203 



Watershed Conditions in the Headwaters Forest Act 

 (HR 2866) 



Testinnonv Submitted on HR 2866 



to 



The House Agriculture Subcommittee 



on Special Crops and Natural Resources 



and 



The House Natural Resources Subcommittee 



on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands 



By 



Thomas M. Herman, Resource Manager 



The Pacific Lumber Company 



October 26, 1 993 



I have had the opportunity to review the testimony of Peter B. Moyle in support of HR 

 2866 submitted into the record at hearings on the subject legislation. 



While Mr. Moyle has an impressive background in fisheries biology, it Is patently 

 obvious from his testimony that he is mostly ignorant as to the history and conditions 

 of the watersheds he addresses. 



Mr. Moyle states that, "Elk River is an exceptional stream for coho salnrH)n . . . 

 because the channel in many areas is in reasonably good condition, protected by 

 having old growth redwood forests in the headwaters." The fact is that the Elk River 

 watershed is one of the most heavily logged drainages on the north coast. During the 

 1920's and 1930's, virtually the entire drainage was systematically clearcut and 

 burned utilizing railroad logging techniques without any regard for protection of 

 fisheries resources or reforestation. Moyle would have one believe that most of the 

 headwaters are pristine first growth forests. The fact is that less than 6% of the 

 watershed supports such timber stands. It is ironic that a watershed that was 

 intensively harvested utilizing some of the most destructive logging techniques before 

 concerns for other resources, is "exceptional" with regard to fisheries. The drainage 

 now supports healthy and productive 60 to 70 year old young growth redwood stands 

 on managed industrial timberlands. The conditions today are the product of private 

 timber management. 



The Salmon Creek vt/atershed is "less productive . . . presumably as a result of 

 cumulative effects of timber harvesting in the drainage," according to Moyle. Moyle 

 believes the meager runs are dependent upon protection of the headwaters. Again, 

 Salmon Creek was intensively logged prior to adoption of any consideration for 

 watercourse protection and less than 10% of the watershed supports old grovtnh 

 timber. What Mr. Moyle neglects to nr^ention is that, until recent years, flood gates 



