Defend Richardson Grove! Save Humboldt County!

Benbow Billboard

2012-01-13T02:32:00.000-08:00

RIDESHARES to Celebration to Honor Richardson Grove, Sunday Aug 28th

2011-08-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

Rideshare/Carpool Schedule for Sunday Aug. 28th
Travel to Richardson Grove for the Celebration To Honor the Trees of Richardson Grove

If you need a ride or can give a ride, meet at one or more of these spots
depending on where you are coming from:

10:00am at the ARCATA Co-op kiosk/bulletin board
10:20am in front of Walgreens (Broadway) in EUREKA
11:30am at the Used Bookstore in GARBERVILLE

Event In Richardson Grove, AUGUST 28th

2011-08-17T03:23:00.000-07:00

Honor The Trees Of Richardson Grove

Sunday, August 28th
from noon to 6;00 pm

Richardson Grove State Park
day use picnic area

Bring food to share for community pot luck, as well as instruments and bathing suits.

Contact Maureen Kane at HonorRichardsonGrove@gmail.com or 707.267.8960

Benefit for Richardson Grove Legal Fund

2011-08-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

Greetings, Friends of Richardson Grove! Let's get together and celebrate the recent success of our legal team in obtaining the Preliminary Injunction that has temporarily halted the CALTRANS project.

This event will be a benefit and fundraiser for the Richardson Grove Legal Fund being administered by EPIC. The event will be held at
Beginnings in Briceland- http://www.beginningsbrice land.org/
on Sunday, September 4 (Labor Day we...ekend.) Doors will open at 5:00PM Admission is $20.00/sliding scale. Dinner will be offered starting at 5:30PM for a separate fee, catered by Sue Moloney of Sue's Organics. Wine and beer will be available for purchase. There will be a silent auction including items of original artwork by local artists.

There will be fabulous music. Music during dinner will include local singer/songwriters with songs honoring the Grove: Jan Bramlett, Bud Rogers and Jessie Rubin. Following an invocation by Native Elder Jene McCovey, Gary Hughes, Executive Director of EPIC will give an update on the campaign to Save Richardson Grove.

After dinner, Joanne Rand will play a set including her new Richardson Grove song. The set by Jefferson Parson and his Rasberry Jam Band will include all 5 of his original Grove songs ... and hey ... it's Jefferson's 70th birthday! The Marjo Wilson Bank will climax the evening, ricking out and bringing all dancers to their feet.

This event is being planned by a dedicated crew of volunteers BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP! We need a set-up crew of volunteers to decorate and create the right ambiance, a take-down and clean-up crew, a crew to gather silent auction items, a parking crew and a crew to mind the door.

We will need a kitchen crew to work with Sue Moloney: 4 volunteers are needed for the 7:00-10:00 PM shift; 2 are needed for washing dishes from 5:30-9:30 PM; 2 are needed for drinks and dessert from 5:00-9:00 PM; and two are needed for kitchen clean-up from 9:00 until 11:00 PM.In addition, we need donations of wine and beer. Silent auction items can include original artwork, craft items such as jewelry, donations of sessions for body work, spa, massage, donations of hotel stays and meals at area restaurants, etc.

Start thinking of who you know that would be willing to donate and please ask now. Donations are tax-deductible since EPIC is a non-profit and all donations will receive a receipt for tax-deduction purposes.

Please contact Kelly Larson at 707-923-0152 or email at Kelly.Jane.Larson@gmail.com or contact Jefferson Parsons at 707-923-3499 or email at jefferson@asis.com with your questions and offers to volunteer. With everyone pitching in, this is guaranteed to be a great time. If you have ever asked "What Can I Do To Help The Grove?" - this is your answer!!

Feel free to forward this email to your own email lists, to Facebook friends and Twitter it. We have a great poster available - email for a copy.

Preliminary Injunction GRANTED! July 6, 2011

2011-07-06T21:58:00.000-07:00

The judge granted the preliminary injunction in the federal lawsuit against CalTrans' Richardson Grove highway plan!

Here's a link to the July 6, 2011 order from the judge. (pdf)
http://www.box.net/shared/7b2xe9mvd6de4zpkz7vv

Below is the first 5 pages, a glimpse...

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
Case No. C 10-04360 WHA

BESS BAIR; TRISHA LEE LOTUS; BRUCE EDWARDS; JEFFREY HEDIN; LOREEN ELIASON; ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION INFORMATION CENTER, a non-profit corporation; CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, a non-profit corporation; and CALIFORNIANS FOR ALTERNATIVES TO TOXICS, a non-profit corporation, Plaintiffs,
v.
CALIFORNIA STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, and CINDY McKIM, in her official capacity as Director of the State of California Department of Transportation, Defendants.

ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION

INTRODUCTION
This environmental-impact litigation arises out of a proposal to widen Highway 101 through old-growth redwood trees. A preliminary injunction is warranted until a final decision on the merits, for the reasons below.

STATEMENT
Two hundred miles north of San Francisco, at the southern edge of Humboldt County, is
Richardson Grove State Park. It is home to ancient redwoods 300 feet tall and thousands of years old. The park shelters an abundance of wildlife, including the marbled murrelet and spotted owl.

Highway 101 threads through the park for about one mile. Some huge redwood trees come right up to the road, narrowing the two-lane highway to a mere 22 feet (EA 3). Due to its narrow and winding curves, this section of the highway poses safety hazards for large trucks. Specifically, trucks authorized by the Surface Transportation Assistance Act, 23 U.S.C. 101, are often longer and carry more volume than standard trucks. Most of these longer vehicles are prohibited from using this section of Highway 101 because of “off-tracking.” A truck off-tracks when its back tires do not follow its front tires around a curve, but rather take the shorter route. Narrow lanes and tight turns lead to off-tracking. Despite the safety hazard, there are a few legislative exceptions, including a temporary exception for livestock haulers, which allow some STAA trucks access through the park (EA 1–4).

Defendants California Department of Transportation and Cindy Kim, the director of Caltrans, have initiated the Richardson Grove Operational Improvement Project to widen the road to meet highway requirements in order to allow all STAA trucks safer passage through the park. The stated purpose of allowing larger trucks through-access on Highway 101 is to lower the cost of transportation for goods imported into and exported from Humboldt County (EA 5). Currently, for instance, STAA trucks going from Oakland to Eureka must take a 446-mile detour via I-5 through Oregon and back south on Route 101 (EA 5).

This environmental-impact controversy arises because widening the road might have adverse effects on the redwoods. Their roots are shallow. The roots extend outward three to ten times the diameter of the tree trunk (EA 41 n.6; Compl. ¶ 36). Their interlacing root system provides mutual reinforcement (Compl. ¶ 71). The soil is loose and aerated. Redwoods breathe through their roots, absorbing air, nutrients, and water. The trees need non-compact soil to thrive (McBride Decl. ¶¶ 11–14).

For these reasons, the proposal is merely to widen the roadway slightly and to do so using minimal-impact techniques. During oral argument, Caltrans’ attorney stated that the plan would fell 54 trees. Only six of them are redwoods, two of which are located inside the park and none of which are old growth — meaning those six redwoods have diameters less than 30 inches (EA 40).

Once cleared, the project plans to regrade, realign, and widen the road. In most cases, the project would shift the center line of the highway by one to six feet. The maximum realignment would shift the centerline 17 feet (EA 62). The construction calls for cut-and-fill techniques. In other words, Caltrans would cut the soil and fill it with sturdy, compact material suitable for highway foundation. This, however, is a main point of contention. (This poses a risk for the root system, which needs loose soil, not compact soil.) To continue with mitigation precautions, excavation near old-growth redwoods would be done by hand or with an air spade. An air spade uses air compression to clear away dirt rather than cutting roots while digging away at soil. Roots that are less than two inches would be cut and watered so they would not dry out. Brow logs would be braced against tree trunks to minimize the effect of fill on the trees (EA 113–15). A retaining wall to support the roadway would be installed spanning 200 feet and reaching ten to thirteen feet high (EA 19). New culverts would replace older ones to improve drainage (EA 41). Clearly, the proposal has been drawn with an eye to mitigating most damage to the redwoods.

Caltrans issued a draft and then a final Environmental Assessment. In its draft EA, Caltrans stated that construction around redwood roots has the “most potential to result in impacts to trees” and that the project would be “likely to [a]dversely [a]ffect” the spotted owl (Draft EA 83, 104). After issuing its draft EA — pursuant to NEPA — and its Section 4(f) analysis — pursuant to the Department of Transportation Act of 1966, 49 U.S.C. 303 — Caltrans received hundreds of letters protesting the project (Duggan Decl. Exh. 3-1 through 3-12). In response, Caltrans slightly changed its proposal. In May 2010, Caltrans issued a final EA, which documented relocating a proposed retaining wall, added a chart describing trees whose roots would be affected by the cut and fill soil, more than doubled the estimate of trees whose root structures might be adversely impacted, and cited the names of two arborists who claimed no significant impact would occur (EA 19–20, 108–12). Despite opposition, the agency adopted a “finding of no significant impact.” The FONSI avoided the requirement of performing a complete investigation and producing an Environmental Impact Statement.

Plaintiffs are individual supporters and non-profit environmental groups who claim this project will jeopardize the health of the trees and wildlife. Plaintiff Bess Bair is the granddaughter of the owner of The Harstook Inn (situated in the Park), which was sold to Save-The-Redwoods League. The granddaughter of the man who originally gave Richardson Grove to California, plaintiff Trish Lee Lotus remains an avid visitor to the Grove. Plaintiff Bruce Edwards is a truck driver from Humboldt County who regularly drives on this section of Highway 101. While performing volunteer work for the Piercy fire department, plaintiff Jeffrey Hedin drives through Richardson Grove. Plaintiff Loreen Eliason owns an inn on Highway 101 just six miles north of Garberville and claims that the preservation of Richardson Grove is essential to her business and those like it (Compl. ¶¶ 20–23). Plaintiffs Environmental Protection Information Center, Center for Biological Diversity, and Californians for Alternatives to Toxics are non-profit organizations that promote environmental protection. These groups and individuals bring this action on behalf of their members who have an interest in California’s wildlife and natural wonders (Compl. ¶¶ 24–26). Harm to the redwoods and natural environment of the park would allegedly irreparably hurt the “health, recreational, scientific, cultural, inspirational, educational, [and] aesthetic” interests of the plaintiffs (Compl. ¶ 27).

This action alleges that defendants have violated the National Environmental Protection Act, the Department of Transportation Act, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act. The complaint claims defendants violated NEPA by failing to (1) establish the need and purpose for the project, (2) disclose and evaluate the significant environmental effects, (3) explore and evaluate reasonable alternatives to the project, (4) adequately document public comments and concerns and responses to those comments, and (5) prepare an environmental impact statement (Compl. ¶ 99). Plaintiffs also allege that Caltrans violated Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act by failing to determine that no alternatives existed and by failing to create a plan that would minimize harm (Compl. ¶ 120). In not consulting with the National Park Service concerning the effects of relocating the retaining wall closer to the Eel River, defendants allegedly violated Section 7 of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (Compl. ¶ 125). The Administrative Procedure Act was violated, it is said, by approving and adopting an EA/FONSI contrary to NEPA and Section 4(f) standards.

By the instant motion, plaintiffs seek a preliminary injunction to halt all activity on this project while we litigate the merits. At this stage, defendants have not submitted the administrative record, but instead we have the record submitted on this motion.

ANALYSIS
A plaintiff seeking a preliminary injunction must show (1) that she is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of a preliminary injunction, (2) that she is likely to succeed on the merits, (3) that the balance of equities tips in her favor, and (4) that an injunction is in the public interest. Winter v. Natural Res. Def. Council, Inc., 129 S.Ct. 365, 374 (2008). So long as a likelihood of irreparable harm is always shown, these elements are balanced on a sliding scale, so that a stronger showing of one may offset a weaker showing of others. Alliance for the Wild Rockies v. Cottrell, 632 F.3d 1127, 1131 (9th Cir. 2011). More specifically, if a likelihood of irreparable harm is shown, “[a] preliminary injunction is appropriate when a plaintiff demonstrates . . . that serious questions going to the merits were raised and the balance of
hardships tips sharply in the plaintiff’s favor.” Id. at 1134–35 (citation omitted).

PARADE THROUGH THE REDWOODS! JULY 3RD

2011-07-02T10:14:00.000-07:00

Given the number of people currently visiting Richardson Grove State Park, we are planning a July 3rd PARADE through Richardson Grove!
Short notice, we know, but we'd love to see you there. Everyone can join in!

PARADE Through the Redwoods!

Sunday, July 3rd Begins 2 pm at the Day Use Area of Richardson Grove State Park

Richardson Grove is threatened by CalTrans' highway expansion plan!

Show your support for the survival of Richardson Grove-
where some of the trees were 1,000 years old at America's birth.

Feel free to dress colorful and bring music makers and colorful non-explosives. (No Fireworks)

~Richardson Grove Action Now
707.602.7551

The Highway Expansion Would Significantly Harm One Hundred and Eight Old Growth Redwood Trees

2011-06-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

Redwood Times Honors our Namesake http://www.redwoodtimes.com/ci_18321895

I appreciate this fact-filled article in Redwood Times addressing the concerns of those of us who treasure Richardson Grove and our unique Humboldt way of life. Gary Hughes and Barbara Kennedy presented Rotary new information on the likely irreparable impact to Richardson Grove, and questioned the value of this project for our community.

The new report by Dr. Joseph McBride -- forester, professor at UC Berkeley, author of 277 articles on trees (especially Redwoods) and adviser to State Parks -- offers the real science that CalTrans failed to give.

Dr. McBride’s tree-by-tree analysis of project impact on RG finds 108 old-growth trees that will have root systems significantly affected, and anticipates 37 are likely to die.

We cannot accept this likelihood of irreparable harm to our State Park, and the Redwood Curtain.

Thanks to Rotary and to Redwood Times for this good start to a fair hearing.

Lauren Oliver
****

Here is a link to Dr. McBride's Declaration
http://www.box.net/shared/djce84fkqklcmu10116s presented in the lawsuit against CalTrans brought by the Environmental Information Protection Center [EPIC], Center for Biological Diversity, Californians for Alternatives to Toxics [CATS], and individuals. The case is formally called:

BESS BAIR et al vs. STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
in the U.S. District Court Northern District of California

"large diesel trucks on 101...24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year"

2011-06-23T22:34:00.000-07:00

Richardson Grove as important as general plan update

Ken Miller/For The Times-Standard

06/22/2011

Wholesale STAA access through Richardson Grove is potentially the most immediately devastating threat to our county.

It would open the north-south link in a circuit connecting Interstate 5 and U.S. Highway 101 via routes 199, 299, and 20, putting large diesel trucks on 101 through, not just into, our county, 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Signaling or one-way traffic would create harmful congestion in the grove, and do nothing about the STAA traffic through the county.

Who benefits?

Mainly the international trucking industry and a few local businesses. Caltrans' EIR acknowledges that local industries do not need these trucks: “... There is a maximum weight restriction for loads as well as maximum length of cabs and trailers, and that for heavy loads, the economic advantage for the larger [STAA] vehicles is not there,” concluding that the “Proposed project would not result in significant increases in overall economic productivity in the region.”

Wal-Mart and Home Depot in Crescent City have been the squeakiest wheels for Richardson Grove and 199, whining that lack of STAA access costs them $15,000 monthly, savings they would surely use to undercut local businesses, and exchange good paying jobs for low-wage employment as their stores are linked all along the 101 corridor.

Could the new general plan stand up to STAA-related sprawl development?

Vehicular traffic from the proposed Marina Center is estimated at 16,000 trips daily. Add STAA to that and the pressure to open and widen Waterfront Drive and bypass Eureka escalates. Caltrans never considers this, despite the 2003 Caltrans-funded study warning about the “constraint on economic development” from “traffic congestion on U.S. 101 in Eureka's commercial and retail areas due to heavy overlapping uses for trucking, through traffic, and local traffic.”

Ambulance and coroner business may spike. These large trucks represent less than 3 percent of vehicles, but are involved in 14 percent of fatal crashes, and automobile passengers constitute 98 percent of the fatalities in car vs. truck accidents.

Who loses?

The project is a job killer for many local businesses, and will cost the rest of us in road damages, safety hazards, noise and air pollution, congestion, and quality of life. Trinidad will not be so quaint, or quiet, with 24/7 STAA on the 101 grade.

Many of these trucks have extra cabs with kitchens and beds enabling transit from Mexico to Canada without needing a motel or restaurant.

Ancient redwoods may not tolerate modern road use and construction technology. Trees that have survived for a century next to the current roadbed may have benefited from the paucity of heavy truck traffic, as well as construction in 1915 with horse and buggies, hand tools, and gravel, mitigating factors that this project would undo overnight.

Arguments that road construction will not harm ancient redwoods rely on Caltrans' arborists who have no expertise in redwoods, and on Caltrans' own claims.

Experts like Steve Sillett and Stan Binnie registered serious concerns about disturbing woody and feeder roots, justified by the numerous ancient redwoods whose tops are dying back along 101, and those which have fallen, revealing evidence of road or path-induced damage. Hence Redwood Park warnings to avoid walking over roots.

Scientific literature is clear that redwood roots interconnect for up to 500 feet, and that roots larger than one inch are considered “major.” Yet Caltrans claims that roots larger than two inches in diameter will not be cut in the structural root zone, ignoring the critical feeder roots. According to HSU's Professor Sillett, there have been no relevant studies on the impacts of roadways on redwood roots.

If ancient redwoods suffer due to this project, how many hundreds or thousands of years will it take for the damage to show up? And what penalty, or relief, is there?

Perhaps the saddest casualty has been the failure to consider alternatives to 6 mpg STAA trucks for our goods movement in the face of greenhouse gas emissions, rising fuel costs and sea levels, and climate change.

Short sea shipping from our undeveloped port is the most efficient transport modality on the planet, and with 299 STAA access it could meet nearly all of our shipping needs, creating boatloads of jobs.

A 2003 Caltrans' Cambridge Systematics study summed up the benefit of not widening 101 through Richardson Grove, and retaining the critical buffer between 101 and I-5: “The county's relative geographic isolation has spared it from some of the sprawl and growth pressures that have impacted many of California's coastal communities, lending the area a quality of life cherished by residents.”

Source: http://www.times-standard.com/guest_opinion/ci_18328563

YouTube from Sacramento Flash Mob- Pass It On!

2011-06-17T17:43:00.001-07:00

DIRECT ACTION WORKSHOP, Sat. June 18th

2011-06-15T16:17:00.000-07:00

OPEN WORKSHOP for anyone who might want to take direct action for the Earth or any social justice struggle...

Focus on insurgent skills: organize to be a wrench in the machine; demystify legal risks; prepare to assert power with confidence; and arm ourselves with knowledge to prevent the legal system from separating or silencing us.

We'll talk about: ● non-violent resistance ●action roles
● historical & current examples of direct action for social & environmental justice ● consensus decision-making
● dealing with aggression toward you ● affinity groups
● choosing our targets & non-violent methods
● action/jail/court strategies & solidarity tactics

Lunch & snacks provided and welcomed!

Richardson Grove Action Now: (707) 602-7551
rgroveactionnow@gmail.com

Richardson Grove Action Now Returns from Bay Area and Sacramento

2011-06-14T11:27:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release (pdf Here) June 14, 2011

Richardson Grove Action Now Steps Beyond the Redwood Curtain –
Direct Action Resistance Brought to Sacramento June 8-10!

Contact: Verbena Lea 707.602.7551 rgroveactionnow@gmail.com

After six months of organizing rallies and actions behind the 'redwood curtain' protesting CalTrans' plan to expand Highway 101 through Richardson Grove State Park and adjacent forestland, Richardson Grove Action Now [RGAN] last week upped the ante by taking the fight to the state capital in Sacramento, where they carried out a flash mob action. The highway expansion plan has global significance, threatening some of the last 2% remaining ancient redwoods on Earth.

RGAN activists rode on the White Rose bus to Oakland, Sacramento, and Glen Cove, Vallejo in order to mobilize widespread resistance to the highway expansion, demonstrate at the Capitol, and connect with an ongoing spiritual encampment established to stave off development on a sacred indigenous burial shellmound site in Glen Cove. RGAN's Verbena Lea says, “Worldwide, people are opposed to harming or cutting ancient redwood forests, which CalTrans plans to do; ancient redwoods have all but been wiped off the face of the earth and, like the people at Glen Cove, we are saying to developers, government and corporations, 'You have already desecrated and taken too much- We're stopping you here.'”

The road widening would mutilate an ancient grove in order to facilitate trans-national corporations, nuclear materials, development, and military having greater access to the Humboldt Bay region which has been relatively protected by forest bottlenecks and winding roads. Highways 199, 299, and 36, entering the region from the East, are also on the cutting block for highway expansion.

The “White Rose” bio-diesel bus was formerly used by anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, and as a support vehicle for the Longest Walk 2 in 2008, organized by AIM to draw attention to indigenous sacred sites in danger of being destroyed by developers. (The White Rose was a German anti-fascist group during Hitler's reign, executed for distributing pamphlets encouraging resistance to the Nazis.)

Thousands of individuals and groups, including RGAN, have written Gov. Jerry Brown, urging him to cancel the road widening plan using the Governor's authority. RGAN made this demand at the Capitol through a contemporary direct action known as a flash mob, and will reach the world through their musical protest, executed without permit, then circulated via YouTube. The video will be released this week.

On the Capitol steps, despite threat of arrest from onlooking officers, RGAN activists- joined by supporters from Chico, Sacramento, Oakland, and San Francisco- busted out a flash mob version of George Clinton/ Parliament's “We Got the Funk.” RGAN's updated lyrics detail multi-faceted opposition to road widening through Richardson Grove (i.e. “We want old growth, not corporate flow.”) Followed by police, RGAN marched to CalTrans' state headquarters & chanted “No Road Widening Through Richardson Grove. We are the People and the People Say NO,” handing literature to CalTrans employees & passers-by. The final Sacramento flash mob action was done on a busy street in the business district. Families took photos, and many people including a foreign magazine writer took literature to spread the word against the highway expansion.

While at the Capitol, RGAN learned that four women in wheelchairs had just been arrested protesting California officials' refusal to fund peoples' survival needs- cutting healthcare, in home services, education, etc.-with ever-increasing monies going to prisons, corporations, police, and urbanized development. Gov Brown recently shut down seventy state parks to “save” $22 million; however, the state intends to sink $5.5 million of public money, matching federal funds, into the 1.1 mile highway expansion through Richardson Grove.

RGAN's Sue Ricker said, “If CalTrans can widen the highway through Richardson Grove, a world-renowned old-growth redwood forest, they'll go to any length to convert the 101 into an interstate NAFTA artery.” Already Cypress Grove Chevre -once a locally-owned goat cheese producer, now owned by Swiss multi-national Emmi Corp.- trucks in goat milk from Mexico. Cypress Grove is a supporter of CalTrans' project.

Although CalTrans claims that the project will not harm ancient trees, it is well-established that cutting, compacting, & excavating redwood roots, as planned for the road widening, would harm or kill the trees. Also, it appears that huge ancient redwoods would have to be cut to implement CalTrans' road widening.

RGAN vows to stop this plan in the roads, offices, trees, construction sites, & gov't buildings- near and far.
###

No Willing Contractors, No Road Widening!

2011-06-12T13:14:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE FOR A LARGER VERSION OF THE POSTER

New Handout Brought to Bay Area & Sacramento

2011-06-12T12:31:00.000-07:00

STOP HIGHWAY 101 EXPANSION THROUGH RICHARDSON GROVE!

Richardson Grove is the mystifying stretch of Highway 101 that curves through the south fork of the Eel River where, coming north, one first encounters ancient redwood forest. The California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) is set to implement a plan, launched by federal, state, and corporate interests, to widen Hwy 101 through Richardson Grove.
This project threatens the survival of ancient redwood forest and would usher in and exacerbate a host of
horrendous social, economic, and cultural problems.

Some of the last 2% remaining old growth redwoods, including the 9th tallest in the world, lives in Richardson Grove. It's crucial to do everything possible NOW in order to stop Caltrans. You know you're in redwood country when you bike, walk or drive through the road lined with giants of many generations. Further from the road, the redwood grove extends. You might notice the tops of some of the huge trees along Hwy 101. No greenery and no branches way up there, but instead “spike tops.” They're the result of top die-off from compaction & other injury to the shallow roots of the giant trees. Roots must be protected.

The Richardson Grove area, for millenia, has been & remains sacred territory for First Nations people in this region and is an important place for visitors and inhabitants, human & non-human, of many nations.

Traveling north up Hwy 101 from the Bay Area, you pass hillsides, stripped of their majestic oaklands, now replaced by miles of grape vineyard grids as far as the eye can see. North of that, you arrive in Willits, where there is an arched entry announcing “Gateway to the Redwoods”. But there are no redwoods there; only gas stations and chain stores lining a four lane highway.

As the redwoods in Willits have been replaced by roads and chain-stores, the current “gateway to the redwoods” is about 60 miles north:
Richardson Grove State Park.

CalTrans, using federal and state funds, plans to cut old and young trees, excavate ancient roots, and harm rare and endangered species that inhabit Richardson Grove- all to expand Hwy 101 for greater truck and military access through the coast. Richardson Grove State Park was established to protect this area from the “drums of progress." Not one tree should be cut or harmed in a State Park.

Ancient redwood forest is rare, highly threatened, near extinction. Ancient redwood trees: at risk of there being no more left on Earth. Roads, sprawl, development & short-sighted profiteers have, in a relatively brief period of time, stripped the earth of these amazing beings & the wisdom & life they support.

“There's a real NAFTA scam ruining lives all around.
Don't bring tanks and sweatshops through our ancient grounds.” Richardson Grove Action Now

►CONTACT
RICHARDSON GROVE ACTION NOW

707.602.7551 rgroveactionnow@gmail.com

Direct Action to Stop the Road Widening!

Resist Corporate and U.S. Military Invasion

“I've seen great glaciers melting...met lightning eye to eye.
Now I hear bulldozers coming & I know that I am soon to die” The Tree, Dana Lyons

***

CALTRANS PLANS TO EXPAND HIGHWAY 101
THROUGH RICHARDSON GROVE STATE PARK

● Funded by the Federal Govt. & the State of California, $5.5 million from each of them.

● A State Park is supposed to be protected from any tree cutting or damage. Tree cutting and irreparable damage are part of this plan.

● Ancient redwoods inhabit Richardson Grove. ● CalTrans would have to cut ancient redwoods in order to widen the road to the plan's dimensions.

● CalTrans would excavate and cut the roots of the ancient trees in Richardson Grove and severely compact the root zones.

● Redwood tree roots are shallow. They stay healthy through their connection to other redwood roots in the area, and cannot withstand compaction.

● CalTrans would be would stealing private property which includes old growth trees, is steeply sloped on both sides of the road, and houses Singing Trees (Drug) Recovery Center. ● That land would be stripped bare and flattened into roadbed for the road widening project.

● CalTrans also has plans to widen every highway coming from the East into the Humboldt Bay region. One of those plans would desecrate Jedediah Smith State Park on Rte 199. One plan has already included a huge clearcut on both sides of Rte 299, on the eastern end.

● Highway expansion through Richardson Grove is motivated by corporate, military, & nuclear industry interests.

● CalTrans tried to pass this plan through without environmental review or public input. ● There are 2 lawsuits with multiple plaintiffs against the plan.

● Politicians, from the County Supervisors to the Congress reps, rubber-stamped the plan, ignoring legalities and large public outcry.

● Local gov't used $55, 000 public funding to disingenuously promote the plan through paid letters to the editor, lobbying, & teaching business owners how to promote it.

● The State promotes the road widening to increase access for big trucks.

● There is a low incidence of accidents on Hwy 101 thru Richardson Grove currently -even though big semi's get through already.

THE ROAD WIDENING THROUGH RICHARDSON GROVE WOULD:

►bring an increase in large trucks going faster. Conditions would make the stretch dangerous for drivers and almost impossible for anyone to walk or bike on the shoulders as they do now.

►allow an inundation of trans-national corporations into north coast towns, subjecting the land, waters, forests, local economies, and working conditions to the ruinous dominance of greedy corporations.

►in conjunction with highway expansions from every other entrance into the Humboldt Bay region, expose the entire northcoast to increased militarization and corporate exploitation.

►have irreparable negative consequences. Change the face of the north coast.

THERE IS A STRONG PEOPLES' RESISTANCE TO HIGHWAY EXPANSION THROUGH RICHARDSON GROVE. WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Richardson Grove Action Now 707.602.7551 rgroveactionnow@gmail.com
saverichardsongrove.blogspot.com

Richardson Grove Action Now To Sacramento Wed, June 8th!

2011-06-03T21:04:00.000-07:00

Richardson Grove Action Now invites you on a trip to Sacramento! We plan to leave SOON. We'll venture out on Wednesday, June 8th and will return June 10, Friday night.

We're riding down in a bio-diesel bus. We will send a creative musical message to Gov. Jerry Brown and to people ALL OVER- which will be broadcast on the world wide web. Our serenade will demand that the highway expansion plan through Richardson Grove be canceled. We will be covering old classics like "One Demand, Cancel the Plan", "Resist Invasion," and "We want old growth, not corporate flow."

We will be bringing a loud temporary presence to Sacramento regarding the road widening- which would bring a PERMANENT impact to our lives and to the survival of ancient redwoods.

If you are not able to join us, in person, on this trip, please support the action by contributing food or money. We are trying to raise $650 for travel expenses. And the food is for the people.

If you really want to go and you think there is some obstacle, call us.

If you are in the Bay area, we would like to come there for the night and bring you with us!
We are also considering, on the way, visiting the spiritual encampment/action at Glen Cove.

Our phone number is 707.602.7551
Our email: rgroveactionnow@gmail.com

DIRECT ACTION WORKSHOP, Sat. June 18th

2011-06-02T01:29:00.000-07:00

Richardson Grove Action Now will host a free workshop, Saturday June 18th, open to anyone who might want to participate in direct action for the Earth or any social justice struggle.

Focused on insurgent skills and resistance teachings, each of us will become more prepared to decide what actions to take and how to go about planning and implementing them! Organize to be a wrench in the machine and assert your power with confidence.

We will discuss:

~action groups and roles

~non-violence

~group decision-making

~legal issues and tactics

~handling aggression directed at your action, and

~solidarity tactics

This workshop will help de-mystify the legal system which people often must deal with when involved in direct action. We won't let the legal system separate or silence us!

Food and beverages will be provided, and we welcome you to bring food too!

What: Non-Violent DIRECT ACTION Workshop

Where: Location To Be Announced

When: All day beginning at NOON

Who: YOU all ages welcome, all levels/types of experience encouraged to participate!

http://www.indybay.org/calendar/event_add.php

May 25, 2011: Injunction Sought in Lawsuit Against CalTrans

2011-05-26T02:09:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release, May 25, 2011

Contacts: Gary Hughes, EPIC; Patty Clary, CATS; Peter Galvin, Center for Biological Diversity

Challenge Seeks to Halt California Highway Project That Would Destroy Ancient Redwoods

SAN FRANCISCO— A coalition of conservation groups and local residents today asked a federal judge to stop California transportation officials from moving ahead with a controversial highway project that would jeopardize ancient stands of redwood trees in northern California’s Richardson Grove State Park.

The coalition seeks to halt plans by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to realign a section of Highway 101 that winds through old-growth redwoods in the park. The work would require crews to dig into the roots of towering redwoods that stand along the highway within park boundaries. Today’s filing asks a judge to stop the project until legal proceedings are complete.

The threat of possibly fatal damage to the prized ancient trees, as well as harm to sensitive wildlife posed by the controversial project, is driving today’s legal challenge, which is the second filed by the coalition. Caltrans has failed to evaluate impacts of the project in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

“The importance of this old-growth redwood stand, in view of the important heritage of the redwood forest, requires special consideration before projects that would impact the stand are allowed to go forward,” Joe McBride, a professor of forestry and landscape architecture at the University of California at Berkeley, said in today's filing. “Substantial, irreparable damage would occur to the trees in the project area. This would, in turn, cause negative impacts to the overall health of the forest.”

McBride’s finding is based on his scientific review of the potential of impacts to each tree along the project route — a review plaintiffs show Caltrans failed to undertake.

“This project will cause major damage to one of our most prized state parks,” said Gary Hughes of the Environmental Protection Information Center, one of the plaintiff groups and spokesman for the coalition. “For Caltrans to railroad this multimillion-dollar project by grossly understating its impacts is a violation of the public's trust and a wasteful use of taxpayer money.”

“With less than 3 percent of our ancient redwood trees remaining, we cannot allow Caltrans to injure and kill the precious giant trees of Richardson Grove State Park,” said Peter Galvin, conservation director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “We will fight this project to the end, no matter how long it takes.”

Plaintiffs are Trisha Lee Lotus, Bess Bair, Bruce Edwards, Jeffrey Hedin, Loreen Eliason, Environmental Protection Information Center, Californians for Alternatives to Toxics and the Center for Biological Diversity. They are represented by a team that includes Philip Gregory and former congressman “Pete” McCloskey of Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, a law firm in San Francisco.

Lead Hazardous Waste in Richardson Grove

2011-05-26T02:00:00.000-07:00

There is an important issue concerning Richardson Grove that Caltrans has done their best to keep from the public's eye. This issue is hazardous waste in the form of aerially deposited lead (ADL).

ADL is lead left behind from years of leaded gasoline use. On old roads like 101 that have been in existence since the early 1900's, lead was continuously deposited from the tailpipes of cars and poorly combusted leaded gasoline. This lead ended up in either the surrounding soil or moving downstream. In areas with thick canopy cover and deep rich soil, like Richardson Grove, much of the lead remained in the soil and usually ended up between 6 and 24 inches underground. The top six inches are usually lead free, as this is duff and recent soil accumulation post leaded gasoline.

Lead serves no purpose in our bodies and is dangerous to all living things. It is toxic to numerous organs and biological functions, including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems. It is especially toxic to children, causing potentially permanent learning disabilities and behavior disorders. There is no safe threshold for lead exposure, no amount small enough to not cause harm. We all carry a pre-existing body burden of lead in our bones, blood and tissue, and unless specialized therapys are undertaken, it remains for life. That is why hazardous waste guidelines for lead exist. In Richardson Grove, levels of lead were found in many places to be above hazardous waste levels, and other places just slightly below. Considering how sensitive a state park like Richardson Grove is, with familys camping and people strolling about throughout the year, and automobile traffic up 101, one would think that CalTrans would care about the potential for exposing people to lead. They don't.

Removing leaded hazardous waste from roadsides requires great care and large amounts of money. Care and money that Caltrans doesn't have. This is why Caltrans is doing their best to avoid listing areas in the state as hazardous waste sites. They are doing this by either raising the allowable limits 30 times current standards in non sensitive areas. Or in the case of Richardson Grove and other sensitive areas, fudging the books and manipulating data collection. They did this in four ways;

1) Caltrans tests every six inches and then combines these together for a "Total Threshold Limit Concentration" (TTLC). If the combined levels exceed 5 ppm soluble lead its hazardous waste. Their rationale for using this dubious method is that all of the removed soil will be mixed up into one mass by the projects end. However, in the case of Richardson Grove, the project calls for excavating down 24" (except for new wall pillars that go much deeper), yet Caltrans only tested down to the 18" depth, avoiding the area with potentially the greatest concentration of lead. Caltrans website states that “Aerially deposited lead is typically found within the top 2 feet of material in unpaved areas within the highway right of way”.

2) The top 4 inches, which are lead free, were added to the mix to come up with a TTLC that was just under haz waste criteria. Yet this soil will not end up with the rest of the soil and shouldn't have been added. The FEIR states "The top 4 inches of duff (redwood tree and Douglas fir leaf litter) shall be removed, stored at a staging area location and subsequently spread out on exposed disturbed soils within the park boundary."

3) Caltrans never tested the area where the new wall is going and where the deepest excavating is to take place.

4) Caltrans used an inaccurate test method. Even though Caltrans has always prided themselves as being more protective from hazardous lead exposure than other states because they use a test method known as CA-WET (CA=citric acid), for Richardson Grove they used a method called Di-Wet. This method is known for being inaccurate, so much so that in 2007 WQCB issued a memorandum and action alert that stated “analytical data from the Waste Extraction Test (WET) performed with deionized water as the extractant (DI-WET) were used to classify a waste stream as non-hazardous. When samples of the waste were subjected to the correct version of the WET (using citric acid as the extractant), it became clear that the waste had been improperly tested initially and may have been inappropriately accepted for discharge to a landfill that was not permitted to accept hazardous waste. As a result, the owner and operator of that landfill may face significant enforcement proceedings and expensive corrective action measures.”

For Caltrans to honestly evaluate the potential for lead hazardous waste, they need to retest to the depth of 24”, the need to test the new wall site, they need to exclude the 0-4” horizon from the TTLC and they need to use their normal method of CA-WET when they test. But even then, the question will remain, will they manipulate new testing as well. Since the answer is probably yes, the testing should instead be done by an independent agency that can be trusted.

Dan Zimmerman / Environmental Investigator / Northcoast Ocean and River Protection Association (NORPA)

Food and Fun in Piercy on May 28th!

2011-05-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS UNITED TO PRESERVE RICHARDSON GROVE want you and your family to ENJOY THIS SAT. MAY 28 AT THE PIERCY COMMUNITY CENTER

THE FUN BEGINS AT NOON AND GOES ALL DAY…

Food, music and games. The volleyball net will be up, the horseshoe court will be re-installed, basketball, Frisbees. The BBQ will be smoking nonstop. A kids corner will provide amusing books and toys. Bring your musical melody makers and something tasty to share.

LAW WORKSHOP: Get up-to-date information on the LEGAL STATUS OF THE LAW SUITS AGAINST THE STATE AND THE FEDS to Cancel the Plan. Find out how you can help.

Workshop on Nonviolence and consensus decision making: for those prepared to put their bodies on the pavement if need be.

CHECK OUT OUR TRUTH BOOTH FOR EDUCATION ON THE PLAN AND DEMONSTRATIONS HOW CALTRANS LIES

COME BY, PARTICIPATE, STAY AWHILE, LINK UP TO THIS ACTIVE CAMPAIGN, SIGN UP FOR A DAY IN THE GROVE WITH THE TRUTH BOOTH, LEARN ABOUT THE PLANS TO GO TO SACRAMENTO , UPCOMING CONCERTS, BRAINSTORM STRATEGIES FOR JUNE

FOR FURTHER INFO CALL 923 1491 or 923-4488

Flash Mob /Pot Luck WED, MAY 25th

2011-05-21T00:22:00.000-07:00

FLASH MOB / POT LUCK!!

WEDNESDAY 05/25/11

6:00 P.M.

@ P.A.R.C. IN EUREKA

DIRECTIONS:
PARC is in Eureka in the Q Street alley between 3rd and 2nd. Go past the library north, staying on 3rd St. toward the Samoa Bridge; take a left at Q and 3rd, then an almost immediate right into the alley.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE EMAIL US @
rgroveactionnnow@gmail.com
or CALL (707) 602-7551

PLEASE BRING YOUR INSTRUMENTS
&
HIGH ENERGY!

Musical Action!

2011-05-18T11:16:00.000-07:00

STOP HIGHWAY EXPANSION THRU RICHARDSON GROVE WITH FUNKY SONG & DANCE!

FLASH MOB! We are really excited about the song we've written, a parody of "We Got the Funk" by Parliament. Here's the version BEFORE we changed the words to be all about the road widening plan through Richardson Grove and the resistance to it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UypeE3zTwBs

For those of you who haven't been involved in the flash mob so far, know that the routine is: very easy to learn, a lot of fun, and very informative. Our lyrics are in the link here: http://www.box.net/shared/3qo5tr2m8k If you are a musician, than by all means bring your instrument. If you don't think you have any talent at all- no worries, it's very simple!

Some examples of other flash mobs:
Don't Get Caught in a Bad Hotel www.youtube.com/watch?v=-79pX1IOqPU
Target Ain't People www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FhMMmqzbD8

Funky song and dance to prevent the road widening thru Richardson Grove! Let's bust out in this song and dance action where it counts. Takes about an hour to learn!!

Call Richardson Grove Action Now at 707.602.7551 or email rgroveactionnnow@gmail.com

Richardson Grove State Park Placard "Secrets of Survival"

2011-05-08T15:31:00.000-07:00

And this is why CalTrans puts out so much propaganda trying to fool people into thinking that excavating and cutting the ancient redwood root system won't harm or kill the trees.

May 4, 2011 Lumberjack Article

2011-05-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

Caltrans STAA Juggernaut Stalls at Richardson Grove

by Emma Nation

The Arcata-based Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) announced on April 20 that Caltrans agreed not to bid the Richardson Grove Improvement Project or otherwise move forward on their plan to widen Richardson Grove before July 1.

EPIC and a coalition of environmental groups and individuals filed a lawsuit against Caltrans for violations of the California Environmental Quality Act in the California Superior Court in San Francisco in May 2010, and the case was transferred to Eureka in November 2010.

“We are intent in seeing that the merits of our case are heard before Caltrans attempts to implement the project, and this development is an important step in achieving that objective,” said EPIC executive director Gary Graham Hughes.

Hughes cited “environmental democracy” as one reason for the legal case, stating that Caltrans has “largely ignored” complaints about the project from citizens throughout the county and state. The legal challenge is based on procedural grounds because, Hughes says, “It is the precise and correct facilitation of the environmental review process that guarantees democracy.”

The Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA), passed by Congress in 1982 and implemented in California the following year, set the maximum limit for trucks on the national highway system. The largest rigs include sleeper cabs which, when coupled with the largest legal trailer, puts the overall length of the truck over the California legal limit going through Richardson Grove.

Caltrans terms their Richardson Grove STAA-access project as “a long-standing transportation priority” for Humboldt County.

California law allows maximum-length STAA moving vans and cattle transports through Richardson Grove, and these vehicles pass through the grove daily.

David Spreen of Kneeland has been following the issue since 2007. He points out that the largest STAA rigs are not the industry standard, but routinely referred to as “industry standard” to create an argument for imperative road widening through Richardson Grove and on all major routes into the region. He says the largest STAA trucks are not appropriate for Humboldt County.

“If we’re going to become a de facto part of the national highway system, what are the overall implications of that for the county? They’ll put a lot of wear and tear on the county roads once they’re off the highway,” he said.

Spreen says Caltrans asserts that the improved access for the big rigs will not result in more trucks, just fewer loads in larger trucks.

“To my knowledge, there has never been a project allowing larger trucks to travel through an area that resulted in no increase in truck traffic,” he says.

In a letter to the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, Spreen asked the agency to consider the cumulative watershed impacts of road building the same way it reviews the cumulative impacts of timber harvesting.

Spreen cites a November 17 article in the San Francisco Chronicle by Peter Fimrite, reporting that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warned Caltrans that its storm runoff management is inadequate throughout the state.

Fimrite quoted EPA enforcement officer Greg Gholson: “At any given construction site the problems may not have required enforcement, but taken as a whole the agency was very concerned with the deficiencies that were seen.”

The Chronicle article said EPA documents revealed storm water discharges of metals, sediment, oil, grease, pesticides and trash from numerous Caltrans construction sites along California’s 50,000 miles of highway and freeway.

Spreen urged Water Board members to deny Caltrans a permit and send the matter back to Water Board staff to conduct a cumulative impact analysis to be completed by December 31, 2011, after Caltrans releases its upgraded storm water management plan.

Luis Rivera, executive at the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, said Caltrans' 401 water permit for the Richardson Grove project has been approved and sent to Sacramento for attorney review before it will be signed.

Although the agency is suing Caltrans for numerous 401 permit violations during the Confusion Hill Bypass Project (completed several years ago a few miles south of the Humboldt/Mendocino border), Rivera says the agency can’t deny a permit application based on Caltrans' past work performance because the water board has no power to effect reprisals for shoddy work. That matter would be up to the California Legislature, he said.

Answering concerns about excavating and severing old-growth redwood roots in the Richardson Grove plan, Caltrans says it won’t cut roots over two inches, and discounts environmental concerns that the work will harm the trees.

Caltrans states, however, that similar work on the Weott Four Bridges Project (in the planning phase) is “likely” to harm the old-growth redwood trees at that location.

The smallest, “hairy roots,” are the main water uptake organs for redwood trees.

Caltrans also states that it will work around the nesting season of the marbled murrelet in Richardson Grove, where potential nesting exists. However, the agency says in the Four Bridges project proposal that it can’t avoid working during marbled murrelet nesting season because it has to take advantage of the good weather.

Caltrans’ road widening project for Highway 199/197 may face similar problems to the Richardson Grove project, because the road through Jedediah Smith State Park also narrowly twists through old-growth forest.

The Middle of Buckhorn Project, a portion of Caltrans’ Highway 299’s proposed modification, has 17 curve improvements and is entirely earthwork—no bridges or major structures are in the plans—and could represent a major threat to the health of the Trinity River during construction and afterwards, as erosion often accompanies deforestation and mountain removal.

Chris Harvey, Caltrans District 2 Project Manager, calls the $11 million Middle of Buckhorn “a great project,” and says it’s funded by the agency’s safety program because of the accident history there.

Not everyone shares Harvey’s enthusiasm for the project, however.

Joseph Orozco, manager of tribal radio station KIDE-FM in Hoopa, and founder of the 7-Rivers Radio Network, says if Highway 299 and other roads were good enough to get the timber out of the region, they should be good enough for other exports. “If it wasn't for the roads, the logs wouldn't have gotten out of here,” he said.

Orozco says improving conditions for the big rigs would enable all traffic to go faster. He says Highway 96, which bisects Hoopa Valley, just off the 299, makes it difficult to develop the region's economy.

“People come in at a high speed and unconsciously go by at a high speed, making it unsafe for kids and others,” he said. “It's very easy to be in harm's way here.”

Orozco said fuel prices should be enough to discourage adopting transnational trucking as economic policy. “Keep the roads the way they are,” he advised. “They’ve been serving us for years. Keep commerce within your geographic area.”

In 2009 the Humboldt County Planning Commission disbursed grant money from the Headwaters Fund, which it oversees, to the Office of Economic Development to promote the Caltrans Richardson Grove Project to the public. The OED reportedly spent some of this money contracting a public relations firm to help prominent locals, including Caltrans executive Charles Fielder, write and edit six “My Word” columns in the Eureka Times-Standard, all promoting the Richardson Grove STAA project.
The OED supervises a branding scheme called Humboldt Made, and reportedly used some of the Headwaters grant money to produce a series of commercial videos featuring local products from the county's largest local exporters, including Sun Valley Floral, Lost Coast Brewery, and Cypress Grove Cheese.

These companies complain about the current cost of trucking their products out of the area, but critics of the STAA-access project say there is little evidence that their cost savings from using STAA trucks would translate into more jobs in the county.

Cypress Grove was bought last August by Emmi Holding Company, a Swiss conglomerate.

There have been 20 arrests for civil disobedience at recent demonstrations at Caltrans and before the Board of Supervisors.

Some say Humboldt County should develop sea and rail commercial routes because increased truck traffic sacrifices programs of economic sustainability and compromises the health of the region’s remaining natural resources.

Others say Humboldt County’s slow pace, quality of life, and natural beauty is what attracts tourists, some of whom see old growth redwood trees for the first time driving north on Highway 101 through Richardson Grove.

http://thelumberjack.org/news/caltrans-staa-juggernaut-stalls-richardson-grove

Wed, 2011-05-04

May Day in Richardson Grove!

2011-04-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

Defend our Roots on Sunday the first of May

MAY DAY! MAY DAY?

YES! In Richardson Grove from dawn to dusk. Celebrate the ancient holy day on Sunday May 1st by mingling with the greatest May Poles on the Planet.

Gather at the turnout just north of the Grove just after Bigfoot Burl. The Richardson Grove Truth Booth will be there, stocked with literature, videos, and graphics.

“Guided tours” by our knowledgeable booth crew will be held every hour on the hour. The Children’s Corner will be in session, providing childcare as well as special child-level explorations of the Grove.

Drummers will be drumming and entertainers will be entertaining.
So bring your instruments, songs and signs along with food to share.
Bring your tree ornaments and decorations to make this a May Day to remember.

You can spend some of the day as one of the Eco-tourism Counselors, getting the travelers out of their cars and trucks, hopefully to explore the Grove with the rest of us.

Check it out Sunday May 1^st.

Thanks from the Preserve Richardson Grove Hospitality Committee.

For more info call 952-215-4058.

Times-Standard Conflict of Interest...

2011-04-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

From the 2003 Caltrans funded study by Cambridge Systematics

A representative of the Eureka Times-Standard, the local newspaper, commented that some businesses, such as newspapers, must keep higher inventory levels due to poor access, erratic deliveries, and damage during transfers. The newspaper’s shippers do not want to bring in newsprint because of the limitations on trucks. The paper probably loses two to three truckloads of newsprint per year. The extra handling due to transferring loads to smaller trucks causes problems. Advertising inserts are printed elsewhere and added to the paper. Typically, about 30 percent of the inserts are bent through extra handling, which requires them to be inserted by hand (rather than using machines). The newspaper has to pay overtime for extra staff to add the inserts. The newspaper is unable to recoup the higher costs through advertising revenue.

[Can a newspaper that wants the road widening project through Richardson Grove cover the issue without biasing everything in favor of the project? We know the Times-Standard has pretty low standards when it comes to objective journalism AS IT IS.]

FlashMob for the Grove!

2011-04-28T15:29:00.000-07:00

Richardson Grove Action Now has got all the words together for the funky, powerful song and we've started working out the dance moves for the FLASH MOB! (to prevent the road widening thru Richardson Grove, of course.)

There are two rehearsals coming up soon. Please come, and bring your enthusiasm, your instruments (if you got em and know how to play them), and your best singing voice (which doesn't need to be anything special)! Our first rehearsal was a hoot and productive all in one.

*Friday Night (April 29th): 7:00-9:00pm at Synapsis*, 47 West 3rd Street, Eureka, way down 3rd toward Commercial Avenue, a block and a half from the Eureka Corp-Op and next to St. Vinnie's Free Meal

*Tuesday (May 3rd): 5:30-8:00pm at PARC*, in the Q Street Alley between 3rd & 2nd Streets, Eureka

See you there!

Please remember, in order to reply to this email, reply to
rgroveactionnnow@gmail.com
Our number is 707.602.7551

PHOTOS from April 18, 2011 Rally/Protest at CalTrans, on the Streets of Eureka, & at the Courthouse

2011-04-23T00:31:00.001-07:00

Etched in stone and delivered to CalTrans:
ONE DEMAND. CANCEL THE PLAN!

Richardson Grove Action Now Press Release, April 20, 2011

2011-04-20T17:01:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 20, 2011

Opponents of Federally-Funded CalTrans Plan To Widen Hwy 101 Through Richardson Grove State Park Warn Contractors Seeking To Work On The Plan:

“BIDDER'S BEWARE -WE WILL STOP YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!”

Contact: Richardson Grove Action Now 707.602.7551, rgroveactionnow@gmail.com

Humboldt County, CA: In an April 18, 2011 protest, the latest in a series of direct actions and mass rallies, including a day-long lockdown occupation of the CalTrans District 1 Headquarters, a treesit on private property bordering Hwy 101 that CalTrans plans to steal and de-forest, two large banner hangs, and a crafty public meeting disruption, Richardson Grove Action Now (RGAN) declared, “Bidders Beware! We will stop you every step of the way.” Northcoast communities are not only threatened with the Naval war games testing and bomb detonation currently taking place off the Northern Pacific Coast, but now must stave off a federally-motivated CalTrans plan to mutilate an ancient redwood grove so that trans-national corporations, nuclear materials, development, and military have greater access to Humboldt Bay and to towns that have been relatively protected by a bottleneck of forests and winding roads from the South and East.

Sue Ricker of RGAN said at Monday's demonstration, “It's preposterous in 2011 to be destroying the last remaining 2% of old growth. If CalTrans can widen the highway through Richardson Grove State Park, a world-renowned redwood forest, they'll go to any length to convert the 101 into an interstate NAFTA artery.”

RGAN vows to stop this plan in the trees, roads, and offices, and has been relentlessly vocal about CalTrans' lies regarding the motivations, logistics, and consequences of the road widening project. “Despite CalTrans' biased claims that no old-growth trees will be cut or harmed if the project moves ahead, we know that excavating, cutting, compacting, and paving over the roots of ancient redwood trees spells certain death.” says members of RGAN. Furthermore, anyone traveling through the Grove, as do thousands of awestruck people every year, knows that in the narrowest sections of the road, there is little space (only 23 feet) between the humungous old growth trees. CalTrans' plan calls for 28 feet and would require CalTrans to cut the ancient monuments. RGAN notes that every time there is a protest against the expansion project, CalTrans trips over itself to create new lies and to counter growing awareness of the nefarious plan. While CalTrans claims that root excavation does no harm, several landslides have occurred in the past month, including a massive slide onto Highway 101 north of Richardson Grove, exhibiting of what happens to roads and mountains when roots no longer stabilize the ground.

April 18th was CalTrans' Advertised Bid day for the major construction in the road widening plan. Although recent activity in lawsuits against the project suggest that CalTrans will halt its bidding process for a couple of months, CalTrans District 1 Supervisor spoke on Monday to the press about the bidding process going forward, while the only delay he acknowledged regarded a related, but separate, culvert project in the Grove.

On Monday (April 18th), while a hundred community members protested at the CalTrans District 1 HQ in escalating resistance to the highway expansion, CalTrans locked its doors to the public. While demonstrating on the office lawn, people made dozens of phone calls to CalTrans to express opposition to the plan; CalTrans responded by turning off its phones. One demonstrator climbed a ladder onto the roof to address the crowd and highlight the urgency of direct action to prevent the road widening: “We are strong, unified and growing in numbers. We will not back down, and our determination to protect the Redwood Curtain is not shaken by the violence, lies, and scare tactics perpetuated by the State, nor by distortions of the truth from the complicit corporate media.” She was arrested by several officers. Many officers were posted inside, at the front doors, and on the various rooftops of the HQ.

One demonstrator's thorough presentation to the crowd included information about the long-standing and shrouded motivations of the project and the fact that there are also CalTrans road “widening” projects on every highway entrance east to the Northcoast. The cracking open of the Redwood Curtain promises to forever change the physical, social, and economic landscape of the Northcoast and what has been, for millenia, redwood country.

RGAN will broaden and intensify the non-violent direct action campaign against the wasteful, illegal, and irreparable plan. The group warns potential bidder companies that contractors will deal with more than just a construction job if they choose to do harmful road widening through the world-renowned ancient grove.
###

Photos will be posted soon from April 18th Mass Rally Protest!

Download PDF of Press Release:
http://www.box.net/shared/73sxabqa48

Richardson Grove project on hold until July/August!

2011-04-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

Federal case against Caltrans is awarded injunction until July 2011 in which project bidding may commence unless Caltrans is found to have violated environmental regulations. Which they have, in the Richardson Grove "Improvement" Project(RIP) Environmental Impact Report(EIR).

Bidding for the RIP cannot commence until July 2011 and any type of road work, vegetation removal, etc. for the RIP until after 30 days after the project goes to bid.

Many thanks to EPIC, CATS and The Center for Biological Diversity for their hard work on this very important matter. Please help support the Federal case against Caltrans by donating to these well respected non-profit environmental organizations.

It is very important to continue to put pressure on Caltrans with direct action to stop this project...

Executive Director of Arcata Community Recycling Center Opposes Shipping of Waste Through the Grove.

2011-04-16T16:09:00.000-07:00

ACRC Executive Director, Mark Loughmiller opposes shipping our county's trash through Richardson Grove in exchange for $42,ooo/yr, while our local recycling program gives over a million dollars, jobs, and educational opportunites back the community. We should prevent the loss of revenue from our recyclables, among other Humboldt county assests. Help keep 35 community recyclers employed! Help keep millions of dollars in Humboldt! No exporting of HumCo jobs through Richardson Grove!!

YouTube Invite: Mass Rally II at CalTrans, Direct Action Campaign to Defend Richardson Grove 04-18-11

2011-04-16T00:51:00.000-07:00

Mass RALLY at CalTrans Monday, April 18th

2011-04-16T00:23:00.000-07:00

Link to April 18 Rally Flier (2 sided)
http://www.box.net/shared/b8hdd3xle9

Mass RALLY at CalTrans To Oppose Road Widening Thru Richardson Grove!

Protest On The Advertised Bid Day for Main Phase of
Richardson Grove Road Widening Construction

April 18th at NOON
CalTrans District 1 Headquarters
1656 Union St. (Union and Wabash)
EUREKA

April 18th, according to CalTrans, is when the highway expansion plan will be advertised for contractor bids.

WE WILL STOP THIS PLAN

No “business as usual” until this plan is canceled!

JOIN THE MASS PHONE CALL BLACK-OUT AT THE RALLY!

**GROUP BIKE RIDE!
Gathering at the Arcata Plaza at 9:30am
Bicyclists will leave at 10am for the mass Rally in Eureka!

Bring signs, banners, musical instruments, & bullhorns on Monday to get your message across.

Protect the forest and our future. RESIST INVASION.

Contact: Richardson Grove Action Now
707.602.7551 rgroveactionnow@gmail.com

Disrupt the bid start day! Mass Rally Mon April 18 To Oppose CalTrans' Federally-Funded Road Widening Plan Through Richardson Grove State Park

2011-04-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

MEDIA ALERT: April 14, 2011 For Immediate Release

Contact: Richardson Grove Action Now (707) 602-7551, rgroveactionnow@gmail.com

Mass Rally Monday April 18 at Noon To Oppose CalTrans'
Federally-Funded Plan to Widen the Highway Through Richardson Grove State Park

Protest Coincides With Advertised Bid Day for Bulk of Richardson Grove Highway Construction

Humboldt County: Richardson Grove Action Now has organized a rally for Monday, April 18, 2011 at CalTrans District One Headquarters in Eureka to protest the federally-funded plan to widen Highway 101 through Richardson Grove State Park. April 18th is the advertised bid day for the main phase of construction for the Richardson Grove project. The protest will begin at noon where participants will again demand “No Road Widening Through Richardson Grove.”

Richardson Grove Action Now asks , “If CalTrans can build in a State Park and injure protected old-growth, steal adjacent private property forestland, and violate the Endangered Species Act, what is stopping them from building anywhere for any reason and turning it all into highway?”

The organizers invite all who value living ecosystems and locally-owned business instead of free-trade corridors for interstate commerce to come to CalTrans and declare “HANDS OFF THE ANCIENT FOREST! We are resisting your military and corporate invasion!” Rallyers are encouraged to bring signs, banners, musical instruments, and bullhorns on Monday to make sure that there is no business as usual for CalTrans on the bid day and to deliver the message cancel the plan.

On the morning of Monday April 18th , bicyclists against the highway expansion through Richardson Grove will depart at 10am from the Arcata Plaza for a group ride to the Mass Rally at CalTrans in Eureka.

Richardson Grove Action Now believes that a grassroots movement committed to direct action is key in the struggle against Caltrans' disastrous and destructive project. Richardson Grove Action Now is interested in organizing with anyone to protect the autonomy of west coast rural communities, and to keep corporate and government entities from ruining our local economy and dominating and bullying us. Organizers know that CalTrans' highway expansions are supported by U.S. Military and so-called defense agencies that wish to have greater access to and control over the people and natural resources of this region.

Richardson Grove Action Now invites all opposed to the plan to CalTrans this Monday, April 18th to insist on the right to survive and determine what passes through our lives and covers the landscape of our home.

For more info: Richardson Grove Action Now at (707) 602-7551 or email rgroveactionnnow@gmail.com.

Can't You Read the Signs, CalTrans?

2011-04-14T01:17:00.000-07:00

Second Mass RALLY at CalTrans on MON, APRIL 18

2011-04-08T23:35:00.000-07:00

Mass RALLY at CalTrans In Opposition to the Road Widening Through Richardson Grove!

Richardson Grove Action Now announces and invites all to a mass RALLY at CalTrans in Eureka on Monday, April 18th. April 18, 2011, according to CalTrans, is the date when the highway expansion plan through Richardson Grove State Park will be advertised for subcontractor bids.

We are the people and the people say "NO ROAD WIDENING THROUGH RICHARDSON GROVE!"

Protect the forest and our future. Resist Invasion.

Rally on Monday, April 18th at NOON
at
CalTrans District 1 Headquarters
1656 Union St. (Union and Wabash)
Eureka

There will be a group bike ride meeting at the Arcata Plaza at 9:30am before the rally. Bicyclists will leave at 10am for Eureka!

For info or to get more involved contact Richardson Grove Action Now, call
(707) 602-7551 or email rgroveactionnow@gmail.com.

***

Monday April 18th, mass Rally to protest the road widening plan through Richardson Grove. Noon at CalTrans District 1 Headquarters at Union and Wabash in Eureka.

To Stop the Road Widening- from the Ragin' Grannies

2011-04-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

As a Raging Granny we do/sing protest songs.. Here is one for Richardson Grove which was my first REDWOOD. --Jean Doran, beloved Ragin' Granny

This is more a chant than a song:

Bigger Trucks

Wider Roads

Trees don't matter

Build those Roads

State Parks protect

Trees that are there

When danger comes

DOES THE PUBLIC CARE??????

Song from Jefferson and The Defenders of the Holy Grove

2011-04-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

The speciousness of Humboldt Supervisor Mark Lovelace's arguments in light of the obvious reasons for the road widening project prompted these new verses to Jefferson's song "Avenue of Angels." The entire song is below.

Old Boys want to break the barriers
To business as usual, I'd say.
Big Trucks will be the carriers,
CalTrans will pave the way.

It's easy to see what they're after,
Once they have opened the door--
Like nature bowing to NAFTA--
They want a coastal, commercial corridor.

Here is the song in its entirety. Written by (c) Jefferson Parson 2011

Avenue of Angels

Daddy, don't make new deadwood;
Don't widen that highway for me.
If you love me, leave those redwoods
Right where they're meant to be.

Today, we don't slay that dragon, So don't tame that tiger for me.
It's not OK to turn that redwood
Into a drive-through tree.

[chorus]
We've got to bridge love and understanding,
Leave loco-motion madness, roaring crowds;
We need an avenue of angels made of emeralds,
With rainbow seat-belts, air-bags made of clouds,

Because the highway of Heaven has no asphalt,
No rusty cars with obsolescent parts;
It's an avenue of angels made of emeralds
With luminescent rays from heart to heart.

Old Boys want to break the barriers
To business-as-usual, I'd say.
Big trucks will be the carriers,
CalTrans will pave the way.

It's easy to see what they're after,
Once they have opened the door--
Like nature bowing to NAFTA--
They want a coastal commercial corridor. [repeat chorus]

Chock Full of Info: Letter to Jerry Brown from Barbara Kennedy

2011-04-03T07:42:00.000-07:00

To Humboldt County Supervisors:

It should be obvious that Highway 101 traverses land that is geologically sensitive. The Franciscan formation underlies our area - it is porous, allowing water to penetrate and loosen its soil and rocks - as a result, it slides. CALTRANS is barely able to keep Highway 101 open. I refer not just to the slide north of Redway but also to the large slipout north of Redcrest that has taken years to repair, and the huge slide along the Ridgewood grade between Willets and Ukiah. This is a highway that is prone to failure and will continue to fail.

In spite of these facts, CALTRANS is embarked on a multifacted project to widen and straighten the major arteries (199,197,299 and 101) leading to and from our area to allow access by STAA trucks, thus creating a network of alternate routes to I-5. Although CALTRANS claims that more truck traffic will not ensue, this flies in the face of reason - millions of dollars have been allocated to these projects for this very purpose.

STAA trucks are not only unlimited in length but they will be heavier as well if the trucking industry succeeds in its lobbying efforts in Congress to increase the weight limit from 80,000 lbs. to 97,000 lbs.

STAA trucks will not stay exclusively on the highway - they will leave the highway on terminal access routes and service access routes - in other words, into our neighborhoods and onto our local roads. The cost of maintenance of our local roads is borne by Humboldt County taxpayers, not the Federal or State governments.

The County is presently unable to maintain the local roads. The condition of these roads approaches those of an undeveloped, third world country. Yet, in spite of all these obvious facts, Supervisors remain in lock-step as to their approval of the Richardson Grove and 197/199 projects as communicated to CALTRANS in a Consent Calendar agenda item without any public opportunity for comment on September 9, 2008 and vigorously reiterated ever since.

Highway 101 is NOT Interstate 5. We do not need, want, or can afford larger, heavier trucks on Highway 101, in our neighborhoods, or on our local roads. It is time that the Humboldt County Supervisors stand up for the best interests of the citizens of Humboldt County and oppose the CALTRANS projects.

Very truly yours, Barbara Kennedy

Open Letter to Gov Jerry Brown from Richardson Grove Action Now

2011-04-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

March 30, 2011
Sent Via Facsimile, U.S. Mail, and Electronic Mail

RE: Opposition to California Department of Transportation's Highway 101 Road Widening Project Through Richardson Grove State Park (project number #464804)

Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Open Letter to Governor Jerry Brown,

We, Richardson Grove Action Now, are writing today to inform you of CalTrans' plan to widen Highway 101 through Richardson Grove State Park in hopes that you will use your power to prevent this project from proceeding. The word “inform” has been used very specifically here. Given that you're known for your reverence of the ancient redwood forests and indeed your respect for your constituents, many of whom make the North Coast their home, we cannot imagine that you are aware of the specifics of this project. Before we outline those specifics, we would like to relay the words of John Muir displayed on a placard in Richardson Grove State Park: “God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand tempests and floods.” However, the end of Muir's statement, not seen on this placard, continues as follows: “But he cannot save them from fools.” Let us not be fools.

A major concern with the proposed project to widen Highway 101 through Richardson Grove is the damage it will cause to the ancient old-growth redwoods in and around the Grove. Many of these living monuments already border the road and many more are within several feet. The proposed project, as outlined in CalTrans' Environmental Impact Report [EIR], entails cutting forest and widening the road so that the asphalt reaches the trunks of ancient trees. Redwood root systems are both shallow and wide. Thus, in order to expand the road, CalTrans intends to “excavate” and cut into the root systems of ancient trees and impact them with pavement. Although CalTrans claims that it will not be cutting roots larger than two inches in diameter, it is clear, once again from the EIR, that this claim is false. CalTrans likely tells this lie because it is well known that redwoods experience canopy die-off when their root systems are damaged. It is also disingenuous for CalTrans to claim it will not fall ancient trees for this project. The road and shoulder expansion that CalTrans plans cannot physically fit between several of the huge, ancient redwoods lining the narrowest parts of the road. Cutting trees in the State Park and compromising the health and vitality of old-growth redwoods, especially considering how few of them are left on Earth, is unacceptable.

The purpose of the federally and state funded “Richardson Grove Improvement Project” (as it's dubbed by CalTrans) is economic in nature. As stated on the CalTrans website, the project would allow Surface Transportation Assistance Act [STAA] trucks heavier use of Highway 101 north of Leggett. Currently, the smooth area of road running through Richardson Grove State Park is the only section of Highway 101 where STAA trucks are restricted from traveling, although these trucks are regularly granted exemptions and do pass through the area. CalTrans alleges that the STAA prohibition (albeit exemptions) results in economic disadvantage because “truck cargo must be unloaded and transferred to shorter trucks, making goods movement more expensive.” Though we do not believe in this reasoning, as will be further discussed later in this letter, our purpose in mentioning it here is to highlight that this project is clearly predicated on economic, not safety or environmental, reasons. Interfering with a state park for economic purposes is not only wrong; it is illegal. Furthermore, in this time of economic crisis, the ten million plus dollars that are being allocated for the road widening project through the Grove could be better utilized elsewhere.

The 1.1 mile stretch of Highway 101 that passes through Richardson Grove State Park announces one's southern entry into redwood country. It is both the symbolic and literal threshold to what is lovingly known as the Redwood Curtain. Beyond this portal exists a relatively strong regional economy where the majority of businesses are locally-owned. Allowing easier and constant access to this area for more STAA trucks will open the flood gates for large, multi-national corporations to gain a foothold here. Indeed, this is what the project to widen Highway 101 through Richardson Grove is truly about. While it may offer an economic boost for some in the short term, we know that time and time again, this pattern of economic “growth” has proven to be detrimental to communities across the country. Widening the road through Richardson Grove would defile the spirit and unique character of the North Coast, a sanctuary that we cannot afford to lose.

In closing, we believe there are many reasons why the “Richardson Grove Improvement Project" is wrong. It is wrong to jeopardize the vitality of one of California's State Parks for purported economic gain. It is wrong to injure and risk what is left of the ancient redwood ecosystem. It is wrong to increase the vulnerability of our communities and landscape by subjecting us to the will of multi-national corporations. It is wrong to perpetuate the genocide of indigenous peoples by further degrading the Grove, a place of spiritual and cultural significance. Only employment initiatives which promote, not degrade, the health of Humboldt residents and the region's unique ecosystems should be explored. We implore you to act with us to help save Richardson Grove State Park and in the process, help preserve the unique cultural heritage, true wealth, and beauty found on the North Coast of California.

Sincerely,

Richardson Grove Action Now
P.O. Box 5692
Eureka, CA 95502
(707) 602-7551

Cal Trans "find everything" number

2011-04-03T00:54:00.000-07:00

If you use CalTrans' search engine on its website:
You can find various pages related to the Richardson Grove plan using these numbers (mile markers):

001.1/002.2

The Project Number is #464804

Flier/Handbill for Thursday Direct Action Training

2011-03-28T18:33:00.001-07:00

Link to Flier:
http://www.box.net/shared/38ty14v048

Thurs, March 31st Direct Action Training!

2011-03-27T01:31:00.000-07:00

This Thursday, March 31st, on Cesar Chavez' birthday, Richardson Grove Action Now will be facilitating a Non-Violent Direct Action training. We will begin at 12:00 Noon at Synapsis in Eureka. That's way down on the west end of 3rd Street, next to the St. Vincent de Paul's Free Meal site. Synapsis is a great space and we're excited to be able to do the training there!

This direct action workshop will focus on insurgent skills: organizing ways to become a wrench in the machine; demystifying potential legal risks; preparing us to assert our power with confidence; and arming us with knowledge to prevent the legal system from separating or silencing us.

We will talk about non-violent resistance, historical and current examples of direct action for social and environmental justice, consensus decision-making, choosing our targets and non-violent methods, action roles and affinity groups, and legal and solidarity tactics. While Richardson Grove Action Now is looking forward to more and more people mobilizing and feeling ready for action to stop the road widening, this training can be useful for anyone wishing to stand up, fight back, and assert the power of the people!

The training is free and for people of all ages. We'll have food, coffee, tea, and juice and we welcome you to bring food as well.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Thursday, March 31st
NOON
at
Synapsis, 47 West 3rd Street, Eureka

NO ROAD WIDENING THROUGH RICHARDSON GROVE!

Road Widening: Cutting Ancient Trees, Replacing Local Jobs With Outside Corporate Interests

2011-03-24T16:09:00.000-07:00

Soon, Richardson Grove Action Now will be putting out a new info pamphlet focused on more lies from CalTrans, in particular about its plan for ancient trees in Richardson Grove State Park. Maps from CalTrans fail to show some of the large, old trees that would need to be cut for the road widening.

We ask: Have you seen Richardson Grove? Do YOU believe that road widening can happen without CUTTING BIG TREES?

There are several places where the road is so tight between the trees, CalTrans would have to cut the ancient trees in Richardson Grove State Park to make the road the size it wants. Measuring between two huge old trees on either side of the road, there is only 22.8 feet right up to the trees. STAA truck road, what the feds and CalTrans want, is 28 feet wide! CalTrans needs 24 feet of "traveled way" (road) and two feet of shoulder on each side-even without shoulders they don't even have that much room! The road would necessarily cut right into the trees. Also, there are "fill" and "cut [roots] lines on the CalTrans maps which go right through big trees in the Grove!

In addition, CalTrans, according to its Final Environmental Impact Report, can still cut whole areas of forest on private property to build a retaining wall. The retaining wall is still listed on the CalTrans website charts. CalTrans would have to steal the Singing Trees property through 'eminent domain' to do that. CalTrans has a practice of lying to the public and to the property owners from whom it plans to take land and homes for its highway expansions.

Not ONLY about Ancient Trees

Several local trucking companies, including Gosselin, Customer Truck Service, and Altos Brothers will be forced to fire truck drivers and support personnel if CalTrans does its plan through our old growth redwoods and allows super trucks and trailers into our communities.

At a minimum, six to twelve jobs will disappear from just those Humboldt County companies if CalTrans gets its way. We’re talking $500,000 in lost annual payroll. And that's just three companies. And that's without considering all of the big businesses that will come in and force out local trucking contracts and businesses in time.

Here are links to Richardson Grove Action Now literature. Please distribute! If you need hard copies to give people and can't print them yourself, call (707) 602-7551 and we'll get you some!

Pamphlet for printing: http://www.box.net/shared/3kstv8flz7

Pamphlet for reading on the computer: http://www.box.net/shared/6xyyml02vu

CalTrans Lies Booklet: http://www.box.net/shared/j9bygxbgn3

Letter to Humboldt Board of Supervisors (March 8, 2011): http://www.box.net/shared/rv8qpyh5q3

General Flier, 1-sided: http://www.box.net/shared/jmthnd8da5

Monday, March 21st RALLY & COURT

2011-03-16T23:56:00.000-07:00

CALTRANS is preparing to widen Hwy 101 thru
RICHARDSON GROVE STATE PARK for increased industrial trucking & militarization. We will stop them!

CalTrans' plan threatens our rural lives and involves cutting & crushing ancient redwoods' roots, cutting 56 trees in the state park, & possibly changing old-growth forest on private property into road bed.

TWELVE PEOPLE, ARRESTED AT A LOCKDOWN PROTEST AT CALTRANS, HAVE COURT ON:

MONDAY, MARCH 21^ST
COURTHOUSE IN EUREKA (5th and K)

RALLY ON FRONT STEPS 7:45 am
COURT FOR 12 ARRESTED 8:00 am

Rally with Richardson Grove signs, then support in court.

(There is a security check x-ray machine in the courthouse.)

Richardson Grove Action Now (707) 602-7551

March 16 Update from Richardson Grove Action Now

2011-03-16T23:07:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, March 16, at 10 am, a group of us {activists involved with Richardson Grove Action Now} took a stroll and conducted a scouting mission up Highway 101 through Richardson Grove State Park and properties adjacent to the park. In addition to enjoying the immense beauty and serenity of the area, we made some observations and gained several insights that we would like to share with you.

Knowing that CalTrans has plans to replace and update the culverts (the pipe network that allows moving water to move from one side of the road to the other) on the southern end of the grove, we decided to take a close look at the culverts as they currently are. Since there was a good amount of rain earlier in the morning, the culverts, which are large pipes buried under the ground between the depths of 1-5 feet (I'd say) , were in full action with water being channeled under the road and crashing down the hillsides. A couple of us surveyed the culverts for a species of concern, a sort of rare salamander that could be endangered by this project. Though we did not find any trace of this elusive critter, we could not help but notice that some of the culverts run between thirty and forty yards (I'd say) into the state park. How is CalTrans planning to replace these culverts, some of which, as we mentioned, are a good five feet down in depth, without causing harm to nearby ancient redwood roots? The roots are also between one and five feet in depth.

Along the Richardson Grove stretch of Highway 101 we saw a number of CalTrans survey stakes, on the east side of the road, marked with a cryptic series of numbers and letters. We documented the stakes by photo and are now in the process of trying to make sense of these markers. There was speculation that some of these markers may be new (a week or so old), though this theory has not yet been confirmed. In any case, we were shocked by how close in proximity the stakes are in relation to massive, old growth redwoods. From what we understand, these stakes mark the borders of the CalTrans road widening project. If this is indeed true, and after looking at the Environmental Impact Report it seems to be, then CalTrans is planning to pave right up to many old growth trees. Given what we know about redwood root growth patterns, which are generally shallow and wide reaching, as well as modern road construction techniques, which effect the ground several feet below the pavement surface, this does not appear to bode well for the health and longevity of these living relics.

As we continued to head north and out of the state park area on our journey through the old growth forest, we observed, on a sharp curve on the west side of Highway 101 across from the Singing Trees Recovery Center about fifteen feet up on a steep slope, more brightly colored markers, similar to the markers that we saw earlier. If you were to picture the space in between the road and these markers filled with pavement (which if it were to be somewhat level would require the excavation

and removal of a hillside), the resulting image would be, comparatively to what is currently there, a section of road that is wider with a significantly less sharp curve. This is interesting, because CalTrans has insisted throughout the history of this project that their plan would not “straighten” the road but rather, as they claim, only marginally widen it in certain areas. If indeed it is part of CalTrans' plan to straighten the road in this section, the result would significantly reduce the aesthetic appeal of the north entrance to the park and moreover, add to its destruction.

Throughout our stroll and scouting mission, we could not help but notice that the electrical/telephone/cable lines are relatively short in height in the Richardson Grove section when compared to the lines on rest of Highway 101. In fact, by our estimation, some of the lines offer only a mere foot and a half of clearance for the tops of the larger trucks passing underneath them. It seems logical then to assume, since CalTrans has stated that its reason for "improving" this section of road is to allow greater access to larger trucks (although it is illegal to do any sort of construction in a state park for the purpose of perceived economic gain) that these lines will also be "improved". This seems especially likely because some of the poles that support the weight of these lines are in areas that are designated to be paved over. Given this, it seems to us, although we are not really sure, that PG&E., AT&T, Sudden Link, and possibly other line owners must also be scheduling work in the Richardson Grove area in the near future.

Constant research and information is vitally important for us in our fight to stop CalTrans' plan to widen Highway 101 through Richardson Grove. Although today's stroll through the proposed project area provided us with a more clear view of what is happening on the ground, there is still MUCH that we want to understand about the on-ground, day-to-day logistics. There is no injunction (stop order) from the courts to halt the construction project to widen Highway 101 through Richardson Grove. CalTrans has already begun the preliminary steps (surveys, permit acquisitions, contractor bids, etc.) to begin the on-the-ground work. We do not know the exact date that construction will begin but we do know that it is likely to occur in the near future. The time is now to stop this, the time is urgent, we must act!

Note: In December 2010, CalTrans made representations to the court and to the entities suing to stop the plan through Richardson Grove, that work on the project would not begin until at least June 2011. However, CalTrans has been preparing for the road widening. On the CalTrans website, culvert and other work are officially posted to begin this month, March 2011. Feel free to ask CalTrans employees yourself (at the office or on the ground) what they are doing!

NEW FLIER for NEW RALLY DATE

2011-03-16T18:45:00.000-07:00

THE POSTPONED RALLY IN GARBERVILLE IS NOW PLANNED FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2011

RALLY date changed to Friday April 1st due to weather. No joke :)

2011-03-11T14:10:00.000-08:00

UPDATE! RALLY RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL 1ST DUE TO WEATHER. SEE YOU THERE!

Friends of Richardson Grove Will Hold A Rally & Celebration of Spring On Friday April 1st, 2011 Challenging the Highway Widening Project Threatening Ancient Humboldt County Redwoods

CalTrans Project Through Richardson Grove State Park Would Harm Old-growth Trees, Marbled Murrelet Habitat, and Rural North Coast Towns

GARBERVILLE, Calif.— A group of Friends of Richardson Grove State Park invite the public to a Rally and Celebration of Spring on Friday, April 1st, 2011 from 12:00 Noon until 4:00 PM at the Garberville Town Square. This will be a family-friendly event focusing on educating the public about the ill-advised highway-widening project that not only threatens the ancient redwoods of Richardson Grove State Park, but could also change the rural character of Humboldt County.

The event will feature local speakers, musicians including Bud Rogers, Jefferson Parsons and Defenders of the Holy Grove, educational literature, sample letters to send to elected representatives, a craft table for children and adults and the opportunity to discuss with neighbors the effects this project might have on our State Park and Community.

The highway project is widely opposed by local residents, business owners, conservation and Native American groups, and economists as unnecessary and damaging to the State Park, the venerable old-growth grove and its wildlife, tourism, and the coastal communities of Humboldt County.

Caltrans and certain business interests have attempted for decades to provide access for larger commercial trucks through the area, and in the past few years have pushed for widening the narrow, meandering section of Highway 101 through the world-renowned ancient redwood grove in Richardson Grove State Park. This park at the southern entrance to Humboldt County is considered to be the “redwood curtain” protecting the small communities of the north coast from blight and urban development. Public outcry has so far protected the grove from development, but Caltrans and a handful of business interests have aggressively pushed for access for larger trucks.

Established in 1922, Richardson Grove State Park was recently rated as one of the top 100 state parks in the United States, and attracts thousands of visitors from around the world every year to explore one of the last protected stands of accessible old-growth redwoods. It is here you first encounter significant old-growth forest when driving north, and this popular tourist destination has provided many people with a transformative experience walking through some of the oldest living beings on the planet.

The proposed spoiling of Richardson Grove and widening of the highway through the “Richardson Grove Operational Improvement Project” does not serve the region’s best interests and threatens the area’s environment, economy, and way of life. The Humboldt County Economic Development Program has used public funding for a misleading public-relations campaign claiming the widening and increased large-truck traffic are needed for safety and commerce and will benefit Humboldt County through falling retail prices, bolstering the local economy, and making travel into the county from the south safer. Bigger trucks do not somehow translate to consumer savings, but do increase wear and tear on roadways and decrease safety for smaller vehicles. The widening would provide incentive for big-box retailers like Walmart and Home Depot to move into Humboldt County, to the detriment of local businesses. The reality is that this project has the potential to change forever a rural lifestyle cherished by residents of the North Coast.

Caltrans claims the “realignment” project is needed to safely accommodate large-truck travel, remove the restriction of larger vehicles on this section of highway, and improve movement of commercial goods. However, it appears from Caltrans’ own statements and signage that the portion of road for which this project is contemplated is currently designated for larger trucks and that Caltrans has exaggerated potential safety problems.

Advocates for the grove forced the agency to complete a full Environmental Impact Report, rather than the Categorical Exemption and minimal environmental analysis Caltrans originally tried to employ. Caltrans’ preferred project appears to be a predetermined decision taken in advance of the environmental analysis. Federal law prohibits transportation projects on public-park lands except in cases where there is no feasible alternative. Since smaller-sized commercial trucks already travel through the grove to deliver goods to Humboldt County, one feasible alternative would be to leave the highway as it is and retain the integrity of Richardson Grove.

The project is opposed by the Environmental Protection Information Center, Save Richardson Grove Coalition, North Coast Environmental Center, InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council, Friends of the Eel River, Center for Biological Diversity, Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters, Californians for Alternatives to Toxics and Richardson Grove Action Now, among others.

March 13th: Pre-Rally Potluck & Meeting

2011-03-11T13:53:00.000-08:00

Calling All Friends of Richardson's Grove
Sunday March 13th, 2011
1:00pm
Garberville Vet's Hall

PreRally Potluck and Meeting

Come and help prepare for the upcoming Garberville Rally on March 18th!
This is an open invitation to anyone interested in helping bring the Cal-Trans Richardson's Grove widening project to a halt.

For more info call 707-834-7916

We will be making signs and banners.

Please bring a potluck dish, cardboard, bed sheets, paints and brushes.

Letter To Board of Supes from Chief Thomas Dostou

2011-03-10T16:24:00.000-08:00

Dear Sirs and Madame:

It has come to my attention by way of an American Indian associate of mine in Northern California that there is a question concerning the destruction of old growth Redwoods in the Richardson Grove area .

I am presently visiting American Indian communities around the Nation with the intention of coordinating actions related to various other attempts on the part of private or/and public entities to encroach on or destroy natural environments which we in the American Indian community view as having a spiritual as well as a cultural importance for our People.

I am quite sure that you all are aware of the terrible genocide and exploitation that has occurred to American Indian people across this land over the past 500 years. And I am also sure that you are also aware in the particular of the massacre of the Wiyot peoples in 1860 by white settlers.

With this and more in mind, I am sure that you understand that we as Native people are very concerned when we hear that people are wanting to again destroy our lands because we never voluntarily gave up our lands but were forced to cede these lands at the point of a gun or sword. No treaties were signed by the coastal tribes of California giving up the trees, rivers, lakes etc. So basically, you and your government accordingly are an illegal body as per the United Nations Charter of Human Rights and the World Court of the Hague.

What right do you have to decide what will be done with the lands which your ancestors took illegally ?

Thank you .

Chief Thomas Dostou

Nabesse Pishum ( Tom Dostou )

Humboldt Board of Supervisors Targeted in Direct Action Campaign to Stop Highway Expansion Through Richardson Grove State Park

2011-03-09T12:01:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, March 8th: “No Road Widening Through Richardson Grove” activists sang to the Board of Supervisors at the weekly meeting this morning.

http://www.archive.org/details/AH-bos-am_3-8-11

See BELOW the letter given to the Board of Supervisors for the record from Richardson Grove Action Now.

Six people who are opposed to the plan to widen the road through Richardson Grove State Park were arrested for expressing their dissent to the abhorrent decision the Supervisors made when they gave a green light to the plan, seemingly without hearing or caring about the opinion of the people whom they claim to represent.

This proposed project would have far reaching and devastating effects socially, ecologically, economically, and spiritually. We currently have the potential to build our own economy and wealth as working class people. This project would only leverage more control and wealth for the “owner” class by making it easier and more lucrative for “big box” stores to invade our communities, thereby leaching much-needed local dollars from the North Coast. We know that the Highway 101 expansion is supported by U.S. military and so-called defense agencies who wish to have greater access to and control of the people and natural resources of this region. Respecting the old growth forest in a protected park trumps any value that could come from widening the road. Just as all life has the inherent right to survive with a healthy level of autonomy, we also demand our right to survive and determine for ourselves, rather than be forced to accept, what passes through our lives or covers the landscape of our home.

Richardson Grove Action Now is committed to stopping the Federally funded CalTrans highway expansion through Richardson Grove. “We know that this plan will ruin our local economy, will bring increased militarization, will interfere with a state park, will irreparably damage the root systems of ancient trees, and will change forever our way of life” says Richardson Grove activists.

The letter below was handed out to the Board of Supervisors and other meeting attendees this morning.

****

Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
Room 111 of the County Courthouse
825 5th Street
Eureka , CA 95501

March 8, 2011

To Humboldt County Board of Supervisors,
Jimmy Smith, Clif Clendenen, Mark Lovelace, Virginia Bass, Ryan Sundberg

This morning several people representing opposition to Caltrans’ 10+million dollar plan to widen Highway 101 through Richardson Grove State Park demonstrated during your morning meeting. You have failed in your ability to work for the people due to your allegiance to special interests. You have refused to protect our communities now and for future generations. Many of your constituents have requested, formally and repeatedly, that you hold a public forum to discuss this issue- the road widening project and its myriad consequences; we have asked that you put this significant item on the agenda;we have asked for your assistance, and you have blatantly and openly disrespected and ignored us. You should not be permitted to continue “business as usual” when your business is short-sighted, corrupt, and detrimental to our lives.

The Board of Supervisors is an elected position. Your failures and refusals to adequately represent and defend your constituents and your failure and refusal to fight for a significant State Park in Humboldt County have been obvious through your rubber-stamping of this and other contentious CalTrans projects, through your ignoring of the will and well-being of your constituents, through your prioritization of transnational interests over local economy, through your approval- without our consent- of a plan that will endanger our safety on the road, through your complicity with unlawful plans to damage a State Park for purported economic benefit, through your brazen disregard for the sanctity of Richardson Grove to the First Nations people in this region and your perpetuation of the genocide that began several generations ago. We have a voice, and we demand that you listen, lest you will continue to find it more and more difficult to conduct what you call “business” and what we call CRIME.

You have misappropriated thousands of dollars from the Headwater's Fund to promote CalTrans' proposed highway expansion through Richardson Grove. In addition to paying for television, radio, and print media to promote the CalTrans project, you used over $10,000 from the Headwaters Fund to: pay six public figures to submit “My Word” letters to the Eureka Times-Standard; to pay for editing those letters; to provide instructions and propaganda for businesses on how to publicly promote the CalTrans project; and to fund many county staff hours for project lobbying. Then, $25,000 more in county public funds were pilfered by Kirk Girard, director of Humboldt County Community Development, to promote the highway expansion through Richardson Grove. This is not only an outrage, it is a special interests racket.

These are glaring violations of the public trust and gross acts of collusion with special economic interests, at the behest of the future and well-being of our region. You have not only failed to oppose the project, you have failed to seek legal recourse against CalTrans for interfering with the State Park and failed to investigate the adverse and long-term affects of the project. In reality, you have actively and unethically propagandized this CalTrans project (and others) and, to our detriment, done everything to advance an imperialist agenda.

Sincerely,
Richardson Grove Action Now
****

Afternoon Public Comments to Humboldt Board of Supes, Tuesday March 8, 2011:

http://www.archive.org/details/AH-bos-pm_3-8-11

Words of Wisdom to An Arrogant Greedy Humboldt Board of Supervisors

2011-03-04T22:11:00.000-08:00

BLAST FROM THE PAST: April 27, 2010
http://www.archive.org/details/AH-bos-pm_4-27-10

Highway Widening Thru RIchardson Grove Would Facilitate Nuclear Waste Transport!

2011-02-25T14:20:00.000-08:00

We don't know who made this video, but think it's great. It seems accurate except for the part that says that old-growth redwoods are set to be cut INSIDE Richardson Grove State Park for the CalTrans 101 road widening project. Our understanding is that ancient trees inside Richardson Grove are not scheduled to be cut, but will have their roots EXCAVATED, CUT, and PAVED OVER. Such damage to the roots is horrendous for the life of the trees. There are some old-growth redwoods on private property adjacent to the Grove that we suspect would be CUT, if CalTrans were to do the road widening. Join us in action to make sure CalTrans can't!
~Richardson Grove Action Now

CalTrans in Richardson Grove: Road to Ruin in the Redwoods video p. 2

2011-02-24T17:00:00.000-08:00

CalTrans in Richardson Grove: Road to Ruin in the Redwoods video p. 1

2011-02-24T16:57:00.000-08:00

Richardson Grove Banner Treesit video links

2011-02-24T16:45:00.000-08:00

These are the links to the video I made this week from my footage of Monday's treesit and banner hanging.

CalTrans in Richardson Grove: Road to Ruin in the Redwoods p. 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_2StgpiChI

CalTrans in Richardson Grove: Road to Ruin in the Redwoods p. 2

http://www.youtube.com/user/AndyCaffrey?feature=mhum#p/a/u/0/HsTH9RjPPH4

All of the videos I shoot will end up at http://www.youtube.com/AndyCaffrey

Please let people know about this video and these links. Thanks!

Andy

Monday, Feb 21st: CalTrans Lies Exposed!

2011-02-24T00:25:00.000-08:00

We are here in this tree to draw attention to trees threatened by Caltrans' plan, and to send the message that we are prepared to stop the plan at any time, at every step. The tree we were in was one of a grove of trees marked for removal, including at least six ancient trees, on land to be taken by "eminent domain". Not one ancient should be cut!

The trees in the grove have all been spray-painted with white dots. When a tree is spray-painted, this means death. Caltrans has denied any knowledge of the marks and denied intent to cut the grove. The decision-makers at Caltrans originally wanted to push the highway widening through without a public comment period. And when public meetings were held, Caltrans had already made the decision to go ahead, despite a majority of people with real, valid opposition. Caltrans has misclassified trees, and made every effort to minimize the effect of their project in the media. With them pushing the plan so hard, why should we believe they aren't going to cut those trees? Why should we believe they have no ulterior motives? Caltrans will take license to cut whatever they want.
It is common knowledge that highways are the arteries of military, industry, development, and capitalist opportunists: everything which represents death to us. These things turn living places into dead, like Camden, New Jersey, or Pelican Bay. These things are "progress", and we say it ends here for Humboldt.
ONE DEMAND: CANCEL THE PLAN!

EXPOSE CalTrans' Lies and

Mis-information

CalTrans proponents of the federally-funded road widening through Richardson Grove initially tried to push the project ahead unlawfully, without the required Environmental Impact Report and thus, without public input. If a CalTrans [California Department of Transportation] employee had not discovered this disgraceful attempt, the Richardson Grove plan would have gone through without our prior knowledge or the minimal required environmental review. CalTrans' District One Supervisor, Charles Fielder, wants the road widening through the Grove to improve his political status with government and corporate entities. The highway expansion plan through Richardson Grove is no minor project, as CalTrans¹* would have you believe.

CALTRANS IS DECEITFUL

ABOUT THE PLAN'S EFFECTS

ON THE ENVIRONMENT:

CalTrans lies about the effects that cutting the roots of ancient redwoods would have. CalTrans denies that cutting the roots will kill ancient trees. CalTrans lies about the effects of paving over ancient redwood tree roots. CalTrans lies about the effects of pneumatically excavating the roots of ancient trees. Redwoods (and these are in a park where they are supposed to remain protected) cannot survive cut, blown out, or paved-over roots. If the ancient trees in and near Richardson Grove are not cut now, but their roots are damaged the way CalTrans intends, the old trees, next to the highway, will slowly die and eventually be cut. CalTrans will call them “dangerous.” Not one tree should be cut in Richardson Grove State Park. And we are not fooled. We know that trees are affected by what happens to their roots!

“...physical damage that will occur to the root systems of these ancient trees will jeopardize their long-term health & well-being.”

Long-time horticulturist & plant pathologist, Stan Binnie, who now resides in Humboldt wrote in a February 12, 2011 Eureka Times-Standard Op-ed:

...I witnessed the death of hundreds of mature maple and oak trees from damage to their root systems during the construction process. The problem was significant enough for me to author a university publication, which is still being distributed to concerned developers and homeowners. Consequently, I have some knowledge & background to justify my concerns about the root systems of the old-growth redwoods in Richardson Grove.”

Mr. Binnie also cited Dr. Stephen Sillett of Humboldt State University, and a world-renowned expert on coastal redwood trees, as writing in a letter to CalTrans: “I have studied redwoods for many years, and my repeated observations of large redwoods near construction sites have convinced me that cutting large roots is a BAD IDEA if maintaining tree health and vigor is a goal.”

Mr. Binnie continued, “...Caltrans states that no roots larger than 2 inches in diameter will be cut during this project. However, it appears that no surveys were conducted to determine if any larger roots are in the area of the proposed project-which seems inevitable when dealing with such large trees-or where the roots are located... “... what will happen if larger roots are encountered, and what will happen if larger roots need to be cut or removed. Will the project be stopped or canceled? I seriously doubt it.

In Richardson Grove State Park, just feet from where the road project is proposed, there are signs that say: “AREA CLOSED TO PROTECT ROOTS.” And another nearby sign says: “Ironically, one of the greatest threats to a redwood's longevity comes from well-intentioned humans. Continuous foot traffic compacts the soil around a tree, damaging its network of fine surface roots and restricts their intake of water and nutrients. For this reason, visitors are asked to stay on designated paths.”

How is it that there is concern about foot traffic damaging the roots of ancient redwoods but there seems to be little concern over heavy equipment crushing their roots or the ...cutting, filling and compacting of soil over their delicate root systems. ...as far as the trees are concerned, nothing good can come to them as a result of this project.

Why would we want to jeopardize the long-term well-being of these few remaining old-growth redwoods?...”

CalTrans downplays the impact and significance of the road widening project.

We know that it IS a big deal. CalTrans is relying upon an “incidental take permit”as the go-ahead to kill endangered species and wipe out rare habitats. “Take” defined by the Endangered Species Act is 'to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect any threatened or endangered species.' Harm may mean that a construction or development project, or resource extracting activity, kills or injures a listed species by interfering with essential behavior like nesting or reproduction. This project requires an incidental take permit which means harassment and death to otherwise protected species and habitats in and around Richardson Grove State Park- that may never again exist on Earth. Forests cannot survive in isolated strips. Redwood forests, in particular, have developed for thousands of years in circular, shallow, and connected root families.

CalTrans, in its mis-information campaign, responds to the people's outrage, to simple science and to common sense by casually claiming to care for our environment. CalTrans officials repeat over and over the incredible lie that the road widening project will not affect old-growth trees. If you look at the marker stakes in the Grove that show where CalTrans aims to cut, excavate, compact, and pave over, you will see markers leaning right up against ancient redwood trees.

????Why are there White Dots Painted on Ancient Trees adjacent to Richardson Grove State Park ????

The huge old redwood trees, which are on the Singing Trees Recovery Center property, were marked with white paint in June of 2010 - the property owners' knowledge. We figured CalTrans painted the dots during a survey but Kim Floyd, Caltrans manager for the road widening project through the Grove, denied knowledge of the marked trees. The ancient trees, branded with white paint, are between CalTrans' orange project markers and Hwy 101.

Do the white paint dots mark the location for CalTrans to build a retaining wall through the Singing Trees property - as part of the road widening project? Does CalTrans intend to cut the marked trees to make an equipment staging area? Does CalTrans want to wipe out the old trees to create a vehicle detour?

Any way we think about it, it doesn't look good. Road construction usually requires retaining walls, equipment staging areas, and vehicle detours. CalTrans' plan has stated the government's intention to declare eminent domain on parts of the Singing Trees property. Does CalTrans want to take out those huge ancient singing trees to accomplish their plan?... and not tell anyone?

CalTrans fails, in all public discourse, to mention its intended use of DEFOLIANTS. Agent Orange is an example of a defoliant. Just as defoliants had no place in the jungles of Vietnam, in the bodies of human beings, or in the waters that flow through the land, defoliants have no place in Richardson Grove or the Eel River, much less any forest or its inhabitants.

As CalTrans claims it can build a road through the redwoods with no environmental harm, it is being fined by the Regional Water Board for immense environmental violations on the Confusion Hill bypass. The Board's Complaint alleges 154 violations and 141 days that CalTrans violated General Discharge Prohibitions. CalTrans illegally and consistently discharged sediment, concrete water, and construction waste directly into the Eel River and into active streams. CalTrans caused welding slag to fall in the river and sent sandblasting waste, hydrolic fuel and other pollutants into the water and gravel bars.

One key point made by supporters and propagators (CalTrans, Feds, and ill informed locals) of the highway expansion project is that, as the road is widened, more traffic will flow quickly thru the Grove, primarily more (excessively polluting) STAA trucks. Unfortunately, a widened road and more trucks mean that rain & storm water, instead of being filtered by soil particles, will flow across the road picking up contaminants associated with air pollution particles, spilled oil, detergents, solvents, pesticides, and other toxins, which then readily make their way into the Eel River, the creeks running through Richardson Grove, and marshy patches along the river bank.

There is no basis for us to trust CalTrans to care for the well-being of our environment.

Have you seen Richardson Grove?
Do YOU believe the road can be
widened without CUTTING BIG TREES?

The only guaranteed economic outcomes from another NAFTA highway are crappy, short-lived jobs, less money for education, healthcare, and other necessary social programs, massive highway maintenance expenses, consistent access for unaccountable trans-national corporations, and the rapid urbanization of our landscape. These conditions will be long-term and pervasive, and will only get worse with time. CalTrans spreads misinformation about economic impacts of its plans. Widening highway 101 through Richardson Grove must be stopped.

The U.S. military defends the interests of multi-national and trans-national corporations, and the highways (i.e. "NAFTA highways") are expanded for both the corporations and their military protectors.

CALTRANS HIDES THE AGENDA OF INCREASED MILITARIZATION OF OUR COMMUNITIES, WATERS, & LANDS.

Highways were designed for the purpose of moving military convoys.

Today, they are still part of networks such as STRAHNET. "The Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET) system of public highways provides access, continuity, and emergency transportation of personnel and equipment in times of peace and war. The 61,000-mile system, designated by the Federal Highway Administration in partnership with DOD[Department of Defense], comprises about 45,400 miles of Interstate and defense highways and 15,600 miles of other public highways. STRAHNET is complemented by about 1,700 miles of connectors—additional highway routes linking more than 200 military installations and ports to the network."

The Redwood Curtain area has been a natural bottle-neck blocking the swift access of military vehicles, tanks, etc for a long time. CalTrans intends to "straighten out" such rural highway routes so there are no obstacles to increased military access to & throughout the coast. There is also a plan to re-route Hwy 101 through Cutten- to pass the armory there.

With the Pentagon trying to station military personnel throughout communities in the U.S., with the Navy planning war games off the Pacific Coast, with the increased rounding up of undocumented people, houseless people, and mentally ill people, with the increased militarization of the police, with civil unrest more frequently occurring (thankfully), with the drug war continuing on overload, with military recruitment a major interest and enormous federal expenditure to keep bodies of poor young people going to war, with Obama's Council of Governors "strengthening" the power and alliance between state and federal "defense" abilities, and with the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, and National Security Agency doing everything they can to infiltrate every part of our lives and movements, there is no doubt that widening Hwy 101 and straightening out other entry routes to the west coast continue to be motivated (as most federally funded highway projects are) by military desires.

CALTRANS' RICHARDSON GROVE PLAN WILL MAKE US LESS SAFE

Only since direct action, media, and controversy have put the Richardson Grove plan in the spotlight (Feb 2011), has CalTrans acknowledged the 1500 trucks of nuclear material that would travel through this region from the Humboldt Bay power plant- if the highway were widened. CalTrans continues, however, to conceal the larger federal plan for nuclear waste to come into the Bay from all over the world, and then be transported through and beyond California on highways. The Humboldt County Planning Commission conceded a few years ago, that if the port in Humboldt Bay were to be further developed and the highways made accessible to more and more large trucks, nuclear materials coming from overseas would likely be transported through this region, with or without our consent, to Yucca Mountain. Can you imagine? Transporting nuclear waste only means extremely dangerous possibilities for all of us.

CalTrans lies when it cites highway safety as a priority motivation for the Richardson Grove project. There are rarely accidents through Richardson Grove. If the road widening plan was implemented, shoulders would be designated for trucks to drift into the shoulder rather than off-track. Pedestrians and bicycles will be in grave danger. Heavy truck traffic, including military vehicles, will make a once beautiful and safe stretch of highway through Richardson Grove, a busy and frightening thoroughfare.

"Expose CalTrans Lies and Mis-information" was written by Richardson Grove Action Now

1*Throughout this pamphlet we write about CalTrans, a State entity. While we may implicate planners, supervisors, managers and engineers from CalTrans, we are not referring to the regular, non-managerial workers of CalTrans. We know that many CalTrans employees are against the highway widening through Richardson Grove and hope they join us in the struggle to stop the plan.

CALTRANS LIES & RUINS OUR LIVES

2011-02-21T21:16:00.001-08:00

Photo by Andy Caffrey

For Immediate Release
2/21/2011

Richardson Grove Action Now!
(707) 602-7551

TREE SIT HIGHLIGHTS ENDANGERED REDWOODS MYSTERIOUSLY MARKED THAT ACTIVISTS BELIEVE ARE THREATENED BY CALTRANS ROAD WIDENING PLAN THROUGH RICHARDSON GROVE

HUGE BANNER SPANS HWY 101; READS - NO ROAD WIDENING. CALTRANS LIES & RUINS OUR LIVES.

There was a rally called this afternoon in Garberville town square. This event, organized by Richardson Grove Action Now! is an opportunity to expose the lies and misinformation that have been spread by the California Department of Transportation in order to gain support for their widely-opposed, federally-funded project which calls for road widening through Richardson Grove State Park.

During the rally, people were called to the north end of the grove where there are currently tree sitters and a banner drop that reads "NO ROAD WIDENING. CalTrans Lies & Ruins Our Lives." This action is part of an ongoing campaign and follows the lockdown at CalTrans District One Headquarters in Eureka on 2/7/2011 where six protestors chained themselves to the building and a crowd of people occupied the lobby throughout the day.

Though there is strong public opposition to the project, CalTrans is continuing to push forward. People are concerned because this project threatens the old-growth trees and habitat in and adjacent to Richardson Grove State Park. There are also concerns that the local economy will suffer from a "big box" invasion. This project also threatens to increase the militarization of the Northcoast. As RGAN activist Ingrid states, "I don't agree with it. Any time there's a highway project, the habitat suffers. There's no way to avoid casualties." Another RGAN activist , David, says "I don't want the road to be widened, the trees to be endangered, or Humboldt County to be further exploited through corporate takeover."

This campaign of direct action is one of necessity. RGAN will continue put our bodies and freedom on the line to protect ancient habitats, and to protect our communities from corporate and military invasion. We will not back down. Under the motto "One Demand, Cancel the Plan!" RGAN will continue to build momentum and oppose this CalTrans project until it is stopped.

RALLY To Stop Highway Expansion Through Richardson Grove This Monday!

2011-02-18T22:48:00.000-08:00

Flier here, spread the good word!

RALLY To Stop Highway Expansion Through Richardson Grove This Monday!

Richardson Grove Action Now invites all to a rally on Monday, February 21st, to stop the highway expansion through Richardson Grove State Park. Expose CalTrans' lies and misinformation campaign!

Monday's rally will begin at noon in the Garberville Town Square.

Bring anything you want to express yourself!

Resist Invasion!

For more info contact Richardson Grove Action Now, call
(707) 602-7551 or email rgroveactionnow@gmail.com.

*RALLY
*Monday Feb 21, 2011
*Noon
*Garberville Town Square

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

2011-02-17T13:23:00.000-08:00

(Re-posted from 06/28/10)

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!

Richardson Grove Action Camp! Feb 12th-15th

2011-02-10T00:55:00.000-08:00

Richardson Grove Action Now!
presents
ACTION CAMP
near the grove
FEB 12TH - 15TH

Train & Prepare for Direct Action

Bring Food & Gear if you have it!

Set up starts 7pm Fri, Feb 11th
PLEASE CALL (707) 602-7551
rgroveactionnow@gmail.com

The camp needs donations* of Funds, Food, Firewood, Tents, AA and AAA Batteries, and Warm Stuff (sleeping bags, hats, etc)!!
You can bring donations to the camp
or drop them off at PARC in Eureka
or drop them off at the Used Bookstore in Garberville.

We will be setting up on Friday night and could use help. We will also need help in the kitchen throughout the duration of the camp.

There will be meeting places for ridesharing to the camp every day:

Northern Humboldt Rideshare
9:30am - Arcata Corp-Op Kiosk (Arcata)
10:10am - Parking Lot between Walgreen's and Eureka Natural Foods (Eureka)

Southern Humboldt Rideshare
10:30am - Used Bookstore (Garberville)

Please refrain from bringing alcohol to camp.

*Some other things we always need:
Olive Oil
Grains
Coffee
Mate
Fruit
Nuts
Headlamps

Location To Be Announced any moment now!!

For more info, call Richardson Grove Action Now:
(707) 602-7551
rgroveactionnow@gmail.com

Don't believe the hype! We were non-violent!

2011-02-09T15:42:00.000-08:00

NEW! UPDATE 02/10/2011

Click here to listen to KMUD News interview with Caltrans lockdown participants and arrestees!

Watch the Access Humboldt video from Monday's Caltrans Rally!

Were the protesters violent?

Were the cops?

Make your own decisions, don't let the press feed you misinformation, as the Times-Standard and North Coast Journal have been co-opting media for Caltrans since the inception of the Richardson Grove Project...

A Statement from Lock-downers at Monday's Direct Action at CalTrans

2011-02-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

ATTENTION EVERYONE!

Right now, community members from Richardson Grove Action Now are locked down inside here in the CalTrans District 1 Headquarters building with One Demand:

Cancel the plan to widen the highway through Richardson Grove IMMEDIATELY!!

ONE DEMAND! CANCEL THE PLAN!! ONE DEMAND !! CANCEL THE PLAN!

ONE DEMAND! CANCEL THE PLAN!!

The people who are locked down to the CalTrans office risk their freedom in order to Inspire You.

This direct action is born of URGENCY.

The people locked down take this direct action to inspire you to prepare and take action now to stop this destructive plan through Richardson Grove.

Even though we've opposed the plan in the courts,

Even though the Richardson Grove project promises nothing but the downfall of our local economy and the irreparable destruction of our natural environment,

Even though our Earth strains to support over consumption and expansion, and over consumption and expansion would only increase with this road widening,

CalTrans continues to move forward.

In spite of our input, our petitioning,

In spite of our letters to the editors, our calls to politicians

In spite of our lawsuits, our presence in meetings,

In spite of all the outright opposition to the road widening, it seems like they haven't heard us.

We've been loud, but we need to get louder.

Get loud folks!!!

And it's time for us to get more bold!

CANCEL THE HIGHWAY EXPANSION THROUGH RICHARDSON GROVE!!

CalTrans and elected representatives continue to ignore our will, the will of the people, bowing instead to a few big business owners and the wealthiest one percent of our population. People charged with the duty of representing the will of the people blatantly go against us: The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors both secretly and overtly have shut out public participation regarding this project. Elected state assembly member, Wes Chesbro, has lied and given the green light for the ruin of Richardson Grove. CalTrans project manager, Kim Floyd, and District One Supervisor, Charles Fielder, stand to advance their own positions with the completion of the Richardson Grove road widening. They have all rubber stamped this horrendous project in spite of the will of the people.

The people have made a Loud and Bold expression of our desire for autonomous communities. Autonomous communities that operate free from outside domination, free of top-down governance.

We want communities without unnecessary infrastructure.

We want communities not dependent on endless expansion and the false progress of convenience.

We want a place free of corporate invasion, free of WalMarts and prisons.

We want a place that honors the spirit of the land and the spirit of the people who call it home.

We want to cultivate community and we will stand together until this plan and any other nasty plans are canceled!

CANCEL THE HIGHWAY EXPANSION THROUGH RICHARDSON GROVE!!

Profit-driven corporations are vulnerable because working people keep those corporations going and therefore, working people can shut them down! While those who think they are in power are short-sighted and close-minded, the people are fueled by their hearts and spirits. We are compelled, out of necessity, to act to preserve the survival of our ecosystem and respond to the needs of our living families and communities.
ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!

CANCEL THE HIGHWAY EXPANSION THROUGH RICHARDSON GROVE!!!

Richardson Grove Action Now is in solidarity with the people of Tunisia, Algeria, Albania, Yemen, Chiapas, Egypt, and people all over the world who say NO, WE WILL NOT TAKE IT ANYMORE!

We are in solidarity with all people resisting oppressive conditions imposed upon them and who are rising up against corrupt systems that attempt to enslave them.

We are in solidarity with those fighting back for their freedom. We are here to say “NO. You WILL NOT expand the highway through Richardson Grove. WE WILL STOP YOU.”

During this perilous time in the herstory of this planet and the history of our species, we must, WE MUST Stop the Destruction of the Natural World. We must stop destruction that comes in all shapes and sizes, from international laws that keep people in poor qualities of food, water and air, to the mass of plastic bottles floating in the ocean, the paving over of the life-giving land, to the toxicity that enters our bodies and minds.

The Earth is undergoing a continual smothering into a concrete hell. Capitalism is killing us. We know it's the problem. Focusing on simplifying our lives is the first step towards surviving and determining our own healthy existence.

The people who think they are in power orchestrate wanton destruction of the land and push for the building up of structures that only ensure their profits and deny the survival and quality or our lives. Their aims are presented as progress, yet in reality, they bring us sickness.

CANCEL THE HIGHWAY EXPANSION THROUGH RICHARDSON GROVE!!

We want to be able to walk along the road through Richardson Grove. Those trees in Richardson Grove are in a protected park. We want them to stay that way. With such a small amount of ancient forest left, everything we do to it should be good for the trees, not good for the trucks.

We will defend what's left. We will defend the ancient trees. We will defend our lives from further corporate and military invasion. We have the power to protect the forests for future generations!

Raise your voices and shake the walls of CalTrans! We will Stop This Plan and we are CANCELING THE HIGHWAY EXPANSION PLAN THROUGH RICHARDSON GROVE!

ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

Join us with direct action. It is urgent!

Mass Rally, Monday Feb 7 To Demand that CalTrans Cancel 101 Road Widening Project Through Richardson Grove State Park

2011-02-04T23:51:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release:

February 4, 2011

Mass Rally, Monday Feb 7 To Demand that CalTrans Cancel 101 Road Widening Project Through Richardson Grove State Park

Contact: Angie, Richardson Grove Action Now! 707-602-7551, rgroveactionnow@gmail.com

Humboldt County, CA-Richardson Grove Action Now, one of many community groups that emerged in the past three years to oppose the federally funded California Department of Transportation [CalTrans] plan to widen Highway 101 through the ancient redwoods of Richardson Grove State Park, will rally at CalTrans District 1 Headquarters to demand the immediate cancellation of the Richardson Grove plan. Monday’s rally will take place at Wabash and Union Streets in Eureka, beginning at noon. A group bike ride to the CalTrans office will leave the Arcata Plaza at 10 am sharp.

The road widening threatens the region with irreparable harm to the ancient trees and overall integrity of Richardson Grove State Park in addition to opening the door to big box development and increased militarization. North coast residents say this project will exacerbate local economic disaster for working people and small businesses, and bring an unacceptable increase of truck traffic.

“This rally is a wake up call from local residents. The Richardson Grove road-widening project, along with CalTrans’ similar proposals for Highways 299 and 199, threaten to punch a hole through the “Redwood Curtain” and impact our beloved redwood trees. Acting together, we have the power to stop this wasteful and destructive project,” says event coordinator Margie of Richardson Grove Action Now.

Local residents are frustrated with the lack of transparency and, in spite of the significant harm posed to the state park and local economy, have been shut out of the planning process. “First CalTrans said there would be no trees cut, and now the number has grown. CalTrans can’t get its story straight about the true impacts of their proposed construction, and in collusion with the County, they’re lying about the true motivations for the project,” said Margie.

Richardson Grove Action Now is a network of individuals mobilizing collective social action in a time of unprecedented ecological peril. While CalTrans plans to expand major commercial and military arteries throughout the north coast bioregion, the group is organizing grassroots efforts to effectively stop the highway expansion through Richardson Grove and protect this region’s unique ecosystems and way of life.

Richardson Grove Action Now knows that widening highway 101 through Richardson Grove will take us one leap closer to the hustle and bustle of Southern California city life styles. “People in this region learned the hard way, for instance with Maxxam Corp., how outside corporate interests destroy local industries and jobs, while forcing us to ruin the environment we live in,” says Margie.

The public is invited to the mass rally on February 7 to join in demanding CalTrans immediately cancel the road-widening plan through Richardson Grove State Park. Vegetarian food will be shared by Food Not Bombs. Musicians Joanne Rand and others TBA.

Informational pamphlet from Richardson Grove Action Now available here: http://www.box.net/shared/6xyyml02vu

Banner unveiled at Redwood Curtain entrance

2011-02-04T23:17:00.000-08:00

We just received this from "Richardson Grove Action Now":

For immediate release:

THIS!

"According to the Transportation Engineering website, "the most important function of Highway Systems is to ensure the defense readiness capability of public highway infrastructure and establish policy on how the DOD[Department of Defense] uses the public highway system."

Homeland Security measures are a high priority in highway construction projects. Left unchecked, we are facing potential invasion from land and sea--increased accessibility for military convoys on our highways and Navy dominance of our oceans.

We know that the Highway 101 expansion is supported by the U.S. military and so-called defense agencies who wish to have greater access and control of the people and natural resources of this region.

There may be a lot Caltrans isn't telling us about the real motivations and funding of the project.

Letter to the Editor, sent to Times-Standard Jan31, 2011

2011-02-04T10:55:00.000-08:00

Dear Times Standard Editor,
I think Caltrans should leave the trees alone in Richardson Grove State Park. They say the forest won't be significantly harmed by their road widening project, but that is a flagrant bald faced lie. They know what to say to get the project started, and it will be easier to get forgiveness later than permission now. If safety is the issue, why not slow down like between Eureka and Arcata? It's only 100 yards of narrow winding old growth. Respect for the long protected park trees should trump any benefits of the so called progress this would bring. Do you really think the prices we pay for goods and services would go down as a result of this project? Our quality of life is the only thing that would go down. How do you feel about nuclear waste coming into Eureka from other countries and trucked down to Yucca Mountain, Nevada? If the real reason for the "strategic" road widening is to be able to bring military tank trucks up here at a high rate of speed, then people should be even more opposed to it. A lot of people enjoy a slow pace of life, and that's why we live here. Not too long ago, the whole Redwood Highway was an attraction in and of itself. All the reasons why we like it here would be gone if this area grows the way some secretly want it to. Just south of the grove is the county line. Do we really want to become more like Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin? What happened to 2 million acres of redwoods and a once thriving timber industry down there? How does our suffering for the lack of an extra 5 feet of semi truck length compare to the suffering of the earth? All we have left of the old growth are these relatively tiny postage stamp sized beauty strips and now even that is threatened.

People once said Los Angeles would never grow- no water, right? Humboldt Bay, even though 90% reduced from its original size, has the greatest potential of any large bay on the west coast to recover its biodiversity. Out of all the ecosystems of the earth, the bay ecosystem has the most reproduction going on. Deep reverence for mother nature would be real progress. Please come to the Rally at Caltrans, Wabash and Union, Mon. Feb. 7 at Noon. This road widening project is a waste of money. Cut the Caltrans- fat!

Sincerely,
George S. Phillips 3036 Avenue of the Giants

An important message from Richardson Grove Action Now!

2011-01-27T12:03:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release January 27, 2011

Mass RALLY at CalTrans: NO Road Widening Through Richardson Grove!
Contact: Richardson Grove Action Now (707) 602-7551, rgroveactionnow@gmail.com

Richardson Grove Action Now announces and invites all to a mass RALLY at CalTrans in Eureka.

NO ROAD WIDENING THROUGH RICHARDSON GROVE!
Protect the forest and our future. Resist Invasion.

Rally on Monday, Feb 7th at NOON
at
CalTrans District 1 Headquarters
1656 Union St. (Union and Wabash)
Eureka

Bring anything you want to express yourself!

For info or to get more involved contact Richardson Grove Action Now, call
(707) 602-7551 or email rgroveactionnow@gmail.com.

***
Update: A Critical ride to Save Richardson Grove just added to Monday's events!

Also, on Sunday Feb 6th, the day before the rally...
If you're in Southern Humboldt, go to the Garberville Town Square at noon to commemorate the political legacy of Bob Marley on his birthday with a celebratory and craft-making event in preparation for Monday's mass rally at Cal Trans District 1 Headquarters in Eureka. Come organize rideshares and rally spectacles!

Sunday February 6th, Bob Marley Birthday Celebration and Preparation for Rally at CalTrans Headquarters.

Monday February 7th, mass Rally to protest the road widening plan through Richardson Grove. Noon at CalTrans District 1 Headquarters at Union and Wabash
in Eureka.

Caltrans on "Humboldt Time"...

2011-01-21T15:49:00.000-08:00

After waiting for years for Caltrans to make their move in removing 54 trees as well as destroying the roots of the ancient Redwoods along highway 101 through Richardson Grove State Park, I was reminded on Tuesday that bureaucracy is a slow moving steamroller that appears to run somewhat efficiently, until you set aside three days to observe that machine operating out of it's "non-natural" habitat.

To catch up on this update, please refer to this prior post.

Tuesday January 20th: ZZZZZ.....ZZZZZ

Caltrans never showed. Maybe they were busy with another project or maybe they are wasting our tax dollars by advertising the proposed maintenance in two local papers as well as KIEM Channel 3, maybe to test direct action response to the threat. My reason being present during this "maintenance project" through Richardson Grove State Park was the possibility of Caltrans attempting to remove all or part of the 54 trees that happen to be in the way of what many non-locals and out of area transplants call "progress". (Learn more about the implications of this project to out local businesses and economy at saverichardsongrove.org). Most of us Humboldtians feel that Caltrans will try to sneak in and cut the trees before the project start date. I wanted to be there to document it if they tried.

Eventually around noon, a Caltrans employee did finally visit the One Log House to inform them that they would be shutting down traffic right in front of their business after lunch. This was overheard by a member of our observation crew who happened to be getting coffee(the best coffee in the area). We waited until dusk without any show from Caltrans at the One Log house or at the North end of the project area.

Wednesday January 21st: Late start and traffic control setup

First off, I need to state that the Garberville Caltrans employees are very friendly, courteous and hard working. I don't blame them for the waste and destruction that is inherent in Caltrans' system of operation. I blame their superiors, because the shit rolls downhill, especially in this bureaucracy. Many made it a point to state "tongue in cheek" that they were against the project or at least neutral on the subject and did not want "us" to blame them for doing their job, especially regarding this simple maintenance project. They are hardworking State employees feeling the same cutbacks that all State agencies are experiencing.
Furthermore, the Garberville Caltrans station employees will not be primarily working on or benefiting from the R.I.P.(Richardson Grove Improvement Project). The work will be contracted to Granite Construction. Or Mercer Fraser. Overseen by a Caltrans supervisor, presumably.

Hopefully...

But after seeing what I witnessed, the R.I.P. not likely be supervised. I didn't see the Caltrans supes around much at all, including in the more sensitive work areas. Except once to tell us to get out of the controlled traffic zone while handing out info and once while hiking north to RGSP from the Hartsook area.

Caltrans did finally show today, around 10 am(instead of 8 am...yesterday...) in which they began the stated traffic control in front of the One Log House(just before the One Log House driveway to block patrons from entering) as well as North of the RGSP entrance. Caltrans then immediately began to grade the shoulders of the west side of highway 101 through RGSP starting from the RGSP entrance with a large grader. A crew of two manual laborers followed behind the grader and were busy clearing duff and dirt from the areas that the grader could not reach. However, that did not prevent damages to multiple ancient redwoods along the western side of highway 101 from the grader, along with some damage to the RGSP split redwood fence that separates the RGSP from the shoulder and highway. The manual laborers with shovels should have been doing the clearing work around the bases of these ancient trees, not the grader. I blame the supervisor for not managing his/her employees in such a sensitive area.

Will we be seeing this inefficiency and lack of regard for trees and State park property during the R.I.P? Is Caltrans even aware of the fact that gouging redwood tree bases only makes more work for them in the future? These gouges create burls, which further damage the road in some instances by causing the pavement to be lifted and cracked.
In my own opinion, the damage to the fence(not the trees)was not apparently the fault of the grader operator. Caltrans could have easily sent a single employee in front of the grader to remove the large redwood branches before the branches got wedged the grader blade and the fence to avoid damage to the RGSP fence. A bucket loader and a dump truck followed the grader and shovel crew scraping dirt and duff from the grader off the pavement, as well as one lucky employee cleaning road signs.

Caltrans took lunch around 11:00. I didn't. Nothing else happened...

Caltrans continued working after lunch and completed the entire west side stretch of highway 101 heading south all the way to Hartsook Inn. Caltrans left before 4 pm.

Thursday January 22nd: My late start and Caltrans in high gear

So no one's perfect. But then again, I'm on vacation anyways. I slept in and missed traffic control set-up which happened at the same place but much more timely. The other observers did not sleep in like myself but had nothing unusual to report. A rumor was going around that PG and E would be removing a power pole in the area, further supported by the fact that power had been shut off to the area south of RGSP.
I ran down to the south end of RGSP just in time to see the beginnings of work in the park around 10:30. Caltrans started at the south end this time near Hartsook Inn, but I missed part of it. I continued to film and monitor work in RGSP but the terrain of the shoulder on the East side of highway through RGSP required little or no grading.

In conclusion, Thursday had to be the worst example of wasted time and tax dollars. Unlike Wednesday, which was the worst example of how Caltrans mistreats our ancient trees by hitting them with a grader or how Catrans respects our Parks by knocking down OUR fences.

I came away from those three days with the realization that heavy equipment does not belong so close to our ancient redwoods along highway 101 through RGSP. As an operator myself, I applaud the operator(s) of the grader for being able to minimize the amount of damage that you would expect from operating such heavy equipment right up against the trees. Equipment that essentially blocks your view during operation of things such as fences, tree bases and roots. But the fact remains that even a simple Caltrans maintenance project harms tree bases, roots and State Park fences.

If Caltrans can't even conduct routine maintenance with gouging ancient trees and knocking down State Park fences, why should anyone believe that the ancient tree root work(up to 5' deep) around OUR ancient redwoods that make up the Redwood Curtain will be conducted any more carefully or with more consideration?

Yes, we will be vigilant!

You are being watched, Caltrans...

Richardson Grove Roadwork to begin Tuesday

2011-01-16T22:01:00.001-08:00

http://www.times-standard.com/ci_17105481

Caltrans has announced that crews will be performing routine maintenance on U.S. Highway 101 in Richardson Grove State Park beginning Tuesday and continuing through Thursday, Jan. 20, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

24 hours of closure to remove debris?

Work will involve removal of debris from the shoulders of the roadway and drainage ditches. One-way traffic control will be in effect and motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

All work is weather-permitting and subject to change. For the most current road information on all state highways, call 1-800-427-7623 or visit www.dot.ca.gov.

Be vigilant!

Richardson Grove Update-CALTRANS Pressing Ahead-Project To Start February, 2011

2010-12-07T18:44:00.000-08:00

Artist conception of 101 through Humboldt County after the Big Box invasion

We have urgent and last ditch efforts to make ahead of this looming CALTRANS deadline. In spite of the fact that two lawsuits have been filed (one in Federal Court in San Francisco under NEPA and one in State Court under CEQA that has been moved to Humboldt County) CALTRANS is pressing ahead.

Right now they are applying for one of the last permits needed from the Regional Water Control Board. Comments are due by DECEMBER 10 so we need to act quickly.
Letters need to be sent to:

jpuget@waterboards.ca.gov.

Also, please see this article at:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/11/17/BADE1GCTPN.DTL

which shows how CALTRANS does not hesitate to pollute our waterways - their claims that they do no damage are entirely bogus.

As you are aware, we have a new Governor-elect so let's put some pressure on Jerry Brown to stop this madness. Jerry made an election-eve appearance at the Samoa Cookhouse and is familiar with Humboldt County and voters here helped to elect him. Let's try for some payback! Encourage him to put the project on hold pending further review or, ideally, stop it completely. Send emails to:

jerry@jerrybrown.org

or mail to:

Governor-elect Jerry Brown

c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173

Sacramento, CA 95814.

Remember, these STAA trucks negotiate the Grove every day without incident. This project is merely make-work for CALTRANS and will prove not just damaging to the ancient trees but to the way of life we favor in this County. Let's take a lesson from the Tea Party and activate our grassroots support to take action - we can do it!

Caltrans: Waterboarding on the North Coast

2010-11-26T15:07:00.000-08:00

Photo by TreeSpirit Project Jack Gescheidt
Click here to visit the TreeSpirit Project website

One of the last hurdles Caltrans is facing in order to commence the destructive and controversial R.I.P.(Richardson Grove Improvement Project) is certification for the project from the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Caltrans is required to uphold standards set in place by the Federal Clean Water Act, assuming that Caltrans is not facing a court order to cease construction from one of the multiple lawsuits currently in progress, including plaintiffs from big environmental organizations such as EPIC(Environmental Protection Information Center) and the CBD(Center for Biological Diversity).

The irony of the Caltrans permitting request from the Water Quality Control Board is Caltrans' blatant disregard for the Federal Clean Water Act in recent projects. One of the most striking examples is the recently completed Confusion Hill bypass project.

From August 17, 2006 to June 1, 2007 while during the construction of the two bridges that now span the Eel River at Confusion Hill, Caltrans violated its 401 Clean Water Act permit 154 separate times and had 141 days of violation during the construction:

"NCWQCB Assistant Executive Officer Luis G. Rivera recommended in August 2009 that CalTrans pay a $1.5 million fine for the violations out of the possible $3 million maximum that could have been levied.

According to the complaint, "the discharger [CalTrans] easily could have avoided many of the violations included in this order had it simply used adequate best management practices and timely reported the violations. CalTrans was warned in the two notices of violation that many of the BMPs utilized at Confusion Hill were inadequate and had resulted in violations of the Water Quality Certification and Storm Water Permit, but failed to take corrective measures."
From "The Willits News" 04/30/2010

How can we allow Caltrans to get away which such crimes? And why would the Water Quality Control Board continue to allow Caltrans to trash the already impared Eel River? Again!?!?

Only you can help stop Caltrans continued degradation of the Eel River by contacting the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board and asking them to hold Caltrans accountable for their indiscretion to the law. Don't let these crooks get away with it. Again!

Contact Jeremiah Puget at the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board right now at 707-576-2220 or at jpuget@waterboards.ca.gov. Public comments accepted until December 9th.

Full public notice at: www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/public_notices/water_quality_certification/

Spring Construction? Fat chance Caltrans!

2010-11-22T14:22:00.000-08:00

From KGO News Channel 7 San Franscisco:

Environmentalists battle Caltrans highway project
Friday, November 19, 2010

HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- There is a heated battle over a Caltrans road project cutting right through a grove of ancient redwood trees. Caltrans says the improvements will bring the highway up to modern standards, but opponents say the project could kill old growth redwoods - and they're doing whatever they can to stop it. They've filed lawsuits and tried another more unexpected type of protest.

Fifty people, many from the bay area, are getting into position on Highway 101 in Humboldt County. A documentary film crew shot video of what was happening.

With a few clicks of the camera, Marin County photographer Jack Gescheight gets the shot he's after.

Court hearing on Richardson Grove case in SF needs support: Please attend on Nov. 10

2010-11-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

Just in from BACH!

Court hearing on Richardson Grove case in SF needs support: Please attend on Nov. 10

::<>::<>::<>::<>::<>::<>::::<>::<>::<>::<>::<>::<>::::<>::<>::<>::<>::<>::<>::

We need whomever can make it to SF on Wednesday morning to be in the courtroom for a 9:30 am hearing to show support for the great legal team who filed suit against Caltrans concerning their highway-widening project through Richardson Grove State Park. Caltrans has filed a change of venue motion, opposed by our environmental attorneys, and it will be argued in SF Superior Court, Dept. 301, 400 McAllister St. (at Polk) It is very near Civic Center BART.

It is especially difficult to get people out on a weekday morning, so if you are able to come, your presence will be especially valuable. It is likely to be short hearing.

This case for the redwoods in Richardson Grove has a fantastic legal team, so it should be an interesting session. Attorneys representing EPIC and the Center for Biological Diversity will be present.

You can call the BACH office if you have questions. We hope you can attend.

::<>::<>::<>::<>::<>::<>::

Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters

2530 San Pablo Ave.

Berkeley, California 94702

510-548-3113

www.HeadwatersPreserve.org

See you at the Seed to Spirit Gala!

2010-09-27T16:49:00.000-07:00

San Francisco Bay Area city joins Richardson Grove project fight

2010-09-22T20:41:00.000-07:00

Donna Tam/The Times-Standard

Posted: 09/21/2010 01:26:42 AM PDT

Click photo to enlarge

Richardson Grove project opponents are gaining support from the outside.

The Albany City Council voted Monday to approve a resolution urging Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to rescind the Caltrans project to widen the road through Richardson Grove, with two councilmembers abstaining.

Despite it being a Humboldt County-based project, Albany -- a city in the San Francisco Bay Area -- is the first municipality to officially weigh in on the matter. The Albany council is forwarding the resolution to other Alameda cities and the Association of Bay Area Government, in hopes others follow their lead.

Although the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors approved a letter on May 4 detailing the concerns of about 50 project opponents who stormed a board meeting in April, it seems no municipality in Humboldt County has officially taken a stance. The letter detailed environmental, circulation and project transparency issues.

Albany Councilman Robert Lieber, a frequent grove visitor, sponsored the resolution and said he had hoped that Humboldt County residents could stop the project.

”Since this is a state park, since this is a property of all in California, I feel like the people who are affected by this should have their voice heard,” he said before the meeting on Monday.

The project, supported by many in the business community, is meant to solve transportation issues on a narrow stretch of U.S. Highway 101. The project involves cutting down several trees for the realignment of the road to allow larger cargo trucks to pass. Although Caltrans has said the cut trees will not be old-growth redwoods, critics said there are other consequences.

During the meeting, Lieber said he does not support the kind of big box economic growth the project is paving the way for.

”To export that kind of philosophy north, from the bay area, from L.A., is just the wrong-headed idea,” he said.

Vice Mayor Farid Javandel and Councilwoman Peggy Thomsen chose to abstain from the voting. Thomsen said she thought the resolution was not enough action. She vowed to contact the governor personally, and encouraged others to do the same.

Javandel said he supported the spirit of the resolution and a part of him wished they could “let the road disintegrate” so that the grove would not be disturbed at all, but said he was not comfortable taking a stand against a project he had questions about.

”There's holes in my understanding,” he said, questioning why the project was being done when trucks can receive exemptions.

Several members of the public spoke in favor of the project, including Southern Humboldt resident and former Albany business owner Bob Stern, who described the grove as a “magical place.”

Caltrans District 1 Director Charles Fielder said he is surprised the item is receiving attention from Albany, and said he thinks the public has been misinformed about the magnitude of the project. He said it's been a long-standing project for the state.

”The work that is being proposed is very minor in nature,” he said. “I'm actually quite proud to say we've come up with a very creative solution for a very real transportation problem.”

He said the project will not remove any old-growth redwoods and arborists will be on site to monitor the work, which is being done by hand in order to have minimal impacts to the trees' root system.

The realignment work will occur in the structural root zone of 74 redwood trees, according to the project's environmental impact report.

Lieber, who said he owns property in the Trinity Alps and often drives through the grove, said removing any of the trees and adding the retaining wall will be a loss for the area.

”They're going to ruin the ambiance of the entire grove and it's just not going to be the same,” he said. “And it's a project we can't afford. The cities are having problems, the state's grabbing funds. There are other things Caltrans can be doing.”

The project will cost about $5.7 million to construct and $4.4 million in mitigation costs, according to the State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP). A majority of this program is funded through the federal government and a portion through the state.

On June 17, a coalition of environmental groups and local citizens filed suit in San Francisco Superior Court against Caltrans in protest of the Richardson Grove project. The Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) is a lead organization in the suit, which was filed less than a month after the final environmental impact report was released.

EPIC Outreach Director Kerul Dyer said she's heard from people all over the state that are interested in the project, and the resolution only furthers the notion that this is a statewide issue. She hopes this resolution will be the first of many.

”Unlike the impression that Caltrans would have us believe, people do care about it and it does have a major impact,” she said.

Dyer said the plaintiffs in the lawsuit are in mandatory settlement discussion, but there continues to be concern over the roots system.

Fielder said he recognizes that there are residents who don't agree with Caltrans' findings, but the parties are continuing discussions to see if they can reach a consensus on the project's mitigation. He said the agency has already made additional changes due to public concern and would consider more changes if they can minimize impact.

____________________________

ON THE WEB:

www.saverichardsongrove.org

www.wildcalifornia.org

www.dot.ca.gov/dist1/d1projects/richardson_grove

______________________________

Donna Tam can be reached at 441-0532 or dtam@times-standard.com

You should be at Earthdance! Wherever you find yourself this weekend, join us in spirit on Saturday at 4PM.

2010-09-16T14:13:00.000-07:00

2010 is the last year that Earthdance will be held in Laytonville, Ca at Black Oaks Ranch(aka "the Hog Farm"). We have attended Earthdance for years now, tabling for local forest defense actions in "Activist Alley". Every year has been great and it will be sad to say goodbye to the Oaks.

My personal favorite part of the event is the worldwide "Prayer for Peace" that has happened every year on Saturday(the "International Day of Peace") at 4Pm, since Earthdance began in 1997. It is really inspiring to join with so many human beings in positive intention for the end of global war and suffering. We hope you come out to Earthdance 2010 this weekend and join together with thousands of your brothers and sisters here in Laytonville, as well as with the hundreds of thousands of participants in over 350 cities around the planet.

We hope that if you cannot make it to Earthdance to in the least join us for the "Prayer for Peace" in spirit at 4pm this Saturday.

That was awesome! Many thanks to Tree Spirit and Jack!

2010-09-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

Now I can check off "running naked across Redwood highway 101 in Richardson grove state Park as one of the things to do with my time left on Earth...

The action Sunday morning went very smoothly. Despite threats from the Park about shutting down the project, Jack of Tree Spirit, crew and participants pulled it off. Over 50 "spirits" participated. I cannot wait to see the beautiful photos. I feel it was a great way to show the vulnerability of nature juxtaposed with the vulnerability of being nude.

Please visit http://treespiritproject.com/ to view Jack's amazing work. Many thanks to the crew and participants for such an inspiring action to save this amazing place we call the "Redwood Curtain"...

Respect your Native Elders! This includes our Ancient redwoods...

2010-09-08T10:18:00.001-07:00

Show your spirit for Richardson Grove!

2010-09-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

There are many ways to defend Richardson Grove - currently on the highway carving block. One way is that of photographer Jack Gescheidt whose Tree Spirit Project began six years ago when he photographed volunteers naked in a gigantic coast live oak several hundred years old. On Sunday, Sept 12, the project will come to the grove when Jack will once again unite the naked human form of volunteer participants with the contours of ancient Redwood trees. Jack has never used professional models in any of his forest settings.

The project has taken on a life of its own, according to Jack, “attracting men and women who are drawn to trees as children are. They share stories about how they love to sit under one special tree, or are compelled to climb into one, or how they communicate with them, or how they have always, like me, felt comforted in the presence of trees.”

Jack invites all to enter the Grove at 7 am on Sunday to shed their inhibitions and rekindle “in our hearts a reverence for the interconnectedness of all living creatures.” We can meet outside the Grove at French’s Camp in the early morning on Sunday.

Jack says that “sometimes the photographs seem beside the point, just an excuse to have a powerful experience with a tree again, or for the first time. People overcome fears, reclaim confidence in their bodies, enjoy community in nature.”

As a land of tree huggers and erstwhile devotees of nude swimming, the project is a perfect way for many of us to focus our protective energy on the Grove. To make sure you get there on time, there will be a camp close to the grove in the evening before, Saturday, Sept. 11.

After 9 am, at the conclusion of the project participants will be able gather near the river for a shared meal and discussion of future strategies to save the grove from desecration by CalTrans and the Army Corps of Engineers.

More information on the event and locations, call Paul 923 4488, or Jack 442-8733. To view past projects go to TreeSpititProject.com

Richardson Grove Calendar for September 11 and 12:

September 11, 2010:
Camp near Richardson Grove in prep for Tree Spirit Project (and to discuss protecting the Grove - and everything else in our lives that would be killed or horribly altered if the road-widening were to happen.)

September 12, 2010:
Early morning meet at French's Camp outside Grove
7:00am in the Grove
9:00am Project Conclusion;
Shared meal and strategy discussion near river

The "Army" tells Caltrans to "back off"...

2010-09-01T22:28:00.000-07:00

Willits bypass project dead,' officials say

By TIFFANY REVELLE The Daily Journal

Updated: 08/31/2010 03:02:41 PM PDT

http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_15953218?source=most_viewed

The Willits bypass project is at a halt after more than 50 years of planning, officials reported Tuesday.

The topic came up when 3rd District Supervisor John Pinches noted an item on the consent calendar - a list of items that are voted on as a block because they are expected to be non-controversial - that would have raised funding to the Mendocino Private Industry Council, a jobs training program, by $300,000.

"In light of what happened yesterday with the Willits Bypass, it doesn't seem like there are jobs being created," he said. "Why are we spending money for training people when there are no jobs?"

The article from The Daily Journal continues...

Phil Dow of MCOG was called for an update, and told the board the council got a conditional funding agreement from Caltrans in June for about $126. million for the bypass. One of the conditions was that four permits were needed, one of them from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"We knew at time that the chief obstacle was the Army Corps of Engineers, which has control over wetlands, and we knew this was the largest wetlands take of any project handled by the Army Corps in the state of California. Everyone's known that for 15 years," Dow said.

After getting the three other permits needed, Caltrans met with the Army Corps "to decide what needed to be done to get a decision on the remaining permit" and developed a list of materials the Army Corps would need, with dates of delivery through 2012, according to Dow.

The materials were delivered according to an agreed-on schedule through Aug. 16, and the Army Corps told Caltrans to "back off" while the Corps reviewed the materials and made its decision on the final permit, according to Dow.

"We got word last Friday that their intent was not to issue a permit for the project," Dow said.

Thompson was in the area and called a meeting Monday with Caltrans and the Army Corps in his Napa office, according to Dow.

Dow, who attended by teleconference, said the reason the Army Corps gave for not signing the permit was that it didn't have enough information, and didn't have "the discretion to issue a conditional permit."

Dow questioned why, if they couldn't issue the permit, they agreed on a list of needed items through 2012.

"They couldn't answer other than to apolojize for the confusion," Dow said.

He said discussion between the attorneys for Caltrans and the Army Corps indicated the Army Corps does have discretion to issue conditional permits when the wetlands take is small, and when the project footprint is small. That raised the question of whether the Army Corps ever meant to issue the permit, Dow said.

He said contsruction was to start by next spring, and the project was to generate hundreds jobs for about four years.

"The jobs thing is bigger than the traffic issue at this point," Dow said. "Now that's not going to happen."

Parting the Redwood Curtain:A one-mile highway project could change an entire region

2010-08-31T12:13:00.000-07:00

News - From the August 20, 2010 issue of High Country News
by Denver Nicks

U.S. 101, the longest highway in California, starts in Los Angeles and meanders northward through Santa Barbara, San Francisco and into redwood country. For California's sparsely populated north coast -- the stretch of forests and farms and the smattering of towns that make up Humboldt and Del Norte counties -- 101 is a lifeline. It's the main artery for a region that was in economic trouble even before the Great Recession.

Just across the Humboldt County line, the highway bisects tiny Richardson Grove State Park, where it drops from four lanes to two and weaves through ancient redwood trees. The top speed is 35 miles per hour, along curves too tortuous for full-size commercial semis to navigate. The park is the one place along Highway 101 through which these trucks -- the kind that serve businesses across the United States, from mom-and-pop shops to big-box behemoths -- cannot legally travel, with a few exceptions.

Now, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) wants to improve and widen the highway. But locals are divided. Some see the restricted highway as a bottleneck obstructing economic development in a recession-racked community. To others, it's the finger in the dike forestalling a flood of development in a deliberately bucolic landscape. Both sides agree on one thing: Management of the highway through this state park has implications for development in the entire region the highway serves.

Verdant Humboldt County lies near the southern end of a temperate rainforest that once stretched from just north of San Francisco Bay to southern Alaska. The county's population density is among the lowest in California, and is concentrated around two hubs, Eureka and nearby Arcata. The woods form a largely pristine corridor from the inland hills to the rocky coast, creating a physical barrier from the more metropolitan south, and preserving the pastoral atmosphere that distinguishes the region. Locals call it the "Redwood Curtain."

Rest of article

New TreeSpirit project coming to Richardson Grove!

2010-08-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

Dear fans of trees,

Photographer Jack Gescheidt here, with exciting news of the next, large TreeSpirit photo event YOU are invited to join, 7-9AM Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010 in Humboldt county, CA (a 4-hour drive north of San Francisco). It's hard to believe but CalTrans plans to "remove" or cut the roots of over 100 old-growth redwood trees—some 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 years old—to widen one mile of Hwy 101 through Richardson Grove State Park, 7 miles south of Garberville, CA.

I meet so many fellow tree lovers and environmentalists, I sometimes forget that what I call "the old paradigm" is still at large. Namely, cutting down precious, inspirational, natural beauty for short-sighted, temporary, and in this case illusory gain: CalTrans wants to spur economic growth by getting more and bigger trucks through, by killing the rare, spectacular trees that attract tourists to Humboldt in the first place. The flyer below contains more information about this debacle. These links lead to more:SaveRichardsonGrove.org, WildCalifornia.org.

Please share this email with everyone you know who appreciates the immeasurable value of these ancient trees and put Sunday, Sept. 12 on your calendar. Come spend the weekend among these amazing trees and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience early Sunday morning (7-9am). Join me and 100-200 (or more) fellow tree and nature lovers to make art and gain public attention in order to protect these redwoods for future generations.

Email me, jack@treespiritproject.com, to join the (confidential) email guest list for updates and info. Because of this event's goals of this, you're invited to attend even if you're uncertain about participating. The TreeSpirit documentary film crew will, as usual, respectfully record the proceedings as will local media invited to attend too. As with all TreeSpirit photo events, this gathering will be peaceful and heartfelt.

For the trees; for all our sakes,
Jack

Jack Gescheidt
jack@treespiritproject.com
www.TreeSpiritProject.com
Tel: 415.488.4200

Corrupt-trans

2010-08-01T18:40:00.000-07:00

3 charged with Caltrans bribery scheme

Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, July 30, 2010

(07-29) 18:12 PDT SACRAMENTO -- Two Bay Area contractors were charged Thursday with bribing a Caltrans supervisor in Stockton to win state transportation contracts, federal prosecutors said.

A federal grand jury in Sacramento indicted Siavash "Mike" Poursartrip, 56, and Sara Shirazi, 52, both of Walnut Creek, along with the Caltrans employee, Clint Gregory, 48, of Sacramento, on charges of bribery, bid-rigging and fraud, U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner's office said.

Prosecutors said Poursartrip and Shirazi gave Gregory money, a Persian rug, a cell phone and other gifts to win contracts for their firm, InfoTek Associates. InfoTek's website describes it as an Oakland company specializing in software and communications.

Each contract was worth less than $131,000, but Caltrans lost a total of more than $1.2 million, prosecutors said.

They said the defendants also paid straw bidders to sidestep a Caltrans rule that at least two contractors must compete for each project.

E-mail Bob Egelko at begelko@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page C - 4 of the San Francisco Chronicle

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

2010-07-21T13:20:00.000-07:00

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

Defend Richardson Grove! Save Humboldt County!

Benbow Billboard

RIDESHARES to Celebration to Honor Richardson Grove, Sunday Aug 28th

Event In Richardson Grove, AUGUST 28th

Benefit for Richardson Grove Legal Fund

Preliminary Injunction GRANTED! July 6, 2011

PARADE THROUGH THE REDWOODS! JULY 3RD

The Highway Expansion Would Significantly Harm One Hundred and Eight Old Growth Redwood Trees

"large diesel trucks on 101...24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year"

YouTube from Sacramento Flash Mob- Pass It On!

DIRECT ACTION WORKSHOP, Sat. June 18th

Richardson Grove Action Now Returns from Bay Area and Sacramento

No Willing Contractors, No Road Widening!

*New Handout* Brought to Bay Area & Sacramento

Richardson Grove Action Now To Sacramento Wed, June 8th!

DIRECT ACTION WORKSHOP, Sat. June 18th

May 25, 2011: Injunction Sought in Lawsuit Against CalTrans

Lead Hazardous Waste in Richardson Grove

Food and Fun in Piercy on May 28th!

Flash Mob /Pot Luck WED, MAY 25th

Musical Action!

Richardson Grove State Park Placard "Secrets of Survival"

May 4, 2011 Lumberjack Article

May Day in Richardson Grove!

Times-Standard Conflict of Interest...

FlashMob for the Grove!

PHOTOS from April 18, 2011 Rally/Protest at CalTrans, on the Streets of Eureka, & at the Courthouse

Richardson Grove Action Now Press Release, April 20, 2011

Opponents of Federally-Funded CalTrans Plan To Widen Hwy 101 Through Richardson Grove State Park Warn Contractors Seeking To Work On The Plan:“BIDDER'S BEWARE -WE WILL STOP YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!”

Richardson Grove project on hold until July/August!

Executive Director of Arcata Community Recycling Center Opposes Shipping of Waste Through the Grove.

YouTube Invite: Mass Rally II at CalTrans, Direct Action Campaign to Defend Richardson Grove 04-18-11

Mass RALLY at CalTrans Monday, April 18th

Disrupt the bid start day! Mass Rally Mon April 18 To Oppose CalTrans' Federally-Funded Road Widening Plan Through Richardson Grove State Park

Can't You Read the Signs, CalTrans?

Second Mass RALLY at CalTrans on MON, APRIL 18

Mass RALLY at CalTrans In Opposition to the Road Widening Through Richardson Grove!

To Stop the Road Widening- from the Ragin' Grannies

Song from Jefferson and The Defenders of the Holy Grove

Chock Full of Info: Letter to Jerry Brown from Barbara Kennedy

Open Letter to Gov Jerry Brown from Richardson Grove Action Now

Cal Trans "find everything" number

Flier/Handbill for Thursday Direct Action Training

Link to Flier:http://www.box.net/shared/38ty14v048

Thurs, March 31st Direct Action Training!

Road Widening: Cutting Ancient Trees, Replacing Local Jobs With Outside Corporate Interests

Monday, March 21st RALLY & COURT

March 16 Update from Richardson Grove Action Now

NEW FLIER for NEW RALLY DATE

RALLY date changed to Friday April 1st due to weather. No joke :)

March 13th: Pre-Rally Potluck & Meeting

Letter To Board of Supes from Chief Thomas Dostou

Humboldt Board of Supervisors Targeted in Direct Action Campaign to Stop Highway Expansion Through Richardson Grove State Park

Words of Wisdom to An Arrogant Greedy Humboldt Board of Supervisors

Highway Widening Thru RIchardson Grove Would Facilitate Nuclear Waste Transport!

CalTrans in Richardson Grove: Road to Ruin in the Redwoods video p. 2

CalTrans in Richardson Grove: Road to Ruin in the Redwoods video p. 1

Richardson Grove Banner Treesit video links

CalTrans in Richardson Grove: Road to Ruin in the Redwoods p. 1

CalTrans in Richardson Grove: Road to Ruin in the Redwoods p. 2

Monday, Feb 21st: CalTrans Lies Exposed!

????Why are there White Dots Painted on Ancient Trees adjacent to Richardson Grove State Park ????

CALTRANS LIES & RUINS OUR LIVES

RALLY To Stop Highway Expansion Through Richardson Grove This Monday!

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

Richardson Grove Action Camp! Feb 12th-15th

Don't believe the hype! We were non-violent!

A Statement from Lock-downers at Monday's Direct Action at CalTrans

Mass Rally, Monday Feb 7 To Demand that CalTrans Cancel 101 Road Widening Project Through Richardson Grove State Park

Banner unveiled at Redwood Curtain entrance

Letter to the Editor, sent to Times-Standard Jan31, 2011

An important message from Richardson Grove Action Now!

Mass RALLY at CalTrans: NO Road Widening Through Richardson Grove!Contact: Richardson Grove Action Now (707) 602-7551, rgroveactionnow@gmail.com

Caltrans on "Humboldt Time"...

Richardson Grove Roadwork to begin Tuesday

Richardson Grove Update-CALTRANS Pressing Ahead-Project To Start February, 2011

Caltrans: Waterboarding on the North Coast

Spring Construction? Fat chance Caltrans!

Related Content

Court hearing on Richardson Grove case in SF needs support: Please attend on Nov. 10

New Handout Brought to Bay Area & Sacramento

Opponents of Federally-Funded CalTrans Plan To Widen Hwy 101 Through Richardson Grove State Park Warn Contractors Seeking To Work On The Plan:

“BIDDER'S BEWARE -WE WILL STOP YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!”

Link to Flier:
http://www.box.net/shared/38ty14v048

Mass RALLY at CalTrans: NO Road Widening Through Richardson Grove!
Contact: Richardson Grove Action Now (707) 602-7551, rgroveactionnow@gmail.com