CAMBRIA FOREST COMMITTEE
TO CONSERVE AND MANAGE THE NATIVE FOREST OF CAMBRIA
February 10, 2021, 6:30 PM
Zoom.com Video Teleconference
The meeting was Called to Order at 6:35 pm and a Quorum established by attendance of Crosby and Laura Swartz, Julie Jorgenson, Bob Fountain and Christine Heinrichs. Cambria CSD board liaison Harry Farmer also attended.
Public and Director Comments:
The CSD settled its lawsuit against EWS contractor CDM Smith for $1.75 million. The brine impoundment pond was the disputed issue. Legal fees were around $330,000, Mr. Farmer said. He supported setting some of the money aside to pay for hauling brine waste, now that the impoundment pond idea didn’t work out.
Christine Heinrichs showed the Fiscalini Ranch Field Guide prepared by Santa Lucia Middle School students. SLMS principal Kyle Martin is interested in working with the Forest Committee.
Christine will contact Andrea and Marc of Climatedesigners.org for information about the IRS Business Master File error.
Approve Minutes of January Meeting:
Typos corrected, Christine will send to directors for approval at the March meeting.
Treasurer’s Report:
Laura Swartz reported that out of the $752.60 beginning balance, she paid $118.00 for the PO box, leaving a final balance of $634.60. She continues to attempt to reach the IRS to correct the spreadsheet notation that indicates that CFC is not a tax-exempt organization.
Sub-Committee Reports
Website: Crosby will contact Paul Nugent regarding the domain name registration.
Education/Planting/Mitigation/Operations
California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Plan
https://www.fire.ca.gov provides interesting reading about California’s future.
Age of Nature PBS Series Screening: Christine will follow up regarding permission for public screening.
Transfer of Development Credits / Lodge Hill Restoration Program: Crosby and Christine will assemble documents relevant to the TDC program and post to the website. CSD has legal responsibility for conserved lots and the open space of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve.
Bob Fountain, who is also a NOAA docent, said the NOAA webinars continue, link on the website. State Parks is also presenting a series of webinars about coastal issues.
Bob has contacted the county regarding what is being required as mitigation for Monterey Pine trees that are removed. Environmental Coordinator Xzandrea Fowler and steven McMasters of the Planning and Building Department have not responded to voicemail messages. He has also discussed replacement trees with Greenspace, on whose board he serves, as Greenspace was historically the source for Monterey Pine seedlings. Tree replacement is often ignored, as the county does not enforce it. The blanket permit for tree removal has been allowed to expire.
The county’s website states: “All parcels in the coastal zone are required to submit a tree removal request form to the Department of Planning and Building before the removal of a tree. The review fee is dependent on the number of hazardous trees requested to be removed.”
Forest Management
Strawberry Canyon and Fiscalini Ranch Preserve sustained some damage during the recent storm, Orlena. Rick Hawley and Harry Farmer worked to resolve downed trees in strawberry Canyon. CSD Facilities Manager Carlos Mendoza and his crew worked on Fiscalini Ranch. The 2020 fuel removal project limbed up a lot of trees and thinned other areas. Whether this trimming made trees vulnerable to storm damage is an open question. Keeping a photo record can help document progress in the forest.
Some homes in Cambria flooded.
PG&E Tree Removals in Fern Canyon Preserve:
PG&E and its contractor Davey Tree removed trees and other vegetation under power lines in Fern Canyon. They left debris behind blocking the creek, in violation of ordinances to protect the watershed. Crosby and Laura notified the CSD’s general manager, fire chief and facilities manager. Julie Jorgenson took photos and contacted PG&E, which, after sending a consulting forester to inspect, sent a crew out to remove the material. Most was removed, some was chipped.
Coastal Zone Barriers for CRPG Projects Letter:
The Coastal Regional Prioritization Group is proposing that fuel reduction projects be exempted from the Coastal Development Permit process. While such projects are not construction, some permit should be required in a process that allows the public to comment before the project is carried out. See attached letter.
Report from Fire Safe Focus Group:
Crosby and Laura reported that the discussion of safety concerns included hiring Zone Haven as a consultant on evacuation. FSFG is preparing for a Wildfire Information Day later in the year.
Unfinished Business
List of Tasks for Forest Management Consultant:
Directors discussed possible tasks that a Forest Ecologist could undertake in the next six months, to present to the CSD Board to support hiring a Forest Ecologist. Carlos Mendoza does a good job of maintenance at Fiscalini Ranch, but he is not trained in forest ecology. Local contractors who are knowledgeable about forest issues are available. The position does not need to be filled by someone with a Registered Professional Forester credential. Projects requiring RPF approval can be submitted to a consultant.
Possible projects include treating Dwarf Mistletoe infestations and disease recognition and treatment. All directors are asked to bring one or two suggestions to the March meeting.
Bob Fountain will work with Greenspace to develop a list from them.
Future Agenda Items and Speakers: Email Crosby program ideas.
The meeting was Adjourned at 8:25 pm.
Next Meeting March 10, 2021
