Coral Reef Fuels Management Demonstration Project

What is the demonstration project?
What does the project entail?
Where can I get more information?
What is the project area?
When will the project begin?
Click here for current photos as of May 18, May 21, May 26.
Join us for a walking tour of the completed project.

Welcome to the blog for the Coral Reef Fuels Management Demonstration Project.  Check back here for updates about the project, including details about the work being done, anticipated start and completion dates, and contact information for questions and concerns.

What is the demonstration project?
The Coral Reef Fuels Management Demonstration Project is a partership between CalFire, Cabrillo Unified School District (CUSD), Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), and the San Mateo County Resource Conservation District (RCD) to protect the neighborhoods surrounding the eucalyptus grove along Coral Reef Avenue in El Granada from wildfire.  

It will reduce the likelihood that a fire will occur, reduce the size and intensity of a fire should one occur, and provide better emergency response access in the event of a fire.  It will also protect natural resources and engage the community in fire safety.  As a demonstration project, it will provide a means to test and learn from all aspects of the project, from specific fuels management techniques to coordination among multiple partners to cost controls.

CalFire authorities idenitifed this area as a prioity for fuel reduction because of the forest structure, adjacency to homes, and current use patterns by the general public.  They recommended this site as an excellent demonstration opportunity because of its safe accessibility and visibility to the surrounding community.

CalFire coordinates crews, oversees the fuels management work, and provides subsidized, low-cost crews.  They help the landowners find affordable options for all aspects of the project.  CUSD and POST, as the landowners, pay for a portion of the crew time, provide on-site assistance, and coordinate and pay for chipping.  The RCD obtained grant funds to offset landowner expenses, helps find affordable options to complete the project, assists with outreach and communication, and will host a public workshop at the project site once work is completed to share outcomes and what was learned.

What does the project entail?

Limbs will be removed from eucalyptus trees up to approximately 12 feet.  Trees up to 6 inches in diameter will be removed using chain saws and chipped on site.  Vegetative debris that has piled on the ground and could potentially ignite will be burned under appropriate weather conditions and CalFire supervision.  Herbicide may be applied to stumps of trees that have been cut to prevent resprouting.  Protective measures are in place to prevent impacts to sensitive resources on the property.

The extent of the project will depend on availability of CalFire crews, and how long funds last (it is not certain how much crew time and other work will be required).  CUSD will address as much of a 75 foot buffer behind the homes on Coral Reef Avenue as circumstances allow.  POST will address as much of the eucalyptus grove at the end of Coral Reef Avenue that extends northeast east of Sevilla and San Carlos Avenues as circumstances allow.  

The project is tentatively scheduled to begin on May 11th, depending on the availability of crews. Crews will be working during weekdays, from 10:00 through 4:00 p.m.  The duration of the project is anticipated to be 3 weeks, but may not take place on consecutive days, as CalFire crews may be called away to fight fires at any time.

Once the project is completed a field tour of the site and a community meeting will be held to discuss the outcomes of the project.

Where can I get more information?

The RCD will update this blog regularly with new information as the project progresses.  Meanwhile, please do not hesitate to contact Ellen Gartside with questions, information, or concerns at ellen@sanmateorcd.org or by phone at 650-712-7765.  Due to time spent out of the office, phone calls are likely to be returned later than email queries.

What is the project area?

Click on this link to review the project site map.

Please note that the total area that will be treated depends on a number of variables, including the availability of CalFire crews and the costs to reduce the fuel load.  Pending crew availability, work will continue until funds are depleted.  It is not yet know what the costs will be and, therefore, how much area can be treated. Actual costs will be valuable information learned from the demonstration project.

When will the project begin?
The tentative start date for the project was Monday May 11. However, the Calfire crew has been called to assist with the fires in Santa Barbara. At this time, the start date has been pushed back one week to Monday May 18. Please check this blog for updated information for the start of the project. Once the project begins, we do not know how quickly the crews will move so it is difficult to predict when they will be working near any one residence.

Photos
May 18, 2009

May 21, 2009

May 26, 2009

Join us for a walking tour of the completed project!

Dear Neighbor:

You are invited to a walking tour of the Coral Reef Fuel Load Reduction Project. We will share what we learned from the project and additional resources for living in an area with fire concerns.  We will begin with a brief discussion at the parking lot located at the east end of Coral Reef where it intersects Sevilla Avenue. We will then walk through the work site to describe the work that was done and answer questions about the project or about fire prevention generally. Due to the uneven nature of the terrain, parts of the tour will not be accessible to persons with physical limitations. Please contact the San Mateo County Resource Conservation District (712.7765) to discuss any special requirements to participate.

 

When:              Saturday, September 19, 2009

Time:               1-3 pm

Where:             Meet at the east end of Coral Reef Avenue

Hosts:               CalFire (provided there are no fires that day)

                          Cabrillo Unified School District

                          Peninsula Open Space Trust

                          San Mateo County Resource Conservation District                   

Please share this announcement with anyone you think might be interested in joining us on that day.  We look forward to seeing you there!