Impacto de los 2017 incendios en tierras naturales y de trabajo

Además de la trágica pérdida de vidas, hogares, negocios e infraestructura pública, los incendios del complejo 2017 Sonoma quemaron paisajes naturales y de trabajo, incluidos bosques, matorrales, pastizales, pastizales y cultivos agrícolas. Estas tierras de la cuenca son fundamentales para la salud de las comunidades del condado de Sonoma, ya que proporcionan alimentos locales, filtran nuestra agua potable, protegen a las ciudades y pueblos de inundaciones y deslizamientos de tierra, sustentan la diversidad biológica, brindan oportunidades para que la comunidad disfrute del aire libre y contribuyen a la belleza escénica del condado de Sonoma. Los suelos, árboles y otra vegetación en estas cuencas captan carbono, mientras que los corredores ribereños son de importancia crítica para la adaptación al cambio climático, el movimiento de la vida silvestre y la recarga de aguas subterráneas.

Evaluación de nuestras tierras protegidas

Aproximadamente 7,000 acres de tierra protegida Ag + Open Space se vieron directamente afectados por los 2017 incendios. Después de un incendio forestal de cualquier tamaño, el paisaje cambia, a veces de forma bastante drástica. Si bien los paisajes naturales se recuperan por sí solos con el tiempo, algunas áreas necesitaban una restauración activa, gestión e inversión de recursos para evitar la escorrentía de materiales y sedimentos tóxicos hacia los suministros de agua potable y los hábitats sensibles, y para minimizar la amenaza de inundaciones, deslizamientos de tierra, y otros peligros. Los paisajes de trabajo también pueden necesitar una restauración activa para restablecer cultivos u otros usos agrícolas.

A raíz de los incendios 2017, el personal de Ag + Open Space se acercó a los propietarios de terrenos de servidumbre en las áreas quemadas para ofrecer nuestro apoyo y compartir recursos, y realizó visitas a nuestras propias propiedades dentro y cerca del área quemada, incluida Saddle Mountain, Calabazas Creek, Dogbane Preserve y nuestras propiedades a lo largo de Mark West Creek.

Saddle Mountain Open Space Preserve was not burned and was not affected by fire suppression activities. The Preserve’s Management Plan, which was approved after these fires, incorporates planning and objectives relating to fuels management and fire preparedness, including targeted thinning of overcrowded forest stands, establishing shaded fuel breaks, and possibly prescribed burning. We also worked with outside consultants to complete road repairs that will help ensure that the main road through the Preserve remains accessible to emergency vehicles during future fires.

Dogbane Preserve was burned completely through the understory, removing all of the above-ground portions of the invasive Himalayan blackberry and Harding grass on the property. While the dogbane plants burned, the fire severity was relatively low and staff have since observed robust re-sprouting of these perennial plants as well as expansion of the plant population. The tree canopy was partially scorched, and trees may have been weakened, presenting an overhead hazard. Staff and volunteers have worked to control blackberries and Harding grass as they re-emerged, and continue to monitor the dogbane plants.

Calabazas Creek Open Space Preserve saw fire across the entirety of the property, but fortunately fire behavior was patchy and effects were generally very low to moderate in severity. The south-west-facing chaparral slopes in the western portion of the Preserve burned fairly hot, but this is a habitat that is well adapted to periodic fire. Since these fires, we’ve observed extensive, healthy re-sprouting of the shrub and hardwood species in this area. This habitat is also home to a species of manzanita that does not re-sprout but is dependent on fire to help its seeds germinate. We’ve been delighted to see thousands of new manzanita seedlings across these slopes. Most of the thatch burned off in the grasslands in the northern portion of the Preserve, which is a positive effect that should benefit this habitat, and the adjacent oaks got a bit scorched but appear to be recovering well. As expected, the fire stimulated aggressive germination of yellow star thistle in several of the Preserve’s grasslands and Ag + Open Space staff, contractors, and volunteers have continued to proactively manage this invasive species.

En la zona ribereña a lo largo de Calabazas Creek, el fuego dejó el dosel del bosque relativamente intacto pero quemó a baja intensidad a través del sotobosque, eliminando el exceso de combustibles superficiales, así como muchos árboles jóvenes de abeto Douglas que habían estado invadiendo este bosque mixto de madera dura. El fuego resultó en muchos árboles debilitados y caídos y una gran cantidad de escombros de árboles a lo largo del sendero principal de Calabazas Creek. Los arbolistas profesionales, el personal de Ag + Open Space y Cal Fire identificaron y eliminaron casi todos los árboles de peligro alto y muy alto (árboles enteros en peligro inminente de caída).

The Mark West Creek properties (McCullough, Wendle, and Cresta) burned fairly hot, and Ag + Open Space staff and consultants made several site visits to assess fire severity and property hazards. The fire’s heaviest impacts were to the slope south of Mark West and Mill Creeks. Since the fires, oaks, madrones, and bay laurels have re-sprouted from their bases and the new growth is up to seven feet tall. Many of the conifers across this slope were coast redwoods and none appear to have been killed by the fire; all are re-sprouting extensively along their trunks and branches as well as from their bases. Many Douglas-fir trees were killed by the fire, but some of the largest overstory trees remain alive and green, and will likely rapidly repopulate this area after a period of dominance by hardwoods and redwood. Elsewhere on the properties, grasslands and oaks have put on lush new growth. There were areas on both properties where established stands of invasive Himalayan blackberry burned. Ag + Open Space has followed up with brush-cutting and spot treatments with a targeted herbicide application to prevent re-sprouting and re-establishment of these stands.

The Pelm house site along Mark West Creek at the McCullough property burned completely and was secured to prevent run-off over the rainy season. The remains have since been removed from site and disposed of appropriately. The site has been tested and cleared for hazardous materials and was seeded with a native seed blend prior to the 2018 rainy season, in order to further stabilize and restore the area. Nine plastic culverts burned, while the existing steel culverts survived intact. Ag + Open Space replaced several culverts, and provided funding to replace several more after the property was transferred to Sonoma County Regional Parks in noviembre 2018.

On the Cresta property, the barns to the north of Porter Creek Road also burned completely. All the resulting debris have also been removed from site and disposed of. The burned plastic culverts along Cresta Road have been replaced with galvanized steel culverts.

Trabajo de recuperación en caso de incendio

El personal de Ag + Open Space trabajó en varios frentes para responder a los impactos de los incendios en nuestras tierras naturales y de trabajo en todo el condado. Nosotros:

• Participó en un grupo de trabajo de cuencas hidrográficas en todo el condado con Calfire, CalOES, FEMA, el condado de Sonoma, parques regionales, transporte y obras públicas, la agencia de agua del condado de Sonoma, la ciudad de Santa Rosa y la ciudad de Sonoma.
• Se contactó con los propietarios de las servidumbres de Ag + Open Space y trabajó con UCCE para encontrar pastizales disponibles para los animales de pastoreo desplazados por el fuego.
• Involucró a voluntarios en los esfuerzos de control de especies invasoras en la primavera y el verano después de los incendios.