Posted on by Feather River Action!

New Mother Jones Article Reveals Massive Herbicide Dumping in CA Forests

A new investigative report by Mother Jones (We Are Bombarding America’s Forests With Roundup– Scientists are wary of glyphosate. MAHA loathes it. And our yearlong investigation shows California is spraying it everywhere) reveals how the US Forest Service is blanketing California’s national forests with Roundup and other herbicides, on an unprecedented scale.

Here, on the Plumas National Forest, the US Forest Service is planning to spray undisclosed quantities of 7 different herbicides– including Imazapyr, a chemical banned in the EU because of extreme toxicity. Areas outside Quincy, Cromberg, Portola, Graeagle, and all along the Hwy 70 corridor, and up into Strawberry Valley are planned to be sprayed with $30 million of herbicides, with grim impacts on human health and the environment. We, along with the Plumas Forest Project and John Muir Project, have filed a lawsuit against the USFS to stop this. The case is pending.

Watch the Mother Jones and Democracy Now videos embedded on this page. It’s not wildfire that has deadened large areas near Chester- it’s chemicals. Areas with wildfire only, that have not been sprayed or post-fire logged are generally flourishing (eg. in the canyon between Hwy. 70 and Crescent Mills). The difference between treated and untreated areas is stark. This is insanity, and it is spreading through the entire area, unless we put a stop to it.

Spraying by the USFS is also threatening the Lake Tahoe Basin, and thousands of people have already signed a petition to stop it.

Like a nuclear bomb went off: Lassen forest being killed off by “roundup”

If you are not aware of how toxic and dangerous Glyphosate (roundup) is, we suggest you read Stephanie Seneff’s Toxic Legacy — available at the Plumas County Library.

Also, read climate scientist John O’Brien’s analysis of the US Forest Service’s 400+ square mile “Community Destruction Project” — now under way. He calls the project– specifically the herbicide application plan “an experiment on the people of Plumas County.” His CV and qualifications can be found here.

Protect the Feather River watershed- contact the Plumas National Forest offices in Quincy, and demand they halt plans to spray chemicals in our watershed, and hold immediate public meetings to answer urgent questions from the public. Let them know you will hold them personally liable for harms that result. You can call them at 530-283-2050 or contact them online here. 
New resources (added May 26th):

4 Replies to “New Mother Jones Article Reveals Massive Herbicide Dumping in CA Forests”

  1. I had no idea this was happening in Plumas County where I live because the air and water are unusually clean and free of this chemical!! Roundup is an absolute poison. Why is the USFS doing this? It’s crazy!

  2. To the community Pluma Board,

    Please stop the destructive project and stop spraying chemical please.

    This is destructive to environment, ecosystem, fellow humans and animals.

    Please stop for the sake of mother earth.

    Thanks and regards

  3. This is a good place to use Cal Washington’s Notice of Liability. Let the Plumas administrators understand that they are personally liable for any health issues that pop up. See the website for further: inpowermovement.org

  4. I live in challenge, which is Yuba County surrounded by Plumas National Forest. The US Forest Service is currently blanketing the entire area with round up. We have protested and have had not been able to stop them, as they continue to spray. They are spraying waterways and hardwoods, such as Madrone. Their excuse for spraying Roundup was to get rid of the scotch broom plants that have grown due to heavy logging they have done in this area. Other solutions such as controlled burns and work crews to eliminate the Scotch Broom are options the Forest Service doesn’t seem interested in

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