FRIENDS OF PLUMAS WILDERNESS (FoPW) gave a presentation on the Feather River Canyons National Monument proposal to the Sierra County Board of Supervisors at its regular meeting February 21st in Loyalton. Charles Schrammel Executive Director for FoPW introduced himself and fellow colleague Ron Logan, lifelong Plumas County resident and retired teacher. He read a letter to the Supervisors regarding the proposal. FoPW and coalition partners are proposing a national monument because the designation is flexible and used by many communities since the early 20th century to protect areas of natural, cultural, historic, and scientific value unique to a place. The proposal of a national monument designation aims to protect and advocate for the health of the Upper Feather River Watershed as a whole. The Upper Feather River Watershed has a very similar boundary to the Plumas County boundary, but the watershed also includes lands within Butte, Sierra, Lassen, and Tehama counties. The Sierra County portion of the Upper Feather River Watershed being considered for inclusion in the proposal is fairly small. It includes 8,000 acres of the Lakes Basin Recreation Area. Lakes Basin has been given a specific management plan which can be found within the 1988 Forest Plan for the Plumas National Forest. The designation of a national monument does not change the terms of this plan, but permanently protects it and could lead to increased funding opportunities for recreation and management of this area. He stated in the letter that existing uses (mining, livestock grazing, hunting, fishing) and access (motorized, utilities, private land) would not be affected within the proposed national monument. Likewise, existing laws, MOU’s, or Stewardship Agreements would not be affected. The proposed national monument would recognize the national significance of our watershed, protect water quality, advocate for increased fuels reduction and prescribed fire efforts, enhance recreation, and benefit local economies. Logan thanked the Board for starting the conversation and stated they were in beginning stages of outreach. Board Chair Sharon Dryden was surprised the group planned without county involvement. Supervisor Paul Roen told the speakers that the Plumas National Forest was just designated as a priority landscape for $273 million and are very cognizant of the fact that we have precious watershed and will do everything they can to rectify some of the damage that has happened over the last several years. As a rancher, he had concerns on statements in FoWP documents challenging grazing. He said a Board letter would be drafted and sent to them with their comments. Schrammel stated this was a learning process and want to be transparent. He said the proposal of a monument is a long process that requires significant engagement with the communities. He added they will also be engaging with legislators. The Forest plan will be revised in 2026 so that will come into play on their planning. He acknowledged they have some work to do in their messaging. Dryden said she has a limited understanding for land use management but knows very rarely does adding layers make it simpler and a monument would add additional layers.
From the audience Danielle Bradfield, Registered Forester, referenced the FoWP proposal and noticed commercial logging was listed as a threat. She stated the proposal stated it would entertain proactive fuels management, which commercial logging is. She wanted a level of clarity on forest management and stated the proposal was difficult to support but sees the intent. She asked who the coalition partners were. Schrammel stated coalition partners were Native Plant Society, Cal Wild, and Greenville Rancheria which is the first tribe to endorse the plan. Natural Resources they invited to partner with were Feather River RCD, SPI, Plumas Corp, Sierra Institute, UC extension, Maidu community, and Forest Service. He added some were against this proposal. Sierra County Sheriff Mike Fisher said he heard a lot of talk about protecting the area and asked if there was any discussion of law enforcement. He stated they have issues with OHV’s going off trail, illegal or abandoned campfires and Sierra County and Plumas County sheriff’s offices are limited and have a limited budget. Fisher stated it was great to have all the rules and regulations but who was going to pay and enforce them. Schrammel stated they were not done with focused engagement with local law enforcement. Rancher Rick Roberti believed they were opening a “big can of worms”. He stated they were going through enough hoops to get projects done without having to go through more. He was afraid a lot of environmental groups would jump on this proposal. G4 Environmental COO, Patrick Gayner, stated he’s involved in forestry management and been a part of the aftermath of some big fires. He said many of the these fires have one thing in common and that’s forestry management. He said there’s a misconception that logging is raping the lands and added without commercial logging we are rearranging fuels to change fire behavior. His biggest concern is the health of watersheds, healthy forests, and wildlife habitat improvement. He worried about what layers would be added to prevent the Forest Service from Stewardship projects and stated no commercial logging further hinders protecting national forests.
Jeff Holland President of CTL Forest Management, has had a logging company over 44 years. He has put in over 50,000 acres in fuel breaks and knows one of his fuel breaks saved South Lake Tahoe from the Caldor Fire. Holland believes monuments are just another extension of NEPA and stated NEPA has tied their hands and burned over 10 million acres of forest over four years. He’s been on four of the major fire clean ups and stressed they cannot not manage. The Forest Service has already created 6 million acres of monument that they refuse to cut because of NEPA. Holland told the Board to fight this and if it gets very serious, FoWP will mark off 100,000 acres and it will stop any projects and take 9-12 years before any management will begin again. He didn’t want to see anymore land not managed.
From the audience Danielle Bradfield, Registered Forester, referenced the FoWP proposal and noticed commercial logging was listed as a threat. She stated the proposal stated it would entertain proactive fuels management, which commercial logging is. She wanted a level of clarity on forest management and stated the proposal was difficult to support but sees the intent. She asked who the coalition partners were. Schrammel stated coalition partners were Native Plant Society, Cal Wild, and Greenville Rancheria which is the first tribe to endorse the plan. Natural Resources they invited to partner with were Feather River RCD, SPI, Plumas Corp, Sierra Institute, UC extension, Maidu community, and Forest Service. He added some were against this proposal. Sierra County Sheriff Mike Fisher said he heard a lot of talk about protecting the area and asked if there was any discussion of law enforcement. He stated they have issues with OHV’s going off trail, illegal or abandoned campfires and Sierra County and Plumas County sheriff’s offices are limited and have a limited budget. Fisher stated it was great to have all the rules and regulations but who was going to pay and enforce them. Schrammel stated they were not done with focused engagement with local law enforcement. Rancher Rick Roberti believed they were opening a “big can of worms”. He stated they were going through enough hoops to get projects done without having to go through more. He was afraid a lot of environmental groups would jump on this proposal. G4 Environmental COO, Patrick Gayner, stated he’s involved in forestry management and been a part of the aftermath of some big fires. He said many of the these fires have one thing in common and that’s forestry management. He said there’s a misconception that logging is raping the lands and added without commercial logging we are rearranging fuels to change fire behavior. His biggest concern is the health of watersheds, healthy forests, and wildlife habitat improvement. He worried about what layers would be added to prevent the Forest Service from Stewardship projects and stated no commercial logging further hinders protecting national forests.
Jeff Holland President of CTL Forest Management, has had a logging company over 44 years. He has put in over 50,000 acres in fuel breaks and knows one of his fuel breaks saved South Lake Tahoe from the Caldor Fire. Holland believes monuments are just another extension of NEPA and stated NEPA has tied their hands and burned over 10 million acres of forest over four years. He’s been on four of the major fire clean ups and stressed they cannot not manage. The Forest Service has already created 6 million acres of monument that they refuse to cut because of NEPA. Holland told the Board to fight this and if it gets very serious, FoWP will mark off 100,000 acres and it will stop any projects and take 9-12 years before any management will begin again. He didn’t want to see anymore land not managed.
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