Hoopa Forest Industries Director Merwin “Doobins” Clark Returns to Lead Timber Projects and Upgrades Mill Operations

Hoopa Valley, CA — After a two-year absence, longtime Hoopa Forest Industries (HFI) Director Merwin “Doobins” Clark has returned to lead the Tribe’s logging operations, bringing over two decades of experience back to the role.

“It’s been going great,” Clark said. “Coming back into the position was an easy transition. We jumped right into projects that were already in place.”

Timber Operations and Project Updates

Since returning, Clark has guided HFI through the completion of the Hopkins O timber sale, a large-scale project involving multiple logging units on Tribal forest lands. HFI’s crew handled two of those units using traditional, conventional logging techniques, involving skilled fallers, choker setters, and ground-based yarding.

However, the remaining five units required mechanical logging—a modern approach using specialized machinery such as feller bunchers, skidders, and processors, which reduces manual labor and increases safety and efficiency. Lacking this equipment in-house, HFI subcontracted the mechanical work to Trinity River Lumber, which provided both the machinery and contractors to complete the harvest.

“We reached out to Trinity River because those units required equipment we don’t yet have,” Clark explained. “It’s part of a longer-term goal to build up our own capacity for mechanical logging.”

HFI is exploring options for acquiring its own mechanical logging equipment in the future. Clark noted that while mechanical operations are safer and faster, the upfront costs of purchasing machinery like processors and feller bunchers are significant.

New Timber Sales Moving Forward

In addition to finishing the Hopkins O project, HFI wrapped up work on the final unit of the earlier Soctish Creek K timber sale, ensuring that older contracts were closed out before new operations began.

Looking ahead, Clark shared that Tribal Council recently approved two new timber sales:

  • Soctish L Timber Sale – This project will be logged conventionally by HFI crews, supporting Tribal employment and retaining full control of the harvest process in-house.
  • Hostler Creek Z Timber Sale – This sale will be harvested mechanically, again through an external contractor, due to the terrain and efficiency benefits of mechanized equipment.

“These projects will keep us busy for the rest of the year,” Clark said. “It’s good for our workforce, and it helps bring outside dollars into the Valley.”

Mill Infrastructure Improvements

A significant part of Clark’s current focus is modernizing the Tribe’s mill operations. HFI recently secured a Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance (WPIA) grant, which provided crucial funding for new equipment and operational upgrades at the mill.

The grant has allowed HFI to purchase:

  • A new LT70 Wood-Mizer bandsaw, improving the mill’s ability to produce uniform lumber cuts efficiently.
  • A gang “multi-rip” saw, which can cut multiple boards simultaneously, speeding up production.
  • An automated blade sharpener for maintaining saw blades with greater precision and consistency.
  • A four-head resaw, replacing the previous single-head resaw and allowing higher throughput and flexibility in processing lumber.

Additionally, HFI used grant funds to upgrade the mill’s electrical panels to accommodate more machinery.

Another portion of the grant provided one year of funding for a new Mill Manager position. This role is essential for improving inventory management, handling lumber sales, and keeping the mill open for extended hours—critical steps toward making the operation more financially sustainable and competitive.

Clark emphasized that mill improvements help increase the value HFI can capture from each log harvested. “We’re trying to get more out of every stick of wood,” he said. “Better equipment and a skilled mill manager mean we can produce higher-quality products and serve more customers.”

Currently, HFI is seeking another round of WPIA grant funding for a dry kiln—an upgrade that would enable HFI to dry lumber in-house, further enhancing product quality and market options. “That’s in the review process right now,” Clark noted.

Forest Health and Community Work

Beyond timber harvests and mill operations, HFI continues to contribute to forest health, safety, and community well-being.

One key project is the Red Salmon hazard tree removal, scheduled to resume soon near Red Cap Road. This involves removing trees weakened by fire or disease that pose safety risks along roadways. The work requires specialized equipment and careful handling due to the steep terrain and proximity to paved roads.

“We’ll be using loaders to reach over the bank and retrieve the trees safely,” Clark said. “Then we’ll skid them to a safe landing area for removal.”

Supporting the Community

HFI’s contributions go beyond economic impact—they’re deeply connected to supporting the Hoopa community.

  • HFI plays a vital role in the Tribe’s firewood program, which provides free firewood to elders and community members who may not be able to gather it themselves. The mill often supplies logs for this purpose, and HFI crews handle processing and distribution.
  • HFI also partners with organizations like the Willow Creek Fire Safe Council and Humboldt and Trinity County Resource Conservation Districts on hazardous fuels reduction projects. Recently, HFI was approached to help handle firewood from fuels treatments in the Willow Creek area, potentially creating more supply for the Tribe’s elders and residents who rely on firewood for heating.

Clark explained, “There’s no price tag you can put on helping our elders stay warm. That’s part of why we’re here.”

Stewardship of Tribal Lands

At the heart of HFI’s operations is the Tribe’s connection to the land. Clark emphasized that HFI’s work is unique because it takes place on Tribal lands owned collectively by the Hoopa people.

“Ninety percent of our employees are Tribal members,” Clark said. “We take care of this land because it’s ours. It’s our future. We don’t want it to burn up, and we want it healthy for hunting, gathering, and everything else we rely on.”

Clark said he’s especially proud of his crew for finishing recent timber sales efficiently and for helping clear longstanding scrap equipment and debris at the HFI yard, improving the facility’s appearance and safety.

“Without HFI, our roads would be overgrown, and fire protection would be less than it is now,” he said. “We’re here to help.”

Hoopa Forest Industries continues to support both the Tribe’s economy and stewardship of Tribal lands through its timber operations, mill modernization, and community-focused projects.

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