California Western Railroad (CWR)

Noyo Forestry has begun providing services to Mendocino Railway, consisting of vegetation management operations along the California Western Railroad right-of-way. This historic railroad has been in operation since 1885, transporting passengers and cargo through the scenic redwood groves of Mendocino County. The Skunk Train, famous for its picturesque routes and unique railcars, continues to be a significant attraction in the region.

Our mechanical treatment consists of mastication, utilizing two of our CAT 309 excavators secured to a flatcar, which is towed by one of the railway’s locomotives. This project improves visibility for rail operations and decreases available fuel for fires, ensuring a safer and more efficient rail service. As this treatment is mechanical, it eliminates the need for herbicides. We’re very excited to have the opportunity to participate in improving this historic rail line, which is a driving force for our local economy.

The 2024 road maintenance contracts for the Mendocino Redwood Company (MRC) primarily addressed right-of-way management needs on their timberlands, along with additional land management needs. These operations included: 

• Approximately eight miles of road brushing to support active timber harvest plans, ensuring safe and efficient access for forestry operations.

• Clearing storm blowdown to restore access to approximately four miles of roads, maintaining year-round accessibility to key areas of the timberlands.

• Installation and removal of temporary crossings, facilitating seasonal access to timberlands while protecting sensitive waterways during harvest activities.

• Post-harvest cleanup for approximately fifteen acres adjacent to residential homeowners, enhancing fire safety, improving the land’s resiliency, and serving as site preparation for future restocking and planting of timber crops. 

The Conservation Fund is a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to both environmental preservation and economic development. Through its Working Forests program, it has placed over 500,000 acres under conservation management between 2008 and 2018, ensuring the long-term protection of productive forestlands.

The photos below showcase right-of-way maintenance conducted in preparation for road repair and timber harvesting in the Big River area near Fort Bragg. A CAT 309 excavator outfitted with a masticator was used to clear vegetation and improve access while supporting sustainable forest management objectives.

The Parker Ten Mile Ranch in Fort Bragg, CA, includes a 2,540-acre Conservation Easement dedicated to preserving forest habitat and supporting sustainable land management.

The before-and-after photos highlight right-of-way maintenance performed to maintain roadway access for ongoing land use and management. A CAT 309 excavator equipped with a masticator was used to efficiently clear vegetation and improve passage along key right-of-way corridors within the ranch.

This project for Mendocino Redwood Company (MRC) focused on clearing approximately 2 acres of overgrown land on their timberlands in Annapolis to establish a future redwood clone plot. The project was funded by a cooperative of commercial timberland owners committed to sustainable forestry.

The work involved:

• Masticating dense manzanita and underbrush.

• Felling a significant number of fir and oak trees.

• Masticating the resulting slash.

• Decking logs for future use.

Clearing the site created the necessary conditions for redwood cultivation, supporting the long-term management and productivity of the commercial timberlands.