June 7th 2001

Letter to the Editor
Mendocino Beacon
June 7, 2001

Two weeks ago we learned that Mendocino Redwood Co. has withdrawn 40+ acres from their proposed 188-acre timber harvest plan (THP) 1-01-033 next to Raven's Call in Little River. MRC voiced intentions to cut that area in the future, devising a new THP with helicopter operations.

The 40+ acres removed from this new MRC THP was part of Enchanted Meadow THP 1-89-145, submitted by the Louisiana-Pacific in 1989. Community members sued four times over a 12-year period to keep this forestland living and safe. The most recent enviro-suit was filed in 1998 by the Redwood Coast Watersheds Alliance vs. LP. Shortly after filing, LP sold their holdings and the case was amended to name new property owner, MRC.

This past year, the court ruled in RCWA's favor. This victory insures that future timber harvesting encompassing any of the acreage (now the 40+/- acres MRC has withdrawn from their new THP) must be returned to the court for the judge's approval or denial, hence a Return to the Writ hearing. We required this stipulation in the Return to Writ to avoid the costs of filing another lawsuit. MRC's withdrawal of the 40+/- acres eliminates the need to seek the court's approval to log this area.

In 1992, I was sued by LP's SLAPP suit (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) during the Enchanted Meadow uprising. Because of the injury I sustained as a defendant, I was able to negotiate three parcels of land for sanctuary, in exchange for not suing them for maintaining their frivolous SLAPP suit against me for almost five years.

In settlement negotiations with LP during the winter of 1996, I obtained a large chunk of wetlands along the Albion River (80+ acres). Later, I entrusted this parcel named, "The Enchanted Meadow Wetlands Sanctuary," to co-defendant Beth Bosk, at her request to incorporate into her SLAPP settlement with LP.

In 1997 negotiations with LP, Raven's Call, a forested ravine located on the eastern edge of Deadman's Gulch (27 acres) and a riparian corridor which is the lower half of Deadman's Creek (to acres) became my SLAPP suit settlement. All three settlement parcels will be adversely impacted if MRC cuts the forests of THP 1-01-033, which is the entire western side of Deadman's Gulch, very near or adjacent to the three sanctuaries.

The remaining 140+/- acres of THP 1-01-033 will just need the standard approval of the California Dept. of Forestry and generally we've found CDF has few standards when it comes to regulating big timber. Several people in our community are working vigilantly to protect this area. We need a miracle to save this precious ecosystem from further destruction.

Anyone who would like to help us finance another lawsuit, please send us your needed tax deductible donation to The Friends of Enchanted Meadow, P.O. Box 271, Little River, CA 95456. Many thanks to all for your support over the years.

Zia Cattalini
Friends of Enchanted Meadow