Forests Forever

Letter Writing Tips

Print your name and address under your signature.
Make sure your letter is clearly legible and in your own words.
Ask for a response in writing, informing you how they will address your concerns.

TO: Gov. Jerry Brown

SUBJECT: Halt forest clearcutting threat to salmon-restoration efforts on Battle Creek.

Address your comments to Gov. Jerry Brown online here.

TO: Natural Resources Secretary John Laird

SUBJECT: Halt forest clearcutting threat to salmon-restoration efforts on Battle Creek.

Address your comments to Secretary Laird by email here.

Write or call:

The Honorable John Laird

Secretary for Natural Resources

California Natural Resources Agency

1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (916) 653-5656

Fax: (916) 653-8102

SAMPLE LETTER 1:

Dear _________________,

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service deems Battle Creek — a tributary of the Sacramento River — to be of major importance to the conservation and recovery of federally listed anadromous salmonids in that watershed. The creek's unique hydrology, geology and habitat suitability make it a high priority for wild salmon and steelhead restoration efforts.

Please do not to let the Battle Creek Salmon and Steelhead Restoration Project be undermined by Sierra Pacific Industries' relentless, indiscriminate clearcutting of the upper Battle Creek watershed. I ask you to put a stop to the clearcutting and give priority to the salmon and steelhead recovery project. The erosion of silt and runoff of herbicides from SPI's clearcuts threatens the restoration project's success. By intervening on the behalf of salmon and steelhead, you can assure that a restored Battle Creek will enhance Northern California, returning recreation, livelihoods, and ecosystem health to a hard-hit area of California.

Sincerely,

You name and address

SAMPLE LETTER 2:

Dear _________________,

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is spearheading dam-removal and modification efforts along 42 miles of Battle Creek in order to remove man-made barriers to anadromous salmonids in the watershed west of Mt. Lassen.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service says the restoration project in Battle Creek will provide habitat for the endangered Sacramento River winter Chinook salmon, the threatened Central Valley spring Chinook salmon, and the threatened Central Valley steelhead.

I fully support these efforts because they will offer great benefits to California, including increased fishing, recreation, and tourism.

Unfortunately, the restoration project is threatened by forest clearcutting taking place in the upper Battle Creek watershed. The company doing the clearcutting, Sierra Pacific Industries, has claimed that no erosion from their clearcuts or logging roads will harm the salmon runs downstream. But time and again Californians have seen the destruction wrought by clearcutting from excessive silt and herbicide runoff.

Please prevent any more clearcutting in the Battle Creek watershed. Only that way can we be sure the salmon and steelhead will survive and thrive, and Californians will appreciate your efforts.