MCL Tours Watershed to Observe French Broom Invasion Control
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March-April 2009 MCL Tours Watershed to Observe French Broom Invasion Control Methods By Alison Seaman MMWD’s 21,000 acres of watersheds and ment; managing vegetation over- forests make up a jewel of natural beauty for growth; controlling invasive weeds; over 900 native plant species. The vegeta- and maintaining biodiversity. See tion creates many diverse wildlife habitats MMWD’s website, marinwater.org, and provides the public an extensive network for a list of public documents, etc of recreational access routes. pertaining to the Update process. The entire vegetation is managed follow- French Broom, a non-native plant ing specifi c procedures defi ned in a Vegeta- species found throughout the San tion Management Plan (VMP), published Francisco Bay Region, constitutes in 1995. The 1995 plan focused on the 90% of invasive vegetation within risk posed by uncontrolled wild fi res and the entire 21,000 acres. It is pres- recommended the use of prescribed burns ent in over 60% of the fuel break It was crystal clear that broom is incred- system where the native vegetation ibly hard to eradicate...! has undergone some form of control and removal. Indeed, maintaining and the construction of ridge top fuel breaks viable access routes and fuel breaks to lessen that risk. Over the last few years that are unimpeded by overgrowth Ecologist Janet Klein (right) displays broom the focus has changed: while fuel breaks and fl ammable, invasive vegetation, samples to Tom Roberts and Carolynn Kanas are still considered critical to fi re manage- creates a plethora of environmental ment, the emphasis is shifting to defensible challenges that consumes 100% of MMWD’s application of 2% glyphosate (for 4 years space immediately adjacent to structures. vegetation budget, while only containing before the current 2005 ban) has differing There is also an increased recognition that 70% of the problem. To help the public bet- degrees of success. Each site continues to the incredible biodiversity of Mt Tamalpais ter understand the sheer scale and complex- require constant maintenance to remove is threatened by invasive species, climate ity of preserving these ecosystems against new young broom plants as well as any change, forest diseases such as Sudden Oak broom, MMWD offered MCL members a existing stronger re-growth of roots that Death, and fi re suppression. The VMP is now guided tour led by Janet Klein, highly ac- remain. undergoing an update that will encompass credited and experienced plant ecologist. The Site 1, Kentfi eld Fuel Break This loca- these new concerns and defi ne other proven three hour tour provided valuable insights tion demonstrates several approaches and practices and procedures for fi re contain- into the life cycle of broom; past and current responses. When a site is cleared to create a effective management practices; and the fuel break the fi rst response is a weed explo- potential challenges facing MMWD in the sion, which can soon develop into a solid future. In This Issue— wall of broom. Treatment options such as Our tour (see map for route) took us mowing, which doesn’t kill the broom, must President’s Message—Page 2 through four very different topological be repeated annually in order to maintain Annual Dinner Update—Page 2 sites that had been subjected to various a serviceable fuel break. Treatment options Status Updates—Page 3 treatments. It was crystal clear that broom that stimulate weed seed germination, such Green MBA Business Breakfast—Page 4 is incredibly hard to eradicate, even after as hand pulling or prescribed burning, can 75th Anniv. Sponsorship Info—Page 5 repeated treatments on the same site for lead to the re-establishment of the weed Meet Your Board Members—Page 7 15 years! Every method, such as fl aming, population, creating the need for annual re mechanical removal, pulling by hand, or spot Continued on Page 6 PAGE 1 A Message from the President You will see with tably toward increased internet communica- tion, both change and constancy have been this Newsletter that tion and a reduced trail of paper. evident. Heraclitus said that you can never Marin Conservation step into the same river twice, and that What has prompted these moves? League has taken on certainly is apparent in this history: the four Seventy-fi ve years is a kind of threshold for a new “look.” This is women who founded the League did not oc- change, an opportunity not only to look just one step-albeit a cupy the same world we do – for one thing, back and celebrate past accomplishments, major one-in a process there were several wars to come. At the same but to look critically into the future before it of updating all of our time, there are common threads that endure passes us by. We looked for a new logo that communication tools. throughout the League’s history: threads of would be both classic and contemporary, The plan for this has civic duty, love of the beauty of nature, and a clear coupling of name and symbol. It is been on-going since late last year and in- community of spirit – the satisfaction that never easy to give up a familiar image. For cludes updating stationery, the masthead of comes from working together toward com- that reason the circle containing mountain, this Newsletter, and, next, a major overhaul mon goals. If these are the “river” then it is sun, trees and water that has symbolized of our website. Our website has already been the same river that hundreds of people have the “natural assets” embodied in MCL’s enhanced with more timely information, a stepped into, perhaps with differing personal statement of mission for some decades secure means of donating online, and easier agendas, but with the common purpose of will remain a part of MCL’s communication ways to communicate with you, our mem- preserving Marin’s unique heritage. Change toolbox, but in a limited capacity. bers. Substantial reconstruction this year has been a necessary and productive part of will make the website more user-friendly, Stepping back in time to view various pe- the process also. At 75 years, Marin Conser- and much more attractive! We have already riods in Marin Conservation League’s 75-year vation League continues to work toward this adopted new design features in our e-mail history is a little like being a fl y on the wall common purpose, but it is also recognizes communications with members who have of history, observing what people did, how that in change there is growth! provided an e-mail address and we urge all they interacted, their concerns from decade of our members to do so, as we move inevi- to decade. Throughout the League’s evolu- Bill Press to Speak at Bill last appeared before the Marin Conservation League exactly 30 years Annual Dinner April ago, 1979, in the company of Peter Behr – so for MCL, this is a signifi cant return! 17 in Mill Valley MCL is proud to announce that Harold Journalist Harold Gilliam to Gilliam, author of many books on the receive Peter Behr Lifetime San Francisco Bay Area and science writer for the San Francisco Chronicle Achievement Award for many years, will join us to receive Bill Press, syndicated political com- MCL’s 2009 Peter Behr Lifetime Achieve- mentator and author of four books, ment Award.. Gilliam was an integral returns to Marin County to be our part of the San Francisco Bay Area’s keynote speaker on April 17! This is not environmental coming of age, beginning really a return for Bill, since he owns a in the 1950s and 1960s, before the term home in Inverness and returns whenever “environment” had come into common he can for holidays. Bill learned his fi rst use. Throughout the last half of the political lessons in Marin by running 20th century, he chronicled the critical Peter Behr’s successful campaign for environmental battles around the Bay State Senate in 1970, rising to Berhr’s with humor, passion, and keen scientifi c Chief of Staff. Bill served as Director understanding. His writing captured of the Offi ce of Planning and Research Image Courtesy Bill Press the high drama of such encounters as under Governor Jerry Brown and later and Press.” He currently anchors “The PG&E‘s proposed nuclear power plant he chaired the California Democratic Bill Press Show” in Washington D.C. on Bodega Head and the saga of saving Central Committee before launching his Bill has received numerous awards for San Francisco Bay, which he initially saw career as a political commentator. Bill his work, including four Emmys and a as a lost cause. Among the books he has rose to national prominence as co-host Golden Mike Award. In 1992, the Associ- authored, Island in Time: The Pt. Reyes of CNN’s “The Spin Room” and “Cross- ated Press named him Best Commenta- Peninsula, and The Weather of San fi re” and then of MSNBC’s “Buchanan tor of the Year. Francisco Bay Region are now classics. PAGE 2 Status Updates (over 30% goes to landscape irrigation) ton Drive, across from the Mill Valley Public MMWD’s Plans for can be made still more effi cient in the near Safety Building, and the 800-foot tidal Future Water Supply future through a combination of aggressive shoreline of Upper Richardson Bay. The measures including restructuring water rates, views of the opposite shoreline, with the hills Raise Questions additional investments in leak detection, and of Mill Valley and Mt.Tamalpais beyond, are increased opportunities for replacing water- spectacular, but the terrain was in shoddy by Carson Cox ineffi cient appliances, reusing reclaimed condition as a result of various construction On February 11th, the Marin Municipal wastewater for irrigation, and greatly reduc- activities years ago.