Richardson Grove State Park is one of Northern California’s most cherished natural treasures. The park’s ancient towering redwoods have provided refuge, wonder, and inspiration for generations of visitors, and the winding Redwood Highway through the park welcomes travelers to the majesty that lies behind the Redwood Curtain. But these ancient redwoods face a grave threat from the destructive ambitions of expanding industry.
Caltrans’ 17-year-old proposed Richardson Grove “Improvement” Project, which aims to widen Highway 101 through 1.1 miles of the park, would involve cutting into the roots of some of the oldest and largest coast redwood trees in the world. These majestic, irreplaceable redwoods play a critical role in maintaining the delicate ecological balance of the park’s forest ecosystem, and Caltrans’ proposed project would likely irreparably damage the grove, disrupt its biodiversity, and undermine the trees’ long-term health and survival.
Caltrans originally proposed its highway-widening project in Richardson Grove in 2007, and grassroots support has been essential throughout this campaign, including a “Save Richardson Grove” billboard that has been posted along Highway 101 for more than 10 years. EPIC and allies have successfully pushed off the project with multiple legal challenges since then. We believe that this project should be stopped—and we are still determined to keep fighting back, almost 20 years later.
To keep fighting for Richardson Grove, we need your support. EPIC and allies filed yet another legal challenge to the proposed project this year in August, Judge Timothy Canning ruled against us in November, and we are preparing to file an appeal on behalf of Richardson Grove’s incredible redwood groves.
To mount a strong defense in court, we need to raise funds for legal fees and EPIC staff labor. The battle is complex, and the opposition well-funded, but we are committed to standing up for the forest, and we can’t do it without you.
Here’s how you can help:
$25 – Keeps our office lights on and internet connected.
$50 – Helps cover essential policy and legal research and case preparation.
$100 – Contributes to court filing fees and other legal costs.
$250+ – Supports the EPIC staff policy experts who are hard at work monitoring this and other projects in Northwest California.
Every dollar you donate helps us protect these ancient trees and the future of Richardson Grove State Park. This is not just about preserving a forest; it’s about safeguarding the cultural, environmental, and ecological heritage that belongs to all of us.
Your support will fuel our legal efforts and ensure that we can present the strongest possible case to the courts. Together, we can defend the grove from this destructive project and keep the redwoods standing tall for future generations.
Please donate today to our legal defense fund, and stand with us in this critical fight to protect Richardson Grove.
With deep appreciation and commitment to the cause,
The EPIC team
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