Tag Archives: fire risk?

SF Fire Department Busts Some Myths – And More “Work” in Sutro Forest?

Posted on September 20, 2015 by webmaster

This post is republished with permission and minor edits from the website of the San Francisco Forest Alliance. We think it is of particular interest not only because of the myth-busting, but because we were told for the first time … Continue reading →

Posted in Sutro Forest "Fire Risk" | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

What Vegetation Burns?

Posted on November 8, 2013 by webmaster

Recently, there was a small fire on the slope above Laguna Honda reservoir in San Francisco. UCSF sent around a photograph, and emphasized that it was near Mount Sutro Forest. It was. But it was on the area that is … Continue reading →

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Sutro Forest Report: What’s Been Done?

Posted on September 21, 2013 by webmaster

On Sept 11th, UCSF emailed its list that it had “completed urgent fire-safety measures on approximately 12 acres on Mount Sutro.”  In the same email, UCSF said that the measures were “in response to an assessment this summer by the … Continue reading →

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

Sutro Forest Tree-felling Notices Posted

Posted on August 22, 2013 by webmaster

The tree-felling and vegetation removal in and around Sutro Forest that we wrote about HERE is imminent. Notices have been posted on trees in the Forest Knolls neighborhood. We have a number of concerns about this action, which is being … Continue reading →

Posted in deforestation, Environment, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, UCSF | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Sutro Cloud Forest is Foggy while Fires Burn Elsewhere

Posted on July 14, 2013 by webmaster

The summer fog has rolled into San Francisco, and we’d been watching the forest hopefully while Life delayed our visit. We finally made it on the kind of evening that makes you fall in love with Sutro Cloud Forest all … Continue reading →

Posted in Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, Sutro Forest "Fire Risk" | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sutro Forest June 2013: Trails and Flammability

Posted on June 29, 2013 by webmaster

The summer evening was golden and lovely, and though it was getting late, the forest beckoned. We met a few others in the forest – a dog-walker, three joggers, and as we were leaving, three bicycle-riders, all out enjoying the … Continue reading →

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

Action Alert: TODAY is Deadline for East Bay Tree-felling Comments

Posted on June 16, 2013 by webmaster

This article is reprinted with permission from SFForest.net The deadline for comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the East Bay Tree-felling plan is TODAY. From the FEMA website: Submitting Comments on the Draft EIS Written comments must … Continue reading →

Posted in deforestation, Environment, eucalyptus, Herbicides, nativism | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

May 2013: Mount Sutro Forest Hike in a Dry Spell

Posted on May 6, 2013 by webmaster

We’ve had an unusually dry winter here in California, and even San Francisco’s had a hot spell recently. So what’s happening in Mount Sutro Forest, usually so damp and green? In brief: It’s not damp, but it is green. The … Continue reading →

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

Sutro Forest “Fire Hazard” – Lesson from the Oakland Hills

Posted on April 27, 2013 by webmaster

We are publishing, with permission and minor edits, this statement from a Board Member of the Hills Conservation Network.  This East Bay organization includes among its Board people who were directly impacted by the Oakland fire, and are dedicated to … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, eucalyptus, Sutro Forest "Fire Risk" | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

ABC7 Television, an Idyllic Forest, and Fear of Fire

Posted on March 17, 2013 by webmaster

ABC7 television had a 2-minute piece on Sutro Forest recently. We think it’s great coverage, and ABC7 is doing the community a service by getting this issue out there. But we’re concerned about how two interviewees focused on fire hazard,  … Continue reading →

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

Flaws in UCSF’s Sutro DEIR: Public Comments Due 19th March 2013

Posted on March 15, 2013 by webmaster

This post is about flaws in UCSF’s Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve. It isn’t comprehensive, but hits some of the high points. Here is the PDF of the DEIR: Mount_Sutro_EIR_1-16-13_with_Appendices MISLEADING PICTURES The DEIR … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, UCSF | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

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

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

Endangered Butterflies

Posted on August 10, 2010 by webmaster

A commenter on this website, ‘Jonathan’, suggested that a good reason to destroy the Mount Sutro Cloud Forest would be to bring back habitat for endangered butterflies. Besides the Mission Blue Butterfly (for which there’s an attempted reintroduction on Twin … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment | Tagged , , , , , | 14 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

Dialogue with Sutro Biker

Posted on April 22, 2010 by webmaster

This conversation with Sutro Biker started in the Comments. We felt it was interesting enough to have it in a separate post instead of buried at the bottom of a page. ************************************************************************ Sutro Biker (SB): I still can’t believe all the misinformation … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, eucalyptus, Herbicides, Herbicides: Roundup, Garlon, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, nativism, Sutro Forest "Fire Risk", 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

Sutro Forest 2010-2011: UCSF Meeting update

Posted on March 25, 2010 by webmaster

UCSF’s meeting was intended to inform the neighbors about the reasons for the withdrawal of the FEMA application; reaffirm their commitment to a safe, healthy, beautiful and usable forest; and lay out next steps. Barbara French opened the meeting with … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, eucalyptus, Herbicides, Meetings, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, Neighborhood impact, Sutro Forest "Fire Risk", UCSF | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

UCSF’s FEMA move angers “Nature in the City”

Posted on March 22, 2010 by webmaster

Recently, someone sent us an anti-UCSF diatribe from the newsletter of Jake Sigg, a steering committee member of Nature in the City. (That’s the parent organization of the Mt Sutro Stewards.) The topic under discussion: UCSF’s withdrawal of the FEMA … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, eucalyptus, Meetings, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, Mt Sutro landslide risk | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Srsly, Ms. Feinstein?

Posted on March 18, 2010 by webmaster

When ten thousand trees are cut down on 400 acres of steep hillsides, it stands to reason it’ll have a major environmental impact. Four “fire hazard mitigation” proposals from UC Berkeley, Oakland, and East Bay Regional Park District plan to … Continue reading →

Posted in eucalyptus, nativism | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Euca-phobia and Fire Myths

Posted on March 3, 2010 by webmaster

This is an extensive excerpt from an article by Peter Gray Scott on the subject of the myths surrounding Eucalyptus and fire [with emphasis added]. It is quoted here with permission. —— One by one, myths about eucalyptus are pitched … Continue reading →

Posted in eucalyptus, nativism | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

FEMA, New York Times

Posted on December 12, 2009 by webmaster

The New York Times blog yesterday linked to this website, via an article about FEMA and the East Bay. We’re flattered, though the opening sentence of the article, about “non-native, frowzy eucalyptus” didn’t promise unbiased reporting. (To be fair, this … Continue reading →

Posted in eucalyptus, Herbicides: Roundup, Garlon, nativism | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 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

November Fog Log

Posted on November 1, 2009 by webmaster

As we said in the original Fog Log post, we’re keeping track of that crucial “September to November period when fire risk is greatest,” according to the UCSF letter. “Mount Sutro is squarely in the fog belt. The question is, … Continue reading →

Posted in Sutro Forest "Fire Risk", UCSF | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Fire Hazard Map(s)?

Posted on October 22, 2009 by webmaster

Fire Hazard maps are critical to substantiating that there even is a hazard. The maps associated with this Plan don’t achieve that. TWO MAPS THAT DON’T MATCH UCSF’s 19 October presentation included a map called City-Wide Wildfire Hazards. (Page 18 … Continue reading →

Posted in eucalyptus, Maps, Meetings, Sutro Forest "Fire Risk" | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Report: UCSF Oct 19th Meeting

Posted on October 20, 2009 by webmaster

We report on the UCSF October 19th meeting seeking community input into the “Fire Mitigation” project. [Italics in brackets are our comments.] It was a well-run meeting, moderated by Daniel Iacafano of Moore Iacafano and Goltsman. Barbara French, UCSF’s Associate … Continue reading →

Posted in eucalyptus, Herbicides: Roundup, Garlon, Meetings, Mt Sutro landslide risk, nativism, Sutro Forest "Fire Risk" | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 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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October Fog Log

Posted on October 2, 2009 by webmaster

As we said in the original Fog Log post, we’re keeping track of that crucial “September to November period when fire risk is greatest,” according to the UCSF letter. “Mount Sutro is squarely in the fog belt. The question is, … Continue reading →

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

A Rebuttal to UCSF’s Response to FEMA

Posted on September 18, 2009 by webmaster

This is an edited version of the letter sent to FEMA regarding UCSF’s response to their questions. Emphasis has been added. ——————————– [We were] quite surprised to read the details of UCSF’s response August 16 response to FEMA’s questions of … Continue reading →

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