Goat Fire Super Heroes Eat Up Fire Fuels and Invasive Weeds For Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside

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SAM 10/2/2020 Goat Fire Super Heroes Presentation

Background.

The Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) is proposing a vegetation management program  (Program)  for parcel  (APN 048‐240‐040), located on Bev Cunha’s Country Road, within the  City of Half Moon Bay. (Figure 1, Location Map)

The parcel is undeveloped and is adjacent to  a  fully  developed  residential  subdivision.  The  Program  is  required  by  the  Coastside  Fire  Protection District  to reduce the fire threat to the adjacent residential properties.   The Program, as originally proposed, included two primary components:

1) The extensive use  of mechanized equipment including  mulching mowers, weed‐eaters, chainsaws and other  hand‐held  equipment;  and

2)  Goat  grazing  as  an  option.  Due  to  the  extensive  use  of  mechanized equipment and proximity to designated environmentally sensitive habitat area  (ESHA) it was determined that a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) would be required.

The  City  of  Half  Moon  Bay  (City)  is  the  designated  entity  responsible  for  processing  CDP  applications  for  projects within  the  City  boundary. At  the  City’s  direction H.T. Harvey and  Associates prepared a biological assessment of the Program (Sewer Authority Mid‐Coastside  Parcel Coastal  Resource Conservation Biological Report).

The report was circulated, by the  City of Half Moon Bay, for review by resource agencies and the California Coastal Commission. Based on comments, the report was revised. The revised edition is dated July 22, 2015. The  report concluded that the Program,  with the implementation of appropriate avoidance and  mitigation measures would not cause significant impacts to biological resources. However,  the  use  of  mechanized  equipment  was  determined  to  be  the  primary  cause  of  potential  impacts and the need for mitigation measures. Consequently,  SAM has modified the Program  to rely entirely on grazing.

This approach is less environmentally intrusive, reduces potential  adverse impacts substantially and is expected to  result in beneficial effects by removal of  nonnative  invasive  plant  species  that  have  degraded  the  habitat  potential  of  native  plant  communities.  The  revised  Program  incorporates  resource  avoidance  measures  and  monitoring  and  reporting requirements that allow the Program to adapt to changing baseline conditions, over  time, based on scientific evidence.

Project Description

The vegetation management activities will be undertaken on a portion of the approximately  9.5 acre undeveloped parcel. The area subject to vegetation management will typically be  less than half of the parcel. Vegetation management activities will not be conducted within the  Kehoe  Watercourse  or  a  50‐foot  buffer  zone  measured  from  the  edge  of  riparian  vegetation.

The  Program  will  be  limited  to  a  few  weeks,  during the  dry  season  (June  15 through October 31) when potential impacts will be minimized to the greatest extent. The  Kehoe Watercourse  and  the  isolated  single,  parameter,  seasonal wetlands  on  the  upland  portions of the site are typically dry in the summer months and the potential for the California  Red Legged Frogs (CRLF) and San Francisco Garter Snakes (SFGS) to utilize the site for foraging  or dispersal activities has been determined to be low when water is not present.

The  grazing  area  and  duration  may  vary  from  year  to  year,  depending  on  changing  site  conditions. A qualified biologist will determine the appropriate parameters, annually, prior  to commencement of grazing.  Goats and in  some cases a mix of goats and sheep will be  brought to the site and allowed to graze in fenced areas, that will optimize fire risk reduction,  removal  of  non‐native  invasive  plants  and  protection  of  environmentally  sensitive  areas.

Mechanized equipment and pesticides will not be used.   Goats will be monitored and herded to different areas to ensure that they do not overgraze  vegetation.  Temporary fencing that provides a mild electrical shock will be used to prevent  goats from entering environmentally sensitive areas. Typical fencing consists of one to three  strands of wire, mounted to posts, high enough to stop goats and similarly sized mammals.  Smaller mammals and other species may pass under the wires freely. The electrical current is  limited to a level that ensures that the shock will not injure or kill. It is a safe, proven, well  established  tool  for  controlling  animal  movements  by  establishing  a  psychological  barrier  through conditioned response.

Additionally, amphibian and reptile exclusionary fencing may   be used if determined  to be appropriate by a qualified biologist,  to prevent  these  species  from entering the grazing area.    A qualified biologist will perform a daytime survey, prior  to commencement of vegetation  management activities and mark environmentally sensitive areas where grazing will not be  allowed; or, will be subject to limitations including daily monitoring. Additionally, the biologist  will report baseline conditions and recommendations to improve the project annually to SAM  and the City of Half Moon Bay.

 


 

 

 

 

 

Coastside Buzz
Author: Coastside Buzz

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