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Redwood Forest Foundation
RFFI Reaching Out for Recreation Through Prop 84
by Lin Barrett, Development Director
& Don Kemp, Vice President
RFFI is pursuing a conservation easement for
the Usal property that focuses on protecting
ecological values while maintaining it as a
working forest that can offer compatible public
use.
In line with these goals, community
members from Mendocino and Humboldt
Counties are developing plans for a variety
of activities including natural history, cultural
studies and vocational education. The intent is
to develop recreational opportunities on the Usal
that are in line with the protection of ecological
and archaeological attributes as set forth in the
proposed conservation easement.
In order to develop capacity for compatible
recreation, RFFI is pursuing a variety of
opportunities and has submitted a request
for $5,000,000 of Prop 84 funds from the
California State Parks and Recreation
Department for recreational facilities. This
application proposes development at a site off
of Highway 101 near Piercy at McCoy Creek
that would be concentrated in one of the five
10-acre "Designated Improvement Areas" to
be permitted under the proposed easement.
Consistent with the permitted recreational
activities, this site would offer: (1) recreation for
the local community; (2) summer family and
group camp rentals and off-season professionally
run health, outdoor education, art and vocational
training programs; (3) a Native American and
Nature Study Center with exhibits and trails;
and (4) low-intensity, daytime public access to
the forest, trails and river. Proposed amenities
include: a dining and recreation hall, classrooms,
play-fields, trails, corrals, group camping
opportunities in both tent and rustic cabins with
nearby restrooms and showers.
The facilities,
outdoor exhibits and self-guiding nature trails
would provide new outdoor recreational, and
vocational education opportunities to local
residents and visitors. Swimming, canoeing,
kayaking and rafting could also occur on the
South Fork of the Eel River. The proposed
facilities would offer valuable opportunities to
learn about Native American traditions, natural
history, sustainable forestry and RFFI's unique
vision for Usal forest.
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