CONSTUCTION OF FIRE STATION 89 (AGOURA HILLS)

County Foresters are providing technical advice in coordination with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works for the newly constructed fire station in Agoura Hills on a weekly basis. There is a Streambed Alteration Agreement with the Department of Fish and Game for mitigation work performed to install two culvert drain pipes. Also there is nesting bird restrictions for this area to comply with the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and State Fish and Game Code.

EMERGENGY OAK TREE PERMITS

County Foresters work in conjunction with jurisdictional fire stations for proper emergency vehicle clearance per Official Inspection Report Form 410B. Emergency Oak Tree Permits are issued on an individual basis with homeowners to obtain proper signatures and compliance with the County of Los Angeles Oak Tree Ordinance.

PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS

The Malibu Forestry Unit provides an outdoor amphitheater for over 3800 Los Angeles Unified School District children grade levels K-5th to experience the wonders of the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area. Programs include a forestry talk, nature hike and a museum tour.

These programs are given twice a week and last for a three-month period. This unit also provides programs for the Cottontail Summer Camp which is operated by Pepperdine University for over 1200 fifth grade students from the Las Virgenes School District. Other public education programs include the annual L.A. Regional Envirothon for Los Angeles Unified School District High School students’ grade level 9-12. This regional envirothon is an outdoor natural resource education program where students are challenged to work as a team to answer written questions and conduct hands-on projects focusing on environmental issues. High school teams comprised of five members, join together to explore the environment in five disciplines: Forestry, Wildlife, Aquatics, Soils and a current environmental issue. Qualifying teams are sent to the State Envirothon competition, where they compete against the top high schools in California.

BURNED AREA EMERGENCY REPONSE (B.A.E.R)

Los Angeles County is prone to devastating wildland fires that threaten lives, property and the environment. This potential threat exists months after the last flames and smokes are extinguished. After a wildland fire a County Forester may be requested to evaluate burned areas for potential watershed and structural impacts. BAER treatments are designed to address emergency conditions on a priority basis and to quickly restore or repair burned over areas to achieve soil and land stability, and control debris flow. A BAER team is comprised of the affected jurisdictional agencies (U.S. Forest Service, California State Parks and Recreation, and the National Park Service). Other cooperators include Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, California Department of Transportation, Natural Resource Conservation Service, and contract cities.