Accomplishments

Summary of Accomplishments

To obtain the CRMP group’s goal and objectives, various environmental improvement projects have been planned, are in process, or have been completed.

Sunflower Completed Fuel Breaks and Burns

The completed Sunflower/Lanyon Trail, Elkhorn Ridge, Valentine Ridge, and Colyear Springs Fuel Break provides a 30-mile long, 300’-500’ wide defensible fuel profile zone (DFPZ) within the chaparral fuels throughout the Sunflower CRMP area. As of 2003, 30-miles of fire trail have been created and 2,000 acres of brush on either side of the trail route have been crushed using a ball and chain and mastication.

500 acres of broadcast burns were completed in the spring of 2004 by CDF and USFS. Several thousand acres of brush land polygon burns are planned for 2005 and beyond, in coordination with CDF’s VMP program and BLM’s burn program.

Sunflower Water Development

During the 2002-03 period, two springs were developed and one 7 ac/ft reservoir was completed to provide for fire protection and wildlife habitat water sources. Over the next several years, the SCRMP, with assistance from the USFS, BLM, and NRCS, will install three ponds and improve habitat and water yield around 8-10 springs. As a result, abundant supplies of water will be made available for game and non-game wildlife, fire suppression, and pre-suppression activities.

Sunflower Herbivore Experiment

The Sunflower CRMP is in the process of organizing and managing a large experimental controlled herd (500-1000 hd) of meat goats and/or hair sheep. The herd will become a part of the biological system within the SCRMP to maintain fuel breaks and polygon burn areas far into the future. An economic return is anticipated from the animals, which will partially, or fully, cover the cost of management. Chico State University is in process of defining marketing infrastructure for animals produced from the experimental herd. The University of California is planning a scientific nutrient quality research project to determine biomass forage usability.

Monitoring Activities

Several types of monitoring are in place to develop base-line data, and to determine the impact of brush treatment on non-game and game species, water quality, and general environmental enhancement, including:

Pre- and post-photo monitoring at five locations.

Macro-invertebrate monitoring of the major tributary in the area (Red Bank Creek).

Maximum flow and base flow of Red Bank Creek.

Sixteen sites are in process of being established to monitor neotrophic birds and other avian species using tape recorders following the California Department of Fish and Game protocol.

A long-term 20-mile transect is being established to determine Blacktail Deer response to impacted areas. The California Department of Fish and Games’ Deer Monitoring protocol is being followed.

Refer to the Red-Legged Frog and Yellow-Legged Frog Inventory and Research below.

Red-Legged Frog and Yellow-Legged Frog Inventory and Research

Four listed species of herpetofauna historically or currently occur in or around the confines of the Sunflower CRMP: (1) California red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytonii), (2) foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii), (3) western pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata marmorata), and (4) western spadefoot toad (Spea hamondii). Until recently, no systematic surveys have been conducted to document the presence and distribution of these species on the Sunflower CRMP. Therefore, we are currently supporting inventory surveys and two research projects, which will provide useful baseline data necessary for future monitoring.

The California red-legged frog (RAAU) is a federally threatened species that historically occurred within the Sunflower CRMP (California Natural Diversity Database). Since November 2003 systematic USFWS protocol surveys have been conducted to determine if RAAU currently occur. Approximately twenty stream miles and eleven reservoirs have been surveyed and as of yet, no RAAU have been observed.

The foothill yellow-legged frog (RABO) is a California species of special concern that currently occurs on the Sunflower CRMP. Presently, we are working with HSU graduate students in support of two research projects investigating the natural history and ecology of this species. One project is a radio-telemetry study aimed at describing the habitat use and movement patterns of these frogs. The other study is looking at the diet and resource partitioning of RABO in an attempt to identify critical food resources. This research will provide useful information necessary for developing an effective and sustainable management plan.

Monitoring Points
Two Shasta College interns from Shasta College were hired to do livestock and GPS activities.

Completed 1st-year grazing trial through the UC Cooperative Extension.

Catapiller Thirteen Shasta College students have been trained in Heavy Equipment Operations and Surveying on steep land.

Road Training More than 40 landowners and agency people trained in Environmentally Sensitive Road Maintenance.

Brush Treatment Training Completed a 3-day on Road Maintenance and Pioneering, and demonstration on brush treatments (40+ in attendance).

Ball and Chaining Fourteen miles of 300' wide brush crushing using the ball and chain on the Sunflower and Lanyon Trails (750 acres).

Solar Srings Completed the solar spring development at Sunflower Flat for fire control.

CatapillerRoad Completed "Frank's Spring" near Colyear Springs for fire control.

Gravel Road Removed 250 yards of gravel from Red Bank Creek, and stockpiled for graveling parts of the Sunflower Trail.

Reservoir Completed 7 acre reservoir at Sunflower Flat for fire control.

Masticated Masticated 1.3 miles of road for a shaded fuel break on Elkhorn Ridge (43acres).

Government Agencies Continue to work with government agencies to complete all NEPA requirements.

Test Plots Planted a 10-plot grass test plot area and seeded 100 acres of Grass and Legume mix on ball & chained areas.

Monitoring Points Established permanent monitoring points (NRCS).

Frogs Began Red-legged and Yellow-legged Frog inventories (Humboldt State, BLM, and Shasta College).

Valentine Ridge Completed Valentine Ridge and Colyear Springs Fuel Break -12 miles (436 acres).

300’ Wide Fuel Breaks Crushed 1,976 acres of brush (30.3 miles of 300’ wide fuel breaks).

Stewardship Held Five Stewardship Days – two in 2003, two in 2004, and one in 2005 ~ 300+ persons attended.

Brochuress Developed Brochures, Business Cards and Website.

Brush Management Brush Management -- Began 5-year grazing/browsing experiment using goats and sheep.

GIS Map Developed GIS maps for making management decisions 2005-06 and developed Vegetative Management Plan (VMP) for winter burns.

Burn During March 2004, Polygon burned 500 acres of brush in conjunction with USFS and CDF

Wild Sunflowers During July 2004, Polygon burned area on SCRMP's Heaven's Gate Ranch.

Water Monitoring Water Monitoring - Developed base-flow and Bio-Monitoring of our major tributary - Red Bank Creek

Bird Monitoring Developed 16-site Bird Monitoring Program.

Monitoring Points In November 2004, the Landowners hosted the “Walk in the Woods” Tour with 30 Participants

Meetings Planning Phase II ~ the Financially Sustainable Maintenance Program

	Two Shasta College interns from Shasta College were hired to do livestock and GPS activities.
	Completed 1st-year grazing trial through the UC Cooperative Extension.
	Thirteen Shasta College students have been trained in Heavy Equipment Operations and Surveying on steep land.
	More than 40 landowners and agency people trained in Environmentally Sensitive Road Maintenance.
	Completed a 3-day on Road Maintenance and Pioneering, and demonstration on brush treatments (40+ in attendance).
	Fourteen miles of 300' wide brush crushing using the ball and chain on the Sunflower and Lanyon Trails (750 acres).
	Completed the solar spring development at Sunflower Flat for fire control.
	Completed "Frank's Spring" near Colyear Springs for fire control.
	Removed 250 yards of gravel from Red Bank Creek, and stockpiled for graveling parts of the Sunflower Trail.
	Completed 7 acre reservoir at Sunflower Flat for fire control.
	Masticated 1.3 miles of road for a shaded fuel break on Elkhorn Ridge (43acres).
	Continue to work with government agencies to complete all NEPA requirements.
	Planted a 10-plot grass test plot area and seeded 100 acres of Grass and Legume mix on ball & chained areas.
	Established permanent monitoring points (NRCS).
	Began Red-legged and Yellow-legged Frog inventories (Humboldt State, BLM, and Shasta College).
	Completed Valentine Ridge and Colyear Springs Fuel Break -12 miles (436 acres).
	Crushed 1,976 acres of brush (30.3 miles of 300’ wide fuel breaks).
	Held Five Stewardship Days – two in 2003, two in 2004, and one in 2005 ~ 300+ persons attended.
	Developed Brochures, Business Cards and Website.
	Brush Management -- Began 5-year grazing/browsing experiment using goats and sheep.
	Developed GIS maps for making management decisions 2005-06 and developed Vegetative Management Plan (VMP) for winter burns.
	During March 2004, Polygon burned 500 acres of brush in conjunction with USFS and CDF
	During July 2004, Polygon burned area on SCRMP's Heaven's Gate Ranch.
	Water Monitoring - Developed base-flow and Bio-Monitoring of our major tributary - Red Bank Creek
	Developed 16-site Bird Monitoring Program.
	In November 2004, the Landowners hosted the “Walk in the Woods” Tour with 30 Participants
	Planning Phase II ~ the Financially Sustainable Maintenance Program