Category Archives: Mount Sutro Stewards

UCSF Parnassus: December 2020 Meeting Report

Posted on December 15, 2020 by webmaster

In December 2020, UCSF had a public virtual meeting about its further plans, which modify the earlier ones for which it produced an extensive Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Dr Ariane Eroy attended, and sent us these notes. They are published … Continue reading →

Posted in deforestation, Meetings, Mount Sutro Stewards, UCSF | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

UCSF Meeting about 2016 Sutro Forest Draft Plan – Oct 27, 2016 – Report

Posted on October 28, 2016 by webmaster

We attended the UCSF community meeting about the new draft plan for Sutro Forest. On this rainy evening, only about 6-8 people came, outnumbered by the UCSFers present. Unlike previous meetings, there were no presentations, just stations that were set … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Mount Sutro Stewards, UCSF | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on UCSF Meeting about 2016 Sutro Forest Draft Plan – Oct 27, 2016 – Report

“New Battle over Managing Sutro Forest Trees” – San Francisco Chronicle

Posted on June 28, 2016 by webmaster

Someone sent us a really interesting article about Sutro Forest in a recent San Francisco Chronicle (25th June, 2016). A MYSTICAL PLACE Titled “New battle over managing Sutro Forest trees,” the article is by well-known journalist Carl Nolte. It starts … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, eucalyptus, Mount Sutro Stewards, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Report: UCSF Second Sutro Forest TAC Meeting

Posted on May 16, 2016 by webmaster

UCSF held its second Planning Meeting for Sutro Forest on 28 April 2016. The two hired arborists, Jim Clark of Hort Science and Matt Greene, presented the direction they were taking the Plan, and their evaluation of the forest. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Meetings, Mount Sutro Stewards, UCSF | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Report: UCSF Second Sutro Forest TAC Meeting

UCSF’s 2016 Sutro Forest Plan: Who’s Who

Posted on May 14, 2016 by webmaster

This post is to take a look at all the people who will be involved in the new Sutro Forest plan for 2016. We may edit it to update it with more information as we get it. THE CONSULTANTS Jim … Continue reading →

Posted in Meetings, Mount Sutro Stewards, UCSF | Tagged , , | Comments Off on UCSF’s 2016 Sutro Forest Plan: Who’s Who

Coming to Sutro Forest: Three New Trails and a Fancy Trail Head

Posted on March 19, 2016 by webmaster

This article is slightly modified and republished from a post on forestknolls.info UCSF is going ahead with plans to add three new trails to Sutro Forest. While we don’t object to trails as such, they all cost us trees – … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Hiking, Mount Sutro Stewards, UCSF | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Coming to Sutro Forest: Three New Trails and a Fancy Trail Head

Mount Sutro Forest: Logging a Lovely Forest

Posted on February 17, 2016 by webmaster

“I was in the forest and it looks like a lumber company came in…” wrote one of our correspondents. UCSF has been aggressive about cutting down trees this winter. These are not evaluated as *hazardous* trees, as Jim Clark of … Continue reading →

Posted in deforestation, Environment, Mount Sutro Stewards, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, UCSF | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Report: First UCSF TAC Meeting, 14 Jan 2016

Posted on February 10, 2016 by webmaster

As we reported earlier, UCSF held a meeting on 14th Jan 2016 at which it announced it was restarting the planning process. UCSF has hired two people to write the plan: Jim Clark, of Hort Science; and Matt Greene, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Mount Sutro Stewards, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, UCSF | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Report: First UCSF TAC Meeting, 14 Jan 2016

Sutro Forest: NATURAL, Not Diseased or Dying

Posted on July 27, 2014 by webmaster

CRYING WOLF WITH BEETLES In the Sutro Stewards blog last month, Craig Dawson (who is its Executive Director) wrote a post claiming that the forest was in dire straits, infected with funguses and beetles: specifically, Anthracnose, armillaria, phytopthora, wood decay … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Mount Sutro Stewards, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, UCSF | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Sutro Forest: Good News; Bad News; Action Alert

Posted on June 13, 2014 by webmaster

Last month, we wrote about about two things: Tree-cutting in Sutro Forest in the bird nesting season; San Francisco’s new “Office of Biodiversity” that was looking for a $250,000 grant to fund developing a so-called ‘Biodiversity Plan’ that would extend … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Mount Sutro Stewards, nativism, UCSF | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

UCSF Meeting Report – 11 Feb 2014

Posted on February 12, 2014 by webmaster

UCSF had called this meeting to discuss, not Mount Sutro Forest, but their Long Range Development Plan. However, Craig Dawson, Executive Director of the Sutro Stewards sent out a call for people to attend and talk about Mt Sutro, apparently … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, eucalyptus, Herbicides, Mount Sutro Stewards, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, UCSF | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Sutro Stewards: The Good, The Bad, and the… ???

Posted on May 8, 2013 by webmaster

In recent months, many people have asked us about the Sutro Stewards, and we’d like to explain our position. We’re not affiliated with them. The Sutro Stewards are a volunteer group that works primarily on Mount Sutro. Craig Dawson is … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, eucalyptus, Herbicides, Mount Sutro Stewards, nativism, UCSF | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

The Importance of Eucalyptus

Posted on April 22, 2013 by webmaster

It’s Earth Day today, and we’d like to talk about the importance of Eucalyptus trees. Surprisingly, even some people who identify as environmentalists have no idea of the far-reaching value of these trees in our environment. San Francisco has a … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, eucalyptus, Mount Sutro Stewards, nativism, Natural areas Program, UCSF | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

March End, 2013 – Mount Sutro Forest Hike

Posted on April 1, 2013 by webmaster

By the time we went up to the forest, the day’s rain had stopped. The world of Mount Sutro forest was fresh and green. The world of homes and automobiles fell away at the trailhead. It’s a wonderful time in … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Mount Sutro Stewards, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, Mt Sutro landslide risk | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Bucketloads of Herbicides Coming to Sutro Forest

Posted on March 19, 2013 by webmaster

We’ve often praised UCSF here for keeping Mount Sutro forest pesticide free. No pesticides have been used there since 2008. We’ve said things like “This may be the last pesticide-free wild land in the city. (Thanks, UCSF!)” On the other … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbicides: Roundup, Garlon, Mount Sutro Stewards, Natural areas Program, UCSF | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

UCSF’s Mt Sutro DEIR: How Many Felled Trees – 30,000 or 22,000 or zero?

Posted on March 14, 2013 by webmaster

As we’ve noted before, UCSF’s Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) on the Management Plan for Sutro Forest has been published, and public comments are due by March 19th, 2013. It covers what UCSF designates the Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve, … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Mount Sutro Stewards, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, Neighborhood impact, UCSF | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Report: UCSF’s Public Hearing Strongly Favors Preserving Sutro Forest

Posted on February 26, 2013 by webmaster

This is a quick post reporting on UCSF’s Feb 25th hearing. We’ll update it as necessary from the transcript and notes. [Edited to Add: Post updated to put in actual numbers of speakers and add two themes.] —————————- Around 250 … Continue reading →

Posted in deforestation, Environment, eucalyptus, Herbicides, Mount Sutro Stewards, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, Mt Sutro landslide risk, Neighborhood impact, Sutro Forest "Fire Risk", UCSF | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Mount Sutro Forest: Why UCSF’s Protests Aren’t Convincing

Posted on February 25, 2013 by webmaster

UCSF has been messaging their mailing list, claiming they have no plans to fell 30,000 trees. They only intend to fell trees on 7.5 acres, the four “Demonstration Projects.” After that, they’ll get community input to figure out how many … Continue reading →

Posted in deforestation, Mount Sutro Stewards, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, UCSF | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Mount Sutro Forest Hike in February

Posted on February 18, 2013 by webmaster

The day was perfect, the weather unusually nice. A long weekend, and perhaps the publicity surrounding UCSF’s plans to “thin” the forest, drew many more hikers than usual. We hiked up the steep trail from Christopher (scheduled to be closed … Continue reading →

Posted in Mount Sutro Stewards, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, UCSF | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

A Hiker’s Letter: Sutro Forest A Midcity Treasure

Posted on February 8, 2013 by webmaster

We received this letter recently, and publish it here with permission. I’m a solitary hiker who loves San Francisco’s beautiful parks and am concerned about all the overdone enthusiasm lately for baring our forests so that there will be mostly … Continue reading →

Posted in deforestation, Mount Sutro Stewards, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, UCSF | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Sutro Forest: A Tale of Two Riders

Posted on June 12, 2012 by webmaster

We’ve written about bike riders on the mountain before, and our experience has been pleasant. The riders have been careful and polite. [Read: Courtesy on the Mountain] Others have told us about cyclists zipping down trails and getting in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Mount Sutro Stewards, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

UCSF Postpones Tree-felling Another Year

Posted on June 5, 2012 by webmaster

At a public meeting of the Community Advisory Group on 4 June 2012,  UCSF’s Barbara Bagot-Lopez announced that the project to fell trees on four “demonstration”plots would be postponed, probably to the Fall of 2013. (Those are the yellow areas … Continue reading →

Posted in Meetings, Mount Sutro Stewards, UCSF | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on UCSF Postpones Tree-felling Another Year

Mt Sutro Forest – Beautiful Evocation of a Lost Tree

Posted on February 26, 2012 by webmaster

We were sent this clip by videographer and artist Lori Ambrosio, who visited the “Kill-trees Trail” (connecting Stanyan x 17th to Medical Center Way). We thought it was a lovely bitter-sweet evocation of the trees that were there – only … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Mount Sutro Stewards, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, Natural areas Program | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Sutro Forest in February 2012

Posted on February 17, 2012 by webmaster

We were up in Mt Sutro Forest a couple of days ago, the day after Valentine’s Day. The forest looked appropriately romantic. A number of cherry trees were in bloom with tiny white flowers,  like this one near the entry … Continue reading →

Posted in Mount Sutro Stewards, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, UCSF | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Bees, Weeds, and Nativism

Posted on December 13, 2011 by webmaster

Nativists who favor “native pollinators” often believe that these insects – bees, butterflies, moths and similar insects – rely on native plants. The plants and insects co-evolved, goes the argument; and so to protect one, you must plant the other. … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Mount Sutro Stewards, nativism, Natural areas Program | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Mt Sutro Forest: New Trail, No EIR

Posted on November 20, 2011 by webmaster

UCSF has a detailed plan for Mount Sutro’s forest. It involves  adding three new trails (shown in dark red on the map): The Christopher/ South Ridge Trail (parallel to Christopher on the map) ; The Clarendon/ South Ridge Trail (joining … Continue reading →

Posted in Mount Sutro Stewards, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, UCSF | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

USCF, Sutro Stewards, and the fund-raising “Fire Hazard”

Posted on October 23, 2011 by webmaster

Here we go again. We’d thought, after FEMA’s  letter that suggested that UCSF’s application had exaggerated the fire hazard in Mount Sutro Forest, that UCSF would back off an assessment clearly based on misunderstood and misinterpreted information. After all, Cal … Continue reading →

Posted in Mount Sutro Stewards, Sutro Forest "Fire Risk", UCSF | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Natural Areas Program’s Pesticides: Toxic and Toxic-er

Posted on September 29, 2011 by webmaster

It’s no surprise that people are beginning to associate San Francisco’s Natural Areas Program with pesticides. It’s been using them (if the city’s records are accurate) at an increasing rate. In 2009, it applied Garlon 16 times; in 2010, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Herbicides, Herbicides: Roundup, Garlon, Mount Sutro Stewards, nativism, Natural areas Program | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Mount Sutro Forest: The View From Cole Valley

Posted on September 1, 2011 by webmaster

Soon after we posted our impression of a deforested Mount Sutro viewed from the south, someone wrote to us about the views from the Eastern side, where Cole Valley and Mount Olympus and many other neighborhoods currently enjoy the view … Continue reading →

Posted in deforestation, eucalyptus, Mount Sutro Stewards, nativism, Natural areas Program, UCSF | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Destroying the Soundscape of Mount Sutro Forest

Posted on August 18, 2011 by webmaster

People have mentioned the sounds of and in the forest before, but it was only when we joined a Soundwalk in the forest that we became so conscious of it. Recently, someone pointed us to an article about Soundscape Ecology, … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Mount Sutro Stewards, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, UCSF | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment