Fuel "Reduction" Indeed

I finally got a response of sorts from the person in charge of managing the preserve regarding the massive chainsaw operations around the Scrub Lupine planting areas.

The answer and promise not to laugh. was that they were conducting a "fuels reduction" operation. As you can see from these photos nothing has been reduced: except the height of the fuels.

Now there is a mass of dead vegetation lying on the ground, and in some cases seeming to block any chance for lupine seedlings to sprout beneath the dense piles of chainsawed foliage. I searched what open areas still remained in the first planting area and did not find any sign of seedling emergence.

There has been a mild drought this year and that was probably a factor, too.

Nevertheless, I suspect this work is done by unsupervised contractors, My original suggestion that they clear around the planting areas to reduce shade and leaf litter was somehow misinterpreted to mean to cut down a bunch of trees and leave the debris lying across the landscape.  

Meanwhile, summer is coming. Maybe a lucky lightning strike or two will deal with the situation.

The visit did have some highlights. Scrub blazing star, scrub morning glory and Curtiss' milkweed are blooming along with some more common plant species. Also, I flushed a Common Nighhawk from  its spot along one of the trails on my way and out of the preserve, which leads ne to believe it may be nesting. I left quickly to avoid stressing it.further.

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The Lake Blue Chainsaw Massacre

 I went to the preserve yesterday to check on McFarlin's Lupine seedlings that had emerged this year..

It did not go well.

My first stop was the second planting area.

I was greeted with a wall of downed trees, but was finally able to find a way through by moving a couple of small trees that had been chainsawed. I found two seedlings.

I went to the third planting area and saw no entry point.

Finally, I headed to the east-west path and found it was blocked, too.

I found a way in farther west from the northern fire lane. but encountered another blockade.

I worked my way though it but there was so much chain sawed trees and brush it seemed the seedling areas I normally survey were covered in brush, so I left. 

I sent an email to the FWC volunteer coordinator  this morning to find out what was going on.

If I find out anything, I will provide an update.