HomeMy Public PortalAbout20230726 - Agenda Packet - Board of Directors (BOD) - 23-19
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Special meeting starts at 5:00 PM
Special meeting starts at 6:00 PM
Regular meeting starts at 7:00 PM*
A G E N D A
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Board meetings are held in person at the District’s
Administrative Office, and by teleconference pursuant to Government Code Section 54953.
Members of the public can attend and participate in the meeting using the following methods:
1. In-person at the Midpen Administrative Office – 5050 El Camino Real, Los Altos, CA 94022.
2. Viewing the meeting in real-time at https://openspace.zoom.us/j/86342860791 or listening to the
meeting by dialing (669) 900-6833 or (346) 248-7799 (Meeting ID 863 4286 0791).
Members of the public may submit written comments to be provided to the Board, or register to make oral
comments, as follows:
• Written comments may be submitted via the public comment form at: https://www.openspace.org/public-
comment.
• Requests to provide oral comment must be submitted prior to the time public comment on the agenda
item is closed. Requests to provide oral comments may be made by:
o Submitting a request through the public comment form at: https://www.openspace.org/public-
comment for those attending via Zoom.
o Submitting a request via the paper-based public comment form at the meeting for those attending
in-person.
• Any comments received after the deadline will be provided to the Board after the meeting.
5:00 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT – CLOSED SESSION
ROLL CALL
1. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS (Government Code Section
54956.8)
Property: 15900 Soda Spring Road, Los Gatos, CA Santa Clara County APN: 558-31-008
Agency Negotiator: Allen Ishibashi, Sr. Real Property Agent
Negotiating Party: Santa Clara County Tax Collector’s Office
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
Meeting 23-19
Rev. 1/3/20
2. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS (Government Code Section
54956.8)
Property: Santa Clara County APN: 562-09-021 (Portion)
Agency Negotiator: Jasmine Leong, Real Property Agent I
Negotiating Party: Norma Vielbaum
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment
ADJOURNMENT
6:00 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT – STUDY SESSION
1. La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve - Forest Health Project (R-23-88)
Staff Contact: Arianna Camponuri, Ecologist I
General Manager’s Recommendations:
1. Receive the Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum to the La Honda Forest Health
Assessment and Management Plan
2. Receive and discuss the Project Description for the La Honda Forest Health Project
ADJOURNMENT
7:00 REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
ANNOUNCE OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
This portion of the agenda is for members of the public to comment on items not on the agenda;
however, the Brown Act (Open Meeting Law) does not allow action by the Board of Directors on
items not on the agenda. Individuals are limited to one comment during this section.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
CONSENT CALENDAR
All items on the Consent Calendar may be approved without discussion by one motion. Board
members, the General Manager, and members of the public may request that an item be removed
from the Consent Calendar during consideration of the Consent Calendar.
1. Approve the May 24, 2023 meeting minutes
2. Claims Report
3. Award of Contract to United Builders Corporation of San Jose, California to Complete a
Minor Modification of Office Space at the Main Administrative Office (R-23-89)
Staff Contact: Paul Kvam, Senior Capital Project Manager
General Manager’s Recommendations:
1. Award a contract to United Builders Corporation to convert one large office suite into two
to optimize for both staff facility use and available office rental space for a not-to-exceed
base contract amount of $277,260.
2. Authorize a 10% contingency in the amount of $27,726 to be reserved for unanticipated
issues, bringing the total not-to-exceed contract to $304,986.
Rev. 1/3/20
4. Establish the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Tax Levy for the Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District Measure AA General Obligation Bonds - Series 2015A and Series 2018 (R-
23-90)
Staff Contact: Rafaela Oceguera, Finance & Budget Manager
General Manager’s Recommendation: Adopt three Resolutions of the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, one each for San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa
Cruz Counties, to establish an ad valorem property tax levy of $1.20 per $100,000 in assessed
value (or $0.0012 per $100) for the Measure AA General Obligation Bonds – Series 2015A
and Series 2018. The District Controller has reviewed the calculation and concurs with the
proposed rate of levy for FY24.
5. Partnership Agreement with City of Half Moon Bay for the Planning of Johnson House
Park (R-23-91)
Staff Contact: Aaron Peth, Real Property Planner III, Real Property
General Manager’s Recommendation: Authorize the General Manager to enter into a
Partnership Agreement with the City of Half Moon Bay and contribute funding for the
planning, design, environmental review, and permitting phases to pursue public access
improvements at Johnston House Park.
BOARD BUSINESS
Public comment on agenda items at the time each item is considered by the Board of Directors.
6. Update on Items of Mutual Interest Related to Heidelberg Materials (formerly Lehigh
Hanson) and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District regarding the Permanente
Quarry (also known as Lehigh Quarry) (R-23-92)
Staff Contact: Brian Malone, Assistant General Manager, and Kirk Lenington, Natural
Resources Manager
General Manager’s Recommendation: Receive a Presentation by Heidelberg Materials staff.
No Board of Directors action required.
7. Disposition of Paul Cabin and Rapley Barn (R-23-93)
Staff Contact: Ivana Yeung, Capital Projects Manager III, Engineering and Construction
General Manager’s Recommendation: Approve the removal of the Paul Cabin and Rapley
Barn, two structures that have fallen in disrepair, have no planned future reuse potential, and
are not eligible for historic listing; approve the associated Comprehensive Use and
Management Plan Amendments to authorize the removal of both structures.
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS – Reports on compensable meetings attended. Brief reports or
announcements concerning activities of District Directors and staff; opportunity to refer public or
Board questions to staff for information; request staff to report to the Board on a matter at a future
meeting; or direct staff to place a matter on a future agenda. Items in this category are for discussion
and direction to staff only. No final policy action will be taken by the Board.
A. Committee Reports
B. Staff Reports
C. Director Reports
ADJOURNMENT
Rev. 1/3/20
*Times are estimated and items may appear earlier or later than listed. Agenda is subject to change of order.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need assistance to participate in this meeting,
please contact the District Clerk at (650) 691-1200. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the
District to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
Written materials relating to an item on this Agenda that are considered to be a public record and are
distributed to Board members less than 72 hours prior to the meeting, will be available for public inspection at
the District’s Administrative Office located at 5050 El Camino Real, Los Altos, California 94022.
CERTIFICATION OF POSTING OF AGENDA
I, Maria Soria, District Clerk for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD), declare that the
foregoing agenda for the special and regular meetings of the MROSD Board of Directors was posted and
available for review on July 20, 2023, at the Administrative Offices of MROSD, 5050 El Camino Real, Los
Altos California, 94022. The agenda and any additional written materials are also available on the District’s
website at http://www.openspace.org.
Maria Soria, CMC, CPMC
District Clerk
R-23-88
Meeting 23-19
July 26, 2023
STUDY SESSION AGENDA ITEM 1
AGENDA ITEM
La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve - Forest Health Project
GENERAL MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATIONS
1.Receive the Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum to the La Honda Forest Health
Assessment and Management Plan
2.Receive and discuss the Project Description for the La Honda Forest Health Project
SUMMARY
In 2019, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (District) initiated its first forest health
assessment and management plan for a 1,210-acre forested portion of La Honda Creek Open
Space Preserve (Preserve). A consultant, Sicular Environmental, reviewed historic information,
gathered and analyzed extensive forest data, and prepared management options for different
portions of the forest health assessment area based on the degree of ecological impairment and
the effectiveness of potential stewardship interventions to promote healthy, resilient forest
conditions. Staff presented the resulting La Honda Forest Health Assessment and Management
Plan (Forest Health Plan, Attachment 1) to the Board of Directors (Board) on July 28, 2021 (R-
21-103) and requested Board authorization to prepare an addendum to the Forest Health Plan to
include the recently acquired Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel. Staff returned to the Board on
October 12, 2022 to review the Forest Health Plan and outline next steps for the project, which
included developing forest management prescriptions under a Timber Harvest Plan (THP) to
improve forest health conditions. The Board approved the project direction and directed staff to
return to the Board with an interim report prior to proceeding with the development of the THP.
This report presents the Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum to the Forest Health Plan, as
well as a Project Description for the La Honda Forest Health Project (Project Description), which
serves as the Board-requested interim report.
BACKGROUND
Policy and Prior Planning
The District’s Resource Management Policies (RMP) include Forest Management Policies with
the following goals: “to retain and promote biologically diverse, dynamic forest conditions;
maintain and enhance high quality forest and aquatic habitat; encourage and enhance the
development of late-seral conifer forest; provide for visitor experiences within diverse forest
R-23-88 Page 2
habitat; and promote regional fire management objectives.” The Forest Management Policies
were developed in 2007 and included two public study sessions with the Board (R-07-76, R-07-
78). The Board approved the final Forest Management Policies as part of the RMPs in 2011 (R-
12-05).
The La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve Master Plan (Master Plan), Mitigated Negative
Declaration, and Mitigation Monitoring Program were adopted by the Board in 2012 (R-12-
83). The Master Plan includes a Forest Management Element directing the District to begin
forest management efforts with surveys that document existing conditions to inform future
management decisions. The Master Plan also identifies opportunities for managing
redwood forest habitats in the preserve to accelerate the development of late-seral conditions,
with the goal of protecting and restoring old, mature, forest habitat for wildlife, fire resiliency,
and to increase carbon uptake and storage. A portion of the Preserve within the project area
is designated in the Master Plan as a Conservation Management Unit (CMU), reflecting the need
for intensive restoration work to repair the natural resource values of the forest that have been
impacted by historical, poorly managed timber harvest activities, such as decommissioning
remnant dirt logging roads and addressing failing stream crossings.
La Honda Forest Health Assessment and Management Plan
The Forest Health Plan describes the historical conditions from clear cutting in the late 19th
century to the most recent timber harvest in 1988 (prior to District ownership) that have affected
the composition of the forest and its future condition without active management. Although the
Forest Health Plan area has not burned since the late 1800s, the importance of managing for
wildfire resiliency in redwood and other forest communities was evident in the CZU Fire
Complex of 2020. The Forest Health Assessment notes much of the habitats could benefit from
fuels reduction treatments and incorporates recommendations from the Wildland Fire Resiliency
Program (WFRP) for the upper portion of the Preserve. The forests also sequester significant
amounts of carbon; as such, the resiliency of these forests is an important part of the District’s
climate goals.
The Forest Health Plan also identifies ecological impairments related to forest conditions, fuels,
and sedimentation. Impaired forest conditions that reduce the quality of the habitat include
overly dense redwood forests, Douglas-fir encroachment in hardwood forests, and Sudden Oak
Death (SOD). Impaired fuel conditions that increase the intensity of potential fires, potentially
resulting in habitat damage, include brush and grass encroachment on forest edges, ladder fuels
and duff accumulations, and dead and dying vegetation due to SOD. Impaired watershed
conditions include legacy roads that divert natural runoff and are sources of downstream
sedimentation and detrimental water quality impacts.
Implementing the recommended treatment actions outlined in the Forest Health Plan will
facilitate the conservation and restoration of biodiversity by enhancing the growth of second
growth redwoods to achieve old growth characteristics in conifer stands; preserving existing old
growth individuals and stands; increasing resilience to wildfire and climate change; enhancing
the forests’ capacity for long-term, stable carbon sequestration; and reducing sediment sources
impacting water quality in salmon-bearing streams in alignment with the RMP and the Preserve
Master Plan.
R-23-88 Page 3
Permitting Mechanisms
The La Honda Forest Health Project leverages two permitting mechanisms to improve forest
health conditions at the Preserve. For project areas where it is ecologically warranted and
logistically feasible to implement forest health prescriptions that will generate merchantable
timber, the District will utilize a THP, which is required for commercial timber operations. For
all other project areas, project implementation will occur under the District’s WFRP.
Timber Harvest Plan Process
Although the La Honda Forest Health Project is not a standard commercial timber project, the
THP process offers the most streamlined, efficient, and cost-effective means of meeting the
project goals, while simultaneously upholding rigorous environmental, public, and agency
review standards. THPs are prepared by Registered Professional Foresters and are pursuant to
California’s Forest Practice Rules (FPR), the implementing regulations for the Z'berg-Nejedly
Forest Practice Act of 1973, and undergo interdisciplinary environmental review and inspection
from local, state, and federal agencies to ensure regulatory compliance. The THP process
typically spans two years from plan development, public review, and California Department of
Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) review and approval. Once approved, THPs are valid
for three years, with the option to renew once for an additional two-year period.
Per the RMP, the ability to sell marketable timber that is removed as part of the forest health
prescriptions allows the District to conduct restoration forestry work in a fiscally responsible
manner by reinvesting any revenue back into the forest for ongoing forest health efforts. The
Project will exclusively generate timber for the purpose of forest health enhancement and
restoration, and all prescriptions outlined in the THP will be in alignment with the District’s
Forest Management Policies and the FPR. Any revenues generated from timber sales conducted
in conjunction with restoration activities would be used solely for resource management
activities. Detailed project planning would include the creation of an accounting mechanism to
demonstrate fulfillment of this requirement.
DISCUSSION
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum
The 190-acre Woodruff Creek parcel was acquired in 2021 during the development of the Forest
Health Plan and added to the Preserve. As the Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel contains areas of
redwood and Douglas-fir forest with a notable concentration of large, old-growth sized trees, the
District modified Sicular Environmental Consulting’s contract to prepare an addendum to the
Forest Health Plan to assess forest conditions and develop forest conservation and restoration
recommendations within the parcel. The recommended management actions outlined in the
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum (Attachment 2) have been incorporated into the
project scope.
Project Description
Fulfilling Board direction to provide additional information throughout the development of the
THP, the Project Description (Attachment 3) provides details on the goals, scope, and nature of a
suite of forest management and forest health improvement treatments. Moreover, the Project
Description outlines the mechanisms for implementation, which include a THP as the permitting
vehicle for areas where timber may be sold as well as the District’s WFRP for all other project
R-23-88 Page 4
areas. The Project Description also reviews the legal context, contents, and approval process for
THPs in the CAL FIRE Southern Subdistrict to inform District actions and planning throughout
project implementation.
Forest Health Plan Implementation
Harmon Parcel
The selected treatments for the Harmon parcel focus on restoration thinning and sediment source
reduction to address the high density of redwood regrowth, Douglas-fir and brush encroachment
into mature hardwood and mixed hardwood/conifer stands, and the accumulation of heavy duff
in redwood stands. By implementing a restoration thinning, the District can reduce competition
within overly dense stands, which will accelerate the growth of larger trees, resulting in a
healthier forest, improved habitat conditions, and greater wildland fire resiliency.
The next steps for the Harmon parcel include delineating the treatment area, property line,
watercourses, erosion sites, roads/trails, and cultural resources through field flagging and
detailed mapping; sample marking; conducting a field tour for District Board, staff, and the
public; and preparing the THP as the permitting vehicle for the forest health project.
Northern CMU
Forest health treatments at the northern CMU aim to protect existing old growth and old second
growth trees, accelerate the development of old growth characteristics, and address high priority
legacy erosion issues. Through restoration thinning, sediment source reduction, hardwood
enhancement, and the implementation of shaded fuel breaks, the District can reduce the high
density of redwood regrowth stands, address Douglas-fir and brush encroachment into mature
hardwood and mixed hardwood/conifer stands, decrease surface and ladder fuels, rectify erosion
and sedimentation from legacy logging roads, and manage SOD.
The next steps for the northern CMU area include developing detailed designs sufficient for the
THP along old haul roads; mapping and flagging the thinning treatment sites, watercourses,
erosion sites, roads/trails, cultural resources, shaded fuel break areas, and potential prescribed
burn units; developing detailed thinning prescriptions; sample marking in the field; developing a
site-specific burn plan; conducting a field tour for District Board, staff, and the public; and
preparing the THP as the permitting vehicle for the project.
Southern Harrington Creek Tributary
Given the high density of redwood regrowth and fuel accumulation in the southern Harrington
Creek tributary area, restoration thinning and fuel reduction treatments are designated for this
area to protect and enhance old growth trees. Treatments for this portion of the forest would be
conducted under the District’s WFRP.
The next steps for the southern Harrington Creek tributary area are to determine preferred access
routes, delineate the project area through field flagging and detailed mapping, and develop
detailed treatment strategies, including personnel and equipment needs.
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel
To address Douglas-fir and brush encroachment and the accumulation of heavy duff and litter
layers, treatments in the Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel include fuels reductions in and around
old growth redwoods and the consideration of prescribed burning under the WFRP.
R-23-88 Page 5
The next steps to accomplish these goals are to establish access routes, assess and mitigate
legacy erosion sites associated with existing roads and trails, delineate treatment areas through
field flagging and detailed mapping, and develop detailed treatment plans.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the Study Session item. Fiscal impacts for the
preparation of the THP will be presented at a subsequent meeting for Board consideration.
PRIOR BOARD AND COMMITTEE REVIEW
•June 26, 2019: The Board approved an award of contract with Sicular Environmental
Consulting to provide forest assessment and planning services for the La Honda Forest.
(R-19-84, meeting minutes)
•July 28, 2021: The Board reviewed and approved the Forest Health Plan and authorized
the preparation of an addendum to the Forest Health Plan to include the recently acquired
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel. (R-21-103, meeting minutes)
•October 12, 2022: The Board reviewed the Forest Health Plan and next steps for the
project, which included developing forest management prescriptions under a forest health
THP to improve forest health conditions. (R-22-116, meeting minutes)
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notice was provided as required by the Brown Act.
CEQA COMPLIANCE
The presentation of the Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum and the Project Description
are not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Environmental review for project implementation would occur through the THP, which is a
CEQA equivalent with a robust public process led by CAL FIRE as the lead agency, as well as
the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and the Addendum to the Final EIR prepared for the
WFRP, which the Board approved on May 12, 2021 (R-21-58) and December 14, 2022 (R-22-
145), respectively. District staff would incorporate the associated mitigation measures and Best
Management Practices from the environmental review documents into the proposed project and
contract documents.
NEXT STEPS
Following this Study Session, staff would solicit the services of a Registered Professional
Forester to prepare a THP for the Project. Award of contract for the preparation of the THP
would come before the Board for approval. Pending staff capacity, preliminary planning for
forest health treatments under the WFRP in the southern Harrington Creek tributary areas and the
Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel would begin this fall.
Staff will conduct additional public outreach to increase awareness of the District’s forest health
work, including this project, across stakeholder groups, regulatory agencies, partners, and the
R-23-88 Page 6
public. The District will conduct pre-consultations and site visits with regulatory and peer
agencies to share the project objectives, scope, and schedule with numerous agencies, including:
CAL FIRE, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), United States Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS), Army Corps of Engineers, California Air Resources Board (CARB),
California State Water Resources Control Board (WRCB), California Geological Services
(CGS), and San Mateo County.
Attachments
1.La Honda Forest Health Management Assessment and Management Plan
2.Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum to the La Honda Forest Health Management
Assessment and Management Plan
3.La Honda Forest Health Project Description
Responsible Department Head:
Kirk Lenington, Natural Resources Manager
Prepared by:
Arianna Camponuri, Ecologist I
LA HONDA CREEK OPEN SPACE PRESERVE
Forest Assessment
Prepared for:
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
By: Sicular Environmental Consulting and Natural Lands Management
Christopher Keyes, Ph.D.
Buena Vista Services, LLC
Timothy Best, CEG
Orange Peel Cartography
June 2021
ATTACHMENT 1
ATTACHMENT 1
La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve
Forest Assessment
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Report preparers:
Dan Sicular, Ph.D.
Christopher Keyes, Ph.D.
Joe McGuire, RPF
Timothy Best, CEG
Kevin McManigal, Cartographer
Sicular Environmental Consulting & Natural Lands Management P.O. Box 582, Philo, CA 95466 www.sicularconsulting.com (415) 717-6328
ATTACHMENT 1
ATTACHMENT 1
La Honda Forest Assessment i Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 – Introduction ............................................................................................ 1-1
Background ............................................................................................................................ 1-1
Scope and Purpose .................................................................................................................. 1-2
Forest Management Goals and Policies ................................................................................. 1-2
Report Organization ............................................................................................................... 1-7
Appendices ................................................................................................................... 1-7
References .............................................................................................................................. 1-8
Chapter 2 – Forest Inventory ..................................................................................... 2-1
Project Area ............................................................................................................................ 2-1
Methods .................................................................................................................................. 2-1
Post-Stratification and Simplification of Forest Stand Types ...................................... 2-5
Results .................................................................................................................................... 2-7
Site Classification, Basal Area, and Growth Rate ........................................................ 2-7
Volume ......................................................................................................................... 2-8
Dead and Down Material ............................................................................................ 2-10
Tree Size ..................................................................................................................... 2-10
Carbon Sequestration .................................................................................................. 2-15
References ............................................................................................................................ 2-21
Chapter 3 – Context for Forest Assessment ............................................................ 3-1
Land Use History of the Project Area .................................................................................... 3-1
Pre-disturbance condition ............................................................................................. 3-1
Logging History............................................................................................................ 3-2
Opportunities for Forest Restoration and Resilience ............................................................ 3-11
Silvicultural Treatments vs. Treatment Regimes........................................................ 3-11
Forward-Looking Restoration .................................................................................... 3-12
Gaining Resilience through Old Growth Structure .................................................... 3-13
Relationship of Stand Dynamics to Wildland Fire Hazard ........................................ 3-14
Climate Change Informs Restoration Planning .......................................................... 3-15
Balancing Watershed and Forest Restoration Objectives ........................................... 3-16
Lessons from Redwood National and State Parks ...................................................... 3-16
References ............................................................................................................................ 3-17
Chapter 4 – Forest Restoration and Management ................................................... 4-1
Approach to Forest Restoration .............................................................................................. 4-1
Restoration and Management Options ................................................................................... 4-5
Harmon Parcel .............................................................................................................. 4-5
Allen Road/White Barn Area ....................................................................................... 4-9
Conservation Management Unit ................................................................................. 4-11
Northern/Redwood Cabin Area .................................................................................. 4-18
Weeks Ranch/Red Barn Area ..................................................................................... 4-21
Harrington Creek Tributaries...................................................................................... 4-22
Adaptive Management and Monitoring ...................................................................... 4-25
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 4-26
References ............................................................................................................................ 4-27
ATTACHMENT 1
Table of Contents
La Honda Forest Assessment ii Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
Tables
Table 1-1 Relevant Forest Management Policies and Implementing Programs ................... 1-5
Table 2-1 Preliminary Stratification ..................................................................................... 2-5
Table 2-2 Administrative Divisions ...................................................................................... 2-5
Table 2-3 Stand Type Simplification .................................................................................... 2-6
Table 2-4 Simplified Stand Types within each Administrative Area (acres) ....................... 2-7
Table 2-5 Timber Site Classification .................................................................................... 2-8
Table 2-6 Basal Area and Growth Rate, by Stand Type ....................................................... 2-8
Table 2-7 Wood Volume by Stand Type .............................................................................. 2-9
Table 2-8 Wood Volume by Administrative Area ................................................................ 2-9
Table 2-9 Dead and Down Woody Material Volume by Stand Type ................................. 2-10
Table 2-10 Conifer Size Distribution by Stand Type (DBH 2” classes, average trees
per Acre) ............................................................................................................. 2-11
Table 2-11 Hardwood Size Distribution by Stand Type (DBH 2” classes, average
trees per Acre) .................................................................................................... 2-11
Table 2-12 Basal Area by Tree Size - Conifers ≥4" DBH (SqFt/Acre) ................................ 2-11
Table 2-13 Basal Area by Tree Size – Hardwoods ≥4" DBH (SqFt/Acre) ........................... 2-12
Table 2-14 Tree Size Distribution for All Species for All Stand Types ............................... 2-12
Table 2-15 Quadratic Mean Diameter of Conifers >11” DBH ............................................. 2-15
Table 2-16 Carbon Sequestration.......................................................................................... 2-15
Table 3-1 Historic Logging ................................................................................................. 3-11
Figures
Figure 1-1 La Honda Forest Project Site ................................................................................ 1-3
Figure 1-2 2019 Aerial Photos ............................................................................................... 1-4
Figure 2-1 Preliminary Cover Classes ................................................................................... 2-2
Figure 2-2 Sample Plot Location ........................................................................................... 2-3
Figure 2-3 Simplified Stand Types ........................................................................................ 2-4
Figure 2-4.1 Stand Type OY2R (Redwood, High Canopy Cover, Old Growth and
Young Growth) ................................................................................................... 2-16
Figure 2-4.2 Stand Type RY2RD (Redwood and Douglas-fir, High Canopy Cover,
Residual Old Growth and Young Growth) ......................................................... 2-16
Figure 2-4.3 Stand Type YR2RD (Redwood and Douglas-fir, High Canopy Cover,
Young Growth and Residual Old Growth) ......................................................... 2-17
Figure 2-4.4 Stand Type YR3RD (Redwood and Douglas-fir, Moderate Canopy Cover,
Young Growth and Residual Old Growth) ......................................................... 2-17
Figure 2-4.5 Stand Type YR4RD (Redwood and Douglas-fir, Low Canopy Cover,
Young Growth and Residual Old Growth) ......................................................... 2-18
Figure 2-4.6 Stand Type Y1RD (Redwood and Douglas-fir, Very High Canopy Cover,
Young and Advanced Young Growth) ............................................................... 2-18
Figure 2-4.7 Stand Type Y2RD (Redwood and Douglas-fir, High Canopy Cover,
Young and Advanced Young Growth) ............................................................... 2-19
Figure 2-4.8 Stand Type Y3RD (Redwood and Douglas-fir, Moderate Canopy Cover,
Young and Advanced Young Growth) ............................................................... 2-19
Figure 2-4.9 Stand Type Y4RD (Douglas-fir, Moderate to Low Canopy Cover, Young
and Residual Old Growth) .................................................................................. 2-20
ATTACHMENT 1
Table of Contents
La Honda Forest Assessment iii Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
Figure 2-4.10 Stand Type 2YH (Hardwoods, High Canopy Cover, Young Growth) ............... 2-20
Figure 2-4.11 Stand Type 3YH (Hardwoods, Moderate Canopy Cover, Young Growth)........ 2-21
Figure 3-1 1943 Aerial Photos ............................................................................................... 3-3
Figure 3-2 1965 Aerial Photos (Partial) ................................................................................. 3-7
Figure 3-3 1970 Aerial Photos ............................................................................................... 3-8
Figure 3-4 1991 Aerial Photos ............................................................................................... 3-9
Figure 4-1 2019 Aerial Photos with Place Names ................................................................. 4-3
Figure 4-2 La Honda Tree Height ........................................................................................ 4-13
Appendices
Appendix A. Haul Road Sediment Source Inventory
Appendix B. Forest Inventory Methodology
Appendix C. Forest Inventory Results
Appendix D. Cost Estimates
ATTACHMENT 1
Table of Contents
La Honda Forest Assessment iv Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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ATTACHMENT 1
La Honda Forest Assessment 1-1 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
CHAPTER 1 Introduction
The La Honda Forest is part of Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s (the District’s) La Honda
Creek Open Space Preserve (La Honda Creek OSP). It is an approximately 1,770-acre area in the northern
part of the La Honda Creek OSP, where native forests make up the majority of the vegetative cover
(Figures 1-1 and 1-2). The La Honda Forest Assessment (the Assessment) provides a descriptive analysis
of current and historic conditions within the La Honda Forest and provides recommendations for
management of the forested areas in accordance with the District’s Resource Management policies. The
Assessment addresses all forest types found within the La Honda Forest, but focuses on approaches to
management of the second growth redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forest, with the aim of increasing its
resilience to fire and climate change, and restoring its ecological function, as well as its beauty and
majesty.
Background
The La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve was established in 1984 with the District’s purchase of a 255-
acre parcel. Since then, after more than 20 purchases, it has grown to over 6,100 acres. The most
substantial addition was the purchase of the former Driscoll Ranch in 2006, which at 3,681 acres more
than doubled the Preserve’s acreage. This large addition to the Preserve prompted a number of studies to
establish baseline conditions within the Preserve and inform the subsequent development of the La Honda
Creek Open Space Preserve Master Plan, completed in 2012 (MROSD, 2012).
The Master Plan process was the first comprehensive planning effort for the Preserve. This effort included
substantial engagement and outreach of numerous stakeholder groups, including neighbors and
community residents; recreational advocacy groups; environmental organizations; and local, state, and
federal natural resource management agencies.
Key natural resource management projects identified in the Master Plan include:
• Conducting natural resource inventories;
• Protecting and managing unique and sensitive areas and listed species;
• Restoring and managing riparian zones and aquatic habitat;
• Managing forests;
• Monitoring and preventing Sudden Oak Death;
• Controlling invasive plants;
• Inventorying and executing high priority road and trail treatments to correct drainage issues and
address erosion concerns;
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June 2021
• Constructing new fuel breaks and reducing fuel loads, especially in high-risk ignition locations;
• Providing an opportunity for interpretation and education related to natural resource management
efforts undertaken by the District.
The forested portions of the Preserve have not previously been inventoried in detail. This need is
identified in the Master Plan and is consistent with the District’s Resource Management Policies for
Forest Management (MROSD, 2021b), and the District’s 2014 Vision Plan.
Scope and Purpose
As described in the District’s Request for Proposals for preparation of the Assessment, the Assessment
should synthesize, discuss, and contextualize data on existing conditions within the La Honda Forest;
identify significant habitat areas for protection and to promote ecological connectivity; and consider
opportunities for active management to achieve the District’s conservation and restoration goals. The
Assessment should identify restoration opportunities and provide options and approaches for future
projects (MROSD, 2019).
Consistent with this directive, the Assessment focuses on management actions to increase the rate of
acquisition of late seral or “old growth” forest characteristics, particularly within the redwood forest. The
principal method recommended for achieving this is the use of silviculture, that is, the art and science of
forestry. Through the active manipulation of forest structure and composition, silviculture focused on
restoration can be used to maintain and increase biodiversity, address legacies of past management that
impair forest health, and increase resilience in the face of climate change and intensifying wildfire hazard.
The recommendations contained in Chapter 4 draw on the experience and results of experimental
silvicultural treatments for forest restoration throughout the redwood range, but especially in the Santa
Cruz Mountains and in Humboldt County, that are increasingly bearing out the effectiveness of this
approach.
Forest Management Goals and Policies
The project goal is to inventory and assess the various components of the La Honda Forest and to inform
potential management options to achieve the District’s mission of preservation and restoration. The
Assessment is intended to be consistent with previous and ongoing District plans, policies, and studies,
including the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve Master Plan (MROSD, 2012), the District’s Resource
Management Policies (MROSD, 2021b), the draft Wildland Fire Resiliency Program (MROSD, 2021a),
and the draft Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment of the Santa Cruz Mountains Climate Adaptation
Project (Ecologic, 2020a, 2020b).
The District’s Resource Management Policies, Section XII, Forest Management, includes the following
statement:
The District’s conifer dominated Preserves offer the opportunity to manage forest conditions to
accelerate late-seral habitat conditions to promote biologically diverse, dynamic forest habitat,
increase the extent of this limited habitat, and accelerate the development of forest structure for
the benefit of protected species and for improved fire resistance.
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This statement establishes the context for the District’s forest management goal:
Goal FM: Manage District land to retain and promote biologically diverse, dynamic forest
conditions; maintain and enhance high quality forest and aquatic habitat; encourage and enhance
the development of late-seral conifer forest; provide for visitor experiences within diverse forest
habitat; and promote District and regional fire management objectives.
Several of the policies and implementing programs that flow from Goal FM are directly relevant to the
Assessment, as shown in Table 1-1.
Table 1-1
Relevant Forest Management Policies and Implementing Programs
Policy Implementing Programs
Policy FM-1 Inventory and
assess District forest and
woodland.
• Inventory and assess existing District forest conditions. Inventories within
hardwood stands should include forest age, structure, health, and an
evaluation of regeneration (growth of seedlings and young trees).
Inventories within conifer stands should have a particular emphasis on forest
age and structural characteristics, identification of biological legacies, and
the reconnection and restoration of late-seral habitat. Inventories should also
include the identification and assessment of any effects of urbanization on
the forests.
• Inventory District forest to assess fuel loads and forest structure related to
fire. Identify access issues and District and community/regional fire
concerns.
Policy FM-2 Ensure that
forest management activities
are compatible with the
protection of special status
plant and animal species.
• Manage forests to expand critical habitat for sensitive species by restoring
forest structure and habitat elements utilized by sensitive species to develop
and connect suitable habitat.
Policy FM-3 Ensure that
forest management activities
are compatible with riparian
ecosystem and water
resources protection and
policies.
• Protect riparian ecosystems and habitat to maintain natural hydrologic
process, water quality, and wildlife benefits. Maintain essential riparian
functions, and if necessary enhance and restore riparian habitats.
• Inventory and assess roads and trails on District forestlands to identify
significant erosion and sediment sources. Maintain essential roads to high
standards, and eliminate or reduce to trail width all non-essential roads.
• Discourage forest management activities within riparian areas unless
justified and implemented for the specific purpose of restoring degraded
riparian habitat.
Policy FM-4 Manage District
conifer forests to sustain and
encourage the development
of late-seral habitat
conditions.
• Prepare Forest Management Plans for high priority District forests to
establish habitat goals and appropriate management treatments. Utilize
restoration ecologists, forest ecologists, Registered Professional Foresters, or
other resource management professionals to prepare plans, as appropriate.
• Restore degraded forest habitats to promote the development of late seral
habitat, forest habitat complexity, and to enhance biodiversity, where
existing stand conditions and access permit. Utilize state of the art
silvicultural (forestry) practices to restore degraded forests.
• Protect existing residual old growth trees and stands, mature oaks, and most
large, older Douglas-fir trees. The conservation of these areas will take
precedence over other uses and management practices that are determined to
have an adverse effect on these resources.
• Maintain and/or create large snags and downed wood for wildlife habitat
where not a safety hazard.
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Policy Implementing Programs
• Foster relationships with educational institutions, forest scientists and forest
professionals to inform District forest management decisions based upon
sound, current science, and to contribute opportunities for continuing
research of late-seral focused management. Seek grant opportunities and
partnerships for forest research and monitoring.
Policy FM-5 Provide
necessary fire and fuel
management practices to
protect forest resources and
public health and safety. (See
WF policies)
• Maintain essential roads for emergency fire access, and forest management
activities undertaken to reduce fire hazard.
• Evaluate the potential to reduce forest fuel loading through the removal of
smaller trees to reduce forest floor fuel buildup and ladder fuels.
• Coordinate with fire agencies and local communities to define locations
where fire protection infrastructure is desirable and practical.
• Reintroduce fire as a resource management tool to reduce forest floor fuels
and reestablish fire for ecosystem health where stand conditions, access, and
public safety permit. Coordinate with other agencies for planning and
implementation.
Policy FM-6 Protect forest
health from intense wildfire,
pests, and pathogens with
high potential to cause
damage.
• Evaluate potential for forest loss to intense wildfire, pests and pathogens
where effective methods are available and justified.
• Limit the scale of clearings and light-gaps in forests to reduce potential for
weed establishment. Where activities occur within the forest edges, weed
treatments and monitoring will be a component of the treatment plan.
• Manage forest diseases when necessary to protect natural biological
diversity and critical ecosystem functions. Regarding Sudden Oak Death
(SOD): detect, report and monitor infested areas; utilize sanitation and best
management practices (BMPs) to control the spread of the SOD pathogen;
train staff and educate the public; and support SOD research to guide land
management decisions.
Policy WF-4 Manage District
vegetation communities to
reduce the risk of
catastrophic fire and to
maintain biological diversity.
• Promote the restoration and development of late-seral forest communities.
• Evaluate the potential to reduce forest fuel loading through the removal of
smaller trees to reduce forest floor fuel buildup and ladder fuels.
• Continue to utilize and expand the District’s conservation grazing program
to reduce grassland fuels, brush encroachment, and encourage the vigor of
native grass and forb species.
• Manage forest diseases such as Sudden Oak Death (SOD).
• Manage scrub, shrub, and chaparral communities to maintain a mosaic of
ages and species within strategic management corridors on roads, ridgetops,
and near residential development or other critical infrastructure to
compartmentalize preserves and reduce fuel loads.
Source: MROSD, 2021
In addition to Goal FM, the District’s goal for wildland fire management (Section XV of the Resource
Management Policies) is central to the Assessment:
Goal WF: Manage District land to reduce the severity of wildland fire and to reduce the impact of
fire suppression activities within District Preserves and adjacent residential areas; manage habitats
to support fire as a natural occurrence on the landscape; and promote District and regional fire
management objectives.
Policy WF-4 and its implementing programs, shown in Table 1-1, pertain directly to the Assessment.
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Report Organization
The Assessment is organized as follows:
Chapter 1, Introduction, introduces the approach to planning forest management, and describes how the
Assessment relates to District polices and plans.
Chapter 2, Forest Inventory, presents the results of a forest inventory (or timber cruise) of the La Honda
Forest performed in 2020. The inventory is an essential planning tool for forest management. It
categorizes the forest into “stand types,” which are distinct combinations of age structure, species
composition, and canopy density. Stand types are mapped and statistics are developed for each, including
the volume, density, and size distribution of standing trees in the forest. The inventory also estimates
forest growth rates, carbon sequestration, and fuel loading.
Chapter 3, Context for Forest Assessment, includes a land use history of the La Honda Forest, focusing
on the history of logging from the clearcut of the late 19th and early 20th century, to the District’s
acquisition of the land in the 1980s. The parcels that make up the La Honda Forest were in multiple
ownerships, and the discussion in this chapter attempts to explain the variation in current conditions based
on what can be reconstructed of the different management history of the forests within each. Chapter 3
also includes a discussion of the factors that shape or constrain approaches to silvicultural forest
restoration within the La Honda Forest. Restoration treatment regimes, wildfire hazard, climate change
considerations, and watershed restoration objectives are addressed.
Chapter 4, Recommendations for Forest Restoration and Management, discusses current conditions in
the La Honda Forest, focusing on legacies of past management that inhibit the ability of the Forest to
regain old growth character, and provides options for silvicultural restoration treatments. This chapter
provides separate discussions of distinct areas of the La Honda Forest that share a common management
history, or that are botanically distinct. For each defined area, restoration options consistent with the
District’s Resource Management goals and policies are provided. Also included is a discussion of an
approach to a monitoring and adaptive management program.
Appendices
The Assessment includes several appendices:
Appendix A: Haul Road Sediment Source Inventory
This report summarizes the findings of a road erosion inventory of a 1.7-mile-long abandoned logging
road located on the east side of La Honda Creek OSP in the Conservation Management Unit area (Figure
1-1). This 1960’s era road is in poor condition and actively eroding with multiple washouts, diverted
watercourses, and slope failures that both prevent access and which are currently delivering sediment to
La Honda Creek.
Appendix B: Forest Inventory Methodology
Contains a description of the field methods used in completing the forest inventory.
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Appendix C: Forest Inventory Results
C1 Stand Tables
Compiled data from the inventory
C2 Fuels Data
Plot-based measurements of large woody debris and other indicators of fuel loading.
C2 Carbon Calculations
Spreadsheet containing calculations of sequestered carbon within the forest.
Appendix D: Cost Estimates
Preliminary estimates of the cost of implementation of recommendations.
References
Ecoadapt, 2020a. Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the Santa Cruz Mountains Climate
Adaptation Project: Coastal Redwood Forest. Draft. Joint project of Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District, the Santa Cruz Mountains Stewardship Network, and Pepperwood Preserve.
______ 2020b. Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the Santa Cruz Mountains Climate
Adaptation Project: Mixed Evergreen/Montane Hardwood Forests. Draft. Joint project of
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, the Santa Cruz Mountains Stewardship Network,
and Pepperwood Preserve.
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD), 2012. La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve
Master Plan. Final, August 2012.
______2014. Vision Plan: Imagine the Future of Open Space.
______ 2019. Request for Proposals for Forest Assessment and Management Planning services for the La
Honda Forest portion of the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve. April 18, 2019.
______ 2021a. Wildland Fire Resiliency Program. Draft, January 2021.
______ 2021b. Resource Management Policies. February 2021.
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CHAPTER 2 Forest Inventory
This chapter presents the results of an inventory of the La Honda Forest conducted in the spring and
summer of 2020 by Buena Vista Services, LLC. The inventory, or “timber cruise,” was designed to obtain
information regarding conifer and hardwood forests, with a focus on age structure, species composition,
growth rates, and regeneration. Fuels were also measured to support an assessment of the risk of
catastrophic wildfire as well as risk to carbon stocks, and to inform application of management tools such
as prescribed burning or other fuel reduction techniques.
Project Area
The La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve is approximately 6,100 acres. The project area – the La
Honda Forest – covers approximately 1,772 acres. As a first step in planning the inventory, the forested
area was stratified into conifer, hardwood, and non-forest cover types, as shown in Figure 2-1,
Preliminary Cover Classes and Table 2-1, Preliminary Stratification. As shown in Table 2-1, about 1,210
acres are forested, including about 968 acres of conifer forest and 242 acres of hardwood forest. About
563 acres are unforested, consisting of grassland, brush, and ponds.1
The Forest was divided administratively, as shown in Table 2-2, Administrative Divisions, to include
separate characterization of two areas of particular interest for this Assessment: the Harmon Parcel, and
the Conservation Management Unit (CMU); see location of these areas in Figure 2-1.
Methods
The inventory used a sampling method based on fixed radius, 1/5-acre circular plots (52.7’ radius) for
measurement of larger trees, and with 1/50-acre (16.65’ radius) nested subplots for sampling of smaller
trees. Plot centers were monumented and numbered, to enable future resampling. Please see Appendix B
for details of field methods and measurements.
A preliminary vegetation typing of the inventory area was done using recent orthoimagery, historic maps
and photos, and several field visits. Plot locations were randomly distributed in both hardwood types and
conifer types, with a lower intensity applied to hardwoods. There were a total of 153 plots, representing
approximately 2% of the hardwood area, and 4% of the conifer area (Figure 2-2, Sample Plot Locations).
This intensity has been used in forest inventories throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains and generally
returns a population estimate standard error term of 5% or lower for gross volume. The results of the La
Honda Forest inventory have a standard error term of 4.1% for conifer gross volume (Appendix C1).
1 All acreages are derived from GIS mapping.
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Forest Inventory
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-5 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
Table 2-1
Preliminary Stratification
Conifer/conifer dominated forest 968 acres
Hardwood dominated forest 242
Brush/Grass/Non-Forested 563
Total 1,772
Table 2-2
Administrative Divisions
Harmon Parcel
Conifer/conifer dominated forest 44 acres
Hardwood dominated forest 7
Brush/Grass/Non-Forested 1
Subtotal 52
Conservation Management Unit (CMU)
Conifer/conifer dominated forest 348
Hardwood dominated forest 21
Brush/Grass/Non-Forested 69
Subtotal 439
Remainder
Conifer/conifer dominated forest 576
Hardwood dominated forest 214
Brush/Grass/Non-Forested 492
Subtotal 1,282
Post-Stratification and Simplification of Forest Stand Types
After the field measurements were completed, the forest typing was refined. The goal of this post-
stratification exercise was to aggregate similar types with similar characteristics to drive down the
coefficient of variation within each type. This is done carefully so that important differences are not lost,
and so that the inherent variability found naturally within types is preserved.
Using orthoimage sources of different scales and sun angle, combined with field notes and plot data, the
project area was further stratified into distinct cover types. The area of each stratum was determined to
allow expansion of the tree data (from the means derived from the plot data to the total for each stratum)
and estimate error terms. 32 forest strata, or “stand types” were delineated, each representing a distinct
combination of age structure, species composition, and canopy density. To reduce this to a number
practical for planning purposes, while still retaining the critical distinctions between types, similar types
were then combined. The final set of 11 stand types is shown in Figure 2-3, Simplified Stand Types. The
eleven final stand types, their acreage, a description, and their component types from the initial post-
stratification, are shown in Table 2-3. Acreage of the stand types that occur within each administrative
area is shown in Table 2-4.
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The stand type labeling system combines age structure, canopy density, and predominant over-story
species, in that order, using the following terms:
AGE STRUCTURE CANOPY DENSITY PREDOMINANT SPECIES
Y – Young growth 1 - 70-100% R – Redwood
YY – Large second growth 2 - 50-70% D - Douglas-fir
R – Residual old growth 3 - 30-50% H – Hardwood
O - Old growth 4 - 10-30% B – Shrub
5 - <10% G – Grassland
The first one or two letters indicate the age structure, with the first letter indicating the predominant age
class. The number which follows indicates canopy density. The final one or two letters indicate
predominant species, with the first letter indicating the more prevalent species. For example, stand type
YR2RD = Young growth with some residual old growth age structure; 50-70% canopy density;
Redwood/Douglas-fir mix (redwood predominant).
Table 2-3
Stand Type Simplification
Simplified
Stand
Type
Acres Description
Specific Stand
Types
Included
Acres
OY2R 4 Old growth and young growth, high canopy cover, redwood OY2R 4.1
RY2RD 41 Residual old growth with young growth, high canopy cover,
redwood and redwood/Douglas-fir RY1R 9.4
RY2R 6.7
RY2RD 20.3
RY3RD 5.0
YR2RD 174 Young growth with residual old growth, high canopy cover,
redwood and redwood/Douglas-fir YR2R 85.1
YR2RD 89.1
YR3RD 169 Young growth with residual old growth, moderate canopy cover,
redwood and redwood/Douglas-fir YR3DR 23.6
YR3R 10.5
YR3RD 134.8
YR4RD 31 young growth and advanced young growth, some with residual old
growth, low canopy cover, redwood and redwood/Douglas-fir YY4RD 8.3
YR4R 14.7
RY4RD 5.9
Y5RD 1.9
Y1RD 159 Young growth and advanced young growth, very high canopy
cover, redwood and redwood/Douglas-fir Y1R 7.9
Y1RD 124.2
YY1R 27.1
Y2RD 242 Young growth and advanced young growth, high canopy cover,
redwood and redwood/Douglas-fir Y2R 43.6
Y2RD 90.4
YY2R 108
Y3RD 79 Young growth and advanced young growth, moderate canopy
cover, redwood and redwood/Douglas-fir Y3DR 12.2
Y3R 3.1
Y3RD 61.9
YY3R 1.3
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Simplified
Stand
Type
Acres Description
Specific Stand
Types
Included
Acres
YR4D 69 Young growth and young growth with residual old growth,
moderate to low canopy cover, Douglas-fir Y3D 10.9
Y4D 15.0
YR4D 42.7
Y2H 137 Young growth, high canopy cover, hardwoods Y1H 50.1
Y2H 86.6
Y3H 105 Young growth, moderate canopy cover, hardwoods Y3H 43.2
Y4H 61.8
NF 562 Non-forest vegetation cover GRASSLAND 413.7
SHRUB 148.1
Table 2-4
Simplified Stand Types within each Administrative Area (acres)
Stand Type Harmon Parcel CMU Remainder
OY2R 4
RY2RD 19 22
YR2RD 77 98
YR3RD 96 73
YR4RD 5 4 22
Y1RD 27 11 121
Y2RD 124 118
Y3RD 11 17 50
YR4D 1 67
Y2H 5 132
Y3H 7 16 82
NF 1 69 492
Total 52 439 1,282
Results
This section presents the results of the inventory, and provides summary statistics for each stand type and
administrative area.
Site Classification, Basal Area, and Growth Rate
Site classification is an indicator of the growing conditions for a tree species in a given location, and is
generally reflective of soil conditions (including moisture availability), aspect, elevation, terrain, and
climate. The site index value is equivalent to the potential height to which a tree can grow in that location
over a set time period, usually 50 or 100 years. Index values are grouped into classifications (I-V, with I
highest quality site), to provide a general point of comparison between locations. Site classes and
corresponding index values are shown for redwood and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) in Table 2-5.
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Based on field measurements of recent growth and stand characteristics, site class for each stand type is
shown in Table 2-6.
Table 2-5
Timber Site Classification
Site Class
Young Growth Redwood:
Height in Feet @ 100 years
Douglas-fir: Height in Feet
@ 100 years
I 180 or more 194 or more
II 155-179 164-193
III 130-154 134-163
IV 105-129 103-133
V Less than 105 Less than 103
Sources: Lindquist and Palley, 1963; McArdle and Meyer, 1961.
Table 2-6
Basal Area and Growth Rate, by Stand Type
Stand
Type
Basal Area,
Conifers
(SqFt/Acre)
Basal Area
Growth Rate -
Redwoods
(%/Year)
Basal Area
Growth Rate –
Douglas-fir
(%/Year)
Site
Class
OY2R 1,091 2% NA III
RY2RD 368 7% 7% III
YR2RD 216 8% NA III
YR3RD 210 11% 10% II
YR4RD 107 9% 7% III
Y1RD 346 7% NA II
Y2RD 357 8% 10% II
Y3RD 189 9% 8% III
YR4D 98 9% 7% III
Y2H 1 N/A N/A N/A
Y3H 34 N/A N/A N/A
Table 2-6 also shows basal area and basal area growth rates. Basal area is based on measurements of tree
diameter at breast height (DBH), and is the sum of the cross-sectional area of the trees within a unit of
land, expressed here as square feet per acre. Basal area growth rates shown in Table 2-6 were estimated
using increment cores on a subset of trees within the sample plots. As shown in the table, basal area
growth rates are robust, with redwood in most of the stand types growing at a rate of 7-11 percent per
year. Note the lower growth rate for the old growth stand type (type OY2R), which is typical for old
growth forests: while the growth rate is low, the annual increment of increased volume is great, since the
starting point is so large.
Volume
Table 2-7 shows volume of standing trees by stand type, expressed as thousands of board feet per acre
(MBF/acre)2 for conifers and cubic feet per acre (CuFt/acre) for hardwoods. For conifers, both gross
volume and net volume is shown. Merchantable volume is the volume of wood that can be sold as
2 A board foot is a volume measurement for trees and lumber equivalent to a board 1” thick, 12” wide, and 1’ long.
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lumber. Gross volume includes the unmerchantable component, consisting of “cull logs” and “defect.” As
shown in the table, conifer gross volume within the stands where redwood is the dominant species range
from a high of 233,000 board feet per acre (233 MBF/acre) in the 4-acres of the old growth stand type
OY2R (Old growth and young growth, high canopy density, redwood), to a low of 23,000 board feet per
acre in type YR4RD (young growth with residual old growth, low canopy cover, redwood and
redwood/Douglas-fir). Hardwood volumes also vary considerably between stand types.
Total gross volume of conifers for all forested acres in the La Honda Forest is estimated at 62,393,000
board feet, averaging 52,000 board feet per acre gross, and 47,000 board feet per acre net. Total gross
volume of hardwoods is 1,588,575 cubic feet, averaging 1,313 cubic feet per acre.
Table 2-8 shows conifer and hardwood volume estimates for the CMU and for the Harmon Parcel. The
CMU is stocked at an average of 64 MBF/acre gross conifer volume per forested acre (58 MBF net), the
Harmon parcel at 54 MBF/acre gross (49 MBF net).
Table 2-7
Wood Volume by Stand Type
Stand
Type Acres
Conifer Net
Volume
(MBF/Acre)
Conifer
Gross
Volume
(MBF/Acre)
Hardwood
Gross
Volume
(CuFt/Acre)
Total
Net
Conifer
Volume
(MBF)
Total
Gross
Conifer
Volume
(MBF)
Total Gross
Hardwood
Volume
(CuFt)
OY2R 4.1 215 233 0 884 958 -
RY2RD 41.4 93 99 2,190 3,848 4,097 90,622
YR2RD 174.4 53 58 1,400 9,243 10,115 244,146
YR3RD 169.0 44 49 1,200 7,435 8,280 202,776
YR4RD 30.8 20 23 3,190 617 709 98,348
Y1RD 159.2 73 78 840 11,624 12,420 133,753
Y2RD 242.0 81 88 610 19,598 21,292 147,590
Y3RD 78.5 32 36 1,600 2,513 2,827 125,632
YR4D 68.7 12 14 850 825 962 58,404
Y2H 136.7 0 0 1,990 - - 271,993
Y3H 105.0 6 7 2,050 630 735 215,312
TOTAL 1,209.8 57,215 62,393 1,588,575
Average per Acre 47 52 1,313
Table 2-8
Wood Volume by Administrative Area
Unit Forested
Acres
Conifer
Net
Volume
(MBF)
Conifer
Gross
Volume
(MBF)
Conifer
Net
Vol/Acre
(MBF)
Conifer
Gross
Vol/Acre
(MBF)
Hardwood
Volume
(Gross
CuFt)
Hardwood
Vol/Acre
(Gross
CuFt)
CMU 370 21,480 23,615 58 64 453,300 1,225
Harmon Parcel 50 2,448 2,680 49 54 72,905 1,458
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Dead and Down Material
Table 2-9 provides a measure of dead and down material in the forest. Pieces inside the inventory plots
were measured (Appendix C-2) and those numbers expanded to per acre cubic volumes. Typically, the
distribution of dead and down material is highly variable and not always well-correlated with other
metrics; this was found to be true within the La Honda Forest as well. The numbers indicate two things:
(1) certain cover types have higher average dead and down wood volumes (e.g., types Y2RD and Y3RD)
that are likely due to waves of Sudden Oak Death (SOD) and natural understory mortality and tree falls;
and (2), levels of down materials vary widely from plot to plot within cover types (e.g., type Y3RD has
plots with zero material and plots with over 3,600 cubic feet per acre). Nonetheless, these volumes are
present and should be addressed where they represent wildfire concerns in the planning. As part of the
down material assessment, a USDA photo series for “forest residue” was consulted and calls were made
in the field to match the photo series (Maxwell and Ward, 1980). These calls were generally more
consistent (less variable) than the measured data was across the stands. The forest residue calls for each
plot are included in Appendix C-2.
Tree Size
Table 2-10 shows, for each stand type, the number of conifers per acre by size category, expressed as
diameter at breast height (DBH) for all trees over 2 inches. Of particular interest is the number of trees in
the larger size categories. All of the stand types with redwood as one of the dominant species have a
substantial number of larger trees over 36 inches DBH. Table 2-11 shows tree size distribution for
hardwoods. Tree size distribution for conifers and hardwoods over 11” DBH, for each stand type, is
shown graphically in Figures 2-4.1 through 2-4.11. Please note that the charts use the same colors for
each stand type as Figure 2-3.
Table 2-12 provides, for each stand type, the average basal area of conifers by size category, expressed as
square feet of basal area per acre. This table shows that most of the conifer basal area in most stand types
is accounted for by larger trees. Table 2-13 shows the basal area of hardwoods by size category for each
stand type.
Table 2-14 provides details on the tree size distribution of individual species of conifers and hardwoods.
This table shows the number of trees, by size category, for each species, for each stand type.
Table 2-9
Dead and Down Woody Material Volume by Stand Type
Stand Type CuFt/Acre Range
OY2R 234 NA
RY2RD 169 64-347
YR2RD 180 0-430
YR3RD 571 0-2,139
YR4RD 236 0-1,039
Y1RD 276 0-1,021
Y2RD 608 0-1,654
Y3RD 741 0-3,366
YR4D 429 0-858
Y2H 0 NA
Y3H 348 0-994
ATTACHMENT 1
Forest Inventory
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-11 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
Table 2-10
Conifer Size Distribution by Stand Type
(DBH 2” classes, average trees per Acre)
Size Class (DBH)
Stand Type 2-10” 12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+ " TOTAL
OY2R 200 – 5 – 5 – 5 20 15 250
RY2RD 50 12 14 9 9 13 7 3 1 118
YR2RD 54 14 5 3 6 6 5 3 – 96
YR3RD 88 10 9 9 5 9 2 1 <1 133
YR4RD 29 3 4 4 4 2 2 1 <1 49
Y1RD 148 14 14 11 9 8 5 4 1 214
Y2RD 104 17 12 12 11 10 6 4 <1 175
Y3RD 47 12 12 16 4 2 1 2 <1 95
YR4D 70 11 13 4 – 1 1 1 – 101
Y2H 5 – 1 – – – – – – 6
Y3H 6 1 1 1 2 1 – – 1 12
Table 2-11
Hardwood Size Distribution by Stand Type (DBH 2” classes, average trees per Acre)
Size Class (DBH)
Stand Type 2-10” 12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+" TOTAL
OY2R – – – – – – – – – 0
RY2RD 14 16 13 4 – – – – – 48
YR2RD 123 10 5 2 – – – – – 140
YR3RD 66 11 7 1 <1 – – – – 85
YR4RD 109 31 14 5 1 – – – – 160
Y1RD 39 5 2 1 2 – – – – 49
Y2RD 75 4 2 1 <1 – – – – 83
Y3RD 106 9 6 6 2 – – – – 128
YR4D 130 14 7 2 – – – – – 153
Y2H 145 15 15 5 1 1 1 – – 180
Y3H 40 21 9 7 1 – – – – 77
Table 2-12
Basal Area by Tree Size - Conifers ≥4" DBH (SqFt/Acre)
Size Class (DBH)
Stand Type 4-10” 12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+" TOTAL
OY2R 67 – 11 – 28 – 48 348 589 1,091
RY2RD 7 14 30 34 54 103 75 37 14 368
YR2RD 8 16 11 11 33 49 51 36 – 216
YR3RD 13 11 20 32 26 72 18 11 6 210
YR4RD 5 4 7 14 20 17 16 13 12 107
Y1RD 9 16 30 40 48 63 51 65 25 346
Y2RD 13 18 27 43 61 75 59 57 3 357
Y3RD 14 13 25 57 23 15 13 23 6 189
YR4D 11 14 29 15 – 7 10 13 – 98
Y2H 0 – 1 – – – – – – 1
Y3H – 1 2 2 13 4 – – 12 34
ATTACHMENT 1
Forest Inventory
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-12 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
Table 2-13
Basal Area by Tree Size – Hardwoods ≥4" DBH (SqFt/Acre)
Size Class (DBH)
Stand Type 4-10" 12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+ " TOTAL
OY2R 0
RY2RD 8 19 27 15 – – – – – 69
YR2RD 19 12 9 7 – – – – – 46
YR3RD 13 11 13 5 3 – – – – 45
YR4RD 21 35 27 20 7 – – – – 109
Y1RD 9 5 3 3 9 – – – – 30
Y2RD 11 4 5 4 1 – – – – 25
Y3RD 19 10 13 20 8 – – – – 69
YR4D 17 16 15 7 – – – – – 56
Y2H 26 14 33 15 2 4 5 – – 99
Y3H 6 21 19 24 5 – – – – 75
Table 2-14
Tree Size Distribution for All Species for All Stand Types
Stand Type
OY2R
Size
Class
Species 2-10” 12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+" TOTAL
Redwood 200 – 5 – 5 – 5 15 15 245
Douglas-fir Other Conifer Tanoak Live Oak Madrone Bay Other Hardwood
Stand Type
RY2RD
Size
Class
2-10” 12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+" TOTAL
Redwood 50 11 14 9 9 12 6 2 1 114
Douglas-fir – 1 – 1 1 1 1 1 – 4
Other Conifer – –
Tanoak 14 10 11 2 – – – – – 38
Live Oak – 2 1 1 – – – – – 4
Madrone – 3 1 1 – – – – – 4
Bay – –
Other Hardwood – – – 1 – – – – – 1
Stand Type
YR2RD
Size
Class
2-10” 12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+" TOTAL
Redwood 46 13 4 2 4 5 4 2 – 81
Douglas-fir 8 0 1 1 2 1 1 0 – 14
Other Conifer – –
Tanoak 108 7 4 2 – – – – – 121
Live Oak – –
Madrone 8 1 – 0 – – – – – 9
Bay 8 2 0 – – – – – – 10
Other Hardwood – –
ATTACHMENT 1
Forest Inventory
Table 2-14 (Continued)
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-13 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
Stand Type
YR3RD
Size
Class
2-10” 12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+" TOTAL
Redwood 79 9 8 8 3 8 1 0 – 117
Douglas-fir 9 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 16
Other Conifer – –
Tanoak 55 7 4 0 0 – – – – 67
Live Oak – 0 1 0 – – – – – 1
Madrone 9 3 1 1 0 – – – – 14
Bay – 0 0 – – – – – – 1
Other Hardwood –
Stand Type
YR4RD
Size
Class
2-10” 12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+" TOTAL
Redwood 21 2 3 3 2 2 1 0 0 33
Douglas-fir 8 1 1 1 2 0 1 – – 15
Other Conifer – –
Tanoak 59 13 8 2 1 – – – – 82
Live Oak 4 7 4 2 0 – – – – 18
Madrone 42 10 2 2 – – – – – 55
Bay 4 4
Other Hardwood 0 – – – – – – – 0
Stand Type
Y1RD
Size
Class
2-10” 12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+" TOTAL
Redwood 148 14 14 11 9 8 5 4 1 213
Douglas-fir – – – 0 – 0 0 – 0 1
Other Conifer – –
Tanoak 17 1 0 0 1 – – – – 20
Live Oak – 1 – – – – – – – 1
Madrone – – 0 – – – – – – 0
Bay 15 3 1 1 1 – – – – 20
Other Hardwood 0 – – – – – – – 0
Stand Type
Y2RD
Size
Class
2-10” 12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+" TOTAL
Redwood 96 16 12 10 10 9 5 4 – 162
Douglas-fir 8 1 0 1 1 0 0 – 0 13
Other Conifer – –
Tanoak 52 3 2 1 0 – – – – 58
Live Oak – 0 – – – – – – – 0
Madrone 1 0 0 0 – – – – – 2
Bay 13 0 0 0 – – – – – 14
Other Hardwood 7 – – – – – – – – 7
ATTACHMENT 1
Forest Inventory
Table 2-14 (Continued)
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-14 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
Stand Type
Y3RD
Size
Class
2-10” 12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+" TOTAL
Redwood 31 10 8 13 3 2 1 1 – 67
Douglas-fir 16 3 4 3 2 0 0 0 0 28
Other Conifer – –
Tanoak 37 2 3 2 1 – – – – 44
Live Oak 15 2 3 3 – – – – – 23
Madrone 9 1 0 1 1 – – – – 12
Bay 29 4 – – – – – – – 32
Other Hardwood 16 1 – 0 0 – – – – 17
Stand Type
YR4D
Size
Class
2-10” 12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+" TOTAL
Redwood – 1 4 1 – 1 – – – 7
Douglas-fir 70 10 9 3 – – 1 1 – 94
Other Conifer – –
Tanoak 50 1 – – – – – – – 51
Live Oak 30 9 6 1 – – – – – 46
Madrone 20 2 1 1 – – – – – 24
Bay 30 2 – – – – – – – 32
Other Hardwood –
Stand Type
Y2H
Size
Class
2-10” 12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+" TOTAL
Redwood – –
Douglas-fir – –
Other Conifer – –
Tanoak – –
Live Oak 60 12 10 4 1 1 1 – – 87
Madrone – –
Bay 40 2 5 1 – – – – – 47
Other Hardwood 45 1 – – – – – – – 46
Stand Type
Y3H
Size
Class
2-10” 12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+" TOTAL
Redwood – –
Douglas-fir 6 – 1 – 1 – – – 1 8
Other Conifer – 1 1 1 2 1 – – – 4
Tanoak 12 4 4 1 – – – – – 22
Live Oak 17 12 3 4 1 – – – – 37
Madrone – 2 1 1 – – – – – 4
Bay 12 1 1 1 1 – – – – 14
Other Hardwood – 1 – – – – – – – 1
ATTACHMENT 1
Forest Inventory
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-15 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
Table 2-15 shows the quadratic mean diameter (QMD) for conifers greater than 11 inches for each stand
type. In forestry, QMD is a measure of central tendency, which is considered more appropriate than
arithmetic mean for characterizing the group of trees that have been measured. Compared to the
arithmetic mean, QMD assigns greater weight to larger trees – QMD is always greater than or equal to
arithmetic mean for a given set of trees. QMD is calculated as:
where BA is stand basal area, n is the number of trees, and k is a constant based on measurement units -
for BA in square feet and DBH in inches, k=0.005454 (Curtis and Marshall, 2000). As shown in Table 2-
15, the QMD of the old growth stand (stand type OY2R) is nearly twice that of any other type.
Carbon Sequestration
Based on current volume of standing live trees on the 1,210 forested acres of the La Honda Forest, and
using a forest carbon calculator created by CAL FIRE (CAL FIRE, 2010), the estimated current volume
of sequestered carbon is 439,185 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e), as shown in
Table 2-16. Based on an estimated volume increase of 4% per year (assumed, based on typical volume
growth rates in second growth forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains), the annual increment of carbon
sequestered in the forest is 16,594 MTCO2e per year. These figures do not include carbon stored in dead
and down material or in the soil.
Table 2-15
Quadratic Mean Diameter of Conifers >11” DBH
Stand Type QMD
OY2R 61.3
RY2RD 31.1
YR2RD 30.2
YR3RD 28.4
YR4RD 31.0
Y1RD 30.5
Y2RD 29.7
Y3RD 25.7
YR4D 22.7
Y2H 18.0
Y3H 33.2
Table 2-16
Carbon Sequestration
MTCO2e/
acre
Total
MTCO2e
Current 363 439,230
Annual Increase 13.7 16,594
ATTACHMENT 1
Forest Inventory
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-16 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
0
5
10
15
20
12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+ "
Tre
e
s
p
e
r
A
c
r
e
Diameter at Breast Height
Figure 2-4.1: Stand Type OY2R
(Redwood, High Canopy Cover, Old Growth and Young Growth)
Tree Size Distribution
Conifers and Hardwoods
-
OY2R - Conifer OY2R - Hardwood
0
5
10
15
20
12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+ "
Tre
e
s
p
e
r
A
c
r
e
Diameter at Breast Height
Figure 2.4.2: Stand Type RY2RD
(Redwood and Douglas-fir, High Canopy Cover,
Residual Old Growth and Young Growth)
Tree Size Distribution
Conifers and Hardwoods >11" DBH
-
RY2RD - Conifer RY2RD - Hardwood
ATTACHMENT 1
Forest Inventory
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-17 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
0
5
10
15
20
12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+ "
Tre
e
s
p
e
r
A
c
r
e
Diameter at Breast Height
Figure 2.4.3: Stand Type YR2RD
(Redwood and Douglas-fir, High Canopy Cover,
Young Growth with Residual Old Growth)
Tree Size Distribution
Conifers and Hardwoods over 11" DBH
-
YR2RD - Conifer YR2RD - Hardwood
-
5
10
15
20
12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+ "
Tre
e
s
p
e
r
A
c
r
e
Diameter at Breast Height
Figure 2.4.4: Stand Type YR3RD
(Redwood and Douglas-fir, Moderate Canopy Cover,
Young Growth with Residual Old Growth)
Tree Size Distribution
Conifers and Hardwoods over 11" DBH
-
YR3RD - Conifer YR3RD - Hardwood
ATTACHMENT 1
Forest Inventory
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-18 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
-
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+ "
Tre
e
s
p
e
r
A
c
r
e
Diameter at Breast Height
Figure 2.4.5: Stand Type YR4RD
(Redwood and Douglas-fir, Low Canopy Cover,
Young Growth with Residual Old Growth)
Tree Size Distribution
Conifers and Hardwoods over 11" DBH
-
YR4RD - Conifer YR4RD - Hardwood
-
5
10
15
20
12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+ "
Tre
e
s
p
e
r
A
c
r
e
Diameter at Breast Height
Figure 2.4.6: Stand Type Y1RD
(Redwood and Douglas-fir, Very High Canopy Cover,
Young and Advanced Young Growth)
Tree Size Distribution
Conifers and Hardwoods over 11" DBH
-
Y1RD - Conifer Y1RD - Hardwood
ATTACHMENT 1
Forest Inventory
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-19 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
0
5
10
15
20
12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+ "
Tre
e
s
p
e
r
A
c
r
e
Diameter at Breast Height
Figure 2.4.7: Stand Type Y2RD
(Redwood and Douglas-fir, High Canopy Cover,
Young and Advanced Young Growth)
Tree Size Distribution
Conifers and Hardwoods over 11" DBH
-
Y2RD - Conifer Y2RD - Hardwood
0
5
10
15
20
12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+ "
Tre
e
s
p
e
r
A
c
r
e
Diameter at Breast Height
Figure 2.4.8: Stand Type Y3RD
(Redwood and Douglas-fir, Moderate Canopy Cover,
Young and Advanced Young Growth)
Tree Size Distribution
Conifers and Hardwoods over 11" DBH
-
Y3RD - Conifer Y3RD - Hardwood
ATTACHMENT 1
Forest Inventory
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-20 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
0
5
10
15
20
12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+ "
Tre
e
s
p
e
r
A
c
r
e
Diameter at Breast Height
Figure 2.4.9: Stand Type YR4D
(Douglas-fir, Moderate to Low Canopy Cover,
Young and Residual Old Growth)
Tree Size Distribution
Conifers and Hardwoods over 11" DBH
-
YR4D - Conifer YR4D - Hardwood
-
5
10
15
20
12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+ "
Tre
e
s
p
e
r
A
c
r
e
Diameter at Breast Height
Figure 2.4.10: Stand Type Y2H
(Hardwoods, High Canopy Cover,
Young Growth)
Tree Size Distribution
Conifers and Hardwoods over 11" DBH
-
Y2H - Conifer Y2H - Hardwood
ATTACHMENT 1
Forest Inventory
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-21 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
References
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), 2010. THP Project Carbon
Accounting: Inventory, Growth, and Harvest. Excel spreadsheet and accompanying user guide.
Version 6-11-2010.
Curtis, Robert O.; Marshall, David D., 2000. "Why quadratic mean diameter?" Western Journal of
Applied Forestry, 15 (3): 137–139,
https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/olympia/silv/publications/opt/436_CurtisMarshall2000.pdf
Lindquist, James L., and Marshall N. Palley, 1963. Empirical Yield Tables for Young-Growth Redwood.
Berkeley: Division of Agricultural Sciences, University of California. California Agricultural
Experiment Station, Bulletin 296.
McArdle, Richard E., and Walter H. Meyer, 1961. The Yield of Douglas-fir in the Pacific Northwest.
USDA Technical Bulletin 201, 74 pps. Rev. 1961
0
5
10
15
20
12-16" 18-22" 24-28" 30-34" 36-40" 42-46" 48-58" 60+ "
Tre
e
s
p
e
r
A
c
r
e
Diameter at Breast Height
Figure 2.4.11: Stand Type Y3H
(Hardwoods, Moderate Canopy Cover,
Young Growth)
Tree Size Distribution
Conifers and Hardwoods over 11" DBH
-
Y3H - Conifer Y3H - Hardwood
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La Honda Forest Assessment 2-22 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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ATTACHMENT 1
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June 2021
CHAPTER 3 Context for Forest Assessment
Land Use History of the Project Area
Pre-disturbance condition
Most of the old growth redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains were logged in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries. Prior to the clearcut, it is likely that the La Honda Forest had a similar range of species
composition and stand types as the current day, from redwood-dominated stands in moister areas, grading to
mixed evergreen/montane hardwood forests upslope, and with grassland openings on the exposed, south
facing hilltops and hill sides. Redwood was – and is – dominant in areas with favorable conditions for this
species: areas of deep, moist soils, typically on east and north facing slopes, in the bottoms of side canyons,
and along streams. Redwood was present in the drier forest types, but occurring as widely spaced
individuals or in small clumps or groves, with Douglas-fir and mixed hardwoods occupying most of the
growing space.
Redwood reached its greatest girth and height in the sporadically occurring alluvial benches along portions
of mainstem La Honda Creek and its tributaries, and also in the bowl-like headwaters of Harrington Creek,
the two Harrington Creek tributaries in the western part of the Forest, and The Bathtub Loop area of the
former Weeks Ranch (see Figure 1-1 in Chapter 1, and Figure 4-1 in Chapter 4 for location of these
features). Redwoods also reached great size in the seeps and areas of shallow groundwater on the deep soils
of the colluvial benches of the Conservation Management Unit (CMU), in some locations growing in
“cathedral groves” of several dozen huge trees. In drier locations on steeper slopes and in thinner soils,
redwoods were more widely spaced and were typically smaller -- up to about 5-feet diameter at breast height
(DBH). Even these smaller trees had expansive crowns, some reaching 80 feet in diameter. It took on the
order of only 20 to 30 old growth trees per acre to form a continuous, essentially closed canopy.
In-between and above redwood groves, dryer locations had a mixture of Douglas-fir and large hardwoods
with occasional redwoods occurring as large diameter, short stature individuals and in small groves.
Hardwood-dominated areas, especially along the flatter ridges, were likely selectively maintained by
Native Americans through fire. Mean fire return interval in the redwoods prior to European colonization
and settlement has been estimated at between 8-50 years (Lorimer et al, 2009; Stephens and Fry, 2005;
Jones and Russell, 2015). Native Americans used fire to maintain hardwoods, particularly tanoak
(Notholithocarpus densiflorus) and true oaks (Quercus spp.), as a food source; to maintain grasslands for
ungulate habitat; for ease of movement; and to encourage growth of other plants for fiber, medicine, and
food (Anderson, 2005; Lorimer et al, 2009). Fires set by Native Americans would creep into redwood-
dominated stands, but typically as low to medium intensity fires, usually resulting in limited mortality,
but spurring regeneration, both through seedlings establishing in exposed mineral soils and through
stimulation of sprouts from lignotubers (Stephens et al, 2018), and giving rise to basal hollows (“goose
ATTACHMENT 1
Context for Forest Assessment
La Honda Forest Assessment 3-2 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
pens”) and other characteristic features of the old growth forest. Still, fire in redwood duff, when dry,
spreads rapidly, and redwood has the potential for torching and crown fires (ibid). While the post-
European settlement (1849-1921) fire return interval may have shortened (Jones and Russell, 2015), fire
behavior likely changed substantially, from predominantly low intensity fires pre-disturbance to mixed
(Stephens et al, 2004) and high intensity fires, especially following the clearcut. The project area does not
appear to have had any known large-scale fires since post-clear cutting fires in the late 1800s (according
to CAL FIRE data and a lack of observed fire scars on second growth trees).
Logging History
Early Logging Period
A glimpse into forest conditions in the first half of the 20th century, as well as the early logging history of
the area, is provided by a 1939 US Forest Service publication reporting on historical research and a field
survey of the forested areas of the Santa Cruz Mountains (Jensen, 1939). The report includes a map of
lumber mills, showing that there had been several mills along La Honda Creek and upper San Gregorio
Creek in the period 1876-1905, categorized as, “steam-powered sawmills that used ox logging.” There
were two mills in the upper Corte de la Madera Creek watershed in the period 1906-1935, categorized as
“modern mills which used steam-powered logging.” The earlier generation of mills, which likely were the
destination for most of the old growth timber coming out of the La Honda Forest, relied at first on oxen
for yarding logs and hauling them to the mills (McGirk, 2014). After Dolbeer’s invention of the steam
donkey in 1881, yarding became more mechanized, and less-accessible trees could be dragged out of the
forest and taken to the mills. During this period of early mechanized logging, all accessible, merchantable
trees were typically taken. Following the clearcut, the early loggers would burn the slash, often starting
wildfires that would kill or damage some of the remaining standing trees. These fires inhibited regrowth
of the redwood stumps, prevented successful regeneration from seed of both redwood and Douglas-fir,
and promoted brushy regrowth, including tanoak, which resprouts aggressively after fire.
As of 1937, there were no mills operating in the La Honda Creek watershed, but elsewhere in the Santa
Cruz mountains there were three large industrial mills operating in the areas of remaining old growth
timber, and several smaller mills cutting young growth and isolated patches of old growth (Jensen, 1939).
Based on the results of his survey conducted in 1935-36, Jensen classifies the redwood forests in the
upper La Honda Creek and Harrington Creek watersheds – the area of the CMU, the Redwood Cabin, and
the Harmon Parcel – as “young growth timber, principally one age class,” and the riparian forest along La
Honda creek as “young growth timber, several to many age classes.” The report classifies most of the
redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains as the one-age-class type, which is further characterized as
mostly 21- to 60-year-old stands, with some stands up to 80 years old. This was consistent with Jensen’s
observation that “extensive logging did not begin until after 1875” (ibid, page 31). These were stands that
developed mostly from basal sprouts following the clearcut. The report notes the degraded condition of
these young, even-aged forests: of 112,190 acres in the whole of the Santa Cruz Mountains of this type,
the survey classified over 50 percent as “poorly stocked,” and only 3 percent as “well-stocked,” and notes
that “…much of the space in these stands is taken up not by the timber, but by hardwoods and shrubs
instead” (ibid, page 31). A 1943 air photo series (Figure 3-1) shows the La Honda Forest and surrounding
area around this time. As seen in the figure, there is little obvious ground disturbance, other than major
roads, and the forested areas appear to be regaining a closed canopy. It is likely, however, that most of the
conifers were small and that hardwoods and brush were extensive.
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Second and Subsequent Entries – 1940s through 1980s
The era of unregulated tractor logging began in earnest after World War II. Few records of the tractor
logging period have emerged, but in 1984, when the District was purchasing the land that now makes up the
northern part of the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve, the District received a letter from neighbors who
described their attempt to stop a logging operation, apparently within what is now the CMU, in 1962 (Egger
and Egger, 1984). The neighbors describe how the Ocean View Lumber Company trespassed onto their
property to build a road, apparently to access the bridge over La Honda Creek that led to the Haul Road
through what is now the CMU (see Appendix A). The neighbors recount that their efforts to stop the logging
failed, and that the logging operation went forward during the last months of 1962:
“The La Honda Creek watershed was destroyed. The bridge across the creek collapsed and the
logging road has washed out and seriously deteriorated. The collapse of the bridge had stopped
the flow of La Honda Creek.” (ibid).
The letter also suggests that logging had been occurring for some time in what is now the CMU:
“At one time when the logging roads were kept up, the loggers had no problems bringing their
trucks and equipment across La Honda Creek” (ibid).
It is unclear when, prior to 1962, the haul road was built, or whether it was built or improved for that entry: a
review of air photos from the 1940s and 1950s does not show clear signs of logging or other disturbance
during this period. Consistent with the Eggers’ letter, a 1965 air photo shows extensive disturbance in what is
now the southern portion of the CMU, including what appears to be the haul road, as well as extensive bare
ground, presumably skid trails (Figure 3-2). The 1965 air photo also shows that logging occurred at this time in
the two Harrington Creek tributaries, west of the CMU, though the southern drainage, where there is a
remaining patch of old growth (Figure 2-3 in Chapter 2), was only partially cut.
Until 1967, there was little regulation of logging at the State or county level, but State regulations required
retention of a minimum of four “seed trees” per acre (Hamey, Baldzikowski, and McGraw, 2014). This
requirement appears to have been in place at the time of the 1962 logging entry, as there is currently a cohort
of large, older second growth and old growth redwood in this area, within a matrix of younger trees whose size
indicates that most are stump sprouts from after the logging. It is likely that in that entry, most merchantable
trees, other than the four seed trees per acre, were cut, and that many smaller trees were damaged or destroyed.
In addition, the dense network of roads and skid trails, which appears to have been built and then abandoned
without concern for erosion control, is still evident, and still contributes an undue share of sediment to La
Honda Creek (see Appendix A).
The 69-acre Darling parcel, which makes up the northeastern portion of the CMU, appears not to have
been reentered before the time of the 1965 air photo. A 1970 air photo series (Figure 3-3) indicates that
there may have been a logging entry between 1965 and 1970, but based on current conditions in the
Darling Parcel -- there are numerous very large second growth and residual old growth trees -- it is
apparent that this portion of the CMU retains elements of the forest that survived, or regenerated after, the
original logging entry in the 19th century or early 20th century. Other records of logging in the 1960s and
early 1970s have not come to light, other than a reference in a later Timber Harvest Plan (THP) to
selective logging of the Harmon parcel in 1965 and 1975 (THP 1-88-467-SMO). The 1962 Leib fire,
which burned about 1,300 acres in the Skylonda area (CAL FIRE et al, 2018), appears to have included a
portion of the Darling Parcel, as well as a portion of the adjoining Allen Road-Cielo Trail area (MROSD,
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2014), though newspaper records of the time describe the fire occurring west of El Corte de Madera Open
Space and down Tunitas Creek Road. No other records of fire in the La Honda OSP have come to light.
There are records of several logging entries into different portions of the La Honda Forest in the 1970s
and 1980s, following passage of the Z’berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act in 1973 and the subsequent
promulgation of the Forest Practice Rules, including the requirement that commercial logging operations
be conducted pursuant to an approved THP. THPs obtained by the District from CAL FIRE show that
logging entries occurred in The Bathtub Loop and the area around the Redwood Cabin in 1978; in the
Harmon Parcel in 1988; and in the Weeks-McDonald Ranch/Gate 7 area in the southern part of the La
Honda Forest in 1986 (Table 3-1; see also Figure 4-1 in Chapter 4 for location of areas named above).
All the entries during this period were relatively light, single-tree selection harvests (Figure 3-4). Applied
to mostly young, even-aged stands, these selective harvests were aimed at achieving more desirable
spacing, cutting out poorly formed and damaged trees, and encouraging the development of several
age/size classes of “thrifty” (i.e., regularly formed, suitable for milling), fast-growing trees. They were
intended to establish a sustainable timber harvest system based on short reentry cycles of 10-15 years.
This management system – single tree selection, uneven-aged silviculture on a short reentry cycle – was
then a new concept in the redwood forest, having been developed in the regrowth forests of the Santa
Cruz Mountains by consulting foresters Jim Greig and Ed Tunheim1 (both of whom were listed as
foresters on THPs referenced above – see Table 3-1) and Big Creek Lumber in the 1960s. The Forest
Practice Rules now require use of single tree selection silviculture in the Santa Cruz Mountains 2 and it is
increasingly practiced throughout the redwood range by conservation-minded foresters and landowners.
After more than 50 years of practice, it has been shown to be a practical means of sustainably managing
redwood forests for timber production, with the potential to retain or develop some later seral habitat.
Single tree selection, uneven-aged silviculture also provides a good starting point for restoration, as these
stands typically have a cohort of larger, older, vigorous trees. These larger trees can be cultivated as “old
growth candidates,” as they have the potential to achieve large size relatively quickly, and, because they
exhibit good mechanical stability, to live to a great age. This potential can be realized through application of a
different silvicultural system, aimed not at growing trees to merchantable size and then cutting them to release
the growth potential of smaller trees, but by perpetuating favorable growing conditions by removing nearby
trees that are competing for the essential resources of light and soil moisture. Some practitioners use the term
‘restoration forestry’ to describe this practice of selective logging to remove generally smaller trees and retain
and cultivate “old growth candidates” or other trees that provide late-seral habitat.
Also typical of the stands that have been subjected to single tree selection, uneven-aged silviculture is a relative
paucity of legacy erosion and sediment issues. These problems were typically addressed in the first entries
under this system (as eventually required under the Forest Practice Rules). Since it was to be used again in 10-
15 years, the network of roads, skid trails, and landings was maintained and improved over time.
Another feature of many of the stands managed under this system, including those within the La Honda
Forest, is a cohort of retained residual old growth and very large “open grown” trees. The foresters who
developed this system had a philosophy of retaining relictual forest elements, and of only cutting a tree if
it benefitted another. This old forest component adds habitat and aesthetic value, and can serve as a
starting point to be built upon in a restoration program.
1 A videotaped oral history interview of Ed Tunheim is available on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTQz08_lgpw 2 14 CCR § 913.8.
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Table 3-1
Historic Logging
Area of
Project Site
Harvest
date(s) Acreage THP
Forester or
Logging
Company
Silviculture Notes
Portions of the
CMU and
Harrington
Creek
Tributaries
1962 Unknown N.A. Ocean View
Logging
Company
Unknown.
Probable
retention of 4
seed trees/acre
over 18"
Probable access over the
La Honda Creek bridge
to the Haul Road,
subsequently washed
out. Did not include
Darling parcel or
southern part of southern
Harrington tributary.
Harmon 1965,
1975,
1988
41 1988: 1-88-
467-SMO
Ed Tunheim Single tree
selection
Light selection harvest in
1988, described as 5,000
BF/acre, about 20% of
merchantable volume.
Tunheim may have been
the forester in 1975, as
well. 1965 harvest was
under previous owner,
forester unknown.
Bathtub Loop 1978 120 5-78-43 SM Dale
Holderman/
Big Creek
Lumber
Selection
Weeks Ranch,
southern
project area
1986 115 1-86-029
SMO
Mike Jani/Big
Creek Lumber
Selection
Redwood
Cabin area
1978 62 5-77-11-
SM-3
Jim Greig Selection
(<40% of
conifers over
18")
Protecting the scenic
view from Highway 35
was stated as a goal in
the THP.
Opportunities for Forest Restoration and Resilience
This section discusses the factors that shape or constrain approaches to silvicultural forest restoration at
La Honda, partly by drawing upon experience from restoration efforts in the redwood region that inform
restoration planning. Restoration treatment regimes, wildfire hazard, climate change considerations, and
watershed restoration objectives are addressed.
Silvicultural Treatments vs. Treatment Regimes
As a sub-field of the broader field of ecological restoration, forest restoration draws upon silvicultural
principles and techniques that were developed over several centuries. Many of those tools were originally
developed for conventional stand management applications, but the appropriate selection of tools from
that toolbox can ideally serve forest restoration objectives. All silvicultural techniques were devised in
order to establish or redirect forest stand development patterns in ways that better achieve management
objectives, even if those objectives favored practices now known to be environmentally deleterious.
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When a number of silvicultural techniques are prescribed in a sequence over a temporal timeframe – with
near-term treatments shaped in part by the treatments that will follow – they are collectively referred to as
a treatment regime, typically applied over several decades in this region. Commonly applied treatment
regimes that consistently promote the sustainable production of quality wood crops gain the familiar title
of a silvicultural system (and sometimes called “sustainable forestry”). Although the silvicultural system
does not directly apply to restoration objectives, the treatment regime concept certainly does. Few forest
restoration objectives can be met – or met well – with a single-entry treatment; instead, most benefit from
a regime of treatments that are scheduled over time. In contrast to some other plant community restoration
practices, silvicultural treatments rarely achieve restoration goals by themselves in the immediate term.
Instead, they alter stand structure and composition, and thereby produce trajectories of stand development
that deviate from the no-treatment trajectory. Sometimes the best strategy is one in which no follow-on
treatment occurs until years or decades have passed since the initial treatment. It is that stand
development in the years following treatment that determines whether restoration goals have been met, or
whether additional treatment is indicated.
Some forms of ecological restoration are indeed well served by a discrete, single-entry treatment phase.
That approach is common for some vegetation restoration projects such as riparian corridors, wetland
projects, and mine reclamation, but is typically not the case for silvicultural restoration of upland forests.
This is especially relevant at La Honda, because the forest is already quite well developed, and the
potential benefits of silvicultural restoration treatments are proportionally less than at sites that are
younger and more greatly deviated from the range of historic conditions. As a result, the risks of
unintended negative consequences should be minimized, in order to constrain the risk/reward ratio. That
objective is served by a treatment regime strategy – an adaptive management approach that staggers
treatments in phases – rather than pushing the risk envelope with any single entry (see Adaptive
Management discussion in Chapter 4). A strategy that relies on more conservative treatments, and
staggering of entries over time, is more resilient to unintended consequences.
Forward-Looking Restoration
In North America, the original foundation of forest restoration lies in a focus on pre-settlement or pre-
disturbance forest conditions. However, forest restoration – in the redwood region and beyond – has
evolved in the past years from a rearward-facing focus on pre-settlement forest structure, or historic range
of variability, to a focus on the future and aspects of its uncertainty. To some extent there was always
some criticism of projects that overly-emphasized the exact reconstruction of historic conditions as
inferred from historic photographs, old growth stump counts, or old growth remnants as restoration
archetypes. But the evolution to a more forward-looking forest restoration has been expedited by concerns
over the rapid pace of climate change. Simply put, changes in climate may make historic forest
reconstruction impossible at worst, and inadvisable at best. As a result, forest restoration planning must
increasingly focus on boosting the adaptive capacity of forests to be resilient to climate change.
Western temperate forests, including coast redwood, all regularly face weather-related stresses and
disturbances (windsnap, severe droughts, late frosts), and all have evolved with some inherent capacity to
absorb them. Climate change is not a fully new concern, but it represents a new paradigm for viewing
such agents of abiotic stress and disturbance – changes in precipitation regimes, ambient and soil
temperature regimes, relative humidity, and so forth. Treatments that are historically known to improve
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growth and vigor by increasing the availability of site-limiting resources should also serve to boost tree-
scale and stand-scale resilience to changing climate.
The direct effects of climate change on forests are the ones most widely discussed and modeled (e.g.,
species-site relations, assisted species migration, seed production, and seedling recruitment bottlenecks,
etc.). Those direct effects are likely to be manifested in those forest types of narrow distributions at
climate fringes, such as whitebark pine at the alpine treeline, or pinyon pine at the desert fringe.
Redwood, too, may experience a decline at the edges of its range, both locally and regionally. Unlike
montane forests that shift upslope to a more favorable climate, however, redwoods may retreat downslope
to the moister canyon bottoms and alluvial plains, ceding marginal slopes to forest types and species more
tolerant of drier, hotter conditions (Ecoadapt, 2020a, 2020b). Anticipating and facilitating this transition is
an unfortunate but necessary part of restoration planning in the era of climate disruption.
Gaining Resilience through Old Growth Structure
Silviculture that expedites the acquisition of old forest structure should also enhance wildfire resistance.
Some reports suggest that mature forests were intrinsically more resistant to fire than are the younger
stands that replaced them. However, the science supporting this presumed co-benefit remains limited.
Restoration treatments to promote stand development pathways that expedite the acquisition of old forest
attributes are recent and they remain experimental in nature. The post-treatment response period is too
short in most cases and robust research, too, is recent and spare. Compared to untreated stands, however,
thinned stands exhibit increased growth rates (Teraoka et al, 2016; Soland et al, 2021), and begin to
acquire attributes such as large branches (Keyes, 2011) that appear to place them on a trajectory toward
regaining old growth stature, complexity, and character. Even without restoration treatment, undisturbed
older second growth stands begin to approach metrics, structure, and understory similar to old growth
stands, beginning 100 years or so following clearcutting (Iberle et al, 2020; Russell and Michels, 2011).
The intent of restoration treatments is to speed that process, particularly by addressing structural
impairments that are the legacy of past management.
It is an inevitability that silvicultural treatments that facilitate old growth forest structure over the long
term nearly always must increase fire potential in the near term. All silvicultural restoration treatments
will generate activity fuels,3 such as “slash” from branches, at least as a short-term pulse. Those activity
fuels, plus the canopy gaps that promote forest floor vegetation rejuvenation, plus the stalling of overstory
tree crown recession – all combine to enhance near-term exposure to fire. The quantity of activity fuels,
the extent of canopy gaps, and the duration of stalled crown recession are all proportional to the intensity
of treatment. If, however, thinned trees are removed and sold, and, as required under the Forest Practice
Rules, slash is disposed of, activity fuels remaining in the forest are minimized. Without heavy equipment
on site that is part of a commercial timber operation, chainsaws and handwork can be used, though at
greater expense, to minimize slash. At La Honda, combining restoration with commercial utilization of
the byproducts of restoration operations (i.e., a timber sale) is a feasible option for portions of the
property. The role of commercial utilization in abating activity fuels and mitigating fire danger is an
important factor that should be considered.
3 Activity fuels: fuels resulting from, or altered by, forestry practices such as timber harvest or thinning, as opposed to naturally
created fuels.
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Even in the absence of commercial utilization, however, the stand responses to treatment will almost
immediately begin offsetting the temporarily heightened near term exposure to fire risk. Canopy bulk
density (or crown bulk density) – a crucial element of crown fire behavior – will be reduced proportional
to treatment intensity, thus reducing the potential for crown fire spread. Additionally, the accelerated tree
growth rates generated by reduced stand densities should concomitantly boost bark growth and thickness,
buffering individual trees against cambium scorch from intensive and potentially destructive surface and
ground fires. If combined with familiar fuel reduction and fire hazard abatement treatments, such as
ladder fuel removal and creation of shaded fuel breaks, fire danger will be further reduced.
Near-term fire danger associated with restoration treatment can be ameliorated at La Honda by: 1)
minimizing activity fuel loads either through commercial utilization, slash piling and burning, or some
other treatment method; 2) establishing stringent standards for lop and scatter treatment of slash to keep
slash heights low, to compact the surface fuels complex (as measured by fuelbed depth and packing ratio)
and thereby promote decomposition, and to prevent piling slash next to retained trees; 3) by giving
attention to fuel complex contiguity – segregating surface fuel jackpots and spacing large canopy gaps
amidst a thinned matrix; 4) combining restoration treatments with fuel reduction and hazard abatement
treatments in and around the treated stand.
Relationship of Stand Dynamics to Wildland Fire Hazard
Throughout the West, susceptibility to stand-replacing wildfire is an historic yet increasingly growing
concern. Longer fire seasons that are warmer and drier, and that are exacerbated by greater fuel
availability elevate that component of fire behavior and increase wildfire hazard. The accelerated
encroachment of development into the wildland interface further complicates the situation and raises the
stakes of increased fire hazard. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Santa Cruz Mountains, especially
after the shocking devastation of the CZU Complex Fire of August 2020 (Santa Cruz Mountains
Bioregional Council, 2020).
Wildfire susceptibility is strongly tied to forest structure. As a result, the capacity of silvicultural
treatment to abate wildfire hazard by modifying forest stand structure is great. Susceptibility takes two
forms, both of which can be adjusted by silvicultural treatment: 1) through vertical contiguity among
surface and aerial fuel complexes that facilitates torching and crown fire initiation (high dead and live
surface fuel loads, ladder fuels, and low canopy base heights), or 2) through spatial contiguity among
canopy fuels that contributes to crown fire.4 Suppression of fire leads to the accumulation of dead surface
and live aerial fuels. Fire is, of course, weather influenced, but so is ‘available fuel.’ Available fuel is the
term used to describe that fraction of the total fuel load that is sufficiently dry to engage in the
combustion process associated with an expanding flaming front.
Greater amounts of fuel, more contiguity of surface and aerial fuel complexes, and a greater proportional
amount of fuel in an available state collectively result in the potential for wildfires of high intensity and
severity. The potential for transition of surface fire to crown fire is increased, and the potential to
4 Common susceptibility metrics corresponding to the former and latter are torching index (TI) and crowning index (CI), which
represent the midflame windspeeds at which torching (crown fire initiation) and crowning (crown fire spread) are likely to
occur for given stand and fuel conditions. TI and CI are metrics commonly understood and communicated by fire and fuels
managers, and they can be modeled readily via the Forest Vegetation Simulator’s (FVS) Fire and Fuels Extension (FFE).
Canopy fuel loads and related metrics (Canopy Base Height; Canopy Bulk Density (CBD). However, to distill down to that
basic metric requires an inventory of (or data assignment to) all fuel loads, plus slope, wind direction, and assumptions of
additional fire weather, which is beyond the scope of the current report.
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facilitate the spread from fires initiating elsewhere is increased. Silvicultural treatment that reduces (or
even just alters) the structure of fuel complexes disrupts that potential. When strategically located on
stand and property boundaries at La Honda, silvicultural treatments can reduce the potential for spread
while increasing fire management options and firefighter safety.
Strategically placed fuels treatments that reduce and/or compact dead surface fuel loads, and that
artificially elevate canopy base heights, will reduce crown fire initiation potential. In the La Honda Forest,
low thinning and pruning will be useful tools, especially along the forest/grassland transition zones,
where low crowns meet dense and flashy grass and brush fuels and serve as exceptionally hazardous areas
that can catalyze crown fire.
Climate change that results in reduced fog cover and/or later winter rains produces a longer fire season
where fuel availability becomes greater, and the duration of its availability increases its period of
heightened vulnerability.
Climate Change Informs Restoration Planning
Climate change and its forecasted pace lend greater urgency to restoration efforts. Restoration not only
achieves structural and compositional goals, it imparts greater capacity for mitigation of, and adaptation
to, uncertain climatic conditions. Existing (‘native’) stressors are influenced by climate, and projected
climate change suggests exacerbation of those existing stressors.
As a working hypothesis, we may postulate that restoration practices that promote old forest attributes
will also enhance the likelihood of redwood persistence and impart resilience in a dynamically changing
climate. The capacity of stand-driven silvicultural techniques alone to impart resilience is limited.
External and abiotic factors exist that cannot be mitigated by the manipulation of stand structure and
composition, or by the management of stand type heterogeneity. Invasive species, roads, and multiple
landscape considerations – fire ignition and spread potential, fire suppression capacity and infrastructure,
land fragmentation – can render stand- and property-scale measures ineffective. Acknowledgement of
those factors, however, can inform restoration practices and inform planning to increase resilience to
external forces.
The direct influence of Pacific coast microclimate on redwood occurrence is apparent. The historic range
of redwood – like all species – is framed by climate history. Past changes in climate have shriveled the
species’ range to the narrow sliver of the Pacific coast it currently occupies. Climate change threatens
(both directly and indirectly) to further restrict that range. Fog incidence may have declined during the
past century by as much as one third (Johnstone and Dawson, 2010). Still, incorporating climate as a
guiding feature to restoration planning is currently in a nascent phase, and its influence on treatment
specifics remains mainly conceptual.5
5 Reflecting both the acceptance of silviculture as a restoration practice, and uncertainty about treatment effects on forest
adaptation to potential climate changes, a national network of long-term studies was recently launched called the Adaptive
Silviculture for Climate Change project (ASCC; see adaptivesilviculture.org for details). This unique interdisciplinary,
interagency project is testing suites of silvicultural techniques that focus on resistance, resilience, and transition – objectives
reflecting potential levels of climate change and their implications for forest ecosystems. Experiments are underway at seven
locations in the United States (Colorado, Georgia, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire) and Canada (Ontario). Sites are
located in important forest regions and across a variety of forest types that are emblematic of those geographic landscapes.
This research network and its silvicultural planning process, which is highly inclusive and transferable, could help inform
forest restoration treatment planning at La Honda and similar sites in the redwood region.
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Balancing Watershed and Forest Restoration Objectives
As described previously, the forest management history at La Honda has resulted in an array of current
forest conditions; some demand silvicultural intervention in order for forest objectives to be met, whereas
others exhibit comparatively lower levels of impairment. For the latter, treatment can expedite and
enhance forest development, but is not considered essential to it. In those cases, the relative emphasis on
silvicultural forest restoration may be secondary to watershed restoration needs, especially erosion and
stream sedimentation associated with legacy forest roads and water crossings. Since strategies for dealing
with each of those two objectives – forest restoration and watershed restoration – can take multiple forms,
it is worth considering how those objectives affect each other. Management should align with both
objectives, or at least serve as the best compromise between them.
Lessons from Redwood National and State Parks
There are valuable lessons to be learned from the experience of Redwood National and State Parks
(RNSP) and its watershed restoration and forest restoration programs. Initiated in the 1970s, the RNSP
watershed restoration program commenced well in advance of the forest restoration program, which did
not begin until several years later (Keyes, 2011).
The watershed restoration strategy was an ambitious one focused on forest roads in those upland second-
growth forests, and involved complete road decommissioning and slope recontouring: culvert removal
followed by restoration of original stream course morphology and substrate; roadway fill slope material
repacked to the original cut slope to replicate the original hillslope; and revegetation and reforestation of
the restored landform with native tree species (Coates, 1981). That comprehensive approach to watershed
restoration focused exclusively on that program’s objectives, and was guided by hydrologists, geologists,
fisheries biologists, and road engineers.
Once the watershed restoration program was well underway, focus by the park’s biologists spread to the
condition (structure and composition) of the second-growth forests themselves. A forester was hired to
design and execute a series of silvicultural restoration thinning treatments to reduce densities, shift
species compositions, increase spatial complexity, and facilitate the long-term development of old growth
structure to those impaired second-growth forests. Many of the objectives and desired future conditions
were similar to the District’s objectives for the La Honda Forest.
At RNSP, the two restoration programs operated with some coordination but in an asymmetrical form: the
tools available to forest restoration were constrained by watershed restoration activities, especially road
decommissioning. The latter had not been planned with consideration of forest restoration or other land
management concerns, such as fuels treatments, broadcast burning, or wildfire suppression capability.6
As a result, the tools and timeline available to forest restoration planning were impacted in two major
ways:
• First, watershed restoration activity timelines were superimposed on the forest restoration
program and forced the latter to follow suit. The prioritization, scale, and timing of forest
6 Current restoration programs in Redwood National and State Park include Redwoods Rising, a collaborative initiative
between Save the Redwoods League, the National Park Service, and California State Parks, whose mission is to protect old
growth stands, restore redwood forest ecosystems, and ensure the long-term health of these lands. Redwoods Rising includes
both watershed restoration and forest restoration objectives.
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restoration project planning followed those of the watershed restoration program, rather than
following their own optimal course.
• Second, and more importantly, watershed restoration activities that significantly reduced access,
such as road decommissioning and slope recontouring, greatly curtailed the range of available
forest restoration strategies, effectively limiting those strategies to single-entry restoration
treatments.
Applicability to the La Honda Forest
The takeaway lesson from the RNSP experience for the La Honda Forest is that watershed restoration
activity planning requires a decision in direction that by association will expand or contract the tools
available for silvicultural forest restoration. Where road impairments require remediation (notably the
CMU, but to a lesser extent in other areas as well), a decision must be made whether to reestablish and
improve functional roads and their water crossings, or else decommission them to address erosion and
mass wastage threats, and to reestablish original stream courses.
If the former approach is taken to watershed restoration, and roads and crossing are improved, then
improvements can and probably should occur prior to silvicultural intervention, because they will widen
the range of treatment possibilities, including potential for commercial timber harvest. They will also
enable a temporal spread of silvicultural treatments over time that can reduce the risk of unintended
consequences. In addition, they can activate the potential of employing an adaptive management
framework that is informed by monitoring of silvicultural treatment effectiveness.
If the latter approach is taken to watershed restoration, and roads and crossings are decommissioned, then
the range of silvicultural tools will likely be limited by equipment access and log hauling capability. The
potential for commercial timber harvest may be voided in some locations. Broadcast burning and wildfire
control potential will be limited by the same restricted access by fire suppression equipment, and
silvicultural treatments will need to take additional care to avoid elevating potential wildfire behavior by
focusing more intently on minimizing activity fuels. The temporal distribution of silvicultural intervention
techniques will be limited, requiring all efforts to be initiated and completed early in the process,
concentrating treatment activity to a narrow temporal window, and necessarily increasing the risk of
unintended consequences by concentrating treatment impact to that tight window.
References
Anderson, M. Kat, 2005. Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of
California’s Natural Resources. Berkeley: University of California Press.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), San Mateo County Resource
Conservation District, and Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District, 2018. Santa Cruz
County San Mateo County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Prepared by: CAL FIRE, San
Mateo — Santa Cruz Unit, Resource Conservation District for San Mateo County and Resource
Conservation District for Santa Cruz County, April 2018.
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Coats, Robert N., ed., 1981. Proceedings of a Symposium on Watershed Rehabilitation in Redwood
National Park and Other Pacific Coastal Areas. Proceedings of a symposium held August 24-28,
1981. Sponsored by National Park Service, US Geological Survey, US Forest Service, California
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Adaptation Project: Coastal Redwood Forest. Draft. Joint project of Midpeninsula Regional Open
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______ 2020b. Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the Santa Cruz Mountains Climate
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Jensen, Herbert A., 1939. Vegetation Types and Forest Conditions of the Santa Cruz Mountains Unit of
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Jones, Gregory A., and Will Russell, 2015. “Approximation of Fire-Return Intervals with Point Samples
in the Southern Range of the Coast Redwood Forest, California, USA.” Fire Ecology, vol. 11, no.
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Johnstone, James, and Todd E. Dawson, 2010. “Climatic context and ecological implications of summer
fog decline in the coast redwood region. “PNAS, vol. 107, no. 10, March 9, 2010, pp. 4533–4538
Keyes, C.R., 2011. “Thinning promotes the restoration of branch structure in second-growth redwoods at
Redwood National Park.” Ecological Restoration Vol. 29, pp. 325-327
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Norman, Kevin L. O’Hara, and William J. Libby. “Presettlement and modern disturbance regimes
in coast redwood forests: Implications for the conservation of old-growth stands.” Forest Ecology
and Management, vol. 258 (2009), pp. 1038–1054.
McGirk, Jan, 2014. “Lumbering with the bull and jerk teams: ‘mean strength and awkwardness.’” In Lisa
Robinson, ed., Redwood Logging and Conservation in the Santa Cruz Mountains: a Split History.
Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History at the McPherson Center.
MidPeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD), 2014. 2014 Vision Plan Conservation Atlas.
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Russell, Will, and Kristin Michels, 2011. "Stand Development on a 127-yr Chronosequence of Naturally
Regenerating Sequoia sempervirens (Taxodiaceae) Forests," Madroño 57(4), 229-241.Santa Cruz
Mountains Bioregional Council, 2020. Redwood forest impacts of the CZU lightning fire
complex: climate change hits home with catastrophic results. October 19, 2020.
https://www.scmbc.org/news
Soland, Kevin A., Lucy P. Kerhoulas, Nicholas J. Kerhoulas, and J.R. Teraoka, 2021. “Second-growth
redwood forest responses to restoration treatments.” Forest Ecology and Management 496, Sept.
2021.
Stephens, Scott L, and Danny L. Fry, 2005. “Fire History in Coast Redwood Stands in the Northeastern
Santa Cruz Mountains, California.” Fire Ecology, vol. 1, no. 1.
Stephens, Scott L; Douglas Piirto, and Domenico Caramagno, 2004. “Fire regimes and resultant forest
structure in the native Año Nuevo Monterey pine (Pinus radiata) forest, California.” The
American Midland Naturalist, vol. 152, pp. 25-36.
Stephens, Scott L., Jeffrey M. Kane, and John D. Stuart, 2018. “North Coast Bioregion.” In Jan W. Van
Wagtendonk, Neil G. Sugihara, Scott L. Stephens, Andrea E. Thode, Kevin E. Shaffer, and Jo
Ann Fites-Kaufman, eds., Fire in California’s Ecosystems. Berkeley: University of California
Press. Second edition.
Teraoka, Jason R., Phillip J. van Mantgem, and Christopher R. Keyes, 2017. “Low Thinning and Crown
Thinning of Two Severities as Restoration Tools at Redwood National Park.” In Standiford,
Richard B. and Yana Valachovic (technical coordinators), Proceedings of the Coast Redwood
Science Symposium-2016: Past Successes and Future Direction. General Technical Report PSW-
GTR-258. Albany, CA: USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station.
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CHAPTER 4 Forest Restoration and Management
This chapter discusses current conditions in the La Honda Forest and provides options for forest
restoration and management, consistent with the District’s relevant resource management goals and
polices for forest management and wildland fire management, as described in Chapter 1. Because the La
Honda Forest has had a varied management history, as described in Chapter 3, and contains a range of
forest stand types (Figure 2-3 in Chapter 2), this chapter provides separate discussions of distinct areas of
the La Honda Forest, shown in Figure 4-1, that share a common management history, or that are
botanically distinct. For each defined area, restoration options consistent with the resource management
goals and policies recounted in Chapter 1 are provided, and preceded by a discussion of current
conditions.
Approach to Forest Restoration
As discussed in Chapter 3 and further detailed below, the La Honda Forest has been profoundly altered,
primarily through logging, from its pre-disturbance condition. Our analysis of restoration opportunities
focuses on the identification of “impaired forest condition classes” (IFCCs; Keyes, 2005). IFCCs are
derived from field observation and a reconstruction of historic stand structure and management history.
They classify current stand conditions, including species composition, tree size, spacing, density, and
form, and describe how they differ from historic reference conditions. The descriptive analysis of
classifications focuses on stand structures and growth dynamics that can predictably inhibit or impair the
forest’s recovery from past disturbance. Restoration then focuses on silvicultural treatments to address
impairments and redirect the growth trajectory of the stand toward the desired condition. The objective of
the restoration treatments is to alter structural and/or compositional attributes in a fashion that will realign
stand development patterns so that they more closely mimic natural patterns of stand development. If
treatment is successful, the stand’s own growth dynamics then return the stand, over time, to the desired
condition, including a restoration of its ecological function.
While in some cases altered forest stands may eventually achieve desired conditions without intervention,
active silviculture can realign stand development trends with restoration objectives more quickly. In some
cases, the forest has been altered to the extent that it is unlikely to grow back to its pre-disturbance
condition without intervention, and passive management cannot be considered restoration, but only
perpetuation of the altered condition. Recognition that a stand has been profoundly altered from its pre-
disturbance condition, or that the future climate may no longer support the same type of forest that once
grew there, may prompt consideration of “restoring” a stand to a different type more compatible with the
site’s current potential and likely future conditions.
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In the La Honda Forest, we have identified the following IFCCs:
IFCC-1: High density of redwood regrowth stands. In areas of advanced second growth redwood,
there is generally a desirable range of age/size classes and species composition, but high stem density
(expressed as trees per acre; see Chapter 2) results in competition that inhibits the stand’s development
toward regaining old growth character, and leaves the stand more vulnerable to climate-induced stresses.
The high density of medium and larger diameter trees results in competition for canopy position and
shading of the lower branches of the largest trees. As the shaded foliage becomes inefficient, the shaded
branches become abscissed and are culled from the live crown. As the tree continues to gain height, this
results in “upward crown recession,” the continued development of crown at the apex of the tree, even as
it is losing its lower branches. Loss of the lower portion of the crown equates to a decrease in the crown’s
leaf area, lowered potential for photosynthesis, and decreased growth potential. This inhibits the increase
in girth and development of old growth characteristics, such as large branches and expansive, complex
crowns, and may also adversely affect mechanical stability. Because trees are also competing for soil
resources, the high density may also increase the stand’s susceptibility to adverse effects of climate
change, including drought and heat-induced stress and mortality. Climate change-induced stress may be
most felt at the drier margins of these redwood stands (Ecoadapt, 2020a), which typically include areas
higher on slopes, and in the transitional areas between canyon bottoms and side slopes.
IFCC-2: Redwood isolates. On canyon side slopes, the narrow bands of continuous conifer canopy along
moister swales, sometimes referred to as “stringers,” has fragmented, with hardwoods, especially tanoak,
occupying interstices between regrowth redwood clumps. Tanoak sprouted aggressively after the clearcut,
outcompeting redwood in the short-term, especially where fire following the clearcut damaged or killed
redwood sprouts and incinerated Douglas-fir seeds and seedlings: Douglas-fir is typically reduced in
abundance or absent from these stands. The tanoak tends to hem-in the redwood, inhibiting radial crown
expansion that would lead to redwood reoccupying canopy space and eventually regaining the continuity
of the conifer canopy corridors. Tanoak also likely competes with redwood for dry season soil moisture,
shortening redwood’s growing season and overall growth rate, and decreasing vigor.
IFCC-3. Douglas-fir and brush encroachment in mixed hardwood stands. The mixed conifer-
hardwood stands are a diverse, dry forest type, composed mostly of live oak, madrone, tanoak, and
Douglas-fir. It is likely that current species composition and vegetation patterns reflect long management
by Native Americans. Frequent, low-intensity fire prevented encroachment of brushy growth and fire-
prone trees, especially Douglas-fir, and tended to maintain the forest in a perpetual mid-seral stage of
development. Through fire suppression, Douglas-fir that have sprouted within the dripline of the
hardwoods eventually grow through the crowns of the hardwoods, shading them out and killing them.
High fuel loading and hazardous fuel structure are common, with an abundance of brushy species and
small trees resulting in a high degree of both horizontal and vertical fuel continuity. Where these stands
occur adjacent to unmanaged grasslands, there is the potential for rapidly spreading, high-severity fire.
In addition to these structural impairments to forest recovery, which indicate silvicultural restoration
treatments, we have observed several non-structural impairments as well. These are due to past
management, including fire suppression and unregulated logging, that has resulted in conditions that raise
the risk of catastrophic wildfire or otherwise threaten forest health and ecosystem integrity, and that may
be remediated through non-silvicultural management actions. We include in this category Sudden Oak
Death (SOD), which is evidently spreading throughout the La Honda Forest, causing a die-off of tanoak
in some areas, and potentially affecting other species as well.
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Non-structural impairments to forest recovery that we have observed within the La Honda Forest include
the following:
• In redwood-dominated conifer stands with high canopy closure, thick duff accumulation inhibits
development of an herbaceous layer and adds to wildfire hazard. Thick duff layers pose a hazard
in the form of surface and ground fire severity. Severe smoldering ground fires lack the
dynamism of surface and crown fires, but their long residence times can make them capable of
lethal root scorch and mortality levels that rival fast-spreading, high-intensity fires. In some
locations with high duff loads, wildfire hazard is increased by presence of ladder fuels.
• Erosion and stream sedimentation above natural background levels persist, due mostly to the
legacy of early tractor logging, leading to loss of topsoil, gullying and other scarring of the land,
and degradation of aquatic habitat and water quality.
• At the margin of some conifer stands bordering on grasslands, including stands containing a
substantial number of old growth trees, grass and brush encroaching into the conifers poses the
risk of rapid spread of fire from grasslands into the conifer stand, raising the potential for conifer
damage or mortality in the event of wildfire.
• Rapid die-off of tanoak infected with SOD leaves canopy openings, heavy fuel loads, and an
uncertain development trajectory.
Restoration and Management Options
The remainder of this chapter examines current conditions, identifies IFCCs and non-structural
impairments, and provides options and recommendations for forest restoration of the following areas,
which are shown in Figure 4-1:
• Harmon Parcel
• Allen Road/White Barn Area
• Conservation Management Unit
• Northern/Redwood Cabin Area
• Weeks Ranch/Red Barn Area, including the Bathtub Loop
• Harrington Creek Tributaries
Harmon Parcel
Current Conditions
Following the original clearcut, the 50-acre Harmon parcel was managed for timber production and
reentered at least 3 times, in 1965, 1975, and 1988 (THP 1-88-467-SMO), using uneven-aged, single-tree
selection silviculture. Ed Tunheim was the forester of record for the 1988 THP, and the forest here bears
his stamp: well-spaced (but not uniformly spaced), vigorous, second-growth redwoods, a high degree of
canopy closure, with some scattered residual old growth trees. There is a good component of larger trees
throughout the parcel: dominant trees with well-developed crowns, good mechanical stability, and large
girth. Most of the Harmon Parcel is classified as stand type Y1RD (young growth, very high canopy
closure, redwood and Douglas-fir), which averages 18 trees per acre over 35” diameter at breast height
(DBH). Conifer volume averages approximately 54,000 board feet per acre (bf/acre) gross over the 50-
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acre Harmon parcel, but is higher within the Y1RD type. Annual growth is vigorous, at 7% (basal area,
per year) within the Y1RD type, indicating very good site quality. Within the Harmon parcel, the ground
is moderately steep to low gradient, with headwaters of Harrington Creek flowing through it. The stand
grades quickly to drier, sparser types upslope (particularly the northern portion of the parcel), where there
is a higher component of Douglas-fir and hardwoods. A former logging road extends from the parking lot
at Bear Gulch Road, winds down to and across the creek, then continues east along the north side of the
creek. Preliminarily, few erosion and sedimentation problems appear to be associated with this road, or
with other old skid trails and landings within the Harmon parcel.
Harmon Parcel Structural Impairments
IFCC-1: High density of redwood regrowth stands
IFCC-3: Douglas-fir and brush encroachment into mature hardwood and mixed
hardwood/conifer stands
Non-Structural Impairments
• Heavy duff layer in redwood stands
The current structure and composition of the redwood-dominant areas of the Harmon parcel have been
formed through single-tree selection, uneven-aged silviculture, consisting of low-severity cuttings and
short cutting cycles. Left to its own, the stand is likely to develop more old growth character over time, as
the larger, dominant trees with superior canopy position continue to gain size and dominance, and stand
density slowly decreases through stem exclusion (i.e., shading and mortality of the smaller trees in
inferior canopy positions). Current stem density, however, is undesirably high, placing this area into the
IFCC-1 classification. Most of the redwood area in the Harmon parcel is stand type Y1RD (young growth
redwood and Douglas-fir, very high canopy cover), which has about 200 stems per acre, with 66 larger
than 11 inches, and 130 ingrowth stems between 5 and 11 inches DBH. The potential for the stand to
regain old growth character and ecological function is constrained by that stem density.
Fuel loading in the Harmon parcel is moderate in the low-lying, redwood-dominated areas, which
generally exhibit a light understory and lack of ladder fuels, but a thick duff layer. Surface fuel loading
increases upslope in the drier forest types, particularly along the northern edge of the parcel, at the base of
the slope that leads up to Allen Road. This area fits the IFCC-3 classification: there is a brushy
understory, more flammable species, including Douglas-fir and hardwoods, and presence of ladder fuels.
Restoration Treatment Rationale
Left untreated, the redwood stands within the Harmon parcel can be expected to gradually regain old-
growth character, including large tree size and attendant large tree features, wide spacing, and resulting
habitat value. Silvicultural treatments, however, have the potential to accelerate recovery substantially,
and at the same time increase resilience in the face of climate change.
Restoration Goals
Restoration goals for the Harmon parcel are to facilitate the recovery of a late seral, old growth redwood
forest, to reduce fire hazard, and to increase the forest’s resilience in the face of climate change.
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Restoration and Management Options
Option 1: Restoration thinning, with timber sale (recommended)
The recommended option is to undertake a restoration thinning program to accelerate the acquisition of
old growth redwood forest character in the Harmon Parcel. This would begin by identifying a cohort of
“old growth candidate” trees for retention, around which thinning treatments would be focused.
Restoration thinning would reduce stand density through low thinning of ingrowth, and crown release
thinning targeting for removal those subdominants that are competing with the old growth candidates for
canopy position. Prescriptions would be applied in at least two cycles, 15-20 years apart: the first cycle to
reduce density from the current 200 trees per acre to about 100 trees per acre, targeting primarily
suppressed ingrowth and subdominants up to about 30” DBH, and the subsequent entry or entries to
reduce density to about 50 stems per acre, retaining approximately 30 trees >36” DBH, plus a scattering
of smaller trees and ingrowth.
Thinning treatments are likely to produce a substantial volume of timber, and the Harmon Parcel is well
suited for a timber sale: a haul road winds through the parcel and connects to Bear Gulch Road; there is a
skid trail network; and Bear Gulch Road, though narrow and windy and used by residents, provides
access to State Highway 35. The parcel is zoned Timber Preserve Zone (TPZ). Conducting the work
under a THP, and selling the timber from the thinning treatments, is therefore feasible, and the
recommended option. Because of these favorable conditions, there is the potential that revenue from sale
of thinned trees may offset or exceed costs of the forest treatments. Slash from harvested trees will
include tops and poor-form boles (or cull wood) that can contribute to coarse woody debris habitat. In the
last entry, some number of the larger trees targeted for thinning may be deliberately felled to function as
large coarse woody debris, if it is determined that the forest is still lacking in this important habitat
element. Otherwise, commercial utilization of the merchantable components of thinned trees, and
treatment of slash per the Forest Practice Rules will reduce activity fuels and limit a post-treatment spike
in fire hazard.
Recommended treatment also includes a fuel reduction program to reduce duff accumulations and to
address the issues of brush encroachment and ladder fuels in the northern, drier part of the Harmon parcel.
If feasible, this could include a prescribed burn program, particularly in the bottom lands within the
logging road loop, which could serve as a control line. The northern, drier part of the parcel would benefit
from prescribed burning, but given the lack of a control line, and the presence at the top of the slope of
residences, this appears infeasible. Instead, mechanical treatment, and, where feasible, piling and burning
of slash, is recommended.
Option 2: Restoration thinning, no timber sale
This option would employ the same silvicultural restoration treatments and fuel reduction treatments as
the recommended option, but without a timber sale (i.e. trees would be felled but not removed from the
site). It appears that no permit would be required to undertake this option (a San Mateo County tree
removal permit would not be required, as the two Assessor’s parcels that make up the Harmon parcel are
zoned Timber Preserve). This option would require strict protocols for management of slash and cut trees
left on the ground, to reduce post-treatment fire hazard. Managing the logs and slash as fuels that result
from leaving the trees on site is a significant undertaking. If not done properly, the benefits of reduced
competition between trees may be offset by increased fire hazard.
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Option 3: Manage for sustainable timber production
The Harmon parcel could be managed for sustainable timber production, under a return to the short-cycle
single-tree selection silvicultural system previously employed. Entries would be spaced 10-15 years apart,
and in each entry about half of the incremental growth from the last entry would be cut. This would
ensure increasing stocking over time, as the average tree diameter increases, while the density remains
roughly the same. Larger second growth trees that would be retained as “old growth candidates” in a
restoration thinning treatment would instead be considered eligible for harvest to release (that is, to
concentrate growth on) the next generation of younger and smaller trees. The stand already likely meets
CAL FIRE’s definition of “late seral” forest, and increasing average tree size would, over time, enhance
the habitat value of the stand. Logging entries could be combined with fuel reduction treatments. This
option would provide the opportunity for the District to demonstrate a “conservation working forest”
approach to management.
Option 4: No silvicultural treatment
Given the current uneven-aged structure, and the presence of a cohort of residual old growth and larger
second growth trees exhibiting good form and vigor, no treatment is a viable restoration strategy. Over
time, the forest is likely to develop more old growth characteristics, though at a slower rate than if
silvicultural restoration treatments were applied. Without thinning treatments, climate change may further
slow stand development. Fuel treatments could be applied opportunistically, as part of the District’s
overall wildfire risk reduction program.
Potential Next Steps
Options 1 and 3 would require the preparation of a THP that would build on the data and management
recommendations in this report. A THP must be prepared by a Registered Professional Forester (RPF).
The cost for preparation of a THP is estimated at about $65,000. THPs have their own public process, are
equivalent to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and are administered by CAL FIRE as
the lead agency. The RPF would evaluate fine-scale forest structure and composition metrics (down to the
level of each stand) to develop site-specific prescriptions and associated marking rules for each harvest.
This would be the basis for a cost and revenue estimate. Under a restoration regime (option 1), revenues
generated from the sale of timber may cover or exceed the costs of the treatment, including developing
the THP. The other important consideration is that a THP can be used to conduct other forest management
activities in addition to commercial harvest, including fuels treatment, road upgrades, and other needed
work. Therefore, a THP that applies to a broader area of the La Honda Forest beyond the Harmon Parcel
may provide the most benefit from the perspective of cost, efficiency, and process (these efficiencies are
discussed in greater detail below with each administrative area). Option 1 would add to the growing
number of projects in the Santa Cruz Mountains that are applying this technique to manage redwood
forests.
Option 2 would not require a THP, but would likely require a CEQA finding by the District as the Lead
Agency, even if no permit is required by San Mateo County. District staff have relayed a recent range of
costs for Initial Studies and Mitigated Negative Declarations in the $60,000+ range. Additional stand-
scale prescriptions would need to be developed and implementation overseen by a RPF, at additional cost.
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Allen Road/White Barn Area
Current Conditions
The Allen Road/White Barn area includes the area around Allen Road, Coho Vista Trail, Coho Vista Trail
Loop, and Cielo Trail. The historic White Barn is located within this area, which was part of the Dyer
Ranch. For the purposes of restoration planning, this area is bordered on the east by the CMU, on the
north by Allen Road and the Cielo Trail, and on the west and south by the break in slope (corresponding
to the edge of the grassland) into the wooded drainages that are tributary to Harrington Creek. Public use
(hiking) is by permit only. It is characterized by mixed dry conifer-hardwood forests along the ridgelines
within a matrix of rolling grasslands. The approximately 24 acres of forest include stand type YR4D
(young growth and residual old growth Douglas-fir, low canopy density) and Y3H (young growth
hardwoods, moderate canopy density). The understory appears to be botanically rich in the hardwood-
dominated stands. Some previously forested areas may have been cleared for pasture or flax production,
and are now returning to forest cover. The grasslands may have been dry-farmed for flax in the mid-20th
century, and are now unmanaged. Through fire suppression, areas of mature mixed hardwood/conifer
stands have developed a dense understory of shrubs, hardwoods, and Douglas-fir sprouts, placing these
stands in the IFCC-3 classification. In some areas, vigorous Douglas-fir have grown through the
hardwood canopy and are shading out the hardwoods as their crowns expand. These areas exhibit high
surface and aerial fuel loads, and the fire hazard is exacerbated by the presence of ladder fuels. Because of
their location along travelled roads in proximity to neighboring residences, they are at high risk of
ignition.
The grasslands of the Allen Road/White Barn area are largely unmanaged. They are not included in the
District’s conservation grazing program due to lack of infrastructure, such as cross-fencing and water
sources. These ruderal annual grasslands grow to several feet in height. They are being encroached upon
by brushy species, particularly coyote bush (Baccharis pilularis). The proximity of the unmanaged
grasslands to forested areas that they border, including the mixed conifer-hardwood stands described
above, as well as conifer stands at the top of the CMU, poses a particularly high fire hazard. Grasses and
shrubs grow up to and into the margin of the forest stands, presenting a risk of fire spreading into the
trees. There is a relatively high density of residual old growth redwood and Douglas-fir along the top of
the CMU, as well as in the conifer stand to the west of the southern end of the Coho Vista Trail. Fire
spreading into these stands could damage or kill some of these ecologically important forest elements.
Allen Road/White Barn Area Structural Impairments
IFCC-3: Douglas-fir and brush encroachment into mature hardwood and mixed
hardwood/conifer stands
Non-Structural Impairments
• Grass and brush encroachment into adjacent conifer stands
Restoration Treatment Rationale
Left untreated, and in the absence of wildfire, the hardwood stands are likely to continue the successional
process toward replacement by Douglas-fir, with an attendant loss of biodiversity. Fuel loading and
hazardous fuel structure can both be expected to increase. If a wildfire does occur, there is a high potential
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for initiation of stand-replacing high-intensity crown fire and its spread to adjacent redwood and mixed
conifer forest.
Restoration Goals
The goals of restoration treatment are to reduce fire risk and hazard; to maintain mid-seral ecological
conditions and promote biodiversity; and to simplify future maintenance.
Restoration and Management Options
Option 1: Shaded fuel breaks, prescribed burning (recommended)
The recommended restoration treatment option is creation of shaded fuel breaks in the hardwood and
Douglas-fir stands throughout the Allen Road/White Barn area through low thinning, followed by piling
and burning or chipping of slash. Treatments should be laid out along roads, extending as far into the
stand as budget allows; fire hazard reduction declines with distance from roads, but ecological benefits do
not. Per the draft Wildland Fire Resiliency Program, shaded fuel breaks are limited to 200-foot width, and
then transition to “Fuel Reduction Areas, ” (FRA). Douglas-fir removal should target stems that are
entangled in or overtopping and shading the crowns of mature hardwoods selected for retention, and those
smaller trees growing within their dripline. In general, larger Douglas-fir, particularly those entangled in
or emerging above the crowns of hardwoods, should be girdled instead of felled, to reduce damage to
retained hardwoods. Older, larger Douglas-fir individuals, particularly those with large, “wolfy”
branches, established Douglas-fir groves, and a sparse cohort of younger Douglas-fir growing in canopy
openings between hardwoods, should be retained.
Following initial treatment, it may become feasible to maintain these stands through a prescribed burn
program. In addition to reducing accumulated fuels, periodic burning would prevent encroachment by
brushy species and Douglas-fir, and would spur regeneration of a botanically diverse understory. If
prescribed fire is infeasible due to Air District regulations or proximity of residences, then periodic
mechanical treatment using hand crews, masticators, or goats may be substituted, though with less
ecological benefit.
Prescribed burning is also recommended to manage the grasslands of the Allen Road/White Barn area,
both to reduce fire hazard and to reverse brush encroachment. Prescribed burning should be timed to
consume brushy species, but to avoid spread of the fire into the heavier fuels of the adjacent forest stands,
especially those with an old growth component. If prescribed fire is infeasible due to Air District
restrictions or proximity to residences, alternatives could include conservation grazing, though this would
require development of grazing infrastructure; or mechanical treatment, such as mowing. Brush in the
understory at the margin of the CMU could be reduced with hand crews, and either chipped or piled and
burned.
Option 2: No treatment
Without treatment, fire hazard can be expected to increase over time, and succession of the hardwood
stands would proceed, resulting in a loss of biodiversity.
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Potential Next Steps
No commercial utilization of forest products would occur under recommended option 1, and so a THP
would not be necessary for implementation. A THP could, however, be used as the permitting umbrella,
and may be cost effective if the Allen Road/White Barn treatments are part of a larger project within the
Preserve. Since the recommended treatments are all focused on fuel reduction, option 1 could also be
undertaken through the District’s Wildland Fire Resiliency Program.
Conservation Management Unit
Current Condition
The Conservation Management Unit (CMU) is a 440-acre area in the central eastern portion of the La
Honda Forest, of which 350 acres are predominantly conifer forest, mostly redwood; another 20 acres are
hardwood, and the remainder are grassland with patches of hardwood. Topographically, the CMU extends
from the ridgeline along which the Cielo Trail and Coho Vista Trail run, down to and in some areas
across La Honda Creek, an elevation difference of about 1,200 feet. There are two unnamed tributaries to
La Honda Creek that drain the CMU. In the southern portion of the CMU, there is a high density of skid
trails, and there are at least two old logging roads, all in varying states of decay (see Figure 3-2 in Chapter
3, and Appendix A, Road Inventory). There are also remnants of a washed-out bridge and a partially
washed-out Humboldt crossing on La Honda Creek. These are legacies of past logging operations (see
historical logging discussion in Chapter 3).
The original, first-entry logging of the CMU in the late 19th or early 20th century was incomplete:
throughout the area, there remains a substantial, though dispersed, cohort of large old growth and smaller
residual old growth redwood, as well as some old growth Douglas-fir, with a concentration of these large
old trees along the ridge at the top of the unit. As discussed in Chapter 3, the 1962 logging, which logged
the southern part of the CMU very heavily, appeared to adhere to the State requirement then in effect to
retain at least four 18-inch diameter or greater “seed trees” per acre. The 1962 loggers may have used
some of the remaining old growth to fulfill this requirement, but there is now also a cohort of large second
growth trees that may also have been seed trees. These are likely sprouts from after the original entry, and
so now are well over 100 years old. The remainder of the conifer stands in the southern CMU consist
mostly of third-growth redwood that regenerated from stump sprouts after the 1962 logging entry. There
are also numerous young growth redwoods with broken tops. These may have been small trees at the time
of the 1962 logging that were left standing but were damaged by falling and yarding operations, or
perhaps were damaged in a windstorm since then.
The 69-acre Darling parcel, which makes up the northeastern part of the CMU, has a different logging
history. It was likely entered first around the same time as the rest of the CMU in the late 19th or early 20th
century, but appears not to have been subjected to logging since then, or perhaps only a partial and light
entry. It was not included in the 1962 logging. There is a paucity of abandoned roads and skid trails
compared to the rest of the CMU, and the conifer stands here include both residual old growth and very
large second-growth trees that likely regenerated after the original cut: in some areas, it is difficult to
distinguish the second growth trees from the residual old growth.
With the exception of one area of oak grassland in the southern portion of the CMU and a small
hardwood patch in the northern portion, this area is mapped as a nearly solid block of conifer forest (see
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Figure 2-3 in Chapter 2). Upon closer examination, however, patterns emerge in the distribution of
species and growing conditions. At a broad scale, along a roughly north-south axis parallel to La Honda
Creek, the land dips into and out of the tributary canyons, alternating between moister swales and drier
ridges, corresponding to stands that tend more to conifer or to hardwood. At a finer scale, the conifer-
dominated areas exhibit a range of site quality. This appears to be related to the benchy topography,
caused by mass wasting and colluvial deposits, which create locally deep soils on the benches, and thin
soils on the landslide-steepened slopes. In addition, shallow or emergent groundwater occurs frequently,
and there are small alluvial benches located sporadically along the tributary channels. While much of the
redwood-dominated area contains practically no understory, there are patches of redwood sorrel (Oxalis
oregana) in some of the wetter areas. In some of these favored locations, the presence of a high density of
very large redwood stumps, and in some places remaining old growth trees of extraordinary girth, attests
to remarkable site quality. Some of these areas were evidently formerly “cathedral groves” –
concentrations of old growth trees of large girth and no doubt great height. Even now, there are scattered
trees over 200’ height, especially concentrated in the riparian corridor along La Honda Creek and around
the confluence of the northern tributary and La Honda Creek; see Figure 4-2.
On the drier ridges between the swales, the forest tends more to hardwood and lower canopy density.
These areas have a more abundant and diverse understory. Some of these drier areas were, until recently,
occupied primarily by tanoak, which in places has died off, apparently from SOD.
Fuel loading in the CMU is generally moderate. There is a deep duff layer in much of the redwood-
dominated area, some presence of ladder fuels, and in some areas a high density of small trees and brush.
The dying tanoak patches have large accumulations of heavy down and dead fuels, though limited in
extent. The unaffected hardwood stands tend also to have a brushy understory. As previously noted, the
unmanaged grasslands that abut the CMU at the top of the ridge along the Coho Vista Trail, and the
brushy fringe at the margin that has undergrown the conifers, present a particularly high risk of
destructive wildfire, imperiling the old growth trees that occur there.
Overall, the 370 forested acres of the CMU contain over 23 million board feet (gross) of standing timber,
or about 64,000 board feet per acre (gross), reflective of the advanced regrowth of this forest (old growth
redwood stands typically contain 100,000 board feet per acre or more). The forest inventory (Chapter 2)
classifies the conifer areas of the CMU as several stand types: RY2RD (residual old growth and young
growth redwood and Douglas-fir, high canopy cover), YR2RD (young growth and residual old growth
redwood and Douglas-fir, high canopy cover), YR3RD (young growth and residual old growth redwood
and Douglas-fir, moderate canopy cover), Y2RD (young growth redwood and Douglas-fir, high canopy
cover), and Y3RD (young growth redwood and Douglas-fir, moderate canopy cover).
CMU: Structural Impairments
IFCC-1: High density of redwood regrowth stands
IFCC-1 is prevalent throughout the CMU, though not uniformly so. Much of the CMU is nearly pure
redwood, and there is a desirable range of age/size classes, including a substantial cohort of old growth
and old second growth trees. Stem density, however, is higher than desirable, as trees compete for canopy
position, thereby inhibiting radial and vertical crown development and overall growth rate of the
dominant trees. The stem density may also render these stands more vulnerable to drought and heat stress,
as trees compete for seasonally limited soil moisture.
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Non-Structural Impairments
• Fuel accumulation. The absence of fire has resulted in thick duff accumulation. The duff layer
inhibits development of an herbaceous layer and adds to wildfire hazard. In some locations,
wildfire hazard is increased by presence of ladder fuels, which is also linked to the absence of
frequent, low-intensity fire.
• Erosion and sedimentation. As noted above, and as detailed in Appendix A, there is a high
density of old logging roads and skid trails within the CMU that were left to decay after the last
logging entry. There are numerous diverted stream crossings, gullies, partially washed-out
Humboldt crossings, and fill failures that continue to contribute sediment to La Honda Creek,
degrading water quality and aquatic habitat, including inhibiting productivity of the salmonid
fishery. San Gregorio Creek, to which La Honda Creek is a major tributary, is impaired for
sediment with a 303(d) listing from the Regional Water Quality Control Board. That agency is
currently evaluating its regulatory options to improve water quality.
• Grass and brush encroachment. At the western margin of the CMU, bordering on the
grasslands in the Allen Road/White Barn area, grass and brush encroaching into the conifers pose
the risk of rapid spread of fire from grasslands into the conifer stand, raising the potential for
conifer damage or replacement in the event of wildfire.
• SOD infestation. SOD appears to have infested and is rapidly killing enclaves of tanoak within
the CMU, leaving behind large canopy openings and fuel accumulations. In the short term, this
poses a high fire hazard, though these patches do not occur close to high-risk ignition sources; in
the longer term, it is unclear what will grow into the vacated space.
Restoration Treatment Rationale
Left untreated, the redwood stands within the CMU can be expected to regain old growth character
gradually, including large tree size and attendant large tree features, wide spacing, and resulting habitat
value. Silvicultural treatments, however, have the potential to accelerate recovery substantially, and at the
same time to increase resilience in the face of climate change. Climate change stresses may be most felt at
the margins of the redwood-dominated stands, in the transition to drier forest types. With increased
summer heat, decreased summer fog, a shortened rainy season, and deeper and more frequent droughts,
redwood may decline and eventually fail in some of these marginal areas, while it persists in the moister
canyon bottoms and benches. These marginal areas may, however, become more suitable for Douglas-fir,
which is more tolerant of drier conditions. Silvicultural treatments, including favoring retention of
existing Douglas-fir, and, where absent, planting Douglas-fir seedlings, may facilitate this transition,
while avoiding a lengthy period of ecological disruption, including a diminution of the extent of the
conifer forest, until a new dynamic equilibrium is reached.
The legacy of the 1960s logging entry is still seen in extensive scarring of the landscape, altered
hydrology, and increased sedimentation of La Honda Creek. While much of the erosion and sediment
delivery potential has already been realized, many features continue to erode and contribute sediment to
the stream system (see Appendix A, Haul Road Sediment Source Inventory). San Gregorio Creek, to
which La Honda Creek is tributary, is listed under the federal Clean Water Act as an Impaired Water
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Body for high sediment levels. Moderate fuel loading, and hazardous fuel structure along the upper
margin of the CMU where brush is encroaching into the conifer stand, pose substantial fire hazards.
Restoration Goals
Restoration goals for the CMU are to facilitate the recovery of late seral, old growth conditions, in
particular restoring the apparent former majesty of the cathedral groves; to address legacy logging
features that continue to degrade aquatic habitat; to reduce the risk of wildfire and protect remaining old
growth trees; and to increase the forest’s resilience in the face of climate change.
Restoration and Management Options
Option 1: Protect existing old growth and old second growth individuals; accelerate
development of old growth character in favored, high-site locations; inventory and
address high priority legacy erosion problems (recommended)
The CMU has a substantial component of old growth and advanced second growth trees, some well over
100 years old and 200 feet tall (Figure 4-2). These trees should of course be retained and protected.
Recommended treatment includes judicious thinning around the old growth and large second growth
individuals, to reduce competition and fire hazard. Recommended restoration thinning treatments are also
aimed at recreating cathedral groves in portions of the CMU where the presence of large stumps and
vigorous regrowth indicate extraordinary growing conditions for redwood. This would involve thinning to
the approximate number and spacing of the original stand, and retaining those trees with the best form and
vigor as well as a cohort of trees with unusual characteristics, such as reiterated trunks, melded boles,
large branches, and exaggerated burls. Thinning treatments would preferably be applied over two or three
entries, 10-15 years apart, to avoid large canopy openings and to allow retained trees to exhibit a release
response before selecting the next cohort for thinning. In more marginal areas, particularly in the
transition between moister canyon bottoms and drier canyon sidewalls, and also higher on slopes where
redwood-dominated stand types transition to hardwood or hardwood/Douglas-fir types, thin redwoods
and favor retention of Douglas-fir, if present. If no Douglas-fir is present, plant Douglas-fir seedlings into
canopy gaps at an initial rate of 950 per acre (6.5’ spacing), then thin as the planting matures, but
maintain a closed conifer canopy once established. This managed transition to Douglas-fir should be
undertaken on an experimental basis and monitored closely.
The recommended option includes initiation of a prescribed burning program to reduce the duff layer and
burn out brush and overcrowded and suppressed small trees. Prior to a prescribed burn, a mechanical pre-
treatment is recommended to set-up a successful low-intensity burn. Details of the pre-treatment would be
developed as part of a stand-specific prescription. The prescribed burning program should encompass
pure coniferous stands with thick duff accumulations, as well as drier areas with more hardwood. If
practical, prescribed burning could include SOD-decimated tanoak patches, which could then be planted
with mixed hardwoods and Douglas-fir. Prescribed burning may have the co-benefit of spurring
regeneration of the herbaceous layer, which is absent from much of the redwood-dominated area, and
which is fire-dependent in the hardwood areas. The most likely location to begin prescribed burning is
from the upper edge of the CMU along the Coho Vista Trail, which can serve as a control line, down to
the two cross-slope logging roads, which can be used for firing operations. The logging roads can then
serve as the next control line for continued burning down the slope.
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The recommended option also includes completing the assessment of sediment sources and treating
higher priority sites to reduce erosion and stream sedimentation. Appendix A is a sediment source
inventory of the main logging haul road through the CMU, now deteriorated and mostly impassable,
particularly in the lower half of the road. The inventory analyzes numerous road failures, failed crossings,
stream diversions, and other road problems, many of which continue to erode and contribute sediment to
La Honda Creek. The upper portion of the road is still accessible for earth-moving equipment, but the
lower part is not. There is a second logging road to the south of the main road, which has not been
assessed, along with numerous spur roads and a dense network of old skid trails, all left from the 1962
logging entry. Recommended treatment begins with completing the inventory of these legacy features,
including an assessment of their future sediment contribution potential and accessibility for treatment.
This would be followed by treatment of the higher priority sites that can reasonably be accessed. As noted
in Appendix A, reestablishing access to lower portions of the road would involve substantial disturbance
and a short-term increase of sedimentation during construction and restoration. The benefit of mitigating
these less accessible sediment sources is thus less than other similar sites. District staff have suggested the
relatively high added expense of mitigating that sediment would better be allocated towards more
accessible sediment sources elsewhere in the San Gregorio watershed, though the District could revisit
this later. Portions of the road system could be upgraded and retained for fire access and/or as recreational
hiking trails. If the District is considering opening the CMU to recreational use, treatments should also
include opportunistic recontouring of road cuts, filling of dewatered gullies, and other landscape repair to
achieve a more natural, less disturbed appearance.
Option 2: Restoration thinning with timber sale
Same as recommended treatment, but with a timber sale component. Under a Timber Harvest Plan (THP),
thinned trees could be extracted and sold for lumber. A THP could also provide permitting authority for
road upgrades or road abandonment.
Option 3: Prescribed burning program only
There is ample justification for passive restoration of this older, heterogenous redwood forest. With time,
and in the absence of stand-replacing wildfire or decline from the effects of climate change, the forest can
be expected to continue to develop, acquiring more old growth character, including some reduction in
density from stem exclusion (shading out and mortality of suppressed trees) and persistence of those large
trees that have already achieved a dominant canopy position. As discussed in the road inventory report in
Appendix A, the inventoried failure sites along the main logging road continue to erode and, in some
instances, deliver sediment to La Honda Creek. However, nearly 60 years after their last use, much of the
potential damage has already been done, and the remaining sediment delivery potential is relatively low
for most of the sites. District staff’s visual reconnaissance suggests that this is likely true of the other
roads, skid tails, and stream crossings within the CMU that have not yet been inventoried. If it is
consistent with the District’s obligations under the forthcoming San Gregorio Creek Water Quality
Improvement Plan or TMDL, the District could allow the old road network to continue to deteriorate on
its own and focus on higher priority sediment reduction sites elsewhere in the watershed. In this option,
then, active treatment would focus on reducing the risk of high-intensity wildfire, through the prescribed
burning program described above.
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Potential Next Steps
Because the CMU is zoned Resource Management, a tree removal permit from San Mateo County is not
required for thinning treatments or mechanical fuels reduction work prior to starting a prescribed fire
program. Sediment reduction work could be undertaken pursuant to a County grading permit or a Timber
Harvest Plan. The THP could be a “road-only” plan, that does not involve a timber sale, or, per option 2,
could include a timber sale of trees felled in the restoration thinning treatments.
If the District wishes to phase in the restoration thinning in the CMU, it may opt to conduct the road work
and other fuels treatments in the CMU under a THP that also includes a smaller scale restoration thinning
pilot in the Harmon Parcel, for example. Then later, as the District gains experience with restoration
thinning, expand the thinning treatment to include the CMU via a new THP or THP amendment.
The prescribed burning program could be undertaken as part of the District’s Wildland Fire Resiliency
Program.
Northern/Redwood Cabin Area
Current Condition
The Northern/Redwood Cabin area includes the northern “peninsula” of the La Honda Forest,
encompassing the area north of Allen Road and the Cielo Trail, and extending north to State Highway 35
(Skyline Boulevard) (Figure 4-1). This area includes the c. 1927 Redwood Cabin, a hunting and retreat
lodge located near La Honda Creek, constructed of redwood timbers (ESA, 2015). Much or all of this area
was formerly owned by the Allen family and their descendants, the Paulin family. The District acquired
the property in 1988 (ibid). The mainstem of La Honda Creek runs through this area, roughly parallel to
Highway 35, with two tributary channels, running roughly south to north. Except for scattered small
hardwood stands and Douglas-fir stands north of Cielo Trail, the area is redwood-dominated conifer
forest, most of it with a residual old growth component. Stand types include YR2RD, YR3RD, and
YR4RD (young growth and residual redwood and Douglas-fir, high, moderate, and low canopy cover);
RY2RD (residual and young growth redwood and Douglas-fir, high canopy cover), and Y2RD (young
growth redwood and Douglas-fir, high canopy cover). The La Honda Forest’s greatest concentration of
trees over 200’ tall occurs in the “bird’s beak” in the extreme northwest portion of this area, with
additional tall trees downstream along La Honda Creek and the two tributary channels (Figure 4-2). In
addition to being very tall, the forest along La Honda Creek consists of generally well-spaced, large
second growth and residual old growth trees, with the largest trees growing in the alluvial flats along the
creek. This stand appears to be recovering well from an incomplete first entry logging, which likely
occurred in the 19th century and took the largest, best formed trees, leaving smaller and damaged trees
standing. Another logging entry covering 62 acres encompassing main stem La Honda Creek and portions
of the western tributary canyon occurred in 1978. Jim Greig was the forester, and the silvicultural method
was single tree selection, with removal of no more than 40 percent of trees over 18” DBH (see Table 3-1
in Chapter 3). Protecting the scenic view from Highway 35 was stated as a goal in the THP. This entry
likely targeted mostly smaller merchantable trees, improving spacing for the remaining largest trees,
which now have achieved impressive size.
The tributary canyons also contain tall, large, advanced second growth and residual old growth redwoods
concentrated in the canyon bottoms along the streams. The forest grades quickly to drier types upslope
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from the canyon bottoms. On these canyon side slopes, the redwoods tend to be clumpy, with the clumps
well-separated from one another within a matrix consisting primarily of tanoak. This is a pattern typical
of second growth redwood stands on lower quality site that have regenerated from an original stand
characterized by widely spaced, moderate-sized individuals and small groups of old growth redwood. The
redwood often formed a roughly contiguous, though narrow, conifer canopy stretching from the canyon
bottom up the moister side canyons and swales, with mixed hardwoods and Douglas-fir occupying the
higher and drier areas of the canyon slopes. Currently, SOD appears to be ravaging the tanoak within the
tributary canyons: in October 2020, most of the tanoak observed was either dead and down or dying.
Structural Impairments in the Northern/Redwood Cabin Area
IFCC-2: Redwood isolates
The tributary canyons have moderately to widely spaced, advanced regrowth redwood clumps, with
tanoak predominant in the spaces between clumps. While regrowth is advanced – much of this area may
not have been cut since the original logging entry – the redwood canopy is still discontinuous.
Non-Structural Impairments
• SOD infestation. On the tributary canyon sideslopes, SOD appears to be killing much of the
tanoak growing between redwood clumps, leaving behind large canopy openings and heavy fuel
accumulations. In the short term, this poses a high fire hazard; in the longer term, it is unclear
what will grow into the vacated space.
• Invasive Species. Slender false brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum) is a new and potentially
destructive invasive species that is present in this area of the La Honda OSP. In Oregon, slender
false brome has spread to over 10,000 acres and is a major environmental problem. In California,
slender false brome has been given the highest rating as a Class A Noxious Weed. A perennial
bunch grass originally from Europe, Asia, and North Africa, slender false brome is capable of
achieving over 90% ground cover, inhibiting the growth of tree seedlings, and replacing native
vegetation.
The District is managing slender false brome in its OSPs, including Thornewood OSP and La
Honda OSP. There are, however, infestations within surrounding private properties. Working
together with the local community, the District hopes that slender false brome can be eradicated
before it spreads throughout the state, becomes unmanageable, and alters the area’s redwood
forests and natural environment.
• Double Culvert Crossing at La Honda Creek. Access to this portion of the property from the
north is via a gate (LH04) off Highway 35, Skyline Boulevard. This is the primary ingress and
egress from this portion of La Honda OSP, though it is also accessible from Allen Road and the
Cielo Trail. PG&E accesses their power lines via gate LH04, as well. The main crossing over La
Honda creek is over a double culvert beneath a sandwiched retaining wall. The culverts appear
undersized (per Midpen staff’s evaluation and prior assessments from Tim Best) and the outlets
are shotgunned and eroding in a headcut. The crossing is also narrow compared to normal bridge
standards and without guardrails. While this is a low-traffic area, there is a risk of a culvert
failure, resulting in substantial sediment input to the creek, as well as loss of access. The risk of
sedimentation from the crossing would come from plugging or the culverts’ further corrosion.
The size of the crossing and the watershed above it make it unlikely to be suitable for an in-kind
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replacement. Either an arched culvert or a bridge is likely warranted. Further assessment is
needed from a civil engineer or other qualified professional.
Restoration Treatment Rationale
Reestablishment of the contiguity of the canopy of the narrow conifer corridors, and development of large
trees with old growth features, would restore late seral habitat to suitable areas of otherwise marginal
steep canyons, likely establishing a moister microclimate and reducing the vulnerability of redwoods to
climatic stresses and wildfire.
Restoration Goals
Reestablish conifer occupation of side canyons, eventually achieving contiguity of narrow corridors of
conifer canopy in moister swales.
Restoration and Management Options
Option 1: No immediate treatment (recommended)
The redwood-dominated stands along the mainstem and tributary streams are recovering from past
disturbance and are likely to persist as riparian redwood forest and continue to develop old growth
character and characteristics without intervention: no IFCCs are identified in these areas, and no
restoration treatments are recommended. The IFCC-2 areas on the sidewalls of the tributary canyons are
already undergoing a rapid and profound transition, due to a heavy SOD infestation that is decimating
tanoaks; typically, IFCC-2 indicates thinning of tanoaks that have displaced Douglas-fir and that are
competing with redwood for canopy space, but here, SOD is having the same result. With the tanoak die-
off, the future of this area is uncertain. Presumably, the disappearance of the tanoak canopy will enable
the sprouting of other species (as well as tanoak, though the tanoak will likely succumb to SOD before
reaching maturity). There may be a transitional period during which brushy growth, potentially including
invasive species, raises the fire hazard to unacceptable levels, prompting some fuel reduction treatments
to protect redwoods and upslope areas. The existing redwood may exhibit an increased growth rate, due to
greater availability of light and less competition for soil moisture and nutrients. Planting Douglas-fir and
mixed hardwoods may be beneficial to reestablish a closed canopy forest, and to mimic the presumed pre-
disturbance species composition, particularly since a seedbank for Douglas-fir and hardwoods other than
tanoak may be absent.
Potential Next Steps
As no immediate treatment is recommended for the Northern/Redwood Cabin area, next steps may
include monitoring of the progress of the SOD infestation, and the forest’s response to it, to ascertain
whether active management, such as fuel reduction or planting of native trees, is warranted. Continued
slender false brome management is recommended, as well as the assessment/replacement of the double
culvert. The culvert work could be undertaken within a THP (potentially saving permitting costs) or
through standard County, State, and federal permitting efforts.
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Weeks Ranch/Red Barn Area
Current Conditions
This area includes the southern portion of the La Honda Forest, and encompasses portions of the historic
Weeks Ranch, including the area around the Red Barn (Figure 4-1) (also known as the McDonald Ranch
and, briefly, the Rockin Martini Ranch). There are three conifer areas: the Bathtub Loop and, to the south,
riparian redwood corridors along La Honda Creek and Weeks Creek. The La Honda Creek riparian
corridor extends upslope away from the creek a considerable distance, especially on the right (western)
bank. The Bathtub Loop and the La Honda Creek riparian corridor were both logged selectively in the
1970s and 80s (Table 3-1 in Chapter 3), but there is no record of logging of Weeks Creek, except for the
area near the confluence with La Honda Creek in 1986. This area was not included in the 1962 logging
(Figure 3-2 in Chapter 3). The conifer areas are limited in extent, but where they occur, site quality is
high, as is canopy closure. Stand Types include extensive areas of Y1RD, plus Y2RD (young redwood
and Douglas-fir, very high to high canopy closure) and, in the Bathtub Loop, RY2RD (residual and young
redwood and Douglas-fir, high canopy closure). The Weeks Creek riparian corridor is type Y2RD (young
redwood and Douglas-fir, high canopy closure). Multiple age/size classes are typical in these stands, since
they were previously managed under the single tree selection, uneven-aged system. Typically, the conifer
transitions to hardwood-dominated stands upslope, then to grasslands. The grasslands are grazed under
the District’s Conservation Grazing Program, and the conditions of unmanaged grasslands on the forest
edge and brush encroachment into the grasslands found in the Allen Road/White Barn area are not seen
here. Fuel loading is generally light in this area. The Bathtub Loop is an extraordinary forest, though
limited in extent: a large spring is located at its upslope end, and the area is very wet, contains a
substantial residual old growth component, and very large second growth trees. There are several trees
approaching 200’ tall (Figure 4-2). The combination of factors – low fire hazard in the grasslands
adjacent to the stands, low surface fuel availability due to proximity to springs and riparian corridors, and
limited spatial connectivity among stands – collectively results in a modest wildfire threat to stands in this
area.
Structural impairments in the Weeks Ranch/Red Barn Area
IFCC-1: High density of redwood regrowth stands
Most of the conifer stands were selectively logged in the 1970s and 80s. These stands are uneven-aged,
with generally good spacing and exhibiting good vigor. While stem density is much higher than it was in
the pre-disturbance forest, the limited size of these stands means that they have a high ratio of edge to
area, which reduces competition for light, compared to similar stands with greater extent. The Bathtub
Loop was evidently not clearcut, retains a substantial component of the old forest, and is well on its way
to recovery of old growth character. While the IFCC-1 condition is evident in this area, the impairment is
minor, and unlikely to substantially inhibit stand development along a desirable trajectory.
Non-Structural Impairments
None observed.
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Restoration Treatment Rationale
Reducing the density of the conifer stands through retention of the residual old growth and large second
growth trees, and thinning smaller trees, would accelerate reacquisition of old growth character.
Restoration Goals
Restoration goals for the Weeks Ranch/Red Barn area are to facilitate the recovery of a late seral, old
growth redwood forest, and to increase the forest’s resilience in the face of climate change.
Restoration and Management Options
Option 1: No treatment (recommended)
Though somewhat higher density than desirable, the relatively narrow conifer stands in the Weeks
Ranch/Red Barn area have otherwise favorable species composition and structural characteristics, and can
be expected to continue to develop old growth stature and character, without intervention (i.e. active
intervention is not needed to adjust the trajectory of the stand towards a desirable condition). If the
adjoining grasslands are burned periodically under the Conservation Grazing Program, the burns could
include the goal of managing brushy ingrowth at the margins of the conifer stands.
Option 2: Restoration Thinning
Reduce stem density of redwood stands through selective cutting of smaller trees, particularly those
competing with larger trees for dominant canopy position. Apply treatment through two or more cutting
cycles, 15-20 years apart. Thinning could occur under a THP, in which case the logs could be sold. If it is
determined that the salmonid habitat in La Honda Creek and Weeks Creek is degraded by a lack of large
woody debris, or if simplified stream channels have undesirable sediment transport characteristics, trees
in the riparian may be felled across the creek to add complexity and important habitat elements, under the
Accelerated Wood Recruitment provision of the Forest Practice Rules (14 CCR § 916.9 [936.9, 956.9]
(v)(2)). Prior studies have indicated La Honda Creek has a relative abundance of large wood in the
stream, although site-specific conditions along these reaches have not been evaluated and further
investigation is warranted.
Potential Next Steps
Next steps for the Weeks Ranch/Red Barn area include surveying La Honda Creek and Weeks Creek to
determine whether large woody debris recruitment is warranted. A restoration thinning program
(option 2) could be undertaken and included as part of a larger THP, or under a stand-alone THP.
Harrington Creek Tributaries
Current Conditions
There are two tributary drainages to Harrington Creek in the western portion of the La Honda Forest
(Figure 4-1). The northern drainage borders on the Coho Vista Loop Trail. Both have substantial areas of
redwood forest in the canyon bottoms and lower sidewalls (stand type Y2RD and Y3RD in Figure 2-3 in
Chapter 2). The southern drainage contains the only continuous old growth grove within the La Honda
Forest, a 4.1-acre redwood stand (stand type OY2R) that contains numerous trees greater than 5-feet
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DBH, and a several above 8-feet DBH. The steep tributary canyon where this grove is located was
previously logged, but incompletely: based on reconnaissance observation of this stand, about half of the
old growth trees were cut. Old growth occur both along the stream channel on narrow alluvial benches,
and up the steep side slopes of the canyon. Upstream, the southern drainage transitions to a sparse, upland
redwood-Douglas-fir forest with a residual old growth component that extends to the western border of
the CMU, near Coho Vista Point (stand type RY3RD). Elsewhere, both drainages tend to transition
upslope to Douglas-fir-dominated stands, also with a substantial residual old growth component (stand
type YR4D) or to hardwood-dominated stands (stand type Y3H), and then to the grasslands of the Allen
Road/White Barn area. While old road alignments are present in both drainages, none appear to be usable
without substantial repair and upgrade. Both drainages support ephemeral tributaries to Harrington Creek,
which is itself tributary to San Gregorio Creek.
The Northern drainage and the northern part of the southern drainage were logged heavily, likely in 1962
at the same time as the CMU (Figure 3-2 in Chapter 3), and likely with the same seed tree retention
requirement. (The Weeks Ranch property line apparently went through the southern drainage, so the
southern portion was spared in 1962). There is no record of logging the southern drainage, but based on
the presence of a logging road into and through the old growth stand, it was likely logged in the post-war,
pre-Forest Practice Act tractor logging period.
Structural Impairments
IFCC-1: High density of redwood regrowth stands
The IFCC-1 condition is seen in the Y2RD stand in the northern drainage, just west of the Coho Vista
Loop Trail, and is also likely present (though not seen) in the Y2RD and Y3RD stands in the southern
drainage. Some areas of regrowth within the old growth stand contain a high number of small stems.
Thinning would accelerate the recovery of the disturbed portions of this stand, and, to the extent that it
reduces fuel loading and continuity, would protect the old growth trees.
IFCC-3: Douglas-fir and brush encroachment into mature hardwood and mixed
hardwood/conifer stands
The hardwood-dominated stands at the margins of the grasslands at the top of the northern drainage, and
to a lesser extent the southern drainage, have high fuel loads and, in some locations, Douglas-fir intruding
into mature hardwoods. They are at risk of stand replacement from wildfire or, in the absence of fire,
succession to another type. The YR4D stands may contain areas of IFCC-3, but the mature Douglas-fir
groves are not considered impaired, and should be retained as a distinct type.
Non-Structural Impairments
• Fuel accumulation. Thick duff accumulation in redwood stands inhibits development of an
herbaceous layer and adds to wildfire hazard. In some locations, wildfire hazard is increased by
presence of ladder fuels and brushy undergrowth.
• Erosion and sedimentation. There is likely a high density of old logging roads and skid trails
within the northern drainage and the northern portion of the southern drainage left after the
logging entry in the early 1960s.
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• Brush encroachment. At the upper margins of both drainages, brush encroaching from the
grasslands into the conifer and mixed conifer-hardwood stands poses the risk of rapid spread of
wildfire.
Restoration Treatment Rationale
The Harrington Creek Tributaries have a high incidence of old growth trees, including, in the southern
drainage, the only relatively intact old growth redwood grove within the La Honda Forest. These old
forest elements should be preserved and protected, including, where indicated, by thinning smaller,
younger trees that are competing with the old growth. This would also have the co-benefit of improving
the aesthetics of these stands, some of which are adjacent to publicly accessible trails. The drier forest
types in the upper parts of both drainages are at risk of stand-replacing wildfire. If protected through
reduction of wildfire hazard, they may provide a buffer against climate change by providing a seedbank
that can enable this type to move downslope into the drainages, if redwoods retreat to the moister canyon
bottoms.
Restoration Goals
Restoration goals for the Harrington Creek Tributaries are to preserve and enhance the existing old
growth trees, to facilitate the development of young growth stands toward late seral, old growth character,
to decrease fire hazard, and to increase the forest’s resilience in the face of climate change.
Restoration and Management Options
Option 1: Restoration Thinning with Timber Sale (recommended)
Similar to the CMU, the recommended treatment for the Harrington Creek Tributaries is to embark on a
program of restoration thinning within the conifer-dominated stands, particularly the Y2RD and Y3RD
types. These types lack a residual old growth component, so thinning treatments would target for
retention advanced second growth trees, particularly those deemed good old growth candidates, and
remove smaller, competing trees (low thinning and crown-release thinning). Thinning to improve
aesthetics in the stands with an old growth component, particularly along the Coho Vista Trail, would be
intentionally aimed at increasing the average size of standing trees. Thinning treatments could also be
undertaken in the old growth grove in the southern drainage, to reduce small trees competing with the old
growth. Thinning should be accompanied by general fuel reduction treatments, such as brush reduction,
ladder fuel removal, and prescribed burning to reduce the duff layer and the brushy understory. Portions
of the Harrington Creek Tributaries have good access, and the sale of thinned logs for lumber is likely a
viable option. The Y2RD stand in the northern drainage, in particular, is very well-stocked (this type
averages 81 mbf/acre net), contains many smaller trees of merchantable size that would be targeted in the
restoration thinning, and is easily accessed from the Coho Vista Trail loop.
The IFCC-3 condition in the drier forest types in the upper portions of both tributary drainages should be
addressed by creating shaded fuel breaks, through mechanical treatment to reduce horizontal and vertical
fuel continuity, and by removal of encroaching brush and Douglas-fir. This should be followed by a
prescribed burning program, if it is feasible, to maintain the reduced fire hazard condition, or periodic
mechanical treatment if it is not. Mature Douglas-fir groves should be retained.
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A sediment source inventory should be performed in the Harrington Creek Tributaries, to determine
whether erosion and sediment control work is indicated. If so, this work should be coordinated with entry
for thinning treatments. Both the thinning and the sediment reduction work could be permitted through a
THP.
Option 2: Restoration Thinning without Timber Sale
This option is the same as Option 1, but without a timber sale and with thinned trees left on the forest
floor. Consideration of this option should follow completion of the recommended sediment source
inventory; it may still be advantageous to undertake erosion and sedimentation work with a THP, even
without a timber sale. Slash management would be a major consideration under this option. Potential
approaches include pile and burn, lop and scatter, and, in more accessible areas, chipping or biochar
production.
Option 3: No Treatment
Portions of the Harrington Creek Tributaries avoided past stand-replacing disturbance, or have recovered
well from it, and, in the absence of catastrophic fire, will likely retain and further develop old growth
character without treatment. Passive restoration is therefore a viable option. This area, however, presents
good opportunities for enhancing forest health, resilience, and beauty through silvicultural restoration,
and for protection of the diversity and integrity of the several distinct forest stand types through fuel
reduction treatments and, if feasible, the reintroduction of fire.
Potential Next Steps
Next steps for the Harrington Creek Tributaries include a sediment source inventory in both drainages,
and development of a THP, either stand-alone for this area, or combined with other areas of the OSP. If
road work is warranted, a THP may be the most efficient permitting vehicle, even without a timber sale
(option 2). Fuel reduction treatments could proceed on a separate track as part of the District’s Wildland
Fire Resiliency Program, or in conjunction with thinning treatments.
Adaptive Management and Monitoring
Forest restoration treatments should be considered within the context of an adaptive management
framework (Rist et al, 2012), where the results of periodic monitoring, compared to baseline or previous
data, are used to assess treatment effectiveness, and then the results of that assessment used to determine
whether adjustments are needed to the treatment regime in order to meet previously stated goals, or in
some cases, to reassess the goals themselves.
The forest inventory (Chapter 2) provides a robust dataset that will serve well for generally characterizing
baseline conditions, and as a reference for future comparison to ascertain landscape-level changes. This
can be easily accomplished through periodic repeats of measurements using the same sampling plots and
methods. Since, however, silvicultural restoration treatments are to some extent experimental, specialized
monitoring schemes for each treatment type should be developed to determine treatment effectiveness.
Treatment effectiveness takes various forms. Treatments rarely directly or immediately achieve a
restoration goal; more commonly, they alter forest conditions and shift trajectories of vegetation dynamics
and stand development in ways that – over time – more closely approximate a restoration target. Success
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therefore requires effectiveness at several levels. First, success requires that the specifics of the restoration
treatment – the prescription - have been implemented essentially as planned. This cannot be assumed; the
reality of prescription implementation under field conditions leads inevitably to transgressions of
prescription details. Second, success requires that the residual stand responds to treatment as expected,
and that unintended or unforeseen consequences of treatment are minimal. Those responses may be at the
stand level (e.g. percent species composition, stand density, spatial heterogeneity), the tree level (e.g.
growth rate, growth form, length of growing season), or sub-tree level (e.g. crown dimension, branch
diameter, bark thickness).
The monitoring scheme for each treatment type, therefore, should include both implementation
monitoring, which should occur during or immediately following implementation; and response
monitoring, which should include specialized baseline monitoring prior to treatment implementation, and
the response monitoring itself periodically following treatment. Typically, a 10-year period is sufficient to
detect a response in the redwood forest.
Monitoring schemes should be developed for each treatment type. For example, the restoration thinning
treatments recommended for IFCC-1 (high density of redwood regrowth stands) may be designed around
the following treatment-specific questions: for implementation monitoring, have the old growth and old
growth candidate trees been retained and left undamaged, and have competing trees been removed? Has
the stand been thinned to the targeted density, in terms of spacing between individuals, and number of
trees per acre? For response monitoring, are the old growth candidates exhibiting a release response in the
form of robust growth (greater increase in DBH, expansion of vertical and lateral crown extent, compared
to untreated but otherwise similar stands)? Have canopy gaps closed, indicating that it is time to continue
the silvicultural treatment with another round of thinning? Are there unintended consequences of the
treatment, or changed conditions not attributable to the treatment, that call into question the continued
applicability of the treatment or suggest an altered management strategy – that is, should management be
adapted based on new information?
The foregoing is intended only to help guide future considerations of monitoring of silvicultural
restoration treatments. A more detailed adaptive management program, including detailed design of
baseline and subsequent monitoring methods, should be developed as the District approaches
implementation of silvicultural treatments.
Conclusion
Each administrative area delineated with the La Honda Forest has its own unique opportunities and
constraints to improve the forest. This plan has been developed foremost with the intention of
understanding the structure and character of the forest, largely through the forest inventory, identifying
impairments, and developing appropriately detailed restoration strategies in each of the areas and forest
types therein. The related issues of watershed management through sediment reduction and fuels
management to mitigate stand replacing fires also inform the approach. The options given in this report
are intended to provide the District with a rigorous, informed perspective to select projects to implement
through subsequent contracting. This report is also intended to provide the District’s constituents with
information about forests and forest management. The concepts, data, and figures developed in this report
are therefore intended to facilitate a conversation between District staff, its Board of Directors, and
interested members of the community. Once a project or set of projects are selected, the appropriate
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regulatory vehicle can be selected (County permitting or a THP) that has its own public process. How to
lump or split the various options herein is a complex matter, but we encourage the District to “think big”
as the consequences of climate change, including greater potential for stand-replacing wildfire, are upon
us.
References
Ecoadapt, 2020a. Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the Santa Cruz Mountains Climate
Adaptation Project: Coastal Redwood Forest. Draft. Joint project of Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District, the Santa Cruz Mountains Stewardship Network, and Pepperwood Preserve.
______ 2020b. Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the Santa Cruz Mountains Climate
Adaptation Project: Mixed Evergreen/Montane Hardwood Forests. Draft. Joint project of
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, the Santa Cruz Mountains Stewardship Network,
and Pepperwood Preserve.
Keyes, C.R. 2005. Forest Restoration and Reforestation Strategies for Humboldt Redwoods State Park:
Impaired Forests in the Bull Creek Watershed. Report on File at North Coast Sector
Headquarters. California State Parks, Eureka, California.
Lorimer, Craig G.; Daniel J. Porter, Mary Ann Madej, John D. Stuart, Stephen D. Veirs Jr., Steven P.
Norman, Kevin L. O’Hara, and William J. Libby. “Presettlement and modern disturbance regimes
in coast redwood forests: Implications for the conservation of old-growth stands.” Forest Ecology
and Management, vol. 258 (2009), pp. 1038–1054.
Rist, Lucy, Bruce M. Campbell, and Peter Frost. “Adaptive management: where are we now?”
Environmental Conservation, 40(1):5-18, August 2012.
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ATTACHMENT 1
APPENDIX A
Haul Road Sediment Source Inventory
ATTACHMENT 1
ATTACHMENT 1
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY GEOMORPHOLOGY HYDROLOGY
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY
1002 Columbia Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 425-5832 ● cell: (831) 332-7791 ● e-mail: timbest@coastgeo.com
February 9, 2021
Sicular Environmental Consulting
and Natural Lands Management
1500 Grant St. #4
Berkeley, CA 94703 JOB: SICULAR-LAHONDA-871
RE: 2020 ROAD EROSION INVENTORY OF AN OLD LOGGING ROAD, LA HONDA
CREEK OSP
INTRODUCTION
This report summarizes the findings of a road erosion inventory of a 1.7-mile-long abandoned logging road
located on the east side of La Honda Creek OSP (Figure 1). This 1960’s era road is in poor condition and
actively eroding with multiple washouts, diverted watercourses, and slope failures that both prevent
access and which are currently delivering sediment to the San Gregorio watershed.
Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this inventory is to assess the overall condition of the road, identify and map locations
where the road is currently or potentially delivering sediment to the stream network, evaluate the
geologic and geotechnical feasibility to both stabilize and reconstruct the road for potential fire, land
management, ATV and/or recreational trail access, develop preliminary and conceptual treatment
alternatives at each problem site, and prioritize treatment based on sediment impacts to streams.
The approach follows a simplified version of a field-based methodology that we have employed on
previous road inventories on District lands, including in our earlier 2007 Road Erosion Inventory of La
Honda Open Space Preserve.
Our work included: review of published and unpublished literature relevant to the site and vicinity,
analysis of LiDAR imagery, site reconnaissance, data analyses, and preparation of this report. Site specific
slope stability analysis and subsurface exploration were beyond our scope of work.
PHYSICAL SETTING
The subject site is located along an unnamed tributary and east facing slopes above La Honda Creek in La
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Honda Creek OSP, about 1 mile from the community of Sky Londa, in unincorporated San Mateo County.
The area is characterized by moderate to very steep mountainous terrain with slope gradients ranging
from 20% along the ridge top, midslope benches and local colluvial filled valleys to greater than 90% along
steep streamside slopes and other areas (Figures 1 and 2). The hillslopes are slightly convex, rounded
toward the ridge tops with local steep streamside slopes found towards the base of the hillsides. La Honda
Creek and its larger tributaries are deeply incised into the landscape with steep streamside and inner
gorge slopes extending 50 to more than 500 feet from the valley bottoms. The ground is locally benchy
consistent with deep-seated landsliding. Elevations range from 1000 feet along the valley bottom of La
Honda Creek to 2100 feet along the ridge top.
The climate is Mediterranean, with cool, rainy winters and dry, warm summers. Vegetation is mainly
advanced second growth redwood, Douglas-fir and a scattered understory of hardwood and brush. The
property has historically been used for timber production. The subject road appears to have been
constructed and the area heavily tractor logged in the mid to late 1960’s. The District acquired the
property in 1984.
GEOLOGIC SETTING
The project area is located in the central portion of the Coast Ranges Physiographic Province of California,
a series of coastal mountain chains paralleling the pronounced northwest-southeast structural grain of
northwest California. The area is geologically active with the geology dominated by the northwest-
southeast trending San Andreas Fault Zone (SAFZ) located about 2 miles northeast of the project.
Bedrock Geology
The project area is underlain by a sequence of tightly folded and faulted Tertiary-age marine sediments
(Brabb et al., 2000).The majority of the subject road is mapped as underlain by Butano Sandstone (Tb)
consisting of massive medium to coarse-grained sandstone with local siltstone and shale interbeds (Brabb
et al., 2000). A small sliver of Twobar shale (Tst) is mapped along the southern portion of the road. The
bedrock units have undergone a complex structural history and are strongly deformed by faults and folds
associated with the SAFZ.
Soil
Mantling bedrock is a thin to thick veneer of weathered bedrock, late Pleistocene to Holocene age
colluvium and soils and artificial fill. Colluvial deposits are found nearly everywhere across the hillside,
however, they are thickest toward the axes of swales and toe slopes. The steeper slopes tend to be
underlain by more competent bedrock at shallower depth.
A wedge of undocumented fill was found along the outer edge of the road with locally thick fill prisms
typically found at watercourse crossings. We do not know the manner in which the road was constructed
or the equipment that was used in construction. Based on field observations, it is likely that some spoils
were simply side casted without the benefit of a keyway or being benched to support the fill embankment.
Regional Faults and Seismicity
The subject property is located within a highly seismically-active region of California with the active SAFZ
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located about 2 miles to the northeast of the project site. The site is subject to severe seismic shaking in
the event of a large magnitude earthquake on the San Andreas Fault. When it occurs, seismic shaking has
the potential to induce landsliding or cause ground cracking or movement of weak surficial soils, including
fill and colluvium.
Landsliding
Regional landslide mapping (Wentworth et al., 1997) and review of LiDAR imagery reveal portions of the
project area to be underlain by a series of relatively slow moving deep-seated translational block slides.
These failures are characterized by benched topography and are formed by translational movement of a
relatively intact mass with a failure plane that extends below the colluvial layer into the underlying
bedrock. The slides consist of several smaller blocks that coalesce together to form a larger landslide
complex. Based on interpretations made from the LiDAR derived topography, we estimate the failure to
be greater than 50 feet deep.
The deep-seated landslides that underlie the site exhibit irregular and benched topography with small
weathered but distinct nested scarps and an overall “youthful” appearance consistent with a "dormant-
young" morphological age classification of Keaton and DeGraff (1996). The majority of trees are straight
and appear undisturbed by slope displacements. The overall morphology of the slides, however, strongly
suggests the slides are periodically active and are subject to reactivation in the event of a large seismic
event or prolonged rainfall.
Shallow-seated landslides are also present within the preserve. These include debris slides, debris flows,
channel bank failures, and road/trail fill failures characterized by rapid, shallow (generally less than 10
feet thick) downslope movement of surficial soil, colluvium, and weathered bedrock. Most observed
failures are found along the steep streamside slopes of incised watercourses.
SUMMARY OF ROAD CONDITIONS
The subject road descends 1.7 miles from the ridge top to La Honda Creek, traversing moderate to steep
30% to 90+% slopes (Figure 2). The road appears to have been constructed at a 15 to 20-foot width on
balanced cut and fill. The resulting cut locally exceeds 15 feet in height and is inclined at steeper than a
1:1 slope. The depth of the original fill is unknown but estimated to be on the order of 5 to 10+ feet with
the fill embankment oversteepened at 1.5H:1V slope. The method of road construction is unknown and
it is quite possible that the fill was sidecasted without the benefit of a keyway, which was the standard of
practice for early forest road construction. There are seven watercourse crossings along the road with
nearly all being unimproved fill crossings without the benefit of a culvert. The road grade is steep,
averaging 12% with several segments having sustained grades of 20+%.
The road is in very poor condition with multiple stream diversions, washouts and slope failures. Portions
of the road are actively eroding resulting in ongoing sediment delivery to the stream system. Road
improvements are significantly constrained by the locally very steep slopes the road crosses and the
multiple fill failures that have encroached most of the way into the road prism, limiting access.
The following is a general discussion of road conditions and constraints. A more in-depth description and
photos of each inventoried site are found in Appendix 1.
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For the purpose of this assessment the road is divided into two segments, Upper and Lower, based on
site topography and feasibility of upgrades (Figures 1 and 2). The Upper segment crosses mainly moderate
gradient slopes and while there are multiple stream crossing problems the road can be readily upgraded
for future road use. The Lower segment traverses steeper gradient ground of up to 90% for most of its
length with multiple slope failures that have damaged or destroyed the road bed and which significantly
constrain the feasibility of future access. Because of the poor condition of the road and unstable ground
the road crosses we do not recommend reopening the Lower Road. The amount of ground disturbance
required to reopen the road will likely offset any environmental benefit of upgrading it.
UPPER ROAD SEGMENT:
The upper road segment is about 3,900 feet long traversing mostly moderate 20% to 50% gradient ground.
The road is locally steep at 12% to 20+% sustained grade. The road tread is overgrown though largely
intact and relatively stable. A summary of each inventoried site along the roadway is found in Table 1 with
a more detailed description found in Appendix 1.
Watercourse Crossings: The road crosses seven ephemeral and intermittent streams with an eighth
watercourse crossing found on an adjacent skid trail. Four of the watercourse crossings are diverted
resulting in local deep gullying of the road and hillside, and three others have partially washed out.
Abandoning or repairing these crossings is necessary to both reduce sediment loading and to allow for
future vehicle access if desired.
Slope Failures: There is one large and a couple of small cutbank failures that have partially blocked the
road, but the road can be reopened past these by clearing or ramping over the slide debris. There are no
significant fill failures. The road also crosses several dormant deep-seated landslides, though these do not
constrain future road use.
Water Quality and Sediment Loading: We estimate that the diverted and partially washed out crossings
watercourses have resulted in approximately 1,400 to 2,400 cy of erosion over the past 50 years (48 cy/yr)
with nearly all of that material delivered to a watercourse. The rate of future erosion (cy/yr) has decreased
somewhat over time as gullies have downcut to a more stable configuration and the eroded areas have
revegetated. We estimate approximately 660 cy of additional erosion could occur over the next 20 years
(33 cy/yr) if the crossings are left unmitigated.
General Recommendations – Upper Road
To reduce road related erosion and associated impacts to water quality, we recommend that all stream
diversions be corrected and stream crossings either abandoned or upgraded to accommodate a design
100-year flow event.
Because the Upper Road Segment is located on relatively moderate gradient slopes with the majority of
the road tread intact, the road can be reopened down to Site MP 11 for temporary or permanent vehicle
access. Reopening the road will require clearing vegetation from the overgrown road, backfilling the
eroded gullies, regrading the road prism, upgrading or abandoning all stream crossings, and ramping over
or clearing cutbank debris from the roadway. For permanent access, all of the stream crossings will need
to be upgraded to permanent culverts or rock fords, and all diversions corrected. If the road is reopened
for temporary use, all crossings will then need to be pulled (decommissioned) by excavating all of the
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crossing fill from the channel to native channel grade. Surface road drainage will also need to be improved.
TABLE 1:
SUMMARY OF INVENTORY SITES ON UPPER ROAD SEGMENT
SITE FEATURE DESCRIPTION RECOMMENDATION
FUTURE
EROSION
(CY/20 YR)
DEGREE
OF ROAD
DAMAGE
TREATMENT
PRIORITY
1
Diverted
watercourse
crossing
Class III watercourse diverted at
three separate locations (MP 1,
2 and 8) resulting in deep
gullying of the road.
Abandon or upgrade
to permanent culvert
or rock ford.
240+ MOD HIGH
2
Diverted
watercourse
crossing
Class III watercourse initially
diverted at MP 1 again is
diverted, this time by an old skid
trail
Abandon and correct
diversion at MP 1. See MP 1 HIGH HIGH
3 Watercourse
crossing
Old fill crossing on a Class III
watercourse that presently
receives limited flow due
diversion at MP 1
Abandon or upgrade
to permanent culvert
or rock ford.
See MP 1 LOW HIGH
4 Slope
Failure
Undifferentiated cutbank failure
/ debris flow deposited 4 to 8
feet of debris onto a roughly
100-foot-long segment of the old
roadway.
Ramp over slide
debris. 0 MOD LOW
5 Watercourse
crossing
Partially washed out fill crossing
on Class III watercourse. Stream
had previously been diverted but
no longer. Currently receives
limited flow due to diversion at
MP 1
Abandon or upgrade
to permanent culvert. 200 MOD HIGH
6 Swale
crossing
Minor gully at outlet of swale
from past diversion originating
at MP 5.
Dip road. 0 LOW LOW
7 Watercourse
crossing
Partially washed out fill crossing.
Small cutbank and fill slope
failure on right bank
Abandon or upgrade
to permanent culvert. 75 MOD -
HIGH MOD
8
Gully from
MP 1
diversion
and diverted
watercourse
Diverted runoff from MP 1 and
MP 2 drains over road cutbank
resulting in deep 18-foot-deep
gully. Stream is then further
diverted down the roadway
Correct diversion at
MP 1 and 2. See MP 1 MOD HIGH
9 Watercourse
crossing
Partially washed out fill crossing
on Class III watercourse.
Additional gully from diverted
stream at MP 8. Crossing
overtopped by debris flow
extending down channel.
Abandon or upgrade
to permanent culvert
or rock ford.
100 MOD -
HIGH MOD
10
Diverted
watercourse
crossing
Class III watercourse diverted
down road to MP 11 crossing
resulting in 3 to 4-foot-deep
gully.
Abandon or upgrade
to permanent culvert. 50 MOD HIGH
11
Diverted
watercourse
crossing
Second Class III watercourse
diverted down roadway resulting
in deep gullying of road prism at
MP 12, where the road is
impassable.
Abandon or upgrade
to permanent culvert. 500 MOD HIGH
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LOWER ROAD SEGMENT:
The Lower road segment is about 5,000 feet long descending across steep to very steep (60% to 90%)
gradient ground for over half its length before reaching La Honda Creek. The road grade is steep with 12%
to 20% sustained grade. The road has failed or eroded out at multiple locations from fill instability and
gullying making reopening the road for vehicle or large equipment access questionable. Potentially
significant and expensive road reconstruction will be required to reopen the road for vehicles or large
equipment. As will be discussed in further detail, the resulting ground disturbance associated with road
reconstruction will likely offset any environmental benefit associated with correcting the existing erosion
problems. A summary of each inventoried site along the roadway is found in Table 2 with a more detailed
description found in Appendix 1.
Gullying and Fill Slope Failures: There are a couple of deep gullies and multiple fill failures along this
segment of road. The most significant problems exist at 12, 13A, 13C, 13D and 13L where the majority of
the road prism has failed or eroded out narrowing the road tread to 0 to 9 feet in width and resulting in a
steep escarpment that encroaches to the edge of the remaining road prism.
Because of the steep slopes, reopening the road past 12, 13A, 13C, 13D and 13L would be challenging.
Often the least expensive and easiest means to widen a road past a fill failure is to widen the road by
cutting into the hillside, laying the cut back to a stable grade, and endhauling the excavated spoils to a
stable location. However, at sites 12, 13A, 13C, and 13D the road crosses very steep side slopes with little
of the original road prism remaining. Because of these steep slopes, it will not be feasible to gain much, if
any, extra road width by cutting further into the hillside without undercutting the hillside. Therefore, at
these locations, the outer edge of the roadway will likely need to be reconstructed and supported on 180+
LF of 10 to 15-foot-high retaining walls. There are several retaining wall designs that could be employed,
including a soldier pin wall, gravity wall, and reinforced earth wall. Each of these have their pros and cons.
A reinforced earth wall using geogrid or Hilfiker materials would likely be the most cost-effective option
if a retaining wall is selected. The transition zones at the ends of the wall will be difficult to implement
due to the potentially unstable undocumented fill that borders the slide areas. The costs of retaining
structures will be expensive. Additional engineering work will be required to further evaluate the
feasibility of retaining wall options at these locations.
At site 13L the entire road prism has failed apparently due to fill instability and possible deep-seated slide
movement. It may be possible to steeply ramp a 10-foot-wide road down across the displaced slide block,
though whether this will be suitable for vehicle access is unknown. Moreover, the long-term stability of
this is questionable as additional instability of the larger landslide block is expected which could further
damage or destroy any reconstructed road. Depending on the depth of the slide, it may also be possible
to reconstruct the road and stabilize the hillside with retaining structures, though this will likely be
expensive.
At the remaining fill failures, 13F, 13G, 13H, 13I, 13J and 13K, the failures do not appear to have
encroached as far into the road prism and/or the native slopes are not as steep. It may be possible to gain
suitable road width at these locations by cutting into the hillside on a full bench and endhauling spoils to
a stable location, though additional geologic and geotechnical work will be required to confirm this. It
should be understood that widening the road inboard at these locations will increase the potential for
cutbank instability. While we expect future cutbank failures to be retained on the road surface, a higher-
than-average level of maintenance will be required to keep the road open. If suitable road width does
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not exist, then the outer edge of the road would need to be supported on a retaining wall.
Possible unstable slopes may also exist at 14 where there is equivocal evidence of a couple of short
displacement (< 6 inch high) subdued escarpments cutting across a bench of colluvial sediments within an
ephemeral drainage. It is unknown if these questionable escarpments define a potentially unstable slide
block or if they are simply an artifact of old grading. In addition, it also is unknown if the construction of
the road had any significant impact on site stability through the placement of fill. While we believe that
the potential for road related slope instability is most likely very low, it cannot be ruled out with certainty.
Future instability at this site could be possible in the event of a large magnitude storm or earthquake
resulting in local ground cracking or, a worst-case scenario, generate a large 500 to 1,000 cy slope failure.
Mitigating slope stability hazards at this site will be very difficult due to the lack of access.
It should be understood that the remaining unfailed segments of roadway also contain locally thick fill
sidecasted onto steep slopes. While there are few signs of active instability (e.g. ground cracking), the
nature of the thick fill embankments on steep slopes places them at potential risk for future failures,
especially if water is allowed to concentrate and discharge over the fill.
With respect to future erosion and sediment delivery. Presently the rate of erosion appears relatively low
and the majority of high-risk sites that could have failed have likely already done so. Future fill instability
will likely occur, however there is uncertainty in predicting how large the failures will be, how much will
be delivered to a watercourse, and exactly where the failures are most likely to occur. It is not feasible to
pull back all of the fill along the outer edge of the roadway.
Cutbank Failures: Raveling and cutbank instability are also prevalent along the road. The most significant
failures occurred at 13A, 13E and 13G depositing debris onto the roadway. Generally, the road can be
reopened past these features by removing the failed debris or ramping over the mass. Continued cutbank
instability should be expected if the road is to be reopened requiring a higher-than-average level of effort
to clear the roadway.
Watercourse Crossings: The road crosses two ephemeral (MP 14 and 15) and one intermittent (MP 16)
watercourses. Site 14 is a fill crossing at a Class III watercourse. We have not reviewed this crossing in
detail. Site 15 is a 150 cy fill crossing where the fill embankment is unstable and has down dropped. We
estimate 150 cy of future erosion is possible though this would likely take a long time.
MP 16, located near the end of the road, is a partially washed out 500 cy to 750 cy Humboldt log crossing
at a Class II watercourse. At one time the Class II watercourse had likely been diverted down the road
eroding a 500+ foot gully but has been redirected back into its natural channel as a result of debris flow
that extended down a Class III tributary and pushed the watercourse to the opposite side of the valley.
The small Class III watercourse is currently diverted down the old road; the Class II watercourse is not
diverted and is confined to its natural channel. We estimate that about 300 to 500 cy of material is subject
to erosion with the current rate of erosion appearing low.
Water Quality and Sediment Loading: We estimate over 2,000 cy of erosion has resulted from fill
instability, though most of this material appears to have been retained on the hillside with relatively
limited sediment delivery. An additional 1,400 cy of erosion and sediment delivery has occurred at
watercourse crossings 15 and 16 over a 50-year time span. The average erosion rate from the larger
failures is estimated at greater than 70 cy/yr for the past 50 years, though not all of this material was
ATTACHMENT 1
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February 9, 2021
2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
delivered to a watercourse. The rate of erosion has decreased due to the majority of high-risk fill prisms
having already failed and at Site 16 the Class II watercourse being no longer diverted.
Future fill instability and erosion will likely occur, though at a lower rate than in the past. We roughly
estimate that about 460 cy of erosion could occur over the next 20 years (23 cy/yr) which is about 33% of
the historic rate with less than half of that being delivered to a watercourse.
Some limited benefit would be achieved by pulling back excess unstable fill at sites 15 (failing ford
crossing) and 13K (failing landing fill), and by installing drain dips to break up any runoff, however, to
accomplish this the road would need to be reopened past the problem sites 12, 13A, and 13C and 13D.
The amount of ground disturbance that would be needed to reopen the road would probably offset any
benefit, making it impracticable as well as cost prohibitive.
General Recommendations – Lower Road
The 5,000 foot long Lower Road was constructed across locally very steep slopes and in a manner that
resulted in multiple failures of the road fill. Significant road reconstruction will be required to reopen this
segment of road past these failures. Any road improvements are constrained by the steep slopes and
confined working conditions.
There are five locations 12, 13A, 13C, 13D and 13L where the majority of the road prism has failed or
eroded out, and where significant road reconstruction will be required to reopen the road at a 10 to 12
foot width for safe temporary or permanent vehicle or equipment access. These reconstruction efforts
will be challenging and expensive due to the steep slopes, confined working conditions, and need for
retaining structures. It should be possible to reopen the road at a narrower 5 foot width for recreational
trail use by ramping steeply through the larger failures and skirting the edge of the smaller failures.
There are 3 partially washed-out watercourse crossings along this segment of road. We estimate that
there is about 450 cy of material still residing at these crossings. Continued slow erosion of the residual
fill prisms is to be expected, though this will very likely take a long time.
The big question is whether it is worth reopening the road past the slide areas. Some limited benefit could
be achieved by pulling back excess unstable fill at 13J (failing landing fill – <100 cy), and by abandoning
the stream crossings at sites 14 (<500 cy), 15 (150 cy) and 16 (750 cy). However, to accomplish this work
the road would need to be reopened past the major problem sites 12, 13A, 13C, 13D and 13L, as well as
past several other smaller sites. The amount of ground disturbance that would be needed to reopen the
road would probably offset any environmental benefit, making it impracticable as well as cost prohibitive.
In summary, we do not recommend reopening the lower road for vehicle access. To mitigate future
erosion at the watercourse crossings we recommend evaluating the feasibility of obtaining temporary
truck and/or equipment access via an alternative route. This may include linking one or more of the
upslope skid trails. It is not feasible to access this site from the bottom over La Honda Creek. It may be
possible to reopen the road at a 5-foot width using a small excavator, though additional work and review
of the site by the excavator operator will be required. If a 5-foot wide trail can be opened past the problem
sites, then some restoration work could be implemented.
ATTACHMENT 1
Page 9
February 9, 2021
2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
TABLE 2:
SUMMARY OF INVENTORY SITES ON LOWER ROAD SEGMENT
SITE FEATURE DESCRIPTION RECOMMENDATION
FUTURE
EROSION
(CY/20 YR)
DEGREE
OF ROAD
DAMAGE
TREATMENT
PRIORITY
12
Gullies from
diverted
watercourses
These are two deep gullies
from stream diversions at
MP 10 and 11 that have
eroded out most of the
road prism for a distance
of about 350 feet.
ABANDON: Through non-use
(preferred).
ROAD: Reconstruct road
prism on engineered fill with
60+ LF on 10 to 15-foot-high
retaining wall.
TRAIL or ATV: Reconstruct at
5-foot width on full bench.
See MP 10
and 11 HIGH LOW
13A Cut and fill failure
100 LF combined cut and
fill failure on 90% slopes
has narrowed the road to
less than 2 feet
ABANDON: Through non-use
(preferred).
ROAD: Reconstruct 80+ LF
of failed roadway on 10 to
15-foot-high retaining wall,
clear slide debris from
roadway.
TRAIL or ATV: Reconstruct at
5-foot width on full bench.
<20 HIGH LOW
13B Cut and fill failure
90 LF combined cut and fill
failure on 90% slopes has
narrowed the road to a 5-
to-10-foot width.
ABANDON: Through non-use
(preferred).
ROAD: It should be possible
to reopen the road by
blading failed cutbank
material.
TRAIL or ATV: Reconstruct at
5-foot width on full bench.
<10 MOD LOW
13C Fill failure
35 LF fill failure on 90%
slopes narrows road to 8
feet. Outer 2 to 3 feet of
remaining road prism may
be unstable. Multiple
cutbank failures in this
area.
ABANDON: Through non-use
(preferred).
ROAD: Reconstruct 35+ LF
of failed roadway on 10 to
15+ foot-high retaining wall,
clear slide debris from
roadway.
TRAIL or ATV: Reconstruct at
5-foot width on full bench.
<20 HIGH LOW
13D Fill failure
50 LF fill failure on 90%
slopes within swale,
narrows 18-foot-wide
road to 10 feet. Outer 3
feet of remaining road
prism may be unstable.
ABANDON: Through non-use
(preferred).
ROAD: It may be possible to
reopen the road by
removing failed cutbank
material and cutting into the
bank 2 feet to gain extra
width. Otherwise, the outer
edge of road will need to be
reconstructed and
supported by a retaining
wall.
TRAIL or ATV: Reconstruct at
5-foot width on full bench.
<20 MOD -
HIGH LOW
ATTACHMENT 1
Page 10
February 9, 2021
2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
TABLE 2:
SUMMARY OF INVENTORY SITES ON LOWER ROAD SEGMENT
SITE FEATURE DESCRIPTION RECOMMENDATION
FUTURE
EROSION
(CY/20 YR)
DEGREE
OF ROAD
DAMAGE
TREATMENT
PRIORITY
13E Cutbank failure
40 LF cutbank failure
deposited 3 to 5 feet of
debris on roadway.
ABANDON: Through non-use
(preferred).
ROAD and TRAIL: Ramp
over slide debris. Endhaul
excess debris.
0 MOD LOW
13F Fill failure
25 LF fill failure on 60%
slopes narrows road to 9
feet.
ABANDON: Through non-use
(preferred).
ROAD: Widen road 3 to 4
feet into bank on full bench.
TRAIL or ATV: None
required.
<20 MOD -
HIGH LOW
13G Fill and cutbank
failure
30 to 40 LF combined cut
and fill failure. Fill failure
narrows road slightly; 5 to
10 feet of debris and
multiple large stumps
deposited on roadway
ABANDON: Through non-use
(preferred).
ROAD and TRAIL: Ramp
over slide debris. Endhaul
excess debris.
TRAIL or ATV: None
required.
<20 MOD LOW
13H Fill failure
60 LF fill failure on 75% to
90% slopes narrows road
to 10 feet. Outer 3 feet of
remaining road is
potentially unstable.
Located immediately
adjacent to failing Class III
watercourse crossing (MP
14).
ABANDON: Through non-use
(preferred).
ROAD: It may be possible to
widen road slightly into
bank, otherwise the outer
edge of road will need to be
supported on retaining wall.
Correct instability at
crossing MP 14.
TRAIL or ATV: None
required.
<20 MOD -
HIGH LOW
13I Fill failure
40 LF fill failure on 100%
slopes narrows road to 12
feet. 30-foot-high road
cut.
ABANDON: Through non-use
(preferred).
ROAD: Reopen at 10-foot
width by clearing debris
from roadway.
TRAIL or ATV: Reopen at 5-
foot width by clearing debris
from trail tread.
<20 MOD LOW
13J Fill failure
25 LF fill failure on 90%
slopes narrows road to 10
feet.
ABANDON: Through non-use
(preferred).
ROAD: Road appears to be
passable at 8-10 foot width
by vehicles. Additional
failure will require retaining
structures to support outer
edge of roadway.
TRAIL or ATV: Reopen at 5-
foot width by clearing debris
from trail tread.
<20 MOD -
HIGH LOW
ATTACHMENT 1
Page 11
February 9, 2021
2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
TABLE 2:
SUMMARY OF INVENTORY SITES ON LOWER ROAD SEGMENT
SITE FEATURE DESCRIPTION RECOMMENDATION
FUTURE
EROSION
(CY/20 YR)
DEGREE
OF ROAD
DAMAGE
TREATMENT
PRIORITY
13K Fill failure
40 LF failure of old landing
fill on 50% slopes narrows
road to 12 feet. 7-foot-
high scarp on outer edge
of road.
ABANDON: Through non-use
(preferred).
ROAD: Road appears to be
passable at 10-foot width.
Extra road width can be
obtained by cutting into the
bank on full bench.
TRAIL or ATV: None
required.
<20 MOD LOW
13L Fill and hillslope
failure
90 LF of roadway crossing
70% to 90% slopes has
down dropped 9 feet due
to combined cut and fill
slope instability. None of
the original road prism is
remaining.
ABANDON: Through non-use
(preferred).
ROAD: It may be possible to
steeply ramp a 10-foot-wide
road down across the
displaced slide block, though
the long-term stability of
this is questionable.
TRAIL or ATV: Ramp trail at
5 foot width across slide.
<20 HIGH LOW
14
Class III
watercourse
crossing;
Questionable
unstable slopes
Minor to moderate gully
at outfall of an earth ford.
Questionable unstable
slopes.
GENERAL: Engineering
geologic / slope stability
review if additional
clarification on site stability
is required.
ABANDON: Excavate
crossing fill and unstable fill
material if access is
obtained. If no access,
abandon through non-use
(preferred).
ROAD: Excavate unstable
fill, upgrade to permanent
rock ford or culvert.
TRAIL or ATV: Excavate
unstable fill if possible; add
rock ford.
<500 LOW MOD
15
Watercourse
crossing &
Unstable fill
50 LF partial fill failure and
unstable fill at Class III
watercourse crossing.
ABANDON: Excavate
crossing fill if access is
obtained.
ROAD: Upgrade to
permanent culvert.
TRAIL or ATV: Abandon and
add puncheon.
<50 MOD -
HIGH LOW - MOD
ATTACHMENT 1
Page 12
February 9, 2021
2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
TABLE 2:
SUMMARY OF INVENTORY SITES ON LOWER ROAD SEGMENT
SITE FEATURE DESCRIPTION RECOMMENDATION
FUTURE
EROSION
(CY/20 YR)
DEGREE
OF ROAD
DAMAGE
TREATMENT
PRIORITY
16 Humboldt
Crossing
Partially washed-out
Humboldt log crossing at
Class II watercourse. 500
LF of gullied road from
past diversion of the
watercourse. Upstream
debris flow diverts small
Class III watercourse.
ABANDON: Excavate
crossing fill if access is
obtained.
ROAD: Upgrade to
permanent culvert.
TRAIL or ATV: Abandon and
add puncheon.
200 HIGH MOD - HIGH
ATTACHMENT 1
LAHONDACREEK
UPPERROAD
LOWERROAD
LaHondaCreekRoad(HYW84)
SkylineBlvd(HYW36)
LA HONDA CREEKOPEN SPACE
SUBJECTROAD
Sources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, Intermap,
increment P Corp., GEBCO, USGS, FAO,
NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, IGN, Kadaster
NL, Ordnance Survey, Esri Japan, METI,
Esri China (Hong Kong), (c)
OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS
User Community
LOCATION MAP
LOCATION MAP
2020 OLD LOGGING ROAD EROSION INVENTORY
LA HONDA CREEK OSP
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
FIGURE 1
Job: SICULAR-LAHONDA-871
Date: 12/17/2020
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
1002 Columbia Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060(831) 425 5832 (831) 425 5830 (fax)
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY
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ATTACHMENT 1
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ATTACHMENT 1
Page A1-1
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG
SITE 1 Future Erosion (cy/20 yr) 240
FEATURE DIVERTED CLASS III WATERCOURSE Road Damage MOD
ROAD UPPER ROAD Treatment Priority HIGH
Description
MP 1 is a fill crossing where a small Class III watercourse is diverted down the road. This watercourse is
ultimately diverted at three separate locations for a distance of more than 1,200 feet resulting in deep
gulling of both the road prism(s) and hillslope. The first diversion is located on the main road at MP 1, the
second on an old skid trail at MP 2 and the third on a downslope segment of the main road at MP 8.
At the MP 1 crossing, the Class III watercourse drains a roughly 5-acre forested watershed. Slopes are
moderately steep with a stream having a roughly 30% channel gradient. The crossing consists of about
20 cy of fill placed about 4 to 5 feet deep. The road grade is 10%. There does not appear to have been any
drainage structures installed at the crossing which is likely why the stream was diverted.
At this crossing the stream is diverted 500 feet down the old haul road to a point where the road makes
a broad switchback on a gently sloping bench. The diverted watercourse has eroded a 2 to 3-foot-deep
gully into the road prism. The gully walls are moss covered indicating a current low rate of erosion.
At the switchback the diverted stream then flows across the bench for a short distance before draining
into the head of a second small Class III watercourse. At this point the drainage area of the watercourse
has nearly tripled in size to 15 acres resulting in much greater flow volumes.
The stream the drains about 100 feet down the second-Class III watercourse before being diverted again
at MP 2 by an old skid trail where there is a 6-inch diameter steel pipe. From here stream flow is diverted
200+ feet down the old skid trail, gullying the road prism 2 to 4 feet deep, before discharging onto the
open hillside.
After discharging off of the tractor road the stream flows down the hillside in shallow bifurcating channel
for an additional 250 feet before draining over the steep road cut of the main roadway at MP 8. At this
location the stream has eroded a large 80-foot-long, 15-foot-deep gully into the hillside.
After discharging back onto the main road at MP 8, the stream is again diverted down the road for a
distance of 150 feet to a partially washed out stream crossing at MP 9. There is little erosion of the road
prism, though gulling is evident below MP 9.
We estimate that the stream diversion has cumulatively resulted in a 500 to 1,000+ cy of erosion over the
roughly past 50+ years (est 10 to 20 cy/yr). We suspect that most of this erosion occurred early on and
has decreased over time as the gullies have down cut to more stable material. Continued erosion is
expected unless the diversion is corrected. Based on field observations, we estimate the current erosion
rate to be approximately 8 to 15 cy/yr or about 75% of the historic average.
Correcting the diversion at MP 1 is straightforward and can be readily accomplished by abandoning the
ATTACHMENT 1
Page A1-2
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
crossing (excavating fill), installing a culvert, or installing a rock ford. Which of these three alternatives to
be implemented is dependent upon the long term use of the road. If the road is no longer required, then
the crossing can be abandoned by excavating fill to native grade. If the road is required, then either install
a culvert or rock ford. It should be noted that because the stream has been diverted for quite a while, the
native stream has infilled with sediment and debris. Restoring flow back into the native channel will likely
result in some erosion of this material, though how much is difficult to quantify.
Regardless of which of the three alternatives is employed, correcting the diversion and redirecting
streamflow back into the natural channel will also requiring upgrades to the crossings at MP 3 and MP 5
located downstream on the same channel. The diversion on the old tractor road should also be corrected.
Preliminary Recommendations
Alternative 1: Abandonment
Excavate crossing to native channel grade
Minimum 3-foot wide channel bottom with smooth uniform grade
Lay channel banks back to 2H:1V or flatter
Estimate 20 to 50 cy of excavation
Alternative 2: Permanent Culvert
Install permanent 24 inch x 40 ft culvert.
Align culvert with native grade.
Install a critical dip
Alternative 3: Permanent Rock Ford
Dip road minimum 1 foot through crossing
Rock armor outer edge. Additional work will be required to size the rock.
Both Alternatives
Improve road drainage leading to crossing by installing reverse grade dips or waterbars.
Upgrade crossings MP 3 and MP 5
Correct the stream diversion and remove the 6-inch steel pipe at MP 2
ATTACHMENT 1
Page A1-3
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
SITE 2 Future Erosion (cy/20 yr) See MP1
FEATURE DIVERTED CLASS III STREAM ON SKID TRAIL Road Damage HIGH
ROAD Skid Trail Treatment Priority HIGH
Description
At this location the Class III watercourse initially diverted at MP 1 again is diverted, this time by an old skid
trail where there is a plugged 6-inch diameter steel pipe. The streams is diverted 200+ feet down the old
skid trail, gullying the road prism 2 to 4 feet deep, before discharging onto the open hillside. Erosion
appears to be active and ongoing.
The problem at this site can be easily corrected by removing the culvert and remaining crossing fill and
redirected streamflow back into its natural channel. To the extent practicable, drain dips should also be
installed along the old tractor road to further control runoff, though this will be somewhat difficult due to
the entrenched nature of the road prism.
Preliminary Recommendations
Abandonment
Remove steel pipe
Excavate crossing to native channel grade
Minimum 3-foot wide channel bottom with smooth uniform grade
Lay channel banks back to 2H:1V or flatter
Estimate 20 to 50 cy of excavation
Install drain dips two drain dips at 100 foot spacings along the entrenched skid trail
Photo 1: Looking downstream on diverted watercourse at skid trail crossing.
ATTACHMENT 1
Page A1-4
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
Photo 2: Gully from diverted watercourse down skid trail
ATTACHMENT 1
Page A1-5
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
SITE 3 Future Erosion (cy/20 yr) See MP1
FEATURE CLASS III WATERCOURSE Road Damage LOW
ROAD UPPER ROAD Treatment Priority HIGH
Description
This is an old fill crossing on a Class III watercourse that presently receives limited flow due to the upper
segment of the stream being diverted at MP 1. Correcting the diversion at MP 1 will increase runoff at
this site resulting in renewed erosion and necessitate treatment.
At the crossing the Class III watercourse drains a 15-acre forested watershed. The crossing consists of
about 120 cy of fill placed about 7 to 8 feet deep. The road grade is 18%. There does not appear to have
been any drainage structures installed at the crossing and a small gully has formed at the crossing outlet
from the diminished stream flow.
There is an old gully along the portion of the road leading down into the crossing from the southeast,
which we believe was from a past stream diversion originating at MP 1.
The current rate of erosion is low. However, correcting the stream diversion at MP 1 will result in
increased flows and renewed erosion. To mitigate for this the crossing should be either abandoned or
upgraded with a permanent culvert. Because of the steep road grade, a rock ford is not practicable.
Preliminary Recommendations
Alternative 1: Abandonment
Excavate crossing to native channel grade
Minimum 4-foot wide channel bottom with smooth uniform grade
Lay channel banks back to 2H:1V or flatter
Estimate 120 cy of excavation
Excavated fill will need to be endhauled up the road and placed on the midslope bench in a stable
configuration.
Improve road drainage leading to crossing by installing reverse grade dips or waterbars.
Alternative 2: Permanent Culvert
Install permanent 30-inch x 60 ft culvert.
Align culvert with native grade.
Install a critical dip
Improve road drainage leading to crossing by installing reverse grade dips or waterbars.
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SITE 4 Future Erosion (cy/20 yr) 0
FEATURE UPSLOPE LANDSLIDE Road Damage MOD
ROAD UPPER ROAD Treatment Priority LOW
Description
At this location an old, undifferentiated cutbank failure / debris flow deposited 4 to 8 feet of debris onto
a roughly 100-foot-long segment of the old roadway. The failure initiated where the road was constructed
at a roughly 18-foot width across steep 75% to 80% gradient slopes. There was little to no sediment
delivery. The slide currently well vegetated with hardwood and appears relatively stable.
No treatment of this site is required for sediment savings. The road can be reopened for both temporary
and permanent use by ramping over the slide debris with minimal cut and fill. The resulting road,
however, would be steep at nearly a 25% grade.
Preliminary Recommendations
Reopen the road at a minimum 12 to 14-foot width
Ramp over the slide debris with minimal cuts and fill.
Install a drainage dips at the upper and lower ends of the work area.
Consider rocking the road surface for added traction as needed.
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SITE 5 Future Erosion (cy/20 yr) 200
FEATURE CLASS III WATERCOURSE Road Damage MOD
ROAD UPPER ROAD Treatment Priority HIGH
Description
This is as partially gullied out thick fill crossing on a Class III watercourse draining a 16.5-acre forested
watershed. The watercourse currently receives limited flow due to the upper segment of the stream being
diverted at MP 1.
At this site the old road ramps down through the incised watercourse at a 20% grade on what appears to
be a thick fill prism. There is a 6-inch diameter culvert lying on the ground which if used to drain the stream
was seriously undersized and was easily plugged. We estimate the crossing consist of 500 cy of fill placed
12 to 15 feet deep, though subsurface exploration would be required to confirm this. An unknown
amount of additional sediment has backed upstream of the crossing for distance of 60 feet. The fill used
to construct this crossing was probably generated by cutting into the hillside at MP 4 where the
undifferentiated cutbank failure / debris flow was observed.
The stream had, at one time, been diverted down the road to MP 5 where it had eroded a shallow gully
or rut into the road prism. The diverted channel appears old and weathered. Presently, streamflow
discharges over the fill embankment where it has eroded a 40-foot-long, 10-foot-wide and 2- to 6-foot-
deep gully. Based on the inferred age of a leaning redwood within the gully, we estimate that the gully
formed about 30 years ago. This gully is actively eroding, but at a low rate due to the stream diversion at
MP 1.
There is also a second older and more weathered gully that has partially incised into the fill embankment.
This gully may have been associated with road runoff, past diversion, or the dewatering of the slide at MP
4. Presently this gully appears stable and is not eroding.
Photo 3: Partial washed out fill crossing
Based on our field review we estimate that there may be 500 cy of fill material still residing at the crossing.
Because of site geometry this is a rough estimate and subsurface exploration would be required to confirm
this estimate. We estimate that the two gullies indenting the fill embankment combined have eroded
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approximately 50 to 70 cy of material over the past 50 years (1.4 cy/yr). The low rate of erosion is due, in
part, to the ongoing diversion at MP 1.
The amount of future erosion is difficult to quantify. While there is 500 cy of material still residing at the
crossing, we believe that based on the historic rate of erosion and the continued diversion at MP 1 it
would take a long time (centuries) for all of this material to ultimately eroded out. For the purpose of this
study we have assumed an average erosion rate of 1.0 cy/yr which is about 75% of the historic average
historic average.
We recommend that the crossing be either abandoned or upgraded with a permanent culvert. Because
of the thickness of fill at this location, a rock ford is not a practicable alternative.
Preliminary Recommendations
Alternative 1: Abandonment
Excavate crossing to native channel grade
Minimum 4-foot wide channel bottom with smooth uniform grade
Lay channel banks back to 1.5H:1V or flatter
Estimate 120 cy of excavation. The 500 cy of fill is a rough estimate. Subsurface exploration will be
required if greater certainty as to the amount of material need to be excavated is required.
Alternatively, the limits of excavation can be determined at the time of crossing abandonment.
Excavated fill will need to be placed along the inside edge of the road below the crossing of endhauled
up the road and placed on the midslope bench in a stable configuration. Because of the amount of
fill to be removed and the steep (25%) road grade we recommend that off-haul trucks be used to
transport the fill material.
Improve road drainage leading to crossing by installing reverse grade dips or waterbars.
Alternative 2: Permanent Culvert
Install permanent 30-inch x 80 ft culvert (or larger).
Align culvert with native grade (~ 20%)
Install a critical dip
Improve road drainage leading to crossing by installing reverse grade dips or waterbars.
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SITE 6 Future Erosion (cy/20 yr) 0
FEATURE SWALE Road Damage LOW
ROAD UPPER ROAD Treatment Priority LOW
Description
This is a fill crossing on a steep gradient swale. Runoff from a past diversion at MP 5 has eroded 2 small
gullies into the outer edge of the fill without sediment delivery. Currently runoff from MP 5 is no longer
discharged to the site. The swale crossing consists of approximately 40 cy of fill placed 7 feet deep. The
road grade is about 12%.
Preliminary Recommendations
Install a reverse grade dip.
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SITE 7 Future Erosion (cy/20 yr) 75
FEATURE CLASS III WATERCOURSE Road Damage MOD-HIGH
ROAD UPPER ROAD Treatment Priority HIGH
Description
This is a partially washed out fill crossing on a steep (30%) Class III watercourse draining a 16-acre forested
watershed. There does not appear to have been any drainage structures installed at this crossing and as
a result stream flow has eroded 40-foot-long, 6-foot-wide and 5-foot-deep gully most of the way through
the fill prism. Immediately east of the crossing is a second gully or fill failure. It is unknown if this failure
is due to past stream flow being directed over the fill embankment at this location or instability of the
oversteepened fill prism.
Photo 4: Partially washed out fill crossing
The fill crossing consists of 150 to 250 cy of fill placed about 9 feet deep. Of this material, we estimate
that 40 to 60 cy of this material (25% of total) has eroded out over the past 50 years (1.25 cy/yr). Most of
this erosion likely occurred early on and has decreased significantly due to the diversion of stream flow at
MP 2 which results in only limited flow reaching the MP 7 crossing. For the purpose of this study we have
assumed an average erosion rate of 0.65 cy/yr which is about half the historic average.
We recommend that the crossing be either abandoned or upgraded with a permanent culvert. It may be
possible to install a rock ford though this would likely be more expensive than installing a culvert due to
the large amount of rock required.
Preliminary Recommendations
Alternative 1: Abandonment
Excavate crossing to native channel grade
Minimum 4-foot wide channel bottom with smooth uniform grade
Lay channel banks back to 1.5H:1V or flatter
Estimate 200 cy of excavation.
Excavated fill will need to be placed along the inside edge of the road or on the landing near MP 8.
Improve road drainage leading to crossing by installing reverse grade dips or waterbars.
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Alternative 2: Permanent Culvert
Install permanent 30-inch x 60 ft culvert (or larger).
Align culvert with native grade (~ 35%)
Install a critical dip
Improve road drainage leading to crossing by installing reverse grade dips or waterbars.
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SITE 8 Future Erosion (cy/20 yr) See MP1
FEATURE GULLY FROM DIVERTED CLASS III WATERCOURSE Road Damage MOD
ROAD UPPER ROAD Treatment Priority HIGH
Description
At this location runoff diverted from crossings MP 1 (road) and MP 2 (skid trail) discharges over the steep
road cut of a small, narrow landing on the main road where it has eroded a 40-foot-long, 12-foot-wide
and up to 18-foot-deep gully into the hillside. Erosion of the gully is active and ongoing.
The landing is about 80 feet long and 35 feet wide, and constructed by cutting in to the 45% gradient
hillside on cut and fill. A narrow tractor road traverses the hillside just below the landing. Currently
streamflow is diverted 200 feet down the road to the east where it discharges into the eroding fill crossing
at MP 9. In the past, stream flow had drained across the landing and lower skid trail where it had eroded
narrow gullies into the fill embankments. We observed a couple of small sink holes in the tread of the
skid trail indicating some subsurface soil piping may be occurring.
Photo 5: Gully in steep cutbank from diverted stream flow originating from MP 1 and MP2
Photo 6: Sinkhole due to subsurface soil piping
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Preliminary Recommendations
Correct the stream diversions at Crossings MP 1 and MP 2
No treatment of the two gullies is required unless the road is to be reopened.
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SITE 9 Future Erosion (cy/20 yr) 100
FEATURE PARTIALLY WASHED OUT CLASS III
WATERCOURSE CROSSING Road Damage MOD -
HIGH
ROAD UPPER ROAD Treatment Priority MOD
Description
This is a partially eroded out fill crossing at a narrow and steep gradient Class III watercourse that has
experienced historic debris flow activity.
The Class III watercourse drains a 13-acre forested watershed. The active stream channel is approximately
2 to 3 feet wide with an average 25% channel grade. The crossing consists of approximately 120 to 250 cy
of fill placed about 6 to 8 feet deep. The crossing is overtopped by 5 to 6 feet (~120 cy) of landslide debris
originating from an upslope debris flow.
Photo 7: Two gullies at partially washed out watercourse crossing. The upper gully is from
diverted stream flow coming down from MP8. The lower gully is from the watercourse.
Photo 8: Looking upstream and slide debris deposited in the crossing. The stream is located right
of center in the photo.
There are two separate gullies that have eroded into the road prism. The first is from the Class III
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watercourse draining over the fill embankment. This gully is 50- to 80-foot-long, 4- to 6-foot-wide, and 2-
to 3-foot-deep. We estimate 30 cy of material has eroded out over the past 50 years resulting in an
average erosion rate of 0.7 cy/yr. The second gully is from diverted stream flow originating from MP 8.
This gully is approximately 60 to 80 feet long, 4 to 8 feet wide and 2 to 5 feet deep. Erosion from this
second gully has been included in the total for MP 1.
We estimate about 60 to 190+ cy of fill material still residing at the crossing and is expected to slowly
erode out due to the combine flows from the Class III watercourse and the diverted stream originating at
MP 1. For analysis purposes we assume an average erosion rate of 0.7 cy/yr which is the historic average.
To mitigate erosion at this site the crossing should be either abandoned or upgraded to a permanent
crossing by installing a culvert or rock ford. In addition, the diversions at MP 1, MP 2 and MP 8 will need
to be corrected.
Preliminary Recommendations
Alternative 1: Abandonment
Excavate crossing to native channel grade
Minimum 4-foot wide channel bottom with smooth uniform grade
Lay channel banks back to 2H:1V or flatter
Estimate 200 cy of excavation.
Excavated fill will need to be placed along the inside edge of the road or on the landing near MP 8.
Improve road drainage leading to crossing by installing reverse grade dips or waterbars.
Alternative 2: Permanent Culvert
Install permanent 30-inch x 80 ft culvert (or larger).
Remove some of the landslide debris at the culvert inlet (~ 50 cy)
Align culvert with native grade (~ 20%)
Install a critical dip
Alternative 3: Rock Ford
Install a rock ford
Dip the crossing out to form a broad 2-foot-deep dip with the outfall inclined at 2H:1V.
Armor the outer edge of the road with rock rip rap. Rock to be sized.
All Alternatives
Correct the stream diversions at MP 1, MP 2 and MP 8
Upgrade road drainage by installing drain dips
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TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
SITE 10 AND 11 Future Erosion (cy/20 yr) 550
FEATURE DIVERTED CLASS III WATERCOURSE CROSSINGS Road Damage MOD
ROAD UPPER ROAD Treatment Priority HIGH
Description
At this site the road makes a sweeping turn through the upper portion of a broad moderate gradient
colluvial filled valley where it crosses two separate Class III watercourses (MP 10 and 11) just upstream of
their confluence. Both Class III watercourses crossings are diverted several hundred feet down the road
where their combined flow has resulted in extensive gullying of the road prism and rendering the road
impassable.
MP 10: At this location the road crosses a finger of the colluvial filled valley with the upstream Class III
watercourse draining a 10-acre watershed. The majority of the road was constructed across valley bottom
with minimal cut and fill. There does not appear to have been any drainage structures at this location. The
small watercourse drains over the road cut before being diverted 120 feet down the road to MP 11,
eroding a 3- to 5-foot-wide, 3-foot-deep gully (50 cy).
MP 11: At this location the road crosses a second finger of the colluvial filled valley with the upstream
Class III watercourse draining a 7.5-acre watershed. The road was constructed across the colluvial filled
valley bottom of the Class III watercourse with minimal cut and fill. The road grade is about 10% to 12%.
The area appears to have been heavily disturbed by old tractor operations.
The upstream active stream channel is about 2 to 4 feet wide with 10% to 15% channel gradient. Below
the road is a broad flat area that was more than likely constructed within the Class III watercourse as an
instream landing. Prior to the construction of the landing the stream had flowed about 60 feet the
confluence of the Class III watercourse draining MP 10. The native stream channel on the downstream
side of the crossing, however, is no longer apparent due to the area being heavily disturbed by old tractor
operations.
The combination of a lack of drainage structures at MP 11 and the construction of the downstream landing
resulted in the combined streamflow from MP 10 and 11 to be diverted 450 feet down the road resulting
in locally extensive gullying of the road prism. For the first 250 feet of the diversion the gully is modest in
size averaging about 4 to 6 feet in width and 2 to 4 feet in depth. After this location at MP 12, the road
grade steepens slightly and the gully becomes much more deeply incised at 10 to 20 feet in width and 7
to 12 feet in depth, and with little of the road tread remaining. As will be discussed at MP 12, the
combination of the deep gullying and very steep (90%) sideslopes significantly constrains the feasibility of
reopening the road past this location.
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Photo 9: Diverted stream at MP 12. The left channel is the watercourse at MP12, the right channel
extending up the road is from diverted flow from MP 10.
Overall, we estimate there has been 800 to 1,200 cy of combined erosion over the past 50+ years (15 to
25+ cy/yr) from MP 10, 11 and 12 with the rate of erosion having decreased as the gullies have down cut
into more stable material. We estimate the rate of future erosion at 10 to 15 cy/yr or about 2/3 the historic
rate.
At MP 10 the diversion should be corrected by abandoning the crossing by removing all of the crossing fill
to native grade which will be relatively straight forward. For permanent road use a rock ford or culvert
will need to be installed.
At MP 11 the mitigation measures are slightly more complicated due to site topography and the existence
of the instream landing that obscures the original channel location. To correct the stream diversion will
require excavating a roughly 100-foot-long, 14-foot-wide and 3-foot-deep channel across the landing to
redirect streamflow to the main valley bottom. A 3+ foot high earthen berm will need to be constructed
on the downroad side of the crossing to direct streamflow into the new channel.
Reopening the road for permanent access past MP 11 is not recommended due to the degree of road
damage that has occurred beyond this location and the difficulty in implementing stable treatment
measures
Preliminary Recommendations
MP 10
Alternative 1: Abandonment
Abandon the stream crossing to native grade by excavating all of the crossing fill and old slide debris
(less than 100 cy).
The excavation should result in a 3-foot-wide flat channel bottom with channel banks laid back to
2H:1V or flatter.
Excavated fill can need to be placed along the inside edge of the road below the crossing
Alternative 2: Permanent Culvert
Install permanent 30-inch x 60 ft culvert (or larger).
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Alternative 3: Rock Ford
Install a rock ford
Dip the crossing out to form a broad 2 foot deep dip with the outfall inclined at 2H:1V.
Armor the outer edge of the road with rock rip rap. Rock to be sized.
MP 11
Alternative 1: Abandonment (preferred)
Excavate 50 lf channel to convey stream flow across road
4-foot-wide, 3-foot-deep channel bottom with smooth uniform channel grade.
Lay channel banks back to 2H:1V
Location of excavated channel to by flagged by the project engineering geologist or engineer.
Construct a 3-foot-high earthen berm on down road side of crossing to direct flow into channel.
Alternative 2: Permanent Culvert
Install permanent 30-inch x 40 ft culvert.
Alternative 3: Rock Ford
Install a rock ford
Dip the crossing out to form a broad 2 foot deep dip with the outfall inclined at 2H:1V.
Armor the outer edge of the road with rock rip rap. Rock to be sized.
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SITE 12 Future Erosion (cy/20 yr) See MP10/11
FEATURE GULLY Road Damage HIGH
ROAD LOWER ROAD Treatment Priority LOW
Description
Diverted stream flow from crossings MP 10 and 11 have eroded two deep gullies into the road prism. The
first and currently active gully extends along the roadway for a distance of 140 feet before discharging off
of the road. This gully is about 8 to 15-foot-wide, 5 to 10-foot-deep with less than 2 feet of roadway
remaining where flow is discharged off of the roadway. Erosion is active and ongoing (See MP 11 for
erosion rates). The second, older and inactive gully is found about 40 feet further down the roadway. This
gully has completely eroded out a 40-foot-long segment of roadway, 20 feet wide by roughly 12 feet deep.
Photo 10: Looking up the road at the first gully. The second gully located in the opposite direction
from how photo was taken is much larger.
Reopening the road past these two gullies, and past site 13A (combined fill and cutbank failure) located
just past the gullies, is significantly constrained by the 70 to 90% slopes the road traverses. Reopening the
road for permanent vehicle access will require reconstructing the outer edge of roadway on engineered
fill with about 50+ feet of the fill supported by a 10 to 18-foot-high engineered retaining wall. The cost of
these measures would likely be expensive, and could ultimately be found to be economically infeasible.
Additional geologic and geotechnical work will be required to further asses the feasibility of a retaining
wall and to developed design criteria.
It may be possible to temporarily open the road past this location at an 8-foot width for heavy equipment
(e.g. small excavator and dozer) to undertake remedial work further down the road. However, before that
avenue is pursued, we recommend that other alternatives for access be evaluated. There is a relatively
high density of old tractor roads crossing the hillside and it may be possible to link one or more of these
together to gain equipment access to the lower portion of the property.
It may also be possible to develop a narrow 4-foot-wide trail past this location, though again, additional
work will be required. Because of the relatively steep grade (12% to 20%) the alignment is not ideal.
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Preliminary Recommendations
The District shall evaluate the need for access past MP 12. This includes an assessment of permanent vs
temporary, truck vs small equipment, and road vs trail access.
Alternative 1: Abandonment (Preferred)
Abandon road through nonuse.
Alternative 2: Permanent Truck access
Reconstruct 60+ feet of roadway on a 10 to 18+ foot high engineered retaining wall
Additional geotechnical and geologic work will be needed to provide design criteria for any wall
Alternative 3: Temporary Small Equipment Access
Reopen the road at a narrow 5 to 8-foot width by ramping down through the gullies on temporary fill
with the fill removed at the end of operations.
Additional work will be required to further evaluate the feasibility of temporary access.
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SITE 13 Future Erosion (cy/20 yr) --
FEATURE MULTIPLE CUT AND FILLSLOPE FAILURES Road Damage HIGH
ROAD LOWER ROAD Treatment Priority LOW
Description
Approximately 5,000 feet of the old truck road traverses steep 60% to 90% and locally unstable slopes
with multiple cut and fillslope failures that have narrowed the road prism to less than 10 feet in a couple
of locations. Most of the fillslope failures appear old. Treatment of this road segment is significantly
constrained by the steep slopes. No treatment is required if the road is not reopened. Significant road
reconstruction will be required at several locations if permanent truck access is desired. The following is
a general discussion of site conditions, constraints, and recommendations.
The original road appears to have been constructed at an 18 to 24-foot width using cut and fill techniques
with fill likely sidecasted onto the steep slopes as was the standard of practice in forest road construction
decades ago. The resulting cut is 10 to 30 feet high exposing sandstone and shale of the Butano
Formation. There are multiple old and recent small cutbank failures along the road that have deposited
several feet of debris onto the roadway. Nearly all of these failures were retained on the road surface
without sediment delivery to streams. In nearly all cases the road could be at least temporarily reopened
past these failures by simply ramping over the failed slide debris.
The fill embankment along the road is estimated to be 5 to 7 feet deep with the embankment face inclined
at greater than 1:1 slope in most locations. The fill appears to have been loosely sidecasted onto the steep
sideslopes without the benefit of a keyway or benches.
There are multiple fill failures along this segment of road which have narrowed portions of the road prism
to less than 10 feet in places, and has contributed to a large deep-seated landslide at one location where
none of the original road prism remains. Most of the fill failures appear old and likely occurred within the
first few decades after construction with the road prism having weathered and somewhat stabilized since
then. The failures are generally 25 to 100 feet wide and appear to be constrained to mainly fill and
overlying colluvial sediments with the remaining portion of the road prism on native bedrock. Commonly
a steep crownscarp encroaches to the edge of the remaining roadway. Failures are attributed to thick fill
loosely sidecasted onto steep slopes, though poor road drainage could have been a contributing factor.
Unfailed portions of the roadway could be at risk for failure.
The following is a brief description of the more significant fill and cutbank failures along the roadway:
A: LARGE CUTBANK AND FILL FAILURE: 100-foot-wide combined cut and fill slope failure on 90+%
sideslopes has narrowed the road to less than 2 feet. The failure appears to be constrained to fill and
overlying colluvial sediments, though it is unknown as to how much of the original road surface that
is buried by cutbank slough remains.
Treatment: Reopening the road for vehicle access will be very challenging and require supporting ~80
feet of roadway on a 10 to 15-foot-high retaining wall. Due to steep slopes, even temporarily
reopening the road on temporary fill will be challenging. It may be possible to construct a 5 foot wide
trail across this slope by cutting partway into the bank.
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B: CUTBANK AND FILL FAILURE: 90-foot-wide combined cut and fill slope failure on 90+% sideslopes has
narrowed the road to 5-to-10-foot width. The failure appears to have occurred along a relatively wide
section of road.
Treatment: If required the road can be reopened by blading through some of the failed cutbank debris.
C: FILL FAILURE: 35-foot-wide fill failure on 90% sideslopes resulting in a 3-foot-high vertical scarp and
narrowing the road prism to about 8 feet. The majority of the fill embankment appears to have failed
with the remaining road prism located mainly on bedrock. The outer 2 to 4 feet of the remaining road
prism is oversteepened and potentially unstable.
Treatment: Reopening the road for vehicle access will likely require supporting ~40+ feet of roadway
on a 10 to 15+ foot-high retaining wall. It may be possible to construct a 5 foot wide trail across this
slope by cutting partway into the bank.
D: FILL FAILURE: 50-foot-wide old fill failure on 90% slopes narrowing the 18-foot-wide road to about 10
feet. Outer 2 to 3 feet of remaining road is potentially unstable.
Treatment: It may be possible to reopen the road by cutting into the bank a couple of feet, though
additional geologic and geotechnical work will be required to confirm this. Otherwise, the outer edge
of the failed roadway shall be reconstructed and supported by a retaining wall.
E: CUTBANK FAILURE: 40-foot-wide cutbank failure deposited 3 to 5 feet of debris and redwood stump
onto the roadway.
Treatment: If required, the road can be reopened by ramping over this slide and feathering out some
of the material to either side. The remaining material will need to be endhauled to a stable location.
F: FILL FAILURE: 25-foot-wide fill failure on 60% side slopes near the axis of a swale narrowing the road
to 9 to 10 feet. The failure may be situated at the outlet of an old dip, which could have contributed
to the failure. Currently no flow observed. The steep road cut is experiencing small scale raveling and
instability.
Treatment: It should be possible to widen the road a couple of feet on a full bench if the road is to be
reopened and additional road width required.
G: CUTBANK AND FILL FAILURE: 30 to 40-foot-wide combined cut and fill slope failure. About 25 LF of
the outer edge of road has failed as a thin debris slide, narrowing the road slightly. In addition, about
30 feet of the steep road cut has failed depositing 5 to 10 feet of debris onto the roadway. Failed
debris incorporated several large redwood stumps / root balls.
Treatment: If required, the road can be reopened by ramping over the cutbank failure without side
casting. Some of the material will need to be endhauled up the road to a stable location.
H: FILL FAILURE: 60-foot-wide fill failure on 75% to 90% sideslopes and adjacent to a Class III watercourse
narrows the road prism to about 6 feet. The failure resulted in a 4-foot-high near vertical scarp that
encroaches to the edge of the road prism. The majority of the fill embankment appears to have failed
with the remaining road prism located mainly on bedrock. The outer 3+ feet of the remaining road
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prism is oversteepened and potentially unstable. The road cut is 10 to 15 feet high and raveling.
Treatment: It may be possible to reopen the road by cutting into the bank a couple of feet, though
additional geologic and geotechnical work will be required to confirm this. Otherwise, the outer edge
of the failed roadway shall be reconstructed and supported by a retaining wall.
I: FILL FAILURE: 40-foot-wide fill failure on 100% side slopes narrows the road to about 12 feet. The 30-
foot-high road cut exposes bedded Butano Sandstone that appears mostly competent. There is some
sloughing of the cutbank.
Treatment: If required the road could be reopened at a 10-foot width by removing the cutbank slough.
J: FILL FAILURE: 25-foot-wide fill failure on 90% side slopes narrows the road to about 10 feet. Some
recent instability.
Treatment: Road appears passable at 8 to 10-foot width. It may be possible to gain a foot or two by
cutting into the bank, otherwise the outer road edge will need to be supported on a retaining wall.
K: FILL FAILURE: 40-foot-wide old fill failure located on the outer edge of a small landing. The landing
appears to have been constructed on a natural bench (deep-seated landslide) within a broad swale
with potentially thick fill pushed to the outer edge. Natural slope gradients range between 30% to
50%. The road is vegetated with straight conifers. The failure resulted in a 7-foot-high near vertical
scarp that narrowed this portion of the landing to 12 feet. The ground below the landing near the toe
of the fill appears seasonally wet which may have contributed to the failure. Failed debris appears to
have been retained on the hillside without much, if any, sediment delivery. Outside of the old fill
failure, no evidence of recent or active instability was observed during our field reconnaissance. There
is the possibility for additional fill instability at this site, though we expect such failures to be small
and most likely be retained on the hillside.
Treatment: Road appears to be passable at 10-foot width. Extra road width can be obtained by cutting
into the bank on full bench.
L: FILL AND HILLSLOPE FAILURE: At this site about 90-feet of roadway has down dropped 9 feet due to
combined fill and deep-seated instability, with the failure extending the full distance into the road
prism. None of the original road remains. The failure occurred where the 20-foot-wide road traversed
50% to 70% slopes across what appears to be a pre-existing deep-seated landslide. A portion of the
deep-seated landslide appears to have reactivated causing this section of the road bed to break apart
and down drop. The down dropped block is well vegetated with straight second growth redwood,
suggesting the failure is relatively old. The cause of the deep-seated landslide is unknown, though it
is quite possible that fill placement was at least a contributing factor.
In addition to the down dropped block, portions of the residual fill on the left (north) flank of the slide
have cracked narrowing the road to 7 feet. The age of the cracks is unknown but based on visual
observations appear old. There is also a small 20-foot-wide old fill failure on the right (south) flank of
the larger slide.
The failure did not appear to result in any sediment delivery.
Treatment: Reconstructing the road past this slide will be challenging due to steep slopes and the
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unstable nature of the hillside. It may be possible to steeply ramp a 10-foot-wide road down across
the displaced slide block, though the long-term stability of this is questionable as additional instability
of the larger landslide block is expected. Depending on the depth of the slide, it may also be possible
to reconstruct the road and stabilize the hillside with retaining structures. A geologic and geotechnical
investigation will be required to further evaluate stability at this location. Because the site is currently
inaccessible, obtaining required subsurface data will prove challenging and may require reopening
the road to this location for a small drill rig. Reopening a narrow ATV or trail past this site is much
more feasible, though may still be at risk for instability.
Discussion
The Lower Road was constructed across locally very steep slopes and in a manner that resulted in multiple
failures of the road fill. Significant road reconstruction will be required to reopen this segment of road.
Reconstructing the road at a 10 to 12-foot width for vehicle access will be challenging and likely very
expensive due to the steep slopes, confined working conditions and need for retaining structures. It may
be possible, however to construct a narrow 5-foot wide ATV or recreational trail with much less effort.
The most significant problems exist at 12, 13A, 13B and 13K where the majority of the road prism has
failed or eroded out narrowing the road to 0 to 9 feet in width and resulting in a steep escarpment that
encroaches to the edge of the remaining road prism. We find the crown scarps to be unstable with a
moderate to high potential for an undermined wedge of material along the remaining road edge to
fail or erode. If the road is to be reopened it will need to be offset a suitable distance from the edge
of the escarpment or built upon an engineered retaining wall.
At Sites 13A and 13B we do not believe it will be feasible to gain much, if any, extra road width by cutting
further into the hillside. Therefore, at these sites the outer edge of the roadway will likely need to be
reconstructed and supported on 180+ LF of 10 to 15-foot-high retaining walls. There are several retaining
wall designs that could be employed, including a solider pin wall, gravity wall, and reinforced earth wall.
Each of these have their pros and cons. A reinforced earth wall using geogrid or Hilfiker materials would
likely be the most cost-effective option if a retaining wall is selected. The transition zones at the ends of
the wall will be difficult to implement due to the potentially unstable undocumented fill that borders the
slide areas.
At site 13K, it may be possible to steeply ramp a 10-foot-wide road down across the displaced slide block,
though the long-term stability of this is questionable as additional instability of the larger landslide block
is expected. Depending on the depth of the slide, it may also be possible to reconstruct the road and
stabilize the hillside with retaining structures, though additional work will be required to further evaluate
this.
At the remaining fill failures, 13C, 13E, 13F, 13G, 13H, 13I and 13J, the failures do not appear to have
encroached as far into the road prism and/or the native slopes are not as steep. It may be possible to gain
suitable road width at these locations by cutting into the hillside on a full bench and endhauling spoils to
a stable location, though additional geologic and geotechnical work will be required to confirm this. If
suitable road width does not exist, then the outer edge of the road would need to be supported on a
retaining wall.
It should be understood that the remaining unfailed segments of roadway also contain thick fill sidecasted
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onto steep slopes. While there are few signs of active instability (e.g. ground cracking), the nature of the
thick fill embankments on steep slopes places them at potential risk for future failures, especially if water
is allowed to concentrate and discharge over the fill.
The steep road cut is also subject to cutbank instability with large failures having occurred at 13A, 13D
and 13F depositing debris onto the roadway. Generally, the road can be reopened past these features by
removing the failed debris or ramping over the mass. Continued cutbank instability should be expected if
the road is to be reopened potentially requiring a higher than average level of effort to clear the roadway.
With respect to future erosion and sediment delivery, the current rate of erosion appears relatively low
and the majority of high-risk sites that could have failed have likely already done so. Future fill instability
will likely occur, however there is uncertainty in predicting exactly where that is most likely to occur. Some
limited benefit may be achieved by pulling back excess fill at 13J (failing landing fill) and by installing drain
dips to break up any runoff. However, the amount of ground disturbance that would be needed to reopen
the road probably makes this impracticable and cost prohibitive.
Preliminary Recommendations
Alternative 1: Abandonment (Preferred)
We do not recommend reopening the road. The road can be abandoned by non-use.
Evaluate the feasibility of obtaining temporary truck and/or equipment access to sites 15 and 16 via an
alternative route. This may include linking one or more of the upslope skid trails. It is not feasible to
access this site from the bottom over La Honda Creek.
Alternative 2: Truck Access
Offset road inboard from 1:1 slope extending from base of slide escarpments bounding the edge of the
road.
Where less than 10 feet of road width remains then:
Reconstruct and retain the outer edge of road. We estimate a minimum of 180 LF of 10 to 15-foot-
high retaining walls are required
Where approved by the engineering geologist and/or geotechnical engineer, widen the road a couple
of feet by cutting into the hillside on a full bench and endhauling all spoils. We estimate that over
200 feet of roadway will need to be widened. It some areas it may not be possible to gain sufficient
width by grading and in these areas additional retaining structures may be required.
Ramp over cutbank failures and/or clear debris from roadway by excavating and endhauling. Do not
side cast.
MP 13K
It may be possible to steeply ramp a 10-foot-wide road down across the displaced slide block, though
the long-term stability of this is questionable as additional instability of the larger landslide block is
expected. Depending on the depth of the slide, it may also be possible to reconstruct the road and
stabilize the hillside with retaining structures.
Alternative 3: Temporary Small Equipment Access
Reopen the road at a narrow 5 -foot width by ramping down through the gullies on temporary fill with
the fill removed at the end of operations.
Additional work will be required to further evaluate the feasibility of temporary access.
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SITE 14 Future Erosion (cy/20 yr) <500
FEATURE EARTH FORD CROSSING
UNSTABLE FILL Road Damage LOW -
MOD
ROAD LOWER ROAD Treatment Priority MOD
Description
This is a slowly eroding earth ford crossing located within the drainage of a small colluvial filled Class III
watercourse draining a 9-acre forested watershed. The site is characterized by a small moderately sloping
topographic bench located toward the downslope end of a thick deposit of colluvium and old landslide
debris. There is equivocal evidence to suggest that the outer edge of this bench may be inherently
unstable.
Upstream of the crossing the watercourse occupies a 30% to 40% gradient colluvial filled drainage that
appears to have been impacted by old tractor operations and possible shallow debris flow landslides
resulting in a shallow and somewhat disrupted drainage channel. Downstream of the crossing below the
bench, slope gradients steepen to greater than 65% for a short distance.
It appears that only limited grading was required to construct the road across the bench, though fill
generated from the construction of the road across the steeper side slopes may have been pushed over
the edge within the axis of the drainage. It is unknown how much fill material resides at the site, if any,
but could be as much as 100 to 500 cy. Subsurface exploration will be required to more precisely
determine the amount and level of stability of the fill material.
Photo 11: Looking east across bench. The gully at the outer edge of the road is barely visible
behind the trees on the left side of the photo. The very subtle arcuate escarpment is also barely
visible in the middle of the photo.
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Photo 12: Looking east across the head of the gully eroded into the edge of the bench.
No drainage structures were installed at the crossing with a small to moderate size gully having eroded
into the steep hillside below the road. This gully is approximately 50 to 60 feet long, 10+ feet wide and
about 6 to 8 feet deep forming a well-defined incised channel. The channel bend and banks are partially
duff covered indicating a low rate of erosion. We estimate that about 75 to 100 cy of material has eroded
from this gully over the past 50+ years, with most of that having likely occurred early on. We estimate the
current average rate of erosion to be less than 1 cy/yr.
Upstream of the crossing is a second, smaller gully measuring about 35 feet long, 7 to 10 feet wide and 3
to 6 feet deep. This gully appears to be the result of diverted stream flow, possibly from old tractor
operations along the valley bottom of the colluvial filled drainage. As previously mentioned, this area had
been impacted by tractor operations contributing to a shallow and somewhat disrupted drainage channel.
Eroded sediment from the gully is deposited onto the bench where the road is located with likely only
limited sediment delivery. Ongoing erosion in the gully is likely but at a low rate. In our opinion, only
limited benefit would be achieved by redirecting stream flow.
During our field review we observed equivocal evidence of two subtle and weathered arcuate
escarpments with less than ½ foot of vertical displacement extending 50 to 60 feet across the outer edge
of the bench and 10 to 30 feet back from the outer edge of the bench. It is unknown if these escarpments
define a potentially unstable slide block located within the colluvial deposits and possibly within old road
fill or if they are simply an artifact of old grading. In addition, it also is unknown if the construction of the
road had any significant impact on site stability through the placement of any fill. Future instability
resulting from a large magnitude storm or earthquake may be possible and could potentially result in
small scale local ground cracking or, in a worst-case scenario, generate a large 500 to 1,000 cy slope failure.
A more in-depth slope stability analysis would be required to better quantify the landslide hazard at this
location. Mitigating slope stability hazards at this site will be very difficult due to the lack of access.
Discussion
The existing road has not been significantly damaged and, if equipment can get to the site, can be readily
be reopened with only minimal grading. Reopening the road for access is not a significant constraint.
The principal geologic concerns at this site are 1) continued gullying of the steep slope below the road, 2)
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continued gullying of the upstream gully and 3) stability of the bench which could result in increased
sediment delivery to the stream network. Future erosion from the two gullies will likely be slow and
limited, and by themselves do not warrant reopening the road for mitigation purposes. If the road is to be
reopened, additional review will be required to determine how much, if any, fill still resides at the crossing,
which will be necessary to know for the design of any permanent stream crossing.
There is some concern as to the level of stability of the outer edge of the bench on which the road crosses.
While we believe that the potential for road related slope instability is most likely very low, it cannot be
ruled out with certainty. A more in-depth slope stability hazard analysis would be required to better
quantify the landslide hazard at this location and the potential adverse impact of the road, if any.
Mitigating any slope stability hazards at this site would be very difficult due to the lack of access across
the large slope failure at Site 13A, where the majority of the road prism is missing.
Preliminary Recommendations
General
A more in-depth engineering geologic and slope stability investigation should be undertaken if the
District requires greater certainty on the stability of this site. This work may include but is not limited
to additional field mapping, subsurface exploration, and slope stability modeling.
Alternative 1: Abandonment (Preferred)
Evaluate the feasibility of obtaining temporary truck and/or equipment access via an alternative route
other than the main road. This may include linking one or more of the upslope skid trails. It is not
feasible to access this site from the bottom over La Honda Creek.
If temporary alternative access is found then abandon the stream crossing to native grade by
excavating all of the crossing fill and old slide debris (amount of excavation to be determined).
Pull back unstable fill (limits to be determined)
If access is not found then no treatment.
Alternative 2: Truck Access
Excavate and endhaul unstable fill to a stable location. Additional work will be required to determine
the amount and limits of excavation.
Install a rock ford or permanent culvert, or abandon after operations
Alternative 3: Temporary Small Equipment Access
Abandon crossing after operations. Additional work will be required to determine the amount and limits
of excavation.
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SITE 15 Future Erosion (cy/20 yr) <50
FEATURE UNSTABLE FILL CROSSING Road Damage MOD -
HIGH
ROAD LOWER ROAD Treatment Priority LOW -
MOD
Description
This is a 50+/- foot wide partial fill failure at an earth ford crossing on a narrow and steep (50%) gradient
Class III watercourse. The crossing is subject to both fill instability and upstream debris flow landsliding.
The ford crossing consists of approximately 150 cy of fill placed 7 to 8 feet deep. The outer 10 to 15 feet
of the fill prism has cracked and down dropped about 5 feet with a couple of small failures on the face of
the down dropped block. The failure appears old and is revegetating. We estimate less than 30 cy of past
sediment delivery from this crossing.
The Class III watercourse drains a steep 4.5-acre forested watershed subject to shallow debris flow
landsliding. The active stream gradient is 50%. Past debris flow landsliding has deposited 2 to 5 feet of
debris onto the road surface with the watercourse slowly incising through the deposit.
Discussion
Continued instability of the fill prism is to be expected, as is slow incision through the failed debris flow
deposit. We estimate that the entire 150 cy of the fill prism could eventually fail or wash out. However,
this could take a very long time. The big question is whether it is worth reconstructing a generally poor
road across the multiple slope failures, simply to correct erosion at this site. Unless the road is to be
reopened for other purposes, we do not believe that any significant benefit would be achieved by
removing this crossing given the low rate of erosion and the large amount of ground disturbance required
to access the site with equipment.
Preliminary Recommendations
Alternative 1: Abandonment
Evaluate the feasibility of obtaining temporary truck and/or equipment access via an alternative route
other than the main road. This may include linking one or more of the upslope skid trails. It is not
feasible to access this site from the bottom over La Honda Creek.
If temporary alternative access is found then abandon the stream crossing to native grade by
excavating all of the crossing fill and old slide debris (150 cy).
If access is not found then no treatment.
Alternative 2: Truck Access
Excavate and endhaul unstable fill to a stable location. Estimate 100 - 150 cy.
Install a rock ford or permanent culvert, or abandon after operations
Alternative 3: Temporary Small Equipment Access
Excavate and endhaul unstable fill to a stable location. Estimate 100 - 150 cy.
Abandon crossing after operations
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SITE 16 Future Erosion (cy/20 yr) 200
FEATURE HUMBOLDT CROSSING AND DIVERTED STREAM Road Damage HIGH
ROAD LOWER ROAD Treatment Priority MOD -
HIGH
Description
This is a partially washed-out Humboldt log crossing where the road makes a sharp turn through a Class II
watercourse before descending down the right (south) channel bank to La Honda Creek. The Class II
watercourse drains a 100-acre forested watershed. The Humboldt log crossing consists of approximately
800 to 1,000 cy of fill up to 15 feet deep. The crossing probably served as an instream landing for logging
operations.
On the south (right) slide of the crossing is a 500+ foot long, 2 to 6 foot deep gully that has eroded into
the road prism. This gully is most likely the result of a past diversion the Class II watercourse down the
road. The gully presently exhibits steep moss-covered channel banks with a moderate to heavy duff along
the channel bottom, the appearance of which suggests the gully is relatively old. Some active erosion was
observed along the lower portion of the gully where incision appears to have intercepted some
groundwater. Very little active erosion was observed at the bottom of the gully where it eventually
discharges into La Honda Creek.
The amount of road gullying observed down the road is greater than would be expected from current
drainage patterns. We believe that the Class II watercourse had been diverted down the road at some
point eroding much of the gully we see today, but the stream was redirected back to its natural channel
as a result of an upstream debris flow. About 300 feet upstream of the crossing a moderate size debris
flow had extended down a small steep gradient Class III tributary depositing a thick wad of debris in the
valley bottom with debris extending to nearly the Humboldt crossing. The slide pushed the Class II
watercourse to the opposite channel bank and redirected it back towards its natural channel.
Presently the Class II watercourse flows in a shallow channel over the debris flow deposit of intermixed
wood and sediment before reaching the upstream end of the Humboldt crossing. From there the stream
has eroded an 80-foot-long, 5 to 15-foot-wide, 4 to 10-foot-deep channel across the old roadway, before
draining underneath a root wad and across some stacked logs at the downstream end of the crossing. The
road gully to the south of the crossing currently receives runoff from the small Class III tributary, adjacent
sideslopes, and intercepted groundwater. The current rate of erosion within the gully appears low.
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Photo 13: looking downstream at the partially washed out Humboldt crossing. Stream flow drains
underneath a fallen stump just to the left of the eroded channel.
Photo 14: looking down the road at the eroded channel from diverted stream flow. This photo
was taken along the lower portion of the gully where the incision is much greater. Note the heavy
duff layer in the channel bottom.
Discussion
We estimate about 250 cy of fill has eroded out of the Humboldt crossing with an additional 1,000 cy
along the old diverted road gully over the past 50 years with an average erosion rate of 25 cy/yr. Most of
this erosion likely occurred relatively quickly and has decreased overtime as a result of the Class II no
longer being diverted and because the gully has down cut to more competent material.
Continued erosion is expected, though at a lower rate than in the past. As much as 750 cy of material
could erode out of the Humboldt crossing, but we expect this would likely take a relatively long period of
time. Continued slow erosion of the 500 foot long gully where the Class III watercourse is currently
diverted is also expected. It is difficult to estimate the long-term rate of erosion from this gully but it is
most likely relatively low due to low volume of stream flow currently being diverted and because the gully
has likely already eroded down to more competent material. At this time, we roughly estimate that the
current average erosion rate from the site to be about 10 cy/yr which is 40% of the 50-year average.
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The question is whether this site warrants treatment given its current inaccessibility and the significant
amount of road construction and associated costs that would be required to access the site. In our
opinion, we do not believe that current low rate of erosion merits level of effort and associated risks to
reopen the access road to this site for sediment reduction purposes. If the road is to be reopened for
other purposes, then the crossing fill should be removed and the Class III diversion corrected.
There are multiple other skid trail crossing the hillside on the property and it may be possible to
temporarily reopen one or more of these trails to get heavy equipment to the site. This alternative should
be evaluated.
Preliminary Recommendations
Alternative 1: Abandonment
Evaluate the feasibility of obtaining temporary truck and/or equipment access via an alternative route
other than the main road. This may include linking one or more of the upslope skid trails. It is not
feasible to access this site from the bottom over La Honda Creek.
If temporary alternative access is found then abandon the stream crossing to native grade by
excavating all of the crossing fill (750 cy), redirect the Class III tributary back into the Class II and away
from the gully. No treatment of the gully is required.
If access is not found then no treatment.
Alternative 2: Truck access
Install 60 inch by 80 foot culvert
Redirect the Class III tributary back into the Class II and away from the gully. No treatment of the gully
is required.
Alternative 3: Temporary Small Equipment Access
Dip road through upper end of crossing
At conclusion of operations abandon the crossing by excavating unstable fill to native channel grade.
Estimate 750 cy.
Redirect the Class III tributary back into the Class II and away from the gully. No treatment of the gully
is required.
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REFERENCES
Brabb, E. E., Graymer, R. W., and Jones, D. L., 2000, Geologic map and map database of the Palo Alto 30'
x 60' quadrangle, California: U. S. Geological Survey, Miscellaneous Field Studies MF-2332, scale
1:24,000.
Keaton, J. R., and DeGraff, J. V., 1996, Surface Observations and Geologic Mapping, in Turner, A. K., and
Schuster, R., eds., Landslides: Investigation and Mitigation: Transportation Research Board,
Special Report 247: Washington D.C., National Academy Press, p. 178-230.
Wentworth, C. M., Graham, S. E., Pike, R. J., Beukelman, G. S., Ramsey, D. W., and Barron, A. D., 1997,
Summary distribution of slides and earth flows in San Mateo County, California: USGS Open File
Report 97-745 C2.
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APPENDIX B
Forest Inventory Methodology
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La Honda Forest Inventory 2020 rev 3/13/20
This cruise is intended to support the La Honda Forest Assessment and Management Plan
(the Plan), being prepared for Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District by Sicular
Environmental Consulting and Natural Lands Management. Buena Vista Resources,
L.L.C., is a subcontract to Sicular Environmental Consulting. The cruise is intended as
an efficient means to obtain information regarding existing conifer and hardwood forests,
with a focus on structure, health and regeneration. A primary component of the Plan will
be to identify and characterize “Impaired Forest Condition Classes” (IFCCs) which will
indicate silvicultural treatments intended to put these stands back on a track to some stage
of their “pre-disturbance” condition. Fuels will also be assessed as a part of an
assessment of the risk of catastrophic wildfire, as well as risk to carbon stocks and to
inform application of management tools such as prescribed burning or other fuel
reduction techniques. The cruise will provide crucial data that will underlie these efforts.
The entire La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve (La Honda OSP) is approximately
6,100 acres. The project area is entirely within the La Honda OSP and is around 1,770
acres.
The project area was preliminarily stratified as follows:
Conifer/conifer dominated forest 970 acres
Hardwood dominated forest 250
Brush/Grass/Non Forested 550
Total 1,770
The subject area was divided administratively as follows:
Harmon Management Unit (HMU)
Conifer/conifer dominated forest 50 acres
Hardwood dominated forest 0
Brush/Grass/Non Forested 0
Subtotal 50
Forest Conservation Management Unit (FCMU)
Conifer/conifer dominated forest 350
Hardwood dominated forest 20
Brush/Grass/Non Forested 70
Subtotal 440
Remainder
Conifer/conifer dominated forest 570
Hardwood dominated forest 230
Brush/Grass/Non Forested 480
Subtotal 1,280
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Approximately 150, slope-corrected, 1/5 (0.2) acre 52.7’ fixed-radius plots, with 1/50
(0.02) acre 16.65’ nested subplots are to be installed AND MEASURED AS FOLLOWS:
Locating the Plot Center:
A-priori plot locations in ArcView will be loaded into GPS units and navigated to in the
field. Paper maps showing nominal plot locations on orthophotos and topo maps will also
be carried. Once in the approximate location, the GPS unit will be given 5 minutes to
settle, and the plot center set.
There will be situations when the GPS signal will not be sufficient, and in those cases the
following will be done. The cruiser is to navigate to the plot center using the GPS and
the map. If the signal does not settle to within ~20’ after 5 minutes, the current location
will be captured as the new plot location.
Plot locations will be stored as GIS data and the coordinates will remain available for re-
measurement. It is critical that we have reliable location information for plots since they
will be “pulled through” orthophotos to help in post-stratification.
Monumenting the Plot:
Plot centers are to be monumented with white 30” x ½” PVC stakes and annotated with
flagging. Flagging on the plot centers (PC) to include plot number, date and cruiser’s
initials. The pipe will also be annotated with plot number. Additional flagging to be hung
around each PC at eye height to aid in relocation and for slope correction measurements.
ON EVERY SECOND PLOT ONLY Identify two witness trees per plot for purposes of
future plot center relocation. Desirable attributes of witness trees: 1) durable; 2) occurring
at roughly right angles; 3) reasonably close to plot center. Label one tree ‘X’ and other
“Y’. For each tree, install a nail (long; aluminum) at the base (below stump height) and
facing plot center. Record 1) slope distance (not horizontal distance) and 2) azimuth from
the witness tree to plot center. To the nail, affix an impressable aluminum tag with the
following labeled: 1) plot number; 2) ‘X’, or ‘Y’; distance and 3) azimuth. On the data
sheet, record X and Y witness tree attributes among the plot data (not among tree data).
Once the plot center is set and monumented, the following procedures are performed on
each plot.
Top of card: Job: LFMP; Cruiser initials; Date
Plot No.: Enter the plot number loaded in the GPS data. If the GPS unit did not settle
after 5 minutes, add the suffix ‘-gps” to the plot number to indicate that you entered new
coordinates.
Slope: Average slope in %, e.g. 65%
Aspect: Compass aspect, e.g. NE or S
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Position: See Topographic Position diagram below for abbreviations.
Comments: Note Recent Disturbance:
E – “Major active anthropogenic erosion feature, such as crossing failure, diverted
stream, gully, etc.”
S – “SOD present”.
O – “Other” - include brief description
Also note anything of significance observed in and around the plot regarding landslides,
trail/roads/landings, wet areas and stream classes, presence of old growth, old growth
stumps, large woody debris, non-natives (such as broom, pampas grass), sensitive plants
(including King’s Mountain manzanita (Arctostaphylos regismontana), Western
leatherwood (Dirca occidentalis), California bottlebrush grass (Elymus californicus), and
Choris’s popcorn-flower (Plagiobothrys chorisianus var. chorisianus) ), understory
condition (describe dominant species, dead and down), sensitive fauna (nests/whitewash,
etc.).
Tree measurements:
Trees to be measured and recorded in a generally clockwise manner starting from true
North, but tree sequence may not always be perfectly circular due to on-site factors. The
sub-plot should be measured first.
1/50 acre subplot:
16.6 foot plot radius. With the plot rope planted on or at the plot center pipe,
beginning from true north the cruiser establishes “in and “out” trees, while
adjusting for slope. A 75’ logger’s tape can also be used with the table below.
All trees (including snags) to be measured are identified by species code (see
below for species codes)
DBH to the nearest 2 inch class on all trees (including snags) >=1” and < 11.0”
using a Biltmore stick or tape/caliper as needed. Redwood sprouts: 1/ft of stump
diameter to max of 6. Make note if significant regeneration is present (<1” DBH)
by species. The designation for the size class is the median of that class. For
example, the 8” class includes trees >=7” and <9”.
Total height on all trees (including snags) (TH) to the nearest foot and Live
Crown Ratio (LCR) using a clinometer and logger’s tape or plot rope, and log
height (LH) to appropriate top DIB and log length. Measure TH on all species;
see table below for LH specifications.
ATTACHMENT 1
Buena Vista Services, L.L.C.
5
ON EVERY FOURTH PLOT ONLY: Conifer closest to plot center >11.1” DBH,
also measure DBH to nearest 1/10” using Diameter Tape, take 10 year radial
increment at DBH, inner and outer bark thickness. Can use Biltmore to span
furrows and measure outer bark thickness. Inner bark thinness can be measured
from extracted core. You should take about a 4 inch core to be sure to get 10 past
years of growth.
Defect/Grade by log position (conifers only). Select one:
X=missing log;
8=unmerchantable log;
9=defect (indicate percent e.g. 2 = 20%);
E=export log (these are DF and pine logs only with minimal sweep, no
conk, and few small branches or branch scars. Note: an “E” log must have
no visible defect, but other logs in that tree may).
Watch particularly for conks in DF, butt rot in DF (i.e. Fomes pini which may
form a conk on the ground), and grown over firescars/termite damage in RW.
For snags, record tree class according to diagram and stages below.
Comment on tree health and type of defect as needed on tree record. Note
particularly any diseases. Watch for: galls and pitch canker in pines, S.O.D. or
sudden oak death in hardwoods, conks.
Comment on any habitat features observed on tree record, such as presence of
goose pen (basal hollow), large branches or wolfy growth habit, broken tops,
reiterated trunks, etc.
1/5 acre major plot:
52.7 foot plot radius. With the plot rope planted on or at the plot center pipe,
beginning from true north the cruiser establishes “in and “out” trees, while
adjusting for slope. A 75’ logger’s tape can also be used with the table below.
Be sure to exclude trees measured in subplot.
All trees to be measured are identified by species code (see below for species
codes)
Cruiser to make stand type call based on preliminary classification scheme (see
below).
Measure diameter at breast height (DBH) to the nearest 2-inch class of all trees
(including snags) with DBH >11.1” using a Biltmore stick. Measure diameters
twice at 90 degrees and take the average. Snags must be at least 15’ tall to be
measured. See note above about definition of diameter classes.
ATTACHMENT 1
Buena Vista Services, L.L.C.
6
Total height (TH) to the nearest foot and Live Crown Ration (LCR) using a
clinometer and logger’s tape or plot rope, and log height (LH) to appropriate top
DIB and log length. Measure TH on all species; see table below for LH
specifications.
Defect/Grade by log position (conifers only). Select one:
X=missing log;
8=unmerchantable log;
9=defect (indicate percent e.g. 2 = 20%);
E=export log (these are DF and pine logs only with minimal sweep, no
conk, and few small branches or branch scars. Note: an “E” log must have
no visible defect, but other logs in that tree may).
Watch particularly for conks in DF, butt rot in DF (i.e. Fomes pini which may
form a conk on the ground), and grown over firescars/termite damage in RW.
For snags, record tree class according to diagram and stages below.
Comment on tree health and type of defect as needed on tree record. Note
particularly any diseases. Watch for: galls and pitch canker in pines, S.O.D. or
sudden oak death in hardwoods, conks.
Comment on any habitat features observed on tree record, such as presence of
goose pen (basal hollow), large branches or wolfy growth habit, broken tops,
reiterated trunks, etc.
ON EVERY FOURTH PLOT ONLY: For large woody debris (LWD), measure all pieces
greater than 12 inches diameter (average diameter for entire length in plot) and greater
than 10 feet long WITH A 4” MINIMUM SMALL END . Measure diameter to 2 inch
class and length (within plot) to two foot class. Record species and decay class (per chart
below). Apply snag classes to LWD when feasible.
USING THE FUEL MODEL PHOTOS IN PNW-105 FOR DF-HWD, HWD AND
DF-HEM, CHOOSE AND RECORD IN THE PLOTCARD HEADER THE CLOSEST
VISUAL MATCH TO THE MAJOR PLOT AREA.
ATTACHMENT 1
Buena Vista Services, L.L.C.
7
Species Codes:
Redwood Young Growth 21
Redwood Old Growth 11
Douglas-fir Young Growth 29
Douglas-fir Old Growth 19
Knobcone pine 22
Monterey pine, bishop pine 32
Ponderosa pine-like (e.g. PP, Jeffrey P.,
Coulter P., JPxCP cross) = 42
Other conifer (e.g. cypress, nutmeg;
note species on tree record) 53
Tanoak 14
Live oak (other “true” oaks) 24
Madrone 34
California bay 44
Other hardwoods (e.g. maple, alder, buckeye;
note species on tree record) 54
Snag (any species; note tree class under “TC”) 00
ATTACHMENT 1
Buena Vista Services, L.L.C.
8
Table of Slope Corrections
Fixed Radius Plot Size
Slope 1/5 ac 1/50 1 chain 100’
0% 52.7’ 16.6’ 66.0’ 100.0’
10 53.0 18.3 66.4 100.6
20 53.7 19.9 67.3 101.9
30 55.1 21.6 69.0 104.6
40 56.7 23.2 71.0 107.6
50 58.9 24.9 73.8 111.8
60 61.4 26.6 76.9 116.5
70 64.4 28.2 80.7 122.2
80 67.5 29.9 84.5 128.1
90 70.9 31.5 88.8 134.5
100 74.6 33.2 93.4 141.6
Table: Total height ranges for log heights
Log Ht 16.5’ logs 20.5’ logs
1 9-24’ 11-30’
2 25-41 31-51
3 42-58 52-71
4 59-74 72-92
5 75-91 93-113
6 92-107 114-133
7 108-124 134-154
8 125-140 155-174
9 141-157 175-195
10 158-173 196-215
Volume Table and Height Specifications
Log Top Measure Meas.
Species Length DIB LH to DIB? TH?
YGRW 16.5’ 8” YES YES
OGRW 20.5’ 12” YES YES
YGDF 16.5’ 8” YES YES
OGDF 16.5’ 10” YES YES
Knobcone Pine 16.5’ 8” YES YES
PP-like 16.5’ 8” YES YES
MP 16.5` 8” YES YES
All hardwoods N/A N/A NO YES
All snags N/A N/A NO YES
ATTACHMENT 1
Buena Vista Services, L.L.C.
9
Stand Classification Labels
SPECIES
R - Redwood
D - Douglas-fir
H - Hardwood
B - Brush
G - Grass
Q – Quarry
STRUCTURE
Y – Young growth
YY – Large second growth
R – Residual old growth
O - Old growth
CROWN COVER
1 70-100%
2 50-70%
3 30-50%
4 10-30%
5 <10%
Example: RD3YRH2 = Redwood/Douglas fir mix (RW dominant), 30-50% crown cover young growth
with residuals; with hardwoods 50-70% crown cover.
ATTACHMENT 1
Buena Vista Services, L.L.C.
10
Topographic Position
Tree Condition Classes
(don’t bother to record stages 8 & 9, will be in fuels data)
ATTACHMENT 1
Buena Vista Services, L.L.C.
11
Some special situations:
Forked tree: Measure as one tree if forked above dbh, two if below.
Leaning tree: Measure (or estimate) height along the lean (not the vertical height of the
top above ground)
Broken tree: Estimate total heights and log heights based on similar trees. Insert missing
logs as “X’s” in defect/grade fields.
ATTACHMENT 1
Buena Vista Services, L.L.C.
12
JOB: Cruiser: Date
PLOT: GPS: Slope: Aspect: Position:
Comments:
TYPE CALL:
FUELS CALL:
WITNESS TREES:
10YR INCREMENT:
Sp DBH TH LH LCR TC LOG and DEFECT
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
ATTACHMENT 1
APPENDIX C
Forest Inventory Results
ATTACHMENT 1
ATTACHMENT 1
C1 Stand Tables
ATTACHMENT 1
ATTACHMENT 1
TIME: 16:36 DATE: 09-11-2020 HJW (c) 1986,1987 - Volexp 8.026
Stdtbl 8.030
LH17 RUN 1
VOLUME OF STANDING TIMBER PAGE 1
LAHON17
CONS
Scribner Log Rule - 16 Foot Logs
Estimated Volume (Thousands of BOARD Feet)
---------------------------------------------------------
:---------------------------------: NET : :
DBH NUMBER : : MERCH : GROSS :
CLASS of TREES : 1SAWLOG 2SAWLOG 3SAWLOG 4SAWLOG : VOLUME : VOLUME :
(IN) : : : :
---------------------------------------------------------
10 6796 : 0 0 36 0 : 36 : 44 :
12 3982 : 0 0 177 0 : 177 : 189 :
14 3481 : 0 0 243 0 : 243 : 261 :
16 4912 : 0 0 655 0 : 655 : 689 :
18 4031 : 0 0 776 0 : 776 : 860 :
20 2963 : 0 0 917 0 : 917 : 998 :
22 3190 : 0 0 1132 0 : 1132 : 1220 :
24 2926 : 0 0 1622 0 : 1622 : 1740 :
26 2844 : 0 0 1947 0 : 1947 : 2090 :
28 2595 : 0 0 2215 0 : 2215 : 2422 :
30 2757 : 0 0 2944 0 : 2944 : 3189 :
32 1824 : 0 0 2294 0 : 2294 : 2459 :
34 2177 : 0 0 3249 0 : 3249 : 3476 :
36 1975 : 0 0 3428 0 : 3428 : 3718 :
38 2748 : 0 0 5505 0 : 5505 : 5932 :
40 1954 : 0 0 4687 0 : 4687 : 5064 :
42 1374 : 0 0 3476 0 : 3476 : 3756 :
44 1693 : 0 0 4765 0 : 4765 : 5162 :
46 581 : 0 0 1814 0 : 1814 : 1984 :
48 1119 : 0 0 4120 0 : 4120 : 4517 :
50 406 : 0 0 1540 0 : 1540 : 1682 :
52 394 : 0 0 1596 0 : 1596 : 1702 :
54 129 : 0 0 418 0 : 418 : 462 :
56 356 : 0 0 1629 0 : 1629 : 1738 :
58 188 : 0 0 925 0 : 925 : 1008 :
60 128 : 0 0 619 0 : 619 : 712 :
62 124 : 0 0 461 0 : 461 : 645 :
64 102 : 0 0 676 0 : 676 : 779 :
68 33 : 0 0 210 0 : 210 : 303 :
72 42 : 0 0 366 0 : 366 : 404 :
100+ 20 : 0 0 316 0 : 316 : 329 :
TOTAL 57844 : 0 0 54758 0 : 54758 : 59534 :
(Net Volume Reflects Deductions for Internal Defect and Breakage)
STANDARD ERROR OF GROSS VOLUME ESTIMATE = 2402.4 OR 4.1%
ATTACHMENT 1
TIME: 16:36 DATE: 09-11-2020 HJW (c) 1986,1987 - Volexp 8.026
Stdtbl 8.030
LH17 RUN 1
VOLUME OF STANDING TIMBER PAGE 2
LAHON17
HWD
Scribner Log Rule - 16 Foot Logs
Estimated Volume (THOUSANDS of CUBIC Feet)
--------------------------------------
: : : :
: NET : : :
DBH NUMBER : MERCH : UNMER. CULL : GROSS :
CLASS OF TREES : VOLUME : VOL. VOL. : VOLUME :
(IN) : : : :
-----------------------------------------------------------
10 11733 : 139 : 0 2 : 141 :
12 5639 : 103 : 0 0 : 103 :
14 3690 : 103 : 0 0 : 103 :
16 3913 : 164 : 0 5 : 169 :
18 3454 : 187 : 0 5 : 192 :
20 2393 : 171 : 0 3 : 174 :
22 1789 : 133 : 0 2 : 135 :
24 1847 : 182 : 0 4 : 186 :
26 733 : 81 : 0 2 : 83 :
28 821 : 121 : 0 3 : 124 :
30 492 : 81 : 0 1 : 82 :
32 231 : 53 : 0 2 : 55 :
34 40 : 8 : 1 0 : 9 :
38 69 : 16 : 0 0 : 16 :
42 69 : 19 : 0 0 : 19 :
TOTAL 36913 : 1561 : 1 29 : 1591 :
(Net Volume Reflects Deductions for Internal Defect and Breakage)
STANDARD ERROR OF GROSS VOLUME ESTIMATE = 174.2 OR 10.9%
ATTACHMENT 1
C2 Fuels Data
ATTACHMENT 1
ATTACHMENT 1
UPDATED 10/21/2020
La Honda 2020 FUEL: LWD Measurements and PNW-105 Photo Series Calls
LWD Measurements
PNW-105 Fuel
Volume
PNW-105
PLOT Fuel Model Call
Simplified
Stand Type
Piece
Count
Avg
Diameter SQFTarea Length FT CUFT/Plot CUFT/AC CUFT/AC
1 1DFHD3 YR3RD 218
2 3DFHD4 Y2RD 3 23 3 75 223 1,114 1,023
3 2DFHD3 YR3RD 3 16 1 85 119 593 690
4 3DFHD4 Y2RD 1,023
5 1DFHD4 YR3RD 415
6 2DFHD3 Y2RD 690
7 2DFHD3 YR4RD 690
8 2DFHD3 YR4RD 1 16 1 20 28 140 690
9 2DFHD3 YR3RD 690
10 1DFHD3 YR4RD 218
11 3DFHD4 Y3RD 1,023
12 2DFHD3 YR3RD 2 18 2 85 150 751 690
13 3DFHD4 YR2RD 1,023
14 3DFHD4 Y2RD 3 15 1 63 74 370 1,023
15 3DFHD4 YR2RD 1,023
16 2DFHD4 Y2RD 3 23 3 90 267 1,336 494
17 2DFHD4 Y3RD 494
18 3DFHD4 Y2RD 1,023
19 3DFHD4 YR2RD 2 17 2 35 55 276 1,023
20 3DFHD3 YR2RD 2 15 1 70 86 430 1,403
21 3DFHD3 Y2RD 1,403
22 2DFHD4 Y1RD 4 24 3 65 204 1,021 494
23 3DFHD4 Y2RD 1,023
24 3DFHD3 Y2RD 1,403
25 3DFHD2 YR3RD 3 27 4 105 428 2,139 632
26 3DFHD2 Y2RD 632
27 2DFHD4 Y1RD 494
28 2DFHD3 Y1RD 690
29 3DFHD2 YR3RD 2 18 2 40 71 353 632
30 2DFHD4 YR3RD 2 15 1 58 71 356 494
31 2DFHD4 Y2RD 5 17 2 205 331 1,654 494
32 2DFHD4 Y2RD 494
33 2DFHD2 Y2RD 143
34 3DFHD3 Y2RD 1,403
35 2DFHD3 YR3RD 690
36 3DFHD3 Y2RD 1,403
37 3DFHD4 Y2RD 2 23 3 65 188 938 1,023
38 2DFHD3 Y2RD 690
39 4DFHD4 Y2RD 934
40 3DFHD4 Y2RD 1,023
41 3DFHD3 YR3RD 2 16 1 63 88 440 1,403
42 2DFHD2 Y2RD 1 24 3 40 126 628 143
43 2DFHD4 Y2RD 2 14 1 40 43 214 494
44 2DFHD3 YR3RD 690
Page 1 of 4
ATTACHMENT 1
UPDATED 10/21/2020
La Honda 2020 FUEL: LWD Measurements and PNW-105 Photo Series Calls
LWD Measurements
PNW-105 Fuel
Volume
PNW-105
PLOT Fuel Model Call
Simplified
Stand Type
Piece
Count
Avg
Diameter SQFTarea Length FT CUFT/Plot CUFT/AC CUFT/AC
45 2DFHD4 Y2RD 494
46 2DFHD3 YR2RD 1 14 1 25 27 134 690
47 2DFHD4 YR3RD 494
48 2DFHD2 Y3RD 143
49 3DFHD1 Y3RD 632
50 3DFHD3 RY2RD 1,403
51 3DFHD4 RY2RD 1 14 1 12 13 64 1,023
52 1DFHD3 YR3RD 218
53 1DFHD4 Y3H 415
54 BRUSH Y3H 3,024
55 2DFHD3 YR4RD 690
56 1DFHD4 Y3H 1 16 1 25 35 175 415
57 3DFHD4 Y1RD 1,023
58 3DFHD4 Y1RD 1,023
59 3DFHD4 Y1RD 1,023
60 2DFHD4 YR4RD 3 23 3 70 208 1,039 494
61 5DF4 Y3RD 4 34 6 110 673 3,366 7,952
62 2DFHD4 Y1RD 494
63 3DFHD4 YR2RD 2 15 1 40 49 245 1,023
64 2DFHD3 YR3RD 690
65 3DFHD3 RY2RD 2 14 1 65 69 347 1,403
66 2DFHD3 YR3RD 690
67 2DFHD3 YR3RD 0 - - - - - 690
68 1DFHD4 YR3RD 3 17 2 105 172 860 415
69 2DFHD2 YR2RD 0 - - - - - 143
70 2DFHD4 YR2RD 2 13 1 55 51 253 494
71 3DFHD4 Y2RD 1 16 1 40 56 279 1,023
72 2DFHD3 YR2RD 690
73 2DFHD4 Y2RD 3 13 1 55 48 241 494
74 2DFHD2 YR3RD 143
75 3DFHD4 Y3RD 1,023
76 1HD2 Y3H 2 15 1 85 104 522 143
77 2DFHD4 Y3RD 494
78 1DFHD4 RY2RD 1 16 1 15 21 105 415
79 2DFHD4 Y2RD 494
80 4DF4 Y3RD 2 14 1 35 37 187 4,387
81 4DFHD4 Y2RD 1 12 1 20 16 79 934
82 1DFHD4 Y3RD 3 15 1 100 117 587 415
83 2DFHD1 YR2RD 143
84 3DFHD4 YR2RD 1,023
85 2DFHD3 YR4RD 690
86 4DFHD2 Y3RD 2 23 3 50 144 721 1,023
87 4DFHD2 Y3H 1,023
88 4DFHD4 Y3RD 2 8 0 30 10 52 934
Page 2 of 4
ATTACHMENT 1
UPDATED 10/21/2020
La Honda 2020 FUEL: LWD Measurements and PNW-105 Photo Series Calls
LWD Measurements
PNW-105 Fuel
Volume
PNW-105
PLOT Fuel Model Call
Simplified
Stand Type
Piece
Count
Avg
Diameter SQFTarea Length FT CUFT/Plot CUFT/AC CUFT/AC
89 1DF3 YR2RD 0 - - - - - 6,028
90 1DFHD4 OY2R 4 10 0 95 47 234 415
91 3DFHD4 RY2RD 1,023
92 2DFHD3 Y1RD 690
93 1DFHD4 Y1RD 415
94 3DFHD4 Y1RD 1,023
95 3DFHD4 Y1RD 1,023
96 5DFHD4 Y4RD 3,024
97 2DFHD4 Y2H 494
98 2DFHD4 Y1RD 1 28 4 10 43 214 494
99 3DFHD4 Y1RD 1,023
100 4DFHD4 Y1RD 934
101 2DFHD4 Y2H 494
102 3DFHD4 Y3RD 1,023
103 2DFHD4 Y2RD 0 - - - - - 494
104 2DFHD4 Y1RD 494
105 1DFHD4 Y1RD 0 - - - - - 415
106 2DFHD4 Y1RD 494
107 2DFHD4 Y2RD 494
108 2DFHD4 Y2RD 494
109 2DFHD4 Y1RD 494
110 4DFHD4 Y4RD 3 22 3 65 172 858 934
111 4DFHD4 Y2RD 934
112 1HD2 Y2H 0 - - - - - 143
113 2HD2 Y2H 0 - - - - - 632
114 2HD2 Y3H 0 - - - - - 632
115 NA NA
116 2DFHD4 YR4RD 494
117 1DFHD4 YR2RD 2 12 1 25 20 98 415
118 1DFHD4 YR4RD 415
119 1DFHD4 YR4RD 0 - - - - - 415
120 2DFHD4 Y2RD 2 12 1 80 63 314 494
121 2DFHD4 Y1RD 2 18 2 60 106 530 494
122 3DFHD3 RY2RD 1,403
123 3DFHD4 Y1RD 1,023
124 4DFHD4 Y3RD 934
125 3DFHD2 Y1RD 1 20 2 15 33 164 632
126 2DFHD4 Y2H 494
127 1DFHD4 Y2H 415
128 2DFHD4 Y3RD 494
129 1DFHD4 Y2H 415
130 2DFHD4 Y2H 494
131 2DFHD4 Y2H 494
132 3DFHD4 Y4RD 1,023
Page 3 of 4
ATTACHMENT 1
UPDATED 10/21/2020
La Honda 2020 FUEL: LWD Measurements and PNW-105 Photo Series Calls
LWD Measurements
PNW-105 Fuel
Volume
PNW-105
PLOT Fuel Model Call
Simplified
Stand Type
Piece
Count
Avg
Diameter SQFTarea Length FT CUFT/Plot CUFT/AC CUFT/AC
133 2HD2 Y3H 632
134 2DFHD4 RY2RD 1 14 1 30 32 160 494
135 1DFHD4 Y4RD 415
136 1DFHD4 Y4RD 0 - - - - - 415
137 1DFHD4 YR4RD 0 - - - - - 415
138 2DFHD4 YR4RD 0 - - - - - 494
139 2HD2 Y3H 2 27 4 50 199 994 632
140 2DFHD2 YR3RD 143
141 2DFHD4 YR4RD 494
142 1HD2 Y3H 1 8 0 30 10 52 143
143 3DFHD4 Y1RD 1,023
144 2DFHD4 Y2RD 494
145 2DFHD4 Y1RD 494
146 2DFHD4 Y3RD 0 - - - - - 494
147 3DFHD4 Y2RD 4 17 2 90 142 709 1,023
148 2DFHD4 Y2H 494
149 NA NA
150 2DFHD2 Y3RD 2 17 2 35 55 276 143
151 3DFHD4 YR3RD 1 14 1 30 32 160 1,023
152 2DFHD4 YR3RD 494
672 2DFHD4 YR3RD 1 14 1 10 11 53 494
999 4DFHD4 Y2RD 2 17 2 80 126 630 934
Page 4 of 4
ATTACHMENT 1
C3 Carbon Calculations
ATTACHMENT 1
ATTACHMENT 1
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection - THP Project Carbon Accounting: Inventory, Growth, and Harvest Version 6-11-2010
Conifer Live Tree Volume
(MBF/Acre) - Prior to Harvest
Hardwood Live Tree Volume (BA
square feet/Acre) - Prior to
Harvest
Conifer Growth Rate
BF/Acre/Year
Hardwood Growth Rate
BA/Acre/Year
Conifer Harvest Volume
(MBF/acre)
Hardwood Harvested /
Treated Basal Area
(BA/Acre)
Forest Type Step 0.
Identify the approximate
percentage of conifers by
volume within the harvest
plan. Must sum to 100%
Multiplier from
Cubic Feet
(merchantable)
to Total Biomass
Pounds
Carbon per
Cubic Foot
Step 2.
Enter the estimated conifer
inventory (mbf/acre) present in
project area prior to harvest.
Step 3.
Enter the estimated hardwood
inventory (basal area per acre)
present in project area prior to
harvest.
Step 4.
Enter the average annual periodic growth
of conifers between harvests based on
estimated growth in management plan, if
available. Must be entered for each
harvest cycle identified in Step 1.
Step 5.
Insert average annual periodic growth of hardwoods between
harvests based on estimated growth in management plan, if
available.
Step 6.
Enter the estimated conifer harvested
per acre at current and future entries.
The estimate should be based on
projections from the management
plan, if available.
Step 7.
Enter estimated
hardwood basal area
harvested/treated per acre
Douglas-fir 15%1.675 14.38 0 51.7 75 2068 1.5
Redwood 85%1.675 13.42 15 82.72 97.5 2068 1.5 0 0
Pines 0%2.254 12.14 30 113.74 120 2068 1.5 0 0
True firs 0%2.254 11.18 45 144.76 142.5 2068 1.5 0 0
Hardwoods 10 2.214 11.76 60 175.78 165 2068 1.5 0 0
75 206.8 187.5 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Conifer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Hardwoods 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Conifer 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Hardwoods 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Harvest
Periods
Conifer Live Tree Tonnes
(C/acre)
Hardwood Live Trees
Tonnes (C/acre)
Conifer Live Tree Tonnes (CO2
equivalent/acre)
Hardwood Live Tree Tonnes (CO2
equivalent/acre)
Post-Modeling Calculations
Computed:
MBF * Conifer Multiplier from
Step 0.
Computed:
BA*Volume/Basal Area Ration
(to convert to MBF) * Hardwood
Multiplier from Step 0.
Computed:
Conversion of carbon to CO2 (3.67
tonnes CO2 per 1 tonne Carbon)
Computed:
Conversion of carbon to CO2 (3.67 tonnes
CO2 per 1 tonne Carbon)
Total Sequestered
CO2/acre
Total: 1,210
forested acres 0 88 11 323 40 None 0
Current (year zero)363 439,185 15 141 14 516 52 None 0
Year 15 569 688,090 30 193 18 710 64 None 0
Difference: Year 15-Current 206 248,904 45 246 21 904 76 None 0
Sequestration per Year: 13.7 16,594 60 299 24 1097 89 none 0
75 352 27 1291 101 None 0
0 0 0 0 0 None 0
0 0 0 0 0 None 0
0 0 0 0 0 None 0
968 60.36 Sum of emissions (Metric Tonnes CO2e) per acre 0Difference between ending stocks and beginning stocks
Step 1.
Enter the anticipated future harvest entries. The re-entry
cycles should be supported by management plan, if
available.
Time of Harvest (years from project approval)
Harvest Periods
User must enter
harvest cycles to
100 years and/or
at least three
entry cycles.
Inventory Conversion to Carbon (prior to
harvest)
Heavy- 50% or more of the project area is covered with brush and removed as part of site
preparation or stumps are removed (mobile emissions estimated at .429 metric tonnes CO2e per
acre, biological emissions estimated at 2 metric tonnes CO2e per acre)
Medium - >25% <50% of the project area is covered with brush and removed as part of site
preparation (mobile emissions estimated at .202 metric tonnes CO2e per acre, biological emissions
estimated at 1 metric tonne per acre).
Light - 25% or less of the project area is covered with brush and is removed as part of site
preparation (mobile emissions estimated at .09 metric tonnes CO2e per acre, biological emissions
estimated at .5 metric tonnes per acre).
None - No site preparation is conducted.
Step 8. Enter the value (in bold) for each harvest cycel that best reflects the site preparation
activities, as averaged across the project area:
Forest Type
Multipliers to Estimate Carbon Tonnes per MBF
(Sampson, 2002)
1.95
1.70Multipliers to Estimate Total Carbon
Tonnes per MBF
Multipliers to Estimate Merchantable
Carbon Tonnes per MBF 0.88
from above (Time of
Harvest as years from
project approval)
Inventory Conversion to Carbon Dioxide
Equivalent (prior to harvest)
Inventory Growth Rates
Site Preparation
1.02
This worksheet addresses the sequestation and emissions associated with the project area's balance of harvest, inventory, and growth plus any emissions associated with site preparation. Complete the input for Steps 0- 8 on this worksheet.
LA HONDA FOREST - Project Carbon Accounting: Inventory, Growth, and Harvest
Harvest Volume
Conversion of Board Feet to Cubic Feet 0.165
Pounds per Metric
Tonne 2,204
ATTACHMENT 1
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ATTACHMENT 1
APPENDIX D
Cost Estimates
ATTACHMENT 1
ATTACHMENT 1
La Honda Forest Assessment D-1 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
Appendix D
Cost Estimates
The following provides a preliminary range of cost estimates that might be associated with selection of
the different options for forest management and restoration presented in Chapter 4. Actual costs would be
developed once a final scope of work is determined and the various phases of the projects are selected.
For options that include commercial timber harvest, market conditions drive potential revenues, along
with the nature of the cut and the adaptive management approach. The is thus used to guide decision-
making with order of magnitude cost estimates for this point in time. Cost efficiencies between activities
will also likely affect costs. In general, grouping projects under a single permitting umbrella will likely
lower costs; the more that is done under a single THP, the greater the savings might be for any given
aspect of it.
Generally Fixed Planning Costs:
• Timber Harvest Plan: $65,000
• Engineering Geologic Review in Support of THP: $15,000
• Sediment Source Evaluation in Southern CMU and Harrington: $15,000
• Design Services for Double Culvert Replacement: $75,000
• Design services for CMU Upper Road Treatment $100,000
Planning Cost Estimate (+20% contingency) : $325,000
Implementation Costs
• Fuels treatments TBD based on plan refinement. $3,500/acre for equipment access acreages and
$15,000/acre for remote locations requiring hand-work.
• License Timber Operator Costs for restoration forestry treatments TBD based on plan refinement.
Likely net zero when offset by potential revenues.
• Double culvert replacement (arched culvert or bridge): $400,000
• CMU Upper Roads Work: TBD based on plan refinement, likely more than $400,000
• Post-treatment forestry monitoring: TBD based on plan refinement.
• Implementation estimate: $800,000+ for watershed improvements and TBD on the forest and fire
resiliency components.
ATTACHMENT 1
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ATTACHMENT 1
LA HONDA CREEK OPEN SPACE PRESERVE
La Honda Forest Assessment:
Woodruff Creek–Folger Parcel Addendum
Prepared for:
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
By: Sicular Environmental Consulting and Natural Lands Management
Christopher Keyes, Ph.D.
Buena Vista Services, LLC
Orange Peel Cartography
May 2023
ATTACHMENT 2
La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve
La Honda Forest Assessment:
Woodruff Creek – Folger Parcel Addendum
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Report preparers:
Dan Sicular, Ph.D.
Christopher Keyes, Ph.D.
Joe McGuire, RPF
Kevin McManigal, Cartographer
Sicular Environmental Consulting & Natural Lands Management
P.O. Box 582, Philo, CA 95466 www.sicularconsulting.com (415) 717-6328
ATTACHMENT 2
La Honda Forest Assessment iii Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum May 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 1
Current Conditions ........................................................................................................................................ 1
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Forest Impairments ..................................................................................... 3
Restoration Treatment Rationale .................................................................................................................. 3
Restoration Goals .......................................................................................................................................... 3
Restoration and Management Options .......................................................................................................... 4
Potential Next Steps ...................................................................................................................................... 5
Figures (Following Text)
Figure 1 Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Location
Figure 2 Vegetation Types
Figure 3 Tree Height
Figure 4 1953 Aerial Photo
Figure 5 1970 Aerial Photo
Figure 6 2021 Aerial Photo
Figure 7 Timber Types
Figure 8 Bare Earth Lidar
Photos (Following Figures)
Photo 1 Hardwood Stand
Photo 2 Whistle Creek Old Growth Stand
Photo 3 Whistle Creek Old Growth Redwoods
Photo 4 Woodruff Creek Old Growth Redwood
Photo 5 Woodruff Creek Old Growth Fairy Ring
Cover Photo: Woodruff Creek Old Growth Redwoods
ATTACHMENT 2
La Honda Forest Assessment 1 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum May 2023
LA HONDA CREEK OPEN SPACE PRESERVE
FOREST ASSESSMENT
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum
Introduction
In 2021, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (District) acquired a parcel (approximately 183
acres) east of State Route 84 from Mr. Peter Folger, and added it to La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve
(Figure 1). Woodruff Creek, a perennial tributary to La Honda Creek, runs through the parcel. The
Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel, as it is called, also contains a portion of Whistle Creek, a seasonal
tributary to Woodruff Creek. As the Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel contains areas of redwood and
Douglas-fir forest, the District modified Sicular Environmental Consulting’s contract to prepare an
addendum to the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve Forest Assessment to assess forest conditions and
to develop forest conservation and restoration recommendations within the parcel.
Current Conditions
The Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel contains no structures, few roads, and one small pond. No information
on historic use of the parcel has been found, but roads, small clearings, and a small structure can be seen
in the 1953 aerial photo (Figure 4), indicating past habitation. The structure is not seen on the 1970 aerial
(Figure 5), indicating it was removed prior to that date. The pond appears in the 1970 aerial, indicating
that it was constructed between 1953 and 1970.
The parcel is steep and heavily wooded, with deep canyons through which the streams run. Elevations
range from about 680 feet above mean sea level in the northwestern corner of the property along
Woodruff Creek, to 1,300 feet along the southern boundary (Figure 1). Most of the parcel consists of
dense hardwood forest with brushy undergrowth (Photo 1). There are also poison oak (Toxicodendron
diversilobum) thickets, grassy openings, and alder (Alnus rhombifolia) and arroyo willow (Salix
lasiolepis) riparian forest along the upper portion of Woodruff Creek. Hardwood stands are classified by
Pacific Veg Map as buckeye (Aesculus californica), coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), and California bay
laurel (Umbellularia californica) (Figure 2). There are two redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) stands on the
parcel, and several small Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) stands, with scattered conifers elsewhere
(Figures 2 and 7).
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has no records of timber harvest
on the property. Site reconnaissance1 and a review of historic aerial photos (Figures 4, 5, and 6) revealed
1 Site reconnaissance by Dan Sicular, Joe McGuire, and Aaron Hebert, October 21, 2021, and July 26, 2022.
ATTACHMENT 2
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum
La Honda Forest Assessment 2 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum May 2023
no evidence of extensive logging of the redwood stands prior to the passage of the Z'berg-Nejedly Forest
Practice Act of 1973. The redwood stands contain old growth and some second growth redwood and
Douglas-fir. Scattered cut stumps are indicative of non-industrial harvest of some redwoods in the distant
past, likely by an early homesteader.
There is no known history of wildfire on the parcel,2 though burn scars are visible on redwoods. The age
and condition of the upland hardwood and scrub, and the depth of duff and litter in the redwood stands,
all indicate at least several decades since the last fire.
Buena Vista Services, a subcontractor to Sicular Environmental Consulting for the La Honda Forest
Assessment project, conducted a timber cruise of the Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel in 1998, prior to the
District’s acquisition. The detailed records of the timber cruise could not be located, but a summary
appears in an appraisal report prepared by Buena Vista Services for Mr. Folger in 2018 (Buena Vista
Services, 2018). The summary does not quantify the volume of hardwoods, focusing only on conifers. It
includes an adjustment to the 1998 cruised volume of standing timber to account for growth and estimates
that the 2018 volumes were 1,962,000 board feet (bf) of old growth redwood, 1,107,000 bf of young
growth redwood, and 1,100,000 bf of Douglas-fir.
The two redwood stands, cumulatively spanning approximately 12 acres, are located along Woodruff
Creek and along Whistle Creek (Figures 3 and 7). The larger of the two at about 10 acres, the Whistle
Creek stand extends a short distance upslope on the creek's right (northeastern) bank, and a longer
distance upslope on the left (southwestern) bank. The old growth trees here are of moderate size, ranging
up to about 5 feet in diameter (Photos 2 and 3). Farther upslope on the left bank, the old growth trees are
smaller.
The Woodruff Creek old growth stand covers about 2 acres and occurs along the creek’s floodplain and
alluvial benches, extending a short distance upslope. The trees here are larger than those in the Whistle
Creek stand, more typical of old growth redwood (Cover photo). The stand extends downstream onto the
neighboring parcel. This stand includes both very large individuals (Photo 4) and multi-stemmed fairy
rings (Photo 5).
Old growth redwood stands and large Douglas-fir trees within the parcel provide suitable nesting habitat
for marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), which is listed as a Threatened species under the
federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and is listed as Endangered under the California ESA. The District
is conducting a site assessment and species surveys, which will be completed by 2024. Species
protections may be warranted during restoration and management actions.
Woodruff Creek is tributary to La Honda Creek, which itself is tributary to San Gregorio Creek. San
Gregorio Creek is on the federal Clean Water Act 303d list of impaired water bodies, with impairments
listed as sediment and pathogens. San Gregorio Creek, La Honda Creek, and Woodruff Creek are also
designated as critical habitat for Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), listed as an endangered species
2 CAL FIRE et al, 2018 contains a fire history map for the Santa Cruz Mountains that shows no recorded wildfires in the area
prior to or since 1942. Similarly, CAL FIRE, 2023, which maps perimeters of wildfires from 1950 onward, shows no wildfire
in the area since that year.
ATTACHMENT 2
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum
La Honda Forest Assessment 3 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum May 2023
under both the California ESA and the federal ESA, and for steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), listed
as Threatened under the federal ESA.
District staff have identified the pond and the hardwood forest around it as potential habitat for California
red-legged frog (Rana draytonii), listed as Threatened under the federal ESA, and San Francisco garter
snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) listed as Endangered under both the federal and State ESAs and a
State Fully Protected species. The Woodruff-Folger parcel, and the entire La Honda Creek Open Space
Preserve, are critical habitat for California red-legged frog (critical habitat has not been designated for
San Francisco garter snake). Both species are known to occur within the surrounding landscape and if
conditions are favorable, these species may disperse through the property and potentially use the pond as
refugia during upland dispersal, and potentially for red-legged frog breeding.
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Forest Impairments
Chapter 4 of the La Honda Forest Assessment describes several impaired forest condition classes (IFCCs)
seen throughout the La Honda Forest. One of these, IFCC-3: Douglas-fir and brush encroachment in
mixed hardwood stands, is prevalent in the Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel (Photo 1). In addition, a non-
structural impairment, heavy duff, and litter layer, identified in redwood stands within the La Honda
Forest, is also seen here. Abatement of accumulated fuel loads is the primary management action needed
to ensure the protection of ecologically and aesthetically valuable old growth redwood and to maintain
diverse, mature hardwood stands.
Restoration Treatment Rationale
Left untreated, the fuel condition will continue and worsen with an ongoing accumulation of dead and
down material. Deep accumulations of redwood duff and litter are highly flammable when dry; and, as the
2020 CZU fire demonstrated, burning duff can damage redwood crowns through convective heating and
ignite large woody debris and cut stumps, which may damage roots and adjoining live trees. Strategic
abatement of fuel loads will reduce this condition and increase the ability of the forest to survive and
recover from wildfire.
Restoration Goals
The District’s Resource Management Policies (MROSD, 2021) include Goal FM:
Manage District land to retain and promote biologically diverse, dynamic forest conditions;
maintain and enhance high quality forest and aquatic habitat; encourage and enhance the
development of late-seral conifer forest; provide for visitor experiences within diverse forest
habitat; and promote District and regional fire management objectives.
Consistent with this goal and the forest management policies that support it, the primary goals for
protection and restoration of forests within the Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel include the following:
• Protect old growth redwood stands from high-intensity wildfire.
• Maintain and enhance suitable marbled murrelet nesting habitat.
• Enhance the mature, diverse hardwood forest and the special status species it supports.
ATTACHMENT 2
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum
La Honda Forest Assessment 4 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum May 2023
• Improve aquatic habitat and remove potential barriers to anadromous fish passage.
Restoration and Management Options
Option 1: Reduce excess fuels in and around old growth
redwood stands (recommended)
To protect the old growth redwood stands from high-intensity wildfire, the recommended treatment for
the Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel is to abate accumulated surface fuels in and around the stands and to
reduce surface and ladder fuels in the surrounding hardwood stands.
Because of limited access, treatments would be conducted with hand tools carried in by work crews on
foot. Treatment would consist of removing accumulated leaf litter, duff, small down and dead material,
and low limbs, focusing on old growth trees and including the interior of fairy rings. Removed material
should be piled and burned. In addition, general thinning treatments targeting small stems and
encroaching Douglas-fir, combined with removal of brush and ladder fuels, should be applied to the
surrounding hardwood forest to create shaded fuel breaks and reduce fire intensity. These interventions
will protect the redwood stands and preserve and enhance mature hardwoods.
Because the old growth groves may support marbled murrelet, treatments should avoid potential
disturbance of this species and their nesting habitat. Treatments should occur outside of murrelet nesting
season and should preserve both old growth redwood and large Douglas-fir that may provide suitable
nesting sites, as well as surrounding screen trees.
Option 2: Prescribed Burning (recommended for further
evaluation)
Initiating a prescribed burning program in and around the old growth redwood stands and surrounding
hardwood forests could be used to reduce fuel loading and increase resilience. Pretreatment, consisting of
clearing accumulated duff and litter from redwoods and moving it away from high value trees (per Option
1), would be a prerequisite to broadcast burning to avoid damage to high value redwoods. It would also be
necessary to establish control lines, especially upslope of and flanking the old growth stands.
Small-scale prescribed burning, combined with mechanical treatments, could also be used to enhance
upland habitat surrounding the pond to increase the site’s ability to support California red-legged frog and
San Francisco garter snake. Small-scale broadcast burning could be combined with mechanical treatments
and applied in a variable or randomized spatial pattern to produce a mosaic of upland habitat. Treatments
could include periodic small broadcast burns, mechanical clearing of understory vegetation, piling and
burning brush, piling and not burning brush, and felling trees, especially conifers, to create coarse woody
debris.
ATTACHMENT 2
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum
La Honda Forest Assessment 5 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum May 2023
Option 3: No Treatment
Passive management of the Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel is not recommended, as current fuel loading
threatens valuable old growth redwood stands and mature, diverse hardwood forests.
Potential Next Steps
Because of limited access, treatments must be thoughtfully prioritized and carefully planned. The first
step would be to delineate treatment areas, flag them in the field, and map them in GIS. Detailed planning
for entry, treatment, and post-treatment monitoring may then be undertaken. It is assumed that the
Wildland Fire Resiliency Program would provide the permitting framework for treatments.
While there are few passable roads within the Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel, “bare earth” lidar reveals
several roads that are apparently overgrown and impassable (Figure 8). There has not been a sediment
source inventory performed on the parcel; the District may want to consider conducting a sediment source
inventory, focusing on roads and stream crossings, to support future treatments to improve water quality
and protect aquatic habitat.
The pond and surrounding hardwood forest should be further evaluated as habitat for California red-
legged frog and San Francisco garter snake. Management of vegetation around the pond, including
prescribed burning and mechanical treatments to provide a mosaic of vegetation to enhance dispersal
habitat, should be further evaluated for feasibility and to develop a detailed management strategy.
References
Buena Vista Services, 2018. Letter from Gene Forsburg, Buena Vista Services, to Peter Folger, re:
Summary Appraisal Report. October 31, 2018.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), San Mateo County Resource
Conservation District, and Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District, 2018. Santa Cruz County
San Mateo County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Prepared by: CAL FIRE, San Mateo — Santa
Cruz Unit, Resource Conservation District for San Mateo County and Resource Conservation District for
Santa Cruz County, April 2018.
CAL FIRE, 2023. California Fire Perimeters, 1950+.
https://hub.arcgis.com/maps/653647b20bc74480b335e31d6d81a52f/explore Accessed April 10, 2023.
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD), 2021. Resource Management Policies. February
2021.
ATTACHMENT 2
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum
La Honda Forest Assessment 6 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum May 2023
FIGURES
ATTACHMENT 2
ATTACHMENT 2
ATTACHMENT 2
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ATTACHMENT 2
ATTACHMENT 2
W o o d r u f f C r e e k
W o o d r u f f C r e e k
La Honda C r eek
W h i s t l e C r e e k
ÄÆ84
ÄÆ84
Jaqua pond
Jaqua
vernal pool
LA HONDA CREEK
OPEN SPACE
PRESERVE
Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District
(Midpen)
10/26/2021
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Private Property
While the District strives to use the best available digital data, these data do not represent a legal survey and are merely a graphic illustration of geographic features.
Watershed Land
Highlighted Property
Area of
Detail
ÄÆ84 ÄÆ280
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Cupertino
Saratoga
Los Gatos
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Santa Clara
San Jose
Other Protected Lands
Land Trust
Other Public Agency
Figure 8: Bare Earth Lidar
ATTACHMENT 2
La Honda Forest Assessment 15 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum May 2023
PHOTOS
ATTACHMENT 2
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum
La Honda Forest Assessment 16 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum May 2023
Photo 1: Hardwood Stand
ATTACHMENT 2
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum
La Honda Forest Assessment 17 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum May 2023
Photo 2: Whistle Creek Old Growth Stand
ATTACHMENT 2
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum
La Honda Forest Assessment 18 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum May 2023
Photo 3: Whistle Creek Old Growth Redwoods
ATTACHMENT 2
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum
La Honda Forest Assessment 19 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum May 2023
Photo 4: Woodruff Creek Old Growth Redwood
ATTACHMENT 2
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum
La Honda Forest Assessment 20 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Addendum May 2023
Photo 5: Woodruff Creek Old Growth Fairy Ring
ATTACHMENT 2
LA HONDA FOREST HEALTH PROJECT
Project Description
Prepared for:
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
By: Sicular Environmental Consulting and Natural Lands Management
Christopher Keyes, Ph.D.
Buena Vista Services, LLC
Orange Peel Cartography
June 2023
ATTACHMENT 3
La Honda Forest Health Project
Project Description
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Report preparers:
Dan Sicular, Ph.D.
Joe McGuire, RPF
Kevin McManigal, Cartographer
June 2023
Sicular Environmental Consulting & Natural Lands Management
P.O. Box 582, Philo, CA 95466 www.sicularconsulting.com (415) 717-6328
ATTACHMENT 3
La Honda Forest Health Project 3 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
LA HONDA FOREST HEALTH PROJECT
Project Description
Table of Contents
Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Project Goals ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Description of Project Areas and Activities ......................................................................................... 5
1. Harmon Parcel: Restoration Thinning and Fuel Reduction ......................................................... 5
2. Northern Conservation Management Unit Old Growth Preservation, Restoration Thinning,
Sediment Source Reduction, and Shaded Fuel Break .................................................................... 10
3. Southern Harrington Creek Tributary ........................................................................................ 15
4. Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel .................................................................................................. 17
Timber Harvesting Plan Overview ..................................................................................................... 20
Appendix A: Relevant Resource Management Goals and Policies: ........................................................... 23
Appendix B: Description of Impaired Forest Condition Classes (IFCCs) .................................................. 27
Appendix C: Glossary ................................................................................................................................. 30
Figures
Figure 1: Project Areas ................................................................................................................................. 6
Figure 2: THP Process Chart ...................................................................................................................... 22
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 4 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
Introduction
The La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve Forest Health Assessment and Management Plan (Plan) was
completed in July 2021. The Plan characterizes existing forest conditions in the mostly coniferous forest,
dubbed the “La Honda Forest,” in the northern portion of La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve
(Preserve). It identifies impairments to forest health, water quality, and wildfire resiliency, as well as
recommended management actions to improve conditions and increase resilience to the effects of climate
change.
At its October 12, 2022 meeting, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen, District)
Board of Directors unanimously approved a motion to “[d]irect the General Manager to solicit restoration
forestry and engineering services to develop a Timber Harvesting Plan (THP) and forest management
prescriptions consistent with existing Resource Management Policies and the findings of the La Honda
Forest Health [Assessment] and Management Plan to improve forest health conditions.” The Board
further directed staff to return to the Board with additional information throughout the development of the
THP.
The following fulfills the Board’s direction to provide additional information during THP development.
This report provides details on the goals, scope, and nature of a suite of forest management and forest
health improvement activities that Midpen identified as high priority for implementation, including those
described below. Some of these activities would be implemented with a THP as the permitting vehicle.
Other activities would be implemented under the District’s Wildland Fire Resiliency Program.
Collectively, these activities are referred to as the La Honda Forest Health Project (Project). This report
also reviews the legal context, contents, and approval process for THPs in the CAL FIRE Southern
Subdistrict. To assist the reader, a glossary of technical forestry terms is included as Appendix C.
Project Goals
Consistent with the District’s Resource Management Policies for Forest Management and Wildland Fire
Management,1 the goals of the Project are: to conserve and restore biodiversity by expediting the
acquisition of old growth characteristics in regrowth conifer stands; to preserve existing old growth
individuals and stands; to increase resilience to wildfire and climate change; to enhance the forests’
capacity for carbon sequestration and long-term, stable carbon storage; and to reduce sediment sources
negatively impacting water quality in salmonid-bearing streams.
The Project includes the following types of treatments:
Fuel reduction treatments to protect old growth redwood stands and individuals;
Restoration thinning and fuel reduction treatments in young redwood stands;
Sediment source reduction treatments along legacy logging roads; and
Shaded fuel breaks and restoration thinning to benefit hardwoods in mixed conifer-hardwood
stands.
1 Midpen, 2022. Resource Management Policies. Relevant goals and policies are included as Appendix A.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 5 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
As shown in Table 1 and Figure 1, and as described in detail below, these treatments will take place in
four areas of the Preserve: the Harmon parcel, the northern portion of the Conservation Management Unit
(CMU), one of the Harrington Creek tributary basins, and the Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel.
TABLE 1
TREATMENT TYPES AND AREAS
Treatment Harmon Parcel Northern CMU
Southern
Harrington
Tributary
Woodruff-
Folger Parcel
Old Growth Protection X X X
Young Growth: Restoration Thinning X X
Sediment Source Reduction X X
Shaded Fuel Breaks/Hardwood Restoration
Thinning X X
Description of Project Areas and Activities
Below are detailed descriptions of the planned activities in the four Project areas. For each area, there is a
description of current forest conditions and impairments to forest health; goals, basis, and strategies for
treatments or activities to improve forest health; a review of treatment options from the Plan; details of
the selected option; permitting; and next steps. Most of the information provided in these descriptions is
from the Plan; new information and detail are added where available. Implementation of the activities can
be accomplished in two to three years. Follow-up treatments needed to meet Project objectives, however,
may extend over several decades.
1. Harmon Parcel: Restoration Thinning and Fuel Reduction
Current Conditions
Following the clearcut of the late 19th or early 20th century, the 50-acre Harmon parcel was managed for
timber production and reentered at least three times using uneven-aged, single-tree selection silviculture.
Most of the Harmon parcel is classified as young growth, very high canopy closure (resulting in little light
penetration to the forest floor), redwood and Douglas-fir forest with a substantial contingent of larger
second growth trees and a scattering of old growth redwood. Conifers are well-spaced and vigorous. The
forest shifts to drier types upslope in the western and northern portions of the parcel, with more hardwood
and Douglas-fir. The headwaters of Harrington Creek (here a Class II watercourse per the
ATTACHMENT 3
La Honda Forest Health Project Areas
Kevin McManigal Sicular Environmental Consulting 2023
0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1
Miles
1. Harmon Parcel
2. CMU
3. Harrington Tributary
4. Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel
True North
Grid North Mag. North
Magnetic declination: 13° E ± 0.36° changing by 0.08° W per year
Projection: NAD 1983, State Plane California III FIPS 0403, Feet
Har
rington
Creek
La
Honda
Creek
Woodruff Creek
La
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!(35
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La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD)
CMU
Northern
Watershed
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 7 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
California Forest Practice Rules2) flow through the parcel, and the ground is moderately steep to low
gradient. A former logging road starts from the parking lot at Bear Gulch Road, winds down to and across
the creek, then continues east along the north side of the creek. Few erosion and sedimentation problems
appear to be associated with this road, or other old skid trails and landings within the Harmon parcel; an
exception is the culvert at the Harrington Creek crossing, which has failed.
Forest Impairments
The Plan identifies the following impairments to forest health, termed “impaired forest condition classes”
(IFCCs; see the full description of IFCCs in Appendix B):
Structural Impairments:
IFCC-1: High density of redwood regrowth.
IFCC-3: Douglas-fir and brush encroachment into mature hardwood and mixed hardwood/conifer stands.
Non-Structural Impairments
Heavy duff layer in redwood stands.
Goals
Goals for the Harmon parcel are to facilitate the recovery of a late seral, old growth redwood forest and to
improve conditions for wildland fire and climate change resiliency.
Basis and Strategy for Forest Treatments
The current structure and composition of the redwood-dominant areas of the Harmon parcel have been
formed through single-tree selection, uneven-aged silviculture, consisting of low-severity cuttings and
short (typically 12-15 year) reentry intervals. The last harvest was in 1988. Left to its own, the stand is
likely to develop more old growth character over a period of several hundred years, as the larger,
dominant trees with superior canopy position continue to gain size and dominance, and stand density
slowly decreases through stem exclusion (i.e., shading and mortality of the smaller trees in inferior
canopy positions). Current stem density, however, is undesirably high for the goal of expediting the
development of the stand to have more old growth character, including large stem size and large branches,
2 The California Forest Practice Rules (Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Chapters 4, 4,5, and 10) contain a stream
classification system that defines four classes of streams used to determine “Watercourse and Lake Protection Zones
(WLPZ), which are stream buffers required in timber harvest operations:
Class I: perennial streams that contain fish or are domestic water supplies.
Class II: perennial streams that do not contain fish but do contain other aquatic life or are within 1,000 feet of a Class I
stream.
Class III: watercourses that do not support aquatic life but have the potential to deliver sediment to a Class I or II
stream.
Class IV: human-made streams for domestic, agricultural, or hydroelectric supply or for other beneficial use.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 8 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
and to support species that are dependent on old-growth conifer forests, such as marbled murrelet
(MAMU).3
Fuel loading in the Harmon parcel is moderate in the low-lying, redwood-dominated areas, which
generally exhibit a light understory and lack of ladder fuels, but a thick duff and litter layer. Surface fuel
loading increases upslope in the drier forest types, particularly along the northern edge of the parcel, at
the base of the slope that leads up to Allen Road. This area fits the IFCC-3 classification (see Appendix
B), as there is a brushy understory, more Douglas-fir and hardwood, and there are ladder fuels present. In
addition, due to the close proximity to high powered overhead utility lines, the public roadway (Bear
Gulch Road), and private homes, improvements for wildland fire resiliency would be beneficial to
implement.
Good access, gentle slopes, and the beauty and majesty of the forest within the Harmon parcel make it a
good candidate for demonstrating forest restoration techniques, in particular restoration thinning. In
addition, the large volume of high-quality timber and the existence of logging infrastructure (roads and
landings) make the sale of thinned logs possible, which would help defray the cost of treatments. This
would be consistent with the District’s Forest Management Policies, which state that, “Restoration
forestry practices may result in timber that would be available for commercial sale. Any net revenue
derived from commercial timber sales conducted in conjunction with restoration activities will be used for
resource management activities (such as road maintenance and upgrade projects, weed abatement
projects, and long-term monitoring).”4
Treatment Options
Four options to achieve the goals for the Harmon parcel are presented and described in the Plan:
Option 1: Restoration thinning, with timber sale.
Option 2: Restoration thinning, no timber sale.
Option 3: Manage for sustainable timber production.
Option 4: No treatment.
Selected Option: Option 1: Restoration thinning, with timber sale
The Plan’s recommended option is to undertake a restoration thinning program to accelerate the
development of old growth forest character in redwood stands of the Harmon parcel5. This would begin
by identifying a cohort of “old growth candidate” trees for retention, around which thinning treatments (or
prescriptions) would be focused. Restoration thinning would reduce stand density through low thinning of
3 The marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is listed as a Threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act
(ESA) and as Endangered under the California ESA. 4 Midpen, 2022. Resource Management Policies. Quote is from Chapter XII. Forest Management, p. 62. 5 Similar restoration thinning projects have been implemented on other conservation lands in the Santa Cruz Mountains,
including the Sempervirens 236 property, owned by Sempervirens Fund, and San Vicente Redwoods. Restoration thinning
projects are also being contemplated by other agencies, such as the City of Santa Cruz Water Department, which owns and
manages extensive second-growth redwood forests around the Loch Lomond Reservoir.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 9 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
ingrowth, and crown release thinning would remove subdominants that are competing with the old
growth candidates for canopy position. Prescriptions would be applied in at least two cycles, 15-20
years apart: the first cycle to reduce density from the current 200 trees per acre to about 100 trees per
acre, targeting primarily suppressed ingrowth and subdominants up to about 30” diameter at breast
height (DBH), and the subsequent entry or entries to reduce density to about 50 stems per acre,
retaining approximately 30 trees >36” DBH, plus a scattering of smaller trees and ingrowth. Trees with
crown and stem “defects” that provide important habitat for birds and bats will be retained.
Significantly, this unit is contiguous with MAMU habitat to the south on the privately-owned Djerassi
Ranch. Therefore, retaining habitat trees in this parcel will augment MAMU habitat regionally, while
simultaneously meeting Project goals.
Thinning treatments are likely to produce a substantial volume of timber, and the Harmon parcel is well
suited for a timber sale. A haul road winds through the parcel and connects to Bear Gulch Road; there is
a skid trail network; and Bear Gulch Road, though narrow, windy, and used by residents, provides
access to State Highway 35. The parcel is zoned Timber Preserve Zone (TPZ). Conducting the work
under a THP, and selling the timber from the thinning treatments, is therefore feasible, and the
recommended option. Sale of thinned trees may offset or exceed costs of the forest treatments.*
Slash from harvested trees would include tops and poorly formed boles (or cull wood) that can
contribute to coarse woody debris habitat, which is valuable for amphibians, invertebrates, and fungi. In
the last entry, or final harvest) some number of the larger trees targeted for thinning may be deliberately
felled to function as large coarse woody debris, if it is determined that the forest is still lacking in this
important habitat element.6 Otherwise, commercial utilization of the merchantable components of
thinned trees, and treatment of slash per the Forest Practice Rules, will reduce activity fuels and
improve the stand’s response to fire post-treatment.
Recommended treatment also includes a fuel reduction program to reduce duff accumulation in the
redwood stand and to address the issues of brush encroachment and ladder fuels in the northern, drier
part of the Harmon parcel, which is upslope from the stream channel and has a southern exposure. If
feasible, this could include a prescribed burn program, particularly in the bottom lands within the
logging road loop, which could serve as a control line. The northern, drier part of the parcel would
benefit from prescribed burning, but given the lack of a control line and the presence of residences at
the top of the slope, this appears infeasible. Instead, mechanical treatment, and, where feasible, piling
and burning of slash, is recommended. This would also provide an opportunity to communicate and
work with forest neighbors to achieve fuel treatments that would benefit all stakeholders.
Harvested logs would be hauled off this portion of the THP via Bear Gulch Road east to SR 35. In
2022, the District conducted outreach and held public meetings that described this potential truck
traffic. Responses from the public were generally favorable, provided appropriate safety precautions are
adhered to, and communication remains clear.
*In alignment with the District's RMP, timber sales would only be conducted in conjunction with restoration
activities; any revenue generated from timber sales would be used exclusively for resource management activities.
6 Coarse woody debris, in the absence of lighter fuels, does not substantially increase risk of severe fire behavior.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 10 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
Permitting
The recommended permitting vehicle for the Harmon parcel is a THP, which would be required for a
timber sale. Please see description of THPs and the THP process below.
Next Steps
Delineate treatment area and property line (flag in field, detailed mapping);
Delineate/flag/map watercourses, erosion sites, roads/trails, cultural resources and associated
buffers;
Sample marking of trees;
Field tour for District Board, staff, and, if feasible, the public;
Prepare THP.
2. Northern Conservation Management Unit Old Growth
Preservation, Restoration Thinning, Sediment Source
Reduction, and Shaded Fuel Break
Selected treatments for a portion of the CMU include forest thinning, fuel reduction, and sediment
reduction treatments in the northern portion of the CMU, as well as creation of a shaded fuel break along
the Cielo Trail.
Current Conditions
The CMU is a 440-acre area in the central eastern portion of the La Honda Forest, of which 350 acres are
predominantly conifer forest, mostly redwood; another 20 acres are mixed Douglas-fir and hardwood, and
the remainder are grassland with patches of hardwood. Topographically, the CMU extends from the Cielo
Trail and Coho Vista Trail, which run along the ridge, down to and in some areas across La Honda Creek,
an elevation difference of about 1,200 feet. There are two unnamed tributaries to La Honda Creek that
drain the CMU. There is a high density of skid trails and at least two old logging haul roads in varying
states of failure by erosion. There are remnants of two washed-out bridges over La Honda Creek within
the CMU.
The CMU was last logged in the 1960s. It contains several conifer stand types featuring differing
combinations of residual old growth and young growth redwood and Douglas-fir, with varying levels of
canopy closure (Plan, Figure 2.3). There are occasional areas of deep soil and emergent groundwater
creating exceptionally good conditions for redwood. The presence in these areas of a high density of very
large redwood stumps, and in some places remaining old growth trees of extraordinary girth, attests to
their remarkable site quality. These areas were formerly “cathedral groves” – concentrations of old
growth trees of large girth and great height.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 11 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
Fuel loading in the CMU is generally moderate. There is a deep duff layer in much of the redwood-
dominated area, some presence of ladder fuels, and in some areas a high density of small trees and brush.
Patches of Sudden Oak Death (SOD)-infested tanoak have large accumulations of heavy down and dead
fuels, though they are limited in extent. The unaffected hardwood patches tend to have a brushy
understory. The unmanaged grasslands that abut the CMU at the top of the ridge along the Coho Vista
Trail, and the brushy fringe at the margin that has grown under the conifers, present a risk of fire
spreading into and damaging the relatively numerous old growth trees that occur there.
In the drier, mixed conifer-hardwood forests along the Cielo Trail, fire suppression has resulted in a dense
understory of shrubs, hardwoods, and Douglas-fir sprouts. In some areas, vigorous Douglas-fir have
grown through the hardwood canopy and are shading out the hardwoods as their crowns expand. These
areas exhibit high surface and aerial fuel loads and ladder fuels. Because of its location along traveled
roads, unplanned roadside ignitions from passing vehicles could occur in proximity to neighboring
residences.
Forest Impairments
The Plan identifies the following structural and non-structural impairments to forest health in the CMU
and adjoining area mixed conifer-hardwood stand (see full description of impairments in Appendix B):
Structural Impairments:
IFCC-1: High density of redwood regrowth stands.
IFCC-3: Douglas-fir and brush encroachment into mature hardwood and mixed hardwood/conifer stands.
Non-Structural Impairments:
Surface and ladder fuel accumulation.
Erosion and sedimentation from legacy logging roads.
Grass and brush encroachment into conifer stands.
SOD infestation.
Basis and Strategy for Forest Treatments
Left untreated, the redwood stands within the CMU can be expected to regain old growth character
gradually, including large tree size and attendant large tree features, wide spacing, and resulting habitat
value. Silvicultural treatments (forestry treatments), however, have the potential to accelerate recovery
substantially and, at the same time, increase resilience to climate change. Climate change stressors may be
most felt at the margins of the redwood-dominated stands, in the transition to drier forest types. Redwood
stands are experiencing increased summer heat, decreased summer fog, a shortened rainy season, and
deeper and more frequent droughts, and may decline and eventually be outcompeted in some of these
marginal areas, while persisting in moister canyon bottoms and benches. These marginal areas may,
therefore, become more populated by Douglas-fir because it is tolerant of dry conditions. Silvicultural
treatments may facilitate positive outcomes for this climate-driven ecological transition, retaining habitat
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 12 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
potential for key species, including MAMU, while avoiding a lengthy period of ecological disruption or
major reduction in the rate of carbon sequestration. Such treatments could include favoring retention of
existing Douglas-fir, and, where absent, planting Douglas-fir seedlings.
The legacy of the 1960s logging entry, which involved intensive road construction to extract logs, is still
seen in extensive scarring of the landscape, altered hydrology, and increased sedimentation of La Honda
Creek. While much of the erosion and sediment delivery to the aquatic environment has already occurred,
many features continue to erode and contribute sediment to the stream system (see Plan, Appendix A,
Haul Road Sediment Source Inventory). San Gregorio Creek, to which La Honda Creek is a tributary, is
listed under the federal Clean Water Act as an Impaired Water Body for high sediment levels, in part as a
result of human activities including logging and associated road construction.
Moderate fuel loading and unfavorable fuel structure along the upper margin of the CMU and in the
adjacent Allen Road/White Barn area pose the risk of high intensity wildfire. Mechanical treatments to
reduce understory height and density and to remove ladder fuels and accumulated dead and down
material, potentially combined with prescribed fire, would improve wildfire resiliency by helping to
preserve more favorable mature hardwoods and large conifer, including old growth, along the upper
margin of the CMU.
To keep the Project to a manageable scale, only the northern portion of the CMU is included as a
treatment area. The Project area is approximately 71 acres and encompasses a portion of the 151-acre
northern tributary watershed (Figure 1). The Project area was selected because it includes the upper, more
accessible portion of the old haul road inventoried as part of the Plan.
Goals
Goals for the CMU are to facilitate the recovery of late seral, old growth conditions, in particular
restoring the apparent former majesty of the cathedral groves; to address legacy logging features that
continue to degrade aquatic habitat; to improve wildfire resiliency and protect remaining old growth trees;
and to increase the forest’s resilience in the face of climate change. For the mixed conifer-hardwood stand
along the Cielo Trail, the goals are to improve wildland fire resiliency; to maintain mid-seral ecological
conditions and promote biodiversity; and to facilitate future maintenance.
Treatment Options
The Plan presents three options for forest treatments within the CMU, and one for the mixed conifer-
hardwood stand along the Cielo Trail (addressed in the Plan under Allen Road/White Barn area):
Option 1: Protect existing old growth and old second growth individuals; accelerate development of old
growth character in locations with exceptional growing conditions for redwood; inventory and address
high priority legacy erosion problems.
Option 2: Same as Option 1, with addition of a timber sale.
Option 3: (mixed conifer-hardwood stand): Shaded fuel breaks, prescribed burning.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 13 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
Selected Option
Option 2: Protect existing old growth and old second growth individuals; accelerate
development of old growth character in favored locations; address high priority legacy
erosion problems; sale of thinned logs
The CMU has a substantial component of old growth and advanced second growth trees. Some of the second
growth trees are well over 100 years old and 200 feet tall (Plan, Figure 4-2). Radial thinning of trees around
large individuals will reduce competition and improve fire resiliency. Restoration thinning treatments may
also be aimed at recreating cathedral groves in portions of the CMU where the presence of large stumps and
vigorous regrowth indicate extraordinary growing conditions for redwood. This will involve thinning to the
approximate number and spacing of the original stand and retaining trees with the best form and vigor, as
well as a cohort of trees with unusual characteristics, such as reiterated trunks, melded boles, large branches,
and exaggerated burls. Thinning treatments should be applied over two or three entries, 10-15 years apart, to
avoid large canopy openings and to allow retained trees to exhibit a release response before selecting the next
cohort for thinning. As with the Harmon parcel, restoration treatments within advanced regrowth redwood
stands would produce a substantial volume of merchantable timber. A log sale may be feasible and would
help defray the cost of treatment.*
In more marginal areas, particularly in the transition between moister canyon bottoms and drier canyon
sidewalls, and also higher on slopes where redwood-dominated stand types transition to hardwood or
hardwood/Douglas-fir types, the recommended treatment includes thinning of redwoods and favoring
retention of Douglas-fir, if present. This managed transition to Douglas-fir should be undertaken on a limited,
experimental basis and monitored closely. If no Douglas-fir is present, it is recommended to plant Douglas-
fir seedlings into canopy gaps at an initial rate of 950 per acre (6.5’ spacing), then thin at 10- to 15- year
intervals as the planting matures, but maintain a closed conifer canopy once established.
The upper CMU is well-suited to prescribed fire, which may be used to reduce the duff layer and burn out
brush and overcrowded and suppressed small trees. Prior to a prescribed burn, hand and mechanical pre-
treatments should be used to set up a successful low-intensity burn. This would include removal of
accumulated duff, litter, and coarse woody debris from around old growth trees, and piling and burning of the
finer material in nearby locations, where convective and radiant heat will not singe the limbs of the old
growth. The prescribed burning program should encompass pure conifer stands with thick duff
accumulations, as well as drier areas with more hardwood. If practical, prescribed burning could include
SOD-decimated tanoak patches, which could then be planted with mixed hardwoods and Douglas-fir. The
most likely location to begin prescribed burning is from the upper edge of the CMU along the Cielo Trail,
which can serve as a control line, down to the haul road, which can be used for firing and holding operations.
The logging roads can then serve as the next control line for continued burning downslope.
The Project also includes treatment of identified sediment sources along the haul road. Appendix A of the
Plan contains a sediment source inventory of the main logging haul road through the CMU, now deteriorated
and mostly impassable, particularly in the lower half of the road. The inventory analyzes numerous road
failures, failed crossings, stream diversions, and other road problems, many of which continue to erode and
contribute sediment to La Honda Creek. The upper portion of the road is still relatively easily accessible for
typical unimproved road earth-moving equipment such as bulldozer and excavator, but the lower part would
require a separate and much larger effort to enable passage by heavy equipment.
*In alignment with the District's RMP, timber sales would only be conducted in conjunction with restoration activities; any revenue
generated from timber sales would be used exclusively for resource management activities.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 14 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
As noted in Plan Appendix A, reestablishing access to lower portions of the road would involve substantial
disturbance and a short-term increase of sedimentation during construction and restoration. The long-term
benefit of mitigating these less accessible sediment sources is reduced because of the short-term sedimentation
associated with construction necessary for accessing the sites. Mitigating sediment would be most effective
elsewhere in the San Gregorio watershed, though the District could revisit this later. If portions of the road
system are upgraded and retained for emergency and patrol access and/or as future recreational hiking trails,
treatments to reduce sediment could create trails resilient to erosion while simultaneously providing a pleasant
user experience.
Harvested logs would be hauled from the CMU north on Allen Road, then east on Bear Gulch Road to SR 35.
As noted above in the discussion of the Harmon parcel, in 2022 the District conducted outreach and held
public meetings that described this potential truck traffic, and responses from the public were generally
favorable.
The selected treatment also includes creation of a shaded fuel break in the mixed conifer-hardwood stand along
the Cielo Trail. Treatments should be applied along both sides of the Cielo Trail, extending into the stand.7
Douglas-fir removal should target stems that are entangled in or overtopping and shading the crowns of mature
hardwoods, and those smaller trees growing within their dripline. Larger Douglas-fir entangled in or emerging
above the crowns of hardwoods should be girdled instead of felled, to reduce damage to retained hardwoods.
Older, open-grown Douglas-fir individuals, particularly those with large, wide, “wolfy” branches, established
Douglas-fir stands, and a sparse cohort of younger Douglas-fir growing in canopy openings between
hardwoods, should be retained.
Following initial treatment, it may become feasible to maintain these stands through a prescribed burn
program. In addition to reducing accumulated fuels, periodic burning would prevent encroachment by brushy
species and encroaching Douglas-fir and would spur regeneration of a botanically diverse understory. If
prescribed fire is infeasible due to Bay Area Air Quality Management District regulations or proximity of
residences, then periodic mechanical treatment using hand crews, masticators, or goats may be substituted,
though with arguably less ecological benefit. Burning in this portion of the CMU would also align well with
burning recommended in the Plan for the Allen Road/White Barn grassland.
Permitting
The same THP developed for the Harmon parcel could be used for work within the CMU. The THP would
cover sediment reduction work along the old haul road, as well as thinning treatments, and would enable the
sale of logs from the thinning operation.
The shaded fuel break and prescribed burning program would be undertaken as part of the District’s Wildland
Fire Resiliency Program.
7 Per the Wildland Fire Resiliency Program, shaded fuel breaks are limited to 200-foot width, and then transition to “Fuel
Reduction Areas” (FRA).
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 15 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
Next Steps
Develop detailed designs sufficient for the THP for sediment sites 1-11 (“Upper Road” sites)
along old haul road, per Plan Appendix A, Haul Road Sediment Source Inventory.
Map former cathedral groves and delineate (flag in field) for thinning treatments.
Delineate other areas for forest thinning and fuel reduction treatments (flag in field, detailed
mapping).
Delineate/flag/map watercourses, erosion sites, roads/trails, cultural resources.
Develop detailed thinning prescriptions.
Sample marking of trees.
Delineate area for shaded fuel break (flag in field).
Layout prescribed burn units, develop site-specific burn plan.
Host field tour for District Board, staff, and, if feasible, the public.
Prepare THP.
3. Southern Harrington Creek Tributary
The Harrington Tributaries area of the Preserve delineated in the Plan includes two small watersheds and
associated ephemeral streams that are tributary to Harrington Creek. This Project element focuses on
treatments to preserve and enhance an old growth redwood stand located deep in the southern Harrington
Creek tributary basin.
Current Conditions
The southern Harrington Creek tributary drainage, a Class II watercourse, contains a 4.1-acre old growth
redwood stand. There are numerous trees greater than 5-feet DBH, and several above 8-feet DBH. The
steep tributary canyon where this grove is located was previously logged, resulting in removal of about
half of the old growth trees. Standing old growth occur both along the stream channel on narrow alluvial
benches and up the steep side slopes of the canyon. Upstream, the forest transitions to a sparse, upland
redwood-Douglas-fir forest with a residual old growth component that extends to the western border of
the CMU, near Coho Vista Point. There is no record of logging in the southern drainage, but based on
remnants of a logging road into and through the old growth stand, it was likely logged in the post-war,
pre-Forest Practice Act tractor logging period. Access is difficult and there are no passable roads into the
old growth stand, except on foot.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 16 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
Forest Impairments
The Plan identifies the following structural and non-structural impairments to forest health in the southern
Harrington Tributary area (see full description of impairments in Appendix B):
Structural Impairments
IFCC-1: High density of redwood regrowth stands.
Non-Structural Impairments
Fuel accumulation: thick duff accumulation in the old growth stand, high density of regrowth redwood
stems, and brushy undergrowth contribute to reduced resiliency for wildland fire events that could
damage or destroy old growth trees. The duff accumulation also inhibits development of a botanically
diverse herbaceous layer.
Restoration Treatment Rationale
The old growth grove should be preserved and protected. Thinning dense redwood regrowth would
reduce competition, benefiting old growth trees, and, combined with general fuel reduction treatments,
improve wildland fire resiliency and habitat for species favoring old growth, such as marbled murrelet.
This stand is contiguous with similar timber stands to the west on Djerassi Ranch, thereby increasing the
biological value of the stand within the Preserve.
Restoration Goals
The restoration goal for the Harrington Creek Tributary is to preserve and enhance the old growth grove.
Restoration and Management Options
Option 1: Restoration Thinning and Fuel Reduction.
Option 2: No Treatment.
Selected Option: Option 1 – Restoration Thinning and Fuel Reduction
Left on its own, and in the absence of wildfire, the old growth stand is likely to persist. Thinning
treatments would be used to reduce the number, density, and proximity of small trees competing with the
old growth and improve the stand’s resilience to wildland fire events. Thinning would be accompanied by
general fuel reduction treatments, such as brush reduction, ladder fuel removal, and prescribed burning to
reduce the duff layer and the brushy understory. Accumulated fuels would be treated by piling and
burning.
Permitting
No aspect of the selected treatment option would require a THP. This Project element would be carried
out under the existing Board-adopted Wildland Fire Resiliency Program.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 17 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
Next Steps
Reconnoiter and select preferred access route;
Delineate Project area (flag in the field, detailed mapping);
Layout treatment areas and develop detailed treatment strategies, including personnel and
equipment needs.
4. Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel
In 2021, the District acquired a 183-acre parcel east of State Route 84 from Mr. Peter Folger, and added it
to the Preserve (Figure 1). Woodruff Creek, a perennial tributary to La Honda Creek, runs through the
parcel. The Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel, as it is called, also contains a portion of Whistle Creek, a
seasonal tributary to Woodruff Creek. As the Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel contains areas of redwood
and Douglas-fir forest, the District contracted with Sicular Environmental Consulting to prepare an
addendum to the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve Forest Assessment to assess forest conditions and
to develop forest conservation and restoration recommendations within the parcel.
Current Conditions
The Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel contains no structures, few roads, most of which are in poor condition,
and one small pond. The parcel is steep and heavily wooded, with deep stream canyons. Elevations range
from about 680 feet above mean sea level in the northwestern corner of the property along Woodruff
Creek, to 1,300 feet along the southern boundary. Most of the parcel consists of dense hardwood forest
with brushy undergrowth. There are two old growth redwood stands on the parcel, and several small
Douglas-fir stands, with scattered conifers elsewhere.
No timber harvest records could be found for the property, and similarly no evidence was found to
suggest extensive logging of the redwood stands in the past. Scattered cut stumps are indicative of non-
industrial harvest of some redwoods in the past, likely by an early homesteader. No records of wildfire
were found for the parcel, although burn scars are visible on redwoods. The age and condition of the
upland hardwood and understory scrub, and the depth of duff and litter in the redwood stands, all indicate
at least several decades since the last fire.
The two redwood stands, cumulatively spanning approximately 12 acres, are located along Woodruff
Creek and along Whistle Creek. The larger of the two at about 10 acres, the Whistle Creek stand contains
old growth trees of moderate size, ranging up to about five feet in diameter. The Woodruff Creek old
growth stand covers about two acres and occurs along the creek’s floodplain and alluvial benches. The
trees here are larger than those in the Whistle Creek stand, more typical of old growth redwood. The stand
extends downstream onto the neighboring parcel.
Old growth redwood stands and large Douglas-fir trees within the parcel provide suitable nesting habitat
for marbled murrelet. The District is conducting a site assessment and species surveys, which will be
completed by 2024. Species protections may be warranted during restoration and management actions.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 18 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
District staff have identified the old stock pond and the hardwood forest around it as potential habitat for
California red-legged frog and San Francisco garter snake, both of which are listed species.8 Both species
are known to occur within the surrounding landscape and may disperse through the property. Red-legged
frog may use the pond for refugia and for breeding, especially if habitat conditions are improved.
Woodruff Creek-Folger Parcel Forest Impairments
Structural Impairment
IFCC-3: Douglas-fir and brush encroachment in mixed hardwood stands.
Non-structural impairment
Heavy duff and litter layer in redwood stands.
Restoration Treatment Rationale
Together, the impairments identified above add to the risk of high intensity wildfire. Abatement of
accumulated fuel loads is the primary management action needed to ensure the protection of ecologically
and aesthetically valuable old growth redwood and to maintain diverse, mature hardwood stands. Left
untreated, the fuel condition will continue and worsen with an ongoing accumulation of dead and down
material. Deep accumulations of redwood duff and litter are highly flammable when dry; as the 2020
CZU fire in San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties demonstrated, burning duff can damage redwood crowns
through convective heating, and ignite large woody debris and cut stumps which may damage roots and
adjoining live trees. Strategic abatement of fuel loads will reduce this condition and increase the ability of
the forest to survive and recover from wildfire.
Restoration Goals
The primary goals for protection and restoration of forests within the Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel
include the following:
Protect old growth redwood stands from high-intensity wildfire.
Maintain and enhance suitable marbled murrelet nesting habitat.
Enhance the mature, diverse hardwood forest and the special status species it supports.
Improve aquatic habitat and remove potential barriers to anadromous fish passage.
Restoration and Management Options
Option 1: Reduce excess fuels in and around old growth redwood stands.
Option 2: Prescribed burning.
Option 3: No treatment.
8 The California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) is listed as Threatened under the federal ESA. The San Francisco garter snake
(Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) is listed as Endangered under both the federal and State ESAs and is a State Fully Protected
species.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 19 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
Selected Option: Option 1 - Reduce excess fuels in and around old growth
redwood stands and Option 2 - Prescribed burning
To protect the old growth redwood stands from high-intensity wildfire, the selected treatment for the
Woodruff Creek-Folger parcel is to abate accumulated surface fuels in and around the stands and to
reduce surface and ladder fuels in the surrounding hardwood stands.
Because of limited access, treatments must be conducted with hand tools carried in by work crews
entering the parcel on foot. Treatment would consist of removing accumulated leaf litter, duff, small
down and dead material, and low limbs, focusing on old growth trees and including the interior of fairy
rings. Removed material should be piled and burned. In addition, general thinning treatments targeting
small stems and encroaching Douglas-fir, combined with removal of brush and ladder fuels, should be
applied to the surrounding hardwood forest to create shaded fuel breaks and to moderate fire behavior.
These interventions will protect the redwood stands and preserve and enhance mature hardwoods.
The old growth stands may support marbled murrelet, and treatments should be timed to avoid
disturbance of this species during nesting season. Treatments should preserve both old growth redwood
and large Douglas-fir that may provide suitable nesting sites, as well as surrounding screen trees.
Initiating a prescribed burning program in and around the old growth redwood stands and surrounding
hardwood forests could be used to reduce fuel loading and increase resilience to wildfire and climate
change, but additional site evaluation is required to establish the feasibility of prescribed burning.
Pretreatment, consisting of clearing accumulated duff and litter from redwoods and moving it away from
trees having high ecological value, would be a prerequisite to broadcast burning to avoid damage to these
valuable redwood resources.
Small-scale prescribed burning, combined with mechanical treatments, could also be used to enhance
upland habitat surrounding the pond to increase the site’s ability to support California red-legged frog and
San Francisco garter snake. Small-scale broadcast burning could be combined with mechanical treatments
and applied in a variable or randomized spatial pattern to produce a mosaic of upland habitat. Treatments
could include periodic small broadcast burns, mechanical clearing of understory vegetation, piling and
burning brush, piling and not burning brush, and felling trees, especially conifers, to create coarse woody
debris. Additional site evaluation is required to develop a treatment that is feasible and capable of meeting
restoration objectives.
Permitting
No aspect of the selected treatment option would require a THP. This Project element would be carried
out under the existing Wildland Fire Resiliency Program.
Next Steps
Establish access route(s).
Assess and mitigate any legacy erosion sites associated with existing roads and trails.
Delineate treatment areas (flag in field; detailed mapping).
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 20 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
Develop detailed treatment plan.
Timber Harvesting Plan Overview
THPs are prepared pursuant to California’s Forest Practice Rules (FPR),9 the implementing regulations
for the Z'berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973.10 The FPR are the most stringent and comprehensive
forest management rules in the nation, and regulations in the Southern Subdistrict where La Honda
Preserve is located are additionally limited due to a long history of public response to harvesting and
litigation. The FPR govern all aspects of the commercial harvest of forest products including the licensing
of timber operators, preparation of THPs, cutting intensity, harvest practices, road construction, erosion
control, stream and watershed protection, sensitive species, archaeological and cultural resources, hazard
reduction, and fire protection. In addition, special local rules address hours of work, traffic safety, erosion
control maintenance, and other issues. Regulations for our area prohibit clear cutting. Only single-tree
selective harvesting is permitted, allowing just a portion of the standing timber to be cut, which is
compatible with and supported by the recommended management options presented for this Project as
well as existing District policies.
The THP itself is a CEQA-equivalent document. It contains a robust cumulative effects section that
identifies and discusses potential project impacts and proposed protection measures (mitigations). In most
cases, these measures are already articulated in the FPR. The “lay-out” of a THP includes significant field
work including mapping and flagging boundaries, stream zones, and other sensitive areas and protective
buffers inside the project area. Trees for harvest are marked by the Registered Professional Forester (RPF)
or their designee consistent with the FPR and with the silvicultural objectives of the timberland owner.
Survey work typically includes assessments of potential for occurrence of rare/endangered/sensitive
species and archaeological/cultural resources, stream conditions, existing and potential erosion sites,
stream crossings (conditions and sizes), commercial tree stocking, and forest health. Forest carbon is also
estimated using a CAL FIRE greenhouse gas (GHG) model that accounts for equipment emissions
associated with the operation, short-term reduction in carbon stocks, time required to return to pre-harvest
levels, and decadal trends in forest carbon growth and sequestration following the operation.
The process for approval of a THP is outlined in Figure 2. Prior to submitting a THP to CAL FIRE, the
RPF is required to mail notices to property owners within 300 feet of the subject property where
harvesting is proposed. Notice is also sent to the owners of property that adjoin private roads proposed to
be used for trucking logs, as well as to owners within 1,000 feet downstream of the harvest boundary.
Native American representatives for the region are also noticed and solicited for comments. This scoping
stage may include additional outreach as appropriate and if desired by the landowner.
Review of the submitted THP is led by CAL FIRE with input from representatives of the California
Department of Fish and Wildlife, Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Geological Survey,
local water districts, County Planning Department, and Native American tribal representatives. Review
includes a field inspection of the proposed operation called the Preharvest Inspection (PHI) and
9 Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Chapters 4, 4.5 and 10, § 895 et seq. 10 Public Resources Code § 4511 et seq.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 21 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
Preharvest Inspection Reports, which discuss plan provisions and make recommendations to ensure that
the THP conforms to the rules. These reports are discussed at the 2nd Review Team Meeting (chaired by
CAL FIRE) at which time agency participants develop “Review Team Recommendations.” These final
recommendations, along with all CAL FIRE and other agency documents as well as public comments, are
submitted to CAL FIRE’s Regional Office (RO) in Santa Rosa, where the final decision is made on plan
approval. Because it is a CEQA process, all submitted documents, agency and public comments, and
submitter responses are posted on the CAL FIRE website for public access.
The FPRs are enforced by CAL FIRE. Enforcement includes the interdisciplinary environmental review
by local, state, and federal agencies of all written harvest plans and inspection of both active and
completed harvest operations to ensure compliance with the regulations. All harvest plans are prepared by
an RPF, licensed to practice in the state, who is responsible for on-the-ground supervision of harvest
activities, plan compliance, and assuring post-harvest stocking levels are met. The effective period of a
THP is three years from the date of approval, with the option for one 2-year extension.
ATTACHMENT 3
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 23 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
APPENDIX A:
Relevant Resource Management Goals and
Policies
The following goals, policies, and implementing programs from the District’s 2022 Resource
Management Policies provide direction and context for the La Honda Forest Health Project.
RELEVANT FOREST MANAGEMENT GOALS, POLICIES, AND IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS
Goal/Policy Implementing Programs
Goal Forest Management (FM): Manage District land to retain and promote biologically diverse,
dynamic forest conditions; maintain and enhance high quality forest and aquatic habitat; encourage and
enhance the development of late-seral conifer forest; provide for visitor experiences within diverse
forest habitat; and promote District and regional fire management objectives.
Policy FM-1 Inventory
and assess District forest
and woodland.
Inventory and assess existing District forest conditions. Inventories
within hardwood stands should include forest age, structure, health,
and an evaluation of regeneration (growth of seedlings and young
trees). Inventories within conifer stands should have a particular
emphasis on forest age and structural characteristics, identification of
biological legacies, and the reconnection and restoration of late-seral
habitat. Inventories should also include the identification and
assessment of any effects of urbanization on the forests.
Inventory District forest to assess fuel loads and forest structure
related to fire. Identify access issues and District and
community/regional fire concerns.
Policy FM-2 Ensure that
forest management
activities are compatible
with the protection of
special status plant and
animal species.
Manage forests to expand critical habitat for sensitive species by
restoring forest structure and habitat elements utilized by sensitive
species to develop and connect suitable habitat.
Policy FM-3 Ensure that
forest management
activities are compatible
with riparian ecosystem
and water resources
protection and policies.
Protect riparian ecosystems and habitat to maintain natural
hydrologic process, water quality, and wildlife benefits. Maintain
essential riparian functions, and if necessary enhance and restore
riparian habitats.
Inventory and assess roads and trails on District forestlands to
identify significant erosion and sediment sources. Maintain essential
roads to high standards, and eliminate or reduce trail width on all
non-essential roads.
Discourage forest management activities within riparian areas unless
justified and implemented for the specific purpose of restoring
degraded riparian habitat.
Policy FM-4 Manage
District conifer forests to
sustain and encourage the
Prepare Forest Management Plans for high priority District forests to
establish habitat goals and appropriate management treatments.
Utilize restoration ecologists, forest ecologists, Registered
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 24 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
Goal/Policy Implementing Programs
development of late-seral
habitat conditions.
Professional Foresters, or other resource management professionals
to prepare plans, as appropriate.
Restore degraded forest habitats to promote the development of late
seral habitat, forest habitat complexity, and to enhance biodiversity,
where existing stand conditions and access permit. Utilize state of the
art silvicultural (forestry) practices to restore degraded forests.
Protect existing residual old growth trees and stands, mature oaks,
and most large, older Douglas-fir trees. The conservation of these
areas will take precedence over other uses and management practices
that are determined to have an adverse effect on these resources.
Maintain and/or create large snags and downed wood for wildlife
habitat where not a safety hazard.
Foster relationships with educational institutions, forest scientists and
forest professionals to inform District forest management decisions
based upon sound, current science, and to contribute opportunities for
continuing research of late-seral focused management. Seek grant
opportunities and partnerships for forest research and monitoring.
Policy FM-5 Provide
necessary fire and fuel
management practices to
protect forest resources
and public health and
safety. (See Wildland Fire
policies)
Maintain essential roads for emergency fire access, and forest
management activities undertaken to reduce fire hazard.
Evaluate the potential to reduce forest fuel loading through the
removal of smaller trees to reduce forest floor fuel buildup and ladder
fuels.
Coordinate with fire agencies and local communities to define
locations where fire protection infrastructure is desirable and
practical.
Reintroduce fire as a resource management tool to reduce forest floor
fuels and reestablish fire for ecosystem health where stand
conditions, access, and public safety permit. Coordinate with other
agencies for planning and implementation.
Policy FM-6 Protect forest
health from intense
wildfire, pests, and
pathogens with high
potential to cause damage.
Evaluate potential for forest loss to intense wildfire, pests and
pathogens where effective methods are available and justified.
Limit the scale of clearings and light-gaps in forests to reduce
potential for weed establishment. Where activities occur within the
forest edges, weed treatments and monitoring will be a component of
the treatment plan.
Manage forest diseases when necessary to protect natural biological
diversity and critical ecosystem functions. Regarding Sudden Oak
Death (SOD): detect, report and monitor infested areas; utilize
sanitation and best management practices (BMPs) to control the
spread of the SOD pathogen; train staff and educate the public; and
support SOD research to guide land management decisions.
Policy FM-7 Monitor
wildlife, water quality, and
vegetation response to
forest management
activities.
Conduct pre and post project wildlife and vegetation surveys with
emphasis on special status species.
Monitor water quality upstream and downstream of forest
management activities that have the potential to negatively affect
water quality or aquatic resources.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 25 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
Goal/Policy Implementing Programs
Periodically re-inventory forest conditions with a frequency adequate
to monitor forest response to management.
Policy FM-8 Provide
educational opportunities
for the general public and
recreational users
regarding forest
ecosystems and
management.
Place interpretive displays in accessible locations to inform and
educate the public about forest ecosystems, and management
techniques employed on District lands.
Conduct public outreach to inform and gain support for District
activities within the local community.
Conduct interviews with individuals related to past land use and
history of forested Preserves to compile historical details and
perspectives on District forest land. Include history into interpretation
and educational opportunities within the Preserves.
Goal Wildland Fire (WF): Manage District land to reduce the severity of wildland fire and to reduce
the impact of fire suppression activities within District Preserves and adjacent residential areas; manage
habitats to support fire as a natural occurrence on the landscape; and promote District and regional fire
management objectives.
Policy WF-4 Manage
District vegetation
communities to reduce the
risk of catastrophic fire
and to maintain biological
diversity.
Promote the restoration and development of late-seral forest
communities.
Evaluate the potential to reduce forest fuel loading through the
removal of smaller trees to reduce forest floor fuel buildup and ladder
fuels.
Continue to utilize and expand the District’s conservation grazing
program to reduce grassland fuels, brush encroachment, and
encourage the vigor of native grass and forb species.
Manage forest diseases such as Sudden Oak Death (SOD).
Manage scrub, shrub, and chaparral communities to maintain a
mosaic of ages and species within strategic management corridors on
roads, ridgetops, and near residential development or other critical
infrastructure to compartmentalize preserves and reduce fuel loads.
Policy WF-5 Utilize
programmatic
documentation to increase
the pace and scale of fuel
treatments, ensuring that
they are performed with
the appropriate
considerations for
biological, cultural, and
other natural resource
constraints and to reduce
regulatory hurdles to
implementation.
Perform fuel management activities under an approved Wildland
Fire Resiliency Program that defines vegetation management,
prescribed fire, pre-fire plans, and monitoring.
Work to streamline or remove regulatory or policy or cost barriers
that limit fuels reduction activities through the use of the
programmatic documentation and defined mitigation, and CEQA
exemptions, where feasible.
Coordinate with air quality regulators to enable increased use of
prescribed fire and to allow unplanned ignitions to burn to
predesignated areas for resource benefit.
Policy WF-6 Conduct
prescribed burns to re-
introduce fire into native
ecosystems and maintain
natural ecological
processes on District
lands.
Continue to utilize fire as a resource management tool to reduce fuels
and reestablish fire for resource benefit where vegetation conditions,
access, and public safety permit. Coordinate with other agencies and
tribes for planning and implementation. and perform prescribed burns
following defined safety processes and protocols.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 26 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
Goal/Policy Implementing Programs
Continue to utilize prescribed fire to reduce and prevent unwanted
fire damage resulting from excessive fuel load and altered plant
community structure and to control invasive species.
Conduct prescribed burns in an ecologically sound manner which
mimic natural fire regimes and/or traditional ecological knowledge
practices, and to promote biodiversity. Consider how traditional,
indigenous fire management for food, fiber, and all forms of
subsistence are different management tools and outcomes than
defensible space, thinning, and prescribed fire, for example.
Document/monitor the impact of traditional fire management on
biodiversity, water yield and quality, and ecosystem resiliency.
Develop burn units based on science and implement site-specific fire
prescriptions to improve regeneration of fire-adapted and special
status vegetation and to improve habitat conditions for special status
wildlife in fire-dependent ecosystems where feasible.
Develop and implement an alternative management protocol to
encourage seedling establishment of special status and disturbance
adapted species in aging stands when regeneration by fire is not
feasible.
Conduct public outreach to recreational users, adjacent landowners
and the general public through mailings, web site postings and press
releases related to the benefits of prescribed fire and other fire
management activities and inform the public of the District’s safety
protocols and processes associated with prescribed burns.
Source: MROSD, 2022
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 27 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
APPENDIX B
Description of Impaired Forest Condition
Classes (IFCCs) from the La Honda Creek Open
Space Preserve Forest Health Assessment and
Management Plan
As discussed in Chapter 3 of the Plan, the La Honda Forest has been profoundly altered, primarily
through logging, from its pre-disturbance condition. The analysis of restoration opportunities presented in
the Plan focuses on the identification of “impaired forest condition classes (IFCCs).”11 IFCCs are derived
from field observation and a reconstruction of historic stand structure and management history. They
classify current stand conditions, including species composition, tree size, spacing, density, and form, and
describe how they differ from historic reference conditions. The descriptive analysis of classifications
focuses on stand structures and growth dynamics that can predictably inhibit or impair the forest’s
recovery from past disturbance. Restoration then focuses on silvicultural treatments to address
impairments and redirect the growth trajectory of the stand toward the desired condition. The objective of
the restoration treatments is to alter structural and/or compositional attributes in a fashion that will realign
stand development patterns so that they more closely mimic natural patterns of stand development. If
treatment is successful, the stand’s own growth dynamics then return the stand, over time, to the desired
condition, including a restoration of its ecological function.
While in some cases altered forest stands may eventually achieve desired conditions without intervention,
active silviculture can realign stand development trends with restoration objectives more quickly. In some
cases, the forest has been altered to the extent that it is unlikely to grow back to its pre-disturbance
condition without intervention, and passive management cannot be considered restoration, but only
perpetuation of the altered condition. Recognition that a stand has been profoundly altered from its pre-
disturbance condition, or that the future climate may no longer support the same type of forest that once
grew there, may prompt consideration of “restoring” a stand to a different type more compatible with the
site’s current potential and likely future conditions.
In the La Honda Forest, we have identified the following IFCCs:
IFCC-1: High density of redwood regrowth stands. In areas of advanced second growth redwood,
there is generally a desirable range of age/size classes and species composition, but high stem density
(expressed as trees per acre; see Chapter 2) results in competition that inhibits the stand’s development
11 Keyes, C.R. 2005. Forest Restoration and Reforestation Strategies for Humboldt Redwoods State Park: Impaired Forests in the
Bull Creek Watershed. Report on File at North Coast Sector Headquarters. California State Parks, Eureka, California.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 28 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
toward regaining old growth character, and leaves the stand more vulnerable to climate-induced stresses.
The high density of medium and larger diameter trees results in competition for canopy position and
shading of the lower branches of the largest trees. As the shaded foliage becomes inefficient, the shaded
branches are shed through abscission and are culled from the live crown. As the tree continues to gain
height, this results in “upward crown recession,” the continued development of crown at the apex of the
tree, even as it is losing its lower branches. Loss of the lower portion of the crown equates to a decrease in
the crown’s leaf area, lowered potential for photosynthesis, and decreased growth potential. This inhibits
the increase in girth and development of old growth characteristics, such as large branches and expansive,
complex crowns, and may also adversely affect mechanical stability. Because trees are also competing for
soil resources, the high density may also increase the stand’s susceptibility to adverse effects of climate
change, including drought and heat-induced stress and mortality. Climate change-induced stress may be
most felt at the drier margins of these redwood stands (Ecoadapt, 2020a), which typically include areas
higher on slopes, and in the transitional areas between canyon bottoms and side slopes.
IFCC-2: Redwood isolates. On canyon side slopes, the narrow bands of continuous conifer canopy along
moister swales, sometimes referred to as “stringers,” has fragmented, with hardwoods, especially tanoak,
occupying interstices between regrowth redwood clumps. Tanoak sprouted aggressively after the clearcut,
outcompeting redwood in the short-term, especially where fire following the clearcut damaged or killed
redwood sprouts and incinerated Douglas-fir seeds and seedlings: Douglas-fir is typically reduced in
abundance or absent from these stands. The tanoak tends to hem-in the redwood, inhibiting radial crown
expansion that would lead to redwood reoccupying canopy space and eventually regaining the continuity
of the conifer canopy corridors. Tanoak also likely competes with redwood for dry season soil moisture,
shortening redwood’s growing season and overall growth rate, and decreasing vigor.
IFCC-3. Douglas-fir and brush encroachment in mixed hardwood stands. The mixed conifer-
hardwood stands are a diverse, dry forest type, composed mostly of live oak, madrone, tanoak, and
Douglas-fir. It is likely that current species composition and vegetation patterns reflect long management
by Native Americans. Frequent, low-intensity fire prevented encroachment of brushy growth and fire-
prone trees, especially Douglas-fir, and tended to maintain the forest in a perpetual mid-seral stage of
development. Through fire suppression, Douglas-fir that have sprouted within the dripline of the
hardwoods eventually grow through the crowns of the hardwoods, shading them out and killing them.
High fuel loading and hazardous fuel structure are common, with an abundance of brushy species and
small trees resulting in a high degree of both horizontal and vertical fuel continuity. Where these stands
occur adjacent to unmanaged grasslands, there is the potential for rapidly spreading, high-severity fire.
Non-Structural Impairments
In addition to these structural impairments to forest recovery, which indicate silvicultural restoration
treatments, we have observed several non-structural impairments as well. These are due to past
management, including fire suppression and unregulated logging, which has resulted in conditions that
raise the risk of high severity wildfire or otherwise threaten forest health and ecosystem integrity, and that
may be remediated through non-silvicultural management actions. We include in this category Sudden
Oak Death (SOD), which is evidently spreading throughout the La Honda Forest, causing a die-off of
tanoak in some areas, and potentially affecting other species as well.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 29 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
Non-structural impairments to forest recovery that we have observed within the La Honda Forest include
the following:
In redwood-dominated conifer stands with high canopy closure, thick duff accumulation inhibits
development of an herbaceous layer and adds to wildfire hazard. Thick duff layers pose a hazard
in the form of surface and ground fire severity. Severe smoldering ground fires lack the
dynamism of surface and crown fires, but their long residence times can make them capable of
lethal root scorch and mortality levels that rival fast-spreading, high-intensity fires. In some
locations with high duff loads, wildfire hazard is increased by presence of ladder fuels.
Erosion and stream sedimentation above natural background levels persist, due mostly to the
legacy of early tractor logging, leading to loss of topsoil, gullying and other scarring of the land,
and degradation of aquatic habitat and water quality.
At the margin of some conifer stands bordering on grasslands, including stands containing a
substantial number of old growth trees, grass and brush encroaching into the conifers poses the
risk of rapid spread of fire from grasslands into the conifer stand, raising the potential for conifer
damage or mortality in the event of wildfire.
Rapid die-off of tanoak infected with SOD leaves canopy openings, heavy fuel loads, and an
uncertain development trajectory.
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project
Implementation: Project Description
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2023
30
Preliminary Subject to Revision
APPENDIX C
Glossary
Term Definition
abscission the shedding of various parts of an organism, such as a plant dropping a leaf, fruit,
flower, or seed
bole a trunk or main stem of a tree
burl a large, woody, rounded swelling, usually found on a tree trunk
carbon sequestration the process by which carbon is removed from the atmosphere and stored
elsewhere, such as in plants and soils
cathedral groves a concentrated group of old-growth trees of significant girth and height
cohort a group of trees of a similar age that developed after a single disturbance;
also referred to as an “age class”
cull wood trees or logs of merchantable size that are unmerchantable due to defects; may
have wildlife and/or aesthetic value
diameter at breast height
(DBH)
the diameter of a tree’s trunk measured at 4.5 feet (or 1.35 meters) above the
ground; used as the standard for measuring trees
duff a layer of decaying organic material accumulating on the forest floor
fairy rings a group of redwood trees growing in a circle, often around the stump of a logged
old-growth tree
ford crossing a defined crossing point of a stream, typically comprised of rock or concrete
and generally set at or near bed level to maintain natural flow velocities
form a descriptive term of the relative straightness and taper of a tree bole
girdling removing a strip of bark around the entire circumference of a branch or trunk;
used to kill woody plants without cutting them down
gross volume volume of wood in a forest or forest stand including unmerchantable portions of
trees
grove (versus stand) a small group of trees with minimal undergrowth; smaller in scale than a “stand”
haul road a temporary or permanent road over which timber is transported from a loading
site to a public road
net volume the volume of merchantable wood in a forest or forest stand
old-growth a residual tree or stand of trees typically over 200 years old, often characterized by
very large trees; large plated bark, broken, dead or forked tops; multiple age
classes; structural heterogeneity, including large snags and large downed logs; and
the prevalence of mosses and lichens on large branches within the canopy
prescribed burning fire applied to wildland ecosystems under specified fuel and weather conditions to
accomplish predetermined resource management objective, such as fuel reduction
or regeneration of sensitive species in a fire-adapted plant community
radial thinning removing trees from within a prescribed radius around an individual tree to
reduce competition, accelerate growth, and improve vigor of the remaining tree
reiterated trunk an auxiliary tree trunk arising from a main trunks, other auxiliary trunk, or limb
regeneration the process of forest replacement or renewal; originating from seeds, sprouts,
planting and/or advance reproduction
release response tree growth resulting from reduced competition following the removal of other
trees via thinning treatment
ATTACHMENT 3
Project Description
La Honda Forest Project 31 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Implementation: Project Description June 2023
Preliminary Subject to Revision
Term Definition
salmonid of or pertaining to fish in the salmon family (Salmonidae), including salmon,
trout, chars, and whitefishes
scrub vegetation community predominantly comprised of low, woody plants
seral refers to a stage of ecological succession; “late-seral” denotes an advanced stage
of ecological succession, wherein vegetation communities have grown and
supplanted the vegetation communities emblematic of previous ecological stages
shaded fuel break a strip of land on which vegetation has been removed, reduced, thinned, or
otherwise modified, while retaining large shade trees, so that a fire burning into or
up to it can be more readily controlled and regrowth is minimized
silviculture the art and science of managing the establishment, growth, composition, health,
and quality of forests to achieve desired objectives, such as wildlife habitat,
timber, water resources, restoration, and recreation
site quality the collective factors that determine the productivity potential of a forest area
skid trail a road or trail over which logs are dragged or transported to a landing, where logs
are assembled and loaded onto trucks for transport to mills
slash nonmerchantable residue (including treetops, broken branches, uprooted stumps,
defective logs, and bark) left on the ground after logging, thinning, or other forest
operations
snags standing dead or partially dead trees; offer important wildlife habitat for
woodpeckers and other cavity nesting birds and small mammals
stand an aggregation of trees occupying a specific area, similar in age, size, arrangement
and composition, which is distinguishable from the forest in adjoining areas
stand types forest classifications defined by distinct combinations of age structure, species
composition, and canopy density
thinning forest management treatment that removes some trees while retaining others,
usually targeting a particular subset defined by size class, species, etc.
watercourse natural or artificial channel through which water flows
watercourse classes refers to the four California Forest Practice Rules-designated categories for
watercourses used to determine the width of the Watercourse and Lake Protection
Zone (WLPZ) required during timber operations:
- Class I: perennial streams that contain fish or that are domestic water
supplies.
- Class II: perennial streams that do not contain fish but do contain other
aquatic life or are within 1,000 feet of a Class I stream.
- Class III: watercourses that do not support aquatic life but have the
potential to deliver sediment to a Class I or II stream.
- Class IV: human-made streams for domestic, agricultural, or
hydroelectric supply or for other beneficial use.
Watercourse and Lake
Protection Zone (WLPZ)
stream buffer area required by the California Forest Practice Rules for timber
operations, the width of which is determined by watercourse class
ATTACHMENT 3
May 24, 2023
Board Meeting 23-14
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
The Board of Directors conducted this meeting in accordance with
California Government Code section 54953.
DRAFT MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
President Kishimoto called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District to order at 5:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present:
Members Absent:
Staff Present:
Jed Cyr, Craig Gleason, Karen Holman, Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, Yoriko
Kishimoto, Margaret MacNiven, and Curt Riffle
None
General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant
General Manager Susanna Chan, Assistant General Manager Brian
Malone, Chief Financial Officer/Director of Administrative Services
Stefan Jaskulak, District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Maria
Soria, Senior Planner Gretchen Laustsen, Capital Projects Field Manager
Bryan Apple, and Wildlife Program Lead Julie Anderson
President Kishimoto announced this meeting is being held in accordance with Government Code
section 54953. The public has the opportunity to comment on the agenda, and the opportunity to
listen to this meeting through the internet or via telephone. This information can be found on the
meeting agenda, which was physically posted at the District’s Administrative Office, and on the
District website.
1.PURISIMA-TO-THE-SEA TRAIL AND PARKING AREA FEASIBILITY
STUDY, PREFERRED TRAIL ALIGNMENT AND PARKING AREA
CONCEPTUAL DESIGN (R-23-52)
Senior Planner Gretchen Laustsen provided the presentation of the Purisima-to-the-Sea Trail and
Parking Area Feasibility Study findings and recommendations. Ms. Laustsen provided a general
project overview and a project vicinity and regional trail connections map that showed the
Meeting 23-14 Page 2
existing and planned regional trails in the area. The project is significant for its nexus to many
regional trails, including as a key segment of the Bay to Sea trail and as a new coastal trailhead
and parking area to District coastal lands. Specifically, the Purisima-to-the-Sea trail is envisioned
to be a roughly 15-mile regional trail connecting the Purisima preserve to the San Mateo County
coast. The trail will create a critical east-west link in the regional trail network from the Bay
Area Ridge trail to the California Coastal trail. Ms. Laustsen stated that the purpose of the
feasibility study is to evaluate the potential for a new trail connecting the existing preserve trail
network to the coastal trail and a new parking area with a trailhead. The project also analyzes
opportunities for connector trails and crossings that will be necessary to connect to the Cowell-
Purisima parking area along the coast. Ms. Laustsen highlighted the feasibility study process, the
project vision and goals, public engagement activities, and reviewed the key and recurring
feedback heard throughout the engagement process.
Capital Projects Field Manager Bryan Apple continued the presentation and reviewed the trail
process for evaluating trail alignments alternatives and stated that the District trail crews began
field scouting efforts in late 2020 to evaluate potential trail connections from the existing Irish
Ridge Trail to the proposed parking area on Verde Road. Staff also worked with the biological
consultant SWCA to do reconnaissance level evaluations of natural resources along the
alignment alternatives and engaged with grazing tenants to understand the considerations for a
trail alignment in an actively grazed area. The findings of these surveys have informed the
proposed trail alignments and identified alignment number one as the preferred alignment. Mr.
Apple commented that three primary trail alignment alternatives were identified, along with two
connector trail options. He provided an overview of each trail alignment alternative and stated
that all alignments have components of new trail construction and utilize some existing routes.
Mr. Apple then provided an overview of the trail grade for all three proposed trail alignments
and stated that the typical grade target for new trail construction is 8% to 10% but, may
occasionally exceed those thresholds when necessary to accommodate a natural resource concern
or geological consideration. Mr. Apple pointed out that most of the new trail alignment for
alternative number one is less than 10% in grade. Mr. Apple continued to review the trail
alignment considerations for the three alternatives and for the connectors using the classifications
of strong, moderate, and weak alignment. Lastly, Mr. Apple reviewed the cost estimates for the
proposed trail alternatives, including the connectors.
Director Riffle inquired if there was any flexibility in softening the grade for connector A to
make it a more moderate trail for new users or families.
Mr. Apple explained that there is potential, and it could be evaluated, but one of the challenges is
that this area is largely within active pastureland, making it difficult to pull the grade out without
expanding the footprint and adding switchbacks. Another constraint is that on the western side
of the property, there are existing erosion gullies located right above the coastal terrace.
Director Gleason inquired and received information on what sections are shared with working
ranch roads for connectors A and B and alignment one.
Director Cyr inquired on the location for a helicopter landing zone in the event of emergencies.
Mr. Apple replied that a site would be identified as part of the trail planning efforts.
Meeting 23-14 Page 3
Director Kishimoto commented that she had previously asked if it would be feasible to use
alignments one and three as a loop trail and inquired if the response she received was correct,
that it could not be done because there is a limit on the mileage length of the trails.
Mr. Apple confirmed the information was correct, there is an existing conservation easement on
the South Cowell property, which is fairly restrictive and limits the length of the trail.
Public comment opened at 6:01 p.m.
Public Access Program Manager Rachel Faye from the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST)
expressed support for the trail recommendations and offered to partner on future phases of this
project. Ms. Faye emphasized that this project is part of the larger Bay-to-the-Sea Trail that is
envisioned to extend from the San Francisco Bay through Redwood City, East Palo Alto, and
eventually to the coast near Half Moon Bay. The Purisima-to-the-Sea Trail is a significant
contributing segment, and POST is very appreciative of all the investments in its planning and
future construction. Ms. Faye stated she looks forward to being a partner in the future phases of
implementation of the connector trail D, which runs along the POST trail easement and other
implementation efforts as appropriate.
Dave Evans thanked Bryan Apple and the District for the hard work and stated that the prospect
of having a continuous trail from Skyline to the sea is exciting. Mr. Evans suggested reaffirming
the commitment to multi-use access for the entire length of the corridor, and he acknowledged
that this would require redesignation and potentially realignment of the Irish Ridge and Bald
Knob trails within the Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve since these trails are currently for
hikers only. In addition, he inquired if there is a tradeoff between accepting alignment 3 versus
perhaps some of the smaller loop connectors.
John Boothroyd commented that in the effort to increase the amount of loop trails, he suggested
that a bit of the existing road that goes between alignment two and alignment one would be a
great way to add a loop. The loop would create two route choices for hikers.
Jim Sullivan thanked Mr. Apple for the presentation and the Board for their constructive
comments. Mr. Sullivan encouraged staff to expand their outreach and noted many of the
neighbors are not internet savvy, specifically the residents at 1151 and 1212 Verde Road. The
resident at 1212 asked Mr. Sullivan to state his concern that he does not want to see any parking
on Verde Road. Mr. Sullivan also commented that during an outreach meeting there was support
for preserving the old remnants of an oil rig located across from the POST trail easement and
inquired if there was going to be any discussion on the topic. In addition, he inquired if the trail
was going to run parallel to Verde Road and if so, has staff had any conversations with the
resident at 1000 Verde Road. Lastly, he inquired if there was going to be any discussion whether
there would be a dedicated area for dogs and suggested using the flat area off the parking lot.
Public comment closed at 6:12 p.m.
Mr. Apple commented that the residence at 1000 Verde Road was recently acquired by the
District and staff will engage with the tenant to help them understand the alignment proposal,
and work to manage the privacy of that resident.
Meeting 23-14 Page 4
Ms. Laustsen stated that on the South Cowell parcel, there is a limitation on the overall length of
trail. Staff will need to evaluate further whether or not different options can fit within the
constraints of the trail easement allowance. In addition, neither the Cowell-Purisima trail nor the
Purisima preserve allow access to dogs.
Mr. Apple commented on Mr. Evan’s suggestion of an additional looping opportunity and stated
that it would overlap with the South Cowell parcel, which has trail length constraints, and would
extend into an active grazing site.
Ms. Laustsen mentioned that postcard notices were sent to all of the neighbors along Purisima
Road and Verde Road.
Director Holman inquired if staff could elaborate on the commenters remarks about retaining a
remnant oil rig.
Ms. Laustsen stated that on the Purisima Uplands property, there is a remnant oil facility that the
District is preparing to remediate. Some of the equipment will be retained and fenced. She
stated that there may be some minimal piping on the South Cowell property that would be
removed, and that the commenter may be referring to the Purisima Uplands property.
Director Holman suggested if staff could follow up on the matter.
Wildlife Program Lead Julie Anderson commented that there was a question about tradeoffs
between alternative one and three, and speaking from a wildlife perspective, there are badgers
throughout this area, and they move primarily north to south. Maintaining good connectivity
between existing ponds on the property is important for the local wildlife. Alternative one versus
three helps to maintain the connectivity for wildlife and provides a much larger public use buffer
for the adjacent riparian area.
Project Manager Mark Brandi with SWCA Environmental Consultants reviewed the parking area
planning and site analysis process, which included a biological resources assessment, riparian
setback analysis, cultural resource survey, culvert drainage study, topographic survey, traffic
study, geotechnical investigations, and multimodal access study. An opportunities and
constraints analysis was completed for the project to better understand key considerations for the
site, such as protection of scenic resources along the Highway 1 corridor, minimizing impacts to
the adjacent farmland and grazing operations, the protection of sensitive habitats and need for
riparian setbacks, and public safety. Mr. Brandi commented that the potential parking areas
located on either side of Verde Road are not located on prime agricultural lands, unique
farmlands or farmlands of statewide importance. Mr. Brandi displayed the three design
alternatives for the parking and trailhead areas and summarized the key similarities and
differences between each. Mr. Brandi also reviewed the three pedestrian crossings and the
proposed design elements. One of the crossings is located on Highway 1 to connect visitors to
the Cowell-Purisima lot, and two crossings are located at Verde Road.
Ms. Laustsen continued to summarize all of the key considerations for the parking area and the
probable estimated costs. She also summarized the trail connectors and crossings and provided
the next steps and project timeline.
Meeting 23-14 Page 5
Director Kersteen-Tucker inquired how the District minimizes the parking impact on locals and
noted the likelihood of escalating parking needs for the area over time and the effects of more
vehicles on regional, low-capacity roads.
Ms. Laustsen stated that the traffic study did identify that parking area C and the traffic volumes
associated with the original build-out would not exceed the roadway capacity.
Director Kersteen-Tucker inquired and received information whether any analysis has been done
to consider under-crossings for wildlife.
Public comment opened at 6:47 p.m.
District Clerk Maria Soria stated that there are no additional oral comments, but the Board did
recently receive written comments, and these will be emailed to the Board for their review.
Public comments closed at 6:47 p.m.
Director Kersteen-Tucker commented that she appreciates all of the outreach, and the detailed
planning that has gone into the project and believes the project will accommodate the regional
needs nicely.
Director Riffle commented that he supports alternative one but does not like alternative three,
and although a loop trail is desired in this area, Ms. Anderson’s remarks regarding alternative
three and its potential impacts on wildlife made him rethink his original position. Director Riffle
also agrees with the concept of multi-use trails, and he would like to see dog access too but,
understands there is no dog access in the preserve. He suggested the Board can revisit dog
access in the future, and he is happy to hear from Ms. Faye with POST about the regional
importance of this project. Lastly, he stated that he supports parking alternative C.
Director Gleason commented that he also likes the recommended proposals and will support
them, and supports the multi-use of hiking, biking and equestrian use for the whole alignment,
including the change of use on the existing trails to Irish Ridge, and parking option C. In
addition, he commented that 90% of hikers indicate a preference for loop trails and agrees with
Director Riffle that option 3 is not one that should be pursued but, inquired if there is an
opportunity on the north side for other creative options with smaller segments that might provide
some loop trails. Lastly, he suggested identifying a unique point of interest on the regional trail
to make the journey especially meaningful rather than simply going to an arbitrary point and
turning around.
Director Holman commented that she agrees with Director Gleason’s input and requested not to
use urban parking lot stripping in the parking area.
Director MacNiven suggested that the District should focus on the “preserve and protect” aspect
of the mission when developing this beautiful, magnificent, world-class landscape for public use.
Motion: Director Kersteen-Tucker moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to affirm,
with any final modifications as directed by the Board of Directors, the findings and
recommendations of the Purisima-to-the-Sea Trail and Parking Area Feasibility Study, accept the
recommended Trail Alignment 1, Connectors Trails A, B, C and D, Trail Crossings 1, 2 and 3
Meeting 23-14 Page 6
and the Conceptual Parking Area Design Alterative C as the project scope and description to
initiate environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act, and direct staff to
collaborate with partners in identifying the lead agency for the implementation of Connector
Trail D and Trail Crossing 1.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
Director Riffle requested moving the project in phases so that a portion of it could open sooner
than 2029.
ADJOURNMENT
President Kishimoto adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 6:58 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
President Kishimoto called the regular meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District to order at 7:06 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Craig Gleason, Karen Holman, Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, Yoriko
Kishimoto, Margaret McNiven, and Curt Riffle
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant
General Manager Susanna Chan, Assistant General Manager Brian
Malone, Chief Financial Officer/Director of Administrative Services
Stefan Jaskulak, District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Maria
Soria, Public Affairs Manager Kori Skinner, Administrative Assistant
Stephanie Gross
President Kishimoto announced this meeting is being held in accordance with Government Code
section 54953. The public has the opportunity to comment on the agenda, and the opportunity to
listen to this meeting through the internet or via telephone. This information can be found on the
meeting agenda, which was physically posted at the District’s Administrative Office, and on the
District website.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Matthew Czaikoski thanked the District for keeping Bear Creek Stables open during the
transition time and spoke in support of the Friends of Bear Creek Stables and the important work
they do helping children connect with animals in nature.
Jane Krejci shared a personal story on how the exploration and respect and care for the earth was
deeply instilled in her and suggested that it is important for children to have the same experience
Meeting 23-14 Page 7
in nature, to respect, love, and care for the outdoors and for animals, and urged the Board to find
a way to make these spaces and animals available to the community.
Public commenter commented that he would like for his daughter to have an opportunity to be
close to nature, animals, meet people, and make friends.
Annie River spoke in support of Friends of Bear Creek Stables and hopes that the District can
work with the new management and the Friends to continue providing community events. Ms.
River also expressed her gratitude for former board member Pete Siemens for everything he did
for open space, the Bear Creek preserve and the stables, and for also fighting to keep St Joseph's
Hill protected and preserved.
William Stout spoke about the importance of kids having access to nature, and in particular,
access to horses. Mr. Stout shared an article that he submitted to the Mountain News Network,
which described why he is so passionate and personally invested in nature.
Melissa Sheridan shared her children’s experiences at Bear Creek Stables and hopes that the
Board considers saving Bear Creek Stables.
Nancy Cole, President of the Friends of Bear Creek stables informed the District that they will
welcome and cooperate fully with Chaparral. She offered to host a welcome party at the stables
in the hopes of developing a positive relationship with Chaparral. In addition, they would like to
collaborate with Chaparral on their public outreach programs, as well as reintroduce the
programs that were in place prior to the new operator. The Friends of Bear Creek Stables want to
make it clear that Chaparral will be welcomed.
Zoya Girshfeld boarder at Bear Creek Stables commented that she has created a native plant
garden at the stables and believes nature has a lot to offer to people and children.
Jim Zhang spoke on his observations of his kids growing up with the stables and how they
learned to approach and develop a relationship with the animals and supports the Bear Creek
Stables.
Ruth Gantly spoke on how having an outdoor space for kids is important and especially to the
kids who are suffering from anxiety and depression, and how important it is to get them out into
open space and connect with the horses. Ms. Gantly shared an article she wrote about how her
daughter has developed a deep connection with a horse and how this connection has renewed her
strength and interest in life.
Aria McLeod commented she lives in San Jose but loves horses and that Bear Creek Stables
allows her to be close to her dream of owning one of her own. She commented that she never
had many friends, but at the stables, she has been able to work with horses and this has helped
her grow as a person, make new friends, and learn how to navigate new environments.
Lisa McLeod spoke in support of the Friends of Bear Creek Stables, and how much it has meant
for both of her kids. She could not be more grateful for the opportunity to have her kids have
that chance to learn and grow and be outdoors and connect with nature.
Meeting 23-14 Page 8
Rhoda Fry expressed her concerns about the ridgeline abutting Lehigh Quarry and that she
appreciates the District having shared oversight of the ridgeline easement and supports
Supervisor Simitian’s “Don't Chop the Top” initiative. She requested that the District encourage
the County to enforce the approved 2012 Reclamation Plan to reclaim and stabilize the site in
order to preserve and protect the ridgeline.
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
Introduction of Staff
• Stephanie Gross, Administrative Assistant
Proclamation
• In recognition of Finance Manager Andrew Taylor
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Riffle moved, and Director Cyr seconded the motion to adopt the agenda.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
CONSENT CALENDAR
Public comment opened at 7:41 p.m.
District Clerk Maria Soria reported there were no public speakers for this item.
Public comment closed at 7:41 p.m.
Director Gleason commented on agenda item numbers 4 and 6 and stated that these two projects
are excellent examples of how the District partners with other agencies because these two tasks
would not be able to be accomplished by one agency alone. He also believes that these initiatives
would not be completed without strong leadership from the District and thanked the Board and
staff for taking on these two projects.
President Kishimoto read the proclamation for agenda item 8 - Annual Display of the Pride
Progress Flag in June.
Motion: Director Riffle moved, and Director Kersteen-Tucker seconded the motion to approve
the Consent Calendar.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
1. Approve the Mach 8, 2023 Board meeting minutes
2. Approve Claims Report
3. Award of Contract to Bay Area Tree Specialists for Wildland Fire Fuel Treatments
and Tree Maintenance Services (R-23-53)
Meeting 23-14 Page 9
General Manager’s Recommendation:
1. Authorize the General Manager to execute an initial one-year term contract (Year 1) with Bay
Area Tree Specialists of San Jose, California in the amount of $351,400 for District-wide
wildland fire fuel treatments and tree maintenance services.
2. Authorize the General Manager to extend the contract with Bay Area Tree Specialists for up
to four additional one-year terms, each at a $500,000 annual cost, based on contractor
performance, for a not-to-exceed base contract amount of $2,351,400 over the five-year term.
3. Authorize a 15% contingency in the amount of $352,710 over the five-year term to address
unforeseen issues, for a total not-to-exceed contract amount of $2,704,110 over the five-year
term.
4. Alma Bridge Road Newt Passage Feasibility Analysis, Project Goals, and Grant
Application with the Wildlife Conservation Board (R-23-54)
General Manager’s Recommendations:
1. Receive and accept the Alma Bridge Road Newt Passage Feasibility Analysis.
2. Adopt the Project Goals, as reviewed and confirmed by the Project Stakeholders.
5. Contract Amendment for the La Honda Creek Parking and Trailhead Access
Feasibility Study at La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve (R-23-55)
General Manager’s Recommendations:
1. Authorize the General Manager to amend a contract with RHAA Landscape Architects of
Mill Valley, California in the amount of $37,470 to conduct additional technical studies
and support additional public engagement.
2. Authorize a 10% contingency in the amount of $19,700 to cover unforeseen tasks for a
total not-to-exceed contract amount of $431,884.
6. Highway 17 Wildlife and Trail Crossings Cooperative Agreement with the Santa
Clara Valley Transportation Authority (R-23-56)
General Manager’s Recommendations:
1. Authorize the General Manager to enter into a Cooperative Agreement with the Santa
Clara Valley Transportation Authority for the Plans, Specifications and Estimates phase
of the Highway 17 Wildlife and Trail Crossings project.
2. Authorize the General Manager to amend the Cooperative Agreement in the future to
specifically allow: (i) the disbursement of future grant funds to cover project costs, if
obtained after the execution of the original agreement, and (ii) a six-month extension of
the agreement term, if necessary.
7. Amendment to Board Policy 5.01 – Site Naming, Gift, and Special Recognition –
related to Monetary Gift Acknowledgements (R-23-57)
General Manager’s Recommendation: Approve amendments to Board Policy 5.01 – Site
Naming, Gift, and Special Recognition – to acknowledge all gifts annually in a standard
publication regardless of and without specifying the gift amount, as reviewed and supported by
the Legislative, Funding, and Public Affairs Committee.
Meeting 23-14 Page 10
8. Annual Display of the Pride Progress Flag in June (R-23-58)
General Manager’s Recommendation: Approve the annual display of the Pride Progress
flag on flag poles at Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District facilities during the month
of June, including the attached Proclamation.
BOARD BUSINESS
9. Public Hearing on the Proposed Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget and Three-Year
Capital Improvement and Action Plan (CIAP) (R-23-59)
Chief Financial Officer and Director of Administrative Services Stefan Jaskulak provided an
overview of the budget planning process and highlighted the budget development cycle. Mr.
Jaskulak stated that at the March 2023 Board retreat, there were 101 CIAP projects and 17
supporting projects. With the recent adjustments to the workplan, there are now 109 CIAP
projects and 15 supporting projects identified, with 11 newly added storm damage repair
projects. He continued to review the storm damage CIAP reprioritization criteria and highlighted
the repair projects added, the timeline extensions, scope reductions, and deferrals. Mr. Jaskulak
also reviewed the proposed FY24 budget, the changes from the year prior, and stated the overall
budget is 1% less than the FY23 adopted budget. He continued to review the District budget
summary, and the proposed expenses by fund, and the six-year general fund revenue trend from
FY19 to FY24. In addition, he reviewed the grant funding, the proposed FY24 expenditures by
fund, the annual Measure AA expenditures by a five-year trend, the debt service, Measure AA
debt service, reviewed the long-range financial plan and the change in general fund balance, the
proposed personnel budget and the three proposed new full-time equivalent positions for FY24.
Assistant General Manager Brian Malone reviewed areas of interest for the CIAP, including
projects supporting agriculture, diversity and inclusion and wildland fire resiliency.
Assistant General Manager Susanna Chan and Mr. Malone presented on the District’s four
program areas: Land Acquisition and Preservation Program, Natural Resource Protection and
Restoration Program, Public Access, Education, and Outreach program, and Assets and
Organizational Support Program. They highlighted key projects within each program.
The Board members requested and received additional information regarding various proposed
projects.
President Kishimoto and Director MacNiven thanked the Action Plan and Budget Committee
(APBC) for their work.
Director Riffle commented that the members of the ABC include Directors Holman and Gleason,
with himself serving as committee chair. The ABC held two meetings, which totaled about six
hours during which they reviewed the budget and other matters. Director Riffle expressed his
appreciation for staff’s organization, great overview, and level of details. He was particularly
pleased with how quick staff was able to incorporate the storm damage projects and defer other
projects seamlessly into the CIAP and that unanimously the ABC recommends that the full
Board approve the General Manager's recommendation of the proposed budget. Furthermore, he
mentioned that the District Controller was unable to attend tonight’s meeting but, he did attend
the committee meetings and voiced his support for the budget. In addition, the ABC requested
Meeting 23-14 Page 11
that staff consider a way to see how much is being spent and budgeted by preserve for the
development of next year’s budget process. Lastly, Director Riffle thanked Budget & Finance
Manager Rafaela Oceguera and her team, and the managers for their hard work.
Director Holman commented she had suggested at the ABC that it may be beneficial to have the
project numbers relate to the preserve for the next year’s budget review.
Director Gleason commented that organizing the presentation by preserve was very helpful
during the ABC meeting and requested having an index that shows all the projects by preserve
for tracking ongoing work for the next year’s budget. In addition, he commented that staff was
very fast to integrate the storm repair projects into the CIAP and that the field staff quickly
responded with the cleaned up and were able reopen preserves.
General Manager Ana Ruiz clarified that she asked the ABC if they would grant staff the ability
to come back to the Board in December with a proposal for how to provide the desired by-
preserve information to better understand what projects are occurring at each preserve. It may
not be necessarily a numbering system, but staff will discuss the best way to provide the
information.
Director Cyr reflected on the early years and how the budget was quite different and opaque, and
how it has improved with each passing year.
Public hearing opened at 9:17 p.m.
District Clerk Maria Soria reported there were no public speakers for this item.
Public hearing closed at 9:17 p.m.
Motion: Director MacNiven moved, and Director Gleason seconded the motion to bring the
proposed FY24 Budget and Action Plan back for adoption at the June 14, 2023 regular meeting
of the Board of Directors.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
A. Committee Reports
Director Kersteen-Tucker reported that the Agricultural Policy Ad Hoc Committee met and
heard a presentation on the public and stakeholder outreach and input received so far and
reported that the draft Agriculture Policy should be ready for Board review this summer.
B. Staff Reports
General Manager Ana Ruiz reported she along with Director Gleason and Government Affairs
Specialist Joshua Hugg met with Cupertino City Manager Pamela Wu and Mayor Wei to
introduce them to the District and discuss projects of interest. Additionally, she noted that she
and Mr. Malone met with Rhoda Fry and a number of citizens to discuss Lehigh and how staff is
monitoring quarry activities. She also highlighted that this month is Mental Health Awareness
Meeting 23-14 Page 12
Month and complimented staff for the number of events, resources and the series of trainings for
staff. Finally, she mentioned that staff is drafting a letter to LAFCO regarding their draft County
Wide Fire Service Review recommendations.
C. Director Reports
Director Cyr requested to adjourn the meeting in honor of former board member Pete Siemens
and reported that he hiked Russian Ridge and saw at east fifty different varieties of wildflowers.
Director Gleason reflected on Pete Siemens’ services and commented it was a nice remembrance
and a very welcoming environment and it was great to Directors, staff, and his family and
friends. He also mentioned the meet and greet with the City of Cupertino and felt everyone was
interested in the update.
President Kishimoto reported that she is a member of the Technical Advisory Committee for the
Fire Services Study for LAFCO and attended the May 15 meeting and is also glad to hear the
District will be presenting a letter, and she attended the BCDC meeting on May 18.
ADJOURNMENT
President Kishimoto adjourned the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 9:24 p.m. in honor of former Board Member Pete
Siemens.
Maria Soria, MMC
District Clerk
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
CLAIMS REPORT
MEETING # 23-19
MEETING DATE: July 26, 2023 Fiscal Year 21-22 EFT:66.38%
Fiscal Year 22-23 EFT:59.86%
Payment
Number
Payment
Type
Payment Date Notes Vendor Name/Number Blank Invoice Description Blank2 Payment Amount
7242 Check 07/07/2023 12245 - Pacific Diversified Insurance Services Earthquake Insurance 5050 El Camino 7/1/23-6/30/24 85,738.52
7245 Check 07/07/2023 15059 - Robert Half International, Inc Temp. Staffing for Finance & Accounting 10 weeks 45,372.00
7240 Check 07/07/2023 10304 - La Honda Pescadero Unified School District Tax Compensatory Fee FY 24 42,731.35
7265 Check 07/17/2023 11542 - Deere & Company John Deere UTV for CAO/Cloverdale 34,319.86
7304 EFT 07/17/2023 10978 - Vollmar Natural Lands Consulting, Inc Long Ridge: Botanical Surveys & Wildflower Trainings 25,644.00
7236 Check 07/07/2023 11985 - Applied Technology & Science, ATS Pulgas R: Spring 2023 Botanical Survey 2/15/23-5/31/23 25,144.78
7262 EFT 07/07/2023 12157 - SWCA Environmental Consultants P2S: Trail & Parking Area Feasibility May-2023 14,538.05
7256 EFT 07/07/2023 12252 - Ink Dwell Administrative Office Interpretive Mural 12,250.00
7253 EFT 07/07/2023 10546 - Ecological Concerns, Inc.Plant Install.& Maint. Multi Mitiga Site May 2023 11,846.50
7291 EFT 07/17/2023 10064 - MCB Remodeling LLC Mold Encapsulation and Paint 11,558.41
7259 EFT 07/07/2023 11617 - Mig, Inc.P2S BOTANICAL SURVEY April May-2023 10,765.84
7266 Check 07/17/2023 10396 - Go Native, Inc.Coal Creek French Broom Removal 3/15/23, 4/5/23, 5/3/23 10,000.00
7243 Check 07/07/2023 12188 - Parametrix, Inc.Hawthorns Transportation Study -May 2023 9,871.70
7269 Check 07/17/2023 11924 - Nomad Ecology Botanical Surveys for Teague Hill May 2023 9,838.15
7268 Check 07/17/2023 12254 - Mead and Hunt, Inc.RSA Multimodal Access program consulting 9,642.50
7287 EFT 07/17/2023 10005 - Grassroots Ecology Hendrys Creek Restoration May-Jun 2023 8,940.00
7237 Check 07/07/2023 15018 - FlowWest, LLC San Gregorio Habitat Risk Analysis 7,785.75
7284 EFT 07/17/2023 10546 - Ecological Concerns, Inc.Plant Install. & Maint. Multi Mitiga Site Jun 2023 7,202.00
7254 EFT 07/07/2023 11748 - Environmental & Energy Consulting Legislative Consulting and Lobbying Services 6,460.00
7293 EFT 07/17/2023 11859 - Montrose Environmental Solutions, Inc.Programmatic Environmental Consulting May-Jun 2023 6,325.63
7263 EFT 07/07/2023 10216 - Valley Oil Company Fuel for district vehicles 4,953.95
7281 EFT 07/17/2023 11520 - Community Initiatives Latino Outdoors Partnership 4,888.88
7250 EFT 07/07/2023 12078 - Coastside Farmers' Markets Coastside Farmer's Market Sponsorship 4,654.00
7277 EFT 07/17/2023 12105 - Arcadis, A California Partnership Technical Services provided by consultant Jun 2023 4,590.00
7270 Check 07/17/2023 12188 - Parametrix, Inc.Hawthorns area planning consulting 4,423.75
7278 EFT 07/17/2023 11430 - BioMaAS, Inc.Demos: Spring 2023 Botanical Srvy Apr -May 2023 4,414.00
7260 EFT 07/07/2023 10099 - San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory 2021 Grantmaking Program Access Apr-Jun 2023 4,364.75
7294 EFT 07/17/2023 12031 - Ray & Jan's Mobile Truck Service 6 on-site vehicle repairs and multiple 5K inspections 4,336.65
7275 Check 07/17/2023 11505 - Town of Portola Valley Permit Application & deposit fee 4,314.00
7248 EFT 07/07/2023 10616 - BKF Engineers Hawthorns Boundary Srvy Final Payment May-Jun 2023 4,010.75
7290 EFT 07/17/2023 12179 - Law Office of Peter J. Kiel Cloverdale Ranch 4/10/23, 4/18/23, 4/19/23 3,959.00
7241 Check 07/07/2023 11989 - Modiv Design, Inc.On-Call Task Order - Graphic Design Services 3,925.00
7271 Check 07/17/2023 15059 - Robert Half International, Inc Temp. Staffing for Finance & Accounting 1 week 3,648.00
7261 EFT 07/07/2023 12082 - Sicular Environmental Consulting LHC Forest Mgmt-Public outreach, Forestry Jun 2023 3,635.00
7246 Check 07/07/2023 11603 - San Mateo County Fire Department Fire Services Fee for FY 24 3,599.59
7303 EFT 07/17/2023 10350 - Valbridge Property Advisors Rent Appraisal Report (Contract)3,500.00
7249 EFT 07/07/2023 15024 - Chaparral Country Corporation Bear Creek Stables set-up cost reimbursements 3,490.00
7276 Check 07/17/2023 10775 - Tyler Technologies Inc Tyler Munis ERP Migration Consulting 3,260.00
7282 EFT 07/17/2023 11318 - Confluence Restoration BCR Plant Installation & Maint. Apr 2023 3,150.00
7292 EFT 07/17/2023 11989 - Modiv Design, Inc.On-Call Task Order - Graphic Design Services 2,650.00
7239 Check 07/07/2023 11465 - Jana Sokale Environmental Planning Hendrys Creek restoration proj report 2,600.00
7298 EFT 07/17/2023 10793 - Sherwood Design Engineers Webb Creek Culvert Hydrology and Hydraulic Report 2,527.50
7247 Check 07/07/2023 10102 - Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP Johnston Ranch/CA Coast Commission Legal Srvcs May 2023 2,505.38
7279 EFT 07/17/2023 10012 - Biosearch Environmental Consulting SF Dusky-footed woodrat protocol update 5/15-6/30/23 2,497.50
7301 EFT 07/17/2023 10964 - Swaim Biological Inc Bio On-Call, Task 2, Bio Monitoring Mar 2023 2,354.93
7288 EFT 07/17/2023 11593 - H.T. Harvey & Associates Ravenswood Bay Trail June 2023 2,173.26
Electronic funds transfer (EFT) for accounts payable
disbursements to reduce check printing and mailing, increase
payment security, and ensure quicker receipt by vendors
page 1 of 2
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
CLAIMS REPORT
MEETING # 23-19
MEETING DATE: July 26, 2023 Fiscal Year 21-22 EFT:66.38%
Fiscal Year 22-23 EFT:59.86%
Payment
Number
Payment
Type
Payment Date Notes Vendor Name/Number Blank Invoice Description Blank2 Payment Amount
Electronic funds transfer (EFT) for accounts payable
disbursements to reduce check printing and mailing, increase
payment security, and ensure quicker receipt by vendors
7267 Check 07/17/2023 11770 - Hydroscience Engineers BCR HydroScience Water Design 5/1/23-5/28/23 2,160.00
7280 EFT 07/17/2023 10616 - BKF Engineers RSA ADA Path DHF 5/29/23-6/30/23 2,031.00
7264 Check 07/17/2023 11863 - ALBION ENVIRONMENTAL INC BCR Landfill Characterization & Remediation Jun 23 2,013.55
7302 EFT 07/17/2023 10146 - Tires On The Go Tire replacement for 3 vehicles 1,788.84
7296 EFT 07/17/2023 10099 - San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory Plover Monitoring May-Jun 2023 1,668.28
7252 EFT 07/07/2023 11445 - Cross Land Surveying, Inc.Legal service: Easement and mapping 1,593.00
7297 EFT 07/17/2023 10136 - San Jose Water Company RSACP & SAO Water Service 1,366.85
7295 EFT 07/17/2023 11479 - Rootid, LLC Web Maintenance and Strategic Support 1,080.00
7299 EFT 07/17/2023 10447 - Simms Plumbing & Water Equip., Inc.Replace Solar Pump Controller at TC Graz 1,053.46
7238 Check 07/07/2023 11359 - Garavaglia Architecture Inc Paul Cabin & Rapley Barn Historical Evaluations 1,050.00
7244 Check 07/07/2023 12242 - Pescadero Grown Farmers Market 2023 EVENT SPONSOR 1,000.00
7258 EFT 07/07/2023 10626 - Koff & Associates, Inc.Compensation and Classification Srvcs June 2023 850.00
7283 EFT 07/17/2023 11042 - County of Santa Clara Office of the Sheriff Livescan background checks June 2023 775.00
7251 EFT 07/07/2023 11042 - County of Santa Clara Office of the Sheriff CIT (Justice Training Ctr) 4/26-4/28/2023 720.00
7285 EFT 07/17/2023 12165 - Edquist Davis Exhibits AO Interpretive Elements 635.00
7257 EFT 07/07/2023 10555 - Knapp Architects FOOSP Roof Repairs & Tenting Memo 6/8/23-6/19/23 600.00
7235 Check 07/07/2023 11880 - A T & T (Calnet3)Phone services- District May 2023 599.66
7300 EFT 07/17/2023 10302 - Stevens Creek Quarry, Inc.BCR Rock for Storm Damage 461.50
7255 EFT 07/07/2023 11593 - H.T. Harvey & Associates Ravenswood Bay Trail April-2023 338.02
7286 EFT 07/17/2023 10187 - Gardenland Power Equipment Stihl Equipment Parts 268.79
7273 Check 07/17/2023 11059 - San Mateo County Health Dept Water Test at Mulitple Locations 220.00
7289 EFT 07/17/2023 11991 - Kunz Valley Trash, LLC Bergman Garbage June 2023 94.88
7274 Check 07/17/2023 11961 - Telepath Corporation Service repair P117 77.50
7272 Check 07/17/2023 10182 - Royal Brass Inc Hydraulic hose 72.10
Total of Payments:512,918.36
512,918.36
-
A### = Admin Office Vehicle HC = Hendry's Creek P### = Patrol Vehicle SCNT = Stevens Creek Nature Trail
BCR = Bear Creek Redwoods HR = Human Resources PCR = Purisima Creek Redwoods SCS = Stevens Creek Nature Area
BMTB = Bear Meadow Trail Bridge IPM = Invasive Plant Maintenance PIC= Picchetti Ranch SFO = Skyline Field Office
CAO = Coastal Area Office ISM = Invasive Species Manageme PR = Pulgas Ridge SG = Saratoga Gap
CC = Coal Creek LH = La Honda Creek RR = Russian Ridge SJH = Saint Joseph's Hill
DHF = Dear Hollow Farm LR = Long Ridge RR/MIN = Mindego Hill SR= Skyline Ridge
ECdM = El Corte de Madera LT = Los Trancos RSA = Rancho San Antonio T### = Tractor or Trailer
ES = El Sereno M### = Maintenance Vehicle RV = Ravenswood TC = Tunitas Creek
FFO = Foothills Field Office MB = Monte Bello SA = Sierra Azul TH = Teague Hill
FOOSP = Fremont Older Open Space MR = Miramontes Ridge SAO = South Area Office TR = Toto Ranch
GP = General Preserve OSP = Open Space Preserve SAU = Mount Umunhum TW = Thornewood
Abbreviations
page 2 of 2
Rev. 3/15/21
AGENDA ITEM 3
R-23-89
Meeting 23-19
July 26, 2023
AGENDA ITEM
Award of Contract to United Builders Corporation of San Jose, California to Complete a Minor
Modification of Office Space at the Main Administrative Office
GENERAL MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATIONS
1.
2.
Award a contract to United Builders Corporation to convert one large office suite into two to
optimize for both staff facility use and available office rental space for a not-to-exceed base
contract amount of $277,260.
Authorize a 10% contingency in the amount of $27,726 to be reserved for unanticipated
issues, bringing the total not-to-exceed contract to $304,986.
SUMMARY
The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (District) issued a Request for Bids (RFB) to
convert one large office suite into two smaller suites to optimize use of the main Administrative
Office (Project) on June 6, 2023. The District opened the bids on July 13, 2023 and received one
(1) bid proposal. United Builders Corporation of San Jose, California was identified as the lowest
responsive and responsible bidder. The General Manager recommends awarding a contract to
United Builders Corporation for a not-to-exceed base contract amount of $277,260. The General
Manager also recommends authorizing a 10% contingency amount of $27,726 to cover
unanticipated issues that may arise, bringing the total not-to-exceed contract amount to
$304,986. The adopted Fiscal Year 2023-24 (FY24) budget is insufficient and will require a
budget adjustment to cover the work through the end of the fiscal year, which is anticipated to
come from either other project savings or unspent budget funds. The project is scheduled to be
completed in December 2023.
DISCUSSION
The District recently completed the renovation of a new Administrative Office facility located at
5050 El Camino Real in Los Altos, CA and has occupied the second-floor space as its
Administrative Office since May 2022. With the new Hybrid work model, which arose coming
out of the pandemic, the District is now able to successfully accommodate its employees using
less office floor space than originally contemplated and designed. As such, a portion of the
currently vacant first-floor east wing has been identified as an additional leasing area as a means
to further recoup costs and generate additional revenue to support District operations.
Additionally, District staff identified a new need for a classroom type space to accommodate
training, large group presentations, and large group meetings.
R-23-89 Page 2
In early 2023, the District contracted with Noll + Tam to prepare construction documents for
subdividing the east wing into two suites, one for District staff use and one for tenant rental and
providing a few other minor layout modifications to the existing facility. Construction
documents were developed and submitted to the City of Los Altos for permitting and received
permit approval.
The project includes the following:
•
•
•
•
•
Conversion of One (1) 7,600 Square Foot Office Space into Two (2) Office Suites (a
5,400 square foot District office space and a 2,200 square foot tenant rental space)
Reconfiguration of the East Entrance located off the front parking lot
1st Floor East Wing Entrance Modifications leading to the two new suites from the atrium
Plumbing for the First Floor Work Room
New Large Multipurpose Meeting Room for District use within the 5,400 square foot
space
The proposed tenant suite would be the fourth (4) tenant suite located on the first floor of the
Administrative Office, and the only tenant suite located on the east wing of the 1st floor. The new
tenant suite will be 2,200 square feet and similar in size to two (2) other tenant suites. The tenant
suite will have a large conference room, a single private office, a coffee room, huddle and
breakout spaces, and roughly 1,000 square feet of open office space for shared
workstations/cubicles. The reconfigured first floor District office space will accommodate 24
workstations, three (3) private offices, a combined workroom/breakroom, and include a new
Multipurpose Large meeting room.
The project calls for salvage and reuse of several components, including ceiling tiles, light
fixtures, fire alarm components, and audio-visual equipment. The reuse of these materials
reduces the construction costs and minimizes the project’s environmental footprint.
Contractor Selection
A Request for Bids was issued on June 6, 2023 via Periscope and released to three builders’
exchanges. Legal notices were posted in the San Jose Mercury News and San Mateo County
Times, and a link to the solicitation was posted on the District website. Two mandatory pre-bid
site walks were held on June 21, 2023 and June 28, 2023 with 10 total contractors in attendance.
The District received one bid and publicly opened the bid on July 13, 2023 and announced
United Builders Corporation as the apparent low bidder. The detailed breakdown of the bid
received is as follows.
Bidder Location Total Base
Bid
Percent +/- from
Engineers Estimate
($215,000)
United Builders Corporation San Jose, CA $277,260 +29%
United Builders Corporation provided references as part of the bid submission. Staff received
feedback from these references confirming that United Builders Corporation has adequate
experience performing this type of work for similar public agencies, including the Town of
Saratoga.
R-23-89 Page 3
United Builders Corporation bid pricing exceeded the Engineer’s estimate by 29%. Staff met
with United Builders Corporation to review the bid proposal and receive feedback on the factors
that led to higher than anticipated pricing. These factors include significant coordination between
several subcontractors on a small project, inefficiencies associated with working in an occupied
facility, and higher than estimated door and hardware costs. Staff confirmed that these factors
were not adequately accounted for in the engineer's original estimate. Therefore, both staff and
the General Manager recommend awarding the contract to United Builders Corporation as the
lowest responsible and responsive bidder at the proposed base bid amount.
FISCAL IMPACT
The adopted FY24 budget includes $265,000 for the AO Layout Modification Project #35029.
The project budget is insufficient and will require a budget adjustment during a quarterly review
to cover the recommended action and expenditures, which is expected to be covered by other
project savings or unspent funds.
AO Layout Modifications
#35029
Prior
Year
Actuals
FY24
Adopted
FY25
Projected
FY26
Projected
Estimated
Future
Years
TOTAL
Total Budget: $0 $265,000 $0 $0 $0 $265,000
Spent-to-Date
(as of 07/13/23): $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Encumbrances: $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
United Builders Corporation
Contract: $0 ($277,260) $0 $0 $0 ($277,260)
10% Contingency: $0 ($27,726) $0 $0 $0 ($27,726)
Budget Remaining
(Proposed): $0 ($39,986) $0 $0 $0 ($39,986)
The recommended action is not funded by Measure AA.
PRIOR BOARD AND COMMITTEE REVIEW
The Administrative Office (AO) Project previously came to the Board at the following public
meetings:
•
•
•
•
August 22, 2018: The Board approved a contract with Noll + Tam to assess and
design the AO based on Board approved project design goals, program elements, and
space needs (R-18-97 Board Report and Minutes) (R-18-100 Board Report and
Minutes).
October 24, 2018: The Board began the design process for the new AO by
prioritizing goals and space needs (R-18-123 Board Report and Minutes).
May 22, 2019: The Board approved final schematic design and associated cost
estimate (R-19-64 Board Report and Minutes).
October 9, 2019: The Board reviewed the design development plans and revised cost
estimate to confirm that the Project as designed meets the Board approved project
R-23-89 Page 4
•
•
goals, program elements, design direction, and project budget (R-19-130 Board
Report and Minutes).
January 20, 2021: The Board authorized the General Manager to enter into a
construction contract with BHM Construction, Inc., of Napa, CA for the construction
of the Project (R-21-09 Board Report and Minutes).
December 14, 2022: The Board authorized the General Manager to amend a contract
with Noll + Tam Architects to provide lease space design services for the
Administrative Office Project (R-22-143 Board Report and Minutes).
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notice was provided as required by the Brown Act.
CEQA COMPLIANCE
In accordance with the State California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, the
proposed project is categorically exempt from CEQA under Section 15301, Existing Facilities.
This exemption consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, or minor alteration of
existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, involving negligible or no
expansion of existing or former use and allows an increase up to a 2,500 square feet addition.
The scope of work for this project is consistent with the description of this exemption. District
staff will file Notices of Exemption upon contract approval.
NEXT STEPS
If approved, the General Manager will enter into a contract with United Builders Corporation.
Final contract signature is subject to meeting all District requirements, such as having all
required insurance and bonding in place. Work is scheduled to begin in September 2023 and
conclude in December 2023.
Attachment:
1. Exhibit 1- Office Layout Modification Floor Plan – 1st Floor
Responsible Department Head:
Jason Lin, P.E., Engineering and Construction Department Manager
Prepared by:
Paul Kvam, Senior Capital Project Manager
STAIR 4
136
DN
UP
BB
A
B
C
D
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
1 / A2.31A
20
'
-
2
"
26
'
-
0
"
22
'
-
1
0
"
15
'
-
8
"
OFFICE
134
OFFICE
135
COFFEE
127
COFFEE
ROOM
128
HUDDLE
SPACE
125
CUSTODIAL
104
IT ROOM
105
AV/IDF
CLOSET
108
OUTDOOR
DECK
160
LEASED
SPACE
121
OFFICE
129
OFFICE
130
OPEN
OFFICE
124
EAST
ENTRY
139
OFFICE
ENTRY
122
LARGE
CONF
126
CIRCULATION
120
GREEN
ROOM
109
12
2
A
DOOR NOT TO OPEN MORE THAN 90 DEGREES
OPEN
OFFICE
123
12
0
C
12
0
B
19' - 0"19' - 0"19' - 0"19' - 0"19' - 0"12' - 0"
Sim
___1____
A4.13
_______
A4.13
4
121B
10-23
FOCUS
131
FOCUS
132
FOCUS
133
GRAY AREA
NOT INCLUDED
IN APPLICATION
MULTI-PURPOSE
ROOM
137
13
7
A
10"
3 A3.11
KEYPLAN
GENERAL NOTES
1. REFER TO SHEET A8.40-A8.41 FOR DOOR SCHEDULE
AND TYPICAL DOOR TYPES.
2. REFER TO SHEET A9.13 FOR EQUIPMENT SCHEDULE.
3. REFER TO SHEET A8.10-A8.11 FOR PARTITION TYPES
1 FIRST FLOOR PLAN
A2.31B 1/8" = 1'-0"
SYMBOLS LEGEND
NEW CONSTRUCTION
(E) ITEM TO REMAIN
OPEN (N) OPENING IN FLOOR/ROOF
N&T JOB #
REVISIONS
SHEET NUMBER
SHEET TITLE
#
DRAWN BY
ISSUE DATE
729 Heinz Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94710
tel 510.542.2200
fax 510.542.2201
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FLOOR PLAN- 1ST
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DESCRIPTION
CHECKED BYChecker
05/22/23
21821.00
MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN
SPACE DISTRICT
OFFICE LAYOUT
MODIFICATION
5050 EL CAMINO REAL
LOS ALTOS, CA 94022
PERMIT SET
KEYNOTES
Key
Keynote TextValue
10-23 RECESSED FIRE EXTINGUISHER CABINET
DATE
ATTACHMENT 1
AGENDA ITEM 4
R-23-90
Meeting 23-19
July 26, 2023
AGENDA ITEM
Establish the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Tax Levy for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District Measure AA General Obligation Bonds - Series 2015A and Series 2018
GENERAL MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
Adopt three Resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District, one each for San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties, to establish an ad
valorem property tax levy of $1.20 per $100,000 in assessed value (or $0.0012 per $100) for the
Measure AA General Obligation Bonds – Series 2015A and Series 2018. The District Controller
has reviewed the calculation and concurs with the proposed rate of levy for FY24.
SUMMARY
On June 3, 2014, voters of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (District) approved
the passage of Measure AA authorizing the District to issue up to $300 million of general
obligation bonds (Bonds) over thirty years to finance Measure AA capital projects. In 2015, the
District issued $40,000,000 of tax-exempt bonds (Series A) and $5,000,000 of taxable bonds
(Series B). Series 2015B was fully paid off as of September 1, 2021. The District subsequently
issued $50,000,000 of tax-exempt bonds in February 2018. The proposed FY24 tax levy of
$0.0012 per $100, or $1.20 per $100,000 in assessed value, will provide the District with
sufficient revenues to pay the related debt service payments through September 2024.
DISCUSSION
Debt service payments on the Bonds are paid through a tax levy on all taxable property within
the District. Each year, the levy is calculated based on the assessed value and the debt service
amount the District needs to collect. The evolution of the tax levy is as follows:
FY16 $.0008 per $100 of assessed valuation
FY17 $.0006 per $100 of assessed valuation
FY18 $.0009 per $100 of assessed valuation
FY19 $.0018 per $100 of assessed valuation
FY20 $.0016 per $100 of assessed valuation
FY21 $.0015 per $100 of assessed valuation
FY22 $.0015 per $100 of assessed valuation
FY23 $.0013 per $100 of assessed valuation
(Proposed) FY24 $.0012 per $100 of assessed valuation
R-23-90
Page 2
Based on the debt service schedule for the Bonds, and tax revenue projections provided by the
District’s Tax Administration Consultant (Goodwin Consulting Group), the Board is requested to
approve resolutions for each of the three Counties authorizing the placement of an ad valorem
property tax levy of $0.0012 per $100, or $1.20 per $100,000 in assessed value.
FISCAL IMPACT
The establishment of the ad valorem property tax levy will provide the District with sufficient
revenues to pay the scheduled debt service payments on September 1, 2023, March 1, 2024, and
September 1, 2024.
PRIOR BOARD AND COMMITTEE REVIEW
This item to establish the FY24 Tax Levy was not previously reviewed by the Board or
Committee.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice was provided pursuant to the Brown Act. No additional notice is necessary.
CEQA COMPLIANCE
No compliance is required as this action is not a project under CEQA.
NEXT STEPS
If approved by the Board, the General Manager will direct staff to forward the resolutions to the
relevant departments and Board of Supervisors of each County for inclusion in the FY24
property tax bills.
Attachments:
1.
2.
3.
Resolution of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Setting the Tax Rate on
Voter Approved General Obligation Bonds – County of San Mateo
Resolution of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Setting the Tax Rate on
Voter Approved General Obligation Bonds – County of Santa Clara
Resolution of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Setting the Tax Rate on
Voter Approved General Obligation Bonds – County of Santa Cruz
Responsible Department Head:
Stefan Jaskulak, Chief Financial Officer/Director of Administrative Services
Prepared by:
Rafaela Oceguera, Finance & Budget Manager
Resolutions/2023/23-__SMC Measure AA Levy 1
ATTACHMENT 1
RESOLUTION NO. 23-____
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE
DISTRICT SETTING THE 2023-24 TAX RATE FOR SAN MATEO
COUNTY ON VOTER APPROVED GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS
______________________________________________________________________________
WHEREAS, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (the “District”) is a regional
open space district that includes territory in the County of San Mateo, the County of Santa Clara
and the County of Santa Cruz (each a “County”; collectively the “Counties”); and
WHEREAS, the District is empowered to issue general obligation bonds that are
authorized by two-thirds of the qualified electors of the District pursuant to Article 3 (commencing
with Section 5500) of Chapter 3 of Division 5 of the Public Resources Code and Article 4.5,
commencing with Section 53506, of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government
Code of the State of California (collectively, the “Act”); and
WHEREAS, a special bond election was duly and regularly held in the District on June 3,
2014, for the purpose of submitting a ballot measure to the qualified electors of the District (the
"2014 Authorization"), and more than two-thirds of the votes cast at the election approved the
issuance of up to $300 million of general obligation bonds to finance certain projects specified in
the 2014 Authorization; and
WHEREAS, for the purpose of financing the projects authorized by the 2014
Authorization (the “Projects”), by its Resolution No. 15-19, the District issued General Obligation
Bonds, Series 2015, Series A and Series B for the aggregate amount of $45,000,000 pursuant to
the Act. By Resolution No. 17-31, the District further issued General Obligation Bonds, Series
2018 for the aggregate amount of $50,000,000; and
WHEREAS, Section 5569 of the Public Resources Code provides that, for the purpose of
paying all sums coming due for principal and interest on all bonds of the District, there shall be
levied and collected each year a tax sufficient to pay the annual interest on such bonds and the part
of the principal that will become due before the time for setting the next general tax levy; and
WHEREAS, Section 5571 of the Public Resources Code provides that the Board of
Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, at the time of making the general tax levy in each year,
levy a tax upon all the real and personal property within the District and within its respective
County at a rate sufficient to meet the proportion of taxes necessary to be raised in the County for
the purpose of paying the principal and interest of the bonds and other indebtedness of the District;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, as follows:
SECTION 1. Levy of Tax. The Board of Directors of the District hereby determines
that the tax rate necessary to pay the principal and interest on the Bonds coming due and payable
on September 1, 2023, March 1, 2024, and September 1, 2024, is $0.0012 per $100 of assessed
valuation, and such tax rate shall be and is hereby levied in accordance with all applicable
requirements of law.
Resolutions/2023/23-__SMC Measure AA Levy 2
ATTACHMENT 1
SECTION 2. Collection of Tax. The Controller is hereby directed to forward a copy of
this Resolution to the Controller of San Mateo County, and to the Board of Supervisors of the
County, and to take such actions and execute such documents as may be required to cause the tax
rate set forth in Section 1 to be placed on the 2023-2024 property tax bill and collected by the
County.
SECTION 3. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect from and after the date
of its passage and adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District on July 26, 2023, at a Regular Meeting thereof, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Craig Gleason, Secretary
Board of Directors
Yoriko Kishimoto, President
Board of Directors
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Hilary Stevenson, General Counsel
I, the District Clerk of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, hereby certify
that the above is a true and correct copy of a resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors
of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District by the above vote at a meeting thereof duly
held and called on the above day.
Maria Soria, District Clerk
Resolutions/2023/23-___SCC Measure AA Levy 1
RESOLUTION NO. 23-___
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE
DISTRICT SETTING THE 2023-24 TAX RATE FOR SANTA CLARA
COUNTY ON VOTER APPROVED GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS
______________________________________________________________________________
WHEREAS, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (the “District”) is a regional
open space district that includes territory in the County of San Mateo, the County of Santa Clara
and the County of Santa Cruz (each a “County”; collectively the “Counties”); and
WHEREAS, the District is empowered to issue general obligation bonds that are
authorized by two-thirds of the qualified electors of the District pursuant to Article 3 (commencing
with Section 5500) of Chapter 3 of Division 5 of the Public Resources Code and Article 4.5,
commencing with Section 53506, of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government
Code of the State of California (collectively, the “Act”); and
WHEREAS, a special bond election was duly and regularly held in the District on June 3,
2014, for the purpose of submitting a ballot measure to the qualified electors of the District (the
"2014 Authorization"), and more than two-thirds of the votes cast at the election approved the
issuance of up to $300 million of general obligation bonds to finance certain projects specified in
the 2014 Authorization; and
WHEREAS, for the purpose of financing the projects authorized by the 2014
Authorization (the “Projects”), by its Resolution No. 15-19, the District issued General Obligation
Bonds, Series 2015, Series A and Series B for the aggregate amount of $45,000,000 pursuant to
the Act. By Resolution No. 17-31, the District further issued General Obligation Bonds, Series
2018 for the aggregate amount of $50,000,000; and
WHEREAS, Section 5569 of the Public Resources Code provides that, for the purpose of
paying all sums coming due for principal and interest on all bonds of the District, there shall be
levied and collected each year a tax sufficient to pay the annual interest on such bonds and the part
of the principal that will become due before the time for setting the next general tax levy; and
WHEREAS, Section 5571 of the Public Resources Code provides that the Board of
Supervisors of the County of Santa Clara, at the time of making the general tax levy in each year,
levy a tax upon all the real and personal property within the District and within its respective
County at a rate sufficient to meet the proportion of taxes necessary to be raised in the County for
the purpose of paying the principal and interest of the bonds and other indebtedness of the District.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, as follows:
SECTION 1. Levy of Tax. The Board of Directors of the District hereby determines
that the tax rate necessary to pay the principal and interest on the Bonds coming due and payable
on September 1, 2023, March 1, 2024, and September 1, 2024, is $0.0012 per $100 of assessed
valuation, and such tax rate shall be and is hereby levied in accordance with all applicable
requirements of law.
ATTACHMENT 2
Resolutions/2023/23-___SCC Measure AA Levy 2
ATTACHMENT 2
SECTION 2. Collection of Tax. The Controller is hereby directed to forward a copy of
this Resolution to the Controller-Treasurer of the County of Santa Clara, and to the Board of
Supervisors of the County, and to take such actions and execute such documents as may be
required to cause the tax rate set forth in Section 1 to be placed on the 2023-2024 property tax
bill and collected by the County.
SECTION 3. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect from and after the date
of its passage and adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District on July 26, 2023, at a Regular Meeting thereof, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Craig Gleason, Secretary
Board of Directors
Yoriko Kishimoto, President
Board of Directors
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Hilary Stevenson, General Counsel
I, the District Clerk of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, hereby certify
that the above is a true and correct copy of a resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors
of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District by the above vote at a meeting thereof duly
held and called on the above day.
Maria Soria, District Clerk
Resolutions/2023/23-___SCrC Measure AA Levy 1
RESOLUTION NO. 23-____
ATTACHMENT 3
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE
DISTRICT SETTING THE 2023-24 TAX RATE FOR SANTA CRUZ
COUNTY ON VOTER APPROVED GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS
______________________________________________________________________________
WHEREAS, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (the “District”) is a regional
open space district that includes territory in the County of San Mateo, the County of Santa Clara
and the County of Santa Cruz (each a “County”; collectively the “Counties”); and
WHEREAS, the District is empowered to issue general obligation bonds that are
authorized by two-thirds of the qualified electors of the District pursuant to Article 3 (commencing
with Section 5500) of Chapter 3 of Division 5 of the Public Resources Code and Article 4.5,
commencing with Section 53506, of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government
Code of the State of California (collectively, the “Act”); and
WHEREAS, a special bond election was duly and regularly held in the District on June 3,
2014, for the purpose of submitting a ballot measure to the qualified electors of the District (the
"2014 Authorization"), and more than two-thirds of the votes cast at the election approved the
issuance of up to $300 million of general obligation bonds to finance certain projects specified in
the 2014 Authorization; and
WHEREAS, for the purpose of financing the projects authorized by the 2014
Authorization (the “Projects”), by its Resolution No. 15-19, the District issued General Obligation
Bonds, Series 2015, Series A and Series B for the aggregate amount of $45,000,000 pursuant to
the Act. By Resolution No. 17-31, the District further issued General Obligation Bonds, Series
2018 for the aggregate amount of $50,000,000; and
WHEREAS, Section 5569 of the Public Resources Code provides that, for the purpose of
paying all sums coming due for principal and interest on all bonds of the District, there shall be
levied and collected each year a tax sufficient to pay the annual interest on such bonds and the part
of the principal that will become due before the time for setting the next general tax levy; and
WHEREAS, Section 5571 of the Public Resources Code provides that the Board of
Supervisors of the County of Santa Cruz, at the time of making the general tax levy in each year,
levy a tax upon all the real and personal property within the District and within its respective
County at a rate sufficient to meet the proportion of taxes necessary to be raised in the County for
the purpose of paying the principal and interest of the bonds and other indebtedness of the District.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, as follows:
SECTION 1. Levy of Tax. The Board of Directors of the District hereby determines
that the tax rate necessary to pay the principal and interest on the Bonds coming due and payable
on September 1, 2023, March 1, 2024, and September 1, 2024, is $0.0012 per $100 of assessed
valuation, and such tax rate shall be and is hereby levied in accordance with all applicable
requirements of law.
Resolutions/2023/23-___SCrC Measure AA Levy 2
ATTACHMENT 3
SECTION 2. Collection of Tax. The Controller is hereby directed to forward a copy of
this Resolution to the Auditor-Controller of the County of Santa Cruz, and to the Board of
Supervisors of the County, and to take such actions and execute such documents as may be
required to cause the tax rate set forth in Section 1 to be placed on the 2023-2024 property tax
bill and collected by the County.
SECTION 3. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect from and after the date
of its passage and adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District on July 26, 2023, at a Regular Meeting thereof, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Craig Gleason, Secretary
Board of Directors
Yoriko Kishimoto, President
Board of Directors
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Hilary Stevenson, General Counsel
I, the District Clerk of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, hereby certify
that the above is a true and correct copy of a resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors
of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District by the above vote at a meeting thereof duly
held and called on the above day.
Maria Soria, District Clerk
Rev. 3/15/21
R-23-91
Meeting 23-19
July 26, 2023
AGENDA ITEM 5
AGENDA ITEM
Partnership Agreement with City of Half Moon Bay for the Planning of Johnson House Park
GENERAL MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the General Manager to enter into a Partnership Agreement with the City of Half
Moon Bay and contribute funding for the planning, design, environmental review, and permitting
phases to pursue public access improvements at Johnston House Park.
SUMMARY
Beginning in fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25), the City of Half Moon Bay (City) anticipates initiating
a master planning effort for their Johnston House Park property (Johnston House or Park)
(Attachment 1: Project Area Map) with the intent to plan, design, permit, (Planning Phase) and
eventually construct improvements to the Park. The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
(District) and City are interested in collocating parking and establishing a trailhead at the
Johnston House site to serve both the Park and the future trail network that will be located at the
Johnston Ranch Uplands area of Miramontes Ridge Open Space Preserve. Per the proposed
Partnership Agreement (Agreement) (Attachment 2: Draft Partnership Agreement), the City
would lead the Planning Phase with District technical support and review, and the District would
reimburse the City for one-half (50%) of the consultant costs up to an amount not-to-exceed
$350,000. The Agreement describes the various roles, responsibilities, and expectations during
the Planning Phase of the project and outlines a commitment to enter into a new agreement for
the future Construction Phase, including development of an easement for District use, patrol, and
maintenance of the proposed parking area and trailhead at the Park.
DISCUSSION
Background
In January 2019, the City adopted a Parks Master Plan for their entire park network that
recommends the evaluation of potential improvements to the Johnston House during a master
planning process specific to the Park. The improvements include new park facilities and an
improved parking area. Following adoption of the Parks Master Plan, the District and City signed
a partnership Letter of Intent (Attachment 3: Letter of Intent) in October 2019 to identify areas
for collaboration and support at the City’s Johnston House and the District’s adjoining Johnston
Ranch Uplands. The Letter of Intent expresses District support of the City’s planned public use
efforts for the Johnston House and an intention to collaborate and partner on trail planning,
shared use, and funding of an expanded parking area and trailhead at the Park. In November
R-23-91 Page 2
2021, the District Board of Directors (Board) authorized the purchase of the Johnston Ranch
Uplands property and adopted a Preliminary Use and Management Plan for the property that
includes direction to develop a partnership agreement with the City to memorialize the Letter of
Intent.
Proposed Partnership Agreement
Proposed terms of the Partnership Agreement between the District and the City include the
following:
•The City will be responsible for the planning, environmental review, design, and
permitting activities for the parking area and trailhead on the Johnston House property.
•The City will comply with all applicable federal, state, and local codes, laws, and
regulations, as well as the California Environmental Quality Act.
•The District will reimburse the City for one-half of the project costs for the Planning
Phase in an amount not to exceed $350,000. This amount reflects the City’s total cost
estimate of $700,000 for the Planning Phase, which is based on costs of their recent
Smith Field Park project.
•The District will provide the City with a proposed loop trail alignment on the Johnston
Ranch Uplands that will connect to the proposed parking area and trailhead on the
Johnston House property.
•The District and City will collaborate on the consultant selection process and review of
documents prepared by the consultant(s).
•The District and City will explore, identify, and apply for grant opportunities as co-
applicants with assistance of the District’s Grants Program staff.
•The City will transfer an easement to the District for use, patrol, and maintenance of the
proposed parking area and trailhead at the Johnston House once a location and
preliminary design for the parking area and trailhead is identified during the Planning
Phase.
After the Planning Phase is completed, the District and City intend to enter into a new agreement
for the Construction Phase of the project that will detail the scope of the improvements and the
contributions for the related construction costs. Under the proposed partnership agreement, the
General Manager and General Counsel would be authorized to approve technical revisions to the
attached Agreement that do not involve any material change to any term of the Agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
Expenditures for the Johnston Ranch Loop Trail and Parking Area Project #31907 are
anticipated to begin in FY25. Budget for the project will be refined and requested during the
annual Budget and Action Plan process.
R-23-91 Page 3
Once this effort results in a capital project, the expenses should be eligible for Measure AA
reimbursement under Portfolio #01: Miramontes Ridge: Gateway to the Coast Public Access,
Stream Restoration and Agriculture Enhancement, which includes the goals to “Develop
trail loop system, including …. neighborhood access points. Develop staging area.”
PRIOR BOARD AND COMMITTEE REVIEW
This Project previously came before the full Board at the following public meeting:
•November 10, 2021: The Board approved the purchase of the Johnston Ranch Uplands
and adopted a Preliminary Use and Management Plan that includes direction to develop
an agreement with the City to memorialize the Letter of Intent, to collaborate and partner
on future trail and parking uses and funding for an expanded parking area and trailhead
on the Johnston House Park property, and trail planning on the Uplands south of Higgins
Canyon Road. (R-21-132, meeting minutes)
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notice was provided as required by the Brown Act.
CEQA COMPLIANCE
Consideration of this partnership agreement is not a project subject to the California
Environmental Quality Act. Environmental review will be completed by the City as part of the
Planning Phase.
NEXT STEPS
The City intends to take the Agreement to their City Council for approval in August 2023.
Following approval by both the City and District, both agencies will continue to coordinate
preparations to begin the Planning Phase in fiscal year 2024-25.
Attachments
1.Project Area Map
2.Draft Partnership Agreement
3.Letter of Intent
Responsible Department Head:
Michael Williams, Real Property Manager
Prepared by:
Aaron Peth, Real Property Planner III, Real Property
Contact person:
Aaron Peth, Real Property Planner III, Real Property
Graphics prepared by:
Anna Constanza, GIS Technician
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ATTACHMENT 1
ATTACHMENT 2
- 1 -
DRAFT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF HALF MOON BAY AND
THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND PERMITTING OF THE
JOHNSTON HOUSE PROPERTY AND RELATED TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS ON THE
ASSOCIATED JOHNSTON RANCH PROPERTY
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into by and between the CITY OF HALF MOON BAY, a
municipal corporation, ("CITY") and the MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE
DISTRICT, a public DISTRICT under the laws of California, ("DISTRICT"), dated ______,
20__.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, DISTRICT’s coastside mission is to acquire and preserve in perpetuity open
space land and agricultural land of regional significance, protect and restore the natural
environment, preserve rural character, encourage viable agricultural use of land resources, and
provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education; and
WHEREAS, DISTRICT’S Board of Directors approved the “Miramontes Ridge: Gateway
to the San Mateo Coast Public Access, Stream Restoration, and Agriculture Enhancement
Projects” as one of the Top 25 priority actions of the Open Space Vision Plan on January 29,
2014; and
WHEREAS, Measure AA is a General Obligation Bond approved by the voters in 2014
that provides funding to support the top 25 Vision Plan priority actions and includes Portfolio
#01 Miramontes Ridge: Gateway to the San Mateo Coast Public Access, Stream Restoration,
and Agriculture Enhancement Projects with dedicated funding for the development of a loop
trail system and a parking area; and
WHEREAS, CITY owns and operates the existing Johnston House property; and
WHEREAS, CITY’s Parks Master Plan (January, 2019) includes recommendations to
complete a Master Plan for the Johnston House property (including a multi-use path between
Property and South Main Street) and identifies the Johnston House property as an ideal location
for a regional trailhead to service the DISTRICT’s Miramontes Ridge Open Space Preserve and
the nearby Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve; and
WHEREAS, the CITY is planning to work with the community and stakeholder groups,
including the Johnston House Foundation, Green Foothills, and Peninsula Open Space Trust on
the planning of the Johnston House property; and
WHEREAS, the Johnston House property is owned by the City, but located within
unincorporated San Mateo County “County” and therefore subject to permitting by the County;
and
ATTACHMENT 2
- 2 -
WHEREAS, California Public Resources Code section 5546 empowers DISTRICT’S
Board of Directors to contribute money to a municipality for the purpose of assisting in the
acquisition of lands or for improving the lands, when the acquisition or improvement is located
and planned as to be of benefit to the District; and
WHEREAS, CITY and DISTRICT desire to further their common goal of providing public
trails that increase access to open space and enhance the recreational opportunities of their
constituents; and
WHEREAS, CITY and DISTRICT signed a partnership letter of intent (LOI) on September
26, 2019, which established DISTRICT support for CITY’s future public use site planning
efforts for the Johnston House property and DISTRICT and CITY’s intention to collaborate and
partner on trail planning, shared use, and funding of an expanded parking area and trailhead on
the Johnston House Park property, and trail planning on the Uplands property south of Higgins
Canyon Road; and
WHEREAS, the LOI establishes DISTRICT will contribute funding to the parking area and
trailhead in exchange for the CITY granting non-exclusive rights for public use of the parking
area and trailhead to the DISTRICT, and CITY and DISTRICT also intend to collaborate on
informational displays and signage describing their partnership, the protected open space and
agricultural lands, and sources of funding; and
WHEREAS, DISTRICT has managed the 644-acre Johnston Ranch Uplands property
adjacent to the Johnston House property under a Lease and Management Agreement with the
property owner, Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), since 2021, and DISTRICT will purchase
the Johnston Ranch Uplands property from POST in 2023 with the intention of preserving the
Uplands and providing a loop trail from the Johnston House property; and
WHEREAS, CITY now plans to master plan, conduct environmental review, design, and
obtain a County Planning Permit(s) for proposed improvements to the Johnston House property,
including use of the site as a parking area and trailhead for trails on the DISTRICT’s property
(Project); and
WHEREAS, DISTRICT and CITY agree to collaboratively explore, identify, and apply for
Project grant opportunities as co-applicants utilizing primarily DISTRICT Grants Program staff;
NOW, therefore, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and obligations
contained herein, CITY and DISTRICT agree:
1. Project Site. CITY owns the real property in unincorporated San Mateo County (Assessor’s
Parcel Numbers 065-210-110 and 065-210-120) in fee title and DISTRICT is securing the
Johnston Ranch Uplands property (Assessor’s Parcel Numbers XXX-XXX-XXX) as shown
on Exhibit A, attached hereto and incorporated herein (“Project Site”).
ATTACHMENT 2
- 3 -
2. Project Description. For purposes of this Agreement, the “Project” is the CITY’s project
for a proposed trailhead and parking area on the CITY’s Johnston House property and a
proposed loop trail on the DISTRICT’s Johnston Ranch Uplands property. This Agreement
addresses only the CITY and DISTRICT’s cooperation on the planning, design,
environmental review and permitting phases (collectively “Planning Phase”) of the Project;
the Parties intend to execute a future agreement addressing the construction phase of the
Project.
3. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence upon execution hereof by the last
signature of the duly authorized representative of the CITY or the DISTRICT and shall
expire upon the earliest of: (a) completion of Planning Phase of the Project; or (b)
termination by either Party in accordance with this Agreement.
CITY and DISTRICT may amend this Agreement in writing as necessary to accommodate
evolving conditions to effectuate the purpose of the Agreement. The Parties agree to timely
meet, and to negotiate in good faith toward an extension of this Agreement, if appropriate.
The DISTRICT’s General Manager and the CITY’s City Manager are authorized to amend
this agreement in writing to allow for delays or changes in the project schedule.
4. Project Execution. CITY agrees to lead the Planning Phase of the Project and the District
will support the City as outlined below.
a. DISTRICT will provide a proposed loop trail alignment on the DISTRICT’s
Johnston Ranch Uplands to connect to the proposed trailhead and parking area
on the Johnston House property and to be included in the Project.
b. DISTRICT will provide City with reports and documents related to the trail
loop completed to date.
c. CITY will be responsible for the planning, environmental review, design, and
permitting activities for the parking area and trailhead on the Johnston House
Property, which is estimated to cost $700,000.
d. DISTRICT will reimburse CITY for one-half of the Project costs for the
Planning Phase of the Project in an amount not to exceed $350,000 for Eligible
Expenses (as defined below).
e. CITY shall endeavor, as part of the FY 2024-25 Capital Improvement Program
to allocate funds necessary to accomplish the Project. CITY shall obtain
DISTRICT’S prior approval for any proposed material changes to the scope of
the Project.
f. CITY and District agree to meet and confer should the total cost of the Planning
Phase of the Project exceed 10-percent of the initial estimate of $700,000.
g. CITY must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local codes, statutes,
laws, regulations, and ordinances, including, but not limited to, financial
requirements, legal requirements for construction contracts, building codes, and
health and safety codes. CITY is the lead agency for purposes of complying
with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). For purposes of
CEQA review, neither the DISTRICT nor the CITY has committed to a definite
course of action by executing this Agreement and neither is limited in any way
in exercising any discretion with respect to the Project, including but not limited
ATTACHMENT 2
- 4 -
to (i) considering other feasible alternatives and mitigation measures to avoid or
minimize Project impacts, or (ii) determining not to proceed with one or more
component of the Project.
h. DISTRICT staff will provide technical support for the Project, including review
of the master plan, design, and permit documentation prepared by CITY.
i. DISTRICT and CITY will explore, identify, and apply for Project grant
opportunities as co-applicants utilizing primarily DISTRICT Grants Program
staff.
j. Prior to the completion of the Planning Phase of the Project, DISTRICT and
CITY will develop and execute an agreement for the construction phase of the
Project. CITY will grant an easement to DISTRICT for its use, patrol, and
maintenance of the proposed parking area and trailhead on the Johnston House
property.
5. District Review and Collaboration. CITY and DISTRICT will jointly develop a scope of
work for consulting services to be retained by City to assist with the Planning Phase. CITY
will prepare and distribute a Request for Proposals, which may be reviewed by DISTRICT.
CITY and DISTRICT will jointly review the proposals and DISTRICT will be invited to
participate in any interviews. Once CITY’s consultant commences work, CITY and
DISTRICT will develop a protocol for tracking project status and coordinating their
respective reviews of draft material. CITY agrees to provide planning project deliverables,
including draft Project master plan, design, and permit documents for DISTRICT review and
DISTRICT will provide comments and technical support. As Lead Agency under CEQA,
CITY will provide courtesy copies of Project environmental review documents prepared by
CITY, and DISTRICT, as CEQA Responsible Agency, agrees to promptly review
environmental documents in accordance with CEQA.
6. Scheduled Meetings. CITY agrees to meet with DISTRICT staff on at regularly scheduled
intervals, on a minimum quarterly basis, to discuss project progress. Scheduled meeting
frequency may be increased, if requested by either Party.
7. Reporting. CITY will provide DISTRICT with quarterly reports at least five (5) working
days in advance of each scheduled meeting describing progress on milestones/deliverables,
planned work and budget in the next reporting segment. More frequent reporting may be
required should meeting frequency increase. The Parties may elect to conduct unscheduled
meetings between the scheduled meetings, but CITY reports will not be required unless the
Parties agree.
8. Eligible expenses. DISTRICT will reimburse CITY for Eligible Expenses for Planning
Phase work in accordance with this Agreement, which shall not exceed $350,000. “Eligible
Expenses” means the actual, direct costs and expenses for CITY to perform the tasks and
activities that it is responsible for under this Agreement provided such costs and expenses are
directly related to and reasonably necessary to complete the Planning Phase of the Project.
Eligible Expenses includes the cost of consultants retained by CITY to assist in performing
master plan, environmental review, design, and permitting activities. CITY shall submit
invoices with CITY project manager signature to DISTRICT within sixty (60) days of
payment of incurred costs or expenses eligible for reimbursement. Upon approval of CITY
ATTACHMENT 2
- 5 -
submitted invoices, DISTRICT shall reimburse CITY within 60 days. Reimbursement
requests should include the following:
a. CITY’s invoice, including any supporting documents such as receipts or
consultant invoices for Eligible Expenses;
b. Cover letter with a description of the Project activity during the reimbursement
period; and
c. Spreadsheet with Eligible Expenses shown against the budget, including the
remaining reimbursement amount.
9. Insurance. At all times during the term of this Agreement, CITY shall carry general
liability insurance, or a policy of self-insurance, including owned, non-owned and hired auto;
property damage; and death and bodily injury, covering its risks arising out of the
performance of any acts pursuant to this Agreement or relating to its operation of the Project.
DISTRICT shall be named as additional insured on the policy. Said policy shall be in an
amount not less than Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) for bodily injury and property
damage liability in aggregate per occurrence combined single limit and One Million Dollars
($1,000,000) combined single limit for auto liability. CITY shall furnish DISTRICT with a
Certificate of Insurance evidencing such insurance coverage. At all times during the term of
this Agreement DISTRICT shall carry general liability insurance, or a policy of self-
insurance, including owned, non-owned and hired auto; property damage; and death and
bodily injury, covering its risks arising out of the performance of any acts pursuant to this
Agreement or relating to its operation of the Project. CITY shall be named as additional
insured on the policy. Said policy shall be in an amount not less than Two Million Dollars
($2,000,000) for bodily injury and property damage liability in aggregate per occurrence
combined single limit and One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) combined single limit for auto
liability. DISTRICT shall furnish CITY with a Certificate of Insurance evidencing such
insurance coverage.
10. Indemnification. In lieu of and notwithstanding the pro rata risk allocation, which might
otherwise be imposed between the Parties pursuant to Government Code Section 895.6, the
Parties agree that all losses or liabilities incurred by a Party shall not be shared pro rata but,
instead, DISTRICT and CITY agree that, pursuant to Government Code Section 895.4, each
of the Parties hereto shall fully indemnify and hold each of the other Parties, their officers,
board members, employees, and agents, harmless from any claim, expense or cost, damage or
liability imposed for injury (as defined in Government Code 810.8) occurring by reason of
the negligent acts or omissions or willful misconduct of the indemnifying Party, its officers,
employees, or agents, under or in connection with or arising out of any work, authority, or
jurisdiction delegated to such Party under this Agreement. No party, nor any officer, board
member, employee or agent thereof shall be responsible for any damage or liability occurring
by reason of the negligent acts or omissions or willful misconduct of the other Party hereto,
its officers, board members, employees, or agents, under or in connection with or arising out
of any work authority or jurisdiction delegated to such other Party under this Agreement.
The rights, duties, and obligations of the Parties as set forth above in this section survive
termination, expiration, and suspension of this Agreement.
11. Termination, Failure to Perform, and Dispute Resolution.
ATTACHMENT 2
- 6 -
a. CITY may unilaterally terminate this Agreement at any time prior to DISTRICT
reimbursement of funds, by providing 30 days written notice to DISTRICT.
b. DISTRICT may unilaterally terminate this Agreement at any time with 30 days
written notice to CITY, provided that the DISTRICT reimburses Eligible Costs
incurred on the Project up to the date of CITY's receipt of DISTRICT's notice of
termination.
c. Failure by CITY to comply with the terms of this Agreement may be cause for
suspension or termination of funding by the DISTRICT at DISTRICT’s sole
discretion.
d. If CITY fails to complete the project as required, or fails to fulfill any other
obligations of this agreement prior to the termination date, CITY shall be liable
for immediate repayment to DISTRICT of all amounts disbursed by DISTRICT
under this agreement. DISTRICT may, at its sole discretion, consider
extenuating circumstances and not require repayment for work partially
completed. This paragraph shall not limit any other remedies that DISTRICT
may have for breach of this agreement.
e. In the event there is a breach of this Agreement by CITY or DISTRICT, the
parties shall meet and confer to attempt to resolve the matter. If the parties
remain unable to resolve the matter, DISTRICT or CITY may terminate this
Agreement upon thirty days’ advance written notice.
12. Applicable Laws. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced pursuant to the laws of
the State of California.
13. Notices:
Any notice required to be given to DISTRICT shall be deemed to be duly and properly
given if mailed, postage prepaid with a receipt and signature from the receiving party, and
addressed to:
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Planning Manager
cc: General Manager
5050 El Camino Real
Los Altos, CA 94022
(650) 691-1200
or personally delivered to DISTRICT at such address or at such other address as
DISTRICT may designate in writing to CITY.
Any notice required to be given to CITY shall be deemed to be duly and properly given if
mailed, postage prepaid with a receipt and signature from the receiving party, and
addressed to:
City of Half Moon Bay
City Manager
501 Main Street
ATTACHMENT 2
- 7 -
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 726-8910
or personally delivered to CITY at such address or such other address as CITY may
designate in writing to DISTRICT, with a receipt and signature from the receiving party.
14. Waiver: The failure of any party to insist upon a strict performance of any of the terms,
conditions and covenants contained herein shall not be deemed a waiver of any rights or
remedies that CITY or DISTRICT may have and shall not be deemed a waiver of any
subsequent breach or default of the terms, conditions and covenants contained herein.
15. Severability: If any one or more of the covenants or agreements or portions thereof
provided in this Agreement shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final
judicial action to be void, voidable or unenforceable, such covenant or covenants, such
agreement or agreements or such portions thereof shall be null and void and shall be deemed
separable from the remaining covenants or agreements or portions thereof and shall in no
way affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining portions of this Agreement.
16. Captions: The captions in the articles of this Agreement are inserted for convenience
purposes only and shall not affect the terms of this Agreement.
17. Counterparts. This agreement may be executed in duplicate counterparts, each of which will
be deemed an original.
18. Authority. Each of the parties represent and warrant that they have the right, power, legal
capacity and authority to enter into and perform their respective obligations under this
Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, CITY and DISTRICT execute this Agreement.
For the CITY OF HALF MOON BAY
By: _______________________ Date: ________________
City Manager
Attest: _____________________ Approved as to form for CITY:______________________
City Clerk City Attorney
For the MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
By: _______________________ Date: ________________
General Manager
Attest: _____________________
District Clerk
Approved as to form for DISTRICT:___________________________
ATTACHMENT 2
- 8 -
General Counsel
950230.3
ATTACHMENT 3
ATTACHMENT 3
ATTACHMENT 3
ATTACHMENT 3
Rev. 3/15/21
AGENDA ITEM 6
R-23-92
Meeting 23-19
July 26, 2023
AGENDA ITEM
Update on Items of Mutual Interest Related to Heidelberg Materials (formerly Lehigh Hanson)
and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District regarding the Permanente Quarry (also
known as Lehigh Quarry)
GENERAL MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATIONS
Receive a Presentation by Heidelberg Materials staff. No Board of Directors action required.
SUMMARY
This Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (District) Board of Directors (Board) meeting
represents the latest joint public meeting between the District and Heidelberg Materials
(Heidelberg) to discuss matters of mutual interest. The focus will include the latest 2023
Reclamation Plan Amendment application submitted to Santa Clara County (County) by
Heidelberg for the Permanente Quarry site (Quarry) adjacent to Rancho San Antonio Open
Space Preserve (Preserve). Heidelberg Materials is the new name of Lehigh Hanson, which was
rebranded by its parent company, Heidelberg Materials AG, who purchased Lehigh Cement
Company (1977) and Hansen PLC (2007).
BACKGROUND
In 2012, Lehigh Hanson now Heidelberg Materials; (‘Lehigh’, ‘Heidelberg’) received approval
for an amendment to the Reclamation Plan governing the operations at Permanente Quarry
(Quarry). The District identified a number of concerns over the environmental impacts and
adequacy of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the 2012 Reclamation Plan and
challenged the EIR approval by Santa Clara County. Following an initial court decision in favor
of Lehigh and after extensive discussions and negotiations, in August 2014, the District agreed to
dismiss its judicial appeal challenging Lehigh’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared for
the 2012 Reclamation Plan in exchange for various public benefits (R-14-98). One of the
important conditions of the settlement was an agreement for the District and Lehigh to
participate going forward in regular, open public meetings regarding opportunities and issues of
mutual concern.
The Board has received annual presentations from Heidelberg/Lehigh and its predecessors
starting in 2015. In May of 2019, Lehigh submitted a Reclamation Plan amendment to Santa
Clara County that proposed increased mining in several areas of the property and a new approach
for Reclamation, principally filling the main quarry pit with construction fill from around the
Bay Area instead of re-placing the West Materials Storage Area (WMSA) back into the quarry
pit, as approved in the 2012 Reclamation Plan (2012 RPA). Lehigh hosted Board tours of the
R-23-92 Page 2
quarry site in 2019 and early 2020 to explain the 2019 Reclamation Plan Amendment
application.
On June 10, 2020, the Board formed an Ad-Hoc Committee to review the proposed 2019
Reclamation Plan Amendment (R-20-61). The District submitted a letter to Lehigh in March
2021 communicating District concerns on a number of critical issues posed by the new proposed
2019 Reclamation Plan Amendment (Attachment 1), including:
•Environmental and visual impacts from the proposed ~100-foot lowering of the Ridgeline
Easement area that separates the quarry operations from the Preserve and surrounding
communities, including impacts from dust, noise, and the permanent loss of 20 acres of
habitat and upper watershed lands.
•The proposed used of construction fill to reclaim the main quarry pit in lieu of using the
West Materials Storage Area (WMSA) stockpile, as approved in the 2012 Reclamation
Plan. This would leave the waste rock pile as a permanent feature on the landscape and
the construction fill would require 600 truck trips a day for 30 years — a serious source
of greenhouse gas pollution and public safety (truck traffic) issue.
•Threats to the permanent protection of undeveloped parcels west of the quarry operations
within the City of Palo Alto’s boundary to maintain ecological integrity of the region,
including wildlife connectivity between Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve and
the Santa Cruz Mountains region to the west, where the quarry represents a significant
barrier and where proposed reclamation actions may not be sufficient.
Per Board direction to protect the ridgeline easement, staff and members of the Ad Hoc
committee began discussions with County staff and Supervisors regarding potential mechanisms
for the District to assist the County in protecting the ridgeline. On August 16, 2021, the Board
adopted a Resolution approving a Memorandum of Agreement with the County of Santa
Clara that is focused on the inspection and enforcement of the Ridgeline Easement held by the
County on Lehigh Quarry lands (R-21-110). On August 17, 2021, the County assigned the
inspection/monitoring provisions of the Ridgeline Easement to the District and provided
enforcement authority to the District. This assignment allows the District to take an active role in
safeguarding the environmental and visual qualities of the ridgeline as a strategic approach to
protecting the natural resource values of the adjacent Preserve and the health and well-being of
the surrounding communities.
The proposed 2019 Reclamation Plan Amendment did not move forward, likely in part to the
County and the District taking steps to ensure the protection of the ridgeline. After 15 meetings,
the District’s Lehigh Quarry Ad Hoc Committee was dissolved on October 27, 2021. In March
2022, the District hired Cotton, Shires, and Associates, Inc., (CSA) to perform aerial and ground-
based surveys to monitor the impacts of quarry operations on the Ridgeline Easement.
Amendments to the consultant agreement in December 2022 and June 2023 added tasks that
enable detailed comparison of topographic changes to the Ridgeline Easement and delineation of
a separate Conservation Easement held by the District over the Quarry property. The
Conservation Easement was previously surveyed in 2009. Currently the District is waiting for
site access from Heidelberg due to stability issues from the winter storms to conduct the
monitoring authorized under the Ridgeline Easement.
R-23-92 Page 3
DISCUSSION
District staff have maintained conversations with Heidelberg (formerly Lehigh) staff to discuss
items of mutual intertest and schedule the next annual meeting. Previous staff contacts changed
after Heidelberg sold off most of its west coast assets except for Permanente Quarry and the
cement plant. In June 2023, Heidelberg submitted a revised Reclamation Plan Amendment
Application (2023 RPA) and withdrew the 2019 Reclamation Plan Amendment Application
(2019 RPA). The County Planning Division is currently reviewing the application for
completeness. Once the application has been deemed complete, preparation of the required
CEQA documentation shall commence. In the revised 2023 RPA, Heidelberg is proposing a
major change in the operation of the Quarry property for those areas governed by the
Reclamation Plan. Separately, they have announced cessation of cement production and
permanent closure of the cement plant. From the perspective of protecting and preserving
Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve, the proposed 2023 RPA represents a large
improvement over the 2019 RPA, which proposed additional mining of the ridgeline between the
Quarry and the Preserve. In addition, the cessation of operations of the cement plant and
lessening of quarry activities has led to a significant decrease in the deposition of airborne dust
from the Quarry property into the Preserve.
However, the District still has concerns over the difference between the approved 2012 RPA and
the current 2023 RPA. The 2023 RPA application proposes to import construction fill to
reclaim/fill the main quarry pit in lieu of using the WMSA stockpile. The prior approved 2012
RPA instead requires that the Quarry pit be refilled with WMSA stockpile. This would leave the
waste rock pile as a permanent feature on the landscape and the use of construction fill would
require 600 truck trips a day for 30 years - a serious source of greenhouse gas pollution and
public safety (truck traffic) issue. The WMSA was never designed as a permanent storage
location and over time there is a risk of instability and landslides into Permanente Creek or the
Preserve. Additional concerns about the management of the Quarry site include restoration of
Permanente Creek, preservation of surrounding undeveloped open space lands on the Quarry
property, and the lack of sufficient restoration to improve habitat connectivity through the
reclaimed quarry landscape.
A major concern also remains regarding the protection of the ridgeline separating the Quarry
from the Preserve. Although expansion of mining of the quarry wall under and adjacent to the
Ridgeline Easement area are no longer proposed, the District still has significant concerns over
the long-term stability of that quarry wall and the potential for continued erosion and/or failure
of that feature over time. The 2023 RPA delays the implementation of a buttressed fill to support
the undermined Quarry wall and the “greenstone slide” area, given that it would take decades to
fill the quarry pit through the gradual importation of construction fill material (as opposed to
using the WMSA material that is readily available onsite). Other concerns relate to Heidelberg’s
near-term and long-term management of the property and the eventual planned transfer upon
cessation of commercial production activities to another entity.
FISCAL IMPACT
The presentation by Heidelberg has no fiscal impact.
R-23-92 Page 4
PRIOR BOARD AND COMMITTEE REVIEW
The Lehigh Quarry Review Ad Hoc Committee met 15 times to review the 2019 Reclamation
Plan and these efforts resulted in the District becoming a working partner in the protection of the
Ridgeline Easement.
In addition, the full Board has received updates and considered actions relevant to the quarry at
the following meetings:
•August 13, 2014 District Board approved the settlement agreement with Lehigh (R-14-
98, minutes)
•May 27, 2015 District/Lehigh Meeting (R-15-84, minutes)
•October 14, 2015 District/Lehigh Meeting (R-15-147, minutes)May 10, 2017
District/Lehigh Meeting (R-17-55, minutes)
•November 14, 2018 District/Lehigh Meeting (R-18-127, minutes)
•During 2019/2020 Lehigh hosted several tours of the Quarry
•June 10, 2020 Formation of Ad-Hoc Committee to review the proposed 2019
Reclamation Plan Amendment (R-20-61, minutes)
•August 16, 2021 Authorized entering into an agreement with the County regarding the
Ridgeline Easement held by the County on Lehigh Quarry lands (R-21-110, minutes).
•October 27, 2021 District’s Lehigh Quarry Ad Hoc Committee was dissolved (FYI)
•December 8, 2021 District/Lehigh Meeting (R-21-162, minutes)
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notice was provided as required by the Brown Act.
CEQA COMPLIANCE
This item is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act.
NEXT STEPS
District staff will review the 2023 RPA when the environmental review process begins. District
staff will work with the Board President to form a new Ad Hoc Committee, as previously
approved by the Board, to guide the review process for the 2023 RPA. District staff may also
return to the Board at future dates to provide status updates and to obtain authorization for
consultant contracts to support the District’s review of the 2023 RPA.
Attachment
1.March 23, 2021 Letter from the District to Lehigh on 2019 Reclamation
Plan Amendment
Responsible Department Head:
Ana Ruiz, General Manager
R-23-92 Page 5
Contact Person and Prepared by:
Brian Malone, Assistant General Manager
Kirk Lenington, Natural Resources Manager
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ATTACHMENT 1
Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space Mid peni n su la Regional Open Space District
I 330 Distel Circle Los Altos, CA 94022 I P 650.691.1200 I F 650 6910485 I www.openspace .org I
GENERAL MANAGER
Ana M. Ruiz
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Pete Siemens
Yoriko Kishimoto
Jed Cy r
Curt Riffle
Karen Holman
Larry Hassett
Zoe Kersteen-Tucker
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ATTACHMENT 1
Rev. 3/15/21
AGENDA ITEM 7
R-23-93
Meeting 23-19
July 26, 2023
AGENDA ITEM
Disposition of Paul Cabin and Rapley Barn
GENERAL MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
Approve the removal of the Paul Cabin and Rapley Barn, two structures that have fallen in
disrepair, have no planned future reuse potential, and are not eligible for historic listing; approve
the associated Comprehensive Use and Management Plan Amendments to authorize the removal
of both structures.
SUMMARY
The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (District) purchased the Paul Property as an
addition to Long Ridge Open Space Preserve in 1997, which included the Paul Cabin. The
District purchased the Rapley Property in 2005 as an addition to Russian Ridge Open Space
Preserve, which included the Rapley Barn and outbuildings. As part of the District’s on-going
effort to effectively manage site improvements that are inherited as part of open space land
purchases, the District has evaluated the disposition options for the Paul Cabin and Rapley Barn
consistent with Board Policy 4.09, Factors to Consider for Structures Disposition. Based on
staff’s evaluation, these structures in the Skyline area are in distinctly remote closed areas of the
preserves that are challenging to patrol, not suitable for reuse, in various stages of disrepair and
are not eligible for historic listing. For these reasons and to ensure limited staffing resources are
deployed to manage dozens of other priority structures, the General Manager recommends the
removal of the Paul Cabin and Rapley Barn. If approved, removal work would begin in Fiscal
Year 2024-25 (FY25) with funds requested during the annual Budget and Action Plan process.
BACKGROUND
Paul Cabin
On April 9, 1997 (R-97-59), the Board of Directors (Board) approved the purchase of the 157-
acre Paul property within unincorporated Santa Cruz County as an addition to Long Ridge Open
Space Preserve. The terrain of the property ranges from moderately to steeply sloping hillsides.
See Attachment 1 for site map.
As part of the purchase, the District acquired the Paul Cabin and entered into a five-year
Caretaker Rental Agreement with the incumbent tenant. The Paul Cabin is located at the end of
a 1,747 foot (0.33 mile) driveway in a clearing. Public trail access via the Achistaca Trail runs
perpendicular to the cabin driveway near Skyline Boulevard (State Highway 35) before joining
up to the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail to the south. There is no public parking or public access to the
house site.
R-23-93 Page 2
The cabin is 800 square feet and comprised of a combined living room and kitchen area, two
small bedrooms, and a small bathroom. A spring-fed gravity system brought non-potable water
into a holding tank before pumping water into the cabin; the water is untreated and was therefore
solely used for certain cleaning purposes only (not consumable). Further, the spring is not a
reliable source of water; water was delivered on occasion to the caretaker-tenant by the nearby
CalFire station. The cabin has remained unoccupied since 2017 upon the passing of the
caretaker-tenant.
The cabin was estimated to be constructed in the late 1970s. Garavaglia Associates, Inc.,
conducted a historic resource evaluation of the cabin and concluded that “the building does not
embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or historic method of construction, nor
does it represent the works of a master, nor possess high artistic values, nor represent a
significant and distinguishable entity”. The main structure is identifiable, but not distinguishable
from other cabins of a similar type. It does not exemplify a type, period, or method of
construction, instead showcasing a few methods of construction and a variety of periods (mid
1970’s to early 1980’s)”.
Rapley Barn
On December 20, 2005 (R-05-130), the Board approved the purchase of the 151.15-acre Rapley
Ranch property as an addition to Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. The Rapley Ranch
property is located one mile south of Skyline Boulevard (State Highway 35) on Rapley Ranch
Road on the west-facing slopes of Russian Ridge. The property overlooks scenic coastal hills
and valleys, including Mindego Hill and Langley Hill. See Attachment 2 for site map.
As part of the purchase, the District acquired the Rapley Barn and several outbuildings. The
Rapley Barn is a 2,000 square foot, one-story broken gable barn comprised of three bays. The
barn is in a dilapidated and unsafe condition and would require significant improvements to meet
current codes. Other outbuildings in the vicinity of the site, including a 400-square foot tool
shed west of the barn, are also in poor condition.
The Rapley homestead was constructed in piecemeal fashion beginning in the late 1870s through
the early 1970s. The residence was burned down in 2000 prior to District purchase. Garavaglia
Associates, Inc., conducted a historic resource evaluation of the structures and concluded that the
Rapley Barn does not display a level of historical significance or integrity that would qualify it
for listing as a historic resource on the National Register of Historic Places, California Register
of Historic Places, or on the San Mateo County list of historic landmarks as it is not associated
with any important events or patterns of history that place it as unique or historic at the local,
state, or national levels of significance.
DISCUSSION
As part of the District’s ongoing effort to effectively manage site improvements that are inherited
as part of open space land purchases, such as buildings, barns, and utility structures, staff have
evaluated disposition options and costs for structures based on their current condition. Board
Policy 4.09, Factors to Consider for Structures Disposition, provides a series of decision-making
factors to consider for the disposition of structures. An evaluation of the factors relative to each
structure is included below followed by a description of the disposition options.
R-23-93 Page 3
Table 1. Factors to Consider for Paul Cabin
Disposition Options for Paul the Cabin:
Option 1) Retain in Current State
This option aims to preserve the cabin as-is whilst addressing immediate perimeter safety. A
sink hole was discovered by patrol in March 2023 at the leach field site behind the cabin.
Staff estimates $20,000 to address and repair the leach field, with a 20-year maintenance cost
of $205,000 to account for staff time to check exterior and interior conditions for visual
hazards and maintain defensible space. Note that retaining structures with no reuse will
Factors to Consider for
Structures:
Paul Cabin
A.Board-Adopted Policies Per 4.02 Improvements on District Lands, a structure is
retained or renovated if it is complementary to the objectives
of the District. The factors to consider are further explored
below.
B.Compatibility with Open
Space Character of the
Site
Poor. Although the cabin remains out of view from the public
access trail, the structure does not add to the character of the
site.
C.Historic and Educational
Value
None - a Historic Resource Evaluation was conducted,
determining that the structure is not be eligible for federal,
state, or local listing as a historic resource.
D.Partnership Opportunities
/ Cooperation
None
E.Potential Financial Cost,
Including Liability and
Management
See details below
F.Proposed and Potential
Uses
The cabin and driveway would require significant upgrades
and ongoing maintenance obligations if reconsidered for
rental reuse. Moreover, there is no existing potable water
source for the residence, affecting the habitability of the
structure.
G.Public Sentiment and
Input
None - no public input has been received and staff is not
aware of any strong public attachment.
H.Regional Important or
Value
None
I.Strategic Fit Minimal - provides poor opportunity for employee housing
due to lack of potable water source. Moreover, nine (9)
District-owned residences that are in good condition with
standard utilities available already exist within three miles of
the site.
J.Tradeoffs and Impacts on
District Resources
Cost benefit analysis and tradeoffs are discussed further
below.
K.Visitor Experience Structure may impede a future opportunity to consider
opening the area to public access, such as extending the
driveway to expand the trail network.
L.Condition of the
Structure
Fair condition for the roof and siding; pier foundation may
need stabilization; poor water service due to lack of potable
water source
R-23-93 Page 4
result in ongoing management, tracking, and enforcement needs for a structure that is
obsolete, with no historic/cultural significance, effectively pulling limited staff resources
from other higher priorities activities.
Option 2) Stabilize Paul Cabin
In addition to addressing perimeter safety as described in Option 1 above, stabilization
measures for the Paul Cabin would include roof repair, securing openings such as doors and
windows, and repainting the exterior for water proofing. Staff estimates between $50,000 to
$60,000 for stabilization measures, with a 20-year maintenance cost estimate of $255,000 to
account for repairs, vegetative fuel management/maintaining defensible space and staff time.
Similar to Option 1 - retaining structures with no reuse will result in ongoing management,
tracking, and enforcement needs for a structure that is obsolete, with no historic/cultural
significance, effectively pulling limited staff resources from other higher priorities activities.
Option 3) Rehabilitate and Repair Paul Cabin
To make the cabin habitable for rental reuse, staff estimates the construction cost at
approximately $150,000 to repair the roof and siding, replace windows, remodel the interior
with new appliances, upgrade the septic system, repair the leach field, restore power, and
bring the cabin up to code. These costs, however, do not include providing a viable potable
water system. The driveway (0.33 mile) from Skyline Boulevard is estimated at an
additional $100,000 for repairs to provide year-round residential access.
Moreover, the anticipated ongoing material maintenance costs for the Paul Cabin would be
$5,000 per year, as is typical for District residences, or $125,000 over 25 years. Structure
maintenance includes plumbing repairs, septic maintenance, and water system testing. The
assumed cost of staff time to manage the property and oversee repairs, as well as conduct
fuel reduction and pest management treatments, is $300,000. Although this option provides
reuse for onsite/caretaker vigilance and to maintain structure integrity by a responsible
tenant, the lack of potable water is a major concern that limits the habitability of the site.
Option 4) Remove Paul Cabin
Removing the Paul Cabin includes removal of the main cabin and associated accessory
structures, such as garden beds, chicken coop, tool sheds, and outdoor staircase; removal or
abandonment of the septic system, and minor grading work and use of native seed to stabilize
the area. Staff estimates the cost of removing the Paul Cabin and accessory structures to be
$125,000 based on recently completed similar projects.
Removal of the Paul Cabin would not impact District housing/operational needs along
Skyline Boulevard. Currently, 50% of all District housing are located on Skyline Boulevard
between Highway 9 and Highway 92 – a total of 17 units. Of these units, eight house District
staff who provide field services in the area, and two house staff who do not provide field
services. Moreover, nine housing units are located within three miles of the Paul Cabin.
R-23-93 Page 5
Table 2. Cost Analysis of Disposition Options for the Paul Cabin
Location Costs
Option #1 Option #2 Option #3 Option #4
Retain in
Current State Stabilize Rehabilitation
and Reuse
Removal
GM Recommendation
Paul Cabin
Long Ridge
Open Space
Preserve
Design - $6,500 $20,000 -
Construction $20,000 $60,000 $150,000 $125,000
20-year
Maintenance $205,000 $255,000 $425,000 -
Viable
potable water - - Unknown cost -
Vehicular
Access - - $100,000 -
Total $225,000 $321,500 $695,000 $125,000
Table 3. Factors to Consider for Rapley Barn
Factors to Consider for
Structures: Rapley Barn
A.Board-Adopted Policies Per 4.02 Improvements on District Lands, a structure is
retained or renovated if it is complementary to the objectives
of the District. The factors to consider are further explored
below.
B.Compatibility with Open
Space Character of the
Site
Neutral - The barn may be considered a feature characteristic
of former ranching uses that provides a sense of place.
However, in its current state, the structure is detracting from
its natural surroundings.
C.Historic and Educational
Value
None - A Historic Resource Evaluation was conducted
determining that the structure is not be eligible for federal,
state, or local listing as a historic resource.
D.Partnership Opportunities
/ Cooperation None
E.Potential Financial Cost,
Including Liability and
Management
See details below
F.Proposed and Potential
Uses
Minimal. Benefit – Can be stabilized for storage purposes,
however, use is expected to be minimal given its location; not
viable as a functioning barn nor recommended for public use
or interpretation.
G.Public Sentiment and
Input
No public input has been received and staff is not aware of
any strong public attachment to the structures. Jimmy Rapley
was an early rancher and local institution on Skyline. There
will likely be interest in keeping his name attached to the site
and preserving a 1931 concrete marker stating “was planted
by Jim Rapley” that is located next to a redwood.
H.Regional Importance or
Value None
R-23-93 Page 6
Disposition Options for Rapley Barn:
Option 1) Retain Rapley Barn
Although the structure is not visible from Rapley Ranch Road, the deteriorated structures and
scattered debris may pose as a safety hazard if inadvertently accessed by the public. Retaining
the Rapley Barn in its current state would necessitate selective demolition to remove collapsed
accessory structures and debris, and vegetation management. Staff estimates a clean-up cost of
$20,000, and a 20-year maintenance cost of $205,000 to manage vegetation and maintain
defensible space around the barn and for periodic staff visits to check for visual hazards.
Retaining obsolete structures that have no reuse potential will result in ongoing management,
tracking, and enforcement needs, effectively pulling limited staff resources from other higher
priorities activities.
Option 2) Stabilize Rapley Barn
A structural stabilization project could be comprised of stabilizing and repairing damaged
framing, replacing the siding and roofing, and removing accessory structures on the homesite.
Staff estimates design and permitting costs to be $100,000, and the construction costs to be
$400,000 based on similarly bid projects. The construction estimate does not include staff time
to manage the contract or pursue permits. Although the Rapley Barn may have some visual
interest as a remnant barn on the landscape, there are other barns located on District lands that
provide a similar experience and, unlike the Rapley Barn, hold historic significance and/or reuse
value. Considering the many similar structures managed by the District, this structure may be
considered of too low a value in comparison to retain and manage over the long-term.
Option 3) Rehabilitation and Reuse
Rehabilitation and reuse of the Rapley Barn and its outbuildings is not recommended. There are
no District activities at present or planned that necessitate the reuse of such a barn; further, the
cost for rehabilitation is assumed to be far greater than the other options and be in excess of
$1,000,000. Costs include extensive staff time to oversee programming, managing contracts,
and permitting. Given the lack of reuse potential, as stated above, there is a low rationale to
retain and manage the structure over the long-term, especially considering the limited staffing
resources available to manage other priority structures that are located elsewhere on District
lands.
Factors to Consider for
Structures: Rapley Barn
I.Strategic Fit Minimal - other priority barns with similar architectural
features and with historic value have been stabilized at
District preserves for reuse and/or ecologically sensitive
public enjoyment and education.
J.Tradeoffs and Impacts on
District Resources Cost benefit analysis is discussed below.
K.Visitor Experience In its current state, the area is unsafe to enter. There is no
plan to make the structure available for public use and the
value for interpretation is considered low.
L.Condition of the
Structure
Extremely poor; main barn deteriorated due to fallen roof and
siding. Accessory structures are either partially or completely
collapsed.
R-23-93 Page 7
Option 4) Remove the Rapley Barn
Removing the Rapley Barn includes removal of the main barn and all accessory structures, such
as the tool shed and collapsed cottage; minor grading work; and use of native seed to stabilize
the area. Staff estimates the cost to be $200,000 based on recently completed similar projects.
The estimate does not include staff time to manage the contract and secure permits.
Table 4. Cost Analysis of Disposition Options for the Rapley Barn
Location Costs
Option #1 Option #2 Option #3 Option #4
Retain in
Current State Stabilize
Rehabilitation
and Reuse * Remove
GM Recommendation
Rapley Barn
Russian Ridge
Open Space
Preserve
Design - $100,000 n/a -
Construction $20,000 $400,000 n/a $200,000
20-year
Maintenance $205,000 $255,000 n/a -
Total $225,000 $755,000 n/a $200,000
*Cost will be significantly higher than other options, in excess of $1,000,000.
Natural Resources
Removing each non-historic, deteriorated structure and returning both sites to a more natural
state would enhance habitat by eliminating potential wildlife entrapment hazards and restoring a
developed area to a semi-natural habitat – thus supporting one of the legs of the District’s
mission “to protect and restore the natural environment”. Other project activities, including
seeding the building footprint with native plants and conducting invasive pest management
activities (e.g., invasive weed removal), would also contribute to habitat restoration and
enhancement.
The project sites are located within habitat for the following special status species. Removal of
the structures would assist in returning the building footprint to become available habitat and/or
facilitate wildlife movement and remove potential wildlife entrapment hazards for all of the
species listed below with the exception of bats that may potentially utilize the Paul Cabin for
roosting (not breeding).
Table 5. Special Status Species
Paul Cabin •San Francisco dusky-footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes annectens), State
Species of Special Concern (SSC)
•Mountain lion (Puma concolor) Candidate State Threatened Species
•California giant salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus), SSC
•Santa Cruz black salamander (Aneides flavipunctatus niger), SSC
•Roosting bat species – structure may provide habitat
Rapley Barn •San Francisco dusky-footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes annectens)
•San Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia) Federally
Endangered
•American badger (Taxidea taxus), SSC
•Mountain lion (Puma concolor) Candidate State Threatened Species
•Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), SSC
•Grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), SSC
R-23-93 Page 8
•White-tailed kite (Elanus leucurus), SSC
•Northern harrier (Circus hudsonius), SSC
Public Access Considerations
There are no existing or future plans for public access at either location.
Recommendation: Removal of the Paul Cabin and Rapley Barn
The General Manager recommends removal of the Paul Cabin and Rapley Barn as they are not
historically significant, pose opportunities for vandalism, detract from the surrounding open
space and natural environment, are in poor condition, and require significant investments to
repair and maintain. Also, given the nine other District housing structures in the area, sufficient
onsite District presence already exists (eyes and ears to monitor lands during off hours/presence
to service on-call needs) within the Skyline area. Moreover, removing these obsolete structures
from the landscape will avoid detracting limited staffing resources to managing, maintaining, and
patrolling structures of low value or need for the District. If approved, the footprints of the
removed structures would be returned to a more natural state using native seed.
USE AND MANAGEMENT PLAN
Paul Cabin
A Preliminary Use and Management Plan (PUMP) was approved by the Board when the
property was first purchased (R-97-10). The PUMP established an action to secure the water
system and general clean-up of debris on the site. The PUMP took effect at the close of escrow
and remains in effect. The caretaker who occupied the house maintained the water system and
felt it met his needs, so further improvements to the water system were not made during his
occupancy. After he passed away, the water system and driveway became impediments to
making the structure a standard rental. Major repairs were deferred until a Board decision on the
deposition of the structure. If the Board approves the removal of the Paul Cabin, there would no
longer be a need to secure the water system. Therefore, the following amendment to the
Preliminary U&M Plan is proposed (deletions are shown in strikeout, additions are shown in
underline).
House: Secure water system, general clean-up of debris.
Remove Paul Cabin and outbuildings; conduct general clean-up of debris;
revegetate site using native seed.
Rapley Barn
A Preliminary Use and Management Plan (PUMP) was approved by the Board when the
property was purchased on December 20, 2005 (R-05-130). The PUMP took effect at the close
of escrow and remains in effect and called for securing and maintaining the structure until a final
disposition decision for the barn was made. If the Board approves the removal of the Rapley
Barn, the following amendment to the PUMP is proposed (deletions are shown in strikeout,
additions are shown in underline).
Structures: Structures: Secure and maintain the barn; as part of developing a Final
Use and Management Plan, determine the final disposition of the barn.
Remove Rapley Barn and outbuildings; revegetate site using native seed.
R-23-93 Page 9
FISCAL IMPACT
The recommended action has no immediate fiscal impact in FY24. If approved, the proposed
demolition work would take place in FY25 with funding requested during the annual Budget and
Action Plan process.
The recommended action will not be funded by Measure AA.
PRIOR BOARD AND COMMITTEE REVIEW
None
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notice was provided as required by the Brown Act.
CEQA COMPLIANCE
The proposed structures removal project is consistent with the Initial Study / Mitigated Negative
Declaration (IS/MND) prepared for the Open Space Maintenance and Restoration Program
(Program) (SCH #2021080129) and in compliance with the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA).
Garavaglia Associates, Inc., conducted historic resource evaluations of the Paul Cabin and the
Rapley Barn. The evaluations concluded that neither of the structures qualify as a historical
resource for the purposes of CEQA.
The District developed the Open Space Maintenance and Restoration Program to provide an
integrated approach for maintenance and low-impact facility improvements that applies a
consistent set of impact avoidance methods and best management practices (BMPs). The
Program includes a category of Restoration and Enhancement projects to improve or create
habitat for plant and animal species and to restore ecosystem function within District Preserves.
The Program identifies structural demolitions in sensitive areas as a form of habitat enhancement
under the Restoration and Enhancement Program category.
The Project site is located within habitat for the federally endangered San Francisco garter snake,
candidate state threatened Mountain Lion and several species of special concerns. Removal of
the structures would enhance habitat by eliminating potential wildlife entrapment hazards and
restoring a developed area to natural habitat. Other project activities, including seeding the
building site with native plants and conducting invasive pest management activities, would also
contribute to habitat restoration and enhancement.
The District determines that the demolition of the structures is consistent with the activities and
determinations established in the Program IS/MND for the Open Space Maintenance and
Restoration Program and would not result in new or more severe significant environmental
impacts, nor would the Project require additional mitigation measures.
Page 10 R-23-93
NEXT STEPS
If the Board approves the demolition of Paul Cabin and Rapley Barn, staff will complete
permitting through the County of San Mateo and prepare to solicit bids to complete the
demolition and removal work in FY25.
Attachments:
1.Paul Cabin Property Site Map and Site Photos
2.Rapley Barn Property Site Map and Site Photos
Responsible Department Head:
Jason Lin, Engineering and Construction Manager
Prepared by / Contact person / Graphics prepared by:
Ivana Yeung, Capital Projects Manager III, Engineering and Construction
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7/17/2023
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ATTACHMENT 1
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Sink hole at leach field.Tool Shed
Chicken Coop
Greenhouse
ATTACHMENT 1
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7/17/2023
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West Elevation
North Elevation
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ATTACHMENT 2
Rapley Barn: Outbuildings
Tool Shed
Collapsed Outbuildings
ATTACHMENT 2
•
From: Public Comment Form
To: Clerk. web- Irma Mora
Subject: 7/26 - Board of Directors Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -5. Partnership Agreement
with City of Half Moon Bay for the Planning of Johnson House Park (R-23-65) -Mike Ferreira -
Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2023 4:02:05 PM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date 7/26 - Board of Directors Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific Yes
board item?
Agenda Item Number or Subject * 5. Partnership Agreement with City of Half Moon Bay for the
Planning of Johnson House Park (R-23-65)
Please check one: = In Favor
Where did you hear about this • Midpen website
meeting? (check all that apply)
Name
City of Residence
Email
Comment Type
Mike Ferreira
Moss Beach
To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors
Dear President Yoriko Kishimoto and Board Members,
Cc: Executive Director Anna Ruiz
Re:Item 5. Partnership Agreement with City of Half Moon Bay for the Planning of Johnson House Park
(R-23-65)
Speaking as a former appointed and elected official of Half Moon Bay I would just like to observe
that the unique situation of this property - having been deeded to the City by the County of San
Mateo but still remaining within the County's Local Coastal Program (LCP) Zoning as clarified by the
countywide Measure A of the 1980s - has led to several misunderstandings in the past because the
County's LCP differs materially from the City's. I think it is always a good idea for the Board to be
apprised of this complication in order that the misunderstandings of history not be repeated.
I am supportive of the project as broadly described and look forward to observing its progress.
Best Regards,
Mike Ferreira, Former Councilmember, City of Half Moon Bay
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call -
in number. Y
From: Public Comment Form
To: Clerk. web- Irma Mora
Subject: 7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -6 -Arthur Keller -
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 6:54:41 PM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date ,. 7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific Yes
board item?*
Agenda Item Number or Subject w 6
Please check one: ° In Opposition
Where did you hear about this • Other
meeting? (check all that apply)
Other source v Audubon
Name * Arthur Keller
City of Residence ' Palo Alto
Email u
Comment Type 4 To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors *
The new 2023 reclamation plan proposes to import construction/demolition materials to fill the
main quarry pit in lieu of using the quarry's stored mining -waste (WMSA) stockpile. This would:
* Result in 600 truck trips a day for 30 years - think traffic and emissions!
* Leave the WMSA stockpile as a permanent feature on the landscape, with risk of landslides into
Permanente Creek or Rancho San Antonio Preserve.
* Leave the ridgeline that separates the quarry from Midpen's Open Space land unprotected,
potentially for decades.
In addition, the new 2023 reclamation plan:
* Does not provide sufficient restoration to improve habitat connectivity through the future
reclaimed quarry landscape.
* Does not provide restoration of Permanente Creek.
*, Does not preserve surrounding undeveloped open space lands on the Quarry property in Palo Alto
and Cupertino.
Heidelberg's near -term and long-term management of the property remains problematic and
opaque, especially for the eventual planned transfer upon cessation of commercial production
activities to another entity.
Please demand that the plan be modified to satisfy these concerns.
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call-
From: Public Comment Form
To: Clerk. web- Irma Mora
Subject: 7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -Item 6 -Carolyn Straub -
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 10:16:22 AM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date ,. 7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific Yes
board item?*
Agenda Item Number or Subject w Item 6
Please check one: ° In Opposition
Where did you hear about this • Other
meeting? (check all that apply)
Other source v Santa Clara Valley Audubon alert
Name * Carolyn Straub
Organization (if applicable) SCVAS
City of Residence ` San Jose
Email ;.
Comment Type ° To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors
Re: Latest 2023 Reclamation Plan Amendment application submitted to Santa Clara County for
Lehigh/Heidelberg quarry
Dear Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Board of Directors
I am NOT in favor of:
The new 2023 reclamation plan proposing to import construction/demolition materials to fill the
main quarry pit in lieu of using the quarry's stored mining -waste (WMSA) stockpile.
It is, to say the least, sloppy, wasteful and destructive.
Thank you for your interest and action.
Carolyn Straub
San Jose
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call -
in number.
From:Public Comment Form
To:Clerk; web; Irma Mora
Subject:7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)-6 Lehigh Quarry -Cristina Schryver -
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 2:49:11 PM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date *7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific
board item? *
Yes
Agenda Item Number or Subject *6 Lehigh Quarry
Please check one: *In Opposition
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply) *
Other
Other source *SCVAS
Name *Cristina Schryver
City of Residence *Sunnyvale
Email *
Comment Type *To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the
board of directors *
Hi
I’m opposed to changing the agreement with Leigh
regarding usage of the quarry. It will be detrimental to the
surrounding environment and community to bring in
materials. Please stick with the previous agreement.
Thanks
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call-
in number. *
From: Public Comment Form
To: Clerk. web- Irma Mora
Subject: 7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -item 6-cynthia berg -
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 8:11:40 AM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date ,. 7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific Yes
board item?*
Agenda Item Number or Subject w item 6
Please check one: ° In Opposition
Where did you hear about this • Other
meeting? (check all that apply) :.
Other source v SCVAS
Name * cynthia berg
Organization (if applicable) SCVAS
City of Residence ` San Jose
Email ;.
Comment Type ° To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the
board of directors ..
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call -
in number. w
This plant has been a truck/noise/pollution problem since
day 1. Please make them use their existing stored mining
waste rather than impoting fill!!
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Public Comment Form
Clerk. web- Irma Mora
7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -Item 6 -Elizabeth Lennie -
Monday, July 24, 2023 8:43:45 AM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date ,.
Is this a comment about a specific
board item?*
Agenda Item Number or Subject w
Please check one:
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply) :.
Other source v
Name *
City of Residence
Email u
Comment Type
Comments to be provided to the
board of directors w
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call -
in number.
7/26 - Board Meeting
Yes
Item 6
Neutral
. Other
Santa Clara Audubon
Elizabeth Lennie
Sunnyvale
To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
I am very happy about the closing of the Lehigh/Heidelberg!
However, it's very important that we make sure that the
facility is restored in a way that is good for the local
environment!
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society has some excellent
recommendations and I hope you take them seriously!
Thank you,
Elizabeth Lennie
From: Public Comment Form
To: Clerk. web- Irma Mora
Subject: 7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -#6 Lehigh quarry -Emily Renzel -
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 8:34:41 AM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date ,. 7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific Yes
board item?"
Agenda Item Number or Subject w #6 Lehigh quarry
Please check one: ° In Opposition
Where did you hear about this • Other
meeting? (check all that apply)
Other source v SCV Audubon Society
Name " Emily Renzel
City of Residence ' Palo Alto
Email u
Comment Type To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors *
Please reject the latest Lehigh Quarry proposal. It is not a proper restoration because it:
Does not provide sufficient restoration to improve habitat connectivity through the future reclaimed
quarry landscape.
Does not provide restoration of Permanente Creek.
Does not preserve surrounding undeveloped open space lands on the Quarry property in Palo Alto
and Cupertino.
Imports construction debris fill instead of using onsite slag heaps - 30 years of trucking in fill UUIIII
This is a REAL TEST of what restoration means and MidPen should make sure that the promise of
restoration is kept.
Thank you for protecting our Open Space.
Emily Renzel
former PA Councilmember 1979-91
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call-
From:Public Comment Form
To:Clerk; web; Irma Mora
Subject:7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)-6 -Gary Campanella -
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 4:22:15 PM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date *7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific
board item? *
Yes
Agenda Item Number or Subject *6
Please check one: *In Opposition
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply) *
Other
Other source *Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
Name *Gary Campanella
Organization (if applicable)Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
City of Residence *San Jose
Email *
Comment Type *To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors *
I have read the 2023 Reclamation Plan Amendment and I have concerns. I am happy for the closure
of the cement plant and the reduction in quarry activity. However, the filling of the main quarry with
outside materials will result in millions of truck trips over the multi-year period, the existing
stockpile will largely remain in place, and the ridgeline will be unprotected. The Plan does not
adequately protect the landscape and the creek. Heidelberg's management of the property is
problematic and the community needs a clear plan that addresses the real needs of the site and
community.
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call-
in number. *
From:Public Comment Form
To:Clerk; web; Irma Mora
Subject:7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)- Agenda Item 6 -Helena Cohen -
Date:Tuesday, July 25, 2023 11:46:58 AM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date *7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific
board item? *
Yes
Agenda Item Number or Subject *Agenda Item 6
Please check one: *In Opposition
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply) *
E-mail notification from Midpen
Midpen website
Other
Other source *MidPen docent email list
Name *Helena Cohen
City of Residence *Cupertino
Email *
Comment Type *To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors *
I've lived in Cupertino for 30+ years and for all this time, there have been public objections to the
quarry, the heavy truck traffic, air and water pollution, human respiratory problems caused by toxic
dust, noise, and much, much more. Many neighbors have remained silent on these issues, perhaps
fearing that disclosure would lower their property values...
It's high time that the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors really stood up to Lehigh/Heidelberg
and listened to the local population--i.e. those who voted them into office. Even though the closure
of the cement plant and lessening of quarry activities sounds like a huge step forward, this new
proposal is tantamount to 2 huge steps back. Lehigh has always been opaque about their intentions,
pretending to have the community interests at heart while blatantly disregarding and in many cases
violating code. I too, am very concerned about the eventual transfer of commercial production
activities to another entity.They have to be stopped and permanently put out of business in
Cupertino, AFTER they have made reparations.
THANK YOU MidPen for taking the initiative to stop Lehigh from further destruction to our
environment, humans, creatures and plant life.
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call-
in number. *
From:Public Comment Form
To:Clerk; web; Irma Mora
Subject:7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)-Item 6 2023 Lehigh/Heidelberg quarry
reclamation plan -katherine Jen -
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 6:42:29 PM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date *7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific
board item? *
Yes
Agenda Item Number or Subject *Item 6 2023 Lehigh/Heidelberg quarry reclamation plan
Please check one: *In Opposition
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply) *
E-mail notification from Midpen
Name *katherine Jen
Organization (if applicable)open space docent
City of Residence *saratoga
Email *
Comment Type *To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the
board of directors *
We need the 2023 Lehigh/Heidelberg quarry reclamation
plan add the followings:
•provide sufficient restoration to improve habitat
connectivity through the future reclaimed quarry landscape.
• provide restoration of Permanente Creek.
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call-
in number. *
From:Public Comment Form
To:Clerk; web; Irma Mora
Subject:7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)-6 -Kristine Karnos -
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 3:31:13 PM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date *7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific
board item? *
Yes
Agenda Item Number or Subject *6
Please check one: *In Opposition
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply) *
E-mail notification from Midpen
Name *Kristine Karnos
City of Residence *San Jose
Email *
Comment Type *To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors *
I am writing to express my concern about and opposition to the new 2023 reclamation plan, which
proposes to import construction/demolition materials to fill the main quarry pit in lieu of using the
quarry’s stored mining-waste (WMSA) stockpile. This will increase the traffic (& pollution / GHG
emissions) associated with the transport of these materials, while not making use of material already
on-site. Also, the plan does not provide sufficient restoration of the impacted land and water, e.g.
restoration of Permanente Creek, improve habitat connectivity back through this landscape. We have
an opportunity to actually reclaim and restore open space lands on the quarry property, which
already fragmented wildlife populations in these hills need. Please take this opportunity to create a
more positive outcome for the life of our hills.
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call-
in number. *
From:Public Comment Form
To:Clerk; web; Irma Mora
Subject:7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)-6 -Laurie Bonilla -
Date:Tuesday, July 25, 2023 11:48:38 AM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date *7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific
board item? *
Yes
Agenda Item Number or Subject *6
Please check one: *In Opposition
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply) *
Other
Other source *Santa Clara County Audobon Society
Name *Laurie Bonilla
Organization (if applicable)None
City of Residence *Mountain View
Email *
Comment Type *To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors *
Long term and near term management of the Leighigh/Heidelberg the property remains problematic
and opaque, especially for the eventual planned transfer upon cessation of commercial production
activities to another entity.
The new Lehigh/Heidelberg2023 reclamation plan would
- Leave the stored mining waste stockpile as a permanent feature on the landscape, with risk of
landslides into Permanente Creek or Rancho San Antonio Preserve.
- Result in 600 truck trips a day for 30 years, causing continuing emissions, traffic, and other
hazards. One time we were nearly forced off the edge of the road by one of the quarry trucks.
Also, the new 2023 reclamation plan
- Does not provide sufficient restoration to improve habitat connectivity
- Does not provide restoration of Permanente Creek
- Does not preserve surrounding undeveloped open space lands in Palo Alto and Cupertino.
Development is relatively easy to attain; but restoration and further protections should be completed
as soon as possible to preserve and reestablish quality of life for all of us before it is too late.
Thank you,
Laurie Bonilla
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call-
in number. *
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Public Comment Form
Clerk. web- Irma Mora
7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -6 -Lynn Morgan -
Monday, July 24, 2023 12:28:41 PM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date
Is this a comment about a specific
board item?
Agenda Item Number or Subject
Please check one:
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply) :.
Other source
Name
City of Residence
Email
Comment Type
Comments to be provided to the
board of directors w
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call -
in number.
7/26 - Board Meeting
Yes
6
In Opposition
. Other
Audubon Society
Lynn Morgan
Morgan Hill
To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Please do not approve the proposed reclamation plan for the
quarry, because of the traffic it will require, the lack of
reclamation fir the land and the creek, and the lack of
connectivity with open space in the area. The current plan
does not represent the best we can do for the protection
and enhancement of the land for wildlife or the creation of
possible recreational land for people in the region to enjoy.
Thank you for your consideration.
Lynn Morgan.
From: Public Comment Form
To: Clerk. web- Irma Mora
Subject: 7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -Item 6 -Mike Beggs -
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 10:46:50 AM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date 7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific Yes
board item?
Agenda Item Number or Subject Item 6
Please check one: ° In Opposition
Where did you hear about this • Other
meeting? (check all that apply)
Other source v
Name 4.
City of Residence '
Email u
Comment Type
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
Mike Beggs
San Jose
To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors *
I oppose the the new 2023 reclamation plan because it does not preserve surrounding undeveloped
open space lands on the Quarry property in Palo Alto and Cupertino, and does not provide
restoration of Permanente Creek. Furthermore, the plan does not provide sufficient restoration to
improve habitat connectivity through the future reclaimed quarry landscape.
Please do not implement the plan to import construction and demolition materials to fill the main
quarry pit instead of using the quarry's stored mining -waste (WMSA) stockpile. Bringing in
construction and demolition materials will increase traffic and exhaust fumes and leave the WMSA
stockpile as a permanent blight on the landscape. Leaving the WMSA increases the risk of landslides
into Permanente Creek or into the Rancho San Antonio Preserve.
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call -
in number. K
From:Public Comment Form
To:Clerk; web; Irma Mora
Subject:7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)-Item 6 Lehigh quarry ammendment -
Mrs Arzeno -
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 3:07:05 PM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date *7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific
board item? *
Yes
Agenda Item Number or Subject *Item 6 Lehigh quarry ammendment
Please check one: *In Opposition
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply) *
Other
Other source *Community members
Name *Mrs Arzeno
City of Residence *Cupertino
Email *
Comment Type *To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors *
Writing to express our e express concerns: about
Lehigh/Heidelberg quarry reclamation plan ammendment.
The new 2023 reclamation plan proposes to import construction/demolition materials to fill the
main quarry pit in lieu of using the quarry’s stored mining-waste (WMSA) stockpile. This would:
Result in 600 truck trips a day for 30 years - think traffic and emissions!
Leave the WMSA stockpile as a permanent feature on the landscape, with risk of landslides into
Permanente Creek or Rancho San Antonio Preserve.
Leave the ridgeline that separates the quarry from Midpen’s Open Space land unprotected,
potentially for decades.
In addition, the new 2023 reclamation plan:
Does not provide sufficient restoration to improve habitat connectivity through the future reclaimed
quarry landscape.
Does not provide restoration of Permanente Creek.
Does not preserve surrounding undeveloped open space lands on the Quarry property in Palo Alto
and Cupertino.
Heidelberg’s near-term and long-term management of the property remains problematic and
opaque, especially for the eventual planned transfer upon cessation of commercial production
activities to another entity.
Please put an end to the quarry’s multi-generational negative impact on our environment and
communities. Please enforce the original more stringent recommendations. Thank you for hearing
our ongoing concerns.
From:Public Comment Form
To:Clerk; web; Irma Mora
Subject:7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)-Item 6 -Patti Colevas -
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 2:24:37 PM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date *7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific
board item? *
Yes
Agenda Item Number or Subject *Item 6
Please check one: *In Opposition
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply) *
Other
Other source *SCVAS
Name *Patti Colevas
Organization (if applicable)Retired
City of Residence *Stanford
Email *
Comment Type *To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the
board of directors *
I oppose the importation of construction materials as fill.
Lehigh/Heidelberg should use the quarry's stored mining
waste as fill. In addition, the reclamation plan needs to
provide much more restoration than it currently plans to
improve and reintegrate into the surrounding ecosystem
and habitats.
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call-
in number. *
From: Public Comment Form
To: Clerk. web- Irma Mora
Subject: 7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -Lehigh plant reclamation -Peg Albrets -
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 7:58:26 AM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date ,. 7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific Yes
board item?*
Agenda Item Number or Subject w Lehigh plant reclamation
Please check one: ° In Opposition
Where did you hear about this • Other
meeting? (check all that apply)
Other source v SCVAS
Name * Peg Albrets
City of Residence ' Cupertino
Email u
Comment Type 4 To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors *
The new 2023 reclamation plan proposes to import construction/demolition materials to fill the
main quarry pit in lieu of using the quarry's stored mining -waste (WMSA) stockpile. This would:
Result in 600 truck trips a day for 30 years - think traffic and emissions!
Leave the WMSA stockpile as a permanent feature on the landscape, with risk of landslides into
Permanente Creek or Rancho San Antonio Preserve.
Leave the ridgeline that separates the quarry from Midpen's Open Space land unprotected,
potentially for decades.
In addition, the new 2023 reclamation plan:
Does not provide sufficient restoration to improve habitat connectivity through the future reclaimed
quarry landscape.
Does not provide restoration of Permanente Creek.
Does not preserve surrounding undeveloped open space lands on the Quarry property in Palo Alto
and Cupertino.
Heidelberg's near -term and long-term management of the property remains problematic and
opaque, especially for the eventual planned transfer upon cessation of commercial production
activities to another entity.
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call -
in number.
From:Public Comment Form
To:Clerk; web; Irma Mora
Subject:7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)-Item 6 -Ram Iyengar -
Date:Monday, July 24, 2023 12:54:04 PM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date *7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific
board item? *
Yes
Agenda Item Number or Subject *Item 6
Please check one: *In Opposition
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply) *
Midpen website
Name *Ram Iyengar
City of Residence *Santa Clara
Email *
Comment Type *To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors *
To those it may concern,
This comment is in regards to the Lehigh/Heidelberg 2023 quarry reclamation plan that proposes to
import construction/demolition materials to fill the main quarry pit in lieu of using the quarry’s
stored mining-waste (WMSA) stockpile.
This would cause significant damage in the form of:
+ 600 truck trips a day for 30 years leading to disruption in traffic and a huge collective toll on the
environment with emissions.
+ Leave the WMSA stockpile as a permanent feature on the landscape, with risk of landslides into
Permanente Creek or Rancho San Antonio Preserve.
+ Leave the ridgeline that separates the quarry from Midpen’s Open Space land unprotected,
potentially for decades.
In addition, the new 2023 reclamation plan does not provide sufficient restoration to improve
habitat connectivity through the future reclaimed quarry landscape and it does not provide
restoration of Permanente Creek. Moreover, the plan does not preserve surrounding undeveloped
open space lands on the Quarry property in Palo Alto and Cupertino.
As a concerned bay area resident and a patron of the open space preserves in an around that area, I
would like to strongly oppose this plan from Lehigh/Heidelberg. Proposals need to be
comprehensive in how they mitigate the issues caused by the quarry and put the fragile ecosystem
around it in a path for long-term recovery. Their current proposal trivializes these issues, and in fact
puts the area and the neighborhood in a much graver path to recovery.
I call upon the Midpen board to reject this proposal in favor of a environmentally conscious and
citizen-friendly proposal, instead. If an alternate proposal does not exist, I request a public
participation forum to co-propose a solution for the recovery of the quarry and its surrounding
ecosystem.
Thanks,
Ram
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call-
in number. *
From:Public Comment Form
To:Clerk; web; Irma Mora
Subject:7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)-6 - Bats -Rashi Sharma -
Date:Wednesday, July 26, 2023 1:58:12 PM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date *7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific
board item? *
Yes
Agenda Item Number or Subject *6 - Bats
Please check one: *In Opposition
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply) *
E-mail notification from Midpen
Name *Rashi Sharma
City of Residence *Los Altos
Email *
Comment Type *To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors *
Good evening President of the Board Kishimoto and Midpen Directors
My name is Rashi Sharma and I am a student at Mountain View/Los Altos High School and an intern
with the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society. Please retain old dilapidated structures, such as the
Paul Cabin for bats. Like many people, I love bats and enjoy seeing them in my Los Altos
neighborhood. Many species of birds and insects , and most bat species, use man-made structures
during their life cycles: roosting, nesting, and finding shelters. I hope midpen invests in keeping,
retrofitting, and encouraging bat colonies to use dilapidated structures in our preserves. Bats
populations are in decline, please help save them.
Thank you.
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call-
in number. *
From:Public Comment Form
To:Clerk; web; Irma Mora
Subject:7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)-Permanente Quarry -Rhoda Fry -
Date:Tuesday, July 25, 2023 8:03:16 AM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date *7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific
board item? *
Yes
Agenda Item Number or Subject *Permanente Quarry
Please check one: *In Favor
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply) *
E-mail notification from Midpen
Name *Rhoda Fry
City of Residence *Cupertino
Email *
Comment Type *To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors *
Dear Board Members,
According to Heidelberg Materials documents, we have already lost about 75 feet of ridgeline since
1972. I am worried that it will continue to crumble if there are further delays in reclamation.
Reclamation is overdue per the approved 2012 plan. Please urge the County to do their job and start
reclamation now. What guarantee can Heidelburg provide that there will be no further degradation of
our ridgeline?
I am also worried about the state of the site and how that will impact our environment. There have
been multiple releases of chlorinated water into Permanente Creek due to plumbing failure. 30K
gallons, 6M gallons, and more recently 15M gallons. Two were in the same system. What other
infrastructure there might fail and cause impacts?
The new proposal turns the quarry into a for-profit landfill and will cause traffic and air pollution -
so much so as to prevent residents from reasonable enjoyment of our park values. There is fill on
site and that is what needs to be used per the 2012 approved plan. Putting the unsightly east
materials storage area into the pit should also be considered. Lehigh didn't want to do it before
because it would cause pollution in transporting the material - - - seems like importing fill would be
by far worse!
The Permanente Creek work is also overdue. And there is a massive landslide above the creek that is
a threat to homes and structures downstream. It is wrong for the taxpayers to suffer the burden of
the messes they've made. The massive Valley Water Pemanente Creek flood project was actually a
mitigation for the quarry and is documented as such in the 2012 Permanente Quarry plan. That is
shameful.
Please protect our environment and park values and hold Heidelburg and the County accountable.
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call-
in number. *
From: Public Comment Form
To: Clerk. web- Irma Mora
Subject: 7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -Item 6 -Robert Hall -
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 9:04:49 AM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date 7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific Yes
board item?
Agenda Item Number or Subject Item 6
Please check one: ° In Opposition
Where did you hear about this • Other
meeting? (check all that apply)
Other source Santa Clara Audubon
Name ` Robert Hall
City of Residence ' San Francisco
Email u
Comment Type To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors *
As an active advocate for environmental preservation and community well-being, I strongly believe
that the current reclamation plan poses significant threats to our communities and the environment
that warrant immediate attention and reconsideration.
First and foremost, the proposed reclamation plan raises serious concerns about the health and
safety of our communities. The expansion of the quarry and its reclamation would inevitably lead to
increased truck traffic, noise pollution, and air quality degradation. Our neighborhoods are already
facing challenges related to air pollution and traffic congestion, and the additional strain caused by
the plan could have severe consequences for the well-being and quality of life of our residents,
especially the most vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory
conditions.
Moreover, the Lehigh/Heidelberg Quarry reclamation plan has the potential to cause irreversible
harm to our natural environment. The expansion of quarry operations could result in the destruction
of vital habitats for wildlife, including endangered and protected species that call this area home.
The proposed plan fails to adequately address the impact on local flora and fauna, which are
essential components of our delicate ecosystem.
Additionally, the quarry's proximity to our watershed is a significant concern. The extraction and
processing of raw materials can lead to water contamination and disruption of groundwater flow,
jeopardizing the integrity of our water sources. Given the ongoing challenges posed by climate
change, preserving our water resources is of utmost importance, and any threat to them should be
treated with the utmost seriousness.
Furthermore, the reclamation plan's long-term effects on the visual landscape and scenic beauty of
our region cannot be ignored. The Midpeninsula boasts breathtaking natural vistas, and allowing an
expansion of the quarry would irreparably scar our cherished landscapes, affecting the tourism
potential and overall economic vitality of the area.
I urge the Board of Directors to reconsider the approval of the Lehigh/Heidelberg Quarry reclamation
plan and to actively seek alternative solutions that prioritize the protection of our communities and
the environment. It is crucial that we work together to find sustainable approaches to resource
management and development that respect the delicate balance between economic interests and
environmental preservation.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I hope that you will make the right choice for the
well-being of our communities and the environment we share.
Sincerely,
Robert Hall
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call-
in number. *
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Public Comment Form
Clerk. web- Irma Mora
7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -Item 6 -Robert Lowen -
Monday, July 24, 2023 10:17:08 AM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date ,.
Is this a comment about a specific
board item?*
Agenda Item Number or Subject
Please check one:
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply)
Name �.
City of Residence
Email w
Comment Type
Comments to be provided to the
board of directors
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call -
in number.
7/26 - Board Meeting
Yes
Item 6
In Opposition
• E-mail notification from Midpen
Robert Lowen
Palo Alto
To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
I want the quarry owners to use their own stored waste to
help fill the quarry. It is unreasonable to expect the
community to put up with 600 trucks daily for 30years
bringing in material to fill the quarry. It is absurd, actually.
For years stone was removed, and it is preposterous now to
expect people to put up with doing the entire polluting
noisy dusty process in reverse. No to that.
And if the can't fill it, just leave it.
From: Public Comment Form
To: Clerk. web- Irma Mora
Subject: 7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -Item 6 -Ronit Bryant -
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 10:48:14 AM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date 7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific Yes
board item?
Agenda Item Number or Subject Item 6
Please check one: ° In Opposition
Where did you hear about this • Other
meeting? (check all that apply)
Other source v SCVAS
Name 4. Ronit Bryant
City of Residence ' Mountain View
Email u
Comment Type
To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors
Please reject Lehigh/Heidelberg's 2023 Reclamation Plan Amendment application.
After years of pollution and environmental damage, they must be held to the highest principles of
environmental restoration and climate protection. Please:
1. Reject the proposal to import construction/demolition materials to fill the main quarry pit.
Require using the quarry's stored mining -waste (WMSA) stockpile.
2. Require true restoration of the site and the surrounding area.
3. Require preservation of the undeveloped areas around the site.
Today, as the overwhelming effects of climate change are being felt, we have run out of time and
cannot defer positive action. Please act decisively to protect and enhance the site. If not now, when?
If not I, who?
Thank you for your work to protect our open spaces and environment.
From: Public Comment Form
To: Clerk. web- Irma Mora
Subject: 7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -Item 6 -Rose Grymes -
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 10:33:37 AM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date 7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific Yes
board item? w
Agenda Item Number or Subject Item 6
Please check one: ° In Opposition
Where did you hear about this • E-mail notification from Midpen
meeting? (check all that apply)
Name Rose Grymes
City of Residence
Email w
Comment Type
Cupertino
To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors
I write in opposition to the Lehigh/Heidelberg quarry reclamation plan.
The plan would cause traffic and emissions from over 500 truck trips a day for 30 years while
leaving a dangerous waste material stockpile on -site. The plan fails to protect the ridgeline
separating the quarry from Midpen's Open Space land. It does not provide adequate restoration
improvements to habitats throughout the reclaimed quarry landscape and does not restore
Permanente Creek.
Further, it does not preserve the surrounding undeveloped open space lands on the Quarry property
in Palo Alto and Cupertino.
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call -
in number. '
From:
To:
Subject:
Date:
Public Comment Form
Clerk. web- Irma Mora
7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -6 -Seth Cohen -
Monday, July 24, 2023 7:59:37 AM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date
Is this a comment about a specific
board item? w
7/26 - Board Meeting
Yes
Agenda Item Number or Subject w 6
Please check one: ° In Opposition
Where did you hear about this • Other
meeting? (check all that apply)
Other source v
Name "
City of Residence '
Email u
Comment Type
Comments to be provided to the
board of directors
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call -
in number.
SCVAS
Seth Cohen
Cupertino
To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
It would be unconscionable in this time of climate crisis to
approve Heidelberg's proposal of using the quarries as
landfill when most of the once wild hillside is sitting
available stacked onsite as mining refuse. Accommodation
of Heidelbergs poisonous pollution from these operations
must end, and unnecessary burning of fossil fuels for
corporate profit must end, and I pray the MidPen Board
shows the strength to do so.
Thank you,
Seth Cohen
From: Public Comment Form
To: Clerk. web- Irma Mora
Subject: 7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -Item 6 -Stephen McHenry -
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 10:19:15 AM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date ,. 7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific Yes
board item?*
Agenda Item Number or Subject w Item 6
Please check one: ° In Opposition
Where did you hear about this • Other
meeting? (check all that apply)
Other source v Santa Clara Valley Audubon alert
Name * Stephen McHenry
Organization (if applicable) Santa Clara Valley Audubon
City of Residence ` San Jose
Email ;.
Comment Type ° To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors
Re: Latest 2023 Reclamation Plan Amendment application submitted to Santa Clara County for
Lehigh/Heidelberg quarry
Dear Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Board of Directors
I am NOT in favor of:
The new 2023 reclamation plan proposing to import construction/demolition materials to fill the
main quarry pit in lieu of using the quarry's stored mining -waste (WMSA) stockpile.
It is, to say the least, sloppy, wasteful and destructive.
Thank you for your interest and action.
Stephen McHenry
San Jose
Please provide your phone number so
we can identify you if you use the call -
in number.
From: Public Comment Form
To: Clerk. web- Irma Mora
Subject: 7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -Item 6 -Stephen Robie -
Date: Monday, July 24, 2023 8:43:50 AM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date 7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific Yes
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Agenda Item Number or Subject w Item 6
Please check one: ° In Opposition
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meeting? (check all that apply)
Name ` Stephen Robie
City of Residence
Email w
Comment Type
Cupertino
To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors
I have lived in Cupertino for more than 30 years and have seen firsthand the damage that the Lehigh
quarry has inflicted on the Cupertino ridgeline. Now it is time to repair the damage that they have
caused. The current Lehigh/Heidelberg plan will have Lehigh bringing in filler material from the
outside resulting in truck traffic to and from the site for another 30 years and will not eliminate their
pile of stored mine waste. In addition, there is insufficient reclamation of Permanente creek. Please
oppose the current restoration plan.
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From:Public Comment Form
To:Clerk; web; Irma Mora
Subject:7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)-6 -Vinayak Hebbagil -
Date:Tuesday, July 25, 2023 10:34:18 PM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date *7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific
board item? *
Yes
Agenda Item Number or Subject *6
Please check one: *In Opposition
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply) *
Midpen website
Name *Vinayak Hebbagil
City of Residence *Sunnyvale
Email *
Comment Type *To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors *
remains a threat to our communities.
The new 2023 reclamation plan proposes to import construction/demolition materials to fill the
main quarry pit in lieu of using the quarry’s stored mining-waste (WMSA) stockpile. This would:
Result in 600 truck trips a day for 30 years - increasing traffic and emissions!
Leave the WMSA stockpile as a permanent feature on the landscape, with risk of landslides into
Permanente Creek or Rancho San Antonio Preserve.
Leave the ridgeline that separates the quarry from Midpen’s Open Space land unprotected,
potentially for decades.
In addition, the new 2023 reclamation plan:
Does not provide sufficient restoration to improve habitat connectivity through the future reclaimed
quarry landscape.
Does not provide restoration of Permanente Creek.
Does not preserve surrounding undeveloped open space lands on the Quarry property in Palo Alto
and Cupertino.
Heidelberg’s near-term and long-term management of the property remains problematic and
opaque, especially for the eventual planned transfer upon cessation of commercial production
activities to another entity.
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From:Public Comment Form
To:Clerk; web; Irma Mora
Subject:7/26 - Board of Directors Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)-Item 7 -Ameya Ganesh -
Date:Wednesday, July 26, 2023 7:22:41 PM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date *7/26 - Board of Directors Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific
board item? *
Yes
Agenda Item Number or Subject *Item 7
Please check one: *In Opposition
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply) *
Midpen website
Name *Ameya Ganesh
City of Residence *San Jose (Almaden)
Email *
Comment Type *To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors *
Good evening President of the Board Kishimoto and Midpen Directors
My name is Ameya Ganesh and I am a student at Leland High School. Populations of insectivorous
Bat species are in decline, primarily due to the destruction of their habitat and the rapid
disappearance of insects from our planet. Bats and humans have evolved together, and bats use
abandoned structures and mines for roosting and for breeding. As an organization protects and
restores the natural environment, and promotes the enjoyment of nature, I hope you do all you can
to retain old structures that are used by bats, such as the Paul Cabin. Seeing bats is amazing, and
enjoyable, and we should do everything we can to support these beautiful creatures. Please do not
remove any structure that is used by bats until you provide an alternative and bats use this
alternative.
Thank you.
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From:Public Comment Form
To:Clerk; web; Irma Mora
Subject:7/26 - Board of Directors Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)-#7 -James Eggers -
Date:Wednesday, July 26, 2023 6:24:50 PM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date *7/26 - Board of Directors Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific
board item? *
Yes
Agenda Item Number or Subject *#7
Please check one: *In Opposition
Where did you hear about this
meeting? (check all that apply) *
E-mail notification from Midpen
Name *James Eggers
Organization (if applicable)Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter
City of Residence *SAN JOSE
Email *
Comment Type *To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors *
Dear President Kishimoto and Members of the Board,
As Director of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter I have a profound interest in protecting native
wildlife, especially species that are endangered, threatened or persecuted. As a former director of
Bat Conservation International, the oldest organization founded to protect bats, I have a special
interest in preserving and expanding bat habitat.
Abandoned buildings are often roosting sites for bats, and are an important part of our history in
this region. The Paul Cabin may be used by bats, and if that is the case, Midpen should look for ways
to preserve it for them, as has been done in other local preserves and parks.
Bat populations are declining due to habitat destruction, reduced food resources (insect apocalypse)
and white nose disease, therefore we must do everything we can to protect and provide habitat for
bats, including the allocation of structures that people abandoned to them.
Respectfully,
James Eggers, Director
Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter
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From: Public Comment Form
To: Clerk. web- Irma Mora
Subject: 7/26 - Board Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit) -6 - Bats -Rashi Sharma -
Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2023 1:58:12 PM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date 7/26 - Board Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific Yes
board item? w
Agenda Item Number or Subject 6 - Bats
Please check one: ° In Opposition
Where did you hear about this • E-mail notification from Midpen
meeting? (check all that apply)
Name ` Rashi Sharma
City of Residence
Email w
Comment Type
Los Altos
To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors
Good evening President of the Board Kishimoto and Midpen Directors
My name is Rashi Sharma and I am a student at Mountain View/Los Altos High School and an intern
with the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society. Please retain old dilapidated structures, such as the
Paul Cabin for bats. Like many people, I love bats and enjoy seeing them in my Los Altos
neighborhood. Many species of birds and insects , and most bat species, use man-made structures
during their life cycles: roosting, nesting, and finding shelters. I hope midpen invests in keeping,
retrofitting, and encouraging bat colonies to use dilapidated structures in our preserves. Bats
populations are in decline, please help save them.
Thank you.
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From: Public Comment Form
To: Clerk. web- Irma Mora
Subject: 7/26 - Board of Directors Meeting: To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)- West Nile Toxic fogging
on MidPen Lands-Cheriel Jensen -
Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2023 4:44:59 PM
EXTERNAL
Meeting Date 7/26 - Board of Directors Meeting
Is this a comment about a specific No
board item?*
Subject * West Nile Toxic fogging on MidPen Lands
Please check one: w In Opposition
Where did you hear about this • Other
meeting? (check all that apply)
Other source ° A friend
Name Cheriel Jensen
Organization (if applicable) Healthy Alternatives to Pesticide
City of Residence * Saratoga
Email
Comment Type ,. To be provided to the board of directors. (no limit)
Comments to be provided to the board of directors
Cheriel Jensen
July 26, 2023
Board of Directors
MidPen Director's Meeting
Dear Directors
There are serious legal, medical, ecological and moral issues with these mass West Nile toxic
foggings. Now another toxic fogging is announced by Santa Clara County Vector Control for later
this week for the North County.
At this point Vector Control tells us nothing about what toxin(s) they plan to spread or the exact
map they intend to poison. One of the two chemicals Vector Control in the past has announced for
their fogging operations, Zenivex, contains the poison etophenprox. But their permit shows
etophenprox is only licensed for their use as a larvicide. Thus Zenivex used as airborne fog as they
have used it in the past, is an outright violation of their permit.
Pesticide use requires strict adherence to labels. No pesticides are labeled for mixing with other
pesticides yet on Vector Control’s notice last year they listed both pesticides Merus 3.0 and Zenivex
(4% etophenprox) at the same time.
Zenivex is composed of 4% etophenprox and 96% undisclosed ingredients (trade secrets) as part of a
poison soup. No one, not the County Board, not even Vector Control, knows what these 96% of
ingredients are (trade secrets). So no one can make any honest claim it is safe.
Several years ago, the Santa Clara County Medical Association wrote and formally asked the County
Board of Supervisors to use only non-toxic methods instead. Many people have provided
Declarations of how they have been made sick when exposed to the toxic fogging in Santa Clara
County, some of whom were made disabled. To purport to save one or two West Nile Virus cases, the
county is gambling on toxic illness including brain damage for many.
No provision is made for the very hot days when most of us must open up our houses to the cool
night air and close up in the morning to retain livable daytime conditions. For many that is our only
air conditioning. Having to shut up the house at night in the hot summer to avoid the killing poison
puts us at major risk of heat stroke, a very serious, sometimes lethal, medical condition.
No provision was ever made even one time to shelter homeless people, thus Vector Control is
fogging homeless people directly with poison.
Frank Edgar’s (Northbay Rivers) lawsuit to stop this toxic fogging was won and applied statewide. So
why are they fogging again. I have seen no EIR.
The California Division of Pesticide lists the half life of etophenprox as 4.1 days. Columbia University
for the State of New York tested Zenivex and found the half life actually measured in months and
almost a year depending on where it lands in water, soil or drifting in the air. New York no longer
allows the use of Zenivex when they found the label to lie about the half life and the on-going effect
of this poison on the bees and other creatures of the environment.
One summer night in 2014 Vector Control fogged roughly 2 blocks away from Vasona Creek near
Quito RD. Vasona Creek had always, for over 50 years at least, had chorus of the tiny bright green
frogs limiting the mosquito environment. One almost never even saw a mosquito over an entire
summer. The night of that fogging the green frog night time frog chorus stopped. In the morning
the green fogs lining the creek were found dead. The tiny green frogs have never returned. Now we
have mosquitoes thanks to Vector Control.
One night in 2014 Vector Control fogged directly into Vasona Reservoir from University Avenue, Los
Gatos. It appeared the entire population of fish died that night. For a month vultures circled the
reservoir but none were seen eating the dead fish. The county staff had to clean up the piles of dead
fish. Fish are critically important to mosquito control as they eat mosquito larvae.
If there had been a proper EIR this killing of the critical natural controls could have been stopped
before the irreversible damage to the environment was done.
Vector Control personal are not doctors. Without a proper EIR they are not qualified to evaluate the
risk of poisoning against the risk of a few cases of West Nile (mostly a mild disease). The doctors
who have commented to the Board are against the toxic fogging. Vector Control personnel are not
qualified to evaluate the risk of environmental harm such as the risk of dead fish, frogs, damsel
flies, dragonflies and bats (all mosquito predators and all ironically killed by the fogging), and the
loss of yet more bees, monarch and other butterflies and other endangered species, and the
particular harm to all humans in and near the fog zones.
It is well past time to stop the mass poisoning and the deliberate poisoning of our mosquito natural
predators. As a major steward of our lands, MidPen could influence the end to these toxic County
actions.
Yours truly,
Cheriel Jensen
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