|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
June 2007
California Oak Report
Huge Loss of Foothill Oak Woodland Birds
California Oak Foundation urges members of foothill county planning commissions and board of supervisors to keep the following warning in mind when evaluating projects involving loss of oak woodlands.
Los Angeles Times reporter Alison Williams wrote that many bird species commonly found in California have suffered steep population declines, part of a nationwide trend that is due in large part to diminished habitat. According to a National Audubon Society study which combine 40 years of Christmas-season bird count data and summertime bird counts by the U.S. Geological Survey, there are declines of 75 to 96% in several California species. These species include the Northern Pintail, Horned Lark, and Loggerhead Shrike, with the Evening Grosbeak faring the worst at a 96% decline in Audubon’s California survey. Audubon lists these four species and Lark Sparrow as California's "five birds of concern." All but northern pintail prefer or make great use of oak woodland habitats.
"Some trends are just undeniable," said Kimball Garrett, collection manager for ornithology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Although Garrett noted that these surveys must be interpreted fairly cautiously, he said that other studies also show steep declines.
The causes of these declines differ slightly among species, but Audubon scientists say that habitat loss is the most common factor, and they attribute the losses largely to the expansion of urban areas and the conversion of grasslands to agriculture, said Graham Chisholm, Audubon California's Conservation Director.
In California, important habitats include oak woodlands in foothills and grasslands in Los Angeles County’s Antelope Valley - two areas experiencing widespread development. Chisholm said Antelope Valley is the last stronghold of the Tri Colored Blackbird. He said oak woodlands are home to species found only in California such as Nuttall’s Woodpecker and the Yellow billed Magpie.
Gary Langham, Audubon California’s director of bird conservation, said the study points to the likelihood of similar declines in plants and other animals. "Birds are much more easily surveyed than mammals because they are out in the daytime, they are visual, they sing songs, they are easy on the senses," he said. "The declines across so many [bird] species in different habitats underscores the breadth of the problems facing birds and other wildlife."
There’s still time to arrest the declines, Chisholm said.
"These birds are down but not out."
COF Vigilant of Sierra Oak Planning
June 11, 2007
Plymouth City Council
9426 Main Street
Plymouth, CA, 95669
Re: Ordinance NO. 2007-10-Plymouth Municipal Code Relating to Trees, Tree Landscape Plans and Tree Removal Permits
Dear City Council:
The California Oak Foundation (COF) writes to thank the City of Plymouth for attempting to improve Sierra foothills oak woodlands conservation planning through proposed amendments to the existing tree ordinance. Unfortunately, the tree ordinance proposes two oak woodland standards that are inconsistent with California forest practices and the law:
1. Definitions (E): "Oak Woodland" is an area which has a canopy cover of thirty percent (30%) or greater."
COF: By forest practice and law California/Federal agencies have defined "oak woodlands" as a canopy cover of 10 percent, which distinguishes them from oak savannas. Public Resources Code §4793, Fish and Game Code §1361 and Health and Safety Code §42801.1 all recognize the 10 percent standard. The US Forest Service used the 10 percent standard for its 15 Sierra Nevada and Southern California National Forest inventories and management plans.
Public Resources Code §4793(e)
"Forest land" means land at least 10 percent occupied by trees of any size that are native to California, including native oaks, or formerly having had that tree cover and not currently zoned for uses incompatible with forest resource management.
Fish and Game Code §1361(h)
"Oak woodlands" means an oak stand with a greater than 10 percent canopy cover or that may have historically supported greater than 10 percent canopy cover.
Health and Safety Code §42801.1(g)
"Forest" means lands that support, or can support, at least 10 percent tree canopy cover and that allow for management of one or more forest resources including timber, fish and wildlife, biodiversity, water quality, recreation, aesthetics, and other public benefits.
The Board of Forestry (BOF) has conveyed to counties and cities that 10 percent canopy cover is the appropriate measure to define significant oak woodlands for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reviews. Notably, Registered Professional Foresters and arborists must conform to the BOF canopy cover standard. Confirmation of applicability of the 10 percent oak canopy cover measure may be obtained by contacting the Board of Forestry’s Office of Professional Foresters Registration at (916) 653-8031.
2. "Protected Trees" are individual trees that are native to the area and are at least nine inches measured at diameter at breast height (dbh) , or a non-native tree that measures sixteen inches dbh."
COF: Federal, state and county agencies define oak trees as those trees five (5) inches dbh or greater. A Plymouth nine-inch dbh measurement will diverge from Amador County general plan standards and lead to inconsistencies in regional oak woodlands conservation. For CEQA reviews, there will be conflict with biological assessment and mitigation criteria used by state/federal wildlife agencies, particularly regarding special status wildlife species.
Summary
COF recommends that the proposed 30 percent oak canopy cover standard be corrected to 10 percent for CEQA review and to meet state law. Should Plymouth apply the 30 percent oak woodlands standard to CEQA processes, it most certainly would be legally challenged.
COF urges the City Council to adopt oak standards that are consistent with state law and compatible with other government agencies policies in the region.
Thank you for your consideration and cooperation in conserving Plymouth oak woodland resources for future generations.
Sincerely,
Janet S. Cobb, President
California Oak Foundation
cc: Sandy Morey, DFG Regional Manager, 1701 Nimbus Road, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Announcements
Sierra Nevada Alliance’s 14th Annual Conference, August 3-5, at North Lake Tahoe.
Merchandise
Life of an Oak by Glenn Keator, illustrated by Susan Bazell (1998). An intimate look at all aspects of the genus Quercus, from an examination of cellular processes to the spread around the world of this remarkable, diversified family. 256 pages, 75 full-color photographs, 30 full-color illustrations, 21 black and white diagrams. Paperback, $17.95, members $16.16, plus local sales tax, shipping and handling.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[Home] [Current_Issues] [Conservation] [Oak_Tree_Care] [How_To_Help] [Links] [Reference] [Newsletter] [Merchandise]
1212 Broadway, #842 Oakland, CA 94612 Tel. 510-763-0282
Fax: 510-208-4435 oakstaff@californiaoaks.org
|
|
