Andrew Molera prescribed burn

Andrew Molera State Park Prescribed Burn 10/2013

What: California State Parks is planning to conduct a prescribed burn in Andrew Molera State Park in Big Sur.

When: Burning will occur after enough rain has fallen that the majority of the vegetation within drainages surrounding the burn plots will not carry fire, but grasslands and some coyote brush will burn at a low to moderate intensity. If meteorological conditions are favorable, this will occur during the second half of October through the first half of December.

Why: We are burning this project area in order to manage for native grasslands (Coastal Prairie) that exist within Andrew Molera State Park. This very diverse plant community is rare in California and has been largely replaced by European annual grassland, coastal scrub and chaparral. Our intent is to slow the growth of coyote brush and non-native grasses in parts of northeastern and southwestern Andrew Molera State Park (see map), where healthy stands of Coastal Prairie exist.

Who: This prescribed burn will be conducted by the California State Parks Central Coast Prescribed Burn Team. This crew has extensive prescribed burning experience in parks throughout the central and northern California Coast. Support will also be provided by at least two of the following agencies: Cal Fire, North Tree Fire/El Sur Ranch, U.S. Forest Service and Big Sur Fire Brigade.

Where: The 350 acre Molera Native Grasslands Restoration site is divided into 12 burn plots, which have been burned or will be burned separately (see map). This year we hope to burn Plots 6, 7, 8, 9 on the east side of Hwy 1, a total of approximately 70 acres.

More information: A Cal Fire Burning Permit, a Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District Smoke Management Permit, and a Coastal Development Permit have been issued for this project. In addition, a Mitigated Negative Declaration, a Biological Survey Report and several plant and animal surveys have been completed. If you have questions or comments, please call Jeff Frey at 384-0956.