Tag Archives: mount sutro

The 10-15% Mitigation

Posted on September 18, 2009 by webmaster

So with all the brouhaha about this project, and the cost — destroyed trees, the gutting of a historic forest, the time, the effort, the distraction from more pressing problems currently facing UC, and the taxpayer dollars (both through FEMA … Continue reading →

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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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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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Michael Pollan Takes on Native Plant Ideology

Posted on August 27, 2009 by webmaster

Someone sent us a New York Times magazine article by author and UC Berkeley professor Michael Pollan, he of the locavore food fame. He describes the storm of letters he received when he published a story about his failed attempt … Continue reading →

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Laurel Heights vs UCSF: Environmental Review Problems. Replay?

Posted on August 24, 2009 by webmaster

At the request of a neighbor who provided the relevant references, we researched the Laurel Heights Improvement Association v. Regents of the UC case. It is, he suggested, quite relevant to the current situation. In 1993, UCSF famously lost a … Continue reading →

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Edgewood and Farnsworth

Posted on August 23, 2009 by webmaster

So far, we have concentrated mostly on the South Ridge, planned for the first tree-felling. But recently, we walked around to Edgewood and Farnsworth, the site of the second cut. That appears even more problematic than South Ridge, in some … Continue reading →

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Puzzled #6 – UCSF: Landslides

Posted on July 30, 2009 by webmaster

The sixth in our series of responses to UCSF’s July 9th letter. This is about potential landslides. We’ve included two maps from the FEMA application which clearly indicate this needs discussion. The letter asks, “Will the projects cause landslides that … Continue reading →

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Puzzled #5 – UCSF: Strange Objectives

Posted on July 28, 2009 by webmaster

Today’s discussion is about Objectives. “ What are the objectives of the projects?” the Q&A asks, and proceeds to list the following: “• To substantially reduce the amount of highly combustible fuels to prevent a fast-moving, high-intensity fire that could … Continue reading →

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Puzzled #4 – UCSF: Cloud Forest ?

Posted on July 25, 2009 by webmaster

The fourth in our series of responses to UCSF’s July 9th letter. According to the letter, “The forest is not a “Cloud Forest” (these are native forests found in tropical and subtropical areas of the world), but Mount Sutro does … Continue reading →

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Puzzled #3 – UCSF: Demonstrating what?

Posted on July 23, 2009 by webmaster

Today, I’m moving from puzzlement into bafflement on the topic of Demonstration Projects. UCSF says it ‘wants to take advantage of FEMA funding to do a larger demonstration project in the South Ridge area (8 acres rather than 2 acres). … Continue reading →

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The Northern Flicker (woodpecker)

Posted on July 23, 2009 by webmaster

I was browsing the net today and came upon evidence of another species of woodpecker that uses the forest – an excellent photograph of a Northern Flicker on the SFCitizen blog. It was taken in the Sutro Forest.

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Puzzled #2 – UCSF: Roundup Herbicide

Posted on July 22, 2009 by webmaster

So, still considering the puzzling letter dated July 9, 2009. Today’s topic: Roundup Herbicide According to the letter, “UCSF is proposing to limit the use of herbicides to spot treatment of eucalyptus stumps, cut vines and blackberry roots only where … Continue reading →

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Puzzling letter from UCSF: Fire Hazard?

Posted on July 21, 2009 by webmaster

The enclosure to the July 9th 2009 letter from UCSF’s Assistant Vice Chancellor was puzzling. It managed to concentrate a large number of questionable statements in a very small space, and will keep this blog busy for a while! Today: … Continue reading →

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Dr Singer’s letter to the Chancellor UCSF

Posted on July 12, 2009 by webmaster

This letter was received from Dr Morley Singer. ————— Chancellor Michael Bishop, UCSF, July, 2009 Dear Chancellor Bishop, I am writing you at the suggestion of your associates, Barbara French and Deborah Brennan, following phone conversations with them expressing the … Continue reading →

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Caring for a Temperate Cloud Forest

Posted on June 26, 2009 by webmaster

Managing a temperate cloud forest is quite different from managing a regular dry forest. The most important thing is: Don’t open it up to dry out. When the forest is opened up, the area immediately becomes dryer. Today, on a … Continue reading →

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Letter from a Cole Valley Neighbor

Posted on June 25, 2009 by webmaster

SaveSutro received this letter today, with a request to publish. —————– Dear Friends of the Mt. Sutro Forest, “The cover-up is worse than the crime.” — Watergate aphorism For several months people had been asking UCSF’s public-relations spokesperson Orlando Elizondo … Continue reading →

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FEMA Fire danger? Where?

Posted on June 24, 2009 by webmaster

The UCSF application to FEMA, besides a great deal of peripheral information relating to the management of other forests like the Presidio, said that the California Dept of Fire and Forestry identified areas of high fire risk. A map was … Continue reading →

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Report on Urban Forestry Council Meeting

Posted on June 23, 2009 by webmaster

Summary: The Urban Forestry Council was unaware of the UCSF plan until it received a letter from concerned neighbors. This meeting was to find out more. Five members of the public spoke: Three residents of the Forest Knolls neighborhood; one … Continue reading →

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Letter from the SF Tree Council

Posted on June 23, 2009 by webmaster

Letter in support, to the SF Urban Forestry Council from San Francisco Tree Council, (published with permission): Re: Support for Letter “Objections to the UCSF “Fire Mitigation” Plan Dear Urban Forest Council Members, I assume item #7 refers to the … Continue reading →

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