In September 2022, members of the Redwood CORE Hub joined key community and philanthropic partners for a three day tour of the Pacific Redwoods Region to learn about the ecology, history, climate, and resilience of the area. The following is a recap of some of the highlights from the tour.
Arcata, CA
Speaker: Emily Sinkhorn, Arcata Environmental Services Director
The approximately 790 acre Arcata Community Forest provides residents a welcome respite while supporting wildlife and land conservation. Arcata Environmental Services Director Emily Sinkhorn led us through an early morning walk in the forest, which is managed for recreation, watershed and habitat protection, carbon sequestration, and sustainable forestry use. Alongside mammals, amphibians, insects, and mollusks, more than 140 bird species can be found in the forest, building homes within the 60- to 130- year old second-growth redwood trees. To support the forest, the city allows citizens to purchase carbon offset credits to boost carbon sequestration within the forest.
Located on the former site of a lumber mill and landfill, the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary combines conventional wastewater treatment with the natural treatment system of engineered wetlands. The marsh and sanctuary have served as a model for similar systems globally and have received numerous awards for serving as an example of what’s possible when science and community leaders work together.
The City of Arcata is currently involved in a number of active projects under the guidance of Humboldt County’s Climate Action Plan. Through grant funding and partnerships, the City of Arcata has been able to develop plans for moving forward several projects focused on recreation and resilience, including extending the Humboldt Bay trail from Arcata to Eureka, and the Annie & Mary Rail Trail from Arcata to Blue Lake.