In March we took a spring break trip to the Santa Ynez Mountains above Santa Barbara, and the Santa Lucia Mountains east of Morro Bay. We looked at wildfire hazards in the tiny, cliff-dwelling of a town my wife grew up in, and returned to an area where I worked in 2001 to look at the fire ecology of Sargent cypress forests. We also watched some piles get burned, and we ate lots of tacos (not pictured). Here is a video about some of the things we saw that relate to wildfire.
Robot-Generated Summary
Zeke Lunder recounts a trip to Southern California’s Central Coast, highlighting the challenges of fire safety in areas like Painted Cave Road and Cuesta Ridge. He discusses the extreme access issues during wildfires and the risks posed by communities built without fire mitigation. Lunder notes the historical fire overlaps in Santa Barbara and the impact of fire on the Morro Bay estuary. He also explores the fire ecology of Cypress groves, which require infrequent but high-severity fires for regeneration. The trip aims to raise awareness about fire risks and ecology, with plans for future videos and a call for corporate sponsors to support the project.
Southern California/Central Coast Road Trip Introduction
- Zeke Lunder introduces the trip to Southern California and the Central Coast, mentioning visits to family and places like Painted Cave Road near Santa Barbara.
- Zeke discusses the ongoing project of The Lookout, which involves capturing video footage for future projects.
- The trip includes a visit to Cuesta Ridge, a place Zeke wrote a fire plan for 25 years ago.
- Zeke shares his thoughts on the extreme access challenges and fire safety concerns on Painted Cave Road.
Exploring Painted Cave Road and Fire Safety Concerns
- Zeke describes the curvy and challenging nature of Painted Cave Road, where his wife learned to drive.
- The Forest Service is conducting a pile burn near the community of Painted Cave, and Zeke reflects on the fire safety nightmares associated with such developments.
- Zeke and his wife visit the house where she grew up, highlighting the sketchy driveway and the steep, brush-covered mountain.
- Zeke’s wife comments on the scary road conditions and the higher risk of car accidents compared to house fires.
Fire Safety and Community Challenges
- Zeke discusses the challenges of fire safety in Painted Cave, a community built without consideration for fire access or behavior.
- The community is described as a “firewise community”, but the physical landscape makes fire mitigation nearly impossible.
- Zeke explains the difficulty of re-engineering a community built in a highly flammable landscape.
- The conversation touches on the impact of fire-prone landscapes on insurance rates and the financial burden of maintaining such communities.
Santa Barbara and Fire History
- Zeke and his wife drive down to Santa Barbara, discussing the beauty of the area and the California Dream.
- Zeke shows a map of fire overlaps in the mountains above Santa Barbara, highlighting the frequent fire history in the area.
- The conversation emphasizes the selective memory of fire history and the financial burden of maintaining fire-prone communities.
- Zeke mentions plans for future trips to Southern California to explore more fire ecology and risk areas.
Cuesta Ridge and Fire Management
- Zeke describes a visit to Cuesta Ridge, a place with a significant fire history, including the 1994 Highway 41 fire.
- The discussion includes the impact of fire on the Morro Bay estuary and the challenges of managing fire-prone landscapes.
- Zeke explains the degradation of creeks due to cattle grazing and the difficulty of floodplain access for sediment deposition.
- The conversation highlights the need for a balanced approach to fire management, considering both fire prevention and natural sediment deposition.
Fire Ecology and Cypress Groves
- Zeke discusses the fire ecology of Cypress groves on Cuesta Ridge, which require infrequent but high-severity fires for regeneration.
- The conversation includes the historical impact of fires on the Cypress groves and the research conducted by Cal Poly students.
- Zeke explains the patchy severity of fires in the Cypress groves and the importance of mixed age classes for fire resilience.
- The discussion touches on the potential risks of frequent fire to the Cypress groves and the adaptability of the trees to fire conditions.
Fire Management Challenges and Future Plans
- Zeke reflects on the challenges of maintaining vegetation conditions to prevent fire hazards in Southern California.
- The conversation includes the impact of fuel breaks and prescribed burns on fire-prone landscapes.
- Zeke mentions the importance of understanding the ecological needs of fire-adapted vegetation, such as the Cypress groves.
- The discussion concludes with plans for future trips to Southern California to explore more fire ecology and risk areas, and a call for corporate sponsors to support the project.