Cambria Forest Committee
To conserve and manage the native forest of Cambria
March 9, 2016, 6:30 PM
Cambria Rabobank, 1070 Main Street
Attending: Directors Crosby and Laura Swartz, Julie Jorgenson, Christine Heinrichs, Alan Peters, JoEllen Butler, Bruce Mumper. Community members Jim Webb, Jason Anderson, Laurel Stewart, Tony Church, State Parks Mike Walgren, George Kendall. Cambrian reporter Kathe Tanner
Ask the Experts Q&A: Jim Webb asked: Since CCSD has elected to retain the Cambria Fire Department, will they still be a member of the Forest Committee? Crosby Swartz responded that the CFC will invite the new fire chief to attend when one is chosen.
Minutes of the February meeting were approved. Approval of January meeting was deferred for further consideration of Amanda Rice’s resignation.
Treasurer’s Report: Laura Swartz reported that the CFC’s account balance is $2,301.03, which includes $596.18 of Grant 3 from the Cambria Community Council. She spent $118.57 on the Historic Society kiosk. She closed out grants 1 and 2, leaving the remainder of Grant 3 in the account. a bill from Lynn Singer, a CPA who is reviewing the books, is the only outstanding bill, which will be $50 or $75.
Sub-Committee Reports
Education/Planting/Mitigation/Operations:
Website Hosting Change: Webmaster Amanda Rice has not yet conveyed the user name and password needed to complete the Web site migration to Digital West. Alternatively, the domain name could be changed. Kathe Tanner will ask her. Laura Swartz will continue to request the information.
Living in a Forest Brochure: Vari MacNeil not attending to give a report
Historical Society Kiosk Exhibit: Laura has cropped out the sign so it fits into glass case and is protected. She has created a display of the Life Cycle of Pine tree and embellished it with a pine cone and seed.
Review of EIR Comments: The Forest Committee submitted comments regarding the growth-inducing effect of increased water resources. Those comments should be addressed in the EIR. The Build-Out Reduction Plan should be included. The Land Conservancy contract, which addresses Transfer Development Credits, is on the CSD’s agenda for discussion at the March 24 meeting, 6 pm at the Vets’ Hall.
Forest Management:
Cambria Forest Health / Greenhouse Gas Project Implementation: Alan Peters reported that fifty dead trees, in the form of 15′ 6″ logs, were delivered to Pacific Coast Lumber, which has a new owner. He will monitor how much usable lumber can be milled out of the dead trees and made into products such as flooring and Adirondack chairs. The Forest Health Project continues to install plots on Covell Ranch, which will collect baseline data on how many trees are available.
Alan Peters is working on a Timber Harvesting Plan, which will have a restocking requirement. Most areas rely on natural restocking for a year or two before taking other steps. Ideal range is 150-300 trees per acre. Fiscalini Ranch has 1,250 trees per acre, more than the carrying capacity of the land. Professional foresters have a points system based on size. Prescribed burning can be used to clear brush, which helps seedlings take permanent root in mineralized soil. Dr. Sarah Bisbing of Cal Poly has calculations to determine the amount of carbon that will be sequestered. “The problem I see is way, way too many trees,” he said. “We need to stabilize the situation first before planting more trees.”
Western States Forestry Grant Status: No change in status, still expect to receive a grant.
Forest Committee Projects / Grants: Dan Turner is reporting on grant opportunities, some of which relate to forest health rather than fire. Information on Web site: http://www.fire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/resource_mgt_urbanforestry_grants#, http://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/grants. “Nothing is stopping us from applying for a grant,” said Crosby Swartz.
Report From Fire Safe Focus Group:
Crosby Swartz reported that they are working on the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, which requires approval of the Board of Supervisors. Bruce Fosdike is working on forming an emergency team. Dan Turner reported on Greenhouse Gas grants. Alan Peters reported on the prototype BioChar unit that they hope to use to generate electricity from the tens of thousands of tons of chips from dead trees. The CSD board no longer wants to locate it at the wastewater treatment plant site. smaller units would not consume enough wood chips. The larger unit will produce more power than most locations can use, and sharing power opens the unit to regulation as a public utility. Kathe Tanner suggests telling the CSD board to reconsider placing the unit at the wastewater treatment plant site.
Alan Peters is a member of the Tree Mortality Task Force, which is funding mitigation of high hazard areas, into which category Cambria falls. Resources could be available for portable sawmills, logging equipment, masticators and other equipment. “While they are figuring out how to handle millions of acres, we’ve got this one forest,” he said.
Report From CCSD PROS Commission:
Crosby and Laura Swartz attended the PROS meeting. Stan Cooper is the new PROS Commissioner. Kermit Johanson and Terry Lord are alternates CSD has a new employee, Andy, who has a background in trees or forestry. The PROS committee is being more inclusive and connected. GM Jerry Gruber commented that in future they will look at better ways of funding maintenance of FRP and other forest areas the district owns. Funding now comes out of the General Fund, which is not intended for that. “It’s good that we can come together to talk about the forest, even if we don’t agree all the time,” Laura said.
New Business
Recommendations to NCAC on Grommisch Permit Application: two oak trees will be removed. NCAC’s Land Use Committee is reviewing.
Endorsement of NCAC Environmental Representative: Bruce Mumper, Laurel Stewart and Mary Webb have applied. One representative will be appointed and an alternate. The Forest Committee hasn’t made a recommendation in the past. Discussion included what the environmental representative does — gives a report on environmental impact of issues under consideration — and votes. Bruce Mumper said he has learned about environmental issues from serving on the FRP board. He said if he is selected, he will rely on the experience of the alternate to assist him. Each will give a statement at the April NCAC meeting. JoEllen Butler said the FRP board will discuss the appointment at its meeting Thursday March 10 meeting.
The board voted unanimously to send a letter recommending all three as competent. Crosby will draft a letter and circulate to the directors.
Agenda Items and Speakers for Next Month: Dan Turner could be invited to speak on GHG grants. He has been out of town a lot. Dr. Sarah Bisbing of Cal Poly could be a speaker with Dan, or on her own. Crosby will contact her.
Public Comment: Jim Webb asked Mike Walgren of State Parks how much of the Prop 84 grant for $184,000 has been used for fuel reduction and for the California Conservation Corps to treat the forest, and how many acres have been treated. Mike said the grant was $80,000 and they have used CCC people to treat about five of 80 acres behind Centrally Grown. the trees and brush have been chipped and sterilized by Windsor and used as mulch in vineyards. He’s working on dead and dying trees. The lower road up to Washburn has 12 more dead trees since last year.
Monterey Pines are migrating into the area at the junction of San Simeon Creek Road and Highway 1, on the inland side of Van Gordon Creek. Mike has thrown cones out there and hopes to have a small experimental broadcast burn there. He would welcome trees being planted there. He has funding for the San Simeon Forest through June 2017. The Forest Committee welcomes locations for tree planting and will move forward on this opportunity.
Adjourn at 7:54 pm.
Next Meeting April 13, 2016
