I took a rainy, spring drive across Sims Mountain into Grouse Creek earlier this year and found myself in a young forest that once would have been described as devastated by wildfire. This area, north and west of Hyampom was part of the Lime Fire Complex that burned over 55,000 acres. These were fires started by lighting and took over 600 people and 38 million dollars to put out. Wow!
There are thousands of acres that are now, eight years later, beginning to regenerate. At first primary species dominated these areas; grasses and forbes, then whitethorn and manzinita. These open forest envionrments provide habitat for countless animal and bird species. Many of these forest types would not exist if it were not for fire.
Fire has historically been viewed as a negative and in many ways still is. In California we burn through ridiculous amounts of money trying to control fire. Fire however, is not so simple to control. In doing so we have over-loaded our forests with growth so when they do burn, they burn hotter and more destructive than they would otherwise. We know through dendrochronology and archeological records that fire has been a part of the California climate – until we started putting the fire out in 1920s. Now we are faced with a complex situation of private property and human safety versus an ever increasing risk of catastrophic fire.
I learned a new word: dendrochronology!
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Boy, that is an amazing amount of grows out above Grouse Creek, especially as you head down into Hyampom. But the ones that are out above Cow Creek and Mosquito Creek….Holy Crap….That’s a long drive out there. (Google Maps) We used to drive from Burnt Ranch to Hyampom or Salyer to Mad River and never see a soul.
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Its true. Someone told me the woods are as busy as they were in the 1960s, but instead of loggers its growers…
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