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Dedicated to conservation and multiple use of public lands for recreation opportunities.

Edited by: John Stewart

Questionable activities in Humbolt County

The Dr. Bill Wattenburg Program thanks the many individuals who contributed information and documentation to assist in the investigation of this issue.

The following information is a history and summary of the situation in the King Range National Conservation Area. Much of the history and summary is quoted from

The DeWeese Report, May 1999
Published by the American Policy Center
13873 Park Center Rd., #316
Herndon, VA 20171
(703) 925-0881

History of King Range National Conservation Area and Landowners

In 1959, Paul Smith (now deceased) held the grazing leases at Big Flat in the King Range (located in Humbolt County). In 1960, with permission from the local office of the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Smith built a road from his ranch to his holdings on the beach at Spanish Flat. For 22 years, Smith personally maintained the road, receiving no financial assistance from the government. Acquired with the forty acres of land at Spanish Flat was an old one-room log cabin. In 1961 Smith built an additional two room cabin onto the the front of the cabin for over 25 years. There, Smith's daughter, Linda, and her husband spent their honeymoon. There, many a weary hiker spent a safe night. The doors were never locked.

In 1970, by an act of the U.S. Congress, the area was designated as part of the "King Range National Conservation Area." Congress charged the BLM with the task of writing and implementing a land management plan. The plan was completed in 1974 and while it prohibited new, private development on the lands of the designated conservational area, it also clearly protected the private property rights of those already living there. In addition, property owners (and there are several property owners within the conservation area) would be allowed to continue to use and maintain "habitable" cabins that existed prior to 1970.

The trouble began in 1990 when the BLM developed a new management plan. The new plan diverted from the original Act of Congress.

Apparently, under the current plan, the BLM feels it can use coercive measures to convince "unwilling" sellers to change their minds. Also, the BLM is to manage both private and public lands. The original purpose of this clause was to prevent the private development of beach front condos, casinos, or private resorts. It was not intended to prevent landowners from building their own homes or repairing their private roads.

"Environmentalist" Builds Home in Wilderness Area

The rules enforced by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the King Range National Conservation Area (located in beautiful Humbolt County, along the California coast) say there is to be no new development after 1970. One long time property owner was denied permission to make repairs to her access road. Another resident had his property condemned because he planned to build a new cabin after the 1970 deadline.

The BLM has made it clear -- there will be no new development, no new dwellings, no roads, no modernization in the King Range area. Period.

But fly over Black Sands Beach (part of the conservation area) today and you'll notice a new home with several out-buildings. By checking the deeds you'll find that the property is owned by William DeVall, Trustee of the Big Flat Conservation Trust.

William DeVall is the founder and head of the Foundation for Deep Ecology. He is a former sociology professor at Humbolt State University and is a contact person for Earth First!

Date of the sale is March 5, 1990. Well after the 1970 deadline for new or improved buildings.

The DeVall property includes a lovely lodge plus a separate communal cooking building and another building which is a heated hot tub structure. All of the buildings are wood heated. The complex is located right on the Black Sands Beach and includes an airplane landing strip.

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NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, any copyrighted material herein is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml

Contacts: Related Links:

Dr. Bill Wattenburg Program
KGO AM810
Arcata, CA