Protecting timberlands, ranchlands, and farms is essential to maintain the jobs they support along with the environmental qualities they preserve, such as clean water, clean air, and scenic values.  Hundreds of acres of timberlands in the Eureka/Cutten area alone are currently proposed for residential development.  The loss of these working lands would not only be devastating to salmonids and other wildlife, but would also continue the erosion of the timber and farming jobs that have historically formed the backbone of Humboldt County’s economy. Our rural quality of life can be preserved or destroyed along with our community’s unique economic and environmental values, depending on the General Plan Update we adopt.

The following General Plan Elements will impact our working lands. Click on any element to download the most recent draft from the County's website.

• Forest Resources
  The redwood forest is a limited natural resource, and should be managed for local timber production. The “highest and best use” of these forests should be protected by discouraging rural residential development, which reduces the county’s tax base along with reducing timber production. This section is part of the Land Use Element.
• Agricultural Resources
  Our rural traditions include family farming operations ranging from beef cattle to organic produce to small-scale specialty cheesemakers and beekeepers.  We must protect agricultural lands from residential development so that future farmers can continue to make a living off the land. This section is part of the Land Use Element.
• Water Resources Element
  Salmon depend on clean water and healthy watersheds, so fishing industry jobs can only be protected by maintaining healthy waterways for fish to spawn and grow before they reach the ocean.
• Land Use Element
  Focusing future development into existing towns and cities will ensure that we meet our housing needs while protecting working lands from conversion to residential uses.
• Conservation and Open Space Element
  By attending to forest and watershed health as a whole, we can generate diverse and robust timber resources and thriving salmon populations, which in turn sustain resource jobs for our future.
• Safety Element
  The Safety Element limits development in floodplains, steep slopes, areas at high risk by wildfire, and ocean bluffs to protect human health and safety. Floodplains are often important agricultural areas as well as wildlife corridors, and can protect productive farmlands. Steep slopes are best suited to timber production, wildlife habitat, and recreational open space.

It's up to us to speak up for this vision and ensure that the General Plan Update provides the blueprint for a future that is healthy for us all. You can help by getting involved today!