Culturally-Significant Site Near Gasquet Vandalized, National Forest Staff Found Racist Graffiti, Illegal Tree Harvest, Off-Road Vehicle Use
Six Rivers National Forest law enforcement will increase patrols in the Pappas Flat area near Gasquet due to ongoing vandalism.
From a joint news release Wednesday from Six Rivers, the Tolowa Dee-ni Nation and Elk Valley Rancheria:
The Six Rivers National Forest, Tolowa Dee-Ni′ Nation, and Elk Valley Rancheria are aware of recent vandalism, timber theft, and unauthorized vehicular use at the culturally significant Mvs-yee-se′-ne known locally as Pappas Flat on the forest’s Gasquet RD/Smith River National Recreation Area. During regular patrolling, forest personnel observed racist graffiti, illegally felled Oregon white oaks, barrier removal, and off-road tire tracks within the oak woodland and Jeffrey pine grassland. Unfortunately, this is not the first incidence of improper recreational use at this location.