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Morro Bay National Estuary Watershed
Fire Management Plan
Prepared For:
Morro Bay National Estuary Program
Morro Bay, CA
Prepared By:
Barry Callenberger, Wildland Fuels Planner
Zeke Lunder, Fire Planner/Geographer
Erik Frenzel, Biologist / T&E Specialist
Robert Burnham, Fire Planner
North Tree Fire International
Division of Fuels Management/Geographic Information Systems
10674 Ramirez Road,
Marysville, Ca. 95901
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
Table of Contents:
Background ....................................................................................................................... 1
Management Goals ......................................................................................................... 2
Desired Future Conditions .............................................................................................. 2
Morro Bay Wildland Fire Environment ......................................................................... 5
Ecological Role of Fire in the Morro Bay Watershed .................................................... 5
Fire History of the Morro Bay Watershed ...................................................................... 6
Ignition Sources .......................................................................................................... 6
External and Internal Fire Ignition Threats ................................................................. 7
Large Fire History ....................................................................................................... 8
Climate and Fire Weather ............................................................................................... 8
Fire Behavior .................................................................................................................. 9
Wildland Fuels .............................................................................................................. 10
Current Wildland Fire Protection and Fire Management Responsibilities ................... 12
Areas of Concern to Fire Managers .............................................................................. 13
South Los Osos Area ................................................................................................ 13
Habitat Conservation Planning and Wildland Fuels Management ........................... 13
West Cuesta Ridge .................................................................................................... 17
Wildland Fire Management Strategies ......................................................................... 19
Fire Management Strategies to Achieve Desired Future Conditions............................ 19
The Use of Strategic Fuelbreaks in Fire Suppression and Fire Defense Systems .... 20
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Community Fire Education, Fire Prevention and Fire Awareness ........................... 21
Current Ignition Management and Risk Reduction Activities .................................. 22
Resource Protection Reccommendations ...................................................................... 22
Fuel Management Projects and Priorities ............................................................. 24
Fire Management Compartments/Prioritization ....................................................... 24
Fuel Break Construction and Maintenance ................................................................... 25
Prescribed Burning Projects .......................................................................................... 26
Typical Fuels Treatment Methods ............................................................................ 27
Cerro Alto Canyon Prescribed Burns ....................................................................... 28
Bernardo Burn ........................................................................................................... 30
Microwave Burn ....................................................................................................... 30
Upper Dairy Burn ..................................................................................................... 31
Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area Thinning Project ............................................................ 35
Area Fire History ...................................................................................................... 35
1994 Fire Behavior ................................................................................................... 35
Pattern of Age Classes in Sargent Cypress (Literature Review) .............................. 35
Fire Management Considerations ............................................................................. 37
Adaptive Fuels Management Projects ...................................................................... 39
Los Osos Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Projects ...................................................... 42
Strategic Pre-Fire Attack Planning ............................................................................... 43
Fire Management Projects Priorities and Summaries ................................................ 45
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Special Considerations within Proposed Project Areas .............................................. 59
Special Status Animal Species Likely to Occur in Project Areas ................................. 59
West Cuesta Ridge Special Status Animal Species .................................................. 59
Los Osos Special Status Animal Species .................................................................. 60
Special Status Plant Species Likely to Occur in Project Areas .................................... 61
West Cuesta Ridge Area Special Status Plant Species ................................................. 61
Los Osos Area Special Status Plant Species ............................................................. 63
Invasive/Exotic Plant Species ....................................................................................... 64
Invasive Species Threats in the Los Osos Area ........................................................ 64
Invasive Species Threats to Cuesta Ridge ................................................................ 66
Mitigation and Avoidance Measures for Special Status Species ................................ 69
Focused Surveys ........................................................................................................... 69
Seasonality of Burning Operations ............................................................................... 69
Potential Effects on Plants ........................................................................................ 69
Potential Effects on Animals .................................................................................... 69
Habitat Avoidance Measures ........................................................................................ 70
Habitat Avoidance Measures for Special Status Animal Species ............................. 70
Habitat Avoidance Measures for Special Status Plant Species ................................ 71
Control of Exotic Plants ................................................................................................ 71
Species Location Information for Wildland Fire Incident Action Planning ................. 72
Research Needs................................................................................................................ 73
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Fire Management Impacts on Specific Organisms ....................................................... 73
Landscape Scale Processes Related to Fire Management............................................. 74
Literature Cited .............................................................................................................. 76
Appendix 1: Special Status Species Accounts .............................................................. 84
Plant and Lichen Species Accounts and Response to Disturbance............................... 84
Animal Species Accounts and Response to Disturbance .............................................. 95
Appendix 2: TMDL Listing of Morro Bay Creeks .................................................... 107
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Table of Figures and Tables:
Figure A: Watershed Erosion Issues ................................................................................... 3
Figure B: Wildland Fire Ignitions Within the Morro Bay Watershed by Cause ................ 7
Figure C: Variety Among “Even-Aged” Stands Of Post-Fire Vegetation ....................... 11
Figure D: South Los Osos Area ........................................................................................ 15
Figure E: Los Osos Wildland-Urban Interface Issues ...................................................... 16
Figure F: Highway 101 And West Cuesta Ridge.............................................................. 18
Figure G: Surface Erosion On Cuesta Ridge Fuelbreak ................................................... 28
Figure I: Cuesta Ridge Fuelbreak .................................................................................... 32
Figure J: Cerro Alto Area Topography ............................................................................ 33
Figure K: Cerro Alto Area – Potential Fuels Management Projects ............................... 34
Figure L: Patterning In Sargent Cypress Forest ............................................................... 38
Figure M: Sargent Cypress Regeneration In Botanical Area............................................ 41
Table 1: Special Status Animals in the Cuesta Ridge Area .............................................. 60
Table 2: Special Status Animals in the Los Osos Area .................................................... 61
Table 3: Special Status Plants in the West Cuesta Ridge Area......................................... 62
Table 4: Special Status Plants in the Los Osos Area ........................................................ 63
Table 5: Invasive Species Present in Project Areas .......................................................... 64
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BACKGROUND
San Luis Obispo County lies along California’s Central Coast, south of Big Sur and
Monterey County, and north of Point Conception and Santa Barbara County. The Morro
Bay Watershed drains the area south of Cuesta Ridge in the southern Santa Lucia
Mountains and north of the San Luis Range.
The Morro Bay Estuary supports the most significant wetland ecosystem on California’s
south-central coast. Various land use impacts in Morro Bay’s catchment area - or
watershed - have caused an increase in the amount of sediment being delivered to the
estuary by its major tributaries - Chorro Creek and Los Osos Creek. Excessive sediment
loading into the bay was recognized as a primary concern to the long-term health of the
Morro Bay ecosystem (MBNEP 2000).
In 1994 the “Highway 41 Fire” burned all of the chaparral vegetation in Morro Bay’s
upper watershed (9,700 acres or 35% of the Chorro Creek watershed). The following
winter, runoff from heavy El Nino rainstorms caused major rill and gully erosion on the
steep, barren slopes of Cuesta Ridge. A sediment transport study conducted in 1998
estimated that the resulting “pulse” of sediment entering tributaries to Chorro Creek was
a “5,000 year event” (TetraTech 1998).
This Fire Management Plan was funded to pursue vegetation management methods to
prevent wildfire from burning the entire upper watershed at once. Toward this goal, the
Morro Bay Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan (CCMP) recommends the
creation of a mosaic of uneven-aged chaparral stands with the assumption that this will
prevent large fires in the watershed (‘SED-3’ MBNEP 1998 p. 4-44). The rationale given
for choosing this approach is that it is preferable to “meter-out post-fire sediment events”
rather than having large pulses of sediment delivered at once – as was the case after the
Highway 41.
Northtree Fire International was awarded the Fire Plan contract in June of 2001, and was
assigned to:
“Prepare a pre-fire management plan that identifies high hazard areas and potential strategies for
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integrating fire and fuels management into long-term ecological restoration projects within the
Morro Bay Estuary watershed.”
This Morro Bay National Estuary - Watershed Fire Management Plan is the fulfillment of
the National Estuary Program’s stated objective to prepare a pre-fire management plan
for the Estuary watershed.
Management Goals
In the Morro Bay Watershed Fire Management Plan, several strategies are identified for
implementing a wildland fire and fuels management program that:
 Reduces the likelihood of large, catastrophic fires
 Reduces the adverse watershed impacts of disturbance-based wildfire
suppression activities
 Incorporates wildland fire and fuels management activities into Morro Bay
Estuary Watershed restoration projects
 Increases public awareness of the linkages between wildland fire and the
health of the estuary
 Provides for a healthy estuary ecosystem, functional watersheds and fire safe
communities
Desired Future Conditions
The Morro Bay Estuary Watershed is widely recognized as a unique natural area. It
provides recreational, educational, and aesthetic benefits to people, and provides habitat
for a number of both widespread and endemic plants and animals. A combination of
unique coastal environment and isolation has resulted in the evolution of several endemic
plant and animal species whose existence is necessarily bound to periodic large fires.
Altering natural fire regimes in chaparral and coastal scrub vegetation has and will
continue to cause major changes in these ecosystems.
While fire suppression in the 1900s elongated the natural fire return interval on Cuesta
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Ridge, high intensity fire is not an infrequent event in Mediterranean ecosystems (USFS,
1998). The inherently unstable nature of the Franciscan geology atop Cuesta Ridge is
evidenced by large areas mapped as geologically “recent landslide deposits” at the base
of the slope (Cal Poly SLO). Periodic removal of the vegetative cover by fires has
periodically provided temporary opportunities for increased surface erosion in this area.
While the heavy rains following the 1994 “Highway 41 Fire” delivered large volumes of
sediment to the estuary, a multitude of historic watershed disturbances including mining
and road building also contributed to the magnitude of this event.
The Morro Bay National Estuary Program (NEP) and other watershed partners are
currently working on reducing sedimentation from a variety of sources within the
watershed, and are providing sediment deposition areas within the watershed.
The following “Desired Future Conditions” provide a framework to better incorporate
fire management activities into watershed-scale restoration activities.

Safe communities that are reasonably protected from wildfire

Increased watershed capacity for fire-related sediment (restored floodplains)

Increased public awareness of the role fire plays in maintaining natural
biotic communities

Favorable public and agency opinion toward ecological fire use

Reduced watershed disturbance/soil erosion from fire suppression activities

Create a complex of native vegetation of different ages and composition

Create viable fire-adapted plant and animal species

Reduced economic costs associated with fire suppression and post-fire
rehabilitation
Figure A: Watershed Erosion Issues
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MORRO BAY WILDLAND FIRE ENVIRONMENT
Ecological Role of Fire in the Morro Bay Watershed
Fire has played a key role in the evolutionary drama of coastal California. Fires are a
characteristic feature of the area’s Mediterranean climate. With the exception of some
rare species that have evolved within refuges from frequent fire (bogs, rock outcrops),
most Mediterranean organisms have adaptations for periodic fire.
Plants in the Morro Bay Watershed demonstrate a variety of life history strategies that are
adaptations to intense fire (Keeley, 1977, Keeley and Zedler, 1978, Keeley and Keeley,
1977). Some herbaceous and short-lived plants require fire to clear competing plants or
trigger germination (Keeley et al., 1985). Many shrubs are able to resprout only from
fire-resistant roots or burls, while others germinate solely from seeds that respond to heat,
smoke, and ash; some plants do both. (Keeley and Fotheringham, 1998, Keeley, 1987).
Serotinous cypress and pine require wildfires to open their cones (Zedler, 1986, Vogl et
al., 1977).
Interaction between fire, soils, climate, and grazing are largely responsible for landscape
patterns in vegetation in the San Luis Obispo area (McMillan, 1956, Wells, 1962,
Holland and Keil, 1995). Fire is the primary force that initiates secondary succession in
Mediterranean ecosystems (Stephenson and Calcarone, 1999). Periodic fires kill or
consume aboveground vegetation and allow early-seral species to compete for nutrients,
light, water, and space. As late-seral species overtop early-seral species, the species
composition and physical structure of the vegetation changes over time (Keeley and
Keeley, 1981, 1984, Keeley et al., 1981).
The 1994 “Highway 41” fire burned all of the chaparral vegetation in the Morro Bay
Estuary’s upper watershed, creating a homogeneous stand of even-aged brush, and
compounding erosion problems during an El Nino weather event the following winter.
Using prescribed fire to create mosaic patterns of different ages and species composition
within this even-aged stand would create a landscape with a greater diversity of habitats.
For example, old chaparral or mixed evergreen forest is nearly impassable to large
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animals, but young vegetation is much more navigable. Small mammals consume the
abundant seeds and soft foliage in early-seral shrub vegetation. While fires can cause the
local extirpation of animals unable to escape the flames, source populations are able to
re-colonize these areas.
Fire History of the Morro Bay Watershed
In order to better characterize the wildfire threat within the Morro Bay Estuary
watershed, this planning process examined and analyzed fire ignition data from the San
Luis Ranger Unit for the period of 1981-1999, and large fire history data from CDF and
Los Padres National Forest mapping (USDA, 1998). Ignition data is compiled from
standard fire reporting forms filled out for every wildland fire that occurs. Fire reports
includes the fire ignition date, size, cause (if known), township, range, and section
number of each fire, making it possible to evaluate the number of fire ignitions for each
square mile (see Figure 3: Number of Ignitions by Section). The large fire history is
digitized from aerial photographs and from USFS and CDF geographic fire occurrence
databases (drawn on topographical maps), and generally shows fire occurrence larger
than 100 acres in size.
Ignition Sources
Between 1981 and 1999, 294 fires originating within the watershed burned a total of
1,217 acres (See Map D, Wildland Fire Ignitions Within the Morro Bay Watershed by
Cause - 1981 through 1999). The 1994 “Highway 41 Fire” was started by an arsonist
outside of the watershed - in Cerro Alto Campground - and burned over 43,000 acres (9,700 of which fell within the watershed). No lightning fires were recorded in the
watershed during this period - all of the fires were human-caused. No reports exist of
fires caused by campfires that started in the upper watershed. Figure B is a graph
showing the primary sources for fire ignitions from 1981 thru 1999 in the watershed of
these ignitions we further analyzed the locations of the ignitions and found data that
points to a particular area of the watershed that is a source of the largest amount of man
caused ignitions
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Wildland Fire Ignitions Within the Morro Bay Watershed by
Cause - 1981 thru 1999
140
120
100
80
60
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117
61
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Figure B: Wildland Fire Ignitions Within the Morro Bay Watershed by Cause
The 3,000 acres immediately surrounding California National Guard’s Camp San Luis
headquarters (not including training ranges) has the heaviest concentration of fires in the
watershed (103 out of 294). Vehicles or equipment caused 59 of these ignitions. The
remainder was identified as “miscellaneous”.
External and Internal Fire Ignition Threats
Fires originating within the watershed do not appear to represent the greatest ignition
threat to the chaparral areas of the upper watershed. Continual grazing of most of the
mid-watershed grassland areas (between Highway 1 and the base of the chaparralcovered slopes) reduces fuel-loads and slows the spread of fires, as seen in Map D.
A lack of motorized recreation and generally good access for fire equipment also help to
keep fires in this area fairly small. The existing wildland fire organization has been able
to quickly suppress nearly all of the fires that have occurred within the watershed in the
last 20 years.
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Large Fire History
Large fires burned the upper Morro Bay Estuary watershed in 1939 (Parker, pers. comm.,
2001), and again in 1994 (USFS 1998). Age-class analyses among Sargent Cypress
stands in the Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area found evidence of fires occurring there in
1973, 1948, 1913, and 1898 (Delaney 1971, Ne’eman, et. al. 1999).
Much of the research conducted on California’s chaparral fire regimes has been
conducted in those areas of Southern California that experience large Santa Ana winddriven firestorms. Both the vegetation and climate in San Luis Obispo are subtly different
from those that typify the southern-coastal areas of Southern California.
While the number of small to medium sized fires occurring on the Los Padres National
Forest has decreased in frequency since the beginning of fire suppression, the number of
large fires has not (Moritz 1997, Keeley et al. 1999). Fires occurring under extreme
weather conditions in old age chaparral are difficult to contain and grow large due in part
by the difficult terrain and weather conditions, which make suppression difficult. Once
the chaparral stands get to the condition that existed in the area of the Hwy 41 fire, it
becomes increasingly difficult to successfully suppress the wildfire until weather
conditions abate or the terrain and/or vegetation-type changes.
Climate and Fire Weather
When determining what needs to be done to reduce the impacts of wildfires it is
important to correlate data from historic fire ignition data and regional historic fire
weather data (from the Las Tablas weather station near Lake Nacimiento (RAWS, 2001).
An analysis of the Weather data from the La Tablas Fire Weather station located outside
of the Estuary indicates that critical weather conditions that can support wildfires can
occur from June through December according to the historical weather data. The analysis
of the weather and fire ignitions was done using a software program called FireFamily
Plus, a U. S. Forest Service this program is used to analyze fire climatology and fire
occurrence data using fire history and historic fire weather data. FireFamily Plus allows
an analysis of the historical data upon which can serve to determine what can be expected
in the future, in terms of fire ignition, behavior, etc..
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Morro Bay, in spite of its location along the Pacific coast, is situated in an area of
California that is frequented with long dry summers, which are perfect for the creation of
dangerous wildfires. Even though much of the Estuary has a typical summer fog pattern
a pattern in late summer with off shore flows accompanied with dry windy conditions
does exist. The vegetation found inside the watershed is easily dried out and become
available to support extreme fire behavior. This is particularly true during periods of
extended drought, or in the case of the Highway 41 fire, after a period of extended
drought and snow killed brush, which served to increase the dead to live fuel ratio. This
combination was then followed by the unusually dry summer of 1994.
Fire ignition history within the watershed clearly indicates that the existing fire
suppression organization(s) control most wildland fires quickly in the grass fuel type.
Therefore, it is usually only under severe weather conditions, in heavy fuels, and in steep
topography that a wildland fire will escape initial attack. The typical “escape fire
scenario” would suggest that, for example, fire crews responding to a large fire on Cuesta
Ridge or along Highway 41, will be doing so when the risk of dangerous fire behavior
conditions are high. To improve suppression success work needs to be done to improve
access and safety zones along the Cuesta Ridge. Without these improvements few
incident commanders would be likely to commit firefighting resources to the top of
Cuesta Ridge during a large wildland fire event under adverse fire weather conditions.
Fire Behavior
Interpretation of fire history mapping revealed distinct regional patterns in the
progression of large fires (See Map E – Large Fire History Map). Nearly all of the large
wildland fires in California’s Central Coast area have started on the drier east-side of the
coastal mountains, and grown large under strong north and east-wind conditions. Once
these fires have crossed to the coastal side of the ridges, and the north and east winds
decrease prevailing northwesterly winds have often resulted in fire-spread to the
southeast burning parallel to the coastal ridgelines. This fire behavior produces unique
challenges to firefighters; steep mid-slope areas are difficult to access, and are often
dangerous places in which to deploy firefighters. This sudden change in direction of fire
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spread makes firefighting along the Cuesta ridge dangerous and unpredictable.
Wildland Fuels
Six major vegetation types occur on the upper elevations of the West Cuesta Ridge:
Closed-cone Cypress Forest, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Mixed Chaparral, Coastal Scrub,
Serpentine Coastal Scrub, and Eucalyptus Forest. The Morro Bay Watershed contains a
significant amount of chaparral vegetation with an average age of 50 to 100 years old.
The older the chaparral age class, the higher the amount of “dead” fuel present in the
vegetation, which adds to the volatility and fire intensity of coastal chaparral wildfires.
Although the skeletons of larger chaparral shrubs and trees remain, most of the vegetation
on West Cuesta Ridge burned to the ground in August 1994 during the Highway 41 fire.
Fires occurring under extreme weather conditions in old age chaparral are difficult to
contain and grow large due in part by the difficult terrain and weather conditions, which
make suppression difficult. Once the chaparral stands get to the condition that existed in
the area of the Hwy 41 fire, it becomes increasingly difficult to successfully suppress the
wildfire, until weather conditions abate or the terrain and vegetation type changes.
The Cuesta Ridge - Highway 41 Fire vegetation age class is currently 7 years into its
regrowth, and is not old enough to have much dead material in its understory.
While soil conditions, available moisture, and slope aspect, all influence the rate of plant
growth; there is still considerable variety among the young stands of vegetation (see
Figure C). The vegetation sites which display the most rapid growth rates primarily exist
on moist north-facing sites, in areas which accumulate runoff, on deeper soils, and in
ridge top areas where fog drip contributes substantial moisture. In locations with little
fog drip or where thin rocky soils do not retain much moisture, the vegetation has grown
much more slowly.
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Figure C: Variety Among “Even-Aged” Stands Of Post-Fire Vegetation
Four major vegetation types occur in the Los Osos/Cabrillo Estates area (See Map D).
Older soils higher along the dune sheet support mature Maritime Chaparral and Coast
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Live Oak Woodland communities. Recently disturbed sites on lower slope areas above
Highland Drive support a disturbed stand of Coastal Scrub vegetation. Here, invasive
South African Veldt Grass increases fuel continuity and loading. Significant stands of
Eucalyptus Forest are found south of Highland Drive, and along the western border of the
Cabrillo Estates development (Jones and Stokes Associates, 1997).
Current Wildland Fire Protection and Fire Management
Responsibilities
Wildland fire protection responsibilities within the Morro Bay Watershed are, for the
most part, State Responsibility Lands (SRA), which is under the jurisdictional
responsibility of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, San Luis
Obispo Ranger Unit. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has
extensive fire protection resources located in San Luis Obispo County, which normally
includes 12 wildland engines, 2 air tankers, 1 air attack platform, three dozers and
transports, three water tenders, and nine inmate/ward fire fighting hand crews. The
majority of these forces are available as initial attack and second alarm resources for fire
suppression within the Morro Bay Watershed.
Wildland fire protection by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
also extends to all U.S. Forest Service lands located within the Morro Bay watershed
boundary, at the north end of the Santa Lucia Range. This cooperative fire protection
arrangement between the USFS and CDF is made possible by the California Interagency
Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement.
Additional information concerning fire protection goals and objectives on U.S. Forest
Service jurisdictional lands within this watershed is further identified in the local
Interagency Operating Plan (which is an Addendum to the Cooperative Fire Protection
Agreement) which is updated on an annual basis.
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Areas of Concern to Fire Managers
South Los Osos Area
The area along the southern margin of the town of Los Osos (see Figure D) represents
major challenges to resource managers. The highly erodible ancient dune formations
here are covered with heavy coastal scrub and maritime chaparral, host several state or
federally-listed endangered species, and have fuel loads capable of carrying high intensity
wildfire. Invasive grasses threaten to colonize areas cleared for fuels management
purposes – negating their usefulness. Brushlands run adjacent to Bayview Heights Road,
Highland Road, and circumnavigate Cabrillo Estates. This urban-wildland interface area
is approximately four miles long, and in many areas along this margin, brush grows right
up to the fences and backdoors of homes (see Figure E).
While wildland fires represent a threat to homes in Los Osos, the residences also
represent an ignition hazard themselves, and pose a threat to the sensitive habitats in the
adjacent wildlands. It is critical to provide for a defensible fuel profile zone in which to
protect structures along this interface area. In the event of a brushfire starting in the
Upper Broderson Road area, any available fire engines and crews will likely be assigned
to protect structures, leaving few resources available to control the perimeter of the fire,
and reduce the fire’s impact on sensitive species.
Habitat Conservation Planning and Wildland Fuels Management
The potential impacts of future residential development in the Los Osos/Baywood Park
area on sensitive, federally-listed endangered species (including the Morro Shoulderband
snail and Morro Kangaroo Rat) are at the forefront of natural resource debates in Los
Osos area. At this time (2003) there is a building moratorium in these communities
until a community sewer infrastructure (and the resulting buildout potential) can be
designed. The California Department of Fish and Game, in cooperation with the county
of San Luis Obispo and other agencies, is preparing a Habitat Conservation Plan for
sensitive species in the Los Osos area. Fire and fuels management are integral
components in the management of these species. The Morro Bay NEP, CDF, and South
Bay FD should continue to participate in the scoping process for the Habitat
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Conservation Plan to ensure that fire hazard reduction projects are included as a
permitted activity.
The following text is from the U.S. Department of Interior’s Habitat Conservation Plan
Guidebook (on the web at http://endangered.fws.gov/hcp/hcpbook.htm).
“Private landowners, corporations, state or local governments, or other non-Federal
landowners who wish to conduct activities on their land that might incidentally harm (or
“take”) a species listed as endangered or threatened must first obtain an incidental take
permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.” In areas with endangered species
habitat, landowners in the South Los Osos area are currently able to get a letter of
exemption from the US Fish and Wildlife Service that allows them to avoid fines for not
maintaining defensible space brush clearing around their homes (required under
California Public Resources Code).
“To obtain a permit, the applicant must develop a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP),
designed to offset any harmful effects the proposed activity might have on the species.
The purpose of the habitat conservation planning process and subsequent issuance of
incidental take permits is to authorize the incidental take of threatened or endangered
species, not to authorize the underlying activities that result in take. This process ensures
that the effects of the authorized incidental take will be adequately minimized and
mitigated to the maximum extent practicable (USDOI, 1996).”
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Figure D: South Los Osos Area
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Figure E: Los Osos Wildland-Urban Interface Issues
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West Cuesta Ridge
The same harsh, rocky, serpentine soils atop West Cuesta Ridge that host many rare
endemic plants also act to discourage the growth of most invasive species. Most of the
rare plants are adapted to wildfire, and given that large tracts of the ridge are comprised
of inaccessible terrain in which fire fighting is tactically impossible; a similar landscape
falling within a designated wilderness would likely be designated a “fire-use”
environment. Although the Los Padres National Forest administers most of the upper
slope areas on the ridge, the fire suppression on West Cuesta Ridge falls under the
responsibility of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The scattered homes and ranches in chaparral areas north of Highway 41 and in the
Tassajara Canyon area tend to be on larger acreages, with long curving access roads and
narrow driveways creating potentially dangerous bottlenecks. Enforcement of existing
Public Resource Code sections pertaining to brush clearance around residences can
mitigate many of the ignition hazards represented by these dwellings. However, a 30-50’
clearance is inadequate protection from a fire burning in mature chaparral. The
“Highway 41 Fire” burned more than 20 homes in Tassajara Canyon and sent a dozen
fire engines fleeing as a firestorm blew down the canyon from the northwest. With 100foot flame lengths and 60 mph winds, the fire quickly jumped 6 lanes of Highway 101
(see Figure F). Barring large-scale vegetation management projects, very few pre-fire
defense system efforts can mitigate the dangers of protecting isolated structures at the end
of one-lane roads from catastrophic wildfire.
While fire suppression in these remote areas is potentially more dangerous than in the
neighborhoods of Los Osos, the areas shares many of the same issues. As in Los Osos,
the homes sprinkled throughout the chaparral here represent the potential commitment of
firefighting resources that would otherwise be assigned to controlling a wildfire’s
perimeter. Though many of the homes are miles from the ridge, they represent both
potential ignition sources and assets-at-risk. They are inextricably linked to fire
management issues within the Morro Bay watershed.
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Figure F: Highway 101 And West Cuesta Ridge
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18
WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
The following section identifies a full range of fire management strategies that land use
managers, fire protection agencies, property owners and local communities can
collectively implement to mitigate the impacts of unwanted, catastrophic wildfire within
the Morro Bay Watershed. These strategies are predominately focused on developing
appropriate fire management infrastructure and creating a pattern of mixed-age class
chaparral vegetation across the Morro Bay Watershed landscape.
Fire Management Strategies to Achieve Desired Future
Conditions
General wildland fire management strategies identified for the Morro Bay Estuary
Watershed are as follows:

Use of prescribed fire, where appropriate, or a combination of prescribed fire
and appropriate mechanical treatment, as a land management tool to sustain the
coastal chaparral system in a manner that:
(1) Reduces hazardous fuel loads in sensitive, high value and/or high risk areas
(2) Creates a mix of vegetative seral stages and chaparral age classes
(3) To a limited degree, restores the role of fire within the chaparral/coastal
scrub/montane ecosystem.
(4) Reduces the risk and impacts of a catastrophic wildfire occurring within the
greater Morro Bay watershed area.
(5) Minimizes impacts on sensitive or threatened/endangered plant and wildlife
species within and adjacent to the Watershed area.

Employ fuel management strategies that utilize mechanical, human labor and
biological fuel reduction treatments (i.e.; fire surrogates) to achieve wildland fuel
hazard reduction and wildfire mitigation objectives in those areas where the use
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and sole application prescribed fire in not a viable or realistic alternative.

Develop a strategic “pre-fire attack” planning system for those critical, high-risk
areas within the Morro Bay watershed that exhibit the highest potential for
experiencing a large-scale, catastrophic wildfire event. This “pre-fire attack
plan” will provide sufficient strategic and tactical information to ensure a rapid
and efficient development of appropriate incident management objectives and
control plans.

Design and implementation of a strategic fire defense system of fuel breaks,
green belts and defensible fuel profile zones for those critical, high-risk areas
within the Morro Bay watershed that exhibit the highest potential for
experiencing a large-scale, catastrophic wildfire event.

Develop and implement a broad-based community wildland fire education and
awareness program within the Morro Bay Watershed area. This communitybased fire awareness program would be implemented in collaboration and
cooperation with the San Luis Obispo Fire Safe Council, the South Bay Fire
Protection District and the City of Morro Bay Fire Department.

Identify, sustain and enhance fire management activities and land use practices
that currently serve as effective components of a watershed-wide wildland fire
ignition management and risk reduction system.
The Use of Strategic Fuelbreaks in Fire Suppression and Fire Defense
Systems
This plan identifies the design and implementation of a strategic fire defense system of
fuel breaks, green belts and defensible fuel profile zones for those critical, high risk areas
within the Morro Bay Watershed that exhibits the highest potential for experiencing a
large-scale, catastrophic wildfire event. These defense systems would be cooperatively
designed and planned by fire authorities, stakeholders and land managers to reduce the
threat and loss of life, firefighter safety, private property values, and damages to natural
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
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resource values from unwanted wildfire within, and adjacent to, the greater Morro Bay
Watershed area.
Simply stated, a fuelbreak is a “strategically located wide block, or strip, on which a
cover of dense, heavy, or flammable vegetation has been permanently changed to one of
lower fuel volume or flammability” (Green 1977). Fuelbreaks are not intended to stop
wildfires, but to allow suppression forces a higher probability of stopping them (Agee
et.al., 2000).
The effectiveness of fuelbreaks in significantly affecting the size of large, high-intensity
fires is the subject of some debate. Many of this century’s largest wildfires have grown
large when other extensive wildfires have drawn down suppression resources in the
region. (Husari and McKelvey 1996). Late summer dry-lightning storms often ignite
multiple wildfires across large geographic areas, which draw critical fire suppression
resources “away” from local fire stations. It should be recognized and understood that
un-staffed fuelbreaks can not be expected to halt the spread of wildfires without the
support of ground and aerial fire suppression resources. In most situations, fuelbreaks are
only effective and useful if firefighters are able to use them as an anchor for fireline
construction or as a strategic, pre-constructed fireline for backfiring operations.
Community Fire Education, Fire Prevention and Fire Awareness
Develop and implement a broad-based community wildland fire education and awareness
program within the Morro Bay Watershed area. This program’s focus would be to
educate and inform the local communities of the correlation and link between fire safe
communities, a healthy Morro Bay estuary and the need to prevent and/or mitigate the
occurrence of large scale, catastrophic wildfires within the Morro Bay Watershed. This
community based program would be jointly sponsored by the MBNEP and the San Luis
Obispo Fire Safe Council, and be implemented in collaboration and cooperation with the
South Bay Fire Protection District and the City of Morro Bay Fire Department.
A program needs to focus on the National Guard camp where over the past 20 years the
incident of equipment fires and miscellaneous fires is excessive.
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Current Ignition Management and Risk Reduction Activities
It is important to recognize those existing fire management activities and land use
practices that currently serve as effective components of a watershed-wide wildland fire
ignition management and risk reduction system. For example, livestock grazing acts to
create a large zone of reduced fuels between the heavily used Highway 1 corridor and the
chaparral wildlands. Ignition management also includes maintaining and enhancing the
highly effective level of multi-agency wildland fire prevention, detection and initial
attack capabilities that currently exists within and adjacent to the greater Morro Bay
Watershed area. The occurrence of any circumstance, event or activity that has a
significant impact on those systems that are currently in place (i.e.; changes in livestock
grazing regimes), may result in dramatic changes in the balance of ecosystem dynamics
and fire ignition/risk reduction factors that exist today. While grassland management
decisions need to reflect fire management concerns, excluding cattle from wet riparian
areas is not likely to dramatically increase rates of fire spread.
Resource Protection Reccommendations
The shallow soils atop West Cuesta Ridge scar easily and disturbances can remain barren
of vegetation for many years. The persistence of abandoned mining roads, firelines, and
the 1960s Cuesta Ridge fuelbreak are illustrations of this.
1.
Minimize mechanized soil disturbance. In addition to removing the soil seed
bank and killing the resistant burls, roots, and bulbs of the fire-adapted
species, bulldozer blading also loosens the soil and can concentrate runoff leading to rilling and gullying. Crushing or masticating brush along
prescribed burning control-line areas or to create fuelbreaks is preferable to
blading/scraping with a bulldozer.
2. As most of the existing roads are in disrepair and of little tactical use to
firefighters, it is recommended that no new roads be built on West Cuesta
Ridge.
3. Unmaintained roads and trails within the watershed represent a chronic source
of fine sediment and act to increase access to high fire danger areas on West
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Cuesta Ridge. Land managers should undertake an assessment of utility of
existing roads on West Cuesta Ridge, and initiate projects to obliterate and/or
decommission roads which serve no practical resource management or
recreation purpose.
4. Surface erosion is often associated with concentrated runoff caused by humanaltered hydrology. Any project areas should receive a reconnaissance-level
survey for old roads, mine sites, or other man-made features that have the
potential to concentrate runoff; these problems should be mitigated before or
during project activities.
5. Any projects utilizing bulldozers in the upper watershed should be scheduled
to maximize the use of the machinery while it is in the area (e.g. do road
obliteration and mine remediation in concert with fireline prep). Additionally,
any equipment used for vegetation or management activities should be washed
prior to arrival to prevent to spread of noxious weeds.
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FUEL MANAGEMENT PROJECTS AND
PRIORITIES
This section of the plan synthesizes the previous sections to identify specific pre-fire
projects. These projects include prescribed burning in chaparral areas, grazing
management, weed abatement, hand thinning of small trees and shrubs, and the
development of specific pre-fire plans, The proposed fuel modification projects that
follow are designed to function at a variety of scales, and are subdivided by type:
Prescribed Burning, Fuelbreak Construction, and Pre-Fire Planning.
Fire Management Compartments/Prioritization
The fire management projects identified in this document emerged from an analysis
which ranked areas based upon:
1. Probability of wildfire ignition (risk).
2.
Potential fire behavior (hazard).
3. Fire-related sediment hazard.
4. Feasibility of project implementation.
Vegetation type, fire ignition history, sensitive species occurrence/abundance, and
proximity to communities were some of the criteria used to subdivide the watershed area
into eight general “Fire Management Compartments” (see Map K - Fire Management
Compartments). While each compartment has wildfire issues worthy of discussion, the
West Cuesta Ridge and Camp San Luis areas emerged as the logical areas in which to
implement landscape-scale fuels management projects.
The remaining compartments received a low ranking for large-scale fuel reduction
projects for the following reasons:
The Morro Bay area is largely isolated from upper watershed wildfires by the Chorro
Creek riparian areas, the Estuary, freeway, and golf course. Similarly, the Warden
Creek area is primarily used for extensive agriculture, has good access, and lacks a
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history of large fire events.
Though the Los Osos/Baywood compartment has an extensive high-density wildlandurban interface area; erosion-prone sandy soils, the presence of invasive plants and
sensitive species issues make implementation of large-scale vegetation-modification
projects difficult.
The Los Osos Creek watershed compartment features a low-density wildland-urban
interface. The major ridgelines along the southern margin of this compartment are
covered in grasslands. The dissected nature of the watershed - coupled with the mosaiced
and discontinuous nature of the vegetation - makes tactical fire-behavior predictions
difficult. Well managed grazing on the upland grasslands should be a sufficient method
with which to reduce the risk of fires burning into the watershed from the State Park
wildlands to the south.
Unroaded areas within the Morros compartment are off-limits to mechaninzed
equipment (bulldozer) use. The “burning windows” or combination of proper
environmental conditions required to execute prescribed burning here are sufficiently
narrow to ensure that any burning conducted on the peaks would likely occur at times
which would result in a high fire-intensity. The presence of highly-erodible decomposed
granite around the peaks, coupled with the potential public opposition to utilizing highintensity prescribed fire in the area makes the implementation of burning projects here
unlikely. Wildfires burning here may eventually achieve similar ecological results.
Based upon these constraints, we eliminated the previous compartments from
consideration for landscape-scale fire management activites, and identified large projects
for West Cuesta Ridge.
Fuel Break Construction and Maintenance
The Los Padres National Forest built a fuelbreak along the crest of Cuesta Ridge in 1967.
It was last maintained in 1977, 17 years prior to the Highway 41 fire. This project
followed the Morro Bay watershed divide and the Cuesta Ridge road for approximately 7
miles, and was carried out by bulldozing all vegetation from a ridgetop strip that appears
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25
to have ranged from 60 to 300 feet wide. Many of the areas that were cleared in the
1970s are still in a grass type of vegetation (See Figure I). Most of all, the fuel break
provides the backbone of prescribed burn units outlined in this plan.
It is recommended that a program of maintenance on the existing fuelbreak be started, as
well as several prescribed burning and brush thinning projects along the top of West
Cuesta Ridge (See Map E). All of the chaparral areas on West Cuesta Ridge burned in
1994, and while aerial ignition devices can be used to burn young stands of brush, most
of the chaparral areas on West Cuesta Ridge will not currently sustain significant wildfire
or prescribed fire behavior. Chaparral burning regimes vary by location, season, and
weather, but 12-18 years appears to be a general age at which the hard chaparral on West
Cuesta Ridge will again sustain significant fire spread. In the meantime, maintenance of
the existing West Cuesta Fuelbreak (discussed later in this section) will facilitate the
eventual implementation of the prescribed burning projects identified below.
Prescribed Burning Projects
Large prescribed fire projects are intended to provide landscape-scale disruptions in
chaparral fuel continuity. These strategically placed areas of reduced fuel-loading may
be utilized to control fires burning toward the watershed, and will increase the safety of
firefighters attempting to halt large fires.
While the application of prescribed fire may reduce the likelihood of the whole watershed
being laid bare by a large wildfire, the manipulation of the fire regimes to alter the spatial
patterning of the chaparral vegetation brings with it its own ecological questions. If the
primary management goal is a wholesale reduction in the delivery of fire-caused
sediment, slope stability issues will limit the number of locations in which prescribed fire
can be applied without causing significant surface erosion. If the management goal is to
reduce the likelihood of catastrophic fire/flood erosion events, then a patchwork of
uneven age-classes in the brush can be created using prescribed burning. While this will
prevent the entire upper watershed from burning at once, the tradeoff will be a consistent
source of watershed disturbance - such a prescribed burning program must eventually
burn areas where the prescribed fire itself is likely to initiate surface erosion. Map C in
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Appendix 1 illustrates this point.
As illustrated by the “Highway 41” fire, the steep and highly erodible areas will
eventually burn regardless of our fire management activities. Igniting these areas under
controlled conditions will allow fire managers to mitigate some of the erosion hazard by
leaving buffer strips of chaparral at the bases of the slopes to catch eroding materials.
The prescribed burning projects identified in this plan are provided in conceptual form
only, and control lines identified in this document’s maps should be surveyed on the
ground by qualified fire management personnel to ensure their acceptability for fire
control.
Typical Fuels Treatment Methods
Within prescribed burning treatment areas:
1. Prescribed burns should utilize existing roads and trails as control lines where
feasible.
2. Where possible, leave at least 100 meters of standing vegetation downslope of the
burned areas.
3. Where possible, ignite burns in such a way as to minimize fire intensities in
ephemeral stream areas. Any prescribed fire adjacent to established riparian areas
should use late-season “backing fire” which will extinguish itself under the oak
and laurel canopies.
4. Standing “vegetative buffers” should be utilized to intercept sediment, and placed
parallel and adjacent to stream corridors and other significant hydrologic features
All of the potential prescribed fire units identified here will require reduction of fuels
along the ridgetop – and in some cases, elsewhere along the burn perimeter - before they
can be ignited. This will be accomplished by mechanically crushing the brush with a
bulldozer, or with a large roller pulled behind a bulldozer. The crushed brush will be left
to dry for a season, and then burned in the winter - when live fuel moistures are too high
to allow adjacent live brush to burn.
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Once the perimeter areas have been prepared, units will be burned using a helicopter and
an aerial ignition device. Steeper midslope areas will be ignited at the top of the slope
first – creating a “blackline” along the top of the units. Then the remainder of the unit
will be “headfired” or burned from the bottom up. All midslope broadcast burning
projects will be burned in the late fall or early winter (late November or December) –
before rains saturate the soil. Wet season burns should be avoided, as these burns often
steam and kill the seeds in the soil.
Cerro Alto Canyon Prescribed Burns
Cerro Alto campground was the ignition point chosen by the arsonist that ignited the
“Highway 41 Fire” in 1994. Fire prevention activities at campground (mowing, clearing
brush, fire safety signs) appear to be lackluster. An inspection in August of 2001
revealed tall grass growing continuously from the edge of the brush to within a foot of
permanent barbecues. The topography of the slopes above the campground to the west
has the potential to funnel another fire into a relatively inaccessible area at the head of
San Bernardo Creek (Figure J). With heavy visitor use in the summer months, the Cerro
Alto campground represents one of the highest risk areas for ignition of a wildfire, which
could burn into the Morro Bay watershed.
The location of the saddle directly west of Cerro Alto Campground makes it a dangerous
place in which to stop a chaparral fire, and there are few ecologically justifiable
management options that would increase the odds for firefighters attempting to catch a
high intensity wildfire here. Any east-wind driven fires burning out of the Cerro Alto
Campground area will likely be fought south and west of Cerro Alto Peak (see aerial
photos in Maps section).
The “Cerro Mine” prescribed burn (See Figure K) will create a 240-acre zone of reduced
fuels between the Upper San Bernardo Creek watershed and the Highway 41 corridor.
Reducing fuel loads in this area will allow firefighters faced with a wildfire burning west
out of the Cerro Alto Campground area to concentrate suppression efforts on using the
Figure G: Surface Erosion On Cuesta Ridge Fuelbreak
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Figure H: Rocky Outcrop On Cuesta Ridge
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“Bernardo Burn” (see Map H) to keep the fire from burning into Upper San Luisito
Creek.
This project will burn brush crushed along the old Cuesta Ridge Fuelbreak/truck trail, the
large abandoned mine, and old mining roads for control lines. Steep areas along the old
fuelbreak on the north side of “hill x2050” will require extensive surface erosion
remediation (see Figure G). Old mining exploration pits in the north end of the unit may
present a hazard to firefighters implementing the project, and should be flagged prior to
execution of the project.
The eucalyptus grove in the middle of the burn unit will likely expand its territory upon
being burned. Whether or not to attempt to eradicate this grove is a subject that should be
discussed locally.
Serpentine outcrops occur on the westernmost areas of the burn unit and should be
surveyed for rare plants prior to brush crushing activities.
Bernardo Burn
The Bernardo Burn (see Map H) will burn approximately 300 acres of steep chaparral
vegetation in the upper watershed of San Bernardo Creek. This project will fall on West
Cuesta Ridge about ½ mile north of the Northern communication tower complex – just
south of Cerro Alto. The burn will create an approximately 4,000 foot wide patch of
younger chaparral vegetation on the west-facing slopes of the ridge. This location was
selected to mitigate the hazard represented by the inaccessible nature of the “Eagle Creek
Ranch” lands falling directly east of Cerro Alto. There are few areas on the east and
south flanks of Cerro Alto in which to fight wildfire, and the Bernardo Burn is intended
to be utilized in concert with backfiring operations occurring off of ranch roads in the San
Bernardo Creek Watershed to halt fires burning south and west from the Cerro Alto Area
(see Map G).
Microwave Burn
Emergency communications were disrupted in 1994 when the “Highway 41” fire burned
cellular phone and radio repeaters at this and the South communication towers site. The
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“Microwave Burn” project will burn approximately 23 relatively flat acres in the area
around the Northern communication towers site on West Cuesta Ridge. The burning
operations will have the potential to cause short-term disruption to radio transmissions,
and may require consultation with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Upper Dairy Burn
There are few easy sites in the southern ½ of the West Cuesta Ridge within the Morro
Bay Watershed (Upper Chorro Creek) in which to implement prescribed burning. This is
partly a function of the difficulty in stopping midslope burns from burning up into the
Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area, but also due to the presence of grasslands in the midslope
areas in Upper Chorro Creek. If the aim of prescribed fires in this area is to mitigate the
risk of fires escaping the Camp SLO area, grazing these grasslands would provide many
of the same benefits gained by burning.
While age-class patterning in the Sargent Cypress forest may permit the burning of
chaparral downslope (the stands that exist today survived extreme fire behavior during
the “Highway 41” fire), the design of such a burning project is beyond the scope of this
report, and we suggest that a separate fire management plan be developed for the Cuesta
Ridge Botanical Area.
The Upper Dairy Burn will burn approximately 350 acres of chaparral on Camp San Luis
and USFS lands. Similar in size to the Bernardo Burn, this burn will create an
approximately 4,000 foot wide patch of younger chaparral vegetation on the west-facing
slopes of the ridge. Roadside thinning along the main ridge, brush-crushing, old mining
roads, and targeted grazing of Camp SLO grasslands will provide control lines for the
burn. An old mine scar and remnant mining roads will act as control lines in areas
adjacent to Sargent Cypress stands on the northeast flank of the burn (see Map J).
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Figure I: Cuesta Ridge Fuelbreak
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Figure J: Cerro Alto Area Topography
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Figure K: Cerro Alto Area – Potential Fuels Management Projects
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Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area Projects
Area Fire History
The Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area is widely recognized as a unique natural area. It
provides recreational, educational, and aesthetic benefits to people, and provides habitat
for a number of both widespread and endemic plants and animals. It is a biotic
community whose existence is necessarily bound to periodic large fires.
Fire issues were responsible for the designation of the Botanical Area. When Los Padres
National Forest proposed an ambitious fuelbreak project along the ridgetop in 1967, plans
to cut, grub, and spray a generous ridgetop swath across the mountaintop aroused
sufficient public interest to spark the designation of the Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area.
1994 Fire Behavior
The Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area burned during the afternoon of August 15, 1994, when
some of the “Highway 41” fire’s greatest rates of spread (over 6000 acres/hr) were
observed (Governor’s OES, 1994). The burn essentially “flashed”; the canopy foliage
was consumed but few large woody parts burned. Keeley and Ne’eman (1999) found
that only 0-17% of the trees in study plots burned to the ground.
Surprisingly, while most of the steepest Cypress-covered slopes burned, some of the
surviving islands of Cypress were in draws and saddles near the tops of long gullies – in
places where one might have predicted the highest fire intensities. A large flat ridgetop
area burned completely. Spotting created small patches burn amid a contiguous stand of
54 year old trees (see Figure L).
Pattern of Age Classes in Sargent Cypress (Literature Review)
Studies have shown that the Cypress forest was composed of several even-aged stands
before the 1994 fire (Dulaney, 1971, Ne’eman et al., 1999). Ne’eman et al. (1999)
identified 1898, 1913, 1939, 1973, and 1994 as stand-initiating years for cypress in the
Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area. (Only the 1994, 1939, and 1913 fires are identified on
existing GIS fire history layers (see Map E)).
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Disturbances influencing the development of a patchy stand structure within the Sargent
Cypress forest have included; mining activity, wildfire, fuelbreak clearing, and snowfall.
Most of the roads on Cuesta Ridge are a legacy of mining activity (Ball, 1967). The first
mining claims were filed from 1937-1939, and the four mines near the Cuesta Ridge
Botanical Area were most active during the 1940s and 1950s. Miners cleared 35 acres
within the Botanical Area, and Cypress colonized the abandoned mines. At the time of
the 1994 fire, these areas supported stunted groves of cypress between 39-55 years old
(based on Dulaney, 1971).
Cypress stands were thinned in a 60-100m wide fuel modification project in the late
1960s, and the thinned cypress was chipped and spread at the site (Arundell, 1968). The
shredding of the cones resulted in vigorous recruitment of cypress seedlings under the
canopy of mature cypress (Jenkins, 1981). At the time of the 1994 fire, the seedlings
would have been approximately 24 years old, and the thinned overstory would have been
between 55 and 95 years old.
Ne’eman et. al (1999) concluded that:
1. Cypress stands appear to be resilient to a wide range of fire return intervals
(stands as young as 20 years old had heavy regeneration (surveys conducted for
this project observed cones on 7 years old trees).
2. Older stands of cypress appeared to be self-thinning (up 7x less stems per m2 in
some older than in stands younger than 60 years old).
3. The boundary of the cypress groves appears to be fairly stable – that is, cypresses
were weak post-fire invaders of adjacent shrublands.
The cypress stands that survived the 1994 fire do not appear to represent any single one
of the age classes mapped by previous researchers. Some areas adjacent to the Cuesta
Ridge Road, presumably thinned in the early 1970s, survived the fire, while large
portions of the thinned area burned completely.
A compromise between the need to control wildfire spread and the need for periodic
small fires is to undertake proactive, strategic manipulation of age-class patterning in the
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Sargent Cypress stands.
Fire Management Considerations
Several fire management issues need to be addressed within the Botanical Area: Wildfire
ignitions from training activities at Camp San Luis or from residences in Tassajara
Canyon (both directly downslope of the Botanical Area) represent some of the most
concentrated wildland fire activity in the project area (see Map D). Ignition reduction,
code enforcement, and fire education efforts in these areas should strive to make
individuals on both sides of the ridge aware of what their cross-mountain neighbors are
up to. Additionally, roadside hazard abatement is needed along Highway 101 north of
Cuesta Pass (see Figure F).
Many of the plants within the Botanical Area are rare serpentine-endemic, and while
most appear to be resilient to both long and short fire-return intervals, mechanized
disturbance in the form of mining and road-building has left long-term scars upon the
landscape. With low surface fuel loads under mature Cypress stands, these forests appear
to require running crown fires to burn. Barren areas associated with mine sites and old
roads disrupt the continuity of the Cypress canopies upslope, altering the spatial
patterning of regeneration (see Figure L).
About ½ of the Sargent Cypress forest burned with a stand-replacing intensity during the
“Highway 41 Fire”; the resulting mosaic of vegetation resembles an archipelago of
different-aged cypress-covered islands surrounded by a sea of dense 7-year old cypress
saplings small dead trees. As the young saplings mature, the resulting thicket of fine
fuels will have the potential to carry fire among the islands, and the difficulty in
managing fire here will increase.
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Figure L: Patterning In Sargent Cypress Forest
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Adaptive Fuels Management Projects
The sort of massive vegetative “type conversion” needed to eliminate a catastrophic
conflagration such as the “Highway 41” fire is neither feasible nor ecologically desirable.
Rather, the CRBA is an appropriate place to conduct low-impact research projects that
will increase the opportunities for containment of smaller fires while attempting to restore
ecological processes to fire adapted communities.
Any approach to management of the cypress needs to maintain sufficient heterogeneity
within the Cypress stands to encourage the regeneration of rare fire-following plants.
Toward this end, prescribed fire may prove to be a cost-effective and ecologically
beneficial tool to use here. During the 1994 fire, high-intensity spot-fires of ¼ -1 acre
created pockets of regeneration within the older cypress stands. These patches of young
growth add diversity to the larger areas of contiguous fuels, providing benefits for rare
plants, and wildlife alike.
Self-thinning among understory brush and suppressed trees in the older stands of roadside
Cypress has generated large volumes of standing dead material (see Figure M). We
propose hand-thinning these areas to a 1.5m – 2m spacing (concentrating on standing
dead material). This spacing will mimic the stand densities found in 60-100 year old
stands within the preserve (Ne’eman, et. al. 1999), and facilitate the implementation of
¼-1acre patch burns in areas adjacent to the thinned areas. Maintaining a rotating
patchwork of young age-classes adjacent to roadside thinning will reduce the likelihood
of accidental ignition by recreational users, while increasing the safety of firefighters
working in the area.
As extended soil heating by large diameter fuels was not likely a feature of historical fire
regimes within the Botanical Area, burning large piles of fuel poses the risk of local soil
sterilization and the destruction of seed-bank and the bulbs, rhizomes, and root systems
of early seral vegetation. Leaving piles in place may provide benefits for wildlife, and
should be considered.
An interdisciplinary approach to project layout should be used to allow input from
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
39
botanists, wildlife biologist, and fuels planners. Concurrently, an attempt should be made
to collect information on the specifics of the 1977 thinning prescriptions, to evaluate the
ecological/fire behavior effects of those treatments, and to adapt current management
strategies to reflect the effectiveness and shortcomings of the previous work.
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Figure M: Sargent Cypress Regeneration In Botanical Area
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Los Osos Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Projects
Sensitive and invasive species concerns, highly erodible soils, and a general level of
discomfort with the use of prescribed fire in the area south of Los Osos and east of
Cabrillo Estates limit the feasibility of large-scale vegetation management projects.
Fire has been the primary ecological disturbance in this area, and both the Morro
shoulderband snail and Morro kangaroo rat rely on early-successional plant communities
for forage (Hillyard, pers. comm., 2001). Due to the influence of coastal moisture, the
Los Osos/Montana de Oro area has likely had a relatively long fire return interval – on
the order of 60-100 years.
When Montana de Oro State Park staff and UCSB researchers burned a 10 acre patch of
endangered Morro Manzanita (Arctostaphylos Morroensis) in the fall of 1998 to evaluate
its reproductive response to prescribed burning, they found that post-fire manzanita
seedling recruitment overall was very low. Based on this experiment, the researchers
concluded that land managers should “avoid burning Morro Manzanita altogether unless
it can be unequivocally demonstrated that this will be beneficial to populations overall”,
or at the very least, that managers should avoid burning stands until they were “much
older than 40 years old” – as younger brush would not have had enough time to establish
a large enough soil seed-bank to regenerate to it’s pre-fire density. (Tyler, Odion, et. al.
2000)
Attempting to generalize fire’s ecological effects on a species is difficult when research is
conducted at such a small scale. As the shrub regeneration in the 10 acres burned
probably represented some of the only young, tender forage within several thousand
acres, it is likely that browsing by rodents and larger herbivores had a large impact on the
survival of the individuals that did re-colonize the site. Creating small patches of earlysuccessional vegetation in an area that likely experienced large burns historically may
bring with it its own set of problems.
While prescribed fire could be an important tool in the restoration of sensitive plant and
animal species in the area, such projects encounter roadblocks including: concerns about
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
42
the possible extirpation of the remaining Morro Manzanita, post-fire erosion concerns,
and the potential recolonization of burned areas with noxious weeds including South
African Veldtgrass, Pampas Grass, and Iceplant (see Invasive/Exotic Plant Species
section).
Due to the difficulty in implementing prescribed burning projects in the Los Osos
Wildland Urban Interface Area, fuels management projects should consist of targeted
brush thinning/fuels modification projects directly adjacent the community. These fuels
management projects should be incorporated into other watershed restoration activities
(such as noxious weed eradication, erosion control, and community fire education).
Increasing community involvement and lowering local anxieties about the risk of escaped
prescribed fires may facilitate the use of prescribed fire – increasing habitat restoration
options while decreasing the likelihood of a residential fire impacting rare habitats.
Strategic Pre-Fire Attack Planning
A strategic pre-fire attack plan should be developed to collect and display information
required by all emergency personnel to facilitate a timely, accurate and appropriate
decision-making process for large wildland fire events. As the major wildfire threat to
the Morro Bay Estuary watershed is from dry areas north and east West Cuesta Ridge, the
West Cuesta Ridge Area represents the most appropriate location develop and implement
the initial strategic pre-fire attack plan in the Morro Bay Watershed area.
The proposed strategic pre-fire attack plans would be primarily map-based documents
that would include photocopy-ready incident management maps for incoming incident
management teams. These maps would include evacuation route identification, fire
access routes, location of fire defense systems/fuel breaks, communications
infrastructure, fuel loading, possible control strategies, subdivision locations, natural
resource values, sensitive sediment areas, and locations of known sensitive species.
These pre-fire attack plans would also include any appropriate, agency-specific escaped
fire situation analysis information and decision matrix.
Development of this plan would mandate the full involvement and participation of the
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
43
major fire protection and land management agencies/stakeholders within this geographic
area. The Southwest Interface Team (SWIFT) is developing a similar mapping process
for the Wildland-Urban Interface areas in the Tuolumne and Mariposa County area (see
www.r5.fs.fed.us/stanislaus).
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
44
FIRE MANAGEMENT PROJECTS PRIORITIES AND
SUMMARIES
Project 1
AREA: West Cuesta Ridge
Project: West Cuesta Ridge Fire Management
Programmatic Environmental Analysis
Project Activity: Develop an environmental
Lead Agency/Ownership: USFS LPF
Project Cooperators: CDF, MBNEP
Notes: Use project descriptions, mapping,
document which covers all of the project
species lists and accounts from this plan to
activities proposed in this document – with
facilitate the development of this document.
the exception of projects planned for the
Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area. The goal is
to reduce adverse impacts from fire
management and suppression activities and
to provide information and guidance to
personnel implementing this plan’s
suggested activities
Project Planning Cost: $50k
Implementation Cost: NA
Environmental Document: YES
Permit: None
Maintenance Interval: NA
Estimated Maintenance Costs: NA
Target Completion Date: 2004
Funding Source: Federal and grant matching
funds, agency contributed management
data
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Project 2
AREA: Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area
Project: Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area Fire
Management Environmental Analysis
Project Activity: Develop an environmental
Lead Agency/Ownership: USFS LPF
Project Cooperators: CDF, MBNEP
Size: Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area
document for thinning and burning projects
within the Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area
Project Planning Cost: $20k
Implementation Cost: NA
Environmental Document: YES
Permit: None
Maintenance Interval: NA
Estimated Maintenance Costs: NA
Target Completion Date: 2004
Funding Source: Federal and grant matching
funds, agency contributed management
data
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Project 3
AREA: Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area
Project: Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area
(CRBA) Fire Management Plan
Project Activity: Site-specific Fire
Lead Agency/Ownership: USFS LPF
Project Cooperators: USFS/NEP
Size:
Management Plan for the CRBA
Project Planning Cost: $15k
Implementation Cost: NA
Environmental Document: Cuesta Ridge
Permit: TBD
Botanical Area Fire Management
Environmental Analysis
Maintenance Interval: NA
Estimated Maintenance Costs: NA
Target Completion Date: 2004
Funding Source: Federal or grant funds
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Project 4
AREA: Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area
Project: Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area
Handthinning and Prescribed Burning
Project Activity: Thin cypress stands to
Lead Agency/Ownership: USFS LPF
Project Cooperators: USFS/NEP
Size: 10-20 acres
prescription defined in “projects” section,
implement 6 acre rx burn (see Map J).
Project Planning Cost: $10k
Implementation Cost: $25k
Environmental Document: Cuesta Ridge
Permit: TBD
Botanical Area Fire Management
Environmental Analysis
Target Completion Date: 2005
Funding Source: Federal or grant funds
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Project 5
AREA: West Cuesta Ridge
Project: West Cuesta Ridge Escaped Wildfire
Situation Analysis (WFSA)
Lead Agency/Ownership: USFS LPF
Project Cooperators: CDF, MBNEP
Project Activity: Develop pre-fire incident
Size: West Cuesta Ridge geographic area
management decision document for
escaped wildfires that occur on West
Cuesta Ridge within and adjacent to the
MB Watershed. The goal is to reduce
adverse impacts from fire suppression
actions and provide information to the
assigned incident management team.
Project Planning Cost: $10k
Implementation Cost: NA
Environmental Document: NA
Permit: None
Maintenance Interval: 25 years
Estimated Maintenance Costs: $.5k per
update
Target Completion Date: 2005
Funding Source: Federal and grant matching
funds, agency contributed management
data
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Project 6
AREA: West Cuesta Ridge
Project: Cuesta Ridge Strategic Pre-Fire
Attack Plan
Lead Agency/Ownership: USFS LPF
Project Cooperators: CDF, MBNEP
Project Activity: Develop pre-attack plan for
Size: Approximately 450 acres
the length of Cuesta Ridge (GIS based)
Project Planning Cost: $20k
Implementation Cost: NA
Environmental Document: West Cuesta
Permit: None
Ridge Fire Management Programmatic
Environmental Analysis
Maintenance Interval: Updated bi-annually
Estimated Maintenance Costs: $2k per
update
Target Completion Date: 2005-2007
Funding Source: Federal & grant matching
funds, agency contributed GIS data
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Project 7
AREA: Camp San Luis Obispo Grasslands
Project: CSLO Grazing BMP (Best
Management Practices) and Management
Lead Agency/Ownership: CSLO
Project Cooperators: MBNEP, NRCS, Cal
Plan
Poly, CDF, San Luis Obispo Cattlemen’s
Association, USFS
Project Activity: Site-specific livestock
Size: 2,300 acres
grazing/ hazard reduction BMP and
livestock management plan to ensure
continued hazard reduction grazing with
adequate watershed/ sediment protection
practices. Used as a model for other hazard
reduction/ grazing practices in the
watershed.
Project Planning Cost: $20k
Implementation Cost: NA
Environmental Document: CEQA required
Permit: TBD
for any project implementation in CSLO
Maintenance Interval: NA
Estimated Maintenance Costs: NA
Target Completion Date: 2005
Funding Source: Federal, State or other grant
funding
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Project 8
AREA: Camp San Luis Obispo Facility
Project: CSLO Fire Management Plan
Lead Agency/Ownership: CSLO
Project Cooperators: CDF, MBNEP, USFS,
Project Activity: Develop a wildland fire
Size: 2,300 acres
management plan for the CSLO National
Guard Facility
Project Planning Cost: $25k
Estimated Implementation Cost: NA
Environmental Document: CEQA required
Permit: TBD
for any fire management project
implementation in CSLO
Maintenance Interval: NA
Estimated Maintenance Costs: NA
Target Completion Date: 2005
Funding Source: Federal, State or other grant
funding
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Project 9
AREA: West Cuesta Ridge
Project: West Cuesta Ridge Strategic Fire
Defense System – Fuel Break
Lead Agency/Ownership: USFS LPF
Project Cooperators: CDF, MBNEP
Project Activity: Strategic Fuel Break
Size: Approximately 950 acres
Maintenance, Improvement and ReConstruction. Activities include
mechanical treatment, mastication,
prescribed fire (Tassajera Pk. Prescribed
Fire) and hand thinning.
Project Planning Cost: $25k
Implementation Cost: $250k
Environmental Document: Environmental
Permit: None
Assessment for All West Cuesta Ridge
Projects Except Botanical Area Thinning
Maintenance Interval: 5-15 year intervals
Estimated Maintenance Costs: $50 per acre
Target Completion Date: 2008
Funding Source: Federal and grant matching
funds
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Project 10
AREA: Cerro Alto
Project: Bernardo Prescribed Fire
Lead Agency/Ownership: USFS LPF
Project Cooperators: CDF
Project Activity: Prescribed burn for fuel
Size: Approximately 310 acres
hazard reduction, reinforcement of West
Cuesta Ridge Strategic Fire Defense
System and fire/ ecosystem maintenance.
Project Planning Cost: $5k
Estimated Implementation Cost: $45k
Environmental Document: West Cuesta
Permit: TBD
Ridge Prescribed Fire EA
Maintenance Interval: 25 years
Estimated Maintenance Costs: $30k
Target Completion Date: 2008
Funding Source: Federal funding and
possible grant funding
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Project 11
AREA: Cerro Alto
Project: Microwave Prescribed Fire
Lead Agency/Ownership: USFS LPF
Project Cooperators: CDF
Project Activity: Prescribed burn for fuel
Size: Approximately 23 acres
hazard reduction, reinforcement of West
Cuesta Ridge Strategic Fire Defense
System and fire/ ecosystem maintenance.
Project Planning Cost: $5k
Estimated Implementation Cost: $5k
Environmental Document: West Cuesta
Permit: TBD
Ridge Prescribed Fire EA
Maintenance Interval: 25 years
Estimated Maintenance Costs: $30k
Target Completion Date: 2008
Funding Source: Federal funding and
possible grant funding
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Project 12
AREA: West Cuesta Ridge
Project: West Cuesta Ridge Strategic Fire
Defense System – Fire Defense
Lead Agency/Ownership: USFS LPF
Project Cooperators: CDF, MBNEP
Infrastructure
Project Activity: Develop and improve fire
Size: Approximately nine miles
defense infrastructure, which includes
major main access road improvement,
drainage/sediment mitigation measures,
helicopter landing areas, remote water
source, firefighter safety zones, equipment
turn-arounds, etc.
Project Planning Cost: $50k
Implementation Cost: $250k
Environmental Document: Environmental
Permit: TBD
Assessment for All West Cuesta Ridge
Projects Except Botanical Area Thinning
Maintenance Interval: Annual to 10 year
Estimated Maintenance Costs: $5-10k
intervals
Target Completion Date: 2010
annually
Funding Source: Federal funding and
possible grant funding
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
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Project 13
AREA: Cerro Alto
Project: Cerro Mine Prescribed Fire
Lead Agency/Ownership: USFS LPF
Project Cooperators: CDF
Project Activity: Prescribed burn for fuel
Size: Approximately 240 acres
hazard reduction, reinforcement of West
Cuesta Ridge Strategic Fire Defense
System and fire/ ecosystem maintenance.
Project Planning Cost: $5k
Estimated Implementation Cost: $40k
Environmental Document: West Cuesta
Permit: TBD
Ridge Prescribed Fire EA
Maintenance Interval: 25 years
Estimated Maintenance Costs: $25k
Target Completion Date: 2012
Funding Source: Federal funding and
possible grant funding
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Project 14
AREA: Upper Dairy Creek
Project: Upper Dairy Prescribed Fire
Lead Agency/Ownership: USFS LPF
Project Cooperators: CDF/Camp SLO
Project Activity: Prescribed burn for fuel
Size: Approximately 340 acres
hazard reduction, reinforcement of West
Cuesta Ridge Strategic Fire Defense
System and fire/ ecosystem maintenance
Project Planning Cost: $5k
Estimated Implementation Cost: $50k
Environmental Document: West Cuesta
Permit: TBD
Ridge Prescribed Fire EA
Maintenance Interval: 25 years
Estimated Maintenance Costs: $30k
Target Completion Date: 2014
Funding Source: Federal funding and
possible grant funding
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SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS WITHIN PROPOSED
PROJECT AREAS
A primary focus of this plan is to address ways in which to better incorporate fire and
fuels management activities into planned and/or existing watershed restoration activities.
This section specifically targets the Los Osos and West Cuesta Ridge areas, which have
been identified among the highest priority treatment areas in the plan’s wildland fire risk
assessment. This chapter lists sensitive and invasive species that have a potential to
occur in the project area. No targeted surveys were conducted for this assessment, and
detailed surveys for the following species are recommended during the environmental
assessment process.
Special Status Animal Species Likely to Occur in Project
Areas
Due to major environmental differences, West Cuesta Ridge and Los Osos share few
animal communities.
Los Osos sits directly south and east of Morro Bay – a confluence of open ocean and
permanent fresh water flow. Cuesta Ridge has little open water; most water is
concentrated in small, seasonal creeks and springs on the flanks of the ridge. Los Osos
falls upon a fairly uniform assemblage of young sand dunes close to sea level, while West
Cuesta Ridge rises to elevations of greater than 800 m and features complex assemblages
of rocky serpentine, sandstone, shale, red clay soils, and rocky outcrops and cliffs. Los
Osos experiences substantial summer fog and West Cuesta Ridge squeezes water from
low clouds, but overall temperature extremes on Cuesta Ridge are greater.
A combination of unique coastal environment and isolation has resulted in the evolution
of several Morro Bay endemic animals, whereas the Cuesta Ridge fauna contains species
from throughout the Santa Lucia Range and adjacent communities.
West Cuesta Ridge Special Status Animal Species
The following list of special-status animals was developed from a three-year survey of
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vertebrates in the Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area (Jenkins, 1981), the California Natural
Diversity Database (CNDDB, 2001), and an assessment of biodiversity in Southern
California National Forests (Stephenson and Calcarone, 1999).
Table 1: Special Status Animals in the Cuesta Ridge Area
Other
Status
Federal
Status
California
Common Name
Status
Scientific Name
Aquilia chrysaetos (nesting and wintering)
Golden Eagle
FG,FP
Falco peregrinus anatum (nesting)
American peregrine falcon
SE
delisted
FP
Gymnogyps californianus
California Condor
SE
FE
FP
Rana aurora draytonii
California Red-Legged Frog
FT
FG
Rana boylei
Foothill Yellow-legged Frog
FC
R5
Taricha torosa torosa
Coast Range Newt
SC
FG
FG= California Department of Fish and Game Species of Special Concern
FP= California Department of Fish and Game Fully Protected Species
R5= Forest Service Region 5 Special Status
SE= State Endangered
ST= State Threatened
SC= State Species of Special Concern
FE= Federal Endangered
FT= Federal Threatened
FC= Federal Species of Concern
Los Osos Special Status Animal Species
The following list was developed from the Los Osos/Baywood Park Greenbelt
Conservation Plan (Jones and Stokes Associates, 1997) and a search of the California
Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB, 2001).
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Table 2: Special Status Animals in the Los Osos Area
(FC)
FE
SR
SE
ST
FE
FE
FC
FC
FE
FC
Other
Status
Cooper’s Hawk
California Legless Lizard
Tidewater Goby
Monarch Butterfly
Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat
Morro Shoulderband Dune Snail
Morro Bay Blue Butterfly
California Black Rail
California Red-legged Frog
California Brackishwater Snail
Federal
Status
Accipiter cooperii (nesting)
Anniella pulchra (nigra?)
Eucyclogobius newberryi
Danaus plexippus
Dipodomys heermani morroensis
Helminthoglypta walkeriana
Icaricia icarioides morroensis
Laterallis jamaicensis coturniculus
Rana aurora draytonii
Tryona imitator
Common Name
California
Status
Scientific Name
FG
FG
FG
FG
FG= California Department of Fish and Game Species of Special Concern
FP= California Department of Fish and Game Fully Protected Species
R5= Forest Service Region 5 Special Status
SE= State Endangered
ST= State Threatened
SC= State Species of Special Concern
FE= Federal Endangered
FT= Federal Threatened
FC= Federal Species of Concern
Special Status Plant Species Likely to Occur in Project
Areas
West Cuesta Ridge Area Special Status Plant Species
The following list of special-status plants was developed from queries of the California
Native Plant Society (CNPS, 2001), California Natural Diversity Database (2001), and
Cal Flora (2001) databases, Hoover’s (1970) Flora of San Luis Obispo County, a postfire report by the California Department of Fish and Game (Hillyard, 1994), and senior
project manuscripts at Cal Poly (Weise, 1972, Wilkinson, 1995).
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Table 3: Special Status Plants in the West Cuesta Ridge Area
Bishop Manzanita
Club-haired Mariposa
Lily
San Luis Mariposa Lily
San Luis Obispo Sedge
Brewer’s spineflower
Palmer’s spineflower
Chorro Creek Bog
Thistle
Serpentine Dudleya
Blochman’s Dudleya
Calochortus obipoensis
Carex obispoensis
Chorizanthe brewerii
Chorizanthe palmeri
Cirsium fontinale var. obispoensis
Dudleya abramsii ssp. murina
Dudleya blochmaniae ssp.
blochmaniae
Fritillaria viridea
Galium hardhamiae
Grindelia hirsutula var. maritima
Layia jonesii
Lomatium parvifolium
Malacothamnus palmeri var.
palmeri
Malocothamnus palmeri var.
involucratus
Monardella palmeri
Perideridia pringlei
Sanicula maritima
Senecio aphanactis
Sidalcia hickmanii ssp. anomala
SE= State Endangered
ST= State Threatened
SC= State Rare Species
FE= Federal Endangered
FT= Federal Threatened
FC= Federal Species of Concern
San Benito Fritillary
Hardham’s bedstraw
San Francisco gum
plant
Jones’ tidy-tips
small-leaved lomatium
Santa Lucia Bush
Mallow
Carmel Valley Bush
Mallow
Palmer’s Monardella
Adobe Yampah
Adobe Sanicle
Rayless Ragwort
Cuesta Pass
Checkerbloom
CNPS
Status
Arctostaphylos obispoensis
Calochortus clavatus var. clavatus
Federal
Status
Common Name
California
Status
Scientific Name
4
4
CE
FE
1B
1B
1B
4
1B
1B
1B
1B
1B
1B
1B
4
1B
1B
CR
CR
1B
4
1B
2
1B
1B= Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered
in California and Elsewhere
2= Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in
California and Elsewhere
4= Plants of Rare Distribution – A Watch List
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Los Osos Area Special Status Plant Species
The following list was developed from queries of the California Native Plant Society
(CNPS, 2001) and Cal Flora (2001) databases, Hoover’s (1970) Flora of San Luis Obispo
County, and the Los Osos/Baywood Park Habitat Conservation Plan (Jones and Stokes
Associates, 1997). This list does not include all of the special-status plants in the Los
Osos area, only those that occur in chaparral and coastal scrub vegetation around Cabrillo
Estates and south of the residential areas of Los Osos.
Table 4: Special Status Plants in the Los Osos Area
La Cruz Manzanita
Morro Manzanita
Blochman’s Leafy Daisy
Indian Knob Mountainbalm
Suffrutescent Wallflower
SC
CE
PE
CE
FE
SE= State Endangered
ST= State Threatened
SC= State Rare Species
FE= Federal Endangered
FT= Federal Threatened
FC= Federal Species of Concern
1B= Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in
California and Elsewhere
2= Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in
California and Elsewhere
4= Plants of Rare Distribution – A Watch List
Short-lobed Broom-rape
1B
1B
1B
1B
4
1B
Dune Almond
Adobe Sanicle
Splitting Yarn Lichen
CNPS
Status
Arctostaphylos cruzensis
Arctostaphylos morroensis
Erigeron blochmaniae
Eriodictyon altissimum
Erysimum insulare ssp.
suffrutescens
Orobanche parishii ssp.
brachyloba
Prunus fasciculara var.
punctata
Sanicula maritima
Sulcaria isidifera
Federal
Status
Common Name
California
Status
Scientific Name
4
CR
SC
1B
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Invasive/Exotic Plant Species
The following list of invasive plant species threats was compiled from site visits and
existing literature. It represents noxious species known from the project areas as well as
possible invasive plants from other parts of the county, but is not a comprehensive list of
exotic weeds that could potentially occur.
Table 5: Invasive Species Present in Project Areas
Scientific
Aegilops triuncialis
Avena fatua
A. barbata
Bromus madritensis
B. diandrus
B.hordeaceus
B. arenarius
Carpobrotus edulis
Centaurea calcitrapa
Centaurea melitensis
Centaurea solstitialis
Conicosia pugioniformes
Cortaderia jubata
Cortaderia selloana
Eucalyptus globulus
Lolium multiflorum
Senecio mikanioides
Common
CALEPPC List (1999)
Barbed goatgrass
Non-native oatgrass
Annual Grasses
Annual Grasses
Non-native brome grass
A-2
Annual Grasses
Iceplant
Purple Star-thistle
Tocalote/Malta star-thistle
Yellow Star-thistle
Slender Iceplant
Jubata Grass
Pampas Grass
Blue Gum
Italian-native ryegrass
German (Cape) Ivy
A-1
B
B
A-2
A-2
A-1
A-1
A-1
Annual Grasses
A-1
Invasive Species Threats in the Los Osos Area
Non-native plants alter the vegetation dynamics and fire ecology to varying degrees
throughout the of the Morro Bay Estuary watershed. Non-native species in the Coastal
Scrub ecosystems around Los Osos are of particularly concern because of their
significant impact on the structure of the native vegetation (displacing both native plants
and animals). Most of the invasive plants benefit from erosion caused by brush clearing
and recreational use on the area’s easily disturbed sandy soils. Furthermore, they change
the way that fires will burn in the area. While native plant species certainly evolved with
periodic fire or erosion events, they have only recently had to contend with competition
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from rapidly reproducing succulents, grasses, and vines.
Carpobrotus edulis – Iceplant
This species is widely planted ornamentally and for erosion control. It is an aggressive
invader, capable of overgrowing and killing native plants. Iceplant replaces
heterogeneous native coastal scrub and dune communities with a monotonous mat of
dense succulent leaves (Odion et al., 1992). Although endangered Morro Shoulderband
snails have been found beneath iceplant, it is generally considered poor habitat for other
animals because it provides no cover and is too dense and low growing for most animals.
Wildfire has accelerated the spread and domination of this iceplant in maritime chaparral
(Odion et al., 1992, D’Antonio et al., 1993).
Conicosia pugioniformes- Slender Iceplant
This iceplant differs from the widespread iceplant used for erosion control because it is
an annual with a deep taproot, as opposed to a perennial with many roots. It produces an
abundance of seed, and is widespread in the gaps between shrubs. It does not require
disturbance to invade maritime chaparral (Chestnut, 1999). However, fire facilitates
invasion by this species in maritime chaparral (Odion et al., 1992).
Ehrharta calycinia – Veldt Grass
Originally planted on the Central Coast for grazing, South African Veldt Grass has
invaded disturbed and undisturbed coastal scrub and dune communities along the
California coast. It produces large quantities of wind-borne seed in the spring that
“explosively invade sandy areas which have disturbed, burned or grazed. It is able to
establish in the dune scrub even in the absence of disturbance. It is capable of completely
displacing native vegetation and can persist indefinitely” (Chestnut, 1999).
Veldt Grass is a perennial that forms an extensive mat of roots near the soil surface. It
appears to be limited to areas of sandy soils. Dense live and dead Veldt Grass replace the
forb-dominated openings between shrubs that characterize healthy coastal scrub. While
active dunes and freezing appear to limit its distribution, control is extremely costly and
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labor-intensive (Chesnut, 1999).
Senecio mikanioides – German (Cape) Ivy
German Ivy is a perennial, herbaceous vine that superficially resembles English Ivy. It
reproduces vegetatively from its roots, and is generally confined to cool, moist areas. It
climbs trees and shrubs, smothering the understory and reducing structural and biological
diversity. (Alvarez, 1997).
Cortaderia jubata – Jubata Grass and Cortaderia selloana - Pampas Grass
Jubata and Pampas Grass are highly visible, clump-forming grasses with wind-born
fruits. They have spread throughout coastal California, and are especially pernicious in
chronically disturbed areas. Several of these 3 m tall clumps have established themselves
adjacent to developed areas around Cabrillo Estates.
Eucalyptus spp. – Blue Gum/Eucalyptus
While eucalyptus provides visual benefits to people and shelter for some birds and
butterflies, it also displaces native vegetation and the specialized animals that depend on
it. Invaded areas are converted to an open-to-dense forest with little or no understory.
Groves of eucalyptus occur adjacent to the Cabrillo Estates subdivision.
Escaped plantings from homes
Deliberately introduced horticultural plants do not stay confined to the yards they are
planted in. During our December 2001 reconnaissance of the area, we observed a number
of plantings that were spreading into disturbed areas on trails. Furthermore, there seems
to be a widespread practice among landowners to dump yard waste in native vegetation
adjacent to their properties. This not only increases fuel loads near homes, but also may
introduce the seeds or vegetative propagules of aggressive exotics into the area.
Invasive Species Threats to Cuesta Ridge
Unlike the Los Osos area, exotics pose less of a threat to natural biotic communities on
Cuesta Ridge area. This may because few plants (including most exotics) are adapted to
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grow on serpentine soils – where most of the disturbed mining sites are found.
Furthermore, the native vegetation is resilient to frequent disturbances and is able to
compete more effectively with potential invaders.
Most of the exotic plants along the ridge occur in a narrow strip along the road. In many
areas, the ridgetop fuelbreak is largely free of invasives.
Centaurea spp. – Star Thistles/Tocolote/Spotted Knapweed
Although species in this genus are infamous for invading rangeland, they also exist in
places along Cuesta Ridge Road and around the communications sites. Here, they persist
in chronically disturbed shrub-dominated vegetation, but do not appear to have invaded
undisturbed chaparral, coastal scrub, or evergreen woodland. Type conversion of shrubdominated vegetation to grass-dominated vegetation may allow these plants to spread.
Documented occurrences in San Luis Obispo County exist for Centaurea solstitialis, C.
melitensis, and C. calcitrapa (Cal Flora, 2001).
Eucalyptus spp. – Blue Gum/Eucalyptus
While eucalyptus provides visual benefits to some people and shelter for some birds and
butterflies, it also displaces native vegetation and the specialized animals that depend on
it. The Highway 41 fire killed some, but not all of the trees in the Cuesta Ridge grove,
and young seedlings are extremely dense. Campfires in this grove represent a significant
threat of wildfire ignition (Ben Parker, personal communication). On Cuesta Ridge, the
stand appears to be expanding into adjacent coastal scrub and chaparral vegetation.
Invaded areas are converted to dense forest with little or no understory vegetation.
Mediterranean Annual Grasses
One potential impact of altering natural fire regimes in chaparral and coastal scrub
vegetation (e.g. shortening the fire return interval) is a type-conversion to a grassdominated community. While this has been done purposefully for increasing rangeland
and creating fuel breaks, we must consider it an undesirable outcome of a fire
management plan for the Morro Bay watershed.
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Studies have indicated that Mediterranean grasses lack the ability to stabilize soils
(Robichaud et al., 2000,Taskey et al., 1989) and may displace native herbs that naturally
revegetate a site (Stone, 1993). Furthermore, the fine fuels from grasses accumulate
quickly following a fire and carry fire before shrubs. This may lead to a positive
feedback that increases both grass dominance and fire return interval. Increased fire
frequency and annual grass biomass were correlated in a study of coastal scrub at Camp
Pendleton (Giessow and Zedler, 1996)
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MITIGATION AND AVOIDANCE MEASURES FOR
SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES
Focused Surveys
Pre-work, focused surveys for special-status species should be carried out for all fuels
management projects. These surveys should be conducted according to accepted
protocols in the appropriate season to supplement the literature review, database queries,
and reconnaissance already completed.
Seasonality of Burning Operations
Potential Effects on Plants
The seasonality of burn is an important factor for the recruitment of fire-adapted plants.
High soil moisture can steam and kill seeds in the soil that would otherwise survive dryseason burns. Burning when fuel moistures are too high can cause the fire to smolder
longer than naturally occurring fires did historically - killing a greater number of seeds
than dry-season burns. Cool season burning can be effectively utilized for dead, cured,
crushed brush, and limited to the minimum acreage necessary to prepare the perimeter
for those areas that require burning in conditions that need to mimic a more natural (ie
seasonal) fire environment
Potential Effects on Animals
Many of the special status animals that may occur in the project area are vulnerable to the
direct effects of fire during certain seasons. Amphibians, such as the Coast Range Newt
and California Red-legged Frog, retreat to estivation microhabitats in moist pools and
rocky seeps during the late summer fire season, and should fare well during in-season
burns. The secondary effects of a burn, such as a short-term increase in siltation in
streams, can negatively impact the breeding grounds of amphibians. However, a
controlled, incremental pulse of sediment should be less destructive than a large flow
from an uncontrolled fire.
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Habitat Avoidance Measures
Habitat Avoidance Measures for Special Status Animal Species
Some sensitive species use restricted habitats during all or part of their life cycle. Three
main landscape features should be avoided: riparian corridors, cliffs, and rock outcrops.
Riparian areas serve as refuges for animals, particularly amphibians. Coast Range Newts
(Taricha torosa torosa), Yellow-legged frogs (Rana boylei), and Red-legged frogs (Rana
aurora draytonii) are three sensitive species that occur exclusively near creeks during the
dry season. They are subject to direct impacts of line construction and the indirect
impacts of sedimentation. Disturbance or activity in creeks should be minimized.
During prescribed burning projects, buffers of unburned vegetation (100 meters slope
distance on perennial streams) should be left as intercept structures, to minimize siltation
of creeks (Valerie Bloom, pers. comm. 2001). Any prescribed fire adjacent to established
riparian areas should use late-season “backing fire” which will extinguish itself under the
oak and laurel canopies.
Cliff areas on the southwest flank of Cerro Alto Peak may be important nesting locations
for raptors or roosting habitats for bats. If surveys indicate that sensitive species are
using the cliffs, then activity of helicopters and personnel should be coordinated to avoid
nesting season. Large burns should be timed such that young have fledged and are able
to escape asphyxiation.
Rocky outcrops are used by some small mammals as nesting sites and may serve as
refugia during burning operations. Firefighting personnel should take care to avoid these
sites and not alter them by piling brush on or bulldozing through them.
The last known locality for the Morro Bay Kangaroo rat is the area south of Highland
Avenue, east of Broderson Avenue, and west of Bayview Drive. The existence of this
species is unknown at present; any projects in this area must necessarily be executed very
carefully. While any fuels management projects in this area should attempt to mediate
the disrupted hydrology caused by previous underground cable, and road projects,
mechanized equipment can crush Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat burrows, which may be a foot
or less deep.
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Habitat Avoidance Measures for Special Status Plant Species
Sparsely vegetated serpentine outcrops and seeps and springs on serpentine are habitats
that may be less adapted to intense disturbance by fire, and harbor a number of special
status plants. For instance, breaking the rosette of leaves from its shallow root system
easily kills Dudleya spp. on rocky soils. The Chorro Creek Bog Thistle is narrowly
endemic, occurring only in serpentine seeps and springs. Any disruption of topography
that changes water flow, such as the construction of firebreaks or erosion control
structures, could potentially eliminate the habitat and the population of the thistle. The
effects of retardant and foam on these wetland habitats are potentially disruptive.
Activity in and around rocky outcrops, springs, and seeps should be minimized as a rule,
and the locations of known populations of serpentine endemics should be protected. The
use of rice straw bales and wattles for erosion control has the potential to introduce
aquatic weed species, and should be avoided in all wet areas.
Control of Exotic Plants
The post-fire introduction of non-native, aerial-applied grasses for erosion control is
unnecessary and detrimental to natural revegetation processes (Hillyard, 1994, Morey and
Shaffer, 1995).
Seed carried into the area by equipment and on boots has the potential to spread nonnative plants into project and wildfire areas. This risk may pose the greatest challenge to
the successful implementation of fuel modification projects in the Los Osos/Cabrillo
Estates area. Once native vegetation is removed and the soil disturbed, both horticultural
and ruderal weeds may invade the area. During field reconnaissance, we observed Veldt
Grass (Ehrharta calycinia), pampas grass (Cortaderia jubata) and several garden
succulents (Carpobrotus edulis, and others) established in disturbed areas adjacent to the
subdivision. To prevent the spread of noxious weeds, no mechanical thinning should be
attempted on the sandy soils of the Los Osos area, hand crews should be educated on
exotic plant issues, and boots should be cleaned upon arrival at the project site. Weed
abatement (pampas grass and veldt grass) should be carried out concurrently to targeted
thinning projects in the Los Osos area.
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Species Location Information for Wildland Fire Incident
Action Planning
Given the narrow range of some of the rare plants, extirpation of entire populations could
result from hasty actions of well-meaning firefighters. Therefore it is essential that
information about sensitive habitat locations, rare plants and animals, and proper
avoidance measures be readily available to Incident Commanders. This fire management
plan recommends the creation of a Wild Fire Situation Analysis (WFSA) document that
summarizes known resource management concerns in a standard USFS format (see
Projects Section).
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RESEARCH NEEDS
During the course of assembling this plan, we found that information was lacking on
several topics. These fell into two categories: the impacts of fire management techniques
on certain animals and information about fire history specific to coastal San Luis Obispo
County.
Fire Management Impacts on Specific Organisms
Given that many of the species potentially impacted by fire management are rare and
endemic, sophisticated knowledge of their responses to disturbance is very important.
Even though we know that fire was historically an important ecological and evolutionary
force in this area, the current environment has been radically altered in the last 200 years.
Many of these research questions will require collaboration between people in widely
diverse disciplines, including geology, biology, agriculture, and animal husbandry. We
believe that the following areas would benefit from more investigation.

What are the effects of fire management and pest-plant control on rare and
endangered animals? One of the major constraints on fuel reduction and
prescribed fire is the possibility of spreading noxious weeds, such as veldt grass
and iceplant, into natural vegetation, eliminating any ecological benefit these
might have. Furthermore, fuel-thinning projects that protect human life and
property need to be conducted in a manner that does not harm the rest of the biotic
community. Without a solid knowledge of noxious weed removal techniques
(such as herbicide use) on species like the Morro Shoulderband Snail, Morro Bay
Kangaroo Rat, and Legless Lizards, land managers face the risk of eliminating
rare species while trying to preserve natural processes in the watershed.

How does Coulter pine contribute to patchiness of fires in the Sargent
Cypress forest? Coulter Pine in the Cypress forest contributes a unique fuel
component in the form of needle cast that sticks in the branches of shrubs and
cypress. Knowledge of how these fuels affect fire behavior in the Cypress could
be beneficial in the development of site-specific fuels treatment prescriptions.
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
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
How effective are fire surrogates in regenerating Morro Manzanita?
Research has been conducted on Morro Manzanita reproductive biology and
ecology. However, fire is presently unlikely to be introduced into the wildlandurban interface around Los Osos - where the remaining stands of Morro
Manzanita remain. The development of a process for reducing fuel loads around
developed areas while rejuvenating Morro Manzanita is critical. This
“prescription” could be used on limited acreage to provide a buffer to facilitate to
reintroduction of fire in Morro Manzanita.
Landscape Scale Processes Related to Fire
Management
A second category of research relates to larger issues in the watershed, many of them
requiring interdisciplinary cooperation and coordination. This research could be
beneficial in many aspects of watershed management.

What is the relationship between the size of fire events and sediment
transport and deposition over long time periods? A premise of this fire
management plan is that reducing the size of fire events reduces the sedimentation
in Morro Bay. If this is not the case, another strategy should be considered. Given
that sedimentation long-term geological process with many contributing factors,
long-term research is appropriate.

What were the effects of historical disturbances on fire behavior and
ecological processes during the Highway 41 Fire? Several modifications to the
vegetation were made throughout the last century, including mines, roads, and
fuelbreaks. If we want to use vegetation modification as a tool for managing fire
and promoting biodiversity, then analyzing the past performance of these types of
projects will help us to create a framework for better project planning .

How can areas lower in the watershed be used to increase sediment capture
from fire events? Given that fire is an inevitability, assessing potential locations
in lower watershed for floodplain restoration is important in developing long-term
MORRO BAY ESTUARY WATERSHED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
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projects to increase sediment deposition capacity low in the watershed

What are the areas of high biological sensitivity on Cuesta Ridge? Given that
there are many species with limited distributions in the watershed, detailed digital
mapping of Cuesta Ridge plant and animal distributions could help firefighters
avoid negative impacts on rare species.

How does coastal weather influence fires in the watershed? There is a lack of
detailed fire weather for the coastal side of the Santa Lucia/West Cuesta Ridge.
The coastal influence on local weather patterns makes weather data from the east
side of the coast mountains unusable for fire behavior modeling. Weather stations
at CalPoly are designed for irrigation monitoring, and do not reflect upland
humidities accurately. A Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) should be
installed for the Central Coast.
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for the California red-legged frog. Federal Register 61(101): 25813-25833.
United States Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2000. E
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat
for the Tidewater Goby. Federal Register 65(224): 69693-69717.
United States Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2001.
Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; determination of critical habitat
for the California red-legged frog. Federal Register 66(49): 14626-14674.
United States Department of the Interior, United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998.
Recovery plan for the Morro Shoulderband Dune Snail and four plants from
Western San Luis Obispo County, California. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Portland.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998. Recovery plan for the Morro
Shoulderband Dune Snail and four plants from Western San Luis Obispo County,
California. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland.
Van Horn, Christine L. 1993. The effects of fire on small mammal populations within
critical Morro Bay kangaroo rat habitat in Montana de Oro State Park. Senior
Project 93-0359, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Vogl, Richard J., Armstrong, Wayne P., White, Keith L., and Cole, Kenneth L. 1977. The
closed-cone pines and cypress. Pp 295- 358 in Barbour, Michael G., and Major,
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Jack, editors. Terrestrial Vegetation of California. John Wiley and Sons, New
York.
Wang, Johnson. 1986. Fishes of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Estuary and Adjacent
Waters, California: A Guide to the Early Life Histories. Tidewater Goby Eucyclogobius newberryi (Girard). Prepared for the Interagency Ecological
Study Program for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Estuary as a cooperative study by
the California Department of Water Resources, California Department of Fish and
Game, U. S. Bureau of Reclamation and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Technical Report 9 (FS/B10-4ATR 86-9). Available:
http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/kopec/tr9/html/sp-tidewater-goby.html
Weather Station, San Luis Obispo County. National Interagency Fire Center, Boise
Idaho.
Wells, P.V. 1962. Vegetation in relation to geological substratum and fire in the San Luis
Obispo quadrangle, California. Ecological Monographs 32: 79-103.
Wiese, P. 1972. A primary survey of the West Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area. Senior
Project 72-0451. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Wilkinson, M. 1995. Post-fire succession in the West Cuesta Ridge Sargent Cypress
community. Senior Project 95-1635. California Polytechnic State University, San
Luis Obispo.
Wilson, Chris A. 1992. Morro Bay kangaroo rat (Dipodomys heermanni morroensis)
burrow survey. Senior Project 92-1854, California Polytechnic State University,
San Luis Obispo.
Zedler, P.H. 1986. Closed cone conifers of the chaparral. Fremontia 14 (3). 14-17.
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APPENDIX 1: SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES
ACCOUNTS
Plant and Lichen Species Accounts and Response to
Disturbance
Arctostaphylos morroensis-Morro Manzanita
Morro manzanita is a tall (1.5-4 m), woody shrub. Like the La Cruz manzanita, it has
grey to brownish bark, which peels, from the large branches and trunk. It also lacks a burl
and must reproduce from seed. Unlike La Cruz manzanita, it is tall and its leaves are
grey-green and not strongly overlapping.
Morro Manzanita is limited to less than 160 hectares (~400 hectares) on sandy soils in
Montana de Oro State Park and the Los Osos greenbelt (Tyler and Odion, 1996). It
occurs both in pure stands and in mixed maritime chaparral with other species, such as
Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus), and chamise
(Adenostoma fasciculata). Both high and low-density areas of Morro Manzanita grow in
the proposed fuel-thinning project along the margin of Cabrillo Estates and south of
Bayview Drive and Highland Avenue.
Like all chaparral shrubs, Morro manzanita’s reproductive strategy is tied to periodic
disturbance by fire. Morro manzanita is a long-lived plant, and individuals older than 47
years grow in the Elfin Forest (Tyler and Odion, 1996). Seedlings and young shrubs are
extremely rare in undisturbed chaparral, suggesting that fire is the main factor in
regenerating stands. Some regeneration has been observed in sites that have been cleared
mechanically, but clearing west of Pecho Road extirpated the manzanita in the 1940’s
and 1950’s (Tyler and Odion, 1996).
Although high densities of seeds are present under Morro manzanita, very few are viable
(Tyler and Odion, 1996, Tyler et al., 1998). In studies of reproductive biology, Tyler et
al. (1998) found that contribution to soil seed-bank varied greatly between sites, and
estimated that between 10 and 57 years between fires would be necessary to produce
enough seed to preserve the present density of plants. Another important finding was that
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viable seed-bank beneath dead Morro manzanita was approximately half the amount
under adjacent live shrubs.
Researchers and State Park management staged a small study burn of Morro manzanita in
Montana de Oro State Park. Little recruitment followed the fire, and coastal scrub species
and the exotic weed, Veldt Grass, now dominate the site. Dr. Max Moritz (2001)
proposed that the striking lack of regeneration might be attributed to one or more of a
number of factors. The two likely explanations are that rain that fell a few weeks before
the fire may have prevented the seed from germinating or the stand may not have been
old enough to produce an adequate seed bank.
Erigeron blochmaniae- Blochman’s Leafy Daisy
Blochman’s Leafy Daisy is a perennial herb that reaches its northern limit in San Luis
Obispo County. In the Morro Bay area, it grows along the coastal dunes near the ocean,
east to and sandstone hills with chaparral vegetation. It may be locally common, but is
not necessarily widespread. Numerous populations have been extirpated by development
(Holland, 1997).
It was not found in a survey of the area south of Cabrillo Estates (Holland, 1997). Many
populations are recorded from Morro Bay State Park west of Pecho Rd. (CNDDB, 2001).
Eriodictyon altissimum-Indian Knob Mountainbalm
Indian Knob mountainbalm is a many-trunked, weakly woody shrub with linear leaves. It
occurs only in the San Luis Range, from Indian Knob between San Luis Obispo and
Pismo Beach, along the coastal mountains to Montana de Oro State Park. Within this
small range biologists have identified six small stands (USFWS, 1998).
Indian Knob Mountainbalm is known to occur very close to the proposed brush thinning
along the border of Cabrillo Estates. A population on private land west of Broderson
Avenue supported about 30 plants in 1979 could not be located in 1985. About 60 plants
were found at two sites in Hazard Canyon that year. Two more locations on private land
south of Bayview Drive supported a total of 80 plants (CNDDB, 2001). Surveys
conducted on the land around upper Cabrillo Estates indicated that no Indian Knob
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Mountain Balm occurred in the proposed development, and that the nearest occurrence
was 4000 ft to the east (The Morro Group, 1996).
Indian Knob Mountainbalm inhabits soils derived from marine sandstone, and on
weathered dune sheets. It commonly grows with a number of maritime chaparral and oak
woodland species (USFWS, 1998).
Indian Knob Mountain balm is apparently long-lived. It flowers from June to July, and is
pollinated by insects. The amount of viable seed produced is estimated to be low
(USFWS, 1998). However, an individual plant may sprout numerous stems from its
rhizomatous roots, increasing the number of stems clonally. This may be an adaptation to
wildfire that allows individual plants to survive a fire and take advantage of decreased
competition for resources (USFWS, 1998).
Erysimum insulare ssp. suffrutescens-Suffrutescent Wallflower
Suffrutescent wallflower is a weakly woody, many-branched shrub with yellow, mustardlike flowers. It occurs in sandy coastal scrub vegetation, coastal dunes, and on coastal
bluffs. The subspecies was placed on CNPS list 4 because of its ecologically and
geographically limited distribution. In the Los Osos area, its range is decreasing due to
residential development (Morro Group, 1996)
Tall chaparral shrubs and trees dominate the perimeter of Cabrillo Estates. In a survey of
the Cabrillo Estates area, Dr. V.L. Holland failed to find Suffrutescent Wallflower on the
site. He did note that it occurs in coastal dune scrub south of Cabrillo Estates (Morro
Group, 1996).
Orobanche parishii ssp. brachyloba-Short-lobed Broom-rape
Broomrape is a parasitic herb that grows from the roots of other shrubs in sandy soils
along the Central and Southern California Coast and on some of the Californian Islands
(CalFlora, 2001). Jones and Stokes Associates (1997) included it in their list of rare
plants in the Los Osos greenbelt. It was not found in the area bordering Cabrillo Estates
(Holland, 1993).
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Prunus fasciculata var. punctata-Dune Almond
Dune Almond is a low shrub that, as its name implies, grows primarily in open, sandy
sites dominated by other low, coastal scrub plants such as black sage, lupine, mockheather, and sagebrush (Jones and Stokes, 1997). In the Los Osos area, it is threatened by
development of its habitat for housing and by Veldt Grass invasion. Taller shrubs may
shade out dune almond, which may depend on disturbance to eliminate competition
(Jones and Stokes, 1997).
No dune almond was found in surveys of the Cabrillo Estates southern border, although it
reportedly grows nearby (Holland, 1993).
Sanicula maritima-Adobe Sanicle
Adobe sanicle is a perennial herb that grows from a taproot. It currently grows only in
San Luis Obispo County; a population in the San Francisco Bay was extirpated
(Constance, 1993). It grows in meadows, seeps, grassland, chaparral, and coastal prairie
habitats on moist clay or ultramafic soils (CNDDB, 2001). Within San Luis, there are
records of it growing as far north as Arroyo de La Cruz to as far south as Los Osos
Valley (Cal Flora, 2001). None was found in the vicinity of Cabrillo Estates (Holland,
1993).
Because of its taproot that sprouts new growth, Adobe Sanicle is likely to be resilient to
fire and clearing of brush, provided the soil is not deeply disturbed. It is unlikely that it
grows in the project area based on previous surveys and habitat descriptions.
Sulcaria isidifera-Splitting Yarn Lichen
Splitting Yarn Lichen is a symbiosis between a fungus and an algae that is considered
here because it is impacted much the same by disturbance as a plant. It grows
epiphytically on a number of shrubs and trees, including buckbrush (Ceanothus
cuneatus), coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), and chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum)
(Jones and Stokes Associates, 1997). It apparently has a very limited distribution (Brodo,
1986).
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Arctostaphylos cruzensis-La Cruz Manzanita
La Cruz manzanita is a short (<1 m tall) shrub lacking a basal burl. Like Morro
manzanita, it has peeling, reddish bark on its lower branches. Its bright green leaves are
strongly overlapping. It flowers from December to March.
La Cruz manzanita is known only from 20 locations in southern Monterey and
northwestern San Luis Obispo counties. Within the Los Osos area, hybrids between
Morro manzanita (Arctostaphylos morroensis) and La Cruz manzanita grow in the Elfin
Forest (Mullany, 1990).
Because it lacks a basal burl, La Cruz manzanita will not sprout following disturbance. It
must recruit from seed. Based on their location, the La Cruz manzanita hybrids are
unlikely to be impacted directly by fuel treatments in the Cabrillo Estates area.
Arctostaphylos obispoensis-Bishop (San Luis Obispo) Manzanita
Bishop manzanita sclerophyllous-leaved shrub that occurs on serpentine derived rocky
soils as well as red clays along Cuesta Ridge. They are a characteristic species of the
Cypress forests and chaparral vegetation in this part of the Santa Lucia Range (Hardham,
1962). Bishop manzanita must reproduce from seed- it has no burl. Like the sprouting
manzanitas, it appears to increase in dominance in later seral chaparral, where it overtops
and out-competes some of the low-growing shrubs and herbs. Although it is limited in
distribution to the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, it is abundant flourishing along Cuesta
Ridge.
Calochortus clavatus var. clavatus-Club-haired Mariposa Lily
Club-haired Mariposa lily is a perennial herb that sprouts a deciduous leaf and flowering
stalk from a buried bulb. Flowers generally develop from May to July. This unusual lily
is recognizable from its reduced petals that are conspicuously bearded.
Plants in this genus flourished following the Highway 41 Fire (Keil, 1995). Their bulbs
are insulated beneath the ground during a fire, and they flower in early spring when fire
danger is low and water is available. With competition from woody shrubs reduced, they
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are able to recruit in great numbers, as was documented in the Pennington Creek area and
in the Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area (Keil, 1995). Similar to other rare Calochortus, we
expect that this species is slow growing and has a low individual reproductive success
like C. obispoensis (Fielder, 1987). Therefore, herbicide use and disturbance of the soil
should be minimized in order to avoid adult mortality.
Calochortus obipoensis- San Luis Mariposa Lily
The San Luis Obispo Mariposa lily is a perennial herb that sprouts a deciduous leaf and
flowering stalk from a buried bulb. Flowers generally develop from May to July (CNPS,
2001). This unusual lily is recognizable from its reduced, yellow to orange petals that are
conspicuously bearded.
San Luis Obispo Mariposa Lily flourished following the Highway 41 Fire (Keil, 1995).
Their bulbs are insulated beneath the ground during a fire, and they flower in early spring
when fire danger is low and water is available. With competition from woody shrubs
reduced, they are able to recruit in great numbers, as was documented in the Pennington
Creek area and in the Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area (Keil, 1995). However, this species of
Calochortus is slow growing and has a low individual reproductive success (Fielder,
1987). Therefore, herbicide use and disturbance of the soil should be minimized in order
to avoid adult mortality.
Carex obispoensis-San Luis Obispo Sedge
The San Luis Obispo sedge is a grass-like perennial herb that forms dense, tall bunches.
It flowers from April to July, but remains green throughout the year.
This sedge is endemic to serpentine substrates in San Luis Obispo County. It occurs in
chaparral and cypress forest, always along streams and seeps or where water collects
(Hardham, 1962). The species responded positively to the Highway 41 fire, sprouting
from bases that survived fire (Keil, 1995).
Chorizanthe breweri-Brewer’s spineflower
Brewer’s spineflower is a short-lived perennial herb that grows on serpentine soils with
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open chaparral and cypress forest only in southwestern San Luis Obispo County
(Hickman, 1993). It has a well-documented presence on the rocky serpentine soils Cuesta
Ridge (CNDDB, 2001). Dr. David Keil reported that it was locally abundant following
the 1994 Highway 41 Fire (Keil, 1995).
Chorizanthe palmeri-Palmer’s spineflower
This spineflower is a short-lived perennial herb that is endemic to serpentine outcrops in
western San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties (Hickman, 1993). The California
Native Diversity Database does not indicate that it grows on Cuesta Ridge (2001), but
reports in the CalFlora database indicate that it grows in proximity to Cuesta Ridge,
including San Bernardo Creek, Reservoir Canyon, south of Chorro Reservoir, and
Brizzolari Creek (2001).
Cirsium fontinale var. obispoensis-Chorro Creek Bog Thistle
The Chorro Creek Bog Thistle is a perennial herb that lives two or three years. First year
plants form a rosette of spiny leaves, and in May through July of their second year they
produce a tall spike of spiny heads (USFWS, 1994). These thistles are distinctive because
of their nodding inflorescences and glandular hairs.
The bog thistles are limited to only eight sites in San Luis Obispo County. There, the
thistles grow in saturated serpentine soils where springs, creeks, or seeps provide water.
Four of the seeps are located along the south slope of West Cuesta Ridge, in the San
Bernardo Creek, Pennington Creek, Chorro (Serrano) Creek, and Miossi Creek drainages.
These populations fluctuate dramatically year-to-year, apparently depending on the
availability of water (Chipping, 1994, Harding Lawson Associates, 1995, 1996). Because
of this thistle’s incredibly narrow distribution, both the State of California and the Federal
Government recognize it as an endangered species (CNPS, 2001).
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have identified several possible threats to the Chorro
Creek Bog Thistle (1998). Cattle grazing may trample adult plants and introduce nonnative competitors, but may also create favorable microsites for germination in grassinvaded sites. Alteration of water flows may destroy the wetland habitat, and deliberately
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introduced beetle larvae are known to feed on Chorro Creek Bog Thistle seed.
Following the Highway 41 fire, Dr. David Keil (1995) visited the Pennington Creek
population. Apparently, the fire had not burned the seeps, nor adversely affected those
populations at the time of his visit. The other populations within the fire’s perimeter had
not burned either (Hillyard, 1994). The nature of the Chorro Creek Bog Thistle’s wet
habitat probably protects it from the direct impacts of fire.
Dudleya abramsii ssp. murina-Serpentine Dudleya
There are several succulent plants that occur on rocky substrates in San Luis Obispo, but
this unarmed, perennial plant may be recognized by the purple dye that it exudes when
crushed. Furthermore, this subspecies has affinities for serpentine soils (Bartel, 1993).
Few plants of related species (Dudleya viscosa) were killed in the 1993 Ortega Fire on
the Cleveland National Forest, and another species (Dudleya multicaulis) was actually
stimulated by the fire (Cleveland National Forest, 2001). The succulent habit and
generally low-productivity habitat allows Dudleya spp. to avoid the intense heat from
wildfires. However, the harshness of rocky outcrops expose Dudleya to a greater risk of
trampling and limits growth.
Dudleya blochmaniae ssp. blochmaniae-Blochman’s Dudleya
Blochman’s dudleya is a low-growing, perennial succulent that that occurs on serpentine.
On camp Camp San Luis and other locations in the county, this species occurs primarily
at low-angle slopes at lower elevations (CNDDB, 2001).
Few plants of related species (Dudleya viscosa) were killed in the 1993 Ortega Fire on
the Cleveland National Forest, and another species (Dudleya multicaulis) was actually
stimulated by the fire (Cleveland National Forest, 2001). The succulent habit and
generally low-productivity habitat allows Dudleya spp. to avoid the intense heat from
wildfires. However, the harshness of rocky outcrops expose Dudleya to a greater risk of
trampling and limits growth.
Fritillaria viridea - San Benito Fritillary
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San Benito Fritillary is a perennial herb that sprouts a deciduous leaf and flowering stalk
from a buried bulb. Its brown or maroon colored flowers generally develop from (when
to when).
Botanists have not conclusively documented the occurrence of this plant within the
project area. The only other location for this species is in San Benito County (Cal Flora,
2001). Ira Wiggins collected a specimen 6 miles east of Morro Bay on Highway 41 in
1929 (CNDDB, 2001). Hoover (1970) collected and identified a single plant in “leaf
mold of a Quercus durata thicket” northwest of Cuesta Pass. However, this collection
(Hoover #8734) has not been located at the Hoover Herbarium at Cal Poly. Junak and
Ayers located, but did not collect, an unusual, sterile individual along the northern
boundary of the Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area in 1989 (Junak, 1991). The Forest Service
(Stephenson and Calcarone, 1999) lists its range as San Benito and San Luis Obispo
counties based on a vertebrate survey of Cuesta Ridge (Jenkins, 1981), and reserves
conclusions about the fritillary’s occurrence in Monterey County.
Both this species and other bulb forming plants in the project area would be expected to
flourish following a fire. The bulbs are insulated beneath the ground and flowering takes
place in spring when wildfire danger is low. With competition from woody shrubs
reduced, they are able to recruit. As with the two rare Calochortus spp., however,
Fritillary is a slow growing plant with low individual reproductive success. Therefore,
disturbance of the soil should be minimized.
Grindelia hirsutula var. maritima-San Francisco gum plant
This species is known from collections near Cuesta Pass and in the southeastern corner of
the Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area, though doubt exists to the subspecific identity. Junak
(1991) did not identify a subspecies for his collections in the botanical area, and Hoover
(1970) attributed these plants to subspecies hirsutula. Reports of variety maritima are
based on the CNPS rare plants database (2001).
Another species in this genus, G. squarrosa, is weedy and rapidly colonizes burned areas
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(Walsh, 1993).
Layia jonesii-Jones’ tidy-tips
Layia jonesii is an annual herb that grows in serpentine soils or clay soils bordering
serpentine outcrops below 400 m in San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties. Hoover
reported that it occurred along San Bernardo Creek (R.F. Hoover #11253, OBI), and
collections depostited at Cal Poly have been made from Brizzolari Creek (P. Ashley s.n.;
R. Riggins #1486) and other locations north of the project area (M. McLeod #1384,
Cypress Mountain Rd.; R.F. Hoover #7442, Cayucos).
Jones’ Tidy Tips tend to be found in open, grassland habitats, although it is also reported
from chaparral (CNPS, 2001). These are the same habitats that have been heavily altered
by grazing since the arrival of Europeans. Heavy grazing and development, coupled with
competition with exotic, annual, Mediterranean grasses poses the greatest threat to this
species. Fuel break maintenance and prescribed burning in chaparral are unlikely to
adversely impact Jones’ Tidy Tips.
Lomatium parvifolium- Small-leaved Biscut Root
Small-leaved biscut root is a perennial herb that grows principally on serpentine soils in
Southern Coastal California (Constance, 1996). Historically, this species was well known
as a food source to the Native Americans of California, who periodically burned
grassland habitats to increase herbs with fleshy roots (Anderson and Moratto, 1996).
Malacothamnus palmeri var. palmeri-Santa Lucia Bush Mallow
Malacothamnus palmeri var. involucratus-Carmel Valley Bush Mallow
Both the Santa Lucia and Carmel Valley bush mallow are rare chaparral shrubs
differentiated in San Luis Obispo from their more widespread relatives by a wide bract
subtending their flowers. Some taxonomic uncertainty exists as to the distictness of the
subspecies, however (Bates, 1993). Plants collected along Highway 41 near Cerro Alto
have been attributed to either subspecies palmeri (A. Eastwood #15013, cited in
CalFlora, 2001; R.F. Hoover #6200, filed in OBI) or subspecies involucrata (R.F. Hoover
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#6200, as cited in CNDDB, 2001). The Carmel Valley subspecies is highly threatened,
and appears on CNPS list 1B as does the Santa Lucia subspecies (CNDDB, 2001).
Several species in the genus are known to be fire-adapted, and two other species from the
Los Padres National Forest show adaptation for fire. M. jonesii sprouts vigorously
following fire and is a persistent element in early to mid-seral chaparral, whereas M.
davidsonii is a short-lived fire follower (Stephenson and Calcarone, 1999). Both
subspecies are elements of the highly flammable and fire-adapted chaparral vegetation.
Reintroduction of fire to sites where this species occurs should have positive effects on
the shrub.
Monardella palmeri-Palmer’s Monardella
Palmer’s Monardella is a low-growing subshrub that is generally limited to serpentine
soils in San Luis Obispo County. It may be recognized by its minty smell, head of purple
flowers, and habit.
Within the project area, Palmer’s monardella grows in the Cuesta Ridge botanical area on
serpentine soils. The population 0.4 mi. north (northwest) of the KSBY communications
site has been visited a number of times (collections at R.F. Hoover Herbarium) and the
population survived the 1994 fire (Keil, 1995).
This plant grows tufted stems from a rhizomatous root system (Joerkst, 1993). The
rhizomatous roots resprout after fire, taking advantage of reduced competition with the
taller, woody shrubs in chaparral vegetation.
Perideridia pringlei-Adobe Yampah
Adobe Yampah is a perennial herb that grows from a tuberous root system. It primarily
grows in serpentine grasslands (Constance, 1993). Historically, this species was well
known as a food source to the Native Americans of California, who periodically burned
grassland habitats to increase herbs with fleshy roots (Anderson and Moratto, 1996).
These habitats have been largely converted to rangeland.
Senecio aphanactis - Rayless Ragwort
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Rayless ragwort is a diminuative annual herb that generally grows in coastal scrub
vegetation in ephemeral pools with alkaline soils (Barkley, 1993). In San Luis Obispo it
has been found on rocky serpentine soils north of town associated with serpentine
grassland (CNDDB, 2001). As with other grassland habitats, grazing and introduction of
Sidalcia hickmanii ssp. anomala-Cuesta Pass Checkerbloom
Cuesta Pass Checkerbloom is a low-growing, suffrutescent perennial with a deep, woody
root, and a basal bunch of sparsely hairy leaves. It flowers from April to May, sending up
a spike of pink to lavender flowers (Hill, 1993). They may be recognized by their low
habit, lobed leaves with stellate hairs, and hibiscus-like flowers.
This subspecies is narrowly endemic to openings in chaparral or cypress forest in the
rocky, serpentine soils found northwest of Cuesta Pass (Hoover, 1970, Hill, 1993). Most
of these habitats fall within the Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area in the Los Padres National
Forest.
Before the Highway 41 fire, only 56 individuals were counted in three separate
populations (Junak, 1991). They persisted in “cleared spots, and on the edges of the
Sargent Cypress forest” (Fairfax, 1977). All of these populations were burned in the fire
(Hillyard, 1994). Following the fire, both the number of individual plants and the extent
of the coverage throughout the Botanical Area increased dramatically (personal
observation, Moorey and Schaffer, 1995). As the cypress, manzanita, and other woody
shrubs have sprouted and grown, the numbers and extent of checkerbloom appear to be
declining again. Apparently, fire is the most important agent in reducing competition and
triggering germination in Cuesta Pass Checkerbloom.
Animal Species Accounts and Response to Disturbance
Aquilia chrysaetos-Golden Eagle
Golden Eagles are large raptors that generally inhabit open habitats in mountains and
hills throughout the year (Ehrling et al., 1988). They are widespread west of the
Mississippi River (Dickenson, 1999). Male and female birds builds nests from sticks on
cliffs, often alternating between two or three nest sites. The eagles feed on other birds,
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mammals, insects, and reptiles (Ehrling et al., 1988).
Golden Eagles generally nest on the drier east side of the Santa Lucia Range, but may be
seen near Hollister Peak, east of Morro Bay. Tom Eddell, a biologist for CALTRANS
who compiles bird records for the county, said that he was unaware of the presence of
cliff-nesting raptors in the Cerro Alto area (pers. comm, 2001).
Accipiter cooperii-Cooper’s Hawk
The Cooper’s Hawk is a tree-nesting raptor that lives in California year-round
(Dickenson, 1999). They usually nest in deciduous, coniferous, or riparian forests, and
also hunt mammals, and take small birds on the wing in wooded vegetation (Ehrling et
al., 1988). In the National Forests of Southern California the hawks typically nest in
riparian forests, mountain canyons, oak woodlands, and to a lesser extent, eucalyptus
groves and near human population (Stephenson and Calcarone, 1999). A nest was
observed in Coast Live Oak in Baywood Park in June of 1967 (CNDDB, 2001).
Impacts to nesting Cooper’s Hawks could occur in the oaks and possibly in eucalyptus
around Los Osos. Trained personnel should evaluate trees for nests during brush thinning.
Anniella pulchra nigra- Black California Legless Lizard
The Black California Legless lizard is a subspecies restricted to coastal Monterey
County, and possibly the Morro Bay region.The legless lizards found in Morro Bay may
represent Aniella pulchra nigra, or they may belong to the typical subspecies (A.p.
pulchra), or they may represent an area of gene exchange between the two subspecies.
Taxonomic issues aside, the California Department of Fish and Game lists both
subspecies with special concern status, as does the U.S. Forest Service (CDFG, 2001).
Because of its limited distribution, A.p. nigra was proposed for Federal recognition, but
was not listed as threatened or endangered (CDFG, 2001).
Legless lizards need specific microhabitats, but may occur in a wide range of sandy
coastal habiats (Miller, 1944). Miller indicated that loose, sandy soils or thick duff layers
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are necessary to allow locomotion. These sandy soils must provide adequate moisture for
the lizards to obtain for soil. Areas of sun and shade have been reported as important for
thermoregulation (Miller, 1944), but the lizards may be able to thermoregulate by moving
vertically in the soil (Kuhnz, 2001). Apparently, these lizards prefer dune habitats with
native vegetation- iceplant supports low numbers of arthropod prey and few legless
lizards (Kuhnz, 2001). The microsites at the edge of the canopy of native shrubs harbors
insect prey, provides duff that insulates the soil and is a source of moisture from fog and
rain drip (Kuhnz, 2001). Mock-heather (Ericameria ericoides) and shrubby lupines
(Lupinus chamissonis and L. arboreous) are often dominants where lizards are found
(Miller, 1944, Kuhnz, 2001).
Brush thinning is unlikely to negatively impact the legless lizards, because fuel removal
will target dense chaparral, not coastal scrub vegetation.
Danaus plexippus-Monarch Butterfly
The State of California lists the Monarch Butterfly as a State Special Resource, and
protects it from exploitation (CDFG, 2001). Monarch butterflies roost and mate along the
California coast during the fall and winter. There, they congregate in groves of trees such
as Eucalyptus, Monterey Pine, and Monterey Cypress for shelter against wind and
freezing. In addition, the groves may provide a source of moisture and nectar for food
(Jones and Stokes Associates, 1997).
Fuel reduction that eliminates Eucalyptus could eliminate potential roosting sites, both in
Los Osos area and in the eucalyptus grove southwest of Cerro Alto.
Dipodomys heermani morroensis-Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat
The Morro Bay Kangaroo rat is an extremely localized subspecies of the otherwise
widespread species. They are terretorial, burrowing, nocturnal rodents that feed on seeds
and vegetation. They tend to be inactive in the winter rainy season and summer dry
season, and are most active during the spring and fall growing season (USFWS and
Roest, 1982).
In 1958, the Morro Bay kangaroo rat occupied a 5.7 km2 area south and east of Morro
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Bay pictured in. This range extended south along the coastal strip to a point between
Coon Creek and Hazard Canyon, east to Los Osos Creek, and a small area east of Los
Osos Creek. Morro Bay was the northern limit. In 1957, the number of individuls was
estimated at 8000 (Stewart and Roest, 1960). Populations in 1971 were estimated at 3000
individuals (Congdon, 1971). Within this range were 6 named populations (USFWS and
Roest, 1982). By 1979, the kangaroo rats were known from only four of these disjunct
populations. One was west of Pecho Road, another was bounded by Broderson Ave.,
Highland Dr., and Bayview Dr. The third population was along the west bank of Los
Osos Creek north of Los Osos Valley Road. the northernmost site was southwest of Los
Osos Creek and east of South Bay Bvld. near the outlet to Morro Bay. The site west of
Pecho Rd. was designated as critical habitat in 1977 (USFWS and Roest, 1982). By 1988,
the only site that was known to support the Kangaroo Rat was the 175-acre Bayview site
(Gambs and Holland, 1988), which had an estimated 175 individuals in 1979 (USFWS
and Roest, 1982). Surveys directed by Dr. Roger Gambs on the Pecho site in the 1980s
and early 1990s failed to trap any kangaroo rats (USFWS and Roest, 1982, Schneider,
1988, Nelson, 1988, Leone, 1991, Van Horn, 1993). The continued existence of the
subspecies is unknown (Jones and Stokes Associates, 1997).
The recovery plan for the Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat list two important habitat elements:
stabilized sandy soils, and coastal scrub vegetation (USFWS and Roest, 1982). The sandy
soils are apparently a requirement for the Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat to construct its
burrows. Vegetation associated with the Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat presence tends to be
dominated by low, weakly woody scrub species such as lupine (Lupinus arboreus and L.
chamissonis), mock heather (Ericameria ericoides), coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis)
and sagebrush (Artemisia californica), with an understory of smaller herbacous dicots
growing between the larger shrubs (USFWS and Roest, 1982). Leaves, stems, and seeds
of the vegetation provide food, while roots of the vegetation provide support for the
burrows.
Biologists have pointed out that this vegetation is an early seral stage that will develop
into a denser, taller, woody, shrub-dominated community (USFWS, 1982, Gambs and
Holland, 1988).Silverweed (Horkelia cuneata), deerweed (Lotus scoparius) and
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buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus) are believed to be important food plants (Gambs and
Holland, 1988). The Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat seem to establish themselves in areas
where the vegetation has been cleared within 2-3 years, and may persist for 10 to 15
years. This pattern was observed in the Pecho habitat in the late 1950s and 1960s
(USFWS and Roest, 1982). However, kangaroo rat burrows have been observed in
vegetation intermediate between maritime chaparral and coastal scrub at the Bayview site
(Gambs and Holland, 1988, Wilson, 1992).
The USFWS sponsored studies of the effects of mechanical brush clearing and fire on
Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat habitat quality at the Pecho site. Unfortunately, no Morro Bay
Kangaroo Rat was trapped and the conclusions about the effects of these treatments were
based on effects of other mammals. Brush removal decreased the density of some rodent
species, but increased the density of others, that may compete with the Morro Bay
Kangaroo Rat for a period of three years (Schnieder, 1988). Prescribed burning in 1984
eliminated rodent species that rarely share an area with Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat for
three years until they moved back into the area four years after the burn. This same study
showed that Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat on burned sites tend to exclude some species of
rodents, but may or may not exclude others (Nelson, 1987, Leone, 1988). Fire apparently
opened the site to invasion by ground squirrels (Spermophilus beechyi) (Nelson, 1987,
Leone, 1988) that are believed to compete directly with the Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat
(Gambs and Holland, 1988). In 1991, mostly ground squirrels and woodrats were trapped
on the site while smaller rodents were less numerous (Van Horn, 1991).
The largest, continuing threat to the Morro Bay Kangaroo Rat is habitat fragmentation,
destruction, and alteration. These are caused by combinations of urban development, fire
supression, and introduction of exotic plants and animals (Gambs and Holland, 1988,
USFWS and Roest, 1982, Jones and Stokes, 1997).
Eucyclogobius newberryi -Tidewater Goby
The tidewater goby is a small (less than 50 mm long), nearly transparent fish. It is a
short-lived fish that inhabits estuaries, lagoons, and creek mouths between the extremes
of fresh water and open ocean. It seems to prefer shallow, lower salinity sites, although it
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can apparently tolerate open-ocean salinities for a limited time, allowing the species to
disperse along coasts (USFWS, 2000).
Males dig burrows and defend the eggs females deposit. The timing of this is thought to
be tied to hydrological cycles. Reproduction peaks during mid-summer when sediment
transported by spring and winter runoff forms bars at the outlet of the estuary, reducing
the mixing with ocean water. Winter storms typically breach the sediment barriers,
ending the breeding season (USFWS, 2000). The young develop within the estuarine
system, and are subject to intense predation. The USFWS identified structural complexity
and a natural hydrodynamic regime as critical factors that allow the young to develop and
the populations to persist. The absence of introduced fish predators is also essential to the
success of the gobies (USFWS, 2000).
Tidewater Gobies have been collected in Los Osos Creek, Chorro Creek, in Morro Bay,
and in the open ocean off of Point Buchon (CNDDB, 2001).
Brush thinning is unlikely to greatly increase the sediment input into Morro Bay or its
tributaries, nor is it expected to alter the hydrographic regime. Instead, the project should
reduce the risk of uncontrolled wildfire, and reduce the amount of sediment that enters
the bay in any given year. Therefore, it is unlikely that the brush thinning will negatively
impact the Tidewater Goby.
Falco peregrinus anatum - American peregrine falcon
This cliff nesting raptor inhabits the California coast (Dickenson, 1999). They hunt other
birds, particularly doves, pigeons, and shorebirds. In spring to mid-summer they they lay
and hatch their eggs on the ground in cliff sites that are used for many years (Ehrling et
al., 1988). In San Luis Obispo, the Peregrines are known to nest on Morro Rock, a few
km east of the cliffs near Cerro Alto. Tom Eddell, a biologist for CALTRANS who
compiles bird records for the county, said that he was unaware of the presence of cliffnesting raptors in the Cerro Alto area (pers. comm., 2001).
In the 1970s and 1980s, the Peregrine falcon populations plummeted due to egg
deformities caused by DDT (Ehrling et al. 1988). Present populations reached high
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enough numbers to warrant their delisting from Federal status, although the State of
California maintains an endangered status and the California DFG lists the peregrine as a
Fully Protected species (CDFG, 2001). In order to avoid impacting cliff-nesting birds,
qualified researchers should survey of the cliff habitat southeast of Cerro Alto prior to
widespread burning.
Gymnogyps californianus - California Condor
The California Condor is one of California’s most managed emperiled species. It is listed
by both the State of California and the USFWS as an endangered species (CDFG, 2001).
This massive scavenger lays its eggs directly onto cliff roosts or in a cavity in giant
sequoia trees (Ehrling et al., 1988).
The historical range of this species extends north into Monterey County along the Santa
Lucia Ranges, and the Los Padres National Forest is on of the only areas that currently
supports reintroduced birds (Stephenson and Calcarone, 1999). However, no breeding
sites within the project area are reported in the literature. Tom Edell, a biologist for
CALTRANS who compiles bird records for the county, said that he was unaware of the
presence of nests of any special status birds in the Cerro Alto area (pers. comm, 2001).
The rare birds do occasionally travel through the area into the Ventana Wilderness in the
northern portions of the Santa Lucia Range. Provided no condors are above prescribed
burns, there should be no impacts to them.
Helminthoglypta walkeriana-Morro Shoulderband Dune Snail
The Morro Shoulderband (Dune) Snail is a small (18-29 mm in diameter) snail with a
characteristic brown stripe that runs along the curve of the shell. It has a duller, more
globose shell than the related Big Sur shoulderband snail (USFWS, 1998).
The Morro Shoulderband snail reportedly lives in coastal dune and coastal scrub habitats
from Hazard Canyon in Montana de Oro State Park in the south to Los Osos Creek in the
north and west. Survey work by Dr. V.L. Holland and Dr. Tom Richards for the Cabrillo
Estates subdivision yeilded no snails nor any sign of them (The Morro Group, 1996). The
greatest densities of snails were found where combinations of mock-heather (Ericameria
ericoides), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), silver beach lupine (Lupinus
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chamissonis), black sage (Salvia mellifera), and California sagebrush (Artemisia
californica) were dominant (USFWS, 1998). However, the snails have also been found
beneath the exotic succulent iceplant (Carpobrotus spp.).
Several sources have suggested that the snails use plant litter that is trapped by low
growing branches of shrubs. The low-growing branches and fine leaf litter may create an
important microsite that provides protection from predators, supplies fungal mycelia for
food, and reduces heat and dessication on otherwise dry sands (USFWS, 1998). Recent
survey work by State and Federal wildlife biologists revealed that the snails also use
maritime chaparral vegetation, and may also be found associated with Morro manzanita
(Arctostaphylos morroensis), dune almond (Prunus fasciculata var. punctata), and other
woody shrubs (Jones and Stokes Associates, 1997).
The shoulderband snail faces many threats from habitat fragmentation, alteration, and
destruction (USFWS, 1998). Based on new reports of habitat use by the snails, fuel
thinning in the chaparral vegetation around Cabrillo Estates could result in significant
negative impacts through habitat alteration and crushing the snails during the work.
Chipping the cut brush from the fuel break would contribute thick woody litter to the
area, which may or may not help the snail. On the other hand, the snails were found in
“openings of several... maritime and coastal sage scrub plant communities” (Jones and
Stokes Associates, 1997). An artificial fuel break may act as a similar habitat feature.
Icaricia icarioides morroensis-Morro Bay Blue Butterfly
The Morro Bay Blue Butterfly is a narrowly endemic subspecies of blue butterfly which
occurs only in the Morro Bay area and is listed by the USFWS as a species of concern
(Jones and Stokes Associates, 1997).
This butterfly uses coastal dunes and coastal scrub habitats and does not migrate. They
complete the larval stage of their life cycle in dune lupines (Lupinus chamissonis), but
adults may feed on the nectar of a number of plant species from April to August (Garth
and Tilden, 1986).
Brush thinning along Cabrillo Estates is unlikely to negatively impact the Morro Bay
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Blue Butterfly. Most of the brush is late-seral chaparral and coast live oak, so the lupines
that host the butterfly larvae are infrequent. However, significant areas of degraded
coastal scrub vegetation occur south of Highland Drive, and there are many lupine shrubs
in this area. In addition, thinning of brush may remove species that provide nectar for the
butterflies.
Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus - Southern Steelhead
Southern steelhead are an anadromous fish that have documented spawning habitat
within the watershed of the proposed projects in Chorro Creek and its tributaries (San
Luisito, Dairy, and San Bernardo Creeks), as well as Morro Creek (CNDDB, 2001).
These fish are associated with high-angle coastal streams with headwaters near the ocean.
The Steelhead Restoration and Management Plant (McEwan and Jackson, 1996) details
the life history of the fish. The steelhead spawn in winter, swimming as far upstream as
they can before encountering barriers. In order to sucessfully reproduce, they need cool
(<52oF), well-oxygenated water. Riparian vegetation may be a critical factor in keeping
water temperature low. Females lay eggs in gravel with water flowing over it, and the fry
emerge four to six weeks later. Young fish return to the ocean to mature.
Prescribed fire primarily impact aquatic systems in two ways. Sediment from fires and
other disturbances can fill in the spaces in gravel, making it unsuitable for spawning.
Furthermore, burning the riparian vegetation eliminates shade that can keep pools cool.
Rana aurora draytonii-California Red-Legged Frog
Red-legged frogs are the largest native frogs in the Western United States, attaining
lengths of 40-130 cm. The frogs’ backs have both dark flecks and irregular mottling, but
adults characteristically have a red color on the abdomen and hind legs (USFWS, 1996).
This subspecies is considered endangered both by the Federal and State Governments
(USFWS, 1996, California DFG, 2001).
The Red-legged frogs may use a variety of habitats during different parts of their life
cycle, summarized by USFWS, 2001. Eggs are laid attatched to emergent vegetation in
creeks, artificial and natural ponds, pools within larger streams, marshes, and lagoons.
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The impact of riparian vegetation on breeding site quality is not fully understood,
although it is believed to improve the beeding site. Eggs hatch after 6-14 days, and
undergo metamorphosis after 3.5 to 7 months (in July to September), depending on water
chemistry. Occasionally, tadpoles will overwinter before metamorphosis (metamorphosis
in March to April). Sexual maturity is reached at 2-3 years of age.
When not breeding, adults may be found in or near water, in riparian vegetation, or may
migrate to adjacent watersheds across distances of up to 2 km during the wet season. The
path of migration may pass through many types of vegetation and topography, and may
appear either as a straight line or a random route (USFWS, 2001).
The USFWS designated parts of San Luis Obispo County as “habitat” for the California
Red Legged Frog. This includes coastal watersheds from San Simeon to Los Osos
Creek- the creeks that collect water from our proposed fuel modification projects
(USFWS, 2001). It is not known whether the frogs migrate through the Cerro Alto area,
although this is certainly within 2 km of creeks known to support frog populations.
Impacts to the California Red-legged Frog may be considered direct or indirect. Direct
impacts to adults are most likely to occur during the wet season, when adults may be
found well away from riparian habitats and subject to crushing by vehicles and burning
during fule modifications. Indirect impacts are likely to occur due to sedimentation of
creeks which support the frogs. Sedimentation of the frog’s habitat is listed as a factor
contributing to the decline of the subspecies, along with predation from non-native
animals and habitat alteration and fragmentation (USFWS, 2001).
The 1991 Lions Fire in the Los Padres National Forest consumed riparian vegetation
known to support Red-legged Frogs. Heavy erosion following the fire adversely affected
both the Arroyo Toad and Red-legged frogs (USFWS, 1996). Valerie Bloom, a USFWS
biologist, suggested that unburned vegetation left as a buffer in prescribed burns could act
as a filter for sediment in the first winter following the fire (2001).
Rana boylii-Foothill Yellow-legged Frog
The Foothill Yellow-legged frog is a medium-sized frog; adults are typically 37.2 - 82.0
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mm in length. The back color is variable, but adults have a characteristic yellow to white
skin along the bottom surface of the legs. The Yellow-legged frog is listed as a state
species of special concern, although herpetologists have proposed endangered status for
populations south of the Salinas River (Ashton et al., 1997).
Foothill yellow-legged frogs are highly aquatic. They congregate in mating pools from
March to May. Breeding sites are generally shallow, with slow-flowing water and at least
some pebbles and cobbles. On the other hand, adults and sub-adults prefer shaded pebble
and cobble river bars along both riffles and pools (Ashton et al., 1997).
Historically, the Foothill Yellow-legged was numerous both along the western slope of
the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range and along the Coast Ranges from Los Angeles
County, California to Marion County, Oregon (Ashton et al., 1997). In San Luis Obispo
County, Yellow-legged frogs occur along several of the coastal streams (Stephenson and
Calcarone, 1999). In 1970, Foothill Yellow-legged frogs were “numerous” in streams
along the north side of Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area in streams (O’Brian, 1970).
However, in 1981 Jenkins reported only hearing the vocalizations during his three-year
study. They probably still persist in perennial streams in the Santa Lucia Range.
These frogs are subject to the same threats as the Red-legged frogs (Rana aurora
draytonii). Direct impacts due to vehicles, personnel, and burns. are most likely to occur
in the winter, while indirect impacts through sedimentation are most concentrated in the
first winter following burns.
Taricha torosa torosa-Coast Range Newt
The Coast Range Newt is an amphibian with a dark brown or black dorsal surface, and a
reddish-orange ventral surface. It We observed many on a wet day in mid-December,
2001. Also, listed as inhabiting Morro Creek (Stephenson and Calcarone, 1999). A state
species of special concern.
Coast Range Newts breed in streams and ponds, but may spend other times of the year
away from water. They prefer streams in rocky canyons with well-developed pools
(Stephenson and Calcarone, 1999).
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A wildfire in the Santa Monica mountains in November 1993 did not reduce the density
of adult salamanders, but erosion and landslide-induced sedimentation changed the
morphology of the stream. In the two years following the fire, newt egg masses were
approximately one-third as abundant as the two years before the burn (Gamradt and Kats,
1997). The fire also reduced cannibalism in the salamanders (Kerby and Kats, 1998).
As with the other amphibians of concern, Rana boylii and Rana aurora draytonii, direct
impacts to the salamanders are most likely to occur during the wet season when adults
may be found away from streams. Siltation has been shown to reduce breeding success
(Gamradt and Kats, 1997).
Tyrona imitator-California Brackishwater Snail
The California Brackishwater Snail lives in estuarine habitats in the Morro Bay near the
outlet of Los Osos Creek. The snails occur on a variety of substrates, and are tolerant of a
wide range of salinities. The population is reportedly abundant, but patchy (CNDDB,
2001).
Decline of the species is due to habitat development and changes in the dynamics of fresh
and ocean water mixing (Jones and Stokes, 1997). Fire management projects are unlikely
to negatively impact this snail because they can survive on a variety of substrates and in a
wide range of salinites.
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APPENDIX 2: TMDL LISTING OF MORRO BAY
CREEKS
Under Section 303(d) of the 1972 Clean Water Act, states, territories and authorized
tribes are required to develop lists of impaired waters. “Impaired waters” do not meet
water quality standards, even after point sources of pollution have installed the minimum
required levels of pollution control technology. The law requires that these jurisdictions
establish priority rankings for water on the lists and develop action plans, known as Total
Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL), to improve water quality.
Morro Bay is considered an impaired waterbody as it has excessive levels of metals,
pathogens, and siltation. Los Osos and Chorro Creeks have been listed as impaired
waterbodies having unacceptable levels of nutrients, and siltation. Chorro is also listed as
having excessive loads of metals, while Los Osos is listed as having excessive “priority
organics”. The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (CCRWQCB) lists
the following factors as contributors the watersheds impaired conditions:
Agriculture, Irrigated Crop Production, Range Land, Upland Grazing, Agriculture-storm runoff,
Construction/Land Development, Road Construction, Resource Extraction, Channelization, Streambank
Modification/Destabilization, Channel Erosion, Natural Sources, Golf course activities, Erosion/Siltation,
and Nonpoint Sources.
TMDL plans will be developed for Morro Bay, Chorro Creek and Los Osos Creek by the
end of 2003. San Luis Obispo Creek will likely be listed as an impaired waterbody for
sediment in the next cycle of listings (2003-2008). TMDL plans seek to identify and
“meter-out” existing sources of water quality degradation, and to assist landowners in
developing “Best Management Practices” (BMPs) to improve water quality on their
lands. While the RWQCB has no jurisdictional authority over management activities on
USFS lands, any fire management activities with the potential to contribute sediment to
these creeks or the bay must use BMPs to reduce sediment delivery downstream.
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APPENDIX 3: MAPS
MAP A: Morro Bay Estuary Watershed 1998 Aerial Photography
MAP B: Morro Bay Estuary Sub-Watershed Map
MAP C: Fire Related Sediment Hazard
MAP D: Vegetation and Wildfire Ignitions By Section 1981-1999
MAP E: Large Fire History
MAP F: Los Osos Area Vegetation Map
MAP G: West Cuesta Ridge Area – Potential Fuels Management Projects
MAP H: Cerro Alto Area – Potential Fuels Management Projects
MAP I: Chorro Creek Rim/Botanical Area – Potential Fuels Management Projects
MAP J: Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area – Potential Fuels Management Projects
MAP K: Fire Management Compartments
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