Tag Archives: UCSF

Sutro Forest Updates

Posted on June 21, 2010 by webmaster

We were up in the forest this evening for a bit. Here’s what we saw: 1. The Chain link fence on Pad#4 in the Aldea campus has been erected, complete with the three gates promised (one is big enough to … Continue reading →

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

Concrete and Chainlink Aren’t Forest

Posted on June 17, 2010 by webmaster

Ten years ago, on 18 January 2000, UCSF issued an agreement with the community about its intentions for the Aldea student housing. [Edited to Add: Here is the letter: Aldea Housing Agreement 2000 01] One section is directly relevant here. … Continue reading →

Posted in Neighborhood impact, UCSF | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Report: UCSF’s Agenda Planning Meeting #2

Posted on June 8, 2010 by webmaster

This evening we had the second of three scheduled agenda planning meetings. Those present were the usual agenda-planners, with the addition of Walter Caplan (President, Forest Knolls Neighborhood Organization) who had been outside the country at the previous one. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Meetings, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, nativism, Neighborhood impact, UCSF | Tagged , , | 2 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 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

UCSF Update and March 24 meeting

Posted on February 26, 2010 by webmaster

We attended a meeting at UCSF today, in which they addressed several planning items. On Mt Sutro, UCSF was seeking money from FEMA to gut a quarter of the forest in the name of fire hazard mitigation. What UCSF’s Lori … Continue reading →

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

Tree trimming and removal

Posted on January 12, 2010 by webmaster

UCSF is doing some maintenance work on the Nike Road (connecting the Aldea campus with the Native Garden). We got a notification that said: “In the area of Mount Sutro along the Nike Road that leads from the Aldea housing … Continue reading →

Posted in eucalyptus, UCSF | Tagged , , , | 7 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

Stewardship of a Forest

Posted on November 28, 2009 by webmaster

Two weeks ago, I visited the forest surrounding the Meiji shrine, in Tokyo, Japan. As with the Sutro Cloud Forest, I was struck by the wonderful old trees growing in the heart of a city, and wanted to find out … Continue reading →

Posted in eucalyptus, Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, nativism, Neighborhood impact, UCSF | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Herbicide Moratorium on Mt Sutro

Posted on November 18, 2009 by webmaster

Earlier on, we posted about the use of Roundup on the Aldea campus. (We had heard reports that it was used in the Mt Sutro Cloud Forest, too; but there were contrary reports at the October 19th meeting. Until we … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbicides: Roundup, Garlon, Neighborhood impact | 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

“Least Visible” South Ridge and Edgewood

Posted on October 27, 2009 by webmaster

UCSF’s presentation suggested that the planned cut areas are inconspicuous from offsite. This is South Ridge (above). The yellow dots outline the planned Cut Zone. The homes below it are the Forest Knolls neighborhood. ———– And this shows the Edgewood … Continue reading →

Posted in eucalyptus, Neighborhood impact | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

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

Help Save Mount Sutro Trails

Posted on October 21, 2009 by webmaster

San Francisco Urban Riders, (SFUR) a group of bicycle riders, has a good post on saving Mount Sutro Trails. The article was intended to encourage cyclists to come to the meeting that UCSF held yesterday (and to the walk planned … Continue reading →

Posted in eucalyptus, Herbicides: Roundup, Garlon, Meetings, Mt Sutro landslide risk, nativism, Sutro Forest "Fire Risk" | Tagged , , , , | 9 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

1 acre = 30 cars

Posted on September 23, 2009 by webmaster

I stole this graphic from the Nature Conservancy website (which I’ve linked here, so I hope they won’t mind). We’ve been hearing about the carbon impact of chopping down all those 120-year old trees. Until now, I didn’t have an … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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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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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In the News: UCSF; Tree Planting; Native Herbicides

Posted on September 11, 2009 by webmaster

We’re starting a new feature here: In The News. We plan to post summaries of relevant news items (or other pieces from the internet), and comment on them. SAVING FORESTS IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFICIENT CLIMATE REMEDIES This article … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Fog Log

Posted on September 5, 2009 by webmaster

So we’ve entered 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, Whether between the end of summer (and fog) and the … Continue reading →

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

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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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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Article in the Examiner

Posted on August 10, 2009 by webmaster

The Examiner today carried an article saying we are fighting to retain the forest. They spoke to Dr Morley Singer; to someone at UCSF; and to Sean Elsbernd. They note Dr Singer’s point that this is a quarter of the … Continue reading →

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Letter: Grass fires are worse…

Posted on August 9, 2009 by webmaster

We received this letter from “Bewildered in Berkeley” in response to David Maloney’s letter exonerating eucalyptus in the 1991 Oakland fire. ———— Thanks for telling us about the Oakland-Berkeley Mayors’ Firestorm Task Force analysis of the cause of the 1991 … Continue reading →

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