[2]) The reserve was created after a 15-year effort to save the ancient ecosystem (with some trees estimated at over two thousand years old), from being clearcut.

According to the BLM, "the reserve is set aside to protect and preserve the ecological and wildlife values in the area, particularly the stands of old-growth redwood that provide habitat for the threatened Marbled Murrelet, Northern Spotted Owl, native salmon stocks, and other old growth forest dependent species..." It also protects stream systems that provide habitat for the threatened coho salmon.

There are limited distribution (CNPS list 4) plants in the reserve, including the heart-shaped twayblade and Kellogg's lily.

[7][8] Almost 60 per cent of the reserve was harvested by mostly clearcutting; more than 35 miles (56 km) of roads were constructed, resulting in more than 100 stream crossings, which greatly degraded watershed ability to store and filter water runoff.

[9] The area was identified and named in March 1987 by activist Greg King after a solo hike throughout Pacific Lumber's northern ancient redwood holdings.

[10] This had been the site of decades of protests called "Headwaters" (1997–2009), a fight against the logging policies of the then-privately owned forest.

Second, it required a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) be developed and approved to allow limited logging on the remaining 211,000 acres (850 km2) of Pacific Lumber Company timberland.

California provided its share of $130 million in Chapter 615, Statutes of 1998 with a requirement of stricter conditions regarding the Habitat Conservation Plan.