will logging trucks add to traffic congestion? Yes. Logging trucks move slowly causing substantially more traffic accidents per mile driven than other vehicles. Summit Rd, the Old Santa Cruz Highway and Highway 17 are already heavily congested. Logging trucks during the summer months on Highway 17 will certainly add to traffic delays. Yes. Logging trucks move slowly causing substantially more traffic accidents per mile driven than other vehicles.

Will there be a risk to school children?

Since the NTMP has now indicated the plan to log in the winter, our parents and school children will share the road with logging trucks during the regular school year. Most schools operate summer programs and logging trucks on our roads where schools are open during any month is a real concern. Forcing our teen children who are just learning to drive to share the road with logging trucks is another real concern.

Aren't log trucks dangerous on mountain roads?

Yes. Logging trucks for each mile driven are involved in more accidents than other vehicles.

Will logging promote the growth of more flammable brush?

Yes. Removing the largest trees from the forest will open canopy and promote the growth of smaller trees, new trees and brush. It will turn a forest of mostly 115 year old trees into a mixed forest. These are exactly the conditions that create ladder fuels and increase the risks of catastrophic fires.

Will logging promote the spread of non-native species?

Yes. Removing the largest trees from the forest will open the canopy and permit more sunlight to enter the forest. This will exacerbate the problems of non-native species. Many of these species such as Scottish Broom is highly flammable.

What happens to the logging slash (debris)? It is left in the forest. It disrupts the natural ecosystem of the forest and when it dries out, it can contribute to increased fire risk. The current NTMP calls for slash up to 30” to be left, a departure from SJWC’s public FAQ that promised slash close to the ground..

Will the trees grow back?

Over time, an uneven aged forest will develop across the SJWC forestlands. There will be fewer large trees and more small trees. The smaller trees are easier to ignite and provide a ladder or easier path for fire to move from the forest floor to the canopy of the largest trees. The risks of catastrophic fire will be higher.

How will logging help with fire management? It will exacerbate the problem. The two activities are unrelated. The logging plan is designed to generate revenue for the company at the expense of creating an uneven aged forest. Fire mitigation and the commercial aspects of the SJWC logging plan are incompatible.

Will the logging affect endangered species?

This is a real concern. The NTMP explicitly mentions the presence of California Red-Legged Frogs (an endangered species) and Ospreys (a sensitive species) in the logging area. .

If I have other concerns or questions that I don't think SJWC is adequately addressing, who can I contact?

Based on the nature of you question we will do our best to either answer it or refer you to an expert that might be able to help.
Please visit our web page at www.mountainresource.org

The Los Gatos logging plan has been posted by the CDF. The location is:

ftp://thp.fire.ca.gov/THPLibrary/North_Coast_Region/NTMPs2005/1-05NTMP-022SCL/

The plan itself is quite alarming and differs in many significant ways from the previous public statements made by SJWC. They have been misleading the public about the extent and scope of the plan.

Below are examples drawn from the FAQ posted by SJWC on the www.hiway17.com website and contrasted with the ACTUAL plan found on the CDF website. The NTMP document used for comparison is entitled 20051018_1-05NTMP-022SCL_Sec2.pdf. Page numbers from this document are provided.

This is just a preliminary analysis of the NTMP plan. Further analysis is underway.

Cutting The Largest Most Fire Resistant Trees

The plan calls for the maximum amount of cutting allowable by law. The NTMP document makes NO mention of trees over 24" in diameter. In fact the plan calls for cutting 60% of the trees 18 inches in diameter or greater (ie leaving 40%). The plan calls for far more cutting of the most fire resistant trees than is mentioned in SJWC's previous public statement.

SJWC FAQ - "In accordance with harvesting requirements in this NTMP, approximately one fifth of the conifers 12” or larger in diameter at breast height (dbh) within the stand will be harvested at any given time. Of these, typically about 40% of the trees greater than 24” dbh will be harvested. This means that immediately after a harvest, the majority of the largest trees will be left standing, along with a great proportion trees throughout all diameter classes. "

NTMP Document - "A well distributed timber stand shall be left after operations that is at least 40% by number of those trees 18 inches or more in dbh (diameter at breast height) and at least 50% of those trees over 12 inches but less than 18 inches."
NTMP Section 2 Page 5

Year Round Logging

SJWC has stated that logging will occur for a limited time. The NTMP calls for year-round logging. By the way, the NTMP includes letters from local schools referring to the fact that day-care and other school activities will take place year-round.

SJWC FAQ - "Each separate harvest will occur during the late spring or summer and will take approximately 6 weeks to complete." "While schools are unlikely to be in session during operations..."

NTMP Document - "Will timber operations occur during the winter period - YES" "Tractor operations may occur during the winter period." " I choose to prepare a winter operating plan" "Cable yarding may occur during the winter period" "Helicopter logging may occur during the winter period"
NTMP page 12.

Hours of Operation

No mention is made in the NTMP about a 4:00 pm cut-off

SJWC FAQ - "Big Creek restricts active operations of their crews to the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m."

NTMP Document - "Within 300 feet of any occupied dwelling, the operation of power equipment, including chain saws, except licensed highway vehicles, shall be restricted to the hours between 8:00AM and 7:00PM. Operations elsewhere on the property may occur between the hours of 7:00AM and 7:00PM." NTMP page 31.

Logging Slash

Logging slash will be nearly 3 feet high.

SJWC FAQ - "Logging slash will be lopped (cut) to a level close to the ground."

NTMP Document - "Logging and distributing logging slash in designated areas so that no part of it remains more than 30 inches above the ground." NTMP Page 24

Opening Up The Forest Canopy

The forest canopy WILL be opened allowing the introduction of invasive fast growing fire prone species such as scotch broom.

SJWC FAQ: "Because forest canopy will be only partially removed during any given harvest, invasive species will not establish themselves as aggressively in the shaded conditions"

NTMP Document: "The objective of the hardwood treatment would be to reduce canopy closure and allow more sunlight to reach the redwood generation" - NTMP Page 6

Other information

Endangered Species
NTMP explicitly mentions the presence of California Red-Legged Frogs (an endangered species) and Ospreys (a sensitive species) in the logging area. NTMP Page 25.

Archeological Sites
Archeological sites are found in the NTMP area. NTMP page 29

Erosion Hazard Rating
Erosion Hazard Rating is High NTMP page 9

Ed Dennis, mountain resident and owner of Lupin Naturist Club has created a fine fall event to raise funds benefiting NAIL’s anti-logging activities. Dennis has offered his facility to the mountain community on this Sunday, October 16, 10AM to 10PM. Lupin is located at 20600 Aldercroft Heights Road. Clothing is required at this event.

The first band will be playing at noon and a ten o'clock festival start gives time for people to be fashionably late and still get all the music. The outside music will go on until dusk and the last event, the "NAIL Barn Dance," will be held inside the Clubhouse Restaurant with its upscale array of night club lighting, ample autumnal decorations and ongoing Art Show.

The charge to get into the NAIL Benefit BBQ, Barn Dance and Mountain Music Festival will be $10 for adults, $5 for teenagers and seniors, and free for children accompanied by their parents.

Admission to the NAIL Festival allows admission just to the NAIL Festival Area and not the entire 110 acres of Lupin. All proceeds beyond the actual cost for bands and raw food and drink will go to NAIL! Lupin is supplying the grounds, restaurant, lawns, stage, promotional materials, tickets, wrist bands, and personnel at no charge.

There are plans to erect a 12' x 20' canvas canopy (or two) a White Elephant NAIL Sale. The idea is for people to donate their unwanted but valuable "white elephants" to NAIL to sell at the event. Any items of particular value will be put up for a silent auction. Anything that does not sell, we should either auction or give away at the Barn Dance.

There will also be colorful NAIL helium balloons for sale, games that people can pay to play. Please come and contribute to Lupin’s NAIL fundraiser, and enjoy a fun day.

Membership Meeting
Friday, October 14th, 7:00 PM
Chemeketa Clubhouse
Our current information is that the NTMP will be filed on this date.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss where we are, and where we want to go.
Your input is needed.
Discussion will include fundraising, committee members, taking action.
There will be time for each person to share ideas, ask questions and be a part of preserving these beautiful mountains.
See you there!

NAIL Steering Committee