April 24, 2025
ACTION ALERT: Speak Out on New Logging Plan in Jackson Demonstration State Forest
Cal Fire is moving forward with a new Timber Harvest Plan(THP)—the FIRST since community protests in 2020-2021 effectively paused all THPs. This proposed plan, known as AMEX, targets nearly 500 acres (484) near Chamberlain Creek (Mendocino County), using a method called group selection harvesting, which essentially results in a series of small patchwork clear-cuts.
This THP is especially significant, being the first plan Cal Fire has proposed since the widespread public outcry and protests in 2020 and 2021 around Jackson. In the wake of those protests, and in response to public concern and statements from legislators, Cal Fire had committed to halting new THPs until the Forest Management Plan was updated.
BUT–this new plan is moving forward even though there is still NO finalized Management Plan, and NO established co-management framework with Tribal governments.
We urge you to raise your voice and to please submit a personalized comment letter to SantaRosaReviewTeam@fire.ca.gov. If you’re short on time, there is a pre-formatted letter you can send by clicking here. (courtesy of EPIC)
Every comment makes a difference—thank you for standing up for Jackson!
You can view the full THP on the CalTrees website by entering the THP number 1-25-00044-MEN.
Below are a few concise talking points you can use about why the AMEX Timber Harvest Plan (THP) likely has significant adverse environmental impacts and what improvements are needed:
1. The THP Proceeds Without a Modern Management Framework
- The AMEX THP is based on an outdated Forest Management Plan that does not reflect:
- Current ecological science
- Tribal co-governance principles
- Climate change adaptation strategies
- Cal Fire previously committed to pausing new THPs until a new plan was complete—this commitment must be honored!
2. Lack of Transparency on Tree Removal
- The THP does not specify the size or type of trees to be harvested:
- No clear maximum DBH thresholds (Diameter at Breast Height)
- No criteria for preserving large trees
- This size omission prevents meaningful analysis of:
- Impacts on forest structure and wildlife habitat
- Long-term carbon sequestration capacity
- Loss of mature forest characteristics, which are already scarce
3. Inadequate Analysis of Threatened Species
- The plan’s biological resources review is insufficient and outdated:
- Northern Spotted Owl (NSO) surveys fail to account for the presence of barred owls, which mask detection and reduce habitat quality
- Marbled Murrelet (MAMU) surveys are referenced but not included for public review, there is no description of the methods used to determine Murrelet presence
- The THP fails to recognize the area’s proximity to an Important Bird Area (Mendocino Coast IBA), overlooking potential impacts to both biodiversity and bird-focused recreation
4. Poor Cumulative Impact Assessment
- The plan underestimates cumulative impacts from:
- Past and concurrent timber operations in the region
- Sediment delivery to impaired watersheds like the Big River
- No credible sediment modeling or data is provided to support the THP’s claim of “no significant impact”
- Group selection is proposed for areas with Class I and Class II sensitive waterways, potentially harming aquatic species and water quality
- Ground-based equipment operations occurring in unstable areas, creating a high possibility of sediment delivery or destruction of waterways
5. Recreational and Public Use Impacts Are Under-explored
- JDSF is a public, multi-use forest. The THP threatens this mission by:
- Failing to consider trail closures and user disruption adequately
- Ignoring visual and experiential impacts that affect hikers, families, and nature enthusiasts
- Overlooking effects on biodiversity, which draw visitors for birdwatching and ecological education
Click here to send the Santa Rosa Cal Fire Review Team the form letter opposing the new plan!
*You can use portions of these points to compose your own letter on email and send directly to SantaRosaReviewTeam@fire.ca.gov, or compose a different personalized letter to the same address. When you send the preformatted letter (quickest route), you will be added to EPIC’s info list if you check the box at the bottom.
Thank you to our friends at EPIC for composing this well-researched comment alert!