From County Supervisor Mark Lovelace's Facebook page, 2/25/13
The County of Humboldt is working with Green Diamond Resource Company and the Trust for Public Lands on a proposal to establish a community forest on the property known as the McKay Tract, located southeast of Eureka near Cutten and Myrtletown. Depending on the amount of funding available, the community forest could range from approximately 775 acres up to 1,415 acres.
This proposal is part of a larger effort by Green Diamond to place a conservation easement over the remainder of their land within the McKay Tract. These remaining lands would continue to be owned by Green Diamond and managed for timber production, while preventing any future conversion to non-timber use. Combined, some 7,500 acres would be permanently protected from development.
The Trust for Public Land is working to raise $6.5 million from a variety of federal, state, and private funding sources for this acquisition, and has already been awarded $1 million from the California River Parkways Program and another $1 million from the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program. If all goes well, acquisition could occur as soon as late 2013.
After purchase, the Trust for Public Lands would convey the land to the County of Humboldt, who would manage the community forest for sustainable timber, public access, recreation and watershed and habitat protection, in a manner similar to the Arcata Community Forest. The forest would become economically self-sustaining over time, with development and maintenance of trails financed through revenues from selective timber management.
The County plans to hold a public meeting in April to provide a project update and receive initial feedback from the community. This feedback will help guide the ongoing development of the management plan. Interested community members can send an e-mail to
