Redwood forest trail would be renamed after Dianne Feinstein under new bill in Congress

December 13, 2023

WASHINGTON — Two California Democrats want to rename the main trail in Headwaters Forest Reserve after the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

The Headwaters reserve in Humboldt County consists of 7,472 acres of redwood forests and has two public trails, one along the South Fork Elk River and one along Salmon Creek. The northernmost trail, now called the Elk River Trail, is what Reps. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, and Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, told the Chronicle they want to rename as the Senator Dianne Feinstein Memorial Trail.

Feinstein was a key broker of the 1999 deal that bought the land for the reserve from Pacific Lumber. The joint $480 million purchase by California and the federal government took three years of negotiations to preserve the redwoods from the threat of logging and came after over a decade of public protests to stop logging in the area.

“Lake Tahoe, Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley (National) Park, and the Headwaters Forest Reserve are examples of (Feinstein’s) dedication to protecting California,” Thompson said in a statement. “(S)he was a steadfast advocate for protecting our beautiful state, and this bill is a testament to her outstanding efforts to ensure that future Californians will be able to share in the beauty.”

Huffman said in a statement that the trail represents just one of Feinstein’s many contributions to the state.

“Our bill will commemorate her through a memorial trail in the headwaters, which thanks to her will be preserved for future generations,” Huffman said.

The lawmakers planned to introduce the legislation Wednesday.

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By:  Shira Stein
Source: San Francisco Chronicle