Thursday, June 18, 2015
Many members of the community have written to us with concerns about the FEMA project in the East Bay Hills. I want to thank the public for its concern about the care and management of trees in our regional parks, and I’d also like to respond to some of the comments we’ve received and corrected some misleading messages:
In response to repeated conflagrations, one of which in 1991,
destroyed over 3,450 homes, killed 25 people, and injured 150 others,
EBRPD adopted a Wildfire Hazard Reduction and Resource Management Plan in 2010 after
thorough research, review and public input -- as a guiding tool for
fuels management approaches throughout the East Bay Regional Parklands.
EBRPD’s fuels reduction focus is on selectively removing or thinning non-native or dead trees and brush
on hundreds of acres in 11 regional parks including Sibley, Tilden,
Anthony Chabot, Wildcat Canyon and Claremont Canyon that are adjacent to
tens of thousands of nearby residents and businesses.
It is unfortunate that some have chosen to ignore the facts and instead
send out false information about clear-cutting forests and using
thousands of gallons of pesticides.
EBRPD’s well-researched plan does not use a “clear-cutting” approach.
Rather, our goal is to reduce fire hazards on District-owned lands while
maintaining and enhancing ecological values for native plant and
wildlife habitat. Preserving the aesthetic landscape values for park
users and neighboring communities is also a significant priority as well
as encouraging homeowners to keep their properties fire safe.
To prevent re-sprouting and eliminate re-growth of non-native
vegetation, the herbicide Garlon is applied by trained certified
workers, by hand with a small brush or sprayer, to freshly cut tree
trunks - not on the ground. About 15 gallons annually will be used
throughout EBRPD’s wildlands. Garlon is similar to store brand
treatments sold to the public and has been approved by independent
experts, including a panel of UC experts. The product has been deemed
safe for use in all planned application settings and around natural
environments. This will be done in select project areas that are spread
throughout thousands of acres across the entire fuels reduction area.
Like you, our agency and others care deeply about the land we manage,
the protection of wildlife, the environment, and the safety of our park
users and employees. We also have a responsibility to manage the native
and non-native forests and grasslands and protect lives and property.
We look forward to continuing our efforts to make the East Bay Hills
safer for everyone.
Recently, the East Bay Regional Park District took a major step forward
in its long-term public safety efforts to reduce fire hazards in the
East Bay Hills by accepting a $4.65 million federal grant to thin
dangerous trees and foliage in the hills above Oakland/Berkeley through
El Sobrante/Richmond. See the press release here: Board Accepts $4.65m FEMA Grant for Fire-Hazard Reduction.
This grant is only one of the multiple funding sources the District
uses to continue its daily fire prevention and forest restoration
efforts. The Park District’s Measure CC is another important funding
source that provides significant annual funding to allow for this work
to continue. In the past eight years, the District will have invested
more than $10 million on its fuels management program aimed at
protecting lives and properties in high fire risk areas contiguous to
regional parklands.
For additional information see: FEMA - Frequently Asked Questions
Sincerely,
Robert Doyle
General Manager
East Bay Regional Park District
For further information, please contact:
Dan McCormick
Fire Chief, Fire Department
East Bay Regional Park District
17930 Lake Chabot Road, Castro Valley, CA 94546
Tel: 510-690-6601 | Fax: 510-881-4942| 510-701-0012
dmccormick@ebparks.org