The Pacific Lumber Company’s timber harvest plans in California have been thrown into doubt by an order from the state water board.
The State Water Resources Control Board has issued a stay on logging in the Freshwater Creek and Elk River drainages due to environmental concerns.
Pacific Lumber, which described the decision as “arbitrary”, said its logging contractors would suffer financial losses and have to make people redundant as a result.
The 140-year-old company said its four harvest plans for the area had already been approved by the state and federal agencies responsible for forest management.
A full water board hearing to investigate the dispute will be held in the coming months.
