Tim McKay
Encyclopedia
Timothy J. McKay was the executive director of the non-profit Northcoast Environmental Center (NEC) in Arcata
, California
, for virtually its entire 35-year existence.
McKay was born in Stockton
, California
, and grew up in Benicia
, California
. He attended Humboldt State University
where he served as student body vice-president. He lived in northern California for most of his life. He was dedicated to conservation, particularly endangered salmon species and old growth redwood forest land. McKay was most passionate about timber-harvest issues and the cumulative effects of logging on California north coast rivers, especially the Klamath and Smith rivers.
McKay was respected and considered a friend to politicians, activist, allies and opponents. Described by his peers, McKay was historian, documentarian, photographer, vastly knowledgeable, genius, stalwart community leader, environmental icon and a modern pioneer. McKay's intelligence and perseverance was a great influence on the environmental community of California and the US.
McKay was instrumental in many issues over his career from the successful 1978 expansion of Redwood National Park to the 2006 acquisition of 275,000 acres (1,110 km²) of new wilderness areas on the North Coast. Some of the major issues McKay worked on were the Gasquet-Orleans Road (GO Road), the Northern Spotted Owl
, the Siskiyou Wilderness
, Headwaters Forest
preserve, Palco and Maxxam corporate logging, and the Klamath River
restoration. Much of his efforts were spent on federal projects with ramifications for Northern California, and chronicled the issues in the advocacy newspaper EcoNews and on the longest-running radio show to-date on KHSU. He also salvaged the NEC after a fire burned it down in 2001. When asked, "Haven't you finished saving the environment yet?" he'd reply, "Almost, I might have to work a little late today."
Tim was a Registered Professional Forester and a member of the Bayside
, California
, Grange for 33 years. He was a long time resident of Westhaven, California. He was posthumously awarded a Resolution of Honor for his lifetime of work from the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on September 26, 2006.
Arcata, California
-Demographics:-2010 Census data:The 2010 United States Census reported that Arcata had a population of 17,231. The population density was 1,567.4 people per square mile...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, for virtually its entire 35-year existence.
McKay was born in Stockton
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and grew up in Benicia
Benicia, California
Benicia is a waterside city in Solano County, California, United States. It was the first city in California to be founded by Anglo-Americans, and served as the state capital for nearly thirteen months from 1853 to 1854. The population was 26,997 at the 2010 census. The city is located in the San...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He attended Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University is the northernmost campus of the California State University system, located in Arcata within Humboldt County, California, USA. The main campus, nestled at the edge of a coast redwood forest, is situated on Preston hill overlooking Arcata and with commanding views of...
where he served as student body vice-president. He lived in northern California for most of his life. He was dedicated to conservation, particularly endangered salmon species and old growth redwood forest land. McKay was most passionate about timber-harvest issues and the cumulative effects of logging on California north coast rivers, especially the Klamath and Smith rivers.
McKay was respected and considered a friend to politicians, activist, allies and opponents. Described by his peers, McKay was historian, documentarian, photographer, vastly knowledgeable, genius, stalwart community leader, environmental icon and a modern pioneer. McKay's intelligence and perseverance was a great influence on the environmental community of California and the US.
McKay was instrumental in many issues over his career from the successful 1978 expansion of Redwood National Park to the 2006 acquisition of 275,000 acres (1,110 km²) of new wilderness areas on the North Coast. Some of the major issues McKay worked on were the Gasquet-Orleans Road (GO Road), the Northern Spotted Owl
Northern Spotted Owl
The Northern Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis caurina, is one of three Spotted Owl subspecies. A Western North American bird in the family Strigidae, genus Strix, it is a medium-sized dark brown owl sixteen to nineteen inches in length and one to one and one sixth pounds. Females are larger than males...
, the Siskiyou Wilderness
Siskiyou Wilderness
The Siskiyou Wilderness is a federal wilderness area designated by the passage of the California Wilderness Act of 1984. Originally, the land area was The Northern California Wild Heritage Act of 2006 added for the current total of . All of the wilderness is in Northern California and is managed...
, Headwaters Forest
Headwaters Forest
The Headwaters Forest Reserve is a series of old growth Coast Redwood groves measuring about . Located in the Northern California coastal forests ecoregion near Humboldt Bay of the U.S. state of California, most of it was owned by the now defunct Pacific Lumber Company, which was owned by Charles...
preserve, Palco and Maxxam corporate logging, and the Klamath River
Klamath River
The Klamath River is an American river that flows southwest through Oregon and northern California, cutting through the Cascade Range to empty into the Pacific Ocean. The river drains an extensive watershed of almost that stretches from the high desert country of the Great Basin to the temperate...
restoration. Much of his efforts were spent on federal projects with ramifications for Northern California, and chronicled the issues in the advocacy newspaper EcoNews and on the longest-running radio show to-date on KHSU. He also salvaged the NEC after a fire burned it down in 2001. When asked, "Haven't you finished saving the environment yet?" he'd reply, "Almost, I might have to work a little late today."
Tim was a Registered Professional Forester and a member of the Bayside
Bayside, California
Bayside is an unincorporated community in Humboldt County, California. It is located south-southeast of Arcata, at an elevation of 33 feet . The ZIP Code is 95524....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Grange for 33 years. He was a long time resident of Westhaven, California. He was posthumously awarded a Resolution of Honor for his lifetime of work from the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors on September 26, 2006.