In the Mattole River Watershed, the Pacific Lumber Company has logged most of what is currently permitted under their "Habitat Conservation Plan". Now they are seeking to loosen these restrictions so that they can log closer to creeks, thereby gaining access to previously untouched areas of ancient forest.



Ancient Douglas Fir in the Headwaters of Sulpher Creek, tributary to the North Fork Mattole River. This tree has been named Double Tree by defenders.


The Headwaters of Sulpher Creek. The North Fork of the Mattole River contains the highest density of old-growth forest remaining on Pacific Lumber land. There are over 2,000 acres of ancient forest in this remote region of sweeping prairies, steep unstable slopes and abundant geological activity.


Rattlesnake Creek. This tributary to the Upper North Fork Mattole has been heavily logged in the past. Since the rampant unregulated logging following World War II the forest here has mostly regenerated in a mix of Douglas Fir and hardwoods. There are, however, many landslides that appear to have been triggered by logging roads built around that time. Old-growth groves can still be found scattered amongst the smaller second-growth.


Ancient Oak tree above Rattlesnake Creek.