Thanks to neighbors fighting to protect them from logging and development, public ownership of two forest parcels is now within reach, one of which is home to Sonoma County’s largest tree.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors last week approved a total of $8.4 million to purchase the 394-acre Russian River Redwoods property south of Guerneville and the 384-acre Camp Meeker Forest Open Space north of Occidental.

The new protected areas are funded by tax dollars from the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District and are expected to open to the public one day—in the case of the Camp Meeker site, within a few weeks.

The property is currently owned by St. Dorothy’s Rest and the Episcopal Diocese of California. Once the deal closes in late September, it will become the property and management of the Camp Meeker Recreation and Parks District.

Many neighbors already walk the steep property, whose original redwood trees were cut down decades ago, but where second and third growth trees still grow among the ferns. Hiking trails and old forest roads crisscross the land.

Public access to the Russian River Redwoods, home of the ancient Clar Tree — the largest known tree in Sonoma County — will take longer, possibly up to 10 years, while recreation plans are developed and the property is transferred to Sonoma County Regional Parks.

But the challenges that come along the way to any project make the Aug. 20 funding decision a cause for celebration, said Lynda Hopkins, county councilwoman for western Sonoma County.

“It’s definitely exciting. Definitely the highlight of my week, if not my month, if not my year,” she said on Friday.

Just last year, a portion of the densely forested Russian River Redwoods property, then owned by Redwood Empire Mill owner Roger Burch and his family, was again scheduled for logging, despite continued objections from local residents and environmental groups.

The grassroots Guerneville Forest Coalition and its partners challenged the previous logging plan for the 224-acre Silver Estates, first proposed in 2020, and sued Cal Fire when the state agency approved a modified version of the logging plan.

Opponents argued that the harvest plan would fail to protect threatened and endangered species, risk undermining steep, unstable mountain slopes, affect water quality and spoil the views from Highway 116, a state-designated scenic highway.

An injunction against logging on the land was already in place when Hopkins, in what she called a “Hail Mary,” tried to find out if Burch, on behalf of the RMB Family Trust, would reconsider the sale. He agreed.

Then the Save the Redwoods League stepped in and purchased the land as an interim owner to meet the trust’s demands for a quick sale.

The sale would not have been possible without their involvement, as publicly funded acquisitions take longer than private purchases due to the additional steps and approvals required. The conservation group also invested in fuel reduction, water quality and site safety strategies and agreed to develop a preliminary forest management plan.

“There is still a lot of work ahead of us to complete this project,” said Jeff Stump, director of land conservation for Save the Redwoods League, in a press release, “but together we are laying the groundwork for nearly 400 acres of redwood forest to heal and age again so future generations can experience what was lost so long ago.”

The Guerneville Forest Coalition withdrew its lawsuit last month and negotiated a settlement that requires Cal Fire to pay more than $138,000 in legal fees.

“We are very, very pleased” with the final outcome, said John Dunlap, a former coalition leader.

Once the sale is completed, the land will become the property of the Russian River County Sanitation District, which owns a wastewater treatment plant just outside its boundaries and has a long-term lease that allows it to irrigate 77 acres of the Redwood property with reclaimed wastewater.

County Open Space will have a conservation easement on the property and a recreation agreement that will provide future opportunities for the public. In addition to the Clar Tree, which is 16 feet in diameter and 278 feet tall (about 30 feet at the top broke off in winter storms last year), the property includes nearly a mile of riverfront and a half-mile of shoreline on Mays Canyon Creek.

It also borders the Bohemian Grove private park and is part of a 4,000-acre nature reserve.

“Properties like the Russian River Redwoods are core to our work,” said Misti Arias, general manager of the Open Space District. “From the Clar Tree and Redwood stands to the banks of the Russian River, this property is home to diverse and important natural resources that shape the character of our county and help keep our air and water clean.”

Reach staff writer Mary Callahan (she/her) at 707-521-5249 or [email protected]. On X (Twitter) @MaryCallahanB.