September 2022 Minutes

Posted on September 16, 2022 by Christine Heinrichs

September 2022 Minutes

NEEDS PROJECT DESCRIPTION

CAMBRIA FOREST COMMITTEE

TO CONSERVE AND MANAGE THE NATIVE FOREST OF CAMBRIA

Meeting Minutes

September 9, 2022, 10:00 AM

Zoom.com Video Teleconference

1.0 Call to Order and Establish a Quorum:

Crosby Swartz called the meeting to order at 10:05 am. A Quorum was established by attendance of himself and Laura Swartz, Cambria CSD liaison Harry Farmer, Greenspace representative Bob Fountain, and CFC secretary Christine Heinrichs. Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve Executive Director Kitty Connolly, California Native Plant Society representative Neil Havlik also attended.

2.0 Public and Director Comments and Reports 

Neil and Harry Farmer raised questions about how many and what size trees have been cut down in the Covell Ranch Fuel Reduction Project. Harry has seen large stumps indicating large healthy trees were cut down.

Kitty Connolly said that home hardening was more effective than fuel reduction in reducing wildfire, citing an article in the New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/09/09/climate/growing-wildfire-risk-homes.html Cal Fire has grants available for home hardening, but not yet in San Luis Obispo County.

Bob Fountain reported that Greenspace will plant another 1,000 trees in November. New volunteer planters are welcome. Call Greenspace at 805-927-2866 for information and to sign up.

3.0 Minutes of the August Meeting were approved as amended. Laura abstained from voting.

4.0 Treasurer’s Report

Laura reported that the bank balance is unchanged from August, $536.15.

5.0 Sub-Committee Reports

5.1 Education/Planting/Mitigation/Operations

Comment Letter on Tribune Article about Forest Health:

Neil Havlik has drafted a letter to the Tribune to respond to Mackenzie Shuman’s story about Cambria’s Monterey Pine forest. https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/environment/article263816618.html  She described the forest as “very unhealthy,” with which he disagreed. Crosby will write one expressing his concern that his comments seemed to suggest that the Forest Committee is opposed to forest treatments to reduce risk of fire.

Keith Seydel invited CNPS representatives to visit Rancho Marino, which he said is in excellent condition. He advises that it should be considered a separate management area as a reference area. The Rancho Marino Project Specific Analysis is being written now.

6.0 Report from Fire Safe Focus Group:

No meeting this month. No update on home hardening grants, https://news.caloes.ca.gov/california-sets-framework-for-wildfire-home-hardening-program/

7.0 New Business

7.1 Director and Officers Insurance Renewal:

This insurance assures that no one is discouraged from participating as a CFC director. Annual cost around $500. Donations are solicited from directors, $100. Send checks to Cambria Forest Committee, PO Box 23, Cambria.

8.0 Unfinished Business

8.1 Covered Conductor Follow Up with PG&E:

Dave Pierson invited Crosby and Laura to meet with him and PG&E Vegetation Treatment Manager David Perry to discuss Covered Conductors. Perry said that PG&E doesn’t consider Cambia high risk for covered conductors. He expressed concern for the age of the utility poles, some of which might be replaced with new poles with stronger, wider cross bars, which would improve safety. Three long spans could benefit from line hardening: two above Tin City and one across Fern Canyon.

PG&E advertises that it is committed to undergrounding, but only about a quarter mile is allocated to Cambria.

PG&E has implemented Enhanced Power Shutoff Settings for Cambria, which can be effective in preventing ignitions. It may result in more frequent and longer power outages, but fewer fires. The reduced fire risk has reduced the company’s interest in other improvements.

8.2 Comment Letter on Los Padres NF Fuel Reduction Project:

Los Padres Forest Watch persuaded the U.S. Forest Service to extend the comment period for the Ecological Restoration Project, over 200,000 acres of logging and tree and shrub removal. https://lpfw.org/widespread-opposition-to-clearing-logging-project-prompts-extension-of-comment-period/

Crosby will draft sample comment letters and distribute them among directors for comment.

Upcoming webinars will focus on Santa Barbara County and SLO and Monterey Counties.

9.0 Public and Director Comments and Reports:

Laura said that personal contacts among directors can be used to encourage unity among environmental groups, including Greenspace, FFRP and Rancho Marino. Bob said that Greenspace has a board member focused on advocacy. He will bring the subject up at the next Greenspace board meeting.

10.0 Future Agenda Items and Speakers:

Crosby recommended Mr. Perry of PG&E as a possible future CFC speaker.

Possible future Zoom meeting to invite representatives of Cambria environmental organizations to discuss collective action such as writing comments on PSAs. Crosby will send out the Rancho Marino Project Description.

PG&E Fire Risk Reduction Measures

Michigan State Forest Carbon and Climate Program https://www.canr.msu.edu/fccp/

11.0 The meeting was adjourned at 11:48 am.
Next Meeting October 14, 2022

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Minutes August 2022

Posted on August 20, 2022 by Christine Heinrichs

August 2022 Minutes

CAMBRIA FOREST COMMITTEE

TO CONSERVE AND MANAGE THE NATIVE FOREST OF CAMBRIA

Meeting Minutes

August 12, 2022, 10:00 AM

Zoom.com Video Teleconference

Meeting Recording, Access Passcode: Sa?u2faE

1.0 Crosby Swartz called the meeting to order at 10:00. A quorum was established by attendance of Crosby and Laura Swartz, Julie Jorgeson, Bob Fountain of Greenspace and Cambria CSD liaison Harry Farmer. Kitty Connolly, executive director of Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, and Keith Seydel, Rancho Marino Reserve director, also attended.

2.0 Public and Director Comments and Reports

Kitty Connolly reported that FFRP has launched a restoration nursery. About 200 trees are carried over from last year, when it was too dry to plant, and 120-150 new seedlings have been started for next year. The trees carried over from last year have developed stronger root systems. The new seeds are germinating quickly. She wants to start coyote brush to be planted with the trees as nurse plants for the seedlings. Waterings are scheduled.

3.0 Approval of the Minutes of July Meeting was deferred until Forest Committee Secretary Christine Heinrichs can attend.

4.0 Laura Swartz gave the Treasurer’s Report: Account balance $536.15, no change from last month. No grant money is left or outstanding obligations unpaid.

5.0 Sub-Committee Reports

5.1 Education/Planting/Mitigation/Operations

             Tribune Article about Forest Health:

Tribune Environment Reporter Mackenzie Shuman wrote a story on Cambria’s Monterey Pine forest. It presented various perspectives of the forest’s condition, but it relied heavily on Dan Turner, Fire Safe Council, and Cal Fire Forestry Assistant Jon Gee. She ignored alternative viewpoints about which types of forest management projects effectively reduce fire risk to communities recommended by Chad Hanson, co-founder of the John Muir Project of the Earth Island Institute, author of Smokescreen: Debunking Wildfire Myths to Save Our Forests and Our Climate. Quotes as presented misleadingly imply that forest defenders oppose fire prevention measures.

Laura suggested writing a list of forest treatments the Forest Committee would approve.

Harry has talked with Blair McCormick and Jeff Kwasny, local arborists. The Forest Committee could get written opinions from them on the condition of the forest and how to maintain it.

Keith is educated as an ecologist and is working with advisers from UC Davis and a drone expert for mapping to track forest changes. Because there are so few natural stands of Monterey Pine, there’s little research on best practices.

The Land Conservancy has an ecologist on staff. The Forest Committee could invite her out for a walk-through and ask her opinion on the forest and recommendation for a professional to provide a report.

Grant funding is possible to support a consultant report.

5.2 Forest Management

      Discussion of Addition to Fern Canyon Preserve

A representative of the trust that owns a vacant lot in Fern Canyon contacted the Forest Committee regarding donating the lot for conservation. Crosby referred him to The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo for consideration in the Transfer Development Credit Program.

Approval by the CCSD Board is required before this lot can be added to the District-owned Fern Canyon Preserve.

The CSD Finance Committee has recommended that the district save the money it spends on lot maintenance by selling lots in the Fern Canyon Preserve. This presents legal problems and discourages the Coastal Conservancy and Land Conservancy from supporting Cambria’s grant funding applications.

All TDC documents are posted on the Forest Committee’s web site.

6.0  Report from Fire Safe Focus Group

       Covell Ranch Project Update

The Covell Ranch project has completed its work on the west side of Bridge Street and continues on the east side, northeast of the cemetery. Requests for site visits to view completed areas of the project from organizations such as the California Native Plant Society and the Forest Committee have not been answered.

Grants for Home-Hardening: This is an effective way to reduce property damage from wildfire.

Undergrounding Electrical Lines: Dan Turner reported some grants may be available for undergrounding electrical transmission wires. Crosby will ask the PG&E contact on Covered Conductors for information. PG&E has agreed to undergrounding some amount of lines, and is under pressure to improve safety now. The Forest Committee can survey the community and make recommendations for areas where lines should be underground.

7.0 New Business

       Discussion about Los Padres National Forest Fuel Reduction Project

Los Padres ForestWatch asked for support to extend the comment period on the 235,000-acre (368 square miles) project. Widespread opposition led to a 30-day extension, but the U.S. Forest Service still refuses to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, despite requests from Congressional Rep. Carbajal and others to do so. An interactive map showing the proposed area is here.

8.0 Unfinished Business

8.1 Covered Conductor Follow Up with PG&E: Crosby will follow up.

9.0 Public and Director Comments and Reports

Bob Fountain reported on the Survey Greenspace did of the tree seedlings planted in 2020. After two years of growth for the earliest plantings, some are more than six feet tall. Survival rate is 59 percent. Full results will be posted after Greenspace finalizes the survey findings.

He reported that Greenspace observed similar improvements in seed germination to Kitty’s experience at the FFRP greenhouse. The Forest Committee’s open forum meetings provide an arena for exchange of such nuggets of information, which may prove important to forest health.

10.0 Future Agenda Items and Speakers

Presentation about PG&E Line Hardening, Covered Conductors

Michigan State Forest Carbon and Climate Program

 Society of American Foresters Videos 

11.0 The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 am.

Next Meeting 10 am September 9, 2022

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July 2022 Minutes

Posted on July 22, 2022 by Christine Heinrichs

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

  1. 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

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Minutes June 2022

Posted on June 17, 2022 by Christine Heinrichs

CAMBRIA FOREST COMMITTEE

TO CONSERVE AND MANAGE THE NATIVE FOREST OF CAMBRIA

Meeting Minutes June 2022

June 10, 2022, 11:00 AM

Zoom.com Video Teleconference

Crosby Swartz called the meeting to order at 11 am. A Quorum was established by attendance of Crosby and Laura Swartz, Bob Fountain of Greenspace, Harry Farmer of Cambria CSD and Christine Heinrichs. Neil Havlik of California Native Plant Society, Spencer Gordon, Conservation Technician and Devin Best, executive director, from USLTRCD, John Nixon, president of FFFRP board of directors, and Keith Seydel, Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve Director also attended.

Public and Director Comments:

Laura reported that Camp Ocean Pines Outdoor Education Director Channing Kaiser has asked for advice on native plants and how to grow them. COP has received a grant for a greenhouse. The project is a result of the Forest Committee’s encouragement with last year’s grant to plant Monterey Pines at the camp.

Grant Information from Upper Salinas-Las Tables Resource Conservation District

Spencer Gordon is a new employee at USLTRCD. He was previously employed by State Parks in Santa Cruz. The Forest Committee, Greenspace, FFRP and the CSD representatives all welcomed him.

USLTRCD has received a Cal Fire grant for work on 500 acres, including Rancho Marino, FRP and other areas. The goals are to improve forest health and reduce fire danger.

Ascent Environmental will write the Project Specific Analysis detailing the project. Different areas will be subject to different treatments. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the PSA. After the PSA is approved, USLTRCD will be responsible for planning, permitting, doing the work, and monitoring. Work will probably start in October.

Neil expressed concern that this project will ignore CNPS requests for a pilot project or test plots, as happened in the Covell Ranch project. The Fire Safe Council excluded CNPS and the Forest committee from site visits. That work was so harsh on understory that wildlife habitat was lost, leaving little connection between ground and trees. Large amounts of wood chips were left on the ground, changing the forest floor.

Devin said that the USLTRCD’s role is “to come up with a happy medium. We don’t want compromise, we want consensus.”

Devin said he would like to use fire ecology, which raises issues of greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. Possible use of a curtain burner could help. Devin has no place to store cut vegetation. The risk of setting fires in populated areas raises questions of fire safety. Burned piles along Cambria Pines Road were inadequately extinguished earlier this year, resulting in fire breaking out hours later. Burn piles were close together, and close to live trees, which were scorched and may die in future.

Spencer advised thinning vegetation to replicate the effects of fire. He said he does not anticipate using prescribed burns in future. He advised selective thinning from an ecological standpoint to create the habitat type created by fire.

After the discussion, Devin and Spencer left the meeting.

Directors continued with the business meeting.

The Minutes of the May Meeting were unanimously approved with an amendment to note that the Water Wait List includes nearly 500 homes that would add to the traffic on Lodge Hill during an evacuation.

Report from Fire Safe Focus Group Wednesday meeting.

Fire Safe Council Business Manager Dan Turner reported that the county has been awarded $9 million in Fire Prevention / Forest Health grants. A bill in the state Senate could require projects to pay the prevailing wage, which would increase the costs. Projects now often rely on low-cost convict labor. He led a site visit to the Covel Ranch project last week for 30-40 people.

The council is trying to get approval from Cal Trans to use Phos-Chek Fortify along roads to reduce fire.

Treasurers report:

Laura reported that the account balance is $536.15. She paid the bill from the CPA for preparing and filing the tax forms.

New Business

Discussion of Covered Conductors for High Voltage Power Lines  

Crosby continues to research the possibilities and seek a contact at PG&E. Three kinds of conductors apply: Covered Conductors, Spacer Cable, and Load Bearing Cable. Areas in Cambria that would be appropriate for Covered Conductors include Cambria Pines Lodge where lines cross the ravine, near the nursery, and Fern Canyon Preserve, Newport to Sandown. Fire risk could be reduced in these areas without cutting down trees.

Unfinished Business

          Website Redesign – looking for ways to make the site more accessible and interactive.

Public and Director Comments 

Neil and Crosby noted trees at the Cambria Cemetery were marked with red tape, but no work is planned for that area.

Laura asked Bob Fountain whether Greenspace would consider accepting one specific high priority conservation lot in Fern Canyon for conservation easement. He will present it to the board. Crosby will contact the SLO Land Conservancy.

John Nixon reported that FFRP has completed construction of a 24’ x 10’ greenhouse. They intend to use it to propagate understory plants which will be used on CCSD land. Will be propagated it soon. 24 X 10 greenhouse. These plants will support natural propagation, which is reduced under current drought conditions.

Keith said he is working with Andrew Boyd-Goodrich, executive director of Camp Ocean Pines, on the PSA for Rancho Marino, which is adjacent to COP.

Future Agenda Items and Speakers

Presentation about Covered Conductors

Michigan State Forest Carbon and Climate Program https://www.canr.msu.edu/fccp/

Society of American Foresters Videos https://learn.eforester.org

The meeting was adjourned at 12;30.

Next Meeting July 15, 2022

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May 2022 Minutes

Posted on May 25, 2022 by Christine Heinrichs

CAMBRIA FOREST COMMITTEE

TO CONSERVE AND MANAGE THE NATIVE FOREST OF CAMBRIA

May 2022

May 13, 2022, 10:00 AM

Zoom.com Video Teleconference

Crosby Swartz called the meeting to order at 10:05 am. A Quorum was established by attendance of Crosby and Laura Swartz, Bob Fountain of Greenspace, Harry Farmer, Cambria CSD liaison and director, and Christine Heinrichs. Neil Havlik of California Native Plant Society and Keith Seydel, Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve Director also attended.

Public and Director Comments:

Crosby presented information about PG&E’s Covered Wire program, replacing high voltage lines with insulated wire. This could reduce fire danger from overhead wires by 90 percent. He will research the subject and report at the June meeting. This could be a subject for a future speaker. Funding is available for fire prevention projects. CFC could reach out to Fire Safe Council for collaboration on encouraging PG&E to replace uninsulated wire with Covered Wire.

The Minutes of the April Meeting were unanimously approved as amended.

Treasurer’s Report:  Laura Swartz reported the bank balance of $366.15, and petty cash of $40. She expects the bill for tax form preparation. CFC does not owe any taxes, but has to file.

Sub-Committee Reports

          Education/Planting/Mitigation/Operations

                Earth Day Event at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

CFC joined FFRP and Greenspace for collegial conversation and offered promotional materials at the south end of Fiscalini Ranch’s Bluff Trail. In informal discussion, Greenspace directors reported that the owner of a large lot in Fern Canyon is interested in donating the property. Crosby and Laura described it as a forested lot in the middle of the canyon with year-round water frequented by wildlife and high conservation value. Bob Fountain will follow up with the Greenspace board. If Greenspace is not interested in accepting the lot, CFC can approach The SLO Land Conservancy about it.

Forest Management

Covell Ranch Project Update: Work has stopped on this project. Pile burning has been suspended. CNPS has not received a response to the organization’s request for a site visit. A site visit is important to gauge amount of vegetation regrowth through chips. A site visit can document the amount and species re-growing, at this time, five months after tree and understory removal. Based on result, the 10-year project can be revised now to encourage diversity and native plants. Neil and Melissa Mooney will follow up.

Results need to be documented and communicated to the Coastal Commission, which has jurisdiction over Cal VTP projects. The commission needs to be informed of the results of projects that they are approving.

The CSD’s Ad Hoc Committee on Forest Management submitted its report to the District Board. It is on page 63 of the March 10 meeting agenda, https://www.cambriacsd.org/files/1912d8d48/2022+03+10+Amended+Final+Regular+Meeting+Agenda.pdf.

No Fire Safe Focus Group meeting this month, after the Wildfire Preparedness Day May 7.

New Business

Website Redesign: The website needs better organization and easier navigation for visitors. It should be able to accept donations. Christine invites directors to visit the website and make suggestions. She will pursue getting an estimate for professional redesign.

Unfinished Business

Discussion of CCSD Fire Hazard Fuel Reduction Program:

Crosby and Laura have marked the list of lots to indicate which lots are under conservation easement or adjacent to conservation easements. Those lots should be treated differently from other vacant lots. Special guidelines should apply to 87 parcels in Fern Canyon, many of which comprise multiple lots. Fire Chief Hollingsworth is retiring in June. His successor has not yet been named.

Discussion of USLT Resource Conservation District Role as Forest Manager: Keith reported that Ascent Environmental, https://www.ascentenvironmental.com/,  did a biological survey for Rancho Marino and adjacent California Fish & Wildlife property. He is working on a grant application with Upper Salinas Las Tablas Resource Conservation District for the work. The proposed work will be subject to public comment before work begins. Keith lives on the land.

Public and Director Comments:

Harry Farmer reported that Andrew Johnson, who had been acting as forest manager for USLTRCD, has left the organization. Spencer Gordon, formerly with State Parks, has taken the position. Harry will reach out to meet him.

The CSD suggestion that an evacuation road could be constructed through Rancho Marino and other properties south of Cambria would be a multi-million-dollar project. It would cross 13 arroyos and protected coastal prairie, making Coastal Commission approval unlikely. Keith would agree to safety measures, but this project is not likely to be achieved. Allowing evacuees to park on the ranch is possible, but the area is uneven. It could accommodate a couple hundred cars but not the 9,600 posited in the most recent evacuation documents.

Laura said that the Water Wait List applicants include about 500 more residences on Lodge Hill that would be attempting to evacuate in an emergency.

Bob Fountain reported that water samples had been collected on the first Saturday in May for Marine Sanctuary Snapshot Day. The water quality monitoring project collects samples from San Mateo County to SLO County, on the coast and from inland sites. Samples are tested for livestock bacterial and fertilizer chemical contamination Crosby suggested asking whether SODBlitz could be included, as Sudden Oak Death pathogens travel by water. See https://montereybay.noaa.gov/getinvolved/volunteer/snapshotday.html

for more details and reports.

Directors noted that the Coastal Commission has unanimously denied Poseidon Water’s Huntington Beach Desalination Project permit. That milestone will probably not be the end of that project.

Cambria CSD received a Notice of Violation from the Coastal Commission April 19, 2022. The NOV opens a discussion of Cambria’s water use issues. Cambria’s water extractions have been documented as damaging the creeks and riparian habitat for some years. The district has not reduced extractions and maintains that the district has adequate water to accommodate buildout of the Water Wait List. The process engages expensive legal conflicts that divert district finances away from critical infrastructure.

Future Agenda Items and Speakers

Covered wire

Michigan State Forest Carbon and Climate Program https://www.canr.msu.edu/fccp/

Society of American Foresters Videos https://learn.eforester.org

The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 am
Next Meeting June 10, 2022

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April 2022 Minutes

Posted on April 20, 2022 by Christine Heinrichs

CAMBRIA FOREST COMMITTEE

TO CONSERVE AND MANAGE THE NATIVE FOREST OF CAMBRIA

Meeting Minutes

April 2022 Minutes

April 15, 2022, 10:00 AM

Zoom.com Video Teleconference

Crosby Swartz called the meeting to order at 10:09 am. A Quorum was established by attendance of directors Crosby and Laura Swartz, Julie Jorgenson, Greenspace representative Bob Fountain, and Christine Heinrichs. FFRP Executive Director Kitty Connolly, Cambria CSD liaison Harry Farmer and Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino Reserve Director Keith Seydel also attended.

Minutes of February and March Meetings were approved unanimously as amended.

Treasurer’s Report:  Laura Swartz reported no change in account totals: $366.15, plus $30 in petty cash. She is working on the income tax returns, which are due in May. CPA Lynn Singer will review.

Sub-Committee Reports

          Education/Planting/Mitigation/Operations

                Earth Day Events April 22 and 23. Greenspace will hold an event Friday April 22 at the Creekside Reserve.  Fiscalini Ranch Preserve invites the Forest Committee to join them at the table Kitty Connolly will set up at the South end of the Bluff Trail at Windsor, 9 am-1 pm.

Webinar Video “Understanding The Science, Forest and Fire Management”  Understanding the Science, Ep. 2: Are Current Fire Management Practices the Contemporary Sisyphus?

And this paper explaining why some widely accepted forest management treatments are ineffective or even counter-productive.

Website updates: Christine asked directors to review the website and offer suggestions for improvements.

Forest Management

         Covell Ranch Project Updates: No work is currently being done. Melissa Mooney of CNPS requested a follow-up site visit. No response to date.

Report from Fire Safe Focus Group:

Cal Fire has suspended burning the remaining 350 of 500 burn piles, subsequent to the March 7 fire which rekindled during the night. Fire Safe Council Business Manager Dan Turner reported that they have acquired an infrared detecting device to avoid future episodes. When broom is removed before seeds set, the vegetation can be chipped. Broom piles are burned because viable seeds have been allowed to develop. Burning piles near trees can scorch them, and the trees may die later. Better timing of broom removal would eliminate the need to burn, with its attendant problems, and do a better job of reducing broom.

Friends of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve has applied for a fire prevention grant. Response expected in May or June.

Wildfire Prevention Day will be May 7

New Business

          Discussion of CCSD Fire Hazard Fuel Reduction Program: Cambria CSD started its annual program at the April 14 meeting. Crosby and Laura will write to the fire department listing the lots protected by conservation easements for less extreme weed abatement.

Discussion About Changing CFC Meeting Date and Time:

All in attendance preferred daytime meetings.

Unfinished Business

Discussion of USLT Resource Conservation District Role as Forest Manager:

USLTRCD has followed Cal Fire recommendations in the Covell Ranch project, despite comments from the Forest Committee and others directing them to research that shows extreme vegetation removal does not promote forest health or fire safety and may allow the forest to get hotter and drier.

Keith Seydel, Rancho Marino director, said that the ranch is a research forest and will include experimental treatment plots to test for regrowth. Dr. Sarah Bisbing, formerly of Cal Poly and now at University of Nevada Reno, will lead the forest management and treatment plan. Biological survey personnel from Ascent Environmental, https://www.ascentenvironmental.com/, in Sacramento will visit the ranch. Keith will give a report at the May meeting.

Harry Farmer spoke with arborist Blair McCormick recently about the forest. Crosby suggested inviting Blair to do an assessment of the forest.

Public and Director Comments

Bob Fountain reported on the recent Greenspace acquisition of a large forested parcel adjacent to the Strawberry Canyon Preserve.  He also reported on presentations at the middle and high schools by Rick Hawley and Bob Cichowski.

Future Agenda Items and Speakers

Michigan State Forest Carbon and Climate Program https://www.canr.msu.edu/fccp/

Society of American Foresters Videos https://learn.eforester.org

The meeting was Adjourned at noon.

Next Meeting Friday May 13, 2022 10 am

 

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March 2022 Minutes

Posted on March 15, 2022 by Christine Heinrichs

CAMBRIA FOREST COMMITTEE

TO CONSERVE AND MANAGE THE NATIVE FOREST OF CAMBRIA

March 2022.docx

March 9, 2022, 5:30 PM

Zoom.com Video Teleconference

The meeting was Called to Order at 5:45 and a Quorum established by attendance of Crosby and Laura Swartz, Bob Fountain, Julie Jorgenson, and Christine Heinrichs. Harry Farmer, Cambria Community Services District Board liaison, and Jim Townsend also attended.

Public and Director Comments:

Directors expressed concern about the vegetation pile burned by Cal Fire on Cambria Pines Road, March 7. The firefighters left the fire as extinguished, but it rekindled and burst into flame around 11 pm. A neighbor called the fire department and posted video on Nextdoor.

Harry said that a Cal Fire representative reported at the Fire Safe Focus Group meeting that it had burned only an area 25’ x 40’, although the video clearly shows a larger area, around ¾ acre. Cambria Fire Department stayed on site about 4 hours to put the fire out.

Laura said that around 500 piles, with around 350 remaining still to be burned. Burning piles can also singe nearby Monterey Pine trees that will later die. She reported that Fire Safe Council business manager Dan Turner claims that sending crews of convicts over from Atascadero to cut the broom when it’s too hot to work there is an economic way to control the broom.  Crosby said that the need to burn the vegetation to kill the broom seeds would be eliminated if the broom were cut before it produces viable seeds.

Jim Townsend said that leaving piles of brush on the ground can create wildlife habitat that then can’t be removed.

All agreed other methods of disposing of cleared vegetation are preferable to burning, especially under this year’s exceptionally dry conditions. Cambria has not had rain since December.

Approve Minutes of January and February Meetings:

Christine will provide Minutes of the February meeting, at which Bryant Baker spoke. No business meeting was conducted.

January Minutes were approved unanimously.

Treasurer’s Report: Laura reported that all the grant money was spent. She and Crosby donated some amount to cover all costs. After paying the Post Office box rental of $182, the remaining balance is $366.15.

Sub-Committee Reports

          Education/Planting/Mitigation/Operations

                Report from Online Forest Carbon and Climate Course:  Crosby and Laura took the course and enjoyed it. Crosby shared the informational handouts with other directors. They are posted on the website.

Forest Management

Covell Ranch Project Updates: Crosby reported that Dan Turner has not responded to Neil Havlik’s request on behalf of CNPS for a follow-up site visit.

Old Growth Forest Network: Fiscalini Ranch Preserve was inducted into the Old Growth Forest Network.  The group is seeking to identify a forest in every county in the country.

Report from Fire Safe Focus Group:

Rancho Marino will be the next area treated by Cal Fire crews. The USLTRCD is recruiting property owners with five or more acres of forest.

Wildfire Preparedness Day will be held May 7, both in person and on YouTube. FSFG is implementing a new alert system. Evacuation studies remain unfinished.

New Business

  Discussion of USLT Resource Conservation District Role as Forest Manager  

USLTRCD generally follows Cal Fire’s recommendations on forest management. Cal Fire relies on the state Vegetation Treatment Program. Projects in the Coastal Zone need review, hearing and approval from the Coastal Commission. Crosby will determine who Coastal Commission sent to inspect the work. The Forest Committee will discuss requesting another inspection before the Covell Ranch project is done and ask for special consideration for the Monterey Pine forest.

Unfinished Business

          Update Camp Ocean Pines Tree Planting Project  

All tree seedlings from Greenspace and equipment were delivered as promised. Camp Ocean Pines first class of campers have gone through the tree planting program, supervised by Outdoor Education Director Channing Kaiser. Photos have been sent to Cambria Community Council, which provided funding, and posted to the Forest Committee website. Bob Fountain will suggest that the camp coordinate with Greenspace’s middle school education program.

Bob reported that Greenspace has provided 1,000 Monterey Pine seedlings to State Parks in the past two years, some of which are 3 ½ feet tall. They are planted in the Parks area north of Washburn State Campground. State Parks has requested another 1,000 seedlings.

Public and Director Comments

Crosby suggested considering another meeting time, as CNPS meets at the same time, to allow members to attend both meetings. Friday morning is a possible alternative meeting time.

Future Agenda Items and Speakers

 Michigan State Forest Carbon and Climate Program

Society of American Foresters Videos

The Mother Tree Project,  inspired by the book, Finding the Mother Tree by Susanne Simard.

Meeting Adjourned at 6:45 pm
Next Meeting April 15, 2022

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February 2022 Minutes

Posted on February 15, 2022 by Christine Heinrichs

CAMBRIA FOREST COMMITTEE

TO CONSERVE AND MANAGE THE NATIVE FOREST OF CAMBRIA

February 2022.docx

February 9, 2022, 5:30 PM

Zoom.com Video Teleconference

Crosby Swartz called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. A Quorum was established by attendance of CDC directors Crosby and Laura Swartz, Julie Jorgenson and Christine Heinrichs. Harry Farmer, Cambria CSD liaison attended. Community members attending included Valerie Eastman, Mary Webb, Elizabeth Bettenhausen, Sheri Kosh, former Cal Fire forester Alan Peters from his current home in West Virginia, Neil Havlik and Melissa Mooney of California Native Plant Society, Cal Fire Forestry Assistant Jon Gee, Robert and Ann Cichowski, Holy Sletteland, Ted Key, and Rancho Marino Reserve Director Keith Seydel, for a total of 19 attendees.

Los Padres ForestWatch Conservation Director Bryant Baker gave a PowerPoint presentation, followed by Q&A and Discussion. Video of the presentation is posted on the Forest Committee’s website, here, Passcode: #z&5pvJA.

Bryant holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Environmental, Soil and Water Science.  At LPFW, he analyzes ways to improve the effectiveness of forest health and fire prevention projects, and reduce potential adverse effects, based on the latest science.

Los Padres Forest Watch is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to protecting wildlife, wilderness, water, and sustainable access throughout the Los Padres National Forest and the Carrizo Plain National Monument.  For more information about LPFW, check their website.

Forests perform an important role by absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere and reducing global warming.  The widespread fire agency practice of cutting trees down to reduce fire danger can have the unwanted effect of producing hotter, dryer, and windier conditions that create more dangerous wildfire conditions.  For example, the Cambria Forest Committee is concerned about the long-term effects of the ongoing Covell Ranch Fuel Reduction Project.

The regular business portion of the meeting was deferred to the regular March meeting to allow time for Mr. Baker to respond to many questions from the attendees.

Next Meeting March 9, 2022

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Bryant Baker speaks at CFC meeting

Posted on January 25, 2022 by Christine Heinrichs

Bryant Baker, Conservation Director for Los Padres ForestWatch, will speak at the February 9 meeting of the Cambria Forest Committee, 5:30 pm on Zoom. The public is invited, free. All CFC meetings, monthly on the second Wednesday, are open to the public. Please request the Zoom link for the meeting by email to forest@cambriaforestcommittee.org.

Video of his talk is posted at https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/83o4r_f_zbJvWO6daFbeJMoz-jggOxnNLjjJcak_ncDQa3JWk1FiNVz5soq53j-n.1BeTrZ6pclXs9J2n?startTime=1644457131000 (Passcode: #z&5pvJA)

Significant subjects he addressed are at the following points in the video:

00:00:00  Introduction
00:06:30  Begin Presentation
00:18:00  Community Wildfire Protection Plan
00:25:30  Forest Thinning
00:44:50  Structure Ignition Protection
01:06:44  Regrowth After Fire
01:10:15  Question and Answer – Discussion
02:28:22  End

Bryant Baker_72_Jun 2020

As Conservation Director, Mr. Baker analyzes technical documents, writes comments on projects undergoing environmental review, pens articles in local news publications, monitors the latest scientific literature on ecology and land management, develops and coordinates volunteer field projects, and gives community presentations on topics such as wildfire mitigation.

He will talk about what methods keep forests healthy and how to reduce the danger of wildfire to homes and communities in and near the forest. Projects that remove trees and understory as “fuel reduction” may actually result in forests that are more subject to fire and burn hotter and faster than forests that have their understory habitat left intact.

Cal Fire, the County Fire Safe Council, the Upper Salinas-Las Tablas Resource Conservation District and Auten Resource Consulting are currently removing large numbers of trees and understory from 665 acres of Covell Ranch as a 10-year Fuel Reduction Project in Cambria. See the project as described in slides from Auten Consulting at http://cambriaforestcommittee.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Covell-Ranch-Auten-PowerPoint-slides.pdf.

The Cambria Forest Committee has concerns about the long-term effects of the ongoing Covell Ranch Fuel Reduction Project.  The fire agency approach to fuel reduction for forest management ignores the fact that forests absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, playing an important role in mitigating the climate crisis. Cutting trees down to reduce fire danger can produce hotter, dryer, and windier conditions, increasing wildfire danger.

Mr. Baker studied Oregon’s 2021 Bootleg Fire and found that “thinning, fuel breaks, and other forest management failed to stop or slow the fire’s rapid spread.

“Contrary to fuel reduction claims, the Bootleg Fire has raced through much of the landscape that has been logged in one way or another since the 1970s, including over the last few years,” he said.

Terms such as “forest health,” ‘resilience,” and “fuel reduction” sound good but in practice mean suppressing natural processes and removal of understory and biodiversity habitat.

Mr. Baker observes that fire breaks and mastication may be counterproductive to reducing fire danger to communities.

Mr. Bryant will respond to questions from the public after his presentation. See him in an interview with Dr. Chad Hanson, forest and fire ecologist with the John Muir Project of Earth Island Institute and author of the new book, Smokescreen: Debunking Wildfire Myths to Save Our Forests and Our Climate, at https://lpfw.org/smokescreen-with-dr-chad-hanson-webinar-recording/

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Minutes December 2021

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Christine Heinrichs

CAMBRIA FOREST COMMITTEE

TO CONSERVE AND MANAGE THE NATIVE FOREST OF CAMBRIA

Minutes December 2021

December 8, 2021, 5:30 PM

Zoom.com Video Teleconference

Crosby Swartz called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. A Quorum was established by attendance of Crosby and Laura Swartz, Christine Heinrichs, John Seed, Greenspace board president acting for Greenspace, and Harry Farmer, Liaison for the Cambria CSD. Neil Havlik representing California Native Plant Society, Andrew Boyd-Goodrich, executive director of Camp Ocean Pines, and Cambria resident Elizabeth Bettenhausen also attended.

Public and Director Comments:

The EV charging station was installed in the parking space previously designated for handicapped use at the Vet Hall. American Legion members have complained to the board. The charging station was installed after a matching funds grant was identified to pay half for it. Whether it will generate enough income to cover the district’s costs remains to be seen.

The Minutes of the November Meeting were approved as amended.

Treasurer’s Report:

Laura Swartz reports the account balance at $1,168.50, including $350 in donations from directors. Cambria Community Council awarded the Forest Committee a grant of $650 for Monterey Pine restoration at Camp Ocean Pines. She will keep those funds separate in accounting.

The CCC grant of $650 provides $250 for seedlings, $150 for protective fencing and screening, $150 for holding and growing, cones, racks, and $100 for a steel planting stick. COP’s goals are educational and experiential. Ten trees a month will be planted for five months. The new Outdoor Education Director will arrive to take over her duties in January.

Sub-Committee Reports

          Education/Planting/Mitigation/Operations

                 CCSD Finance Committee Recommendation to Divest Forest Parcels was included in its report to the CCSD board. TDCs and the Buildout Reduction Plan could provide legal defense against recent lawsuit claims that the district has taken property value.

From the BRP Report, page 5: “In addition, by providing an opportunity for property owners to sell undeveloped parcels the BRP and TDC substantially reduce the risk of litigation by such property owners related to the issue of water connections and building permits in the future.”

Crosby and other directors will bring that point up at the board’s Strategic Plan workshop in January.

A map of the conserved parcels is posted in the Vacant Parcel Assessment report on web site http://cambriaforestcommittee.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Cambria-Vacant-Parcel-Assessment.pdf

Report from Fire Safe Focus Group

Dan Turner, business manager for county Fire Safe Council, gave a report on the Covell Ranch Fuel Reduction Project, which was begun on October 20. He invited Neil Havlik to inspect two test parcels that have been set up, one to remove all trees at 4 inches or less DBA, the other all trees at 8 inches or less DBA. Mr. Havlik was satisfied by the results. In the 8-inch plot, healthy smaller trees were left standing. Tree spacing of 15 to 20 feet is also being used as a criterion. The requirement for buffers around wood rat nests protected substantial sections.

“In my professional judgment, wildlife habitat value was not seriously compromised,” Mr. Havlik said.

Forestry monitors will observe the project and CNPS observers will continue to evaluate the project.

Harry Farmer expressed concern that too many trees and understory are being removed. He and Neil will arrange a time to walk the area, take pictures and confer. They will report at the January meeting.

New fire prevention grants are available, applications due Feb 9. Grants are available for updating forest management plans.

New Business

       Approve expenditures for Camp Ocean Pines Tree Planting Project:

The directors approved a motion to allow Laura to spend the $650 grant money as needed on supplies. She will confer with Andrew Boyd-Goodrich and the Outdoor Education director.

Unfinished Business

          Report – CCSD Forest Management Ad Hoc Committee

Harry reported that advisors from Cal Fire and other traditional forestry sources have been heard. He will invite Bryant Baker, conservation director of Los Padres Forest Watch to add his perspective in January. Mr. Baker advocates for supporting forest ecological systems to avoid clearing which results in hotter, drier forests that are more vulnerable to fire after fuel reduction.

Public and Director Comments:

Laura Thanked Mr. Boyd-Goodrich for attending the meeting. He will encourage the Outdoor Education director to attend in future.

Future Agenda Items and Speakers

Los Padres Forest Watch Webinar: Crosby and Christine will work on getting the webinar for a future public presentation.

Adjourned at 7:20 pm.

Next Meeting January 12, 2022, 5:30 pm

 

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