UCSF Plan

As of July 2011, UCSF plans to fell around 5,000 trees on 7.5 acres in the Sutro Cloud Forest (or, as UCSF calls it the “Open Space Reserve”), experiment with pesticide use to prevent regrowth, and add three new trails

In 2001, it had developed a plan that called for gradual felling of trees on about half of the 61 acres it owns. This was reviewed and revisited, and UCSF is performing an Environmental Review under the California Environmental Quality Act.

It now seeks to fell trees on 40 additional acres after implementing the 7.5 acres of “demonstration projects.” This will result in the loss of around 35,000 trees, or 3/4 of the trees in UCSF’s portion of the forest.

BACKGROUND

Three-fourths of is owned by UCSF, which in 1976 committed to maintain it as an open space and not build anything on it.

About ten years ago, UCSF developed a plan for managing the forest, the “2001 Plan.” This plan essentially called for the felling of thousands of trees, fragmentation of the existing eco-system, and conversion to various kinds of native plants. Opponents consider it to have been unduly influenced by Nativist interests. Nevertheless, recognizing the dangers of wholesale tree-felling, the Planners called for “adaptive management” – making small changes and observing their impact before making other changes. (Hence the Demonstration Plots.)

By 2010, the following had taken place:
(a) removal of hazardous trees;
(b) the development of a Native Garden on the summit
(c) Unplanned tree-removal for an SFPUC water project on Christopher Drive, and for the new Regenerative Medicine Building on Medical Center Way.
(d) An expansion of the trail system by the volunteer group, the Mt Sutro Stewards.

The remainder was on hold for funding reasons. The Cloud Forest flourishes.

In recent years, budgetary constraints have reduced UCSF’s staff for the forest. The Mount Sutro Stewards, a volunteer group that is part of the organization Nature In the City, now perform most of the trail building and maintenance. However, as Nativists, they have supported the massive changes proposed in the 2001 Plan.

THE “FEMA PLAN”

In 2008, UCSF applied to FEMA for a grant to cut down thousands of trees, ostensibly for fire hazard mitigation. In February 2010, UCSF decided to withdraw its application and seek community input for a reversion to the 2001 Plan. (For details of the FEMA Plan saga, click here.)

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FEBRUARY 2010 UPDATE:

In February 2010, we received this e-mail, signed by Barbara French, Associate Vice Chancellor, Community Relations:

“…Due to significant changes in the initial timeline for review and implementation, I am recommending to campus leadership that UCSF withdraw grant applications previously submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for two proposed fire mitigation projects.  The FEMA timeline would have inhibited UCSF’s ability to implement small demonstration areas in advance of the fire mitigation projects.

“I want to be clear that UCSF remains fully committed to reducing the risk of wildfire and improving the health and safety of the remaining trees while maintaining scenic quality, and will continue to seek alternate funding.  I believe that small demonstration areas, which are a part of the 2001 Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve Management Plan, are a critical piece of our planning work with the community, and are a vital part of project planning.

“Next steps: In keeping with the 2001 Plan, UCSF will work closely with neighbors to plan, implement, and evaluate a small (approximately 2 acres) demonstration area that would embrace best practices to ensure public safety (through fire mitigation) and improve the health of the forest while maintaining scenic quality.  This demonstration project will be subject to environmental review according to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).”

UCSF is having three community meetings as “pre-scoping” meetings for its planned environmental review. Prior to these meetings, it will hold agenda-planning meetings with about a dozen supporters and opponents of the Plan. (Report on the first meeting here.) The Agenda-planning meetings are by invitation, but the Community Workshops are public. We will be attending these meetings and reporting on them.

“Please join us at this series of Community Workshops to plan for a safe and healthy forest:

Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
(Report on this meeting is here.)

Wednesday, June 30, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
UCSF Parnassus Campus, Faculty Alumni House
745 Parnassus at 5th Avenue

Monday, July 26, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
UCSF Parnassus Campus, Millberry Union
500 Parnassus Avenue”