Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve March 24, 2010 1 Agenda 1. - - PDF document

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Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve March 24, 2010 1 Agenda 1. - - PDF document

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Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve March 24, 2010 1 Agenda 1. Welcome/Background/Update 2. Agenda Overview 3. 2001 Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve Management Plan 4. Management Actions since 2001 5. Demonstration Area 6. Next Steps 7.

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SLIDE 1

Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve

1 March 24, 2010 2

  • 1. Welcome/Background/Update
  • 2. Agenda Overview
  • 3. 2001 Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve

Management Plan

  • 4. Management Actions since 2001
  • 5. Demonstration Area
  • 6. Next Steps
  • 7. Proposed Trail Markers

Agenda

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SLIDE 2

2001 Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve Management Plan

3 4

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SLIDE 3

Mount Sutro Open Space

  • Forest planted by Adolph Sutro in 1886
  • In 1976, UC Regents designated the forest

as permanent open space, which was reaffirmed in subsequent UCSF plans

  • Forest includes 61 acres owned by UC;
  • ther parts owned by city and private
  • wners

5

1996 Long Range Development Plan (LRDP)

  • Based on community concerns, LRDP called for

preparation of a plan to investigate an appropriate maintenance and restoration program for UCSF Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve

  • In 2001, UCSF prepared Mount Sutro Open Space

Reserve Management Plan with 3 years of input and review by the community

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SLIDE 4

Community Input on 2001 Plan

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  • 1998-99 Community Advisory Group (sub-committee

meetings)

  • June 2000—community meeting
  • August 2000—working session on phased management

strategy

  • October 2000--working session on phased management

strategy

  • December 2000—community meeting
  • March 2001—planning session/feedback on draft plan
  • June 2001—community meeting

2001 Management Plan

Existing Conditions

  • Most of forest unhealthy and in decline
  • Coastal climate—fog drip much of the year; in fall

high temperatures, low humidity and winds from the northeast increase vulnerability to wildfire

  • Different microclimates (north and east slopes are

more moist; south and west slopes are more dry)

  • Wildfire hazard is greatest on south facing slopes

and near buildings

8

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SLIDE 5

2001 Management Plan

  • Objectives:

– Ensure public safety/property protection – Improve health of forest – Protect/expand native plants – Enhance wildlife habitat – Maintain scenic quality – Improve public access – Implement Management Plan

  • Framework, not blueprint, for managing Reserve

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2001 Management Plan

  • Phase 1 of long-term management program
  • Five types of actions:

– Hazardous tree removal – Eucalyptus thinning – Conversion planting – Native plant restoration/enhancement – Trail system improvements

  • Phase 1 actions in 32 various acres of Reserve
  • Annually phased work
  • Adaptive management strategy

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SLIDE 6

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Management Actions Since 2001

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SLIDE 7

Management Plan Actions Taken Since 2001

Priority 1 actions complete (7 of 9):

  • Crestmont-Christopher, and Lower Medical

Center Way Hazardous Tree removal

  • Installation of Rotary Meadow, a native plant

demonstration area on the summit; funded by $100,000 grant from Rotary Club (combination of 3 Management Plan actions)

  • Aldea Screen Planting
  • Cleared and improved trails through the

efforts of Mount Sutro Stewards

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Management Plan Actions Taken Since 2001

Priority 2 actions complete (1 of 4):

  • Edgewood, Surge Hazardous Tree removal

Priority 3 actions complete (3 of 7):

  • Upper Medical Center Way, East Aldea and

Chancellor’s Residence Hazardous Tree removal

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SLIDE 8

Additional Actions Taken Since 2001

  • Slope stabilization and native planting on hillside

slide (due to water pipe break) site above Medical Center Way

  • Tree and brush removal for construction of

Regeneration Medicine Building

  • Mount Sutro Stewards’ historical trail restoration
  • Non-UCSF project: SF Public Utilities

Commission pump house and pipeline project

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Demonstration Project

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SLIDE 9

Proposed Goals and Objectives

  • SAFE
  • HEALTHY
  • AESTHETIC
  • USABLE

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SAFE

  • Reduce fuel load and

potential for devastating wildfire

  • Provide emergency

response access

  • Remove hazardous trees

near trails, roads and structures

  • Improve trailside visibility
  • Provide long-term

maintenance

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SLIDE 10

HEALTHY

  • Reduce competition among trees

(increase growing space, soil/ plant moisture and fertility)

  • Remove diseased and unhealthy

trees

  • Create uneven tree ages
  • Increase tree species diversity
  • Remove vines from tree trunks
  • Monitor and sustain health of

forest

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AESTHETIC

  • Maintain a forested setting
  • Maintain attractive, healthy trees
  • Improve visibility within forest
  • Provide views beyond forest

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SLIDE 11

USABLE

  • Maintain adequate path and

trailside clearance

  • Place logs for seating along trails

and to close unauthorized trails

  • Modify steep trail segments with

switchbacks

  • Enrich habitat and outdoor

experience

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Examples of Other Projects

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SLIDE 12

Highway 1 “13 Curves”

Point Reyes National Seashore Issues:

  • Fire safe access/egress/use for highway travelers
  • Enhance native bird habitat
  • Contain loss of native plants
  • Reduce damage to riparian systems

After Before

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Highway 1 “13 Curves”

continued

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Prescriptions:

  • Remove ground and ladder fuels
  • Remove saplings under 10” in diameter
  • Treat stumps with Garlon
  • Remove subordinate trunks of multi-trunk trees
  • Clear trunks of loose bark, debris 10’ off ground

Results:

  • Very low return of understory to date
  • No tree failures due to thinning
  • No transfer of herbicide to adjacent trees
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SLIDE 13

Camino Del Canyon

Near Muir Woods National Monument Issues:

  • Fire safe access/egress for

residents

  • Reinforce/enhance

defensible space

  • Preserve historic tree

alignment

  • Contain loss of native plants
  • Prevent regrowth without

herbicides

Before After

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Camino Del Canyon

continued

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Prescriptions:

  • Remove ground and ladder fuels
  • Remove saplings under 10” in diameter
  • Raise crowns to 10’+ above ground
  • Clear trunks of loose bark, debris up to 10’
  • Cover stumps with black plastic, wood chips

Results:

  • More open, accessible and safe forest
  • Removed 60% of eucalyptus stems
  • Stump kill was fully effective on covered stumps
  • Understory of poison oak, blackberry returned
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SLIDE 14

Dominican College

Issues:

  • Fire safe emergency access/evacuation routes
  • Fire hazard reduction for surrounding community
  • Reduction of ignition risks
  • Reduction of fire intensity/rate of spread

Prescriptions:

  • Remove ground and ladder fuels
  • Thin trees for equipment maintenance
  • Remove saplings under 8” in diameter
  • Clear trunks of loose bark, debris to

10’

  • Clear debris around remaining trees
  • No herbicides used

Before

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Dominican College

continued Results:

  • Nearby fire subsequent

to treatment was easily suppressed at site

  • Flat area maintained

with small tractor

  • Hillside not maintained

and remains hazardous

  • No tree failures with

thinning

After

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SLIDE 15

Vista Tiburon

Issues:

  • Reduce fire threat to surrounding homes
  • Remove or safety prune hazard trees
  • Reinforce and enhance defensible space
  • Preserve screening for higher residents
  • Preserve privacy for residents
  • Enhance habitat with native trees/shrubs
  • Retain forested setting

Before

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Vista Tiburon

Prescriptions:

  • Remove ground and ladder fuels
  • Remove subordinate eucalyptus reproduction
  • Raise crowns to 10’ above grade
  • Clear trunks of loose bark and debris to 10’
  • Prevent stump regrowth with herbicides
  • Cut sprout growth and kill stumps regularly

Results:

  • Removed 44% of eucalyptus stems
  • Stump kill was 100% - treatment unknown
  • 40% of replacement vegetation survived

After

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SLIDE 16

East Bay Regional Park District

Issues:

  • Safety of campground/trail users
  • Pleasing aesthetics-open landscape

Before

Prescriptions:

  • Remove ground and ladder fuels
  • Thin forest
  • Use of herbicides on stumps and

poison oak

  • Use of goats in surrounding area
  • Replant with native oaks
  • Annual maintenance of trees

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East Bay Regional Park District

continued Results:

  • Reduced potential for campfire

spread-horizontally and vertically

  • Open understory
  • No poison oak
  • Mixed forest with natives

After After

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SLIDE 17

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Proposed Trail Markers

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SLIDE 18

Purpose of the trail markers:

  • Provide access for emergency responders
  • Avoid trail damage
  • Help prevent lost hikers!

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Proposed Trail Markers

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SLIDE 19

Need intersection or trail markers for clear direction and safety. Evidence of not staying on trail.

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Trail damage just before junction, cutting trail.

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SLIDE 20

Need intersection/trail marker. These are not trails.

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SLIDE 21

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Thank you Thank you