A major road widening project for the Felton end of Graham Hill Rd. is planned by the Santa Cruz County Public Works Dept. with the assistance of the Planning Dept. The public comment period for the Planning Dept recommended "Negative Declaration" of a need for a full EIR and the proposed "mitigations" closed on Nov. 27/00.
The County intends to 3 lane this area and add two 6 ft. wide bike lanes, widening the existing asphalt by 12 to 16 ft. The justification for the project is to increase road safety along this stretch where the collision rate is higher than normal. Whether road safety will be improved is an open question because the traffic speeds will likely increase if the project is completed in it's present form. The most significant reason for accidents is the steep downward grade in the Felton direction which crosses intersections and no construction can change the grade. Three thousand feet of roadway are planned to be reconstructed with the attendant removal of 321 trees, many of which are old growth. The plan in it's present form discounts many old growth trees. For instance, one 8ft. diameter Douglas Fir is described as possible old growth!! in the planning document. This tree was old growth 300 years ago! This gives a compelling example of the disregard for the many (perhaps 50 or more) old trees that will be destroyed by the construction.
Forty three trees three feet in diameter or larger are slated for removal. This includes eight trees over 5 feet in diameter, six of which are at least 6 feet across and two giants, eight to ten feet in diameter. The document states that the project area is primarily a second growth forest. This is untrue. The Henry Cowell side of the road is virgin forest, and the Mount Herman side, though it has endured logging long ago, contains old growth trees including a very old Ponderosa Pine as well as many large firs including old growth.
A federally endangered insect was documented in the area. In fact, 20 adult Mount Herman June Beetles were trap collected during a survey, as part of the preliminary study. Two bat species listed as Federal Species of Concern were documented in the area (by audio sampling and mist netting) as well as their roost trees (slated for logging). In fact, eight bat species were documented in the area. The presence of these bats is demonstrative of the old growth nature of this forest because bats use the deeply furrowed bark and burn scars of old trees as roost sites. The decline of bats in California is directly related to the loss of old growth forest. Thirty two bird species were recorded in the area including three ESA listed California birds that use the area as habitat. Piliated Woodpeckers, a rare, old growth dependent species have been seen in the area (relatives of the extinct Ivory Billed Woodpecker). The soil erosion from the project will drain into Zayante Creek damaging Steelhead habitat. Wetlands will be buried and seasonal drainages filled with dirt.
This road construction plan should be scaled back to a reasonable size. Much of the forest area to be destroyed is well beyond the area where road safety can be improved (uphill from the intersections). A large retaining wall is indicated on the Henry Cowell side of the Road, apparently to save the Roaring Camp water tank. The Mount Herman side of the Rd. is a hill which will be cut back in steps (dozer grading in stages depending on the steepness of the slopes and soil condition between 15 and over 60 lateral ft from the final pavement edge) to avoid the need for retaining walls. 93,000 cubic yards of soil will be graded out and most of it dumped into the drainages and wet lands on the Henry Cowell side of the road.
Because 80% of the funding for the project is Federal according to the RTC, the County has no incentive to be conservative. The presence of Endangered animals alone should make a full EIR mandatory. The goal of conservationists should be to get this project scaled back so it is not so destructive. This road cuts through the most frequently seen area of old growth forest on any important road artery in the County outside of Big Basin.
The document contains Virtually No Explanation for how this project will improve road safety. Also no alternatives to the plan are considered. The mitigations of environmental damage are perfunctory and inadequate. For instance it is recommended that the bat roosts be blocked off after the animals leave in the evening to forage so they cannot return to tree roosts that will be destroyed. Perhaps we should supply them with Real Estate Guides so they can find some where else to live!
To comment on this road construction plan, write to the County Planning Dept.
Or you can fax comments to Planning at 454-2131
or call your Supervisor at the switchboard, 454-2200 or 454-2323
This project is not yet approved and can still be reduced in scale so that it is not so destructive.