Tag Archives: drying out the forest

Tree Wars by Joel Engardio

Posted on March 8, 2013 by webmaster

Joel P. Engardio lives West of Twin Peaks and serves on the Board of Directors of Plan C and the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club. You can follow his blog at http://www.engardio.com or find him on Facebook. The article … Continue reading →

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

Why Does UCSF Want to Destroy Sutro Forest?

Posted on February 25, 2013 by webmaster

This article is republished from Death of a Million Trees with permission and minor edits. —————- Why Does UCSF Want to Destroy Sutro Forest? The short answer to that question is “I don’t know.” However, since many of the over … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, eucalyptus, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, nativism, Sutro Forest "Fire Risk", UCSF | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Is UCSF’s Sutro Forest Actually Unhealthy?

Posted on February 13, 2013 by webmaster

The main argument UCSF makes for the plan to remove 30,000 trees is that the forest is unhealthy. But is it? The letter below is from Alma Hecht, a Certified Arborist who evaluated the forest. SAN FRANCISCO’S FORESTS by Alma … Continue reading →

Posted in eucalyptus, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, UCSF | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Nearly 800 Signatures on the Mount Sutro Forest Petition

Posted on February 8, 2013 by webmaster

At midnight of Feb 7, the petition already had 789 signatures,  and of course, many more comments. If you’re interested,  please go to the petition by clicking on the button below. And if you haven’t signed it but would like … Continue reading →

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

UCSF Plans to Fell More Than 30 Thousand Trees on Mount Sutro

Posted on January 30, 2013 by webmaster

Mount Sutro Forest has approximately 45,000 trees in the 61 acres belonging to UCSF, and designated as an open space reserve. This dense forest, with an estimated  740 trees per acre, a sub-canopy of acacia, an understory of blackberry and … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbicides: Roundup, Garlon, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, UCSF | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Mt Sutro Cloud Forest: An August 2012 Hike

Posted on August 18, 2012 by webmaster

The summer fog’s been hanging around the Cloud Forest, and when we went up there late last weekend, it had lightened but not lifted. We climbed up by the Christopher entrance to the South Ridge trail. It was cool and … Continue reading →

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

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

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

Mount Sutro Forest, Sunlit

Posted on June 2, 2011 by webmaster

We’ve often spoken here of the beauty of Mount Sutro Cloud Forest on days when it’s wrapped in soft gray fog and the tree tops are hidden in the mist. Then the muffled sounds of the city barely disturb the … Continue reading →

Posted in Mt Sutro Cloud Forest | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

One More Time: Fire Hazard? (FEMA notes UCSF’s inaccuracy)

Posted on September 16, 2010 by webmaster

Recently, we received a letter obtained by a public records request from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). UCSF had applied to this organization for pre-disaster mitigation funds to chop down trees on 14 acres of the forest, claiming the forest … Continue reading →

Posted in Meetings, Sutro Forest "Fire Risk" | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Mount Sutro Forest: A Walk in the Fog

Posted on August 8, 2010 by webmaster

Summertime, and San Francisco is cool and misty, and this summer even more so than usual.  It’s a wonderful time to visit the forest, which is right inside the fog belt. In foggy weather, Mount Sutro Cloud Forest may be … Continue reading →

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UCSF “Community Input”: The Opposites Game

Posted on July 28, 2010 by webmaster

We’ve been concerned that the only community input UCSF has been accepting is from the Mount Sutro Stewards and their supporters. Grade school kids sometimes play an infuriating game called Opposites: They do the opposite of what you ask. If … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbicides, Herbicides: Roundup, Garlon, Maps, Meetings, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, Neighborhood impact, UCSF | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Report: UCSF Forest Meeting, July 2010

Posted on July 27, 2010 by webmaster

UCSF’s Forest meeting this evening had a reasonably good turnout with a few new faces among the familiar ones. Janet Kessler, the Jane Goodall of San Francisco’s coyotes, was present but preferred not to speak in public. We suggested she … Continue reading →

Posted in eucalyptus, Herbicides, Herbicides: Roundup, Garlon, Meetings, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, Neighborhood impact, Sutro Forest "Fire Risk", UCSF | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Creating a Fire Ladder?

Posted on July 20, 2010 by webmaster

One of the elements of the plan for the Demonstration Areas is to remove vines that climb tree-trunks to a height of ten feet. The vines above that level (maybe another 100 feet or so) will of course die. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, Sutro Forest "Fire Risk" | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Report: Agenda Planning Meeting #3

Posted on July 13, 2010 by webmaster

This agenda planning meeting discussed the four demonstration sites, herbicide usage, and more fundamental issues of process and input. It clarifies what UCSF/ Sutro Stewards want:  to remove the forest, and convert the mountain to a park with broad trails, … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Herbicides, Meetings, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, Neighborhood impact, UCSF | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

The “Demonstration Projects”

Posted on July 5, 2010 by webmaster

At the June 30  meeting, Ray Moritz, the forester hired by UCSF, presented the Demonstration projects. As we mentioned in the report on that meeting, we were surprised. We’d thought the areas discussed at the Agenda Planning meeting had been … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Meetings, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, Neighborhood impact, UCSF | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Report: UCSF Sutro Forest meeting, June

Posted on July 1, 2010 by webmaster

This meeting, held at small Faculty center, was large and contentious. The Native Plant supporters were well-represented. There were some irate opponents, and some interested neighbors/forest-users who have not been continuously involved in the process. The most important issue discussed … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, eucalyptus, Herbicides, Meetings, UCSF | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Six Reasons Not to Destroy Sutro Forest’s Understory

Posted on June 29, 2010 by webmaster

We have been talking about the destruction of the forest’s understory in several areas. This is not an innocuous activity.  Here are six reasons why: Creating a fire hazard. We have explained at length that the Cloud Forest, in its … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, Sutro Forest "Fire Risk" | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Report: UCSF Sutro Forest Meeting May 2010

Posted on May 26, 2010 by webmaster

This is a report on UCSF’s May 25th Community meeting. There are some changes following from previous meetings: The Environmental Review shows six steps instead of just a black box. The ending is not a predetermined cutting of trees on … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, eucalyptus, Herbicides, Maps, Meetings, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, nativism, Neighborhood impact, UCSF | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Report: UCSF’s Agenda-Planning Meeting

Posted on May 11, 2010 by webmaster

After withdrawing its FEMA proposal, UCSF decided to go ahead on its own. It convened a small group of supporters and opponents for an agenda planning meeting prior to its planned Community workshop. UCSF plans to hold three such meetings, … Continue reading →

Posted in Maps, Meetings, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, Neighborhood impact, UCSF | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Sutro Cloud Forest’s Micro-climate

Posted on April 2, 2010 by webmaster

Sutro Cloud Forest is in the fog belt, and all summer long, its gets fog nearly every day. It’s never dry — and here’s why. The trees grab the moisture from the fog and clouds (1 in the picture); it … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, eucalyptus, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, Sutro Forest "Fire Risk" | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments

The Fog Log Conclusion: Seven Dry Days

Posted on November 30, 2009 by webmaster

Today was the last day of the Fog Log, keeping track of that crucial period, “September-November, when dry, high-intensity winds blowing from the north-east combine with high air temperatures and low humidity,” according to the UCSF letter. Here are the … Continue reading →

Posted in Sutro Forest "Fire Risk", UCSF | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

The Cloud Forest’s Driest Day

Posted on October 13, 2009 by webmaster

It’s raining now, the evening of Monday Oct 12th. This may herald the beginning of winter’s wet weather. In October we had the longest stretch of fogless rainless weather – seven days. In recent days, we’ve had high clouds, but … Continue reading →

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A Walk in the Woods With Barbara French

Posted on September 18, 2009 by webmaster

Dr Morley Singer arranged a walk in the forest with Barbara French, Associate Vice Chancellor, University Relations, to discuss the issue of the possible project to cut thousands of trees. We set out at 8.30 a.m., walking through the Interior … Continue reading →

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Evidence: Opening The Forest Raises Fire-risk

Posted on August 31, 2009 by webmaster

Opening up the Mt Sutro Forest has had the effect of increasing fire-risk. This is the evidence from the trail-building in the forest over the last few years. So why is UCSF planning to open it up much more? We … Continue reading →

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