Cambria Forest Committee November 15, 2024 meeting summary
November 2024 Harry Farmer report
The meeting was called to order by Chair Crosby Swartz at 10:16 AM. Also in attendance were Treasurer Laura Swartz, Board member Julie Jorgensen, Greenspace Vice President Donni Morgan, and CCSD Board Director and CFC liaison Harry Farmer. Arriving at 10:24 was CFC Board member Christine Heinrichs, who earlier this morning had been out taking photos of the nearby King Tides at various beach locations north of Cambria.
Crosby began by thanking Ms Heinrichs and Director Farmer for sending out emails referencing various recent Bioneers presentations in print or audio.
There was no Public Comment.
As for the minutes of the October 11th meeting, Chair Swartz recommended reading Director Farmer’s liaison report in the November 14th CCSD Board meeting Agenda package.
Treasurer Laura Swartz was again happy to report the Forest Committee has nearly $3,000 in the bank account. She also added the Invasive Weed Guide has yet to be printed, with Crosby remarking he’d been, “swamped with other various projects”. Nevertheless, the commitment to print the Guide remains strong and will happen!
As for Organizational Reports. Donni Morgan announced that Greenspace would again be having their annual tree planting Saturday, November 23rd, from 10AM-1PM just north of San Simeon State Park by Van Gordon Creek. Roughly 1,000 trees will be planted, and volunteers will be much appreciated. Unfortunately this year State Parks did not give permission to plant understory, hopefully this will be allowed next year. Donni also reported on the very engaging presentation on condors by Joe Burnett from the Ventana Wildlife Society provided at the Greenspace monthly speaker series on Sunday, November 10th. About 45 people in attendance were much appreciative of the information and videos provided. Greenspace also discussed with Mr Burnett the possibility of showing their feature film “Condor Canyon”, which has been winning awards at numerous film festivals nation wide.
Crosby then referenced an article on Natural Reforestation, addressing the fact numerous projects locally are in the planning stages, with complete details not yet available. He stated any project that included cutting down trees and reducing their number should not be encouraged despite whatever rationale for doing so is provided. Laura then added she prefers the term, “rewilding” as opposed to reforestation, which has a different connotation. Crosby added, “we’re not looking for tree farms, but at the whole forest environment”.
Ms Jorgensen then spoke to how Cal Fire could perhaps be educated as to taking a different approach to “forest restoration”, developing a more educated or enlightened policy. Donni Morgan then pointed out that Cal Fire has a Forest Ecologist, leading to a discussion as to perhaps contacting this person to pursue a more knowledgeable and broad-based policy in the area of “forest restoration”.
Ms Heinrichs then mentioned it appeared the CCSD was again pushing the idea of a bio generator, using tree debris and wood chips from the forest to generate electricity. A brief discussion resulted in the conclusion that pursuing this project was not looked upon favorably.
Crosby then brought up the Agenda item regarding the December CFC meeting. He reminded us that in the past, due to the busyness of the Holiday season, the meeting has occasionally been cancelled. After a brief 140 9E discussion of available options, including perhaps all go out to lunch together, Crosby decided to just leave the December 13th meeting on the schedule.
Under Unfinished Business, the topic of the Invasive Weed Guide was again discussed. Laura stated the Guide was, “pretty much laid out”, it’s a matter of getting the text and pictures more organized, and determining how much can be put on a page before being sent to the printer. It was decided Laura and Christine will be connecting later today or tomorrow to arrange how to pursue the needed adjustments.
Laura then stated she’d be attending the upcoming PROS (Parks, Recreation and Open Space) Committee meeting, and asked if anyone had a topic they wished to bring up for the Committee to address. A discussion then ensued as to the proposed Community Park on the East Ranch, the escalating cost of the prefab restroom installation required by the County, and other expenditures. The belief that grant funding would be available to pursue other recreational activities at the Park was commented upon, with the observation that private donations are possibly an important part of the process as well. Further discussion on the pouring of concrete to set the restroom upon inspired much debate as to what the heck is going on.
At this point the meeting was adjourned by Chair Swartz at 10:50 AM.
The next meeting of the Cambria Forest Committee is scheduled for Friday, December 13th, at 10 AM via Zoom.
This summary written and submitted by CCSD Board member and CFC Liaison Harry Farmer.
