CAL FIRE’s Vegetation Management Program (VMP): a case study of the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center’s VMP
September 26th, 2024, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Link to webinar recording
This webinar was an opportunity for participants to increase their understanding of CAL FIRE’s Vegetation Management Program (VMP) process through a case study of the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center’s VMP.
John Bailey, Director of the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC), discussed what HREC does, why prescribed fire is an important tool, and the process of developing and enacting a VMP with CAL FIRE. Julie Rhoads, Vegetation Management Program Forester, Mendocino Unit, CAL FIRE, explained the environmental review and operational planning processes required when CAL FIRE conducts broadcast burns and other fuel reduction projects and how these treatments contribute to CAL FIRE's statewide fuels reduction goals. Tori Norville, UC Cooperative Extension Fire Science Advisor for Sonoma, Napa and Marin counties, compared the different options to collaborate, plan, and implement prescribed burns on the landscape. Lenya Quinn-Davidson, Fire Network Director for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, described recent policy changes related to prescribed fire in California, including the state-certified burn boss program, liability law, and the prescribed fire claims fund. Doug Turk, Program Manager, Mendocino County Resource Conservation District, gave an overview of the differences and similarities between vegetation management grants and cost share programs, and provided some examples of common programs available to landowners in Mendocino County.
| Time | Item |
|---|---|
| 9:00am | Webinar begins |
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John Bailey: HREC Mission and Why a VMP Matters |
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Julie Rhoads: CAL FIRE Process for Planning and Implementing Fuel Reduction Projects |
|
| Q&A | |
| Tori Norville: Avenues to Accomplish Prescribed Burns | |
| 10:08am | Break |
| Lenya Quinn-Davidson: Prescribed Fire Liability in California | |
| Q&A | |
|
Julie Rhoads: Fuel Reduction Goals |
|
|
Doug Turk: An Overview of Grant and Cost Share Programs Available to Landowners in Mendocino County |
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| John Bailey: The Future of Prescribed Fire at HREC | |
| Lenya Quinn-Davidson: Thoughts for the Future | |
| Q&A | |
| 12:00pm |
Webinar ends |
Link to presentation abstracts
Trainers:
Tori Norville, UC Cooperative Extension Fire Science Advisor for Sonoma, Napa and Marin counties
Tori Norville received both her bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Cal Poly SLO in Forestry and Natural Resources. She worked for CALFIRE Jackson Demonstration State Forest where she learned about fire and became a Registered Professional Forester. She brings her forestry and fire experiences together in her UC Cooperative Extension role by educating on the importance of land stewardship and the utilization of prescribed fire as a tool. Tori is passionate about researching and understanding how fire can be used in different settings to achieve a multitude of goals and objectives.
John Bailey, Director of the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopland Research and Extension Center, Mendocino County, California
John Bailey, has been the Director of the UCANR Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC) for six years, during which he has led though various changes: experiencing and recovering from the 2018 River Fire which burned roughly 3,200 acres of the 5,400 acre Center; six years of incremental budget cuts which forced a 60% reduction in the HREC sheep flock; the development of a 10 year VMP with CalFire; the introduction of cattle to a portion of HREC for the first time in decades; development of a formal MOU with the neighboring Hopland Band of Pomo Indians focused on increasing educational, research, and cultural exchange, the first such MOU in UCANR. John, who holds a BA in Biology and an MBA in Sustainable Enterprise, has a diverse background including agroecological field work, small scale fresh market farming, business development and management, regional food hub creation, and non-profit management.
Julie Rhoads, Vegetation Management Program Forester, Mendocino Unit, CAL FIRE
Julie has over two decades of forestry experience in timberland and fire fuels management on the Mendocino Coast. After graduating from UC Berkeley with a BS in Resource Management, Julie landed her first seasonal job at Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) as a Forestry Aide and hasn’t left the coastal metropolis of Fort Bragg ever since! Her forestry career was cultivated working at Mendocino Redwood Company between the South Coast of Mendocino to Northern Sonoma Counties preparing timber harvests projects. After several great years Julie came back over to JDSF to work in timber sales program. The last three years she has been working for the Mendocino Unit on fuel reduction projects ranging from roadside mastication to largescale prescribed burns. Julie enjoys working with landowners, neighborhood groups, Wildfire Prevention and Forest Health grantees, and agency partners around the county to plan and prepare for more resilient and healthy ecosystems.
Doug Turk, Program Manager, Mendocino County Resource Conservation District
As the Forest Health and Resilience Program Manager for the Mendocino County Resource Conservation District (MCRCD), Doug leads a dedicated team of foresters that providing technical assistance to a wide range of landowners. His work focuses on enhancing forest health, reducing wildfire risk, improving wildlife habitat, and addressing climate change impacts across Mendocino County. This multifaceted role involves extensive GIS analysis, CEQA assessments, botany and wildlife surveys, and comprehensive technical documentation. Born and raised in the South Bay Area, Doug transitioned from a successful career in the high-tech industry to environmental conservation, earning his M.S. in Forest Ecosystems and Society from Oregon State University. Since joining MCRCD, he has expanded the Forest Health and Resilience Program, supporting over 80 landowners and developing large-scale land management plans in collaboration with major landowners, tribes, California State Parks, NRCS and other organizations.
Lenya Quinn-Davidson, Fire Network Director for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
Lenya Quinn-Davidson is the Fire Network Director for the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, where she leads a statewide team working on various facets of fire resiliency, from wildland fire management and the built environment to workforce development and community capacity. Over the last 15 years, Lenya’s work has focused in large part on the human connection with fire, and increasing the resiliency of California’s landscapes and communities. Lenya has worked at various scales, including locally with private landowners and community members; at the state level, where she collaborates on policy, research, and training; and nationally/internationally, through her leadership on the Women-in-Fire Training Exchange (WTREX) Program. Lenya is passionate about using fire to inspire and empower people, from ranchers and scientists to agency leaders and young women, and everyone in between.
