Project Description
According to the State of California PEF "The main objectives of this project will be to a) remove non-native, invasive trees from Caspar Headlands State Natural Reserve, and to b) re-vegetate selected areas with appropriate native tree and shrub species. The project will foster environmental stewardship at Caspar Headlands SNR through the combined efforts of State Parks, the Caspar Community, and other State and local agencies."
The document considers this "an infestation" and, in order to get rid of it, has enlisted CalFire and fire crews from the Department of Corrections (Parlin Fork) to get it under control. The first phase of this work has been accomplished, looked like this in 2003.
After the first wave of felling took place in early 2009, it looked like this:
All that ocean and sky where the black outline is shows the view (from the Caspar Inn) that the Fire crews gave back to Caspar. Over the winter of 2010, most of the remaining "weeds" were felled, and the last of the trees will likely be gone by mid-summer 2010. Job well done! and THANK YOU to State Parks, CalFire, and the CDC crews.
short note to tree huggers
We all love trees, even these trees. But they were a terrible fire hazard -- see Australia in February 2009. Those of us who live nearby don't want to see this happen here.
What's worse: when they're not burning, they poison the ground, kill hummingbirds, and displace native habitat. They're bad actors. The plan is to replace these Eucalypts, once the ground has recovered, tree for tree with lower growing, native shore shrubs and trees. This is Restoration Forestry in action. You are invited to help. For more information on how a wildlife biologist thinks about these trees, see Peter Warner's indictment. |
State Parks' Mendocino District natural resources program proposes to work with local residents to facilitate the removal of invasive plants through increased cooperation and coordination, and this is an instance of that partnership. Under the direction of State Park Environmental Scientists, volunteers will remove the downed wood and then, with park staff, will plant the natives in appropriate locations on the Caspar Headlands. The newly revegetated areas will be maintained with the assistance of community volunteers.
Comments about State Parks' involvement in this project should be directed to project coordinator Angela Liebenberg, email ALIEBENBERG (at) parks.ca.gov -- substitute the cute little @ symbol. This link is cloaked for spam protection.
More Good News
Due to a VERY wet Spring, firewood harvesting operations are beginning in late June. Some of last year's dry firewood is still available for $300/cord plus $25 delivery charge per cord ...or load your own for $275/cord. The 2009 wood mining crew has enthusiastically re-enlisted, and so all volunteer positions are currently filled. Wood deliveries may be requested by emailing wood (at) CasparInstitute.org.
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