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Mad River Brewery CEO and Yurok Tribal member Linda Cooley will hop on the pitcher’s mound this afternoon to throw the first pitch at today’s Giants game at Oracle Park in San Francisco!

The exciting news comes about a month after Mad River Brewery became the first tribal-owned craft brewery to offer its products at a Major League Baseball stadium. Oracle Park now offers a slew of Mad River’s brews including Historic State Park IPA, Steelhead Extra Pale Ale, and Undammed Huckleberry Hopped Hard Seltzer.

“It’s a proud day as a Yurok tribal member to have this opportunity,” Cooley stated in a Facebook post. “I am deeply thankful to the San Francisco Giants for being inclusive, striving for diversity, and being the change. It’s incredible to have my daughter here watching what hard work and values can bring. Nothing is impossible!”

The San Francisco Giants will play the Miami Marlins at 1:05 p.m.

Plastic pollution in our oceans is a high-profile problem.

Jen Savage, Senior Manager of the Plastic Pollution Initiative of the Surfrider Foundation, joins the show to talk about just how bad the problem has gotten — if the headline didn’t give it away, it’s so bad that a recent study found microplastics in human blood — and what can be done to stop the problem.

[Note from Jennifer Savage: Since recording, the tobacco and cannabis industries convinced the state assembly’s Health Committee to gut the state bill that Tom and I discussed. It will no longer ban cigarette or cigar filters, only single-use vaping products.]

AUDIO:

“The EcoNews Report,” April 9, 2022.

LINKS:

• California Legislation
• Reducing Waste in National Parks Act
• Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act

PREVIOUSLY: PORK ROUNDUP: More Than $6 Million From Big Federal Spending Bill Will Help Fund Humboldt County Projects, Including Hammond Trail Bridge Replacement and Burre Dental Center Expansion

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For 25 years, Humboldt County staff have been pushing for replacement of the old and deteriorating Hammond Trail Bridge — a segment of the Hammond Trail that crosses the Mad River and provides a non-motorized connection between Arcata and McKinleyville. Now, thanks to $5 million in funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, a replacement bridge will soon be a reality.

Congressman Jared Huffman joined Humboldt County staff and elected officials — including Fourth District Supervisor Virginia Bass, Fifth District Supervisor Steve Madrone, Director of Public Works Tom Mattson, Michael Proulx of the Humboldt Trails Council and County Administrative Officer Elishia Hayes — on Friday afternoon to walk the bridge and learn more about the project plans.

“I know that this is a beloved trail in this community,” Huffman said during a press event near the south entrance of the bridge. “And we want to keep it in service and at an even higher standard for generations to come…I’m so pleased that we could bring this five plus million dollars home from Washington to do this critical work.”

Huffman poses with Madrone, Bass, Proulx, Mattson and Emily Sinkhorn — Arcata Envrionmental Services Director

The bridge replacement funding is part of a little more than $6.2 million Huffman secured for projects in Humboldt County — $1 million will be used to expand the Burre Dental Center in Eureka and $218,000 will go toward updating Humboldt County’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

Of course, the heftiest chunk of change — $5 million — will be used for the bridge replacement, a badly needed project that the county has had a very difficult time funding. “I want to express my extreme gratitude to our congressman for bringing this [funding] home,” Mattson said to the crowd gathered near the bridge on Friday. “The replacement of this bridge falls into a no-person’s-land of funding.” Mattson said that the county has applied for state funding for the project multiple times, but has not been approved because state funding tends to go toward new projects, not the replacement of existing projects.

The bridge was built as a railroad crossing in 1941 and converted into a pedestrian and bicycle bridge as part of the Hammond Trail in 1983. Though periodic maintenance has kept it from completely falling apart, the bridge’s steel trusses have badly deteriorated beyond what can be fixed with temporary repairs. County staff has been saying that the bridge needs to be replaced since 1997. Suffice to say, the project is long overdue.

However, the $5 million is not quite enough to cover the entire cost of the replacement, which Mattson said will cost closer to $7 million. So the county will need to seek some additional state funding to finish the project. With the initial funding already in place, staff will begin the design and technical studies this year. If all goes to plan, Mattson told the Outpost, the engineering and  environmental review should be complete by 2025 and construction is expected to begin in 2027.

Once complete, the bridge will continue to serve as a part of the Hammond Trail, a connection to the Humboldt Bay Trail and, eventually, the Great Redwood Trail. The timing of the funding has been very exciting for local trails advocates, with the final leg of the Humboldt Bay Trail receiving approval from the California Coastal Commission this week.

“It’s been a very good trail week,” Proulx said during Friday’s event. “And this certainly is a capstone. And, as some people have said, I’m hoping it will lead to more and better things for trails in Humboldt County.”

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The Humboldt County cannabis community is facing yet another curveball: the Humboldt Cannabis Reform Initiative.

Originating in my hometown at birth, Kneeland, the initiative seeks a ballot measure that radically alters cannabis farming in our region. I believe the initiative to be somewhat heartfelt and sincere as it stems from real grievances shared by many, yet find some of its conclusions and demands ludicrous, especially given the current struggles within the local cannabis scene and the near-term economic collapse our county faces.

The purpose of the initiative “is to protect the county’s residents and natural environment from harm caused by large-scale cannabis cultivation.” It alleges that the cannabis farming landscape in Humboldt has changed, a marked move away from eco-conscious farmers to “larger, more industrialized grows with heated and ventilated grow houses, 24/7 lights, loud generators, and extensive water use.”

To be clear, our largest farms at just 8 acres are minuscule in relation to the 100-acre farms being launched across the state. California is unleashing another million square foot indoor facility this year, as well as many more large-scale outdoor and mixed-light scenes. Arguing that we have a single, industrial mega grow in Humboldt is disingenuous and out of step with reality.

The initiative further argues that Humboldt’s environmental review process with respect to cannabis cultivation fails to consider “cumulative” impacts and limits public input on proposed projects, especially smaller ones that get the nod from the planning department. It believes that cannabis cultivation has a negative collateral economic impact and inhibits tourism given a “fouling” of natural landscapes and a draining of local rivers.

With limited law enforcement, the initiative also argues that legal operators run afoul of regulations and harm the surroundings with their business practices.

Given this backdrop, the Humboldt Cannabis reform initiative offers several “solutions” to these perceived problems. I agree with some of them, but view the initiative on whole as a desperate ass grab that seeks to end cannabis cultivation in Humboldt once and for all. It’s easy for those with no dependence on cannabis farm revenues to desire such, but for the 75% of us that rely on cannabis directly or indirectly to sustain our lifestyles, this initiative is a slap in the face and will be defeated sorely if it ever makes the ballot in 2022.

As a lifelong Humboldt resident, an avid fisherman, a lover of the outdoors, and a fierce advocate for preserving the natural beauty of our area, I empathize to some extent with those behind this initiative. I have seen personally that there are some really shitty people with cannabis permits locally … folks that are money sick or from other states looking to cash in. In reality, though, most of the bad actors have already left Humboldt and the others operate in the black market, which the initiative clearly states it will not and cannot target.

While it’s true that approximately 35% of people nationally are opposed to cannabis and are bitter that national legalization looms, the ship has already sailed … cannabis will soon be legal nationally, and attempting to hamper the main industry keeping our county afloat is selfish and short-sighted.

Instead, I believe we should allow the local industry to grow, exponentially. Humboldt needs to ditch the 8-acre cap immediately and allow for large-scale mixed-light projects that attract buyers and put people to work with living wages. While I myself began my commercial farming career playing small ball on 10,000-16,000 sq feet sun-grown operations, it has become painfully obvious that smaller farms are struggling and at risk of failure. The market has erroneously moved away from sun-grown and this trend is real, and most likely lasting.

And trust me this saddens me deeply. We have an amazing regenerative farming community focusing on closed-loop, sustainable systems that benefit the earth and produce super tasty dank. I admire this focus immensely and have my own Hügelkultur beds in my vegetable garden at home. That said, I want to stay in business and have morphed into a mixed-light cultivator as this technique produces highly marketable flower with less impact on the environment than indoor.

The Humboldt Cannabis Reform initiative doesn’t get it. While greenhouse production is more energy-intensive, we already have laws on the books that govern these activities. Failure to acknowledge such is intellectually disingenuous and further proves that proponents of this initiative want to collapse, not support our local industry.

Let’s take a deeper dive into the specifics of this proposed legislation.

Water Storage and Forbearance

The initiative’s first point is about water storage and forbearance, which refers to when farms can utilize surface water sources such as springs for cultivation and tank filling. I am in agreement with this point. California has been suffering from drought for many years and we can all acknowledge that. Currently, farmers can draw from surface water sources from November 15 to the first of April. The initiative proposes we shorten this window to March 1. I agree with this proposed regulation, yet understand it will hurt some property owners.

Spring has been exceptionally dry for years now and this is a critical period for salmon and steelhead. Rivers like the Eel have a late run of blueback steelhead deep into April and they need flows. Additionally, salmon down migrate to estuaries in the spring and need ample flows to avoid predation and successfully reach the seas. 5,000-gallon water tanks are relatively cheap and anyone cultivating for years who can’t afford them should get out of the business. We don’t get to say we love the environment if we can’t comply with this simple rule – that’s precisely the insincerity that makes folks hate our industry.

While the initiative also seeks to limit the use of wells, a water witch and a $10,000 investment can often provide one’s property with all the water it needs without ever diverting one drop of surface flow. Again, those who have failed to make such critical investments at this point should not draw much sympathy.

Generator Limitations

The initiative also proposes that generators used for cultivation be phased out between 2024 and 2025, depending on when one’s license was obtained.

I have mixed feelings about this point. Many of our farms are off-grid and miles from major roadways. PGE power drops can be prohibitively expensive – we were quoted a quarter million a few years ago and were not far off AP Road. A power drop is out of reach for most farms, but I agree that generators can be problematic. Older models leak oil regularly, don’t receive Diesel Exhaust Fluid, and blow a contaminated plume into the atmosphere. Plus, they make noise. Even smaller models like 25K MQ’s disrupt the beautiful silence of mountain life, an aspect many like myself cherish deeply.

Some farms are required to build generator sheds and this should be a requirement for all. An enclosed space with an oil catchment and an exhaust system should be a requirement for all farms. Again, failure to comply with this regulation falls in stark contrast with an Earth First position, and again damages our credibility as stewards of the environment we profess to love and protect.

License Restrictions

The Humboldt Cannabis Reform Initiative also calls for license restrictions, license caps, and a restriction on license size, all of which are completely ridiculous and out of touch with market realities. A flawed licensing system has led to one parcel holding multiple license types, say a small outdoor, a small mixed-light, a medium outdoor, and a cottage license, for example – all for the cultivation of just one acre on the same parcel.

The initiative opposes the holding of multiple licenses, which is silly. Instead, the county and the state should revisit licensing requirements and allow for more streamlined property development and more sensible production capabilities. The limitation on licenses has been an abject failure with some corporate entities across the state stacking hundreds of small licenses and allowing for large-scale cultivation. This needs to change now.

Humboldt needs to get with the program. Rather than capping licenses or restricting further developments to just 5% above the current licenses in circulation as the Initiative proposes, we should open the floodgates and allow for real cannabis development in our area. Mixed-light, indoor, and outdoor cultivation should be allowed to flourish, not be hamstrung by short-sighted legislation that fails to understand current market dynamics. Protectionism never works. Market forces win and it’s time we leave the stone ages behind and join a modern economy characterized by competition, merit, and price discovery.

Many farms in Humboldt are going to fail, that’s a given. Allowing for development to replace this economic loss is a must!

If someone wants to launch a 100-acre scene in Humboldt I fully welcome such development. The many millions of investment dollars will help replace the enormous void small farm failure promises to create this season. As owners get over their ego trips, they can work for well-capitalized future developments and continue to earn an above-average living doing what they “love.” We can’t all own farms, just as we can’t all own auto dealerships or grocery stores and the sooner we come to realize that collectively, the sooner we can move forward together to create a productive and more sustainable local economy.

My home town of Fortuna has an enormous blighted property in the middle of town … a robust cannabis development on the abandoned mill site would create jobs, lessen dependence on social welfare, and help Humboldt stay on the map in terms of the ganja game. Failure to change and allow significant developments in the space will lead to much of the same … widespread farm failure, collapsing property values, and a cratering local economy. This reality sucks and hurts me too, but it is what it is.

Public Input

The Reform Initiative also alleges that many projects, including the smaller ones, fail to adequately solicit public input. I agree that neighbors should have some say in what they want in their neighborhoods, but also argue that zoning laws should be honored. If your property qualifies for a cannabis permit, one should be granted.

While I fully empathize that someone with a scenic view may be off-put by a row of greenhouses being constructed on the horizon, such is life. As long as a property honors night sky performance and generator regulations, that should be good enough. While many individuals oppose cannabis projects on moral grounds, it is easy to couch one’s opposition in sideshows – traffic, noise, criminality, etc.…

If a permit is granted in your neighborhood and it is run by bad actors who break the law – light leaking at night, abusing water rights, or other offenses, make a formal complaint to the Sheriff’s office and to Humboldt’s Code Enforcement Division. They are highly responsive to legitimate complaints backed by evidence such as photos or videos and will soon put an end to the nuisance.

As I have argued many times, the local cannabis industry and the economic success of Humboldt are in jeopardy. For retirees, trust fund babies, or others with significant assets, it is easy to shit on the local cannabis community and argue for “reform.” Rather than looking for creative ways to further hamstring a struggling industry, Humboldt should aggressively seek ways to bolster the industry, create a robust cannabis tourism economy, and remain relevant in the nation’s fastest-growing business. Demonizing legitimate operators, ignoring the repulsive conduct of many illicit market operators, and denying that larger farm size and scale offer the best path forward in this industry is old news and promises to decimate life here as we know it.

My very best always,

Jesse

Remembering Carol

Carol Lee Brewer was born in Ridney, New York to Harold & Josephine Harrington. (I’m intentionally leaving out the year because she would be so pissed if I told everyone how old she was.)

It is with great sadness that we share that Mom passed away on March 11, 2022, from cancer. How does anyone summarize a life in a few short paragraphs? To put it simply, Mom was amazing. She gave everything she had to those she loved, and she loved with her whole heart. She was the mom that made all our Halloween costumes, cooked everything from scratch (though we have yet to figure out how she got cranberry sauce in the shape of a can), and made sure we always had something special to wear on big occasions. She always put so much thought into everything she did.

In 1981, Mom married the love of her life and best friend, James David Brewer, and spent the next 41 years putting up with him and ALL his crazy hunting and fishing trips. It’s a good thing she loved to camp as much as she did! Mom’s greatest joy was her family. She originally wanted ten children! After my brother and I, she was more than satisfied. She loved her children and their families so much: her son Ryan Ray Wilson with partner Estelle Mitchell, and their new baby girl Maxine Marie; and her daughter Amy Lee Dinsmore with husband Travis Dinsmore, and their daughters Carlee James and Summer Scott. Carlee was named after Carol, and she was her most treasured gift. Mom loved bumblebees and wanted to be called “Gran-bee” by her grandkids; but Carlee was determined to call her “Monkey” and “Monkey” is what we have called her ever since. She loved those grandbabies with everything she had and was just heartbroken that she wouldn’t have the opportunity to watch them grow. Each time we see a bumblebee, Carlee reminds us that “Monkey” is paying us a visit.

Mom had a work ethic like no other. Many of you reading this know her as that bright smile and avid heart-shaped rock collector that greeted you at the front desk of Drs. Russell and Mark Pardoe for well over thirty years. She rarely took a sick day and always made sure she cared for others as she wished to be cared for. She loved the entire Pardoe family as if they were her own.

Mom was an antique enthusiast, always getting so excited when she “won” something on eBay. She has one of the largest collections of Granite Ware, with well over 100 pieces. Mom loved so many things! She loved pigmy goats, gardening, cooking, collecting, George Strait, sipping Fireball warm, and blaring country music on Sundays while she cleaned the house. She especially loved the home that Dad remodeled in Myrtle Point, Oregon. Mom was happiest there, eating at the little diner down the street, chasing turkeys out of her yard, and being surrounded by her many special friends.

Each year on Mom’s birthday, we went on a birthday adventure. The best memories were made during these wild and crazy trips. We lived! We went hot air ballooning, on boat excursions around San Francisco Bay, on a surprise limo ride to see George Strait and Reba McEntire, to antique shows, and our all-time favorite – sneaking alcohol and cookies into our bags and spending the entire day atop a double decker bus riding around San Francisco. We drank, ate, giggled until we peed our pants, and eventually got kicked off. Mom was always up to trying anything, at least once. She was patient, easy going, and so incredibly fun!!!

We miss you so much, Mom. We miss your sly smile, your great big hugs, your “never leave the house without lip gloss” attitude, and your amazing cooking. Ryan especially misses your green beans! Every year we take a family vacation near Diamond Lake, Oregon and sadly Mom won’t get to use her brand-new RV. In her honor, we will be spreading her ashes there and placing a memorial bench where she always loved to sit and watch her granddaughters play in the water. We will also arrange a celebration of life this summer. Anyone attending will be asked to bring a plant to place in a memorial flower garden that we are building for her granddaughters and bumblebees to enjoy for years to come.

We would be remiss if we didn’t thank some remarkable people for their love, care, and kindness through these indescribable times. Thank you to Simeon McLean, Jennifer Wilson, Jerry Murphy, Deb Tompkins, Becky McCanless, Dr. Abels, and the Hospice care team. We especially wish to thank Jamie Bermers, Cody Ferreira, Jerri Moulton, Jeff Wilson, Steve Finch, Aunty Marta Martinez, and Dr. Mark and Rebecca Pardoe. You have all held our hands and our hearts through these times, and we could never express how much we love and appreciate each of you.

P.S…and Mom, don’t fret. I will always make sure that Dad’s boats fit in the lake. Love you more!

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The obituary above was submitted by Carol Brewer’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

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The California Coastal Commission removed a critical hurdle this Thursday to allow for further exploration of a proposed wind energy project just off of Humboldt County’s coast.

In a unanimous decision, the commission voted to conditionally concur that a consistency determination brought forth by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for leasing activities associated with the proposed project adheres to the California Coastal Management Program.

In essence, the wordy and convoluted decision allows BOEM to initiate talks with interested energy companies and begin assessments of the proposed project site, known as the Humboldt Wind Energy Area (WEA), which would span over 132,000 acres approximately 21 miles west of Eureka. 

As outlined in the 133-page staff report, BOEM plans to issue up to three federal leases that would “allow lessees to perform geophysical, geotechnical, and biological surveys and would permit site assessment activities…” Once the surveys and site assessments are completed, the lessees will submit a construction and operations plan which would trigger a federal environmental review process and would require the lessees to receive consistency certifications from the commission before any development can be approved by BOEM.

The push to develop offshore wind energy resources in California is a part of the Biden administration’s plan to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030 and a part of the state’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality no later than 2045.

“We are in the midst of a climate crisis,” Dr. Kate Huckelbridge, senior deputy director at the Coastal Commission, said during Thursday’s meeting. “We deal with the effects on our coastline every day. To contain the crisis, California has set very ambitious goals to convert the state’s electric grid to run fully on renewable energy. …It is critical that we understand what [potential] trade-offs are and that we proceed with all necessary caution to ensure that offshore wind facilities are designed and operated in a manner that is protective of our invaluable coastal and ocean resources.”

Huckelbridge identified 10 primary areas of concern for the project including commercial and recreational fishing, marine resources and water quality, oil spills, coastal hazards, scenic and visual resources, public access and recreation, tribal and cultural resources, environmental justice, air quality and fill of coastal waters. 

Staff recommended several conditions to minimize the impacts on these areas. (Those conditions can be found here.)

BOEM Pacific Regional Supervisor Doug Borem noted that the organization has developed national guidelines for offshore wind energy projects and underscored BOEM’s commitment to environmental protection.

“The [construction and operations plan] must demonstrate that it does not unreasonably interfere with other uses of the [outer continental shelf] including national security,” he said. “It does not cause undue harm or damage to natural resources, life, property and marine, coastal or human environment.”

He added that lessees are required to submit a consistency certification as part of the operations plan and must achieve a concurrence before the plan can be finalized. 

Kourtney Vaccaro, chief counsel of the California Energy Commission (CEC), emphasized that the proposed project plays an essential role in achieving the state’s goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2045.

“We see that building offshore wind is poised to play an important part of the future portfolio for renewable and zero-emission technologies for California and also globally,” she said. “…As the [staff] report makes clear, we also need to be strategic and thoughtful once we pursue floating offshore wind energy and that it’s really important that we protect ocean and coastal resources.”

Speaking on behalf of Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District Executive Director Larry Oetker, Robert Holmlund, director of development for the district, noted that the district is actively working to revamp the port and redevelop Redwood Marine Terminal I.

“Humboldt Bay is really well positioned to be the location at which the wind turbines would be manufactured and assembled,” he said. “…The [CEC] has granted nearly $11 million to the district to begin the permitting, design and construction of a new terminal here.”

Holmlund added that the district has begun conversations with fishermen, tribal governments and environmental groups to identify potential issues associated with the development of the Port of Humboldt and the proposed offshore wind project.

North Coast fishermen dominated the public comment segment of Thursday’s discussion. Ken Bates, vice-president of the Humboldt Fisherman’s Marketing Association, stressed that his organization is not opposed to renewable energy but said, “fishermen are opposed to the industrialization [and] loss of California’s fishing grounds.”

Bates asked the commission to consider three requests as project assessments move forward. He requested that “nothing be [abandoned] on the fishing grounds during survey work, implementation or decommissioning of the project,” that the developers fund a fisheries liaison officer that will be selected by the commercial fishermen’s associations and that associated agencies adopt community-benefit agreements that were submitted to the commission from fishermen’s associations across the state.

Several other fishermen raised concern about how transmission lines stretching from the wind turbines to the shore will impact crab fishermen. Others worried about how U.S. Coast Guard rescue operations would be impacted by the project.

Michael Conroy, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, aired similar concerns and pointed to recent news that a wind energy company violated the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and had been sentenced and fined after its wind turbines killed more than 150 eagles in eight states over the last decade.

“Given that the Humboldt Energy Area is habitat for a number of endangered species, including the short-tailed Albatross, we should move forward responsibly if at all,” he said. 

Several others spoke in favor of the project. A couple of trade association representatives noted that the project would create jobs across the state. A handful of environmentalists said the project would help mitigate the impacts of climate change but urged commissioners to proceed with caution.

“The future of offshore wind energy offers us the opportunity to fight climate change, but it must be done responsibly,” said Tom Wheeler, executive director of the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC). “EPIC strongly supports the staff report’s overarching approach to looking at offshore wind development holistically and we support the conditions put forth in the staff report.”

Like Wheeler, Humboldt Baykeeper Director Jennifer Kalt expressed optimism for the future of offshore wind energy in California but said she was concerned about potential impacts to sensitive, rare or vulnerable fish species.

The commission expressed general support for the offshore wind energy project and agreed with the additional conditions that had been put forward by staff.

Wilson | Screenshot

Commissioner and Third District Humboldt County Supervisor Mike Wilson said the subject of wind energy “has been a big subject in my community for a long time,” referring to the highly contentious Terra-Gen wind energy project that was the Board of Supervisors in 2019.

“We had a wind energy project in 2019 that was a big deal in our community and it was denied,” he said. “…This is meaningful to us. This is a really big deal. It’s being talked about on a national scale but really we’re this tiny island and that has a real impact on us, and we have an impact on it.”

The Humboldt County community is leaning into the global fight against climate change “but our feet are firmly planted in our in our advocacy for our community,” he added. “…As a community, no one’s gonna roll over on this.”

Huckelbridge noted that staff’s decision to add the aforementioned conditions to the report was made with the Humboldt County community in mind and echoed Wilson’s call to move forward thoughtfully. “It’s important to provide resources to those communities so that they can come to those conversations in full and that was part of the impetus behind these changes,” she said.

Commissioner Meagan Harmon said the commission’s decision “could be transformational.”

“It’s rare in my experience to have the opportunity to vote on something that has the possibility of being so transformational,” she said. “I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that we are really taking a vote today that’s beginning the process of something that could be transformational for our state and really more broadly than that.”

Wilson made a motion to approve staff’s recommendation after additional discussion and asked the commission for a “yes” vote. Commissioner Sara Aminzadeh seconded the motion. 

Before taking a roll call vote Wilson reiterated that Humboldt is a “community that expects engagement.”

The motion passed unanimously.

Humboldt Bay Trail

The commission also considered – and ultimately approved – a permit application from the County of Humboldt to expand the Humboldt Bay Trail by 4.25 miles and complete the connection between Eureka and Arcata.

Melissa Kraemer, a supervising analyst for the commission, noted that the trail expansion “has been a really challenging project with many complications and evolving issues over a number of years.” 

Staff has faced challenges with the rail line as significant portions of the trail run within the railroad right-of-way. Although the rail line is technically considered active, it has not seen traffic for over 25 years.

There have also been challenges with billboards, sea-level rise, an easement acquisition from California Redwood Company, a subsidiary of Green Diamond Resource Company, and eucalyptus trees, she said. The project includes the removal of approximately 200 eucalyptus trees between the proposed trail and the highway.

“We appreciate the hard work on this project and its collaboration with [the commission], especially in providing all the various pieces of information that we’ve requested during our permit review,” Kraemer said. 

Seemann | Screenshot

Hank Seemann, deputy director of environmental services for Humboldt County, reminded the commission that the project had been in the works for decades.

“This is a really important project for the Humboldt Bay region,” he told the commission. “For over 20 years, there’s been a vision for having a separated paved path between Eureka and Arcata for non-motorized travel. Separation from vehicles is really the key to safety and the community feeling comfortable.”

Seemann added that the county “is ready to accept conditions recommended by staff” to move forward with the permit.

Several members of the Humboldt Trails Council urged the commission to approve the permit request during public comment. 

“Our county is filled with active trail users who have literally waited over 20 years for this portion of the Bay Trail to be completed,” said Humboldt Trails Council board member Karen Underwood. “…A completed Bay Trail will offer not only a safe transportation option but an outstanding recreational opportunity with dramatic views of the bay as another beautiful draw to tourists.”

Another board member, Korina Johnson, added that the trail extension will, hopefully, encourage more folks to ride bikes rather than drive.

Wilson acknowledged that “we still have a pretty long way to go” on the project but expressed enthusiasm for its future.

“It was said if we railbanked and just built the trail, this would cost $5 million and take five years and if we did not rail bank it would take…$20 million and take 15 years and that was a planning report that was absolutely correct,” he said. “…We as a community have invested over $15 million into that rail project.”

After a few additional comments from commissioners, Wilson made a motion to approve the permit application with conditions. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Dayna Bochco and unanimously approved.

Yurok Tribe and California State Parks release: 

Yesterday, the Yurok Tribe, in partnership with California State Parks, Parks California and Redwood National Park, celebrated the grand opening of the recently renovated and renamed Chah-pekw O’ Ket’-toh “Stone Lagoon” Visitor Center, the first tribally operated visitor center within the State Park system.

More than 150 tribal and state park officials as well as state and federal congress members and agency representatives traveled up to Yurok Country to attend the special celebration. Broadcast by Parks California, the livestreamed part of the event featured commentary from the Tribe, California State Parks and Redwood National Park as well as Yurok elders who informed viewers about the Tribe’s unique relationship to the coastal lagoon.

“The restoration of our role as the steward of Chah-pekw O’ Ket’-toh represents a significant step toward the healing of our people,” said Joseph L. James, the Chairman of the Yurok Tribe. “We are extremely proud to be the first tribe in California to operate a visitor center within the state park system. It is humbling to know this precedent sets the stage for many other tribes to follow suit. I would like the thank the North Coast Redwoods State Park for taking the time to build a reciprocal relationship with the Tribe and taking action to correct an historic wrong.”

“I hope public land managers from all over California and the entire US use the partnership between the state park and the tribe as a blueprint to build solid working relationships with sovereign tribal nations in their regions,” added California State Parks North Coast Redwoods Superintendent Victor Bjelajac. “Our partnership on the visitor center, renaming of Sue-meg State Park and condor restoration projects are only the beginning. I know we will embark on many more equally exciting endeavors in the not so distant future.”

Managed by Yurok Cultural Resources Director and Tribal Heritage Preservation Officer, Rosie Clayburn, the Chahpekw O’ Ket’-toh “Stone Lagoon” Visitor Center now contains a multitude of digital and conventional displays that reflect the Tribe’s longstanding cultural connection to the lagoon. The Tribe and Park hired Yurok interpreters to share Tribe’s history from pre-contact to contemporary times.

“Visitors have an opportunity to learn about the Tribe from Yurok citizens,” Clayburn said.

For countless generations, Yurok families occupied multiple villages, such as Chah-pekw and Cho-chkwee, near the coastal lagoon. The residents of the villages lived in relative peace until the California Gold Rush, when European settlers attempted a genocide against the Tribe and neighboring indigenous nations. The Tribe endured several devastating atrocities during this tumultuous time period, but the Yurok people were never removed from the region. In fact, many contemporary Yurok citizens are descendants of the Chah-pekw and Cho-kwee villagers who survived the Native American holocaust. One of the descendants, Yurok Tribal Council Member Sherri Provolt, assisted in the formation of the agreement that paved the way for the Tribe to operate the Chah-pekw O’ Ket’-toh Visitor Center.

“It feels really good to regain our rightful place as the primary caretaker of Chah-pekw O’ Ket’-toh,” said Tribal Council Member Provolt. “I know our ancestors would be proud that we are making positive change for future generations of Yurok people and natives throughout the state.”

The Tribe is making progress in other big ways too. The soon-to-be realized reintroduction of the California condor was also be recognized at today’s event. Later this month, the Yurok Tribe and Redwood National Park plan to release the first four condors to take flight in the region since the late 1800s. The Northern California Condor Restoration Program, comprised of biologists and technicians from Tribe and Redwood National Park, will be managing the new flock. A more detailed announcement will be made when the release date is finalized.

Since 2008, the Tribe has been laying the groundwork to reintroduce condors in Yurok Country. With support from Redwood National Park, US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Administration for Native Americans, as well as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pacific Gas and Electric and many other contributors, such as the Global Conservation Fund, the Yurok Wildlife Department completed the tremendous amount of work required to reintroduce the critically endangered species. The following tasks represent a small fraction of what they had to accomplish in order to make condor reintroduction a reality: extensive environmental assessments, contaminant analyses, constant fundraising, planning, designing and constructing facilities, performing intensive community outreach and coordinating with numerous stakeholders and collaborators.

In the Yurok worldview, Prey-go-neesh (condor) is one of the most sacred species. The bird is featured prominently in the Tribe’s creation story and performs an essential function in the White Deerskin Dance and Jump Dance.

“The purpose of the Jump Dance and White Deerskin Dance is to bring balance to the world. Our condor restoration work is a representation of this sacred obligation. Through condor reintroduction, we are fixing an imbalance in the natural world and restoring a critical part of our culture,” concluded Chairman James.

As California State Parks’ statutory partner, Parks California’s mission is to help strengthen parks and inspire all to experience these extraordinary places.

The Yurok Tribe is the largest Tribe in California with more than 6,300 members. The Tribe’s ancestral territory comprises 7.5 percent of the California coastline, spanning from the Little River to the south and Damnation Creek to the north. The eastern boundary is the Klamath River’s confluence with the Trinity River. The Tribe is a leader in natural resource management, fisheries restoration and cultural protection.