Friends of Felta Creek held its first official community gathering in late March at the historic Felta School in Healdsburg. Neighbors and community members packed the one room schoolhouse for the event, eager to learn more about the ecology of Felta Creek as well as the status of the Timber Harvest Plan that was struck down by a judicial determination in the fall of 2018 and included a restitution of legal fees.
A scientist from Sea Grant California, Nick Bauer, gave a report on fish monitoring efforts in Felta Creek, which continues to provide critical spawning habitat for endangered wild coho salmon and steelhead. The above average rainfall this year has been a blessing and it has been many years since there has been so much water this late in the season in the creek.
It is still possible that a revised Timber Harvest Plan could be submitted this year. Friends of Felta Creek is on alert for the submission of any future plan to CalFire that could affect the watershed and will engage vigorously in the Public Review process and pursue legal action if necessary. In the mean time, much work is being done to achieve a conservation solution in order to protect an invaluable stretch of the creek’s headwaters where shady pools provide unique spawning habitat for the Russian River’s decimated salmonid populations.
Stay tuned for ongoing developments. Friends of Felta Creek would like to thank all those who contributed comments and donations to the case against the previous THP and to know that all recuperated funds will go directly to future litigation or conservation efforts.