Note: This page is a record of our notes during the entire period. It’s superceded by the new page since the DEIR has now ben published. We’re keeping it here for the record.
June 2012: The tree felling has been delayed until Fall 2013, because the Environmental Impact Report has been delayed. Part of one trail has been built anyway, connecting the Aldea Student Housing to South Ridge.]
July 2011: As of July 2011, UCSF plans to fell around 5,000 trees on 7.5 acres in the Sutro Cloud Forest (or, as UCSF calls it the “Open Space Reserve”), experiment with pesticide use to prevent regrowth, and add three new trails
In 2001, it had developed a plan that called for gradual felling of trees on about half of the 61 acres it owns. This was reviewed and revisited, and UCSF is performing an Environmental Review under the California Environmental Quality Act.
It now seeks to fell trees on 40 additional acres after implementing the 7.5 acres of “demonstration projects.” This will result in the loss of around 35,000 trees, or 3/4 of the trees in UCSF’s portion of the forest.
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FEBRUARY 2010 UPDATE:
In February 2010, we received this e-mail, signed by Barbara French, Associate Vice Chancellor, Community Relations:
“…Due to significant changes in the initial timeline for review and implementation, I am recommending to campus leadership that UCSF withdraw grant applications previously submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for two proposed fire mitigation projects. The FEMA timeline would have inhibited UCSF’s ability to implement small demonstration areas in advance of the fire mitigation projects.
“I want to be clear that UCSF remains fully committed to reducing the risk of wildfire and improving the health and safety of the remaining trees while maintaining scenic quality, and will continue to seek alternate funding. I believe that small demonstration areas, which are a part of the 2001 Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve Management Plan, are a critical piece of our planning work with the community, and are a vital part of project planning.
“Next steps: In keeping with the 2001 Plan, UCSF will work closely with neighbors to plan, implement, and evaluate a small (approximately 2 acres) demonstration area that would embrace best practices to ensure public safety (through fire mitigation) and improve the health of the forest while maintaining scenic quality. This demonstration project will be subject to environmental review according to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).”
UCSF is having three community meetings as “pre-scoping” meetings for its planned environmental review. Prior to these meetings, it will hold agenda-planning meetings with about a dozen supporters and opponents of the Plan. (Report on the first meeting here.) The Agenda-planning meetings are by invitation, but the Community Workshops are public. We will be attending these meetings and reporting on them.
“Please join us at this series of Community Workshops to plan for a safe and healthy forest:
Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
(Report on this meeting is here.)
Wednesday, June 30, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
UCSF Parnassus Campus, Faculty Alumni House
745 Parnassus at 5th Avenue
(Meeting Report here.)
Monday, July 26, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
UCSF Parnassus Campus, Millberry Union
500 Parnassus Avenue”
(Report on this meeting.)
Mount Sutro Forest That Was 