Riparian areas serve critical ecosystem services and are highly protected. When is management appropriate, when it is not, and how do managers navigate the complex permitting processes? Join us on a tour of three properties demonstrating different management approaches and focuses. In addition to the site hosts, special speakers include California Department of Fish and Wildlife, professional foresters and others.
Hosted by: Sonoma County Forest Conservation Working Group
Location: Meet at Glen Oaks Ranch, 13255 Sonoma Hwy, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
Date: Sunday, March 13th, 10am-2pm
Transportation between sites: Caravan personal vehicles a total of about 2.5 miles. Carpooling is voluntary.
Site 1: Glen Oaks Ranch Shaded Fuel Break Project
- Location: Glen Oaks Ranch
- Project lead: Sonoma Land Trust
- Project description: 6 acres of understory thinning/shaded fuel break along a ranch road, and adjacent to Stuart Creek, funded by Cal Fire. Glen Oaks Ranch burned in the 2017 Nuns Fire. Permit considerations: Forest Practice Rules limits management in WLPZ
- How project avoided impacts to the riparian: SF Bay Water Board was consulted, and our RPF flagged off a WLPZ next to the stream channel. The project was completed under a Notice of Exemption with Cal Fire as the lead agency
- Project technical support: Project utilized an registered professional forester and archaeologist
Site 2: Calabazas Creek Riparian Corridor Fire Recovery Project
- Location: Private property on Nuns Canyon Road
- Project lead: Sonoma Ecology Center
- Project description: Post-fire restoration: invasive plant removal, dead standing tree removal, erosion control, replanting. Property burned in the 2017 Nuns Fire.
- How project avoided impacts to the riparian: Project was completed under our Routine Maintenance Agreement with CDFW
- Project technical support: Project utilized an in-house biologist to evaluate the stream corridor prior to implementation
Site 3: Calabazas Creek Shaded Fuel Break Project
- Location: Calabazas Creek Regional Park and Preserve
- Project lead: Sonoma County Ag and Open Space District
- Project description: Shaded fuel break implementation along a class 1 corridor and across class 2 and class 3 streams
- How project avoided impacts to the riparian: Project completely avoided the class 1 corridor, except two dead trees after consultation with DFW. Project implemented forest practice rules along class 2 and class 3 streams.
- Project technical support: Registered Professional Forester, certified biologist for nesting bird surveys, consulted with Fire Forward for prescribed fire planning, however, the property was transferred before prescribed fire plans were formulated.
