March 11, 20002
An agreement has been reached to replace anticipated lost revenue to Del Norte County from the sale of the 25,000-acre Mill Creek tract. In connection with the $60 million transaction, Save-the-Redwoods League and Stimson Lumber Company have agreed to pay $5 million to the County.
Del Norte County Supervisors met recently with leaders of Stimson Lumber Company and Save-the-Redwoods League in the State Capitol at the invitation of Assembly member Virginia Strom-Martin to identify the scope of potential revenue loss to the County and mechanisms for its replacement. "I believe the $5 million offered by Stimson Lumber and the League is a generous payment to the county for its revenue losses over time. I will continue to work with State Parks and the county to make certain public access and educational opportunities exist on this magnificent acreage for all Californians." said Strom-Martin.
Chair of the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors, Chuck Blackburn stated, “The County of Del Norte is pleased with the good faith and co-operation shown by the League and Stimson in these negotiations. This mitigation fund will help put the County on the road to fiscal health. We are also optimistic that our concerns with public access and the Highway 101 corridor are going to be addressed.”
Stimson Lumber Company has been a valued member of the Del Norte community for more than fifty years. Their contribution to the revenue replacement fund will leave a lasting legacy of their commitment as the area continues its transition from a timber-based economy. “Stimson is pleased to contribute to this significant mitigation to the County's loss of revenue from the sale of its timberlands to Save-the-Redwoods League. The amount of private dollars offered in mitigation is unprecedented in this type of case. Stimson has enjoyed and benefited from the hard work and support of the citizens of Del Norte County for over fifty years. The long-term potential for jobs and economic development from the Mill Creek tract are significant, particularly in the areas of recreation and tourism. The Mill Creek tract offers more opportunities than the adjoining National and State Parks given the extensive road system. I encourage the citizens of Del Norte County to participate in developing the management plan for Mill Creek to insure that its recreational potential is realized,” said Andrew Miller, President of Stimson Lumber Company.
Save-the-Redwoods League and Stimson entered into an option agreement for purchase last July, culminating decades of League interest in the Mill Creek watershed. Last May, League Executive Director Kate Anderton and Stimson’s President Andrew Miller met with County Supervisors to inform them of the negotiations. The Board agreed to support the project on several conditions including financial mitigation.
“Save-the-Redwoods League made the commitment to advocate for funding to replace lost revenue as a key part of this purchase. The County Board of Supervisors made a strong case that the scale of this purchase and its potential local impact are extremely unusual. We are delighted that Stimson Lumber Company has joined the League to deliver financial assistance at this generous level. It demonstrates the League’s commitment to building a deeper relationship with the community grounded in the unparalleled magnificence of Del Norte County’s redwoods,” said Anderton.
One of the greatest threats to the extraordinary biological diversity of the world-renowned redwood forest is fragmentation. The protection of Mill Creek will reduce fragmentation in a region containing 44% of the world’s remaining ancient redwood forest. Acting Director of the California State Department of Parks and Recreation, Ruth Coleman, said, “Mill Creek is a significant natural resource acquisition because it provides important linkages between coastal and inland forest habitats. When joined to our Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park and Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, it provides the largest contiguous redwood forest yet preserved in California. In addition, it will provide access to an area that contains one of the most diverse array of plants found anywhere in the state. Some have called it a `botanical wonderland’.”
Mill Creek is noted for its healthy wild Coho salmon population, one of five anadromous fish runs in the watershed. Coho salmon are listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The State’s Wildlife Conservation Board and Department of Fish and Game are the largest contributors of funding for this purchase “Conservation management of Mill Creek will enhance habitat for coho and other fish species. It will feed the Smith River with young capable of re-colonizing degraded areas of the Smith River, contributing to a strong recreational fishery and permanent benefits for the species,” said Al Wright, Executive Director of the Wildlife Conservation Board.
Recreational and educational opportunities at Mill Creek are a key companion benefit of the project. “The League is deeply committed to continuing to work closely with the Supervisors and the local community to create educational and recreational opportunities that benefit the local community and economy as well as the people of the State of California,” noted Anderton.
An interim management plan, funded in part by the State Coastal Conservancy, will identify recreational opportunities consistent with natural resource conservation objectives that can be made available in the near term. The League recently hosted a public meeting attended by many local residents whose ideas will contribute to shaping the plan. Del Norte County School District has been actively engaged in the project since its inception. Programs on the property for elementary and high school students will also be provided for in the interim plan.
The purchase is slated for closing this spring.
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