HomeMy WebLinkAboutCT 99-08; Spyglass II; Tentative Map (CT) (37)Uiduiig Design Group, Inc.
January 31,2000
Mike Smith
Fire Prevention Officer /
City of Carlsbad
1635 Faraday Ave.
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Reference: PROPOSED CONTROL BURN ON THE CALTRANS' PARCEL IN
NORTHEAST CARLSBAD FOR SPYGLASS H - (CT 99-09)
(LADWIG DESIGN GROUP, INC. JOB NO. L-1065)
Dear Mike:
To follow up on our discussion, enclosed is a letter addressed to me from Pacific Southwest
Biological Services, Inc. responding to the five items that you and I talked about last week. Mitch
Beauchamp has gone through the five items in detail. He has also included the timing of the
proposed burn, what he feels you would need to provide and the proposed conditions under which
the burn would occur.
Please look over the attached letter, and I would appreciate a response back. In addition, if you feel
it would be helpful, I would be happy to take you out onto the site so you can get a good feel for the
surrounding conditions.
I look forward to your response, and if you need anything in the meantime, please give me a call.
Sincerely,
LADWIG DESIGN GROUP, INC.
Robert C. Ladwig, President
RCL:lb:007
Enclosures
cc:
Don Rideout w/enclosure
Michael Ugar w/o enclosure
703 Palomar flirport Road + Suite 300 + Carlsbad, California 92009
(760)438-3182 FflX (760) 438-0173
/'•••*. . ---"S
Pacific Southwest Biologiccd Services, Inc.
Post Office Box 985, National City, California 91951-0985 • (619) 477-5333 • FAX (619) 477-5380
Robert C. Ladwig 28 January 2000
Ladwig Design Group, Inc.
703 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 300$ PSBS # T472C
Carlsbad CA 92009
Dear Bob,
Thanks for discussing the prescribed burn with Mike Smith, Fire Prevention Officer of
Carlsbad. I have developed below responses to your 27 January 2000 letter regarding that
conversation and his inquiries.
1. Liability Concerns - The liability for the burn would be largely with the City of Carlsbad. The
prescribed burn, under Air Pollution Control District Rule 102, must be set or under the
supervision of an official governmental agency. The improvement is part of a Fish and Game
mitigation measure, an aspect which is also required under APCD Rule 102. My corporation has
a liability insurance policy for $2 million for our operations and that was adequate for a proposed
burn on Otay Mesa about 5 years ago. The reason I have asked Mr. Smith and his Department to
be involved was for the above reasons and so that his crew could be present for possible
suppression and for training relative to burn characteristics when suppression is not a present
concern. In a prescribed burn we had previously proposed on Otay Mesa, the City of San Diego
Fire Department had agreed to be present to monitor the burn. Unfortunately the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service never responded, so the burn do not take place. It was a similar annual grassland
situation without any structures nearby. With the K^rail present at this site in Carlsbad and under
prescription conditions described below, the burn oj^a low density grassland is not any significant
hazard or liability.
2. Value to City to Participate - The over-riding reason to have the City burn the site is that they
are the only agency within their City that can do this. They would probably be there anyway even
if a private firm were hired with its own trucks and personnel to burn the site. The training from
such a burn would be valuable in demonstrating the characteristics of a grassland burn with a
rather high moisture condition. The alternative to burning the site is to apply herbicides which
could become part of the runoff into Agua Hedionda Lagoon. This is something I would rather
avoid. Manual removal of the weeds is cost prohibitive and does not allow the native grasses to
grow quickly. Burning is a normal tool of grassland habitat management in the Midwest. For the
improvement of this grassland, the proposed prescribed burn is the only practicable alternative.
If the Department has a cost they need to have reimbursed, I think that is a reasonable request. I
would think that $2,000 would be in the ball park of full fee recovery for their participation.
3. Can we do the mitigation without burning the site? - Burning achieves several goals. It
removes the past seasons' duff layer which interferes with germination and growth of beneficial
plants. The heat also destroys the seedling weeds, eliminating the need for subsequent hand or
chemical removal. The ash from the fire is also a stimulant for the germination of several native
plant seeds. Fire is a natural aspect of grassland ecology that has been suppressed by the present
RECEIVED
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LADWIG DEC;.N GR
attitude toward fire and the condition of development in most urban areas. I am surprised that
there have not been more wildfires in this area with the magnitude of off-highway vehicles using
the trails and running across the grasslands.
4. What will it look like 5 years from now? - The objective of the revegetation is .to develop an
open, native grassland, largely composed of native bunch grasses and bulbous perennials. This
range improvement is a mitigation for a proposed development which impacts similar vegetation
at a site a few miles to the northwest. The density of the native grasses and bulbs will be
somewhat less than the present native grassland condition. In addition, the taller mustard,
artichoke thistle and fennel plants will not be an aspect of the target vegetation. Fuel loading will
be about 70% of what is presently on the site. The open areas of clay would be occupied by
annual wildflowers where now non-native grasses do not allow for such a condition. The site is a
CalTrans mitigation area which will always be in a natural open space condition.
5. I have developed below an outline proposal:
Timing
I would proposed that the burn occur on or about 1 November 2000, depending upon rainfall,
during permissive burn days.
Staffing and Equipment
The City of Carlsbad Fire Department would minimally need to provide two engine companies,
i.e. 8 men, one battalion chief and whoever else they would like to have attend the event, to
observe and provide back up control for the prescribed burn.
Prescription Conditions
I would propose that the Battalion Chief initiate the burn under prescription conditions, i.e. early
in the morning (but not before 8 A.M.) with 70% fuel moisture, seedling weed seeds germinated,
no wind greater that 5 knots, and the 3' tall K-rails be in place on the sides and up slope portions
of the burn area. The burn would be initiated from the top of the slope so the fire burns down hill
at the slowest rate, achieving maximum temperatures and duff removal. No clearing to mineral
soil is proposed as a fuel break since this creates a seed germination problem which we are trying
to avoid with the controlled burn.
Duration of Exercise
The time required for the actual range improvement burn would be about 30 minutes, with an
equal time before and after to lay down and take up hoses from the pumpers located at the base of
the slope. I don't think they can get to the top of the hill at the burn site.
Training Aspects
If the Department wants to do some training with actual suppression, the K-rails could be
extended onto the property to the south temporarily so that the area could be used for training. I
would prefer that all the mitigation site be allowed to burn without disturbance from suppression
activities. This usually results in just stirring up weed seeds that have to be controlled once the
plants germinate. I would proposed that the School District lands to the south be the site of this
suppression activity if the Department cares to do this as part of their training value of the
activity. The Department could request permission from the District since that would pose less
procedural delays.
Air Pollution Control District Permit
I would process the burn permit through the Fire Department. Since the proposal is 10 months
away, there should be enough time for this to be accomplished.
/
Please keep me advised as to the status of your discussions with Mr. Smith.
Regards,
R. Mitchel Beauchamp, M. Sc., President
cc: Michael C. Uger - Concordia Homes of California, LLC