Title
Open Space Advisory Subcommittee Report
Body
OSAS Jan 2018
In attendance: Kelly Sterna and Van Leimer from LAFD
Subcommittee members: Kevin Holsapple, Jonathan Creel, Liz Aicher, Stephanie Nakhleh, Eric Peterson. Also: Amy Rogers from equestrian community
Chief Sterna: We did an environmental assessment with a grant from Homeland Security. Two areas have been earmarked for mitigation: North Horse Stables and Walnut Canyon. We learned these two areas might be Rocky Mountain Salamander habitat. That means we can’t work on these areas with them from May to October, which is the wet season. Douglas fir is the preferred habitat for that animal so Game & Fish asked us not to take down Doug fir and to leave downed trees in place. Our contractor, an environmental consulting firm based in Durango, has been working diligently on this project. They are full of biologists, they have done the studies. We hope to move from Phase 1 (assessment) to Phase 2 (implementation) by May 1, 2018. We are going to try to complete our goals with minimal environmental impact. As far as public notice: Once Game & fish accepts the assessment, then it goes back to FEMA for final review; after that it will be published for public comment.
Kevin: what will the average person notice? LAFD: Crews will be in there with saws. Our UTV will pull any material out of ground to run through our chipper: so that will be a loud noise. There will not be trail closures. You’ll see a lot of invasive species eliminated and condensed canopy opened up. We plan to eliminate ladder fuels. Trees will be limbed. It will look more open and be a lot cleaner. This will allow mature trees to grow and develop. If you need a visual, go to Station 6 by Canyon Rim trail and notice the difference. The work results in a more park-like setting.
Liz: Do you have a size limit for trees you cut down? LAFD: canopy distance matters. We leave mature ponderosa. We thin clusters of piñon. Eric has taught us what looks more...
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