April 14, 2026
Trinidad City Council
Trinidad, California
Yurok Indian Housing Authority
15540 Highway 101 North
Klamath, CA 95548
Re: Liability for Violations of California Forest Practice Rules - Conversion Exemption Operations
Dear Members of the Trinidad City Council and Representatives of the Yurok Indian Housing Authority:
We wish to formally raise concern regarding forestry operations conducted under the CAL FIRE Conversion Exemption associated with nearby land clearing activity.
A Conversion Exemption under California Forest Practice Rules is not a waiver of responsibility. Under 14CCR §1104.1, all operations remain fully subject to California Forest Practice Rules, including protections against soil disturbance, erosion, drainage damage, and harm to neighboring properties.
The Registered Professional Forester and the landowner remain legally responsible for ensuring compliance.
Tree felling must be conducted with directional control to avoid unreasonable damage to adjacent property, soil productivity, water quality, and existing vegetation. Likewise, removal of stumps and root systems is not automatically required and, when undertaken, must not create excessive soil disturbance or erosion hazards.
If forestry activities have caused damage to neighboring land, drainage systems, fencing, trees, or created unsafe conditions, both the forester supervising the work and the property owner should be held liable for violations of the Forest Practice Rules and any resulting property damage.
We respectfully request that the City Council and the Yurok Indian Housing Authority recognize and enforce accountability where these violations have occurred and ensure that responsible parties are required to remedy damages caused.
Sincerely,
Ken Parker
Karen Parker
207 N. Westhaven Dr.