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Lassen Creek Conservation Area |
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Seeding Photos courtesy of Volunteer Preserve Manager, Bill Faatz |
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Bitterbrush Seeding Underway |
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Since the end of February, LLTT and partners have been working hard at re-seeding the LCCA that lost roughly 165 acres of mature bitterbrush & low sage that burned in the “Pine Fire” of 2007.
Though fire is part of a natural cycle, many non-native plants can take advantage of the open space left from a fire in the early stages of recovery. Thanks to our partners at the California Deer Association, Transcanada Corporation, California Department of Fish & Game, LLTT Volunteers, Eagle Lake Bureau of Land Management, and the Wildlife Conservation Board of California LLTT is re-seeding the LCCA with native species to help accelerate the recovery of this valuable wildlife habitat. LLTT will be seeding a 100ft “buffer” strip of native grasses along the North end of the preserve (Richmond rd.) and the East side of the Preserve (Singletree lane) to serve as a cushion to adjacent landowners in the event of another fire. LLTT will not be removing any mature bitterbrush that did not burn at the preserve as there is currently a limited amount of vegetation available for wildlife. As always, residential landowners need to maintain a 100ft defensible space around their homes. See Defensible Space Regulations at the Cal Fire Website for more information. Once seeding is complete, 8 foot exclusion fencing will be installed around the planted areas to limit over-browsing of the immature vegetation. Though the long term goal of the LCCA is to preserve valuable wildlife habitat, in the interim, deer must be excluded from the plantings to ensure that the bitterbrush can grow to a size capable of handling browsing. There is still roughly 150 acres ( shared between the LCCA and Lassen County Wildlife Preserve) of viable habitat that will not be excluded with fencing during the 5-8 year recovery period. It is crucial during this time that the fencing remain intact—if a fence is cut, and a deer gets inside, the deer will likely not be able to get back out, and could die inside enclosure. LLTT will be working with adjacent landowners & the public to inform them of our goals and progress in the coming months, and we appreciate your understanding in this progress. The preserve is currently closed to the public during re-seeding, but will be open to the public again in a limited fashion (outside of fencing enclosures), once the fencing is installed. LCCA is open to non-motorized use (equestrian, hiking, and bicycling) and is currently closed to all motorized use, hunting, use of firearms, and camping. LLTT will be leading a guided hike at the preserve in the spring/summer of 2008 to inform the public of our progress and goals. Check the Lassen County Times and this website for information on these events as they’re posted. |
