The San Francisco-based environmental group, Save-the-Redwoods League, has begun a campaign to purchase 1,540 acres of Giant Sequoia forest, termed Dillonwood, for addition to Sequoia National Park. Dillonwood is the largest privately owned stand of Giant Sequoias and part of one of the five largest groves in existence. In California's rugged southern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Dillonwood stands surrounded by both the Sequoia National Park and Forest. Waterfalls over granite rock and giants from another era exude quiet serenity for visitors and wildlife. The headwaters of the wild North Fork of the Tule River run through its old growth monarch trees and healthy multi-age second growth Sequoia forest.
Negotiations have resulted in the League securing an option to purchase Dillonwood by November 2001. The family that has owned and carefully managed the property for forty years has decided they must sell. The League is seeking $5 million in federal funding and will secure the additional $5 million purchase price through a range private donations. Recently, congressman George Radanovich introduced H.R. 4020 and Senator Barbara Boxer has introduced S. 2279 co-sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein to expand the boundary of Sequoia National Park to include Dillonwood. The President's FY 2001 budget included $4 million in the Forest Service budget for Dillonwood's acquisition.
If the League is successful, Dillonwood will be reunited with the Garfield Grove, which is protected within the National Park. The Dillonwood-Garfield grove is biologically one 3,085-acre unit, historically separated in name only. Extending from the Garfield's north facing slopes, over the ridge and down into the north fork of the Tule, the grove provides both research and conservation opportunities. The Dillonwood addition to Sequoia National Park has a broad range of research and recreational potential uses including: (a) trailhead for access to back-country wilderness; (b) research laboratory developed in conjunction with the new University of California at Merced’s Sierra Nevada Institute; (c) small commercial tent cabin recreational facility.
Unique to Dillonwood is its second growth Sequoia forest. According to Director Anderton, "stands of Giant Sequoia of this age class do not exist in the National Park or elsewhere in the range of the Giant Sequoia, because of long-standing fire suppression policies." Managers now know that natural regeneration of Giant Sequoia requires the forest openings as well as soil and seed conditions created by fire. Giant Sequoia seedlings have not competed successfully with white woods as a result.
Wild and remote, the property is populated by bear, mountain lion, California Spotted Owl, pileated woodpeckers, and goshawk. It is suitable habitat for the Pacific fisher, a species of special concern, and wolverine. California Condors were seen as recently as the 1960s.
Nearly as long ago as the trees took root, Yaudanachi Yokut Indians apparently used Dillonwood for a high elevation seasonal camp. Remnants of the camp, including granite-grinding stones, have been dated approximately 1,800 years old. A 19th century sawmill and giant sequoia stumps are remnants of a time when trees were valued only for their wood value. Many consider Dillonwood a Significant Archaeological Site because of these magnificent historical relics.
For thousands of years humans have shared forest ecosystems with wildlife, only recently exploiting them for economic gain. Giant Sequoia stumps on the Dillonwood property serve as an historic trademark of our ignorance. We've only one chance to save this special place for future generations who will rest on the granite outcroppings overlooking the peaceful giants, every bit as breathtaking and awesome as in yesteryear.
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