In the past three weeks, construction crews employed by CalTrans on five occasions have rolled out big machines with the intention of installing construction fencing, cutting trees, and clearing brush along the route of Big Orange's proposed superhighway through Little Lake Valley.
All five times, opponents of the proposed highway have stopped them, including three times since the last issue of the AVA.
On Wednesday, March 13th, CalTrans sub-contractor Arrow Fencing was back to try to install chain link fencing on their existing t-post stakes. A 68-year-old long-time Willits resident, on the day before his birthday, stood in their way.
A few dozen other Bypass opponents soon arrived. California Highway Patrol Lt. Jim Epperson responded but did not attempt to make any arrests. Arrow Fencing departed, and later even had to undo what little fencing they had just completed.
On Friday, March 15th, Santa Rosa-based Atlas Tree Surgery pulled in with a tractor wood chipper that upended a large manzanita tree and was in the process of grinding it into a pulp when two members of The Warbler's ground support crew stood in the machine's way, dodging wood chips that were up to six inches long flying at them like daggers in the process. One of the two received a citation from a CHP officer, but again there were no arrests. Atlas quickly called it a day.
This past Monday, March 18th, tension was thick as Bypass opponents expected a possible big showing by CalTrans, including attempted chainsawing of tree. Atlas Tree Surgery's crew came back and once again fired up the tractor-wood chipper. About 20 people stood in their way, and they soon packed up and went home.
Atlas crew members had marked several ponderosa pine and Douglas fir trees for chainsawing on the previous Friday. One of them joked, “If they're all worked up about this, wait until they see what we bring on Monday.”
Meanwhile, also on March 15th, two of the California Highway Patrol’s highest ranking officers on the North Coast – CHP Assistant Northern Regional Chief Todd Chadd and Northern Division Chief Bridget Lott – flew across the Bypass route multiple times. Lt. Epperson, who happened to be visiting The Warbler's tree sit at the time, acknowledged they were in town for a meeting.
They were likely discussing a broad coordinated response to the tree sit and other direct actions that have now delayed the start of the Bypass by nearly two months.
This past Sunday, a helicopter, clearly marked with a California Highway Patrol insignia, flew low over The Warbler's tree, circling it several times. It apparently then went over the length of the Bypass route.
Though there has been little sign of the CHP at the Bypass this week, many onlookers are expecting them to begin making arrests soon.
They have seemed reluctant to do so thus far, perhaps in part out of fear by CalTrans that the arrests would have negative political fall-out at this point. Reporters for large media outlets have expressed that they are interested in covering the story more fully after arrests happen.
The tree sit and its supporters may have received a bit of cover from Noreen Evans' recent letter to CalTrans, essentially expressing opposition to the Bypass – at least as presently conceived. It is rumored that Evans was to meet this week with CalTrans officials to discuss the project.
Meanwhile, The Warbler sent this letter to supporters of her tree sit this week:
“This land belongs to nobody, but it needs somebody’s protection. We must stand together if we expect a livable future.
As put by John Wagenet, we are the “Federation of People with Common Sense.” Our efforts are a common sense reaction to the destruction here and everywhere.
The options are life or death. This bypass would not harbor life. It would harbor asphalt and CO2 emissions, and take much of the life of this valley in the process.
My courage and inspiration comes from knowing that what we are all doing is right. I thank all of you for your courage in standing up and protecting this fragile matrix of life we are all a part of.
* * *
Me in a tree
Plus you on the ground,
Together we can turn
Caltrans around!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
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