Biomass Feasibility in Mendocino County
Addressing Community Concerns about the Ecological Impact of Biomass Removal from Forestland
Ecological Assessment of Biomass Thinning in Coastal Forests
Phase II- Pre and post-harvest stand assessment of woody biomass harvesting
Mendocino County Woody Biomass Working Group

create problems when it is not used."
Phil Giles, North Coast Resource Conservation and Development Council
One of Mendocino County's most valuable resources are its forests and the capacity to grow good timber. For our community to prosper, it makes economic sense to utilize this resource in a sustainable way. Woody biomass is a low value by-product of timber harvesting, bottom up thinning and other similar processes. Biomass is one of the few renewable resources that actually create problems when it is not used. Over population of small diameter trees negatively impact forest health and create fuel that feeds catastrophic forest fires. At the same time biomass is a carbon nuetral, renewable resource that can potentially help replace dependence on fossil fuels for energy needs and promote economic stability in the region providing well-paid jobs and increasing the local tax base. Mendocino County has abundant biomass resources (see links below). These resources give our area a unique opportunity to both restore our forests and strengthen our economy in a way that promotes community health.
The Mendocino County Woody Biomass Working Group is examining how utilizing woody biomass leads to healthier forest, living wage jobs, reducing the risk of catastrophic fires while maintaining our visual landscape, preserving our air quality and regenerating our forests. The group is currently applying for grants to conduct a feasibility study that will look at several locations throughout Mendocino County and examine woody biomass availability, environmental and community characteristics of each location in order to determine the environmental, economic and social compatibility for a woody biomass facility. This information will be used as an educational tool to build community support for one or more biomass facilities in the region. The goal is that our feasibility study will encourage investment into woody biomass infrasture in a way that is consistent with community values.Who Are We
What is the Work of the Group
What are the Group’s Mission and Operating Principles
What is the Scope of our Feasibility Study
Frequently Asked Questions
Biomass Education PDF's and Links
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)
Woody Biomass Desk Guide and Toolkit
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy"s Biomass Program
Promoting Ecological Sustainability in Woody Biomass Harvest
Modeliing the impacts of woody biomass harvests on wildlife species in the sierran mixed conifer forest.
Intensive forest biomass harvesting and biodiversity in Canada
Economic Social aspects of biomass facility
Forest-Based Biomass Energy
A Comparison of the Environmental Consequences of Power from Biomass Coal and Natural Gas
Pyrolysis and Biochar
Biomass Harvesting Guidelines
An Assessment of Biomass Harvesting Guidelines
Wisconsin's Forestland Woody Biomass Harvesting Guidelines
Biomass Harvesting Guidelines for Forestlands, Brushlands and Open Lands
Woody Biomass Harvesting for Managing Brushlands and Open Lands
Guidance on Harvesting Woody Biomass for Energy in Pennsylvania
Biomass Energy Technology
Biobrick Manufacture
Feedstock supply for planned bio-oil plant
Small Scale Biomass Refining
Bio Oil Midwest
Turboden Brochure Biomass Application
Biochar Can Be Carbon-Negative
County Studies
Fort Bragg Pre-feasibility Study
Fort Bragg Biomass Power Facility Feasibility Analysis
2006 County Feasibility Review Mendocino County
2006 Biomass Roadmap