HomeMy Public PortalAbout20210728 - Agenda Packet - Board of Directors (BOD) - 21-21
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Special Meeting starts at 5:00 PM*
Regular Meeting starts at 7:00 PM*
A G E N D A
Consistent with Governor Gavin Newsom's Executive Order N-29-20, the Governor has allowed local
legislative bodies to hold public meetings via teleconference and to make public meetings accessible
telephonically or otherwise electronically to all members of the public seeking to observe and to address the
local legislative body or state body to avoid public gatherings, and has suspended all contrary provisions of the
Brown Act.
THIS MEETING WILL BE VIA TELECONFERENCE ONLY
1. The meeting can be viewed in real-time at: https://openspace.zoom.us/j/88448327625 or listen to the meeting
by dialing (669) 900-6833 or (346) 248-7799 (Webinar ID 884 4832 7625).
2. Members of the public may provide written or oral comments by submitting a public comment form
at: https://www.openspace.org/public-comment
• Comments on matters not on the agenda must be submitted prior to the time the board president calls
for public comments.
• Comments on agenda items must be submitted prior to the time public comment on the agenda item is
closed.
• All comments shall be subject to the same rules as would otherwise govern speaker comments at the
board of directors meeting.
• All written comments or requests to speak must be submitted via the public comment form. Comments
via text or social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) will not be accepted.
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 – STUDY SESSION
ROLL CALL
1. Santa Cruz Mountains Redwood Forest Conservation Management (R-21-100)
Staff Contact: Aaron Hébert, Senior Resource Management Specialist, Natural Resources
Department
General Manager’s Recommendation: Receive a presentation from conservation partner
organizations on redwood forest management. No Board action required.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting 21-21
Rev. 1/3/20
7:00 REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
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
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY
• Introduction of District Staff
o Lindsey Contreras, Ranger
o Megan Maxwell, Ranger
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 July 14, 2021 Board meeting minutes
2. Claims Report
3. Capital Equipment Purchase for Fiscal Year 2021-22 (R-21-101)
Staff Contact: Adriana Headley, Management Analyst II
General Manager’s Recommendation:
1. Authorize the General Manager to execute a purchase contract with the California Department
of General Services and associated contract dealers for three patrol vehicles and
one maintenance vehicle, for a total cost not-to-exceed $265,000.
2. Authorize the General Manager to execute a purchase contract with the California Department
of General Services and associated contract dealers for one agricultural tractor and one mini
excavator for a total cost not-to-exceed $210,000.
4. Award of Contract to George Bianchi Construction, Inc., to complete the Alma College
Cultural Landscape Rehabilitation Project at Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
(R-21-102)
Staff Contact: Scott Reeves, Senior Capital Project Manager, Engineering and Construction
Department
General Manager’s Recommendation:
1. Authorize the General Manager to enter into a contract with George Bianchi Construction,
Inc., of San Jose, California, for a base amount of $2,258,742 plus a bid alternate amount of
$379,291 for a total of $2,638,033.
2. Authorize a 15% contingency of $395,705 to be reserved for unanticipated issues, bringing the
total contract to a not-to-exceed amount of $3,033,738.
Rev. 1/3/20
BOARD BUSINESS
Public comment on agenda items at the time each item is considered by the Board of Directors. Written
public comments will be provided to the Board prior to the meeting and posted on the District’s website
at www.openspace.org. The names of all commenters will be read into the record.
5. La Honda Forest Health Management Assessment – Findings and Contract Amendment for
Expanded Scope (R-21-103)
Staff Contact: Aaron Hébert, Senior Resource Management Specialist, Natural Resources
Department
General Manager’s Recommendation:
1. Receive a presentation on the findings of the La Honda Forest Health Management
Assessment
2. Authorize the General Manager to amend a contract with Sicular Environmental Consulting
and Natural Lands Management of Berkeley, California in the amount of $15,300 to provide
additional public outreach support and add the Woodruff Creek parcel as an addendum to the
La Honda Forest Health Management Assessment; the amendment would bring the contract to
a total not-to-exceed amount of $107,293.
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
*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 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos, California 94022.
CERTIFICATION OF POSTING OF AGENDA
I, Jennifer Woodworth, 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 22, 2021, at the Administrative Offices of MROSD, 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos
California, 94022. The agenda and any additional written materials are also available on the District’s web site at
http://www.openspace.org.
Rev. 1/3/20
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC, CPMC
District Clerk
Rev. 3/15/21
R-21-100
Meeting 21-21
July 28, 2021
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA ITEM 1
AGENDA ITEM
Santa Cruz Mountains Redwood Forest Conservation Management
GENERAL MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
Receive a presentation from conservation partner organizations on redwood forest management.
No Board action required.
SUMMARY
The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (District) owns approximately 30,000 acres of
forest and woodland habitat. District efforts to manage forests for wildland fire resiliency,
ecosystem services, carbon sequestration, and climate resiliency have become more urgent in
recent years, due to the growing frequency of droughts and the increasing risk of wildfires. Both
the Wildland Fire Resiliency Program and the draft La Honda Forest Management Plan represent
major efforts to improve forest conditions. The District is one of many organizations in the
region that manage forests for conservation purposes. Save the Redwoods League, Sempervirens
Fund, California State Parks, and the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) will be presenting on
local projects managing redwood forests to provide context and share best practices for
managing local forests.
DISCUSSION
The Santa Cruz Mountains bioregion includes a diverse assemblage of forest habitats, but only
approximately 50 stands old growth redwood forests still exist covering an estimated 10,400
acres, much of which are in Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The remaining forests are all
second-growth forests, having been cut originally from 1850 to 1950 and then subsequently
logged anywhere from one to five times. In the 20th century, fire suppression, fuels
accumulation, rural development, Sudden Oak Death, and a changing climate have further
altered forest stand conditions. Commercial timber harvest in the region has generally decreased
over the 20th and 21st centuries, with select significant stands managed locally for sustainable
timber production. The remaining redwood forests are managed by parks and conservation
organizations, as well as by rural residents. Most recently, catastrophic wildfires have affected
large areas of these redwood forests. How to best manage these forests with a restoration
perspective as climatic conditions continue to change is an evolving area of practice and
research. Local practitioners have been invited to share their redwood forest management stories,
case studies, policies, and lessons learned. As the District expands its forest management
activities, notably through the Wildland Fire Resiliency Program and the draft La Honda Forest
Management Plan, engaging in a dialogue with forest managers who have conducted similar
R-21-100 Page 2
activities with a similar land stewardship ethic provides a good foundation for considering the
complex topic of active forest management.
FISCAL IMPACT
The presentation on redwood forest management from conservation partner organizations has no
fiscal impact.
BOARD AND COMMITTEE REVIEW
This item has not been reviewed by a Board Committee.
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
Staff will continue to engage in a dialogue with local forest managers as projects are developed
and share lessons learned.
Responsible Department Head:
Kirk Lenington, Natural Resources Manager
Prepared by/Contact person:
Aaron Hébert, Senior Resource Management Specialist, Natural Resources Department
July 14, 2021
Board Meeting 21-20
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
The Board of Directors conducted this meeting in accordance with California Governor
Newsom’s Executive Order N-29-20. All Board members and staff participated via
teleconference.
DRAFT MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
President Riffle called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to
order at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Karen Holman, Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, Yoriko
Kishimoto, Curt Riffle, and Pete Siemens
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant
General Manager Brian Malone, Chief Executive Officer/Director of
Administrative Services Stefan Jaskulak, Public Affairs Manager Korrine
Skinner, Public Affairs Specialist II Leigh Ann Gessner
President Riffle announced this meeting is being held in accordance with Governor Newsom’s
Executive Order allowing Board members to participate remotely. The District has done its best
to conduct a meeting where everyone has an opportunity to listen to the meeting and to provide
comment. 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. President Riffle described the process and protocols for the meeting.
1. Design of Administrative Office Interpretive Elements (R-21-97)
General Manager Ana Ruiz provided comments regarding the public-facing nature of the
interpretive elements and the project team’s desire to help inspire diverse audiences with varying
backgrounds to learn more about and engage with their public open space lands.
Meeting 21-20 Page 2
Public Affairs Specialist II Leigh Ann Gessner reviewed the project timeline and introduced the
District’s project consultants with EDX Exhibits, Sherry Smith and Julie Sayigh.
Sherry Smith described and displayed renderings of the various elements of the design schemes
which support the Board-approved interpretive themes for the project. Exterior elements include
waysigns and banners. Julie Sayigh explained the process for selecting the photographic images
for the exterior banners, which were taken from District preserves. Interior elements include
various graphics and interpretive information, an exhibit wall in the atrium with murals, large-
scale quotes, and a monitor providing a live feed for public meetings and District images.
Director Holman provided comments regarding the proposed text for the exterior waysigns.
Director Hassett inquired regarding the cost of updating the signs to include additional preserves.
Ms. Smith reported the cost for replacement is reasonable, and the signs could be updated and
replaced as needed.
Director Kersteen-Tucker suggested including information on the waysigns for the preserve
where the photo was taken.
Ms. Gessner stated a photo credit and preserve information could be included.
Director Siemens suggested reducing the number of words on the waysigns by half because
members of the public may not read long signs.
President Riffle suggested including a QR code on the waysigns, so members of the public can
learn more about the District by visiting its website.
Director Kishimoto inquired regarding lighting for the exterior banners.
Senior Capital Project Manager Tanisha Werner stated uplighting for the exterior banners is not
currently included in the construction contract but could be included after construction is
complete. There is also lighting in the area, which would also illuminate the banners.
Director Kersteen-Tucker inquired if different coloring could be used for the “preserve” exterior
banner stating a lighter coloring may be better.
Ms. Sayigh provided additional information regarding contrasting colors in the banners and
suggested alternate coloring options.
Director Holman expressed concerns regarding the coloring for the exterior banners and the
inclusion of cattle on the “protect” banner.
President Riffle also suggested nighttime lighting could be installed for the waysigns. President
Riffle suggested the theme of “education” should be included in the exterior banners and is
perhaps a more important theme than the “enjoy” panel.
Ms. Ruiz stated she would work with staff and consultants to incorporate as many of the Board’s
comments as possible, but all feedback may not be able to be addressed. Ms. Ruiz stated the
Meeting 21-20 Page 3
“educate” theme is also incorporated throughout the interpretive elements, which all serve to
educate the public. Ms. Ruiz stated cattle were included in the “protect” banner to clearly
distinguish the building as a barn and to incorporate our agricultural mission on the coast and use
of conservation grazing to protect habitats.
Directors Siemens, Kishimoto, and Kersteen-Tucker spoke in support of the current “enjoy”
banner as presented.
Director Holman expressed concern regarding the perception that the District may be protecting
cattle based on the “protect” banner image.
Public comment opened at 6:45 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for this item.
Public comments closed at 6:45 p.m.
Motion: Director Kersteen-Tucker moved, and Director Holman seconded the motion to approve
designs for two time-sensitive public interpretive elements being fabricated and installed in the
future Administrative Office located at 5050 El Camino Real in Los Altos: (1) three exterior
interpretive signs; (2) four exterior banners, with additional modifications where possible based
on Board feedback.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
Director Kersteen-Tucker suggested including the full coastal mission statement in the Board
room instead of an abbreviated version.
Ms. Ruiz reported an abbreviated version of the mission statement was suggested due the
repetition of much of the mission statement in the coastal mission statement.
Directors Siemens, Hassett, Cyr, and Riffle agreed that it is important to include the coastal
mission statement in its entirety.
Director Holman spoke in favor of the abbreviated mission statement.
Director Kishimoto suggested displaying the mission statements side-by-side on the wall.
Director Hassett suggested the 3D relief model could be interactive to associate the various
preserves with their location on the model.
Director Kishimoto commented that the exhibit wall should not too busy.
Director Siemens commented additional preserves may be added, so the relief model needs to be
able to be updated.
Meeting 21-20 Page 4
Director Holman suggested the preserve information for the 3D relief model should be the same
orientation as the model map.
ADJOURNMENT
President Riffle adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 7:03 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
President Riffle called the regular meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to
order at 7:10 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Karen Holman, Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, Yoriko
Kishimoto, Curt Riffle and Pete Siemens
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant
General Manager Brian Malone, Assistant General Manager Susanna
Chan, Chief Executive Officer/Director of Administrative Services Stefan
Jaskulak, District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer
Woodworth, Natural Resources Manager Kirk Lenington, Management
Analyst I Sophie Christel, Planning Manager Jane Mark, Planner II Tyler
Smith, Land and Facilities Manager Brandon Stewart, Senior Property
Management Specialist Omar Smith, Open Space Technician Lindsay
Cook
President Riffle announced this meeting is being held in accordance with Governor Newsom’s
Executive Order allowing Board members to participate remotely. The District has done its best
to conduct a meeting where everyone has an opportunity to listen to the meeting and to provide
comment. 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. President Riffle described the process and protocols for the meeting.
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
General Counsel Hilary Stevenson reported there was no reportable action from the closed
session on June 23, 2021.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Ms. Woodworth read the submitted comments into the record.
Meeting 21-20 Page 5
Bradley Erickson encouraged the District to allow Class 1 e-bikes in District preserves because it
allows older riders to enjoy the preserves. Additionally, these are allowed in national, state,
county, and city parks.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to adopt the agenda.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY
• Introduction of District Staff
o Lindsay Cook, Open Space Technician
CONSENT CALENDAR
Director Kishimoto thanked District Planning Department staff for their diligent efforts on the
Dumbarton Rail Corridor project.
Public comment opened at 7:20 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for this item.
Public comment closed at 7:20 p.m.
Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to approve the
Consent Calendar.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
1. Approve the June 23, 2021 Board meeting minutes
2. Claims Report
3. Authorization to enter into an Agreement with Panthera to conduct a Five-Year
Wildlife and Livestock Protection Study and create a Wildlife/Livestock Conflict
Management Plan (R-21-85)
General Manager’s Recommendation: Authorize the General Manager to enter into a contract
with Digital Story Group to develop and produce a 48- to 58-minute documentary
commemorating the 50th Anniversary to use as a public outreach and education tool for a total
contract amount not to exceed $90,696.
4. Approval of a Comment Letter to the San Mateo County Transit District on the
Dumbarton Rail Corridor Project (R-21-95)
General Manager’s Recommendation: Authorize the Board President to sign a comment letter,
with any final modifications as directed by the Board of Directors, on behalf of the Midpeninsula
Meeting 21-20 Page 6
Regional Open Space District Board of Directors to the San Mateo County Transit District
regarding the Dumbarton Rail Corridor Project.
BOARD BUSINESS
5. Bear Creek Stables Operational Requirements, Concessionaire Selection Criteria,
and Agreement Terms (R-21-98)
Ms. Ruiz provided comments on the unique nature of the agenda item, which is the first of its
kind for the District. Based on the Board’s previous direction for the Bear Creek Stables repair
project, this item to begin the process for soliciting a long-term stables operator can now move
forward.
Senior Property Management Specialist Omar Smith provided the staff presentation including
the history of the site and current stable operator. Mr. Smith reviewed the proposed operational
requirements, including opportunities for the public to board horses at the site, providing
equestrian programs and opportunities for diverse and underserved communities to experience
equestrian activities, maintain an economically viable operation, etc. Weighted evaluation
criteria for the proposals include implementation expertise, quality of service for the public, and
financial capability to provide service and make payments to the District. Mr. Smith reviewed
the proposed terms of the concessionaire agreement and suggested timeline for the request for
proposal process.
Director Kishimoto suggested the weight of implementation approach could be increased for the
selection criteria. Director Kishimoto requested additional information regarding selection of
boarders and inquired regarding the cost of supplying water to the site.
Mr. Smith reported boarders would be selected from a waiting list, and turnover is approximately
5%, which would annually allow for new boarders. Mr. Smith reported the costs for routing
potable water to the site will be paid by the District, and ongoing service fees would be paid by
the concessionaire.
Director Kersteen-Tucker inquired regarding the weight of the revenue/fee structure criterion and
the District’s liability for the stable concessionaire.
Assistant General Manager Brian Malone reported the fee structure is weighted lower, but the
financial capability is key to understanding whether a concessionaire can feasibly operate the
stables. Mr. Malone reviewed the liability requirements proposed for the concessionaire
agreement.
Director Kersteen-Tucker stated additional clarification is needed for inspections by an animal
husbandry practitioner, and inspections should occur at least twice a year, but quarterly is
preferred.
Director Cyr requested and received additional clarification regarding the number of boarding
stalls and equestrian parking available for public and private use.
Meeting 21-20 Page 7
Mr. Smith and Mr. Malone provided additional information regarding the availability of
equestrian parking and boarding stalls during the repairs to the stables, and staff will work with
the concessionaire on the topic.
Director Siemens stated language should be included in the concessionaire agreement that a
boarder’s lease can only be terminated for cause.
President Riffle suggested including previously working with public agency and experience in
the safety and care of horses as additional criteria. Additionally, President Riffle stated the safety
and well-being of horses should be emphasized in the lease, and regular communication by the
concessionaire with the boarders and the District should be included in the lease. President Riffle
requested and received clarification regarding various proposed operational requirements.
Director Hassett expressed concern that the pool of interested concessionaires may be small, so
the District may need to broaden its search to those that do not have experience managing
equestrian programs.
Mr. Malone reported the District has had a significant amount of interest in the concessionaire
position, and equestrian management expertise would be needed by the concessionaire and/or
their employees.
Director Hassett provided feedback regarding proposed evaluation criteria and operational
guidelines, such as the need for transparency for the operation, caretaker responsibilities,
boarding rental rates, etc.
Public comment opened at 8:34 p.m.
Pam Ashford spoke regarding the cap of 20 horses allowed for the site for training purposes.
Several levels of horses are needed to support various skill levels and fulfill training purposes.
Additionally, horses may be unavailable to support training, such as when sick, pregnant, or
otherwise unable to participate in the training programs. Finally, the concessionaire should be
allowed to keep their personal horse on site.
Nancy Cole thanked the District for their work on the project and for the focus on keeping the
boarding stable open. Ms. Cole provided comments in support of keeping the horses healthy and
safe, and the stables are there for the benefit of the public
Ms. Woodworth read the submitted comments into the record.
Teri Baron expressed concern regarding the proposed number of equestrian trailer parking spots
for the site due to the need for additional access to evacuate horses in the event of a fire.
Trixi Menhardt offered comments in support of maximizing equestrian trailer parking at the
stables and expressed concern regarding a combination of public programs and private boarding
due to the need for strict safety and usage protocols. Ms. Menhardt also shared concerns
regarding the feasibility of a two-year operator to absorb the cost of deferred maintenance at the
site.
Meeting 21-20 Page 8
Michael Riese provided comments of maintaining the boarding areas of Bear Creek Stables and
encouraged improvement of the stable and stall conditions, maintaining a balance of boarders
and students, and development of a facility and programs to support educational and training
sessions. Mr. Riese suggested pairing for-profit and non-profit management to support grants and
supported additional trail development and natural restoration of the area.
Katja Wick suggested the programs offered at the stables should be broadened to ensure
participants from diverse backgrounds can enjoy the stables. Programs could include stable days
for local preschools, horse rescue/rehabilitation program, docent-led hikes, etc.
Melany Moore expressed concern regarding the number of horse trailers allowed on site due to
the need for trailers during an evacuation, such as during a fire. Ms. Moore stated the arena needs
repairs, which a concessionaire would likely be unable to pay for, so the District should invest in
repairing the arena.
Public comments closed at 8:49 p.m.
Mr. Malone reported improvements to the arena are not included in the District repair plan and
could be funded by the proposed maintenance fund. Mr. Malone stated requiring the District to
adjudicate in the reasons a Boarder’s lease is terminated would be difficult.
Director Kishimoto provided feedback on the various proposals and suggested adding
“demonstrates commitment to the health and safety of horses” to the implementation expertise
criterion.
Director Siemens expressed concern regarding a concessionaire being able to terminate a
boarder’s lease for personal reasons and not for cause. Director Siemens suggested adding
“evidence of a cooperative relationship between the operator and the boarders” to the
implementation expertise criterion. Additionally, the District should ratify any fee increases
proposed by the concessionaire. Director Siemens suggested additional equestrian trailer parking
could be allowed near Alma College, and staff should investigate this possibility.
Director Holman suggested including in the concessionaire agreement a list of potential reasons
a boarder’s lease could be terminated for cause, and include a process for boarder eviction, such
as a warning, notification of the District, and an appeal process.
Mr. Malone stated an appeal process could potentially raise concerns for the role of the District
in the operations. Notification of the District and a list of potential reasons for eviction could be
included in the agreement.
General Counsel Hilary Stevenson stated the District will need to be careful regarding the factors
where the District intervenes because it may affect the concessionaire’s ability to get and
maintain liability insurance.
Director Hassett stated the District’s ombudsperson could serve as an arbitrator in disputes
between the concessionaire and the boarders. Additionally, a boarder could raise concerns
directly with the Board at a public meeting.
Meeting 21-20 Page 9
Director Kersteen-Tucker spoke in support of more heavily weighting the implementation
approach criterion and in support of additional off-site equestrian trailer parking where feasible.
Director Siemens spoke in favor of giving the boarders a sense of security.
President Riffle spoke in support of adding additional elements to the implementation expertise
criterion, more heavily weighting the implementation approach criterion, and consideration of
potential offsite equestrian trailer parking.
Director Kishimoto expressed concern regarding inclusion of “evidence of a cooperative
relationship between the operator and the boarders” because it could create tension between the
concessionaire and the boarders because this is being mandated. Also, the number of personal
horses allowed may need to be stated in the concessionaire agreement to ensure there are horses
available for public programs.
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to approve the
proposed Concessionaire Agreement Terms, except for the number of allowed concessionaire
program horses.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
Motion: Director Hassett moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to:
Limit the number of concessionaire program horses to 20.
i. The first 12 horses are allowed at no cost to Concessionaire.
ii. The optional 8 additional horses will be allowed at a rate that is the same as the
boarder rate with the resulting revenue transferred to a Maintenance Fund.
iii. The availability of boarder space for concessionaire horses above 12 would be subject
to the same waiting list process as for other boarders.
Directors Kishimoto stated they would not support the motion because the District has stated the
purpose of the District’s role at the stables is to support a public program.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 2-5-0 (Directors Cyr, Holman, Kersteen-Tucker, Kishimoto, Riffle
dissenting)
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Kishimoto seconded the motion to:
Limit the number of concessionaire program horses to 20.
i. The first 10 horses are allowed at no cost to Concessionaire.
ii. The optional 10 additional horses will be allowed at a rate that is half that of the
boarder rate with the resulting revenue transferred to a Maintenance Fund
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
6. 2020 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report (R-21-99)
Management Analyst I Sophie Christel provided the staff report reviewing the 2020 Greenhouse
Gas (GHG) Inventory and reported on the District’s progress toward greenhouse gas emission
reduction goals set in the 2018 Climate Action Plan. Ms. Christel provided information regarding
the impact on COVID-19 on District GHG emissions, especially related to employee commute.
Meeting 21-20 Page 10
The District upgraded most facilities to 100% renewable energy and is participating in a
conservation carbon farming plan. Ms. Christel reviewed proposed action for the current fiscal
year to further reduce GHG emissions.
Public comment opened at 10:08 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for this item.
Public comments closed at 10:08 p.m.
No Board action required.
7. Termination of Local Emergency in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic (R-21-96)
Ms. Stevenson presented the staff report summarizing the process used to declare a local
emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, management decisions during the local
emergency, and the procedure to terminate the local emergency.
Ms. Ruiz summarized planned actions for the District as it moves forward upon the termination
of the emergency declaration, including hybrid public meetings, etc.
President Riffle thanked and congratulated staff on their leadership and continued progress
during the local emergency.
Director Siemens inquired if the District would require all visitors to the District offices to be
vaccinated.
Ms. Ruiz stated the District is following all federal, state, and local guidelines regarding
vaccination and mask requirements. Additionally, staff will be posting these guidelines at the
District’s offices.
Director Kersteen-Tucker commented on the stress many individuals are undergoing and the
need to be mindful of this as staff returns to the office.
Ms. Ruiz reported on proposed adjustments to the Capital Improvement and Action Plan being
prepared in response to this issue.
Public comment opened at 10:22 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for this item.
Public comment closed at 10:22 p.m.
Motion: Director Siemens moved, and Director Cyr seconded the motion to adopt a Resolution
terminating a local Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District emergency in response to the
COVID-19 Pandemic.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
Meeting 21-20 Page 11
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDA
• Rieser-Nelson Property Addition, Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
• State and Federal Legislative Update
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
A. Committee Reports
Director Holman reported the 5050 El Camino Real ad hoc committee met on July 1 and July 8,
2021 to review furniture options recommended by staff, tour the current AO buildings, and meet
with a consultant from Noll & Tam architectural firm.
B. Staff Reports
Public Affairs Manager Korrine Skinner provided an update on the 50th anniversary project.
C. Director Reports
Directors Hassett, Cyr, and Siemens commented on Senior Planner Meredith Manning’s
upcoming retirement and her many accomplishments in support of the District and its mission.
ADJOURNMENT
President Riffle adjourned the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District and into closed session at 10:31 p.m.
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT – CLOSED SESSION
President Riffle called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to
order at 10:31 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Karen Holman, Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, Yoriko
Kishimoto, Curt Riffle, and Pete Siemens
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant
General Manager Brian Malone, Chief Executive Officer/Director of
Administrative Services Stefan Jaskulak, Human Resources Manager
Candice Basnight, Human Resources Supervisor Rebecca Wolfe, Real
Property Manager Mike Williams, Planner III Elish Ryan
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Government Code
Section 54957.6)
Meeting 21-20 Page 12
Agency designated representatives: Ana Ruiz, General Manager, Brian Malone, Assistant
General Manager, Jack Hughes, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Employee organization: Field Employees Association
2. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Government Code
Section 54957.6)
Agency designated representatives: Ana Ruiz, General Manager, Brian Malone, Assistant
General Manager, Jack Hughes, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Employee organization: Midpeninsula Rangers Peace Officers Association
Public comment opened at 10:32 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for these items.
Public comments closed at 10:32 p.m.
The Board convened into closed session at 10:32 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
President Riffle adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 11:19 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC
District Clerk
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
CLAIMS REPORT
MEETING # 21-21
MEETING DATE: July 28, 2021 Fiscal Year 19-20 EFT:55.80%
Fiscal Year 20-21 EFT:63.44%
Payment
Number
Payment
Type
Payment Date Notes Vendor No. and Name Invoice Description Payment Amount
3405 EFT 07/16/2021 11998 - Hanford Applied Restoration & Conservation District - Wide Habitat Enhance thru Invasive Species Treatment - Apr 2021 56,111.44
81948 Check 07/09/2021 12147 - Nova Partners, Inc.Admin Office Renovation Project Constuction Mgmt & Peer Review - May 2021 33,080.00
81959 Check 07/16/2021 12147 - Nova Partners, Inc.Admin Office Renovation Proj Const. Mgmt & Peer Review-Jun 2021 32,965.00
3392 EFT 07/09/2021 11241 - Questa Engineering Corp.Ph. II Trails Design Work - 4/1/21 - 5/31/21 32,714.88
81945 Check 07/09/2021 12014 - ECAST Engineering Inc.Culvert Repair at Lone Madrone/Install 2 water troughs & water line - Bluebrush Grazing 30,030.00
3391 EFT 07/09/2021 11523 - PGA Design, Inc.Alma Cultural Landscape Rehabilitation Plan - Apr 2021 23,962.00
3407 EFT 07/16/2021 12002 - Noll & Tam Architects New Administration Offices (AO) Facility - May 2021 19,312.50
3395 EFT 07/09/2021 11216 - Santa Clara County - LAFCO FPPC Form 700 E-Filing & Admin Sys FY 2022 LAFCO Budget 17,028.70
3390 EFT 07/09/2021 10925 - Papé Machinery Repair For Hydraulic Pump & Breaking System - T027/Vrisimo Mower Repair - M08 16,893.55
81956 Check 07/16/2021 12177 - Bear Electrical Solutions, Inc.BCR Equestrian Crossing - 6/1/21 - 6/10/21 16,800.00
81957 Check 07/16/2021 10463 - Dell Business Credit BOD Laptops & Monitors 16,558.51
3402 EFT 07/16/2021 12077 - Conservation Metrics, Inc.Acoustic Surveys - Marbled Murrelet, Stellers Jay & North Spotted Owl 13,533.00
3397 EFT 07/09/2021 12142 - Shellco General Contractor Inc Retainage Release - Contract #2021-059 DHF White Barn 12,295.83
3396 EFT 07/09/2021 11303 - Santa Clara County FireSafe Council Grant Application Development - Cal Fire Forest Health Grant 11,736.00
3398 EFT 07/09/2021 10302 - Stevens Creek Quarry, Inc.Base Rock for the LH Loop Trail & DHF/Drainage Rock for Road Work PIC & Mt Um 9,917.56
81947 Check 07/09/2021 11924 - Nomad Ecology Botanical Services Santa Clara County - May 2021 9,866.95
3383 EFT 07/09/2021 11430 - BioMaAS, Inc.Identification of Native Plant Propagule Sites - Apr - May 2021 8,724.78
81963 Check 07/16/2021 11557 - Denise Bradley Cultural Landscapes BCR Phase II Trails - Historic Resources & Proposed Bridges 7,978.88
3404 EFT 07/16/2021 11789 - Gladwell Governmental Services, Inc.Laserfiche System Design 6,930.00
3381 EFT 07/09/2021 12139 - Apex Asphalt Paving Road Edge Repair on Mt Um Road (SA)6,890.00
3389 EFT 07/09/2021 12149 - Overstory Land Stewardship Public Outreach to Neighbors On-site supervision - May 2021 6,517.52
3400 EFT 07/09/2021 10146 - Tires On The Go Replaced all 4 tires - M207, P105, P118, M26 6,240.12
3393 EFT 07/09/2021 10099 - San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory American Badger & Burrowing Owl Habitat Suitability Study - Jun 5,287.50
3409 EFT 07/16/2021 11432 - San Mateo County Resource Conserv. Dist.Madonna Creek Fish Passage Study - 1/1/21 - 3/31/21 4,976.25
81952 Check 07/09/2021 10324 - Rich Voss Trucking Inc Transport for Base Rock - LH Loop Trail 4,959.00
3401 EFT 07/09/2021 12050 - Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.Mt. Umunhum Radar Tower Assessment Project - May 2021 4,774.50
3399 EFT 07/09/2021 10307 - The Sign Shop Mt Um Closure signs (2)/Custom Signs (24)/Fire Related Signs (50)3,257.99
81958 Check 07/16/2021 10189 - Life Assist Qty 40- Pocket BVM™ Bag Mask Resuscitator w/O2 2,703.20
3403 EFT 07/16/2021 10546 - Ecological Concerns, Inc.Rogue Valley Habitat Improvements - May 2021 2,563.90
3382 EFT 07/09/2021 11799 - Aztec Leasing, Inc.Printer/copier leases - 6 machines - Jun 2021 2,354.40
81950 Check 07/09/2021 11518 - Ranching By Nature Hand pulling of poison hemlock and thistle on Toto Ranch 2,112.50
3380 EFT 07/09/2021 *10128 - American Tower Corporation Repeater Lease - Jun 2021 2,049.96
3408 EFT 07/16/2021 10099 - San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory Contingency - American Badger & Burrow Owl Habitat Study - 04/01/21 - 05/31/21 2,025.00
3387 EFT 07/09/2021 10125 - Moffett Field Supply Company Hand sanitizer foam (8) & jumbo roll toilet paper (15)1,882.42
81962 Check 07/16/2021 10324 - Rich Voss Trucking Inc Transport Costs for Base Rock to the LH Loop Trail - 6/9/21 1,566.00
3386 EFT 07/09/2021 11617 - Mig, Inc.Purisima Upland Special- Status Plant Survey Project - May 2021 1,172.50
3410 EFT 07/16/2021 10143 - Summit Uniforms Uniform items for new ranger 678.44
81954 Check 07/09/2021 10775 - Tyler Technologies Inc Tyler Munis ERP Migration - AP & Vendor Configuration - 6/10/21 652.00
3406 EFT 07/16/2021 12151 - Navia Benefit Solutions Flexible Spending Account disbursements 634.95
81949 Check 07/09/2021 10090 - Pro-Installers Chimney Sweep at Upper PCR, Hosking Barn #D, and Dyer 600.00
3388 EFT 07/09/2021 12151 - Navia Benefit Solutions Flexible Spending Account disbursements 599.83
3379 EFT 07/09/2021 10001 - Aaron's Septic Tank Service RSA - DHF Residence Emergency Septic Overflow 550.00
81944 Check 07/09/2021 11054 - County of San Mateo Human Resources Dept.5 Trainings 530.00
3394 EFT 07/09/2021 *10136 - San Jose Water Company Water Service (RSACP-EQ)470.51
81951 Check 07/09/2021 10935 - Rice Trucking - Soil Farm Water Delivery at Toto - 06/14 409.25
81961 Check 07/16/2021 10935 - Rice Trucking - Soil Farm Water Delivery at Toto - 06/21 409.25
81955 Check 07/16/2021 12090 - Action Towing Vehicle Tow P98 262.50
81943 Check 07/09/2021 10014 - CCOI Gate & Fence RSACP Exit Gate - service & battery replaced 206.81
3385 EFT 07/09/2021 10313 - John Shelton Company, Inc Culvert Supply 149.07
3384 EFT 07/09/2021 10187 - Gardenland Power Equipment Work Helmet for Ranger - Lloyd/Fuel gas can & equipment switch 129.85
81953 Check 07/09/2021 10182 - Royal Brass Inc Hydraulic Oil for Tractors 93.87
81960 Check 07/16/2021 10160 - Office Depot Credit Plan Office Supplies - 5 dozen pens 45.30
81946 Check 07/09/2021 10186 - Federal Express Shipment to PGE 32.50
Total of Payments:444,226.47
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 9
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
CLAIMS REPORT
MEETING # 21-21
MEETING DATE: July 28, 2021 Fiscal Year 19-20 EFT:55.80%
Fiscal Year 20-21 EFT:63.44%
Payment
Number
Payment
Type
Payment Date Notes Vendor No. and Name Invoice Description 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
*Annual Claims
**Hawthorn Expenses
A### = Administrative Office Vehicle HC = Hendry's Creek P### = Patrol Vehicle SCNT = Stevens Creek Nature Trail
AO2, AO3, AO4 = Leased Office Space HR = Human Resources PCR = Purisima Creek Redwoods SCS = Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Area
BCR = Bear Creek Redwoods IPM = Invasive Plant Maintenance PIC= Picchetti Ranch SFO = Skyline Field Office
CAO = Coastal Area Office ISM = Invasive Species Management 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 = Russian Ridge - 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 Pres.MR = Miramontes Ridge SAO = South Area Outpost TW = Thornewood
GP = General Preserve OSP = Open Space Preserve SAU = Mount Umunhum WH = Windy Hill
Abbreviations
page 2 of 9
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
CLAIMS REPORT Wells Fargo Credit Card - May 2021
MEETING # 21-21
MEETING DATE 07-28-21
GL Date Amount Description
6/8/2021 22663.20 CA Department of Fish Wildlife 1600 Permit Application fees
6/8/2021 12473.62 Office furniture - 240 Cristich SAO
6/8/2021 6077.00 SA - Tree Removal - (8)
6/8/2021 4920.00 RSACP - Dead Tree Removal (1)
6/8/2021 4735.34 SA/Mt Um - Break-down / Removal of Pedestrian Canopy
6/8/2021 4550.55 Building Permit Fees for the La Honda Creek Loop Trail
6/8/2021 4420.00 RSA - Dead Tree Removal - (1)
6/8/2021 4380.00 Water Tender Apparatus Training - FFO
6/8/2021 4189.44 Lumber for the LHC Loop Trail
6/8/2021 3972.68 Culverts for 2021 SFO Projects
6/8/2021 3900.00 Web accessibility compliance 5/1/21 - 4/30/22
6/8/2021 3343.16 District wide phone service - TPX Comm. 4/16/21 - 5/15/21
6/8/2021 2788.00 U-Channel Post Pounder to install metal posts LHC OSP
6/8/2021 2713.00 Medical Services - Concentra invoices (71035443, 71106792)
6/8/2021 2530.25 Wildland EIR NOD Filing Charge for San Mateo County
6/8/2021 1863.78 AO Garbage Services - Mission Trail
6/8/2021 1733.20 iPad mini x 3
6/8/2021 1646.20 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair - P115
6/8/2021 1624.00 Replace Risers at Mora A
6/8/2021 1607.82 Bid ad LH Ag Workforce Housing
6/8/2021 1522.00 Replace Risers at Mora B
6/8/2021 1383.69 New tires and alignment - P102
6/8/2021 1316.67 iPhone cases for ranger iPhones. x 29 cases
6/8/2021 1168.32 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair - P98
6/8/2021 1074.00 Association for Financial Professionals Conf - Jaskulak Nov 2021
6/8/2021 1040.00 MB Rock delivery costs
6/8/2021 1014.00 MB Rock delivery costs
6/8/2021 965.00 CDFW filing fees for the Wildland Fire Resiliency Program
6/8/2021 960.00 Ext. 2 Yr Warranty Pest Ctrl at Cunha, LH 5/5/21 - 5/5/23
6/8/2021 940.45 SAO - Fencing Material for Boundary Fence
6/8/2021 927.53 Body armor - Barresi
6/8/2021 895.00 Septic pump / water test FLH LHOSP
6/8/2021 850.00 SA/Mt Um - Pedestrian Walkway Rental
6/8/2021 825.55 Magnetic drill press
6/8/2021 813.75 Wall Cabinets - SAO
6/8/2021 799.75 AO car wash passes
6/8/2021 788.34 Sharp copies costs - 3/30/21 - 4/28/21
6/8/2021 788.00 SSL Cert (Encryption & Authentication) - 5/26/21 - 6/16/22
6/8/2021 750.00 Advanced public engagement training 6/29/21 - 7/31/21 - Skinner
6/8/2021 722.00 PA storage unit - 4/1/21 - 5/31/21
6/8/2021 700.00 Ext. 2 Yr Warranty Pest Ctrl Hosking Barn - 10/29/21 - 10/31/23
6/8/2021 700.00 Ext. 2 Yr Warranty Pest Ctrl Bergman - 10/29/21 - 10/31/23
6/8/2021 661.36 Radio batteries for ranger handhelds
6/8/2021 653.38 Drill bits and marking paint
6/8/2021 651.66 Garbage Service - Republic Services (2 mos)
6/8/2021 650.00 MB Rock delivery costs
6/8/2021 639.00 AO Alarm Services
6/8/2021 625.27 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair - P105
6/8/2021 620.34 FOOSP - Sanitation Service - United Site Services
6/8/2021 586.37 Vehicle Mounts for Ranger cell phones (qty 33)
6/8/2021 585.00 MB Rock delivery costs
6/8/2021 579.03 SA/Kennedy Rd - Sanitation Service
6/8/2021 577.73 iPad mini x 1
6/8/2021 566.27 19 - 4Ft Concrete Car Stops
6/8/2021 556.20 2021 Virtual Master Municipal Clerk Class - Soria Jul - Sep
6/8/2021 550.00 MV Chamber of Commerce Member Dues- MROSD 5/21/21 - 5/20/22
6/8/2021 540.62 Vehicle chargers for Ranger cell phones (qty 33)
6/8/2021 539.49 Binders for Patrol Map Books
6/8/2021 477.41 Property Research Services - Apr 2021
6/8/2021 474.75 RFQ ad LH White Barn Stabilization
6/8/2021 474.62 Zoom subscription - May 2021
6/8/2021 454.02 Tools for volunteers
6/8/2021 448.90 Postage meter lease 4/15/21 - 7/14/21
6/8/2021 442.20 Gas services at District Facilities - Amerigas
6/8/2021 441.45 Whites Fire Boots - Shank
6/8/2021 429.34 Replacement ladder for SFO
6/8/2021 415.13 BCS BCR ADA restroom Inv #00079981 - Apr 2021
6/8/2021 397.91 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair - M201
6/8/2021 397.00 Nat'l Inst. of Pub. Procurement 2021 Reg Fee Aug 2021 - McDaniel
6/8/2021 391.13 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair - M218
6/8/2021 372.84 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair - M205
6/8/2021 363.17 SFO Garbage & Recycle - Greenwaste Recovery
6/8/2021 361.71 Phone services for the elevator at 5050 El Camino
6/8/2021 355.90 WH-Hawthorne Garbage disposal replacement parts - 4411 Alpine Rd
6/8/2021 347.50 SAO - Tempered Glass Door w/Mailslot Cut Out
6/8/2021 336.16 Sun Block and Hand Sanitizer
6/8/2021 333.50 MB Trail rock delivery costs
6/8/2021 329.06 Water bottles for visitors
6/8/2021 327.43 Laminating Machine
6/8/2021 316.00 County Encroachment Permit Environmental Surveys
6/8/2021 315.00 PRIMA Risk Management Conference Jun 2021 - Jaskulak
6/8/2021 310.20 5050 El Camino interior lighting repair
6/8/2021 297.19 Impact sockets, portable air tank replacement
6/8/2021 297.00 Madonna Creek Ranch Remediation Closeout
6/8/2021 296.15 Office Supplies - paper, legal pads, steno books, comp books
6/8/2021 290.18 5050 El Camino internet service - 5/4/21 - 6/3/21
6/8/2021 286.48 Brush mower parts and AC refrigerant
6/8/2021 276.98 SA/Mt Um - Fencing Rental at Summit
6/8/2021 272.03 Circular saw
6/8/2021 271.03 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair - M33
6/8/2021 259.00 Nature Center Camera monthly
6/8/2021 255.65 SAO - Storage Closet
6/8/2021 254.18 Rear View Mirror - T56
6/8/2021 245.49 Supplies for Skills test
6/8/2021 245.00 Gate repair parts
6/8/2021 244.23 Drill press bits
6/8/2021 241.40 Combo locks for SAO
6/8/2021 239.96 Cases for zero motorcycles
6/8/2021 239.62 FFO Shop - Fuel Pump
6/8/2021 238.00 Email Marketing - May 2021
6/8/2021 236.06 Kubota flail mower blades parts
6/8/2021 231.27 LHOSP Event Center Restroom March 2021
6/8/2021 225.92 Safety sunglasses
6/8/2021 225.00 SFO Backup Internet connection
6/8/2021 221.27 SFO/CAO Restock Emergency Supplies
6/8/2021 219.55 Rear view mirror and retainer for JD Tractor - T39
6/8/2021 218.53 Tie down straps
6/8/2021 218.00 LexisNexis Online Subscription - Apr 2021
6/8/2021 217.13 Restroom Door Locks
6/8/2021 215.90 More Tool Handles
6/8/2021 215.00 Am Pub Works Prof Membership AGM S Chan - 8/1/21 - 7/31/22
6/8/2021 213.24 Building permit for SAO
6/8/2021 210.00 Sew on badges & patches for ranger motorcycle jackets
6/8/2021 204.64 Kubota flail mower blades parts
6/8/2021 200.54 Drill bits
6/8/2021 200.00 Remote admin tool 1 month
6/8/2021 200.00 CA Parks and Rec Districts Conference Reg 6/24 - Hawk
6/8/2021 199.00 Professional Development Webinar 6/11 - Headley
6/8/2021 199.00 Job Posting on Green Jobs: https://greenjobs
6/8/2021 196.64 SAO - Cabinets
6/8/2021 194.02 Tool Handles
6/8/2021 191.95 Zanfel Poison Oak Cleaner
6/8/2021 189.52 5050 El Camino garage gate programming
6/8/2021 188.75 Water service for District Facilities - CalWater
6/8/2021 186.13 Service and safety recalls for P120
6/8/2021 180.00 Costco Membership Renewal for 6/1/21 - 5/31/22
6/8/2021 178.75 Replaced battery - P114
6/8/2021 175.21 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair - M215
6/8/2021 172.69 Lodging for recertification training May 2021 - Tokatlian
6/8/2021 169.72 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair - P108
6/8/2021 165.93 New Tire for Trailer
6/8/2021 165.59 Cleaning Supplies - FFO
6/8/2021 163.50 Office Supplies - paper
6/8/2021 160.43 Phone wall chargers for ranger iphones x 30
6/8/2021 155.88 Web Hosting - Top 25 Projects Story Map
6/8/2021 155.70 Safety glasses
6/8/2021 153.75 BC Road No Parking Signs
6/8/2021 152.43 Garbage Services at AO Offices - Mission Trail
6/8/2021 150.91 Safety glasses
6/8/2021 150.00 TOGETHER Bay Area Spring Summit event - Hugg
6/8/2021 150.00 Together Bay Area Spring Summit event - Skinner May 2021
6/8/2021 150.00 Together Bay Area Conference - Anderson
6/8/2021 147.45 Keyboard and mouse combos
6/8/2021 147.13 Cleaning supplies
6/8/2021 146.77 Parts for Sprayer
6/8/2021 143.37 Microsoft license - (1)
6/8/2021 142.50 CESSWI Certification Renewal - Alexander
6/8/2021 128.66 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair - P94
6/8/2021 124.50 SAO - Bulletin Board, Files and other Office Supplies
6/8/2021 123.88 Water coolers
6/8/2021 123.11 OST Skills Test Lunch - Staff only
6/8/2021 122.44 Hyflex gloves
6/8/2021 119.33 Thornewood blue print copy- main house
6/8/2021 117.65 Tie down straps
6/8/2021 115.00 IIMC Professional Membership 7/1/21 - 6/30/21 - Lumina
6/8/2021 111.75 SFO Hazardous Material Disposal
6/8/2021 110.34 Chainsaw Combination Cans
6/8/2021 107.52 Field and Shop Supplies
6/8/2021 105.95 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair - P97
6/8/2021 104.57 Batteries for wildlife cameras
6/8/2021 104.19 Hex head impact sockets and adapters
6/8/2021 103.79 SAO - Extra Keys
6/8/2021 103.08 Binders for Patrol Map Books
6/8/2021 101.48 Chainsaw Fuel Cans
6/8/2021 101.48 Chainsaw Fuel Cans
6/8/2021 100.00 Kennel water system float valve
6/8/2021 99.00 AO Pest control
6/8/2021 98.33 Name Plates for Sups/Mgrs - SAO
6/8/2021 96.42 Air and oil filters
6/8/2021 96.10 ATV23 air and oil filters
6/8/2021 95.00 Reg fee Environ Summit Together Bay Area - Llobregat 5/21
6/8/2021 93.80 Field and Shop Supplies
6/8/2021 92.86 1 - 5G Red Curb Paint
6/8/2021 91.42 New trailer tires - T31
6/8/2021 91.30 Ergonomic equipment for employee
6/8/2021 90.01 Gas for Vehicle as Gas Card Not Working
6/8/2021 88.11 Pack of paper pens and cork stips for wall
6/8/2021 87.00 EMT-B Recertification
6/8/2021 85.95 Tools for volunteers
6/8/2021 85.24 Blades for Kubota
6/8/2021 85.22 RR- Bergman address numbers
6/8/2021 81.93 Disinfectant
6/8/2021 79.63 WH Lower parking lot - CalWater
6/8/2021 77.95 Monthly Shredding Services - Mar 2021
6/8/2021 77.45 Paint for Markers on Fire Lane - FO
6/8/2021 76.74 Lunch for department planning meeting
6/8/2021 76.46 Gas services at District Facilities - Propane
6/8/2021 76.41 Garbage Can Dollys - SAO
6/8/2021 75.00 MB campsite payphone
6/8/2021 75.00 Monthly Shredding Services - Apr 2021
6/8/2021 74.18 Cleaning agents
6/8/2021 71.61 Ethernet cables and surge protectors for SAO office
6/8/2021 71.35 SAO - Supplies/Hardware and Signs
6/8/2021 70.00 Lower Windy Hill parking lot water - CalWater
6/8/2021 69.98 Car wash - District Vehicle - (2)
6/8/2021 65.55 Blue striping paint for parking lot disabled spots
6/8/2021 63.66 Kitchen Supplies - SAO
6/8/2021 63.52 Vehicle Supplies - Windshield Wash and Exhaust Fluid
6/8/2021 60.00 Burton prop historical aerials County demo permit pkg
6/8/2021 60.00 NAI renew prof membership fees - Tjosvold 6/1/21 - 5/31/22
6/8/2021 58.48 SFO/CAO Restock Emergency Supplies
6/8/2021 56.32 5/8 Inch Auger Bit and Green Spray Paint
6/8/2021 55.65 Staff recognition
6/8/2021 55.60 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair - P43
6/8/2021 55.37 Spray Rig Parts
6/8/2021 55.09 WH-Hawthorne Garbage disposal replacement parts - 4411 Alpine Rd
6/8/2021 52.61 More Pesticide Mixing Supplies
6/8/2021 52.53 Snacks for OST Skills Test
6/8/2021 52.50 Wildland EIR NOD Filing Charge for Santa Clara County
6/8/2021 52.40 iPad shoulder strap - Beckman
6/8/2021 51.44 BCR - Parking Lot Restoration Fencing.
6/8/2021 51.01 FFO Shop - Lock Out Tags
6/8/2021 50.74 FFO - Shop Supplies
6/8/2021 50.41 Staff recognition
6/8/2021 50.00 AEOE Assoc for Environ & Outdoor Ed Conf - Vuoso
6/8/2021 50.00 CEQA filing LR fire suppression tanks
6/8/2021 50.00 Public Notification Database 5/27/21 - 6/26/21
6/8/2021 49.13 Trash Can to be dedicated for rattlesnake relocation transport
6/8/2021 48.91 Supplies for Skills test
6/8/2021 48.85 Pry bar
6/8/2021 48.84 Binder tabs for ABC meeting binders
6/8/2021 48.53 SAO Office - Material for Cabinet Trim
6/8/2021 47.66 Gate repair parts
6/8/2021 46.56 Hardware & Door Handles for Office Cabinets - SAO
6/8/2021 46.51 Shop Supplies, Velcro Straps.
6/8/2021 45.86 Laminating Sheets
6/8/2021 45.82 SAO Office - Recycle Bins
6/8/2021 45.06 Shipping for Web Store - May 2021
6/8/2021 44.53 Field and Shop Supplies
6/8/2021 44.46 WH-Hawthorne Garbage disposal replacement parts - 4411 Alpine Rd
6/8/2021 43.66 Storage containers with lids for the bunk house
6/8/2021 43.59 Windshield lift supports
6/8/2021 43.58 Wiper blades - A101
6/8/2021 43.30 FFO Plumbing Supplies
6/8/2021 42.16 Safety glasses
6/8/2021 40.00 Together Bay Area online annual meeting - Gessner
6/8/2021 39.39 Website Analytics - May 2021
6/8/2021 39.00 Web PDF Viewer - May 2021
6/8/2021 38.61 Laminating Sheets
6/8/2021 36.09 Grease and pipe thread tape
6/8/2021 36.00 AP stylebook subscription for new staff
6/8/2021 35.00 Nat'l Assoc of Interpretation webinar training - Tjosvold
6/8/2021 35.00 City Clerks Assoc Writing Workshop Jul 2021 - Soria
6/8/2021 34.99 Car wash
6/8/2021 34.89 Step Stool & Hardware - SAO
6/8/2021 33.86 Clorox wipes
6/8/2021 33.84 SAO - Boot Scraper and Supplies
6/8/2021 32.72 Safety glasses
6/8/2021 32.68 Wiper blades - A99
6/8/2021 30.96 Staff snacks
6/8/2021 30.24 FOOSP - Water Conditioning Service
6/8/2021 29.44 Cabinet keyed and copied - SAO
6/8/2021 29.01 SA/Mt Um - Keys
6/8/2021 29.00 Web Store May 2021
6/8/2021 26.84 SA/Mt Um - Sign Hardware
6/8/2021 26.35 USPS Overnight Shipping
6/8/2021 26.19 Latches for Metal Project
6/8/2021 26.06 More Spray Rig Parts
6/8/2021 25.85 Flip sign hinges
6/8/2021 25.68 FFO - Surge Protectors for Office
6/8/2021 25.10 SAO - Key Hooks for District Vehicles
6/8/2021 25.00 Virtual Event Platform - May 2021
6/8/2021 25.00 Fingerprinting rolling fee to become DOJ Custodian of Records
6/8/2021 24.50 Transcript for Internal affairs investigation
6/8/2021 24.15 Hanging Track Office Cabinets - SAO
6/8/2021 21.82 Rocker Switches - M228
6/8/2021 20.43 Hardware for BC Road Signs
6/8/2021 19.78 Staff Recognition
6/8/2021 18.55 Laminating sheets
6/8/2021 18.52 Office Supplies - tape for label maker, refund pending
6/8/2021 17.99 Web Translation - May 2021
6/8/2021 16.80 Staff recognition items
6/8/2021 16.60 Final EIR Wildland Fire Resilience Program certified notices
6/8/2021 16.55 Stove hood light switch replacement
6/8/2021 15.83 RR- Bergman address numbers
6/8/2021 14.95 Staff snacks
6/8/2021 14.90 Office Supplies requested by Legal
6/8/2021 14.80 SAO - Donuts for Staff
6/8/2021 14.16 Amazon Prime Memership Fee - Smith
6/8/2021 14.16 SA/Mt Um - Marking Paint
6/8/2021 12.95 Graphics Software - May 2021
6/8/2021 12.00 Postage for docent mailing - bandana/card for 10 docents
6/8/2021 11.99 Dropbox subscription for 1 month for BoD files
6/8/2021 10.89 Binders for ABC meeting
6/8/2021 10.89 Pesticide Mixing Supplies
6/8/2021 10.82 Binders for ABC meeting
6/8/2021 10.62 RR- Bergman address numbers
6/8/2021 10.31 Pen refills
6/8/2021 9.99 Photographers fee to download high-res image used in new AO
6/8/2021 9.81 Helmet Rack Holder - Bankosh
6/8/2021 8.91 SA/Mt Um - More Hardware for Signs
6/8/2021 8.62 Binders for Patrol Map Books
6/8/2021 8.45 Material to install WiFi - SAO
6/8/2021 7.11 County Encroachment Permit Fee
6/8/2021 7.00 GIS request desk subscription
6/8/2021 5.81 Final EIR Wildland Fire Resiliency Prog. - Printed Notices
6/8/2021 2.62 Key caps
6/8/2021 -2.24 Refund for 2 cancelled binders
6/8/2021 -17.00 Vehicle battery core credit - P114
6/8/2021 -86.31 WH-Hawthorne return of sink switch - 4411 Alpine Rd
6/8/2021 -599.85 Refund for Law Enforcement discount
6/8/2021 -156652.41 Wells Fargo Bank Credit Card May 2021
R-21-101
Meeting 21-21
July 28, 2021
AGENDA ITEM 3
AGENDA ITEM
Capital Equipment Purchase for Fiscal Year 2021-22
GENERAL MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Authorize the General Manager to execute a purchase contract with the California
Department of General Services and associated contract dealers for three patrol vehicles and
one maintenance vehicle, for a total cost not-to-exceed $265,000.
2. Authorize the General Manager to execute a purchase contract with the California
Department of General Services and associated contract dealers for one agricultural tractor
and one mini excavator for a total cost not-to-exceed $210,000.
SUMMARY
Annually, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (District) purchases vehicles,
machinery, and equipment to support project and service delivery work that furthers the mission.
Vehicles and machinery are purchased through an existing contract with the California
Department of General Services (DGS), providing significant cost savings. The vehicles
proposed for purchase for Fiscal Year 2021-22 (FY22) are either replacement vehicles or
additional vehicles needed to serve increased staffing and project demands. The total cost of
vehicles, machinery, and equipment for FY22 is a not-to-exceed amount of $475,000. The FY22
capital budget includes sufficient funds to cover this expenditure.
DISCUSSION
The District purchases vehicles, machinery, and equipment to support project and service
delivery work performed by administrative, maintenance, and patrol staff. Vehicles and
machinery are purchased through an existing contract via cooperative purchasing, known as
“piggybacking”, with DGS and associated contract dealers. As set forth in Board Policy 3.03,
Public Contract Bidding, Vendor, and Professional Consultant Selection, and Purchasing
Policy, cooperative purchasing on pricing obtained by another public agency through the
competitive bidding process provides the opportunity to realize significant cost savings.
Fleet Replacement
The following three vehicles and one piece of equipment are proposed for purchase to replace
current vehicles and equipment that have reached the end of their service life consistent with the
R-21-101 Page 2
Fleet Replacement Guidelines (Attachment 1):
o A patrol vehicle (P94) that is nine years old with a mileage of 98,720 as of June 2021.
o A patrol vehicle (P98) that is 11 years old with a mileage of 94,017 as of June 2021.
o A patrol vehicle (P101) that is seven years old with a mileage of 93,894 as of June 2021.
o One mini-excavator (T21) that is 16 years old and has reached end of service life.
These guidelines (Guidelines) are reviewed by the Board annually and provides general
guidelines for replacing vehicles and equipment based on age, mileage, operating costs, and
amount of time a vehicle or equipment is inoperable due to break downs. Different mileage and
age standards are used for field versus administrative vehicles since off-road use adds
significantly more wear and tear on field vehicles. Fuel consumption and reduction of
greenhouse gasses factor into the replacement schedule as well.
New Fleet Additions
As the District expands service delivery or seeks to improve project delivery, additional staffing,
vehicles, and equipment are at times required to meet programmatic goals. One additional truck
for the fleet is recommended to support the new Field Resource Specialist position who will be
implementing the Wildland Fire Resiliency Program and other vegetation and resource
management work. This position will require a dedicated vehicle that can be outfitted to the
specific needs of the position, such as off-road capability and the ability to carry tools and
equipment necessary for resource and fuel management projects. Staff also recommends the
purchase of an additional tractor to improve efficiency, productivity, add flexibility to scheduling
and completing planned work in the southern preserves, and reduce costs of equipment rentals.
Renting can be an efficient method of meeting equipment needs when there is occasional need
for a readily available piece of equipment. However, when there is an ongoing need for
specialized heavy equipment, owning the equipment allows adds great flexibility for crews to
schedule projects. Moreover, tractors with six-way scraper box blades are necessary for field
work and are extremely difficult to locate from rental companies. Rentals that are not available
or use of less than ideal pieces of equipment lead to a reduction in productivity, a lower quality
work product, and/or loss of time.
Electric Trucks
Staff is monitoring the development of electric powered trucks as an alternative to diesel-
powered vehicles. Regulations from the California Air Resources Board are due to take effect in
2024, which will mandate that truck manufacturers transition 5% of sales of their heavier (Class
7 & 8) vehicles from diesel to electric power. The percentage of required sales would
subsequently increase by up to 40% by 2032. Ford, Tesla, and other manufacturers are currently
working on prototypes for lighter (Class 1 – 3) electric trucks. Ford introduced the all-electric F-
150 Lightning Pro and is currently taking reservations. Staff will continue to monitor the
development of this technology and incorporate lower-emission vehicles into the fleet as they
become available and suitable for the open space work environment. Ford will not release the
Field-150 Lightning Pro for purchase until after FY22, therefore standard lighter class trucks will
be purchased in this procurement cycle.
Cost Breakdown
The tables below break down the estimated costs by vehicle and equipment. Costs include tools
and equipment installed by the manufacturers to outfit the vehicles, which vary by vehicle.
R-21-101 Page 3
Vehicle Type Additional or
Replacement Cost Quantity Total
Ford F150 pickup or similar Replacement $ 70,000 1 $ 70,000
Ford F350 pickup or similar Replacement $ 75,000 2 $ 150,000
Ford F150 pickup or similar Additional $ 45,000 1 $ 45,000
$ 265,000 Vehicle Subtotal
Equipment Type Additional or
Replacement Cost Quantity Total
Mini-Excavator Replacement $ 50,000 1 $ 50,000
Agricultural Tractor or
Similar Additional $ 160,000 1 $ 160,000
$ 210,000 Equipment Subtotal
$ 475,000 Grand Total
FISCAL IMPACT
The FY22 adopted budget includes $488,000 for District vehicles and $435,000 for additional
field machinery, for a total budget of $923,000. The anticipated FY22 cost for vehicles and
equipment is $475,000. There are sufficient funds in the FY22 Budget to cover these
recommended expenditures and a budget adjustment will be proposed at the end of the first fiscal
quarter to match the budget to the lower projected expenditures.
The recommended action is not funded by Measure AA.
BOARD AND COMMITTEE REVIEW
There was no Committee review for this agenda item.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notice was provided as required by the Brown Act. No additional notice is required.
CEQA COMPLIANCE
The recommended action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA).
R-21-101 Page 4
NEXT STEPS
If approved by the Board, staff will prepare purchase orders for the vehicles and equipment
utilizing a cooperative procurement contract.
Attachments
1. Fleet Replacement Guidelines
2. District Vehicle Fleet Report
Responsible Department Head:
Brandon Stewart, Land & Facilities Services
Prepared by:
Adriana Headley, Management Analyst II
M
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Fleet Replacement Guidelines
June 29, 2021
Attachment 1
The following serve as general guidelines for replacing vehicles and equipment based on usage,
operating costs, and downtime. Adjustments in time or miles will be made to replacement criteria for
individual units as conditions warrant.
PATROL (CODE 3) VEHICLES 7–10 years and/or 90–100,000 miles
MAINTENANCE TRUCKS 10–15 years and/or 95–110,000 miles
ADMIN VEHICLES 20 years and/or 110–130,000 miles
EQUIPMENT TRANSPORT TRAILERS 15–20 years
TRACTORS/EXCAVATORS 15 years and 5,000 hours
FIRE APPARATUS
Slip-On Pumper Units
15 years
As new and replacement vehicles are purchased, they are evaluated to reduce fuel consumption.
Examples of vehicles purchased in that effort are 1) plug-in hybrids for the administrative office, 2)
smaller Ford F150 trucks for seasonal ranger aides, 3) smaller Ford F150s (without fire pumpers) to
replace some large F350s (with fire pumpers) in the ranger pool, and 4) diesel trucks for field offices
when available and appropriate (in 2018, the District replaced conventional diesel with renewable diesel
in the field office fuel tank stations).
Several additional measures may be evaluated in the future. An evaluation of the Fire Program may
recommend removing pumpers from most patrol trucks and purchasing more effective patrol rigs for fire
suppression. Electric vehicles, from standard sedans to electric motorcycles and ATVs, have been
evaluated, and as their technology improves, we will likely recommend electric vehicle purchases in the
future. The need for four-wheel drive and specialty vehicles limits the ability to green the fleet until
technology catches up to those types of vehicles. Still, we will continue to include fuel economy in
evaluating purchases.
In addition to reducing fuel consumption, the fleet is also evaluated for reducing expenditures and
utilizing vehicles' lives up to the point where the maintenance cost, safety issues, fuel consumption, and
reliability issues make the sale of old vehicles and the purchase of new vehicles cost-effective.
Currently, we rely on the approved replacement guidelines, but we evaluate individual vehicles for use
beyond the mileage and age guidelines. In particular, retired Visitor Services SUVs are evaluated for
use at the administrative office when four-wheel-drive vehicles are needed. Currently, one retired patrol
vehicle, a Ford Expedition, is being used in this capacity. As the longevity of vehicles improves,
particularly in the administrative vehicle fleet, mileage and age guidelines can be adjusted if vehicles are
lasting longer.
Attachment 1
District Vehicle Fleet Report
July 14, 2021
The District maintains an inventory of 96 vehicles of various models and types based on the needs of different
departments and job functions. Our fleet replacement guidelines, last updated June 29, 2021, establish that we
replace emergency vehicles between 7 and 10 years and/or 90 to 100,000 miles, replace maintenance vehicles
between 10 and 15 years and/or 95 to 110,000 miles, and replace administrative vehicles at 20 years and/or
between 110 to 130,000 miles. Adjustments to the criteria for individual unit replacement are made depending
on condition, operating costs, and down time.
The type of field vehicle purchased and its assignment are made based on department and position needs. The
typical field vehicle is a four-wheel drive truck or off-road utility vehicle. Field vehicles are assigned to
supervisors/managers; all other trucks are shared vehicles. The exception is resident patrol staff and some
resident maintenance staff, who are assigned vehicles to take home for call-out availability.
The type of administrative office (AO) vehicles purchased is usually a compact SUV or similar sedan, including
hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles. Some AO vehicles must be four-wheel drive to enable staff to drive
off-road in preserves. Additionally, some of the SUVs need to have higher seating capacity for carpooling large
groups. All AO vehicles are shared, with the exception of one vehicle that is assigned to the Visitor Services
Manager, two department vehicles for Engineering & Construction, and one department vehicle each for Real
Property, Natural Resources, and Land and Facilities Services. These vehicles are assigned to staff and
departments due to their routine trips into the field to review projects and to meet with contractors, consultants,
and other staff.
Breakdown of fleet vehicles:
PATROL EMERGENCY VEHICLES
Emergency vehicles are replaced between 7 and 10 years and/or 90 to 100,000 miles
Vehicle Type Assignment
Number of
Vehicles
Number of
Employees*
Number of
Vehicles
Number of
Employees*
33 37 34 36
Fiscal Year
2020
Fiscal Year
2021
7 8 7 7
18 21 19 21
*Data accounts for number of employees as of June FY20 & FY21, includes seasonal staff but does not include vacancies
VS Dept Manager
Area Superintendents
Patrol Supervisors
8 8 8 8
Light Trucks
Ford F150 or similar
Office Pool Vehicles
Seasonal Aides
Ranger Aides
TOTAL
One Ton Trucks
Ford F350 or Similar
Outfitted with Fire
Pumpers
Resident Rangers
Office Pool Vehicles
SUVs/Light Truck
Ford Expedition
F150 or Similar
Attachment 2
2
MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Maintenance vehicles are replaced between 10 and 15 years and/or 95 to 110,000 miles
Vehicle Type Assignment
Number of
Vehicles
Number of
Employees*
Number of
Vehicles
Number of
Employees*
Ford F250/350/F550 Maintenance Trucks
Unassigned 20 20
Hybrid Carpool SUV
Unassigned 1 1
32 60 33 63
Peterbuilt or International
Water/Dump Trucks Commercial Trucks 6 6
Ford F250/F350/F550
or Similar Service Trucks 13 13
*Data accounts for number of employees as of June FY20 & FY21, includes seasonal staff but does not include vacancies
**Number of vehicles with carpooling capabilities
TOTAL**
5149
Fiscal Year
2020
Fiscal Year
2021
SUVs/Light Truck
Toyota Tacoma
F150 or Similar
Area Managers
Maint. Supervisors
F acilitie Maint. Supervisor
Capital Projects Manager
Resource Lead OST
11 11 12 12
ADMINISTRATION VEHICLES
Administration vehicles are replaced at 20 years and/or between 110 to 130,000 miles
Vehicle
Type Assignment Number of
Vehicles
Number of
Employees*
Number of
Vehicles
Number of
Employees*
12 101 12 110
*Data accounts for number of employees as of June FY20 & FY21, does not include vacancies
TOTAL
Ford F150
Jeep Wrangler
Or Similar
Assigned to E&C
NR, RP, L&F.5 31 5 35
Fiscal Year
2019 - 2020
Fiscal Year
2020 - 2021
Electric/Hybrid
Toyota Prius
SUVs
Unassigned 7 70 7 75
Fleet Program Evaluation
As the District grows, efforts are made to reduce the ratio of staff to vehicles. The need for vehicles for
administrative staff is relatively light. However, field staff need to move from the field offices into preserves
every day. Patrol staff perform solo patrols, so generally all on-duty Visitor Services field staff need a vehicle.
The Visitor Services Department is continuing the transition from trucks assigned to each ranger to a shared
fleet of trucks. The Land and Facilities Services Department field staff perform work in crews ranging from one
individual to an entire crew. This necessitates a shared fleet. There are also specialty vehicles, such as the
commercial trucks, that require a commercial driver’s license to operate, and therefore are generally not a pool
vehicle.
Attachment 2
3
As new and replacement vehicles are purchased, they are evaluated to reduce fuel consumption. Examples of
vehicles purchased in that effort are 1) plug-in hybrids for the administrative office, 2) smaller Ford F150 trucks
for seasonal rangers and ranger aides, 3) smaller Ford F150s (without fire pumpers) to replace some large F350s
(with fire pumpers) in the ranger pool, and 4) diesel trucks for field offices when available and appropriate (in
2018, the District replaced conventional diesel with renewable diesel in the field office fuel tank stations).
In addition to reducing fuel consumption, the fleet is also evaluated for reducing expenditures and utilizing the
life of vehicles up to the point where the maintenance cost, safety issues, fuel consumption, and reliability issues
make the sale of old vehicles and the purchase of new vehicles cost effective. The District evaluates vehicles
based on the Board-approved fleet replacement guidelines and considers potential extended use beyond the
mileage and age guidelines as appropriate. In particular, retired Visitor Services SUVs are evaluated for use at
the administrative office when four-wheel drive vehicles are needed. Currently, one retired patrol vehicle, a
Ford Expedition, is being used in this capacity. As the longevity of vehicles improves, particularly in the
administrative vehicle fleet, mileage and age guidelines can be adjusted if vehicles are lasting longer.
As an additional effort to improve the fleet, staff will be hiring a consultant in FY22 to develop a Fleet
Transition Plan that will inform future fleet management decisions, including replacements and purchases. This
plan will also include a medium-to-long term plan for transitioning the District fleet away from fossil fuels and
associated greenhouse gas emissions. This is also an implementation strategy in the Climate Action Plan.
###
Attachment 2
R-21-102
Meeting 21-21
July 28, 2021
AGENDA ITEM 4
AGENDA ITEM
Award of Contract to George Bianchi Construction, Inc., to complete the Alma College Cultural
Landscape Rehabilitation Project at Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
GENERAL MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Authorize the General Manager to enter into a contract with George Bianchi Construction,
Inc., of San Jose, California, for a base amount of $2,258,742 plus a bid alternate amount of
$379,291 for a total of $2,638,033.
2. Authorize a 15% contingency of $395,705 to be reserved for unanticipated issues, bringing
the total contract to a not-to-exceed amount of $3,033,738.
SUMMARY
The recommended contract will allow the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (District)
to complete site and structure stabilization improvements for safe public access to the former
Alma College Cultural Landscape site (Alma Site) in Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space
Preserve. The District issued a Request for Bids (RFB) on May 26, 2021 and received one bid
proposal on June 24, 2021 from George Bianchi Construction, Inc., (Bianchi) who was identified
as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The General Manager recommends awarding a
contract to Bianchi for a base amount of $2,258,742, plus awarding a bid alternate amount of
$379,291 and authorizing a 15% contingency amount of $395,705 to cover unanticipated issues
that may arise, such as rotted wood, damaged concrete or rebar, poor soil conditions, hazardous
materials, biological or cultural constraints, additional safety considerations, and additional
masonry work. The adopted Fiscal Year 2021-22 (FY22) budget includes sufficient funds to
cover the work. Work is scheduled to begin in August 2021 and be completed in Spring 2022.
BACKGROUND
On January 25, 2017, the Board of Directors (Board) approved the Alma College Cultural
Landscape Rehabilitation Plan (Rehabilitation Plan) as part of the larger Bear Creek Redwoods
Preserve Plan (R-17-15). The purpose of the Rehabilitation Plan is to implement a fiscally
sustainable clean-up and rehabilitation of the Alma Site that allows the site’s cultural
significance to be understood and safely enjoyed by the public.
District staff secured a Landmark Alteration Permit from Santa Clara County in Winter 2019 to
implement the Rehabilitation Plan. Implementation was split into multiple phases to account for
the County’s demolition and building permit review schedule and to avoid potential impacts to
R-21-102 Page 2
bats during the maternity season (April 15 through August 31) and hibernation period
(November 16 through February 15). Phase I has largely been completed and includes bat
exclusions, abatement, material salvaging, and the removal of six dilapidated non-historic
structures.
DISCUSSION
The recommended contract for Board consideration under this Agenda Item will implement
Phase II: debris removal, stabilizing two historic structures, site grading, pathway/trail
construction, and revegetation. This work was originally bid unsuccessfully in January 2021;
bids received at that time far exceeded the budget, so all bids were rejected (R-21-19). Staff
worked to reduce scope, clarify intent, and value engineer the project to remain within the budget
while still meeting project goals and Board expectations.
The recommended contract will provide the improvements necessary to safely open the Alma
Site to public access. In summary, the project includes the following tasks:
Base Bid Improvements
• Upper Lake Overflow – construct the outfall overflow structure and connect the overflow
system to the existing storm drain pipe system
• 1934 Library – remove graffiti, abate hazardous materials, clean interior, provide
structural and architectural rehabilitation, install a new roof, and mothball the structure
• Chapel – remove graffiti, abate hazardous materials, clean interior, provide structural and
architectural rehabilitation, install a new roof, and mothball the structure
• Marion Shine – provide structural and architectural rehabilitation
• Site Improvements – rehabilitate existing masonry walkways, and patios; clear vegetation
and debris; perform site grading; construct new walk paths and ADA accessible
improvements; add drainage infrastructure to existing retaining walls; amend soil and re-
seed; install guardrails and site fencing
Bid Alternate Improvements
• St. Joseph’s Shrine – remove invasive vegetation, clean and re-point existing masonry,
and provide informal public access to view the feature
• Garage – install mesh panels to mothball the structure
• Install interpretative features at the former Roman Plunge area
• Install custom metal guardrails
• Install picnic tables
• Provide doors with hinges and padlocks to the Chapel and 1934 Library
• Expand the structural rehabilitation to include repainting and graffiti coating
• Expand the masonry rehabilitation to include site walls and to utilize salvaged brick
See Attachment 2 for Work Area Map.
In accordance with the District’s Construction and Waste Diversion Policy, the project will re-
use, recycle or otherwise divert eligible demolition materials from landfills. The project will re-
use materials salvaged from the Phase I demolition work, including wood, masonry brick and
tile, concrete debris, and topsoil. The contractor shall also prepare and submit a waste-stream
diversion plan (WSDP) for the minor amount of demolition work to be completed under this
R-21-102 Page 3
Phase II project. The WSDP shall describe how all non-hazardous materials will be handled, list
all items to be salvaged and where they will be transported to, and list all materials that will be
sent to the landfill with an explanation of why they cannot be recycled or salvaged. The WSDP
will be reviewed by District staff and Knapp Architects prior to demolition. Knapp Architects are
on the consultant design team for the Project, specialize in historic preservation, and prepared the
Alma College Conditions Assessment Report for the District in 2010.
Contractor Selection
A Request for Bids (RFB) was issued on May 26, 2021 via BidSync and released to three
builders’ exchanges. Legal notices were posted in the San Jose Mercury News and the San
Mateo County Times, and a link to the solicitation was posted on the District website. Staff also
directly contacted 20 local qualified firms about the RFB, including 7 within District boundaries.
Two mandatory pre-bid site walks were held on June 10, 2021 and June 17, 2021 with 10
contractors in attendance.
The District publicly opened the bids on June 24, 2021 and announced George Bianchi
Construction, Inc., as the apparent low bidder. The detailed breakdown of the (1) bid received is
as follows:
Bidder Total Base Bid Total Bid
Alternates Total
Engineer’s
Estimate
($4,000,000)
1. George Bianchi Construction, Inc.
San Jose, Ca $2,258,742.20 $379,291.00 $2,638,033.20 -34%
Contingency Amount
The Alma Cultural Landscape is layered in history and complexity. Phase II of the site
rehabilitation project will require careful improvements to historic structures, while working
around and protecting existing cultural assets and natural species of concern. Bianchi is the
lowest responsible and responsive bidder to perform the project. The total bid with bid
alternatives is approximately 34% below the engineer’s estimate. For this project, a 15% rather
than 10% contingency is recommended given the high level of historic development that has
occurred on site, which can uncover numerous unanticipated issues (rotted wood, damaged
concrete or rebar, poor soil conditions, hazardous materials) as well as the potential for
additional actions to further address resource constraints and site safety needs.
FISCAL IMPACT
The FY22 adopted budget includes $3,868,766 for the Alma Cultural Landscape Rehabilitation
Project MAA21-006. There are sufficient funds in the project budget to cover the recommended
action and expenditures. Funding for future years budget will be requested as part of the annual
Budget and Action Plan process.
MAA21-006 Bear
Creek Redwoods
Alma College Cleanup
and Stabilization
Prior Year
Actuals
FY22
Adopted
FY23
Projected
FY24
Projected
Estimated
Future
Years
TOTAL
District Funded
(Fund 30): $1,381,303 $2,733,486 $910,800 $0 $0 $5,025,589
R-21-102 Page 4
Grant Amount
(projected): $452,254 $1,135,280 $0 $0 $0 $1,587,534
Total Budget: $1,833,557 $3,868,766 $910,800 $0 $0 $6,613,123
Spent-to-Date
(as of 07/13/2021): ($1,833,557) ($1,916) $0 $0 $0 ($1,835,473)
Encumbrances: $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
George Bianchi
Construction, Inc.
contract
and bid alternate:
$0 ($2,638,033) $0 $0 $0 ($2,638,033)
15% Contingency: $0 ($395,705) $0 $0 $0 ($395,705)
Budget Remaining
(Proposed): $0 $833,112 $910,800 $0 $0 $1,743,912
The following table outlines the Measure AA Portfolio 21 Bear Creek Redwoods: Public
Recreation and Interpretive Projects allocation, costs-to-date, projected future project
expenditures and projected portfolio balance remaining.
MAA21 Bear Creek Redwoods: Public Recreation and Interpretive
Projects Portfolio Allocation: $17,478,000
Grant Income (through FY25): $5,316,530
Committed General Fund Capital (Fund 40) funds: $700,000
Allocation of available MAA interest earnings: $1,223,530
Total Portfolio Allocation: $24,718,060
Life-to-Date Spent (as of 07/13/2021): ($11,175,348)
Encumbrances: $0
Remaining FY22 Project Budgets: ($5,202,319)
Future MAA21 project costs (projected through FY25): ($7,660,423)
Total Portfolio Expenditures: ($24,038,090)
Portfolio Balance Remaining (Proposed): $679,970
The following table outlines the Measure AA Portfolio 21 Bear Creek Redwoods: Public
Recreation and Interpretive Projects allocation, projected life of project expenditures and
projected portfolio balance remaining.
MAA21 Bear Creek Redwoods: Public Recreation and Interpretive
Projects Portfolio Allocation: $17,478,000
Grant Income (through FY25): $5,316,530
Committed General Fund Capital (Fund 40) funds: $700,000
Allocation of available MAA interest earnings: $1,223,530
Total Portfolio Allocation: $24,718,060
Projected Project Expenditures (life of project):
21-001 Moody Gulch Fence & Gate Improvements ($847)
21-002 Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve Plan $14,369
21-004 Bear Creek Stables Project* ($5,754,865)
21-005 Bear Creek Redwoods Public Access ($5,542,970)
21-006 Bear Creek Redwoods Alma College Cleanup and Stabilization ($6,613,123)
21-007 Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve Plan Invasive Weed Treatment ($1,443,693)
21-008 Bear Creek Redwoods Ponds Restoration and Water Rights ($681,560)
21-009 Bear Creek Redwoods Webb Creek Bridge ($487,492)
R-21-102 Page 5
21-010 Bear Creek Redwoods Landfill Characterization and Remediation ($476,034)
21-011 Phase II Trail Improvements, Bear Creek Redwoods OSP ($2,960,960)
21-012 Bear Creek Redwood Tree Restoration ($90,915)
Total Portfolio Expenditures: ($24,038,090)
Portfolio Balance Remaining (Proposed): $679,970
*21-003 Bear Creek Redwoods Stables Water System was combined with MAA21-004
BOARD AND COMMITTEE REVIEW
Rehabilitation of the Alma site was guided by committee and public input at three meetings of
the Planning and Natural Resources Committee, including a neighborhood meeting held in Los
Gatos on April 29, 2015. In addition, the full Board received a presentation of the Rehabilitation
Plan at the June 24, 2015 meeting (R-15-92) and reviewed the information on March 23, 2016
(R-16-33, meeting minutes) and May 11, 2016 (R-16-50, meeting minutes). The Alma College
Cultural Landscape Rehabilitation Plan was approved by the Board as part of the larger Bear
Creek Redwoods Preserve Plan on January 25, 2017 (R-17-15, meeting minutes). The Board
approved Phase I: Abatement and Removal of Select Dilapidated Non-Historic Structures, on
February 26, 2020 (R-20-21, meeting minutes). The Board rejected all bids for Phase II
improvements on January 27, 2021 (R-21-19, meeting minutes). The Board approved a contract
amendment with Coastwide Environmental Technologies, Inc. to complete demolition of an
additional non-historic structure on June 09, 2021 (R-21-79, meeting minutes).
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notice was provided as required by the Brown Act.
CEQA COMPLIANCE
The Alma College Cultural Landscape Rehabilitation Plan was included in the Draft and Final
EIR completed for the Preserve Plan, which was certified by the Board at the January 25, 2017
meeting (R-17-15).
NEXT STEPS
If approved, the General Manager will enter into a contract with Bianchi. Final contract signature
is subject to meeting all District requirements, such as having all required insurance and bonding
in place. Work is estimated to commence in August, 2021 with completion in Summer, 2022.
Attachment
1. Project Site Map
2. Work Area Map
Responsible Department Head:
Jason Lin, PE, Engineering and Construction Department Manager
Prepared by:
Scott Reeves, Senior Capital Project Manager, Engineering and Construction Department
!P
!P
!P !P
!P
!P
!P
!P
!P
!P
"S
1SPKFDU4JUF
Briggs Cr e e k
A l d e r c r o f tCreek
B r i g g s C reek
Dyer Cr e e k
C o l l i n s C r e e k
W e b b C r e e k
Alma College Road
B e a r C r e e k R o a d
ÄÆ17
ÄÆ17
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
14
0
0
120
0
2
2
0
0
1
8
0
0
20
0
0
18
0
0
16
0
0
80
0
1600
160
0
1400
1000
8
0
0
8
0
0
1400
BEAR CREEK REDWOODS
OPEN SPACE PRESERVE
EL SERENO
OPEN SPACE
PRESERVE
BC01
BC12
BC05
BC02
BC04
Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District
(MROSD)
.BSDI 2018
"UUBDINFOU"MNB%FNPMJUJPOBOE"CBUFNFOU1SPKFDU4JUF.BQ
Pa
t
h
:
G
:
\
P
r
o
j
e
c
t
s
\
B
e
a
r
_
C
r
e
e
k
_
R
e
d
w
o
o
d
s
\
P
r
e
s
e
r
v
e
P
l
a
n
\
I
m
p
l
e
m
e
n
t
a
t
i
o
n
\
B
C
_
C
o
n
s
t
r
u
c
t
i
o
n
P
r
o
j
e
c
t
s
_
R
F
P
_
2
0
1
8
0
2
1
3
.
m
x
d
Cr
e
a
t
e
d
B
y
:
j
h
a
w
k
00.250.125
MilesI
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.
SIERRA AZUL
OPEN SPACE
PRESERVE
ÄÆ9
ÄÆ17
ÄÆ35
Campbell
Saratoga
Los Gatos
San Jose
Area of
Detail
Existing Paved Road
Existing Unpaved Road
Existing Trail
Existing Unmaintained Road
!PGate
BC0
Attachment 1 - Alma Cultural Landscape Rehabilitation Site Map
Chapel
1934
Librar y
Upper Carport
Bat Habitat
Garage
Classroom
B E A R C R E E K
R E D W O O D S O P E N
S P A C E P R E S E R V E
Chapel
W e b b C r e e k
We b b C re e k
U p p e r L a k e L o o p Tr ail
A
l
m
a
T
r
a
i
l
St. Joseph's Shrine
Improvement Extents
Upper Lake Overflow
Improvements Extents
Site Improvements &
Restoration E xtents
1934 Librar y
Garage
Site Improvements &
Restoration E xtents
1950
Librar y
To Highw ay 17
Dormatory
Upper Lake
MudLake
Residence Ruins
Bear
Cre
e
k
R
o
a
d
B
e
a
r
C
r
e
e
k
R
o
a
d
1000
8
0
0
1 2 0 0
1000
M id p e ni n su la Reg i on a l
Op e n S p a c e D i st r ic t
(Mi dp en)
7/2 2 /2 0 2 1
A t t a c h m e n t 2 - A l m a C u l t u r a l L a nd s c a p e R e h a b i l i t a t i o n Wo r k A r e a M a p
Path: G:\Projects\Bear_Creek_Redwoods\Alma College\ProjectLocation\BCR_AlmaCollege_Project_Large_20190117.mxd
Created By: flopez
0 300150
FeetI
B ear Cr eek R ed wo o ds
Ope n S pac e P r es e r ve
While the Distric t strives to use the best av ail able digital data, these data do not represent a legal su r vey and are merely a graphic illustration of geographic f eatures.
Area of
Detail
Los
Gatos
B E A R C R E E K
R E D W O O D S
F E L T O N
S T A T I O N S I E R R A
A Z U L
S T .
J O S E P H 'S
H I L L
E L S E R E N O
ÄÆ9
ÄÆ17
ÄÆ35
To b e Mo t ha bl l ed Unp ave d S easo n al Ro ad
Pa ved R oa d
Ex ist ing Pa r kin g A r ea
Fo u n da tio n s to R em ai n
Tra il
Unp ave d A ll -S easo n Roa d
Mai nt en an ce /Co n str u c tio n Ac c ess
Sit e Im p r ov em en ts &
Resto r at io n E x ten ts
De m o l is h ed
Rev. 3/15/21
R-21-103
Meeting 21-21
July 28, 2021
AGENDA ITEM 5
AGENDA ITEM
La Honda Forest Health Management Assessment – Findings and Contract Amendment for
Expanded Scope
GENERAL MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Receive a presentation on the findings of the La Honda Forest Health Management
Assessment
2. Authorize the General Manager to amend a contract with Sicular Environmental Consulting
and Natural Lands Management of Berkeley, California in the amount of $15,300 to provide
additional public outreach support and add the Woodruff Creek parcel as an addendum to the
La Honda Forest Health Management Assessment; the amendment would bring the contract
to a total not-to-exceed amount of $107,293.
SUMMARY
The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (District) owns approximately 30,000 acres of
forest and woodland habitat throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains bioregion. A 1,210-acre
forested portion of the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve (Preserve) is the subject area for
the District’s first forest health assessment and management plan, referred to as the La Honda
Forest Health Management Assessment (“Forest Health Assessment”). The consultant reviewed
historic information, gathered and analyzed extensive forest data, and has prepared draft
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 will present the findings of the La Honda
Forest Health Management Assessment and discuss next steps in the project development, which
includes partner peer-review and public engagement.
A contract amendment with Sicular Environmental Consulting and Natural Lands Management
(Sicular Environmental) in the amount of $15,300 is recommended to include a newly acquired
parcel in the study and provide additional public outreach prior to the Board considering final
approval of the Forest Health Assessment recommendations. The 190-acre Woodruff Creek
forested parcel was purchased by the District during the Forest Health Assessment development
and therefore was not surveyed under the existing contract. The amendment would bring the
contract to a total not-to-exceed amount of $107,293. The Fiscal Year 2021-22 (FY22) budget
includes sufficient funds to cover the work.
R-21-103 Page 2
DISCUSSION
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
habitat; and promote regional fire management objectives”. The Forest Management Policies
were developed in 2007 and included two public study sessions with the Board of Directors
(Board) (R-07-76, R-07-78). The Board approved the final Forest Management Policies as part
of the RMP 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, which directs the District to begin
forest management efforts with surveys that document existing conditions to inform potential
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 study 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 from prior, poorly managed timber harvest activities, including the need to properly
decommission former dirt logging roads and address failing stream crossings.
La Honda Forest Health Management Assessment
The Forest Health Assessment (Attachment 1) describes the historic conditions from clear
cutting in ~1876 to the most recent timber harvest in 1988 that have affected the composition of
the 1,210-acre forest and its future ecological trajectories. Although the Forest Health
Assessment 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 the Wildland Fire Resiliency Program recommendations
for upper La Honda Open Space Preserve (Attachment 2). The forests also sequester significant
amounts of carbon, and therefore, the resiliency of these forests is an important part of District
climate goals.
The Forest Health Assessment 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, isolated redwoods, Douglas-fir encroachment in hardwood forests,
and Sudden Oak Death. Impaired fuels conditions that increase the intensity of potential fires
resulting in seriously damage habitats include brush and grass encroachment on forest edges,
ladder fuels and duff accumulations, and dead and dying vegetation due to Sudden Oak Death.
Impaired watershed conditions include legacy roads that divert natural runoff and are source of
downstream sedimentation and water quality impacts. The Forest Health Assessment presents
preliminary, high-level options that address these impairments while recognizing that further
investigation and refinement is warranted.
R-21-103 Page 3
Preliminary Options and Broad Strategies to Promote Forest Health
The high-level, preliminary options and broad strategies identified in the La Honda Forest Health
Management Assessment include fuels reductions in a variety of contexts, watershed
improvements to reduce sedimentation, and the use of silviculture to accelerate the growth of
second growth redwoods forests into late-seral (old-growth) habitats. The La Honda Forest is
very diverse in its stand conditions, due to varying topography, hydrology, soils and geology,
differing harvesting histories, and the absence of fire.
While the District has conducted many fuels reduction and sediment reduction projects in the
past, restoration forestry treatments in redwood forests and large-scale forest management are
new to the District. Other restoration forestry projects have included eucalyptus, acacia, and
other non-native tree removal from forest stands or other habitats. Several commercial timber
operations have occurred on District lands where private timber rights preexisted District
ownership of the land, such as at Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve in 1999 and El
Corte de Madera Creek Open in the 1980s. The purpose and practices of restoration forestry are
different to conventional for-profit timber harvesting (particularly outside of the Santa Cruz
Mountains) and can be defined as a silvicultural treatment whose main purpose is to improve
stand conditions and habitats over time. Not all timber harvests are equal; there are local timber
harvest examples where activities and the natural resources are carefully managed to ensure
forests remain healthy, sustainable, and productive for ongoing timber operations and overall
forest health. The term restoration forestry also distinguishes management practices from
sustainable forestry, which can be defined as silvicultural treatments that maintain or increase
stand volume to ensure ongoing commercial yield (i.e., harvest less than the forest produces over
time to sustain long-term timber operations and production).
The restoration forestry goals in the Forest Health Assessment focus on the habitat impairments
and optional remedies for each area: overly dense second-growth redwoods and treatments that
reduce density and/or enhance and protect existing late-seral and old-growth stands. In short, the
Assessment discusses the select removal of small diameter trees that compete with and suppress
the annual growth of larger trees (“old-growth candidates”) or create undesirable ladder fuels
that can result in canopy fires and threaten the resiliency of the forest in the event of a wildland
fire. The Assessment also describes redwood forests that would not benefit from active
interventions and which should continue on a natural trajectory.
In a restoration forestry project, many of the felled trees do not have commercial (financial)
value, and not all locations are accessible to transport trees out carefully and safely without
causing significant ground disturbance. In these instances, felled trees that remain and are not
pulled out of the area are instead left on the forest floor to naturally decay and return nutrients
back into the soil, with branches lopped to reduce fuel heights. A local example of such an
approach can be found at the Sempervirens236 site managed by the Sempervirens Fund as well
as in portions of San Vicente Redwoods. Restoration forestry projects are more common in
Northern California, particular in Redwood National and State Park, which has been a source of
much scientific research and adaptive management. Some treatment areas may result in felled
trees that could be reused as building/construction materials. Locally, the most notable example
of a project where funds generated from the sale of trees as by-products of restoration forestry
are reinvested into stewardship work is located at the San Vicente Redwoods property outside of
Davenport, which is a collaborative project between Sempervirens Fund, Peninsula Open Space
Trust (POST), Save the Redwoods, and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. At both San
Vicente Redwoods and at Redwood National and State Park, the funds generated by the sale of
R-21-103 Page 4
felled trees that are part of the restoration forestry work are reinvested to complete invasive plant
management, sediment control work, and wildfire resiliency treatments. The District’s Forest
Management Policies require that any funds generated from restoration work be directed and
invested toward resource management activities and long-term natural resource monitoring.
One of the preliminary considerations that apply throughout the Assessment Area is to
potentially utilize the Timber Harvest Plan (THP) process to implement the Forest Health
implementation. The THP process is a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) equivalent
with a robust public process that is led by CalFire as the lead agency. THPs are required for
commercial timber operations and are also sometimes used for large scale non-commercial
timber operations to conduct fuels reduction work or forest roads management.
Recommended Contract Amendment
A contract amendment with Sicular Environmental Consulting and Natural Lands Management
(Sicular Environmental) in the amount of $15,300 is recommended to include a newly acquired
parcel in the Forest Health Assessment and to assist the District with partner outreach and
engagement. The 190-acre Woodruff Creek Parcel was acquired during the development of the
Forest Assessment (Attachment 3). It is a mostly forested parcel with a notable concentration of
large, old-growth sized trees. Adding this area would ensure the Forest Health Assessment
considers all of the major forested areas within the Preserve. The amendment would bring the
contract to a total not-to-exceed amount of $107,293.
FISCAL IMPACT
The presentation does not have a fiscal impact. At a future Board meeting, staff will return to the
Board for consideration to approve the Forest Health Assessment recommendations into a
project. A cost estimate for the project will be developed during the next phase of work as the
forest management prescriptions are created with a registered professional forester and peer-
reviewed by partner agencies and organizations.
The FY22 adopted budget includes $349,126 for the Restoration Forestry Demonstration Project
MAA05-010. There are sufficient funds in the project budget to cover the recommended Sicular
Environmental contract amendment. $47,152 was expensed under general fund operating against
this Sicular contract in prior years before the project was deemed MAA eligible.
Restoration Forestry
Demonstration Project
MAA05-010
Prior
Year
Actuals
FY22
Adopted
FY23
Projected
FY24
Projected
Estimated
Future
Years
TOTAL
Total Budget: $32,067 $349,126 $571,706 $365,000 $0 $1,317,899
Spent-to-Date
(as of 07/13/2021): ($32,067) $0 $0 $0 $0 ($32,067)
Encumbrances: $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Remainder of Sicular
Environmental Base
Contract:
$0 ($12,774) $0 $0 $0 ($12,774)
Sicular Environmental
Contract Amendment: $0 ($15,300) $0 $0 $0 ($15,300)
Budget Remaining
(Proposed): $0 $321,052 $571,706 $365,000 $0 $1,257,758
R-21-103 Page 5
The following table outlines the Measure AA Portfolio 05 La Honda Creek: Upper Area
Recreation, Habitat Restoration and Conservation Grazing Projects allocation, costs-to-date,
projected future project expenditures and projected portfolio balance remaining.
MAA05 La Honda Creek: Upper Area Recreation, Habitat Restoration
and Conservation Grazing Projects Portfolio Allocation: $11,733,000
Life-to-Date Spent (as of 07/13/2021): ($2,664,333)
Encumbrances: $0
Remaining FY22 Project Budgets: ($774,401)
Future MAA05 project costs (projected through FY25): ($2,888,092)
Total Portfolio Expenditures: ($6,326,826)
Portfolio Balance Remaining (Proposed): $5,406,174
The following table outlines the Measure AA Portfolio 05 allocation, projected life of project
expenditures and projected portfolio balance remaining.
MAA05 La Honda Creek: Upper Area Recreation, Habitat Restoration
and Conservation Grazing Projects Portfolio Allocation: $11,733,000
Projected Project Expenditures (life of project):
05-001 La Honda Creek Land Conservation Opportunities ($1,756,093)
05-002 Upper La Honda Creek Grazing Infrastructure ($297,432)
05-005 La Honda Creek Red Barn Parking Area and Easy Access Trail ($327,513)
05-007 La Honda Creek Phase II Trail Connection ($471,622)
05-008 La Honda Creek White Barn Structural Rehabilitation ($588,638)
05-009 La Honda Creek Redwood Cabin Removal and Site Restoration ($664,134)
05-010 Restoration Forestry Demonstration Project ($1,317,899)
05-011 Lone Madrone Ranch Fence Installation ($278,898)
05-012 Phase 2 - Paulin Bridge Replacements (2) ($624,597)
Total Portfolio Expenditures: ($6,326,826)
Portfolio Balance Remaining (Proposed): $5,406,174
BOARD AND COMMITTEE REVIEW
This item has not been reviewed by a Board Committee. Sicular Environmental’s contract was
approved by the Board at the June 26, 2019 meeting (R-19-84, minutes).
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notice was provided as required by the Brown Act and to neighbors of the Preserve
potentially affected by the proposed project and the La Honda interested parties list. The La
Honda Forest Health Management Assessment and notice of this meeting was sent to staff from
California State Parks, Sempervirens Fund, Save the Redwoods, the Peninsula Open Space Trust,
and Green Foothills. Additional notice was given CalFire, Big Creek Lumber Co., and Matt
Greene Forestry and Biological Consulting (who manages the forests on the Djerassi property
west of La Honda Creek OSP).
R-21-103 Page 6
CEQA COMPLIANCE
This item is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act. At a future Board
meeting, the Board may direct staff to pursue a project that will need to be evaluated for CEQA
compliance.
NEXT STEPS
The next steps for District staff, following this Agenda Item, include reviewing the preliminary
Forest Health Assessment implementations options and broad restoration concepts and strategies
with conservation partner organizations and agencies who hold redwood management and
ecological expertise (e.g. Save the Redwoods, Sempervirens Fund, the Peninsula Open Space
Trust, California State Parks, and Green Foothills). These organizations and agencies can
provide a robust peer-review of the analysis and assist the District with developing the final
implementation recommendations and stand-by-stand prescriptions for the Forest Health
Assessment. Once these are ready, District staff will review the Assessment and implementation
recommendations with interested parties at a public meeting (date TBD) before returning to the
Board with the final recommendations for consideration of approval. Once approved, a request
for proposal and qualifications would be issued to contract with a registered professional forester
and other consultants to implement the assessment recommendations.
Attachments:
1. La Honda Forest Management Assessment
2. La Honda OSP Wildland Fire Resiliency Map Excerpts
3. Map of Woodruff Creek Parcel
Responsible Department Head:
Kirk Lenington, Natural Resources Manager
Prepared by/Contact person:
Aaron Hébert, Senior Resource Management Specialist, Natural Resources Department
Graphics prepared by:
Nathan Grieg, Data Analyst II
Kevin McManigal, Orange Peel Cartography
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
This page intentionally left blank
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;
Attachment 1
Introduction
La Honda Forest Assessment 1-2 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
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.
Attachment 1
Attachment 1
Attachment 1
Introduction
La Honda Forest Assessment 1-5 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Introduction
La Honda Forest Assessment 1-6 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Introduction
La Honda Forest Assessment 1-7 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Introduction
La Honda Forest Assessment 1-8 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-1 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Dh
)LJXUH
3UHOLPLQDU\&RYHU
&ODVVHV
Attachment 1
)LJXUH
6DPSOH3ORW/RFDWLRQ
Attachment 1
Attachment 1
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.
Attachment 1
Forest Inventory
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-6 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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
Attachment 1
Forest Inventory
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-7 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Forest Inventory
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-8 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Forest Inventory
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-9 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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
Attachment 1
Forest Inventory
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-10 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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+ "
Tr
e
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+ "
Tr
e
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+ "
Tr
e
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+ "
Tr
e
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+ "
Tr
e
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+ "
Tr
e
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+ "
Tr
e
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+ "
Tr
e
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+ "
Tr
e
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+ "
Tr
e
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+ "
Tr
e
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
Attachment 1
Forest Inventory
La Honda Forest Assessment 2-22 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
This page intentionally left blank
Attachment 1
La Honda Forest Assessment 3-1 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
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.
Attachment 1
Attachment 1
Context for Forest Assessment
La Honda Forest Assessment 3-4 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
This page intentionally left blank
Attachment 1
Context for Forest Assessment
La Honda Forest Assessment 3-5 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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,
Attachment 1
Context for Forest Assessment
La Honda Forest Assessment 3-6 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Attachment 1
Attachment 1
Attachment 1
Context for Forest Assessment
La Honda Forest Assessment 3-10 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
This page intentionally left blank
Attachment 1
Context for Forest Assessment
La Honda Forest Assessment 3-11 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Context for Forest Assessment
La Honda Forest Assessment 3-12 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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
Attachment 1
Context for Forest Assessment
La Honda Forest Assessment 3-13 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Context for Forest Assessment
La Honda Forest Assessment 3-14 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Context for Forest Assessment
La Honda Forest Assessment 3-15 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Context for Forest Assessment
La Honda Forest Assessment 3-16 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Context for Forest Assessment
La Honda Forest Assessment 3-17 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Context for Forest Assessment
La Honda Forest Assessment 3-18 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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
Department of Forestry, California Department of Water Resources, State Water Resources
Control Board.
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.
Egger, Eugene, and Alice Egger, 1984. Letter to L. Craig Britton, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District, July 8, 1984.
Hamey, Nadia, Matt Baldzikowski and Jodi McGraw, 2014. History of Timber Harvests within the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District,
December, 2014.
Iberle, Benjamin G., Robert Van Pelt, Stephen C. Sillett, 2020. “Development of mature second-growth
Sequoia Sempervirens forests.” Forest Ecology and Management 459.
Jensen, Herbert A., 1939. Vegetation Types and Forest Conditions of the Santa Cruz Mountains Unit of
California. Berkeley: USDA Forest Service, California Forest and Range Experiment Station,
Forest Service Release no. 1.
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.
3.
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
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.
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.
Attachment 1
Context for Forest Assessment
La Honda Forest Assessment 3-19 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Context for Forest Assessment
La Honda Forest Assessment 3-20 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
This page intentionally left blank
Attachment 1
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-1 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-2 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-4 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
This page intentionally left blank
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-5 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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-
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-6 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-7 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-8 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-9 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-10 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-11 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-12 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-14 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
This page intentionally left blank
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-15 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-16 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-17 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-18 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-19 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-20 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-21 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-22 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-23 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-24 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
• 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.
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-25 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-26 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-27 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
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.
Attachment 1
Forest Restoration and Management
La Honda Forest Assessment 4-28 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
June 2021
This page intentionally left blank
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
Attachment 1
Page 2
February 9, 2021
2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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
Attachment 1
Page 3
February 9, 2021
2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page 4
February 9, 2021
2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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
Attachment 1
Page 5
February 9, 2021
2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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
Attachment 1
Page 6
February 9, 2021
2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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
Attachment 1
Page 7
February 9, 2021
2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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
Page 8
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
LA
HONDA
C
R
E
E
K
U
P
P
E
R
ROAD
LO
W
E
R
R
O
A
D
LaHondaCreek
R
o
a
d
(H
Y
W
8
4)
S
k
y
l
i
n
e
B
l
v
d
(
H
Y
W
3
6
)
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
´0 250 500 750
Feet
Attachment 1
!(
!(!(
!(
!(!(!(
!(!(
!(
!(
!(
!(
!(!(
!(
!(
!(!(!(!(!(
!(!(!(!(
!(
!(
!(!(
#
!(
E
!(
")!(
!(
!(
")
!(
!(
!(
#
#
##*
##
#
####
#
LaHondaCreek Road (HYW 8 4 )
LA HONDA CREEK
U P P E R R O A D
1DIVERTED WATERCOURSE
2DIVERTED WATERCOURSE3FILL CROSSING
4SLOPEFAILURE
5FILL CROSSING
6SWALE
7PART WASHED-OUTFILL CROSSING
8GULLY FROM DIVERTED WATERCOURSE
9PART WASHED-OUTFILL CROSSING
10DIVERTED WATERCOURSE
11DIVERTED WATERCOURSE
12GULLIEDOUT ROAD FROM DIVERSION
13BFILL FAILURE
14FILL CROSSINGUNSTABLE SLOPES
13CLARGE FILL FAILURE
13DFILL FAILURE
13ECUT BANKFAILURE
13FFILL FAILURE 13GLARGE CUT AND FILL FAILURE
13HLARGE FILL FAILURE
15PART WASHED-OUTFILL CROSSING
13IFILL FAILURE
13JFILL FAILURE
13KFILL FAILURE
13LLARGE SLOPE FAILURE 16HUMBOLDT CROSSINGOLD DIVERSION
LO W E R R O A D
13ALARGE FILL FAILURE
18
0
0
1
7
5
0
17
0
0
165
0
160
0
155
0
15
0
0
1
4
5
0
1
4
0
0
1350
2100
2050
2000
1950
1900
13
0
0
12
5
0
12
0
0
19
5
0
19
0
0
2
0
5
0
2
0
0
0
195
0
1900
1850
1400
1350
1350
1300
1150
1100
1400
1350
130
0
12
5
0
1
2
0
0
1
1
5
0
1050
1000
1000
950
18
5
0
14
5
0 1400
2150
2
0
5
0
1950
18
0
0
18
0
0
1400 130
0
1250
1
2
0
0
11501150
2100
PR
O
J
E
C
T
:
20
2
0
O
L
D
L
O
G
G
I
N
G
R
O
A
D
E
R
O
S
I
O
N
I
N
V
E
N
T
O
R
Y
LA
H
O
N
D
A
C
R
E
E
K
O
S
P
MI
D
P
E
N
I
N
S
U
L
A
R
E
G
I
O
N
A
L
O
P
E
N
S
P
A
C
E
D
I
S
T
R
I
C
T
SA
N
M
A
T
E
O
C
O
U
N
T
Y
,
C
A
2
TI
T
L
E
:
RO
A
D
E
R
O
S
I
O
N
I
N
V
E
N
T
O
R
Y
M
A
P
DA
T
E
:
2
/
9
/
2
0
2
1
PR
O
J
E
C
T
:
S
I
C
U
L
A
R
-
L
A
H
O
N
D
A
-
8
7
1
DR
A
W
N
B
Y
:
T
B
CH
E
C
K
E
D
:
T
B
FIGURE
TI
M
O
T
H
Y
C
.
B
E
S
T
,
C
E
G
10
0
2
C
o
l
u
m
b
i
a
S
t
r
e
e
t
,
S
a
n
t
a
C
r
u
z
,
C
A
9
5
0
6
0
(8
3
1
)
4
2
5
5
8
3
2
(
8
3
1
)
3
3
2
5
7
7
9
1
(
m
)
EN
G
I
N
E
E
R
I
N
G
G
E
O
L
O
G
Y
A
N
D
H
Y
D
R
O
L
O
G
Y
FEATURE
!(WATERCOURSE CROSSING
E SWALE
#SLOPE / FILL FAILURE
#*CUTBANK FAILURE
")GULLY
DEGREE OF ROAD DAMAGE
!(LOW
!(MOD
!(MOD-HIGH
!(HIGH
ROADS
COUNTY
PAVED
SEASONAL
ABANDONED
SKID TRAIL
WATERCOURSE
PERENNIAL
INTERMITTENT
EPHEMERAL
DIVERSION
SLOPES >60%
LA HONDA OSP
¯
0 500
Feet
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-6
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-7
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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
Attachment 1
Page A1-8
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-9
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-10
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-11
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-12
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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
Attachment 1
Page A1-13
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-14
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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
Attachment 1
Page A1-15
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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
Attachment 1
Page A1-16
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-17
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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).
Attachment 1
Page A1-18
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-19
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-20
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-21
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-22
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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
Attachment 1
Page A1-23
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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
Attachment 1
Page A1-24
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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
Attachment 1
Page A1-25
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-26
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-27
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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)
Attachment 1
Page A1-28
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-29
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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
Attachment 1
Page A1-30
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-31
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-32
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
Page A1-33
February 9, 2021
APPENDIX 1: ROAD LOG 2020 La Honda Creek OSP RTI Update
TIMOTHY C. BEST, CEG
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.
Attachment 1
This page intentionally left blank
Attachment 1
APPENDIX B
Forest Inventory Methodology
Attachment 1
Attachment 1
Buena Vista Services, L.L.C.
1
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
Attachment 1
Buena Vista Services, L.L.C.
2
Attachment 1
Buena Vista Services, L.L.C.
3
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
Attachment 1
Buena Vista Services, L.L.C.
4
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
This page intentionally left blank
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
This page intentionally left blank
Attachment 1
Lost Trail
All
e
n
R
D
Gor
d
o
n
M
i
l
l
T
r
a
i
l
Lawrence
C
r
e
e
k
T
r
a
i
l
Coho
V
i
s
t
a
L
o
o
p
T
r
a
i
l
Sc
h
i
l
l
i
n
g
L
a
k
e
T
r
a
i
l
Bear Gulch Rd
P
o
r
t
o
l
a
R
d
Bea
r
G
u
l
c
h
R
d
35
84
84
La Honda Creek/Thornewood
0 0.25 0.5 Miles
Date Printed: 7/13/2020
Page 8
Existing and Potential Treatments
Note:
Sensitive resources such
as Cultural Sites and T&E
Species may be present, but
are not mapped at this scale.
Existing Treatments
Defensible Space
30-foot
Defensible Space
100-foot
Fuelbreak 200-
foot
Non-Shaded
Fuelbreak
Shaded
Fuelbreak
Discline
Potential FuelsTreatments
Fuelbreak 200-
foot
Eucalyptus and
Acacia Removal
Non-Shaded
Fuelbreak
Shaded
Fuelbreak
Potential FRAs
for Ecosystem
Resiliency
Wildland Type 3
Ingress/Egress
* See Table of Contents page for additional symbology.
** Fuel break widths are maximums. Fuelbreaks may be
constructed at any width up to the maximum width.
Critical Infrastructure
Primary
Evacuation Route
Secondary
Evacuation Route
Structure Type 1
(Tender)
Road or Trail
Water Tank
Target Hazards
Community
Center
FireManagementLogistics
Helispot
Lookout
OSP & ManagedProperties
Boundary
El Corte de
Madera Creek
La Honda Creek
Thornewood
Windy Hill
Attachment 2
Lost Trail
All
e
n
R
D
Gor
d
o
n
M
i
l
l
T
r
a
i
l
Lawrence
C
r
e
e
k
T
r
a
i
l
Coho
V
i
s
t
a
L
o
o
p
T
r
a
i
l
Sc
h
i
l
l
i
n
g
L
a
k
e
T
r
a
i
l
Bear Gulch Rd
P
o
r
t
o
l
a
R
d
Bea
r
G
u
l
c
h
R
d
35
84
84
La Honda Creek/Thornewood
0 0.25 0.5 Miles
Date Printed: 6/7/2020
Page 8
Treatment Priorities
Note:
Sensitive resources such
as Cultural Sites and T&E
Species may be present, but
are not mapped at this scale.
TreatmentPriority Areas
Tier 1
Tier 2
* See Table of Contents page for additional symbology.
** Fuel break widths are maximums. Fuelbreaks may be
constructed at any width up to the maximum width.
Critical Infrastructure
Primary
Evacuation Route
Secondary
Evacuation Route
Structure Type 1
(Tender)
Maintained forVehicle Class
Wildland Type 3
Ingress/Egress
Road or Trail
Fire Station
Water Tank
Target Hazards
Community
Center
FireManagementLogistics
Helispot
Lookout
OSP & ManagedProperties
Boundary
El Corte de
Madera Creek
La Honda Creek
Thornewood
Windy Hill
Attachment 2
Harring
t
o
n
C
r
e
e
k
T
r
a
i
l
Ha
r
r
i
n
g
t
o
n
C
r
e
e
k
T
r
a
i
l
84
84
La Honda Creek
0 0.25 0.5 Miles
Date Printed: 6/7/2020
Page 9
Treatment Priorities
Note:
Sensitive resources such
as Cultural Sites and T&E
Species may be present, but
are not mapped at this scale.
TreatmentPriority Areas
Tier 1
Tier 2
* See Table of Contents page for additional symbology.
** Fuel break widths are maximums. Fuelbreaks may be
constructed at any width up to the maximum width.
Critical Infrastructure
Primary
Evacuation Route
Secondary
Evacuation Route
Structure Type 1
(Tender)
Maintained forVehicle Class
Wildland Type 3
Ingress/Egress
Road or Trail
Fire Station
Water Tank
Target Hazards
School/Day Care
Mobile Home
Park
Fire ManagementLogistics
Helispot
Lookout
Staging Area
OSP & ManagedProperties
Boundary
La Honda Creek
Russian Ridge
Attachment 2
Harring
t
o
n
C
r
e
e
k
T
r
a
i
l
Ha
r
r
i
n
g
t
o
n
C
r
e
e
k
T
r
a
i
l
84
84
La Honda Creek
0 0.25 0.5 Miles
Date Printed: 7/13/2020
Page 9
Existing and Potential Treatments
Note:
Sensitive resources such
as Cultural Sites and T&E
Species may be present, but
are not mapped at this scale.
Existing Treatments
Defensible Space
30-foot
Defensible Space
100-foot
Fuelbreak 200-
foot
Non-Shaded
Fuelbreak
Shaded
Fuelbreak
Potential FuelsTreatments
Fuelbreak 200-
foot
Fuelbreak 300-
foot
Eucalyptus and
Acacia Removal
Non-Shaded
Fuelbreak
Fire Agency
Recommended
Potential FRAs
for Ecosystem
Resiliency
Discline
Wildland Type 3
Ingress/Egress
* See Table of Contents page for additional symbology.
** Fuel break widths are maximums. Fuelbreaks may be
constructed at any width up to the maximum width.
Critical Infrastructure
Secondary
Evacuation Route
Structure Type 1
(Tender)
Road or Trail
Water Tank
Target Hazards
School/Day Care
Mobile Home
Park
Fire ManagementLogistics
Helispot
Lookout
Staging
OSP & ManagedProperties
Boundary
La Honda Creek
Russian Ridge
Attachment 2
Folger Property
APN 078-190-030
190-acres
L a n g l e y C r e e k
Langley C r e e k
W oo dr uff C r e e k
W o o d h a m s C r e e k
L
a
H
o
n
d
a
C
r
e
e
k
W o o d r u f f Creek
Whistle C r e e k
20
0
0
1
8
0
0
160
0
14
0
0
1
2
0
0
10
0
0
80
0
6
0
0
20
0
0
1
8
0
0
16
0
0
14
0
0
14
0
0
120
0
8
0
0
60
0
8
0
0
6
0
0
2
2
0
0
1
4
0
0
14
0
0
1800R
a
p
ley R a n ch Ro a d
R a p l e y R a n c h R o a d
R
a
p
l
e
y
T
r
a
i
l
ÄÆ35
ÄÆ84
LA HONDA CREEK
OPEN SPACE
PRESERVE
RUSSIAN RIDGE
OPEN SPACE
PRESERVE
WINDY HILL OPEN
SPACE PRESERVE
Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District
(Midpen)
3/28/2019
Folger Property
Pa
t
h
:
G
:
\
P
r
o
j
e
c
t
s
\
R
u
s
s
i
a
n
_
R
i
d
g
e
\
F
o
l
g
e
r
\
B
o
a
r
d
R
e
p
o
r
t
_
2
0
1
9
0
4
3
0
\
R
R
_
F
o
l
g
e
r
_
B
o
a
r
d
R
e
p
o
r
t
_
2
0
1
9
0
3
2
8
.
m
x
d
Cr
e
a
t
e
d
B
y
:
n
g
r
e
i
g
0 0.50.25
Miles
I
Midpen Preserves
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.
Folger Property
Area of
Detail
ÄÆ84
ÄÆ82
ÄÆ35ÄÆ9ÄÆ236
ÄÆ35
ÄÆ17
ÄÆ1
ÄÆ280
ÄÆ280
ÄÆ92
ÄÆ1 ÄÆ85
Redwood
City East
Palo
Alto
Mountain View
Palo Alto
Cupertino
Saratoga
Sunnyvale
Audubon Society
Attachment 3
From:Jennifer Woodworth
Bcc:BOARD; Brian Malone; Adriana Headley; Omar Smith
Subject:Responses to Board Questions Re: 7/28/21 Board Agenda
Date:Wednesday, July 28, 2021 2:14:00 PM
Attachments:20210714_BOD_minutes_DRAFT_REVISED.pdf
Good afternoon all,
Below please find responses to Board questions regarding the items on the 7/28/21 Board meeting
agenda. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Jen
Director Riffle
In the 7/28/21 Board meeting packet, the staff report for Agenda Item 3 on the top of page 3
shows the Ford F150 replacement at a cost of $70,000 (line 1). This looks very expensive, and
in the same table, line 3, it shows the same vehicle type but at $45,000 which looks more
reasonable. Is the cost for the line 1 item correct?
We are purchasing two different Ford F150. One of these trucks will be for the new Field Resource
Specialist. This truck comes standard, as the tools and equipment needed will be added after the
fact.
The second F150 is a Police Interceptor F150 with larger brake rotors with venting to dissipate heat
and prolong brake life; larger alternators for the increased electronics; solid heavy-duty floor liner in
the cab. It is equipped with a more durable seat material, and front seats are designed for Officers
belts (they are wider where the seat mold around), the driver seat is an electric seat with multiple
seat adjustments to fit the ergonomic needs of multiple drivers. It comes standard with the FX4 off-
road package, skid plates, better off-road tires, hill descent control, and a locking rear axle.
Director Kishimoto
Last minutes on item 5, bear creek. Didn’t we incorporate * increasing the number of stars (weight)
of “implementation expertise” from 2 to 3, and also add a sub-bulletin of “Demonstrates
commitment to the health and safety of horses” to that category?
Both of these items were included in the second General Manager’s recommendation where the
Board was providing input but not a part of the “Proposed Concessionaire Agreement Terms,” which
were approved by the Board in a motion. You are correct that the additional star was being added to
the “implementation expertise” category and not the “implementation approach” category. I have
corrected this in the attached minutes. Staff also confirmed they incorporated the Board’s input on
the “Proposed Bear Creek Stables Operational Requirements” and “Concessionaire Selection
Criteria” for future action on this project.
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC, CPMC
District Clerk | Assistant to the General Manager
jwoodworth@openspace.org
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
330 Distel Circle, Los Altos, CA 94022
P: (650) 691-1200 - F: (650) 691-0485
E-mail correspondence with the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (and attachments, if
any) may be subject to the California Public Records Act, and as such may therefore be subject to
public disclosure unless otherwise exempt under the Act.
July 14, 2021
Board Meeting 21-20
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
The Board of Directors conducted this meeting in accordance with California Governor
Newsom’s Executive Order N-29-20. All Board members and staff participated via
teleconference.
DRAFT MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
President Riffle called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to
order at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Karen Holman, Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, Yoriko
Kishimoto, Curt Riffle, and Pete Siemens
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant
General Manager Brian Malone, Chief Executive Officer/Director of
Administrative Services Stefan Jaskulak, Public Affairs Manager Korrine
Skinner, Public Affairs Specialist II Leigh Ann Gessner
President Riffle announced this meeting is being held in accordance with Governor Newsom’s
Executive Order allowing Board members to participate remotely. The District has done its best
to conduct a meeting where everyone has an opportunity to listen to the meeting and to provide
comment. 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. President Riffle described the process and protocols for the meeting.
1. Design of Administrative Office Interpretive Elements (R-21-97)
General Manager Ana Ruiz provided comments regarding the public-facing nature of the
interpretive elements and the project team’s desire to help inspire diverse audiences with varying
backgrounds to learn more about and engage with their public open space lands.
Meeting 21-20 Page 2
Public Affairs Specialist II Leigh Ann Gessner reviewed the project timeline and introduced the
District’s project consultants with EDX Exhibits, Sherry Smith and Julie Sayigh.
Sherry Smith described and displayed renderings of the various elements of the design schemes
which support the Board-approved interpretive themes for the project. Exterior elements include
waysigns and banners. Julie Sayigh explained the process for selecting the photographic images
for the exterior banners, which were taken from District preserves. Interior elements include
various graphics and interpretive information, an exhibit wall in the atrium with murals, large-
scale quotes, and a monitor providing a live feed for public meetings and District images.
Director Holman provided comments regarding the proposed text for the exterior waysigns.
Director Hassett inquired regarding the cost of updating the signs to include additional preserves.
Ms. Smith reported the cost for replacement is reasonable, and the signs could be updated and
replaced as needed.
Director Kersteen-Tucker suggested including information on the waysigns for the preserve
where the photo was taken.
Ms. Gessner stated a photo credit and preserve information could be included.
Director Siemens suggested reducing the number of words on the waysigns by half because
members of the public may not read long signs.
President Riffle suggested including a QR code on the waysigns, so members of the public can
learn more about the District by visiting its website.
Director Kishimoto inquired regarding lighting for the exterior banners.
Senior Capital Project Manager Tanisha Werner stated uplighting for the exterior banners is not
currently included in the construction contract but could be included after construction is
complete. There is also lighting in the area, which would also illuminate the banners.
Director Kersteen-Tucker inquired if different coloring could be used for the “preserve” exterior
banner stating a lighter coloring may be better.
Ms. Sayigh provided additional information regarding contrasting colors in the banners and
suggested alternate coloring options.
Director Holman expressed concerns regarding the coloring for the exterior banners and the
inclusion of cattle on the “protect” banner.
President Riffle also suggested nighttime lighting could be installed for the waysigns. President
Riffle suggested the theme of “education” should be included in the exterior banners and is
perhaps a more important theme than the “enjoy” panel.
Ms. Ruiz stated she would work with staff and consultants to incorporate as many of the Board’s
comments as possible, but all feedback may not be able to be addressed. Ms. Ruiz stated the
Meeting 21-20 Page 3
“educate” theme is also incorporated throughout the interpretive elements, which all serve to
educate the public. Ms. Ruiz stated cattle were included in the “protect” banner to clearly
distinguish the building as a barn and to incorporate our agricultural mission on the coast and use
of conservation grazing to protect habitats.
Directors Siemens, Kishimoto, and Kersteen-Tucker spoke in support of the current “enjoy”
banner as presented.
Director Holman expressed concern regarding the perception that the District may be protecting
cattle based on the “protect” banner image.
Public comment opened at 6:45 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for this item.
Public comments closed at 6:45 p.m.
Motion: Director Kersteen-Tucker moved, and Director Holman seconded the motion to approve
designs for two time-sensitive public interpretive elements being fabricated and installed in the
future Administrative Office located at 5050 El Camino Real in Los Altos: (1) three exterior
interpretive signs; (2) four exterior banners, with additional modifications where possible based
on Board feedback.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
Director Kersteen-Tucker suggested including the full coastal mission statement in the Board
room instead of an abbreviated version.
Ms. Ruiz reported an abbreviated version of the mission statement was suggested due the
repetition of much of the mission statement in the coastal mission statement.
Directors Siemens, Hassett, Cyr, and Riffle agreed that it is important to include the coastal
mission statement in its entirety.
Director Holman spoke in favor of the abbreviated mission statement.
Director Kishimoto suggested displaying the mission statements side-by-side on the wall.
Director Hassett suggested the 3D relief model could be interactive to associate the various
preserves with their location on the model.
Director Kishimoto commented that the exhibit wall should not too busy.
Director Siemens commented additional preserves may be added, so the relief model needs to be
able to be updated.
Meeting 21-20 Page 4
Director Holman suggested the preserve information for the 3D relief model should be the same
orientation as the model map.
ADJOURNMENT
President Riffle adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 7:03 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
President Riffle called the regular meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to
order at 7:10 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Karen Holman, Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, Yoriko
Kishimoto, Curt Riffle and Pete Siemens
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant
General Manager Brian Malone, Assistant General Manager Susanna
Chan, Chief Executive Officer/Director of Administrative Services Stefan
Jaskulak, District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer
Woodworth, Natural Resources Manager Kirk Lenington, Management
Analyst I Sophie Christel, Planning Manager Jane Mark, Planner II Tyler
Smith, Land and Facilities Manager Brandon Stewart, Senior Property
Management Specialist Omar Smith, Open Space Technician Lindsay
Cook
President Riffle announced this meeting is being held in accordance with Governor Newsom’s
Executive Order allowing Board members to participate remotely. The District has done its best
to conduct a meeting where everyone has an opportunity to listen to the meeting and to provide
comment. 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. President Riffle described the process and protocols for the meeting.
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
General Counsel Hilary Stevenson reported there was no reportable action from the closed
session on June 23, 2021.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Ms. Woodworth read the submitted comments into the record.
Meeting 21-20 Page 5
Bradley Erickson encouraged the District to allow Class 1 e-bikes in District preserves because it
allows older riders to enjoy the preserves. Additionally, these are allowed in national, state,
county, and city parks.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to adopt the agenda.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY
Introduction of District Staff
o Lindsay Cook, Open Space Technician
CONSENT CALENDAR
Director Kishimoto thanked District Planning Department staff for their diligent efforts on the
Dumbarton Rail Corridor project.
Public comment opened at 7:20 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for this item.
Public comment closed at 7:20 p.m.
Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to approve the
Consent Calendar.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
1. Approve the June 23, 2021 Board meeting minutes
2. Claims Report
3. Authorization to enter into an Agreement with Panthera to conduct a Five-Year
Wildlife and Livestock Protection Study and create a Wildlife/Livestock Conflict
Management Plan (R-21-85)
General Manager’s Recommendation: Authorize the General Manager to enter into a contract
with Digital Story Group to develop and produce a 48- to 58-minute documentary
commemorating the 50th Anniversary to use as a public outreach and education tool for a total
contract amount not to exceed $90,696.
4. Approval of a Comment Letter to the San Mateo County Transit District on the
Dumbarton Rail Corridor Project (R-21-95)
General Manager’s Recommendation: Authorize the Board President to sign a comment letter,
with any final modifications as directed by the Board of Directors, on behalf of the Midpeninsula
Meeting 21-20 Page 6
Regional Open Space District Board of Directors to the San Mateo County Transit District
regarding the Dumbarton Rail Corridor Project.
BOARD BUSINESS
5. Bear Creek Stables Operational Requirements, Concessionaire Selection Criteria,
and Agreement Terms (R-21-98)
Ms. Ruiz provided comments on the unique nature of the agenda item, which is the first of its
kind for the District. Based on the Board’s previous direction for the Bear Creek Stables repair
project, this item to begin the process for soliciting a long-term stables operator can now move
forward.
Senior Property Management Specialist Omar Smith provided the staff presentation including
the history of the site and current stable operator. Mr. Smith reviewed the proposed operational
requirements, including opportunities for the public to board horses at the site, providing
equestrian programs and opportunities for diverse and underserved communities to experience
equestrian activities, maintain an economically viable operation, etc. Weighted evaluation
criteria for the proposals include implementation expertise, quality of service for the public, and
financial capability to provide service and make payments to the District. Mr. Smith reviewed
the proposed terms of the concessionaire agreement and suggested timeline for the request for
proposal process.
Director Kishimoto suggested the weight of implementation approach expertise could be
increased for the selection criteria. Director Kishimoto requested additional information
regarding selection of boarders and inquired regarding the cost of supplying water to the site.
Mr. Smith reported boarders would be selected from a waiting list, and turnover is approximately
5%, which would annually allow for new boarders. Mr. Smith reported the costs for routing
potable water to the site will be paid by the District, and ongoing service fees would be paid by
the concessionaire.
Director Kersteen-Tucker inquired regarding the weight of the revenue/fee structure criterion and
the District’s liability for the stable concessionaire.
Assistant General Manager Brian Malone reported the fee structure is weighted lower, but the
financial capability is key to understanding whether a concessionaire can feasibly operate the
stables. Mr. Malone reviewed the liability requirements proposed for the concessionaire
agreement.
Director Kersteen-Tucker stated additional clarification is needed for inspections by an animal
husbandry practitioner, and inspections should occur at least twice a year, but quarterly is
preferred.
Director Cyr requested and received additional clarification regarding the number of boarding
stalls and equestrian parking available for public and private use.
Meeting 21-20 Page 7
Mr. Smith and Mr. Malone provided additional information regarding the availability of
equestrian parking and boarding stalls during the repairs to the stables, and staff will work with
the concessionaire on the topic.
Director Siemens stated language should be included in the concessionaire agreement that a
boarder’s lease can only be terminated for cause.
President Riffle suggested including previously working with public agency and experience in
the safety and care of horses as additional criteria. Additionally, President Riffle stated the safety
and well-being of horses should be emphasized in the lease, and regular communication by the
concessionaire with the boarders and the District should be included in the lease. President Riffle
requested and received clarification regarding various proposed operational requirements.
Director Hassett expressed concern that the pool of interested concessionaires may be small, so
the District may need to broaden its search to those that do not have experience managing
equestrian programs.
Mr. Malone reported the District has had a significant amount of interest in the concessionaire
position, and equestrian management expertise would be needed by the concessionaire and/or
their employees.
Director Hassett provided feedback regarding proposed evaluation criteria and operational
guidelines, such as the need for transparency for the operation, caretaker responsibilities,
boarding rental rates, etc.
Public comment opened at 8:34 p.m.
Pam Ashford spoke regarding the cap of 20 horses allowed for the site for training purposes.
Several levels of horses are needed to support various skill levels and fulfill training purposes.
Additionally, horses may be unavailable to support training, such as when sick, pregnant, or
otherwise unable to participate in the training programs. Finally, the concessionaire should be
allowed to keep their personal horse on site.
Nancy Cole thanked the District for their work on the project and for the focus on keeping the
boarding stable open. Ms. Cole provided comments in support of keeping the horses healthy and
safe, and the stables are there for the benefit of the public
Ms. Woodworth read the submitted comments into the record.
Teri Baron expressed concern regarding the proposed number of equestrian trailer parking spots
for the site due to the need for additional access to evacuate horses in the event of a fire.
Trixi Menhardt offered comments in support of maximizing equestrian trailer parking at the
stables and expressed concern regarding a combination of public programs and private boarding
due to the need for strict safety and usage protocols. Ms. Menhardt also shared concerns
regarding the feasibility of a two-year operator to absorb the cost of deferred maintenance at the
site.
Meeting 21-20 Page 8
Michael Riese provided comments of maintaining the boarding areas of Bear Creek Stables and
encouraged improvement of the stable and stall conditions, maintaining a balance of boarders
and students, and development of a facility and programs to support educational and training
sessions. Mr. Riese suggested pairing for-profit and non-profit management to support grants and
supported additional trail development and natural restoration of the area.
Katja Wick suggested the programs offered at the stables should be broadened to ensure
participants from diverse backgrounds can enjoy the stables. Programs could include stable days
for local preschools, horse rescue/rehabilitation program, docent-led hikes, etc.
Melany Moore expressed concern regarding the number of horse trailers allowed on site due to
the need for trailers during an evacuation, such as during a fire. Ms. Moore stated the arena needs
repairs, which a concessionaire would likely be unable to pay for, so the District should invest in
repairing the arena.
Public comments closed at 8:49 p.m.
Mr. Malone reported improvements to the arena are not included in the District repair plan and
could be funded by the proposed maintenance fund. Mr. Malone stated requiring the District to
adjudicate in the reasons a Boarder’s lease is terminated would be difficult.
Director Kishimoto provided feedback on the various proposals and suggested adding
“demonstrates commitment to the health and safety of horses” to the implementation expertise
criterion.
Director Siemens expressed concern regarding a concessionaire being able to terminate a
boarder’s lease for personal reasons and not for cause. Director Siemens suggested adding
“evidence of a cooperative relationship between the operator and the boarders” to the
implementation expertise criterion. Additionally, the District should ratify any fee increases
proposed by the concessionaire. Director Siemens suggested additional equestrian trailer parking
could be allowed near Alma College, and staff should investigate this possibility.
Director Holman suggested including in the concessionaire agreement a list of potential reasons
a boarder’s lease could be terminated for cause, and include a process for boarder eviction, such
as a warning, notification of the District, and an appeal process.
Mr. Malone stated an appeal process could potentially raise concerns for the role of the District
in the operations. Notification of the District and a list of potential reasons for eviction could be
included in the agreement.
General Counsel Hilary Stevenson stated the District will need to be careful regarding the factors
where the District intervenes because it may affect the concessionaire’s ability to get and
maintain liability insurance.
Director Hassett stated the District’s ombudsperson could serve as an arbitrator in disputes
between the concessionaire and the boarders. Additionally, a boarder could raise concerns
directly with the Board at a public meeting.
Meeting 21-20 Page 9
Director Kersteen-Tucker spoke in support of more heavily weighting the implementation
approach expertise criterion and in support of additional off-site equestrian trailer parking where
feasible.
Director Siemens spoke in favor of giving the boarders a sense of security.
President Riffle spoke in support of adding additional elements to the implementation expertise
criterion, more heavily weighting the implementation approach expertise criterion, and
consideration of potential offsite equestrian trailer parking.
Director Kishimoto expressed concern regarding inclusion of “evidence of a cooperative
relationship between the operator and the boarders” because it could create tension between the
concessionaire and the boarders because this is being mandated. Also, the number of personal
horses allowed may need to be stated in the concessionaire agreement to ensure there are horses
available for public programs.
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to approve the
proposed Concessionaire Agreement Terms, except for the number of allowed concessionaire
program horses.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
Motion: Director Hassett moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to:
Limit the number of concessionaire program horses to 20.
i. The first 12 horses are allowed at no cost to Concessionaire.
ii. The optional 8 additional horses will be allowed at a rate that is the same as the
boarder rate with the resulting revenue transferred to a Maintenance Fund.
iii. The availability of boarder space for concessionaire horses above 12 would be subject
to the same waiting list process as for other boarders.
Directors Kishimoto stated they would not support the motion because the District has stated the
purpose of the District’s role at the stables is to support a public program.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 2-5-0 (Directors Cyr, Holman, Kersteen-Tucker, Kishimoto, Riffle
dissenting)
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Kishimoto seconded the motion to:
Limit the number of concessionaire program horses to 20.
i. The first 10 horses are allowed at no cost to Concessionaire.
ii. The optional 10 additional horses will be allowed at a rate that is half that of the
boarder rate with the resulting revenue transferred to a Maintenance Fund
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
6. 2020 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report (R-21-99)
Management Analyst I Sophie Christel provided the staff report reviewing the 2020 Greenhouse
Gas (GHG) Inventory and reported on the District’s progress toward greenhouse gas emission
reduction goals set in the 2018 Climate Action Plan. Ms. Christel provided information regarding
Meeting 21-20 Page 10
the impact on COVID-19 on District GHG emissions, especially related to employee commute.
The District upgraded most facilities to 100% renewable energy and is participating in a
conservation carbon farming plan. Ms. Christel reviewed proposed action for the current fiscal
year to further reduce GHG emissions.
Public comment opened at 10:08 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for this item.
Public comments closed at 10:08 p.m.
No Board action required.
7. Termination of Local Emergency in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic (R-21-96)
Ms. Stevenson presented the staff report summarizing the process used to declare a local
emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, management decisions during the local
emergency, and the procedure to terminate the local emergency.
Ms. Ruiz summarized planned actions for the District as it moves forward upon the termination
of the emergency declaration, including hybrid public meetings, etc.
President Riffle thanked and congratulated staff on their leadership and continued progress
during the local emergency.
Director Siemens inquired if the District would require all visitors to the District offices to be
vaccinated.
Ms. Ruiz stated the District is following all federal, state, and local guidelines regarding
vaccination and mask requirements. Additionally, staff will be posting these guidelines at the
District’s offices.
Director Kersteen-Tucker commented on the stress many individuals are undergoing and the
need to be mindful of this as staff returns to the office.
Ms. Ruiz reported on proposed adjustments to the Capital Improvement and Action Plan being
prepared in response to this issue.
Public comment opened at 10:22 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for this item.
Public comment closed at 10:22 p.m.
Motion: Director Siemens moved, and Director Cyr seconded the motion to adopt a Resolution
terminating a local Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District emergency in response to the
COVID-19 Pandemic.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
Meeting 21-20 Page 11
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDA
Rieser-Nelson Property Addition, Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
State and Federal Legislative Update
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
A. Committee Reports
Director Holman reported the 5050 El Camino Real ad hoc committee met on July 1 and July 8,
2021 to review furniture options recommended by staff, tour the current AO buildings, and meet
with a consultant from Noll & Tam architectural firm.
B. Staff Reports
Public Affairs Manager Korrine Skinner provided an update on the 50th anniversary project.
C. Director Reports
Directors Hassett, Cyr, and Siemens commented on Senior Planner Meredith Manning’s
upcoming retirement and her many accomplishments in support of the District and its mission.
ADJOURNMENT
President Riffle adjourned the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District and into closed session at 10:31 p.m.
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT – CLOSED SESSION
President Riffle called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to
order at 10:31 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Karen Holman, Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, Yoriko
Kishimoto, Curt Riffle, and Pete Siemens
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant
General Manager Brian Malone, Chief Executive Officer/Director of
Administrative Services Stefan Jaskulak, Human Resources Manager
Candice Basnight, Human Resources Supervisor Rebecca Wolfe, Real
Property Manager Mike Williams, Planner III Elish Ryan
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Government Code
Section 54957.6)
Meeting 21-20 Page 12
Agency designated representatives: Ana Ruiz, General Manager, Brian Malone, Assistant
General Manager, Jack Hughes, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Employee organization: Field Employees Association
2. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Government Code
Section 54957.6)
Agency designated representatives: Ana Ruiz, General Manager, Brian Malone, Assistant
General Manager, Jack Hughes, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Employee organization: Midpeninsula Rangers Peace Officers Association
Public comment opened at 10:32 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for these items.
Public comments closed at 10:32 p.m.
The Board convened into closed session at 10:32 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
President Riffle adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 11:19 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC
District Clerk