Prescribed Burn at Henry W. Coe State Park Set to Begin Monday, December 9-11
Contact:
Mason Hyland
Environmental Scientist
Diablo Range District
SANTA CLARA AND STANISLAUS COUNTIES – California State Parks will conduct a prescribed burn on 10 plots of land, totaling approximately 100 acres at Henry W. Coe State Park. The burns will take place intermittently from Monday, December 9 through Wednesday, Dec. 11. All burning depends on weather and air quality conditions; if weather or vegetation conditions are not conducive for burning and smoke dispersal, the department will reschedule the treatment.
The plots being treated are the Monument Trail and the Ponderosa Loop. All the plots contain mixed ponderosa pine and oak woodland. Some trails may be closed for short periods, but no long-term trail closures are anticipated. Parks staff and volunteers will be available to answer questions for visitors before, during, and after the burns at the visitor center and along trails at select times near the burn plots.
Below is more information on the planned prescribed burn at Henry W. Coe State Park:
- Visitor access to the park will not be affected.
- Do not report fire activity or smoke in the area around the park’s main entrance.
- Burns will be monitored for several days after ignition.
- Ignitions will be dependent on favorable air quality conditions.
More information can be found at:
- Henry W. Coe State Park webpage
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/HenryWCoeSP
- The Pine Ridge Association: https://coepark.net/
All burns are coordinated and planned with the help of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD). California State Parks will work in close coordination with BAAQMD to ensure no sensitive areas are impacted by smoke.
These treatments will focus on preserving and promoting diversity in vegetation species and physical vegetation structure, promoting the germination and vigor of native plants that benefit from fire, and fostering collaborative relationships with other organizations, such as our local indigenous tribes.
The vegetation types present within the burn plot consist of hardwoods, conifers, shrubland, and grassland. The objective is to introduce fire with some moderate intensity to reduce fuels and alleviate competition for the sunlight of Ponderosa Pines and Black Oaks.
A recent prescribed burn at Henry W. Coe State Park. Photo from California State Parks.
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