Mar 20, 2006 10:07 pm US/Pacific
Mountain Residents Fight Water Co. Logging Plans
by Tony Russomanno
LOS GATOS (CBS 5) ―
A Google Earth virtual fly-over along a 5-mile length of Los Gatos Creek - between Lexington Reservoir and Lake Elsman in the Santa Cruz Mountains – shows the 1,000 acres of land the San Jose Water Company wants to log. The map was created by software engineer Rebecca Moore, who lives in the area, and it's being used to galvanize opposition to the company's plans.
"So instead of having an abstract map," says resident and logging opponent Kevin Flynn, "people can actually see their houses, see their schools, see where the logging zone is, and it changes an abstract concept to something that is quite striking."
Flynn lives in one of the neighborhoods bordering the area planned for logging. "The largest trees, and the largest percentage of the cut will be the largest redwoods here, as well as the largest Douglas fir. Most all of these redwoods here are about 100 years old."
San Jose Water engineer John Tang says the logging area will be divided into nine zones. One zone will be logged every other year for six weeks. "If you're a neighbor in unit one, you're going to see us for six weeks in year one, possibly, for example. You won't see us again for another 16 years."
Mountain residents worry that logging will increase runoff and sediment in their drinking water, but Tang says the logging project will actually help improve water quality.
The company does concede that water quality could be harmed if logging is not done well, but Tang says their plan is well thought out. "The water is extremely important to us and we're not going to jeopardize that part of our business for the timber."
Opponents disagree. "I think they're taking a gamble," says Flynn, "and it's a gamble neighbors here in the community shouldn't have to play."
The water company hopes to have final approval within six months. But opponents say there could be a long series of appeals and possible lawsuits before any chainsaws are heard up here.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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