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Perpetual timber harvests threaten San Mateo and Santa Clara County forests Perpetual timber harvest plans threaten large stands of redwoods on some 700 acres on YMCA property in San Mateo County and 1,000 acres of San Jose Water Company (SJWC) lands in Santa Clara County, upstream of Lexington Reservoir. Massive logging conflicts with the environmental education mission that YMCA has on its property, and it also conflicts with water quality needs on SJWC land for drinking water used by thousands of County residents. SJWC premises its perpetual harvesting on the idea that cutting down large redwood trees will reduce fire risk, but the very neighbors who would supposedly be protected are in bitter disagreement with the claim. Neighbors Against Irresponsible Logging (NAIL) says the plan will do the reverse, increasing their fire risk and threatening their own water supply. NAIL has assembled an impressive team of experts to combat this proposal applying high-tech analysis to show the forest acreage exceeds the level allowed for the permit that SJWC is seeking. They’ve attracted high-level support from former Vice-President Al Gore, and virtually all local agencies have shown alarm over the issue. Santa Clara County’s government stance is crucial but undefined so far, as it could force the company plan to undergo extra scrutiny. Committee for Green Foothills has been following this issue, meeting with NAIL, and talking to government officials for nearly two years (see “Thousand-acre Logging Plan Threatens Santa Clara County,” Green Footnotes, Fall 2005). The San Jose Mercury News outlined its own solution to the problem, public acquisition, in its January 30th editorial. This solution needs to be considered, but it faces critical hurdles unless the inappropriate logging proposal is withdrawn or rejected. Published Spring 2007 in Green Footnotes. Page last updated July 2, 2007. |
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