Meanwhile, mountain residents are gearing up for a Sept. 11 meeting where they can voice their concerns about a logging project in some of their back--or front--yards.

"It's the first big meeting where residents have an opportunity to express their opinions, fears--pros and cons," said Terry Clark, a Los Gatos mountain resident.

And Big Creek is not invited.

"We are not ready for that kind of meeting," Clark said.

San Jose Water Co., which hired Big Creek as the lumber company, is going to apply for a long-term logging project on its property located near Lexington Reservoir, Lake Elsman and Lake Williams. Andrew Gere, director of operations and water quality for the water company, said it is doing the project for fire and water protection, as well as financial reasons.

Bob Berlage, communications director for Big Creek Lumber, said it will log approximately 20 to 25 percent of the trees 12 inches and larger in diameter and 40 percent of the trees 24 inches and larger in diameter on 1,002 acres.

Though some residents are fighting the plan, Los Gatos mountain

"In both of those size categories, we're leaving most of the conifers. We're cutting fewer than we are leaving," Berlage said.

More than 100 residents were first notified of the project about one month ago by mail, Berlage said.

"As a gesture to the neighbors, we got a preliminary list of people adjacent to the project within 300 feet and held a meeting," Berlage said. Rich Sampson, a CDF forester, said that applicants are required to notify the public 10 days before submitting the proposal. The notice appeared in the San Jose Mercury News on Aug. 31.

Clark, however, said that she is not satisfied with Big Creek's and the water company's limited efforts to notify the public.

"This affects a substantially greater number of people than just those who live adjacent to the watershed property line," Clark said. She is also frustrated with the amount of information provided by the companies.

"When the neighbors started comparing notes and hearing different stories, it raised our concerns," she said.

One of the concerns was about how long the project will take.

"This is not a one-time permit to remove some fire hazards. This is a long term, noisy, hazardous, commercial logging operation in the middle of our local open spaces," said Rick Parfitt, whose home is about 150 feet from the proposed logging area.

About every two to three years, different parts of the property, which is split into nine sections over 1,002 acres, will be logged.

Sampson said that over a 10-year period, Big Creek would be allowed to harvest for only six weeks on a given unit.

"I ran a chainsaw for 21 years--they do make noise, and you can hear them from a moderate distance. But you are talking about six weeks at a minimum of a 10-year timeframe," Berlage said. A helicopter will be used, but this will only be on one unit, he said.

Some neighbors, however, feel that the noise will not only be disruptive to their quality of life, but will also hurt their property values.

Supporters of the plan say that if it does not go through, there will be many negative effects.

These include roads that won't be opened for fire access, which in Sampson's view could be devastating.

"From the information I've received, the Lexington Area is essentially on a 20-year fire frequency," he said. The Lexington fire occurred in 1985.

Plus, the water company would lose out on resources the logging would provide.

"There will be no incentive to maintain the roads and infrastructure because no income will come in for maintenance," Sampson said.

He also said that if a fire occurs in the area as the trees and brush stand now, it would burn at a faster rate because the fuels--that is, the branches and brush--will be closer together.

Critics claim the harvesting will not reduce the fire hazard.

"I think if they do go through with this they will likely increase the risk of fire," said Jodi Frediani, executive director of Citizens for Responsible Forest Management. She said that after the trees are logged, slash will be left on the ground, which dries out and acts like kindling. Plus more sunlight will enter the forest, creating an increase in growth of flammable brush.

"These both add fuel to the forest floor," she said.

There is always the potential, she said, that harvesting and road construction may lead to slides and sediment loss, which can result in contamination of the water supply.

Parfitt agrees.

"I suspect, even with the selective harvest techniques used by Big Creek, there will be more silt in the creeks and waterways," he said.

Though some residents are fighting the plan, Los Gatos mountain resident Lowell Webb, who attended the first meeting hosted by Big Creek and the water company, is in support of it.

"From what I've seen and heard, I'm comfortable with it. I have the utmost confidence in Big Creek, and I don't think the water company is going to mess up their nest," Webb said.

Webb has lived there since 1976.

"I've heard various people say they don't think it should happen, and the ones I talked to seem scared of any trees being cut. It seems immature. I mean, where do they think we get our lumber from?" Webb added.

Residents, however, have continued to gain momentum to oppose the project since July.

Donald Gage, a county supervisor, said that he met with about five residents two weeks ago.

"There seems to be a lot of confusion with the application. But it seems that we have to have the application first. Until they turn it in, it's all hearsay," Gage said.

However, Gage said that the county does not have much authority. Instead, the approval is up to CDF.

And, regardless of its popularity, it will pass only if it is in compliance with state and federal rules and laws, said Bill Snyder, deputy director of resource management for CDF.

While public opinion may not be able to stall or prevent the project, the public can identify environmental impacts, which could impede the plan, Snyder said.

The plan can be reviewed by the public once it is submitted to CDF. Call 707.576.2959 or 831.335.6740 for more information.

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