CAMBRIA FOREST COMMITTEE
TO CONSERVE AND MANAGE THE NATIVE FOREST OF CAMBRIA
Meeting Minutes
July 2022 Minutes
July 15, 2022, 10:00 AM
Zoom.com Video Teleconference
- Call to Order at 10:09 am and a Quorum established by attendance of Crosby and Laura Swartz, Greenspace representative Bob Fountain, and Christine Heinrichs. Harry Farmer, Cambria CSD liaison; Keith Seydel, Rancho Marino Reserve Director; and Cambria resident Tony Church attended.
- Public and Director Comments
Crosby said that the Weed Abatement deadline was July 14. The district will inspect and publish a list of vacant properties that have not complied.
Laura said that Melissa Bland, CSD project manager, has advocated for selling the 188 lots owned by the district that are under conservation easement.
3.0 The Minutes of June Meeting were approved unanimously as amended.
4.0 Treasurer’s Report:
Laura reported that the account balance remains $536.15 No checks are outstanding and no grant money remains unspent.
5.0 Sub-Committee Reports
5.1 Education/Planting/Mitigation/Operations
Interview for Tribune Article about Forest Health
Greenspace Board President John Seed hosted SLO Tribune reporter Mackenzie Shuman at the Greenspace office, with Forest Committee members participating via Zoom for an article she is writing on the health of Cambria’s Monterey Pine forest.
5.2 Forest Management:
PG&E has a new smartphone app for reporting safety concerns, https://www.pge.com/en_US/safety/electrical-safety/report-a-safety-concern.page?WT.mc_id=Vanity_reportit. Reported concerns and how PG&E responds to them are posted at https://pgeservice.pge.com/pgereportit/PSM_CaseReportingLanding
Keith will meet again with Ascent Environmental and USLTRCD representatives to discuss the Project Specific Analysis. He will report progress at the next meeting.
6.0 Report from Fire Safe Focus Group
Crosby and Laura attended. SLO Fire Safe Council Business Manager Dan Turner reported that work on Covell Ranch has resumed. They started at cemetery on the west side of Bridge Street, working downhill in the areas closest to residential.
Harry reported that considerable trees have been cut down on the Hansel and Gretl Trail, which used to be forested on both sides. Two chippers are chipping a lot of vegetation. Although the plan specifies trees with less than 8 inches diameter are to be cut, they may be cutting larger trees in order to meet the goal of reducing stocking levels from 500 trees per acre to 200 trees per acre. Stumps left behind exceed 12 inches in diameter.
The Cambria Forest Committee, CNPS, state Department of Fish & Wildlife and possibly other agencies have been left out of site visits to comment on the work. CNPS continues to ask in writing to be included in site visits. Initial test plots located near protected wood rat nests showed less tree and vegetation removal than the project has done.
In other FSFG activity, a new Cal Fire forester, Dave Erickson, has been hired to replace Alan Peterson. Cambria Fire Department’s Acting fire chief is Mike Burkey. The district is conducting a search for a new permanent fire chief to replace William Hollingsworth, who retired in June.
A Chipping Event will be offered Aug 1st & 2nd. Property owners need to sign up at put piles of small branches out, sign up by July 29 at https://www.cambriacsd.org/free-chipping-for-cambria-residents-fe95c66. Chips will be hauled away.
7.0 No New Business
8.0 Unfinished Business
8.1 Covered Conductor Recommendations to PG&E
Crosby reported that he met with a PG&E representative to discuss hardening lines in several places in Cambria, including the canyon between Tin City and Cambria Pines Lodge. The PG&E rep recorded GPS locations. PG&E will make decisions in the fall for 2023 projects. Projects need to coordinate with property owners and the local fire department.
8.2 Website Redesign
Crosby suggested that the web site begin with most recent items, to make it a resource for Cambrians.
9.0 Public and Director Comments
Christine suggested that the Forest Committee compile a second volume of Tales of the Cambria Woods. Short essays, 500-1,000 words, by a variety of local writers, on Cambria and forest issues, will be included.
Crosby will continue to pursue CambriaCA as a venue for Cambria Forest Committee notices.
Harry needs a new home, as the property where he has lived for 29 years has been sold and the new owner does not want a tenant. All suggestions welcome.
Bob Fountain will present the suggestion of Greenspace accepting the Fern Canyon lot for conservation to the Greenspace board at its next meeting. Greenspace is now working with Cal Poly students to survey the Monterey Pine plantings north of the San Simeon campground for survival statistics, which appear to be about 50 percent. State Parks wants to plant another 1,000 trees in November. Tony Church said that the trees look amazing.
10.0 Future Agenda Items and Speakers
Presentation about PG&E Line Hardening, Covered Conductors:
Crosby will invite the PG&E representative to participate in a Forest Committee meeting via Zoom.
Michigan State Forest Carbon and Climate Program https://www.canr.msu.edu/fccp/
Society of American Foresters Videos https://learn.eforester.org
11.0 The meeting was Adjourned at 11:05.
Next Meeting August 12, 2022
