The controversy centers on the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) broad-scale post-wildfire and forest management initiatives, most notably the “Community Protection Project”. Federal plans estimate spraying glyphosate and other chemical herbicides over tens of thousands of acres throughout the Feather River watershed. Critics allege that over 1.4 million pounds of herbicides could eventually be applied across public lands in the region to suppress competing brush and undergrowth.
Environmental & Health Concerns
Local advocacy organizations—including Feather River Action!, the Plumas Forest Project, and the John Muir Project—have filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Forest Service. The groups argue that the agency bypassed essential environmental reviews by avoiding a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Residents and activists raise several key concerns regarding the project:
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Drinking Water Safety: The Feather River watershed supplies municipal drinking water to over 23 million Californians downstream. Activists warn that chemical runoff into streams, springs, and reservoirs poses severe contamination risks.
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Public Health Risks: Chemical applications near residential communities—including areas near Portola, Quincy, Cromberg, and Lake Almanor—have sparked widespread public health anxieties due to chemical exposure risks linked to glyphosate and synthetic weedkillers.
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Ecological Degradation: Environmentalists contend that clearing native ground cover with non-selective herbicides damages biodiversity, weakens soil stability, and alters natural forest regeneration patterns.
Plumas National Forest Spraying Controversy Overview
┌───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Total Project Scope │ ~217,721 acres (Community Protection Project area) │
│ Target Spray Area │ Over 51,000 acres in Plumas National Forest │
│ Primary Chemical Used │ Glyphosate and associated broad-spectrum herbicides │
│ Key Municipal Risk │ Feather River Watershed (Drinking water source) │
│ Plaintiffs in Lawsuit │ Feather River Action!, Plumas Forest Project, et al. │
└───────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Forest Service Stance & Proposed Alternatives
The Forest Service maintains that herbicide application is a vital tool for wildland fuel management and post-fire restoration. Federal forest managers argue that targeting fast-growing invasive brush and dense sprouts is necessary to protect young replanted conifers and prevent catastrophic re-burns in vulnerable wildfire corridors.
In response, local residents have organized petitions and public demonstrations urging federal officials to adopt organic vegetation management techniques. Proposals include mechanical clearing, prescribed grazing using targeted goat herds, and community-led hand-grubbing as safer alternatives to chemical treatments.
As legal proceedings continue in federal court, community groups are calling for temporary injunctions to pause all scheduled spraying across Plumas County watersheds.
