Preparedness/Forest

Working Doc

Casey's mixing the two Meeting Notes files' Forestry bits. This is for future group edits. whew ok the 'dump' is in.

the on-going edit

Community scale operations

A coordinated reduction of the fuel base by selective logging. Fire safety has a 'contagion' model - if your neighbor doesn't reduce their fire risks your fire risk doesn't go down. An orchestrated sequence of permits and harvesting efforts through the Canyon can slowly reduce the fire risk.

There are two permitting approaches to thinning trees in the Canyon.

( some reference material https://www.coastal.ca.gov/enforcement/cdp_pamphlet.pdf https://planning.smcgov.org/tree-trimming-and-removal-permit ( heritage tree redwood defin: Sequoia sempervirens - Redwood of more than 84 inches in d.b.h. west of Skyline Boulevard or 72 inches d.b.h. east of Skyline Boulevard. )

permitting constraints include

• being w/in 5 miles of the coast ( Coastal Comission )
• being adjacent to a Class 1 Waterway ( Waterway and Lake Protection Zone (WLPZ) see diagram below )
• trees w/in 100 feet of the 100 year mark are automatically under protection
• seasonal animal migration

Need a Forestry Management Plan for the entire community ( ? ) I recall this being said, John, but who's pervue is this plan? I mean who would we submit it to?

The first is for ?individuals? to get an exemption for tree removal using the 150' fire safety exemption to remove trees. These permits expire after 45 days. So the Canyon would co-ordinate work across individual lots. some kind of coordinated batch-permitting process.

some relevant forms ( http://calfire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/downloads/CalTREES/CalTREES%200-150%20Fire%20Safe%20Exemption%20form.doc ) BE SURE TO LOOK AT THE END OF THAT FORM

There is also a 150-300 foot exemption ( http://calfire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/downloads/CalTREES/CalTREES%20150-300%20Fire%20Safe%20Exemption%20form.doc ) BE SURE TO LOOK AT THE END OF THAT FORM

The second is ? for some overarching organization ? to develop a Modified Timber Harvesting plan. This was described as being an effort of multiple parties and costing as much as $30K in professional fees to produce. In this case one of the parties would be an Registered Professional Forester (RPF). The work would have to be done by a Licensed Timber Operator (LTO).

( casey here - I think there was a third? the big Timber Harvest Plan (THP). Just who would administer the plan is a good question. )

( Casey here - there are tax issues if any lot removes more than $3K wood ) ( http://calfire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/resource_mgt_forestpractice_harvestingforms )

small operations, suitable for a lot-owner JOHN does this look correct?

• prevention
  • Ground Fires to Crown Fires
    • Clear dangling limbs up to at least 15 feet.
    • clear redwood suckers
    • clear ivy
    • limit any smaller adjoining trees at 15' in height
    • beware some ornamental plantings - holly, manzinata.
  • cut stumps lower to ground
  • remove stumps
  • haul out your chips. no chip pile higher than 12"
  • remove debris piles.
  • keep rooftops clean

---

the Data Dump

Barbara & Kevin O'Riley ( rinders - 610 Madrone ) hosted a meeting to discuss approaches to tree maintenance and thinning in the Canyon.

Rich Samson, Battalion Chief for CalFire, was presenter. He described himself as a forester and as an enforcer for forestry issues in our region.

fire is a 'contagion' condition - just clearing your lot is nice but doesn't help you if your neighbor's is full of fuel. That's why he approves of a neighborhood approach to thinning etc. examine everything holistically.

• clear the big trees of dangling limbs up to at least 15 feet. This is to deter a ground fire from becoming a crown fire.
• clear the suckers, they will facilitate fire climbing up the trees
• clear the IVY. everywhere. It draws vermin, it catches on fire easily, it holds treefall in the air where it dries into nice kindling, and it makes unpredictable footing for emergency workers. Strip it off where it's climbing trees as it will lead the fire directly up its path.
• try to get rid of the Firs.
• up north all the ornamental plantings exploded. Holly's are very oily, as are madrones. cut them back or down.
• Now don't expect a lot of $ from commercial harvesters - the proximity of all these houses to the valuable trees increases their harvesting cost.
• a lot of these little side-trees and side growths can go. ok some are not so little.
• cut stumps as low as possible. Less fuel, and if maintenance is deferred/abandoned the resulting sucker-tree will be stronger.

• there is a 150' exemption for tree cutting. ( I didn't get which overlapping network of concerns this was an exemption to. ) This diameter will overlap properties in this neighborhood.
  • there is a 45 day limit per permitted cutting
  • therefore cascade permits and harvest work across the community.
• Another Approach - a "Modified Timber Harvest Plan" doesn't have a time limit. However this is serious multi-party work, which would be a long effort.
  • you will need licensed timber operators. Bob Renyolds of Big Creek has foresters ( which will be necessary for a Modified Timber Harvest Plan ) and may well have references for licensed timber operators.
  • Aside from Merlets ( sp ) this is a Class 1 Fishery. This will produce additional paperwork and expense.
• when the cutting happens everything that is 'waste' has to be chipped or burned.
  • yes burning with a permit is legal. Burns, however, are the source of the majority of our call-outs

       chipping - has to be distributed to no more than 12" in depth. While duft is great, and helps maintain moisture, chips dry out and become vectors for invasive plants. as well as ground fuel.

---

Rob Skinner welcomed Butano neighbors and introduced Cal Fire Forester Rich Samson.

Timber Harvesting vs Fire Suppression / Timber Harvest Plan / Modified Timber Harvest Plan / Will take years, not months

Need to hire a forester and create a Forest Management Plan. In "independent" forester might have a better market for timber.

Will also need to hire a licensed Timber Operator.

What happened with the Camp fire in Butte County could happen in the Santa Cruz Mountains if the conditions were right. Wind and dry conditions play the biggest role.

- Trees should be limbed up 15 feet high and 10 feet away from all roads. Consider hiring the roadside clean up.

- Remove "vulnerable" non-native trees.

- Remove debris piles. NOTE: There will be two debris boxes available over Thanksgiving weekend.

- Permits are requited for burn piles. Always call 911 if you see a burn pile.

- Redwood duff on the ground is good as it holds moisture in the ground.

- Raise branches and other "ladder fuels".

- Keep rooftops clean.

- Eliminate smaller trees, shrubs and low-mid level branches.

- Douglass Fir are not typically as healthy as Redwoods and not as "wind firm".

Unique challenges for Butano Canyon:

- We live in Marbled Murrelet territory, which might dictate the timing of when we can have tree and other work done.

- Also the San Francisco Garter Snake.

- Its challenging and more expensive to remove trees that are close to house.

- May face challenges with permitting with San Mateo County. - Butano Creek is a Class One fishery. Trees within 100 feet of the high water mark are protected and will require special permitting.

- Permits would be parcel by parcel.

- Need a Forest Management Plan for the entire community.

Next Steps:

- Gather a list of potential Forest Managers.

- Interview Forest Managers, which will be the best fit to help us design and implement the right Forest Management Plan for Butano Canyon.

- Write Thank You letters to Bob Reynolds and Rich Samson.

- Invite all Butano Canyon neighbors to join our committee.

- There is a lot of overlap with the current Emergency Preparedness committee. Should we combine? How might we coordinate our efforts?

- Rob suggested that we might be able to purchase a used ATT bucket truck to keep in the canyon. This way we could do a lot of the limbing work on our own.

Next: John and Casey are combining their notes

---

supplimental info