On Sunday afternoon, May 9th, 2004, fire crews responded to calls about a wildland fire near Eastwood Park in Tamalpais Valley. Plumes of spoke rose slowly and the hot ground fire spread as firefighters quickly suppressed and then stabilized the fire. When the Tam Fire had run its course, 12 acres of eucalyptus on the edge of a residential area were burned.
Managers were already aware of fire risk in the area. The National Park Service, Southern Marin Fire District and Marin County Fire Department have been working together on fuel reduction projects and emergency access improvements near the site since 2003. In 2003, crews thinned the eucalyptus stand along Shoreline Highway and at the Miwok trailhead. During the fire this opened area was utilized as a landing zone for emergency helicopters and firefighter access. Following the fire in 2004, about 1,500 burned eucalyptus trees were removed from the site to protect the public from unstable trees in a region with commonly high winds.
At that point park ecologists were brought in to restore the site to native oak woodland habitat. Oak woodlands evolved in fire-prone conditions and are naturally fire resistant. In 2004 and 2008, thousands of native plants were planted by park staff, volunteers, and community members. Indigenous species highlighted include hundreds of coast live oak as well as various fruiting shrubs like coffeeberry, fragrant herbs like California sagebrush, and native bunchgrasses.
The Marin County Community Wildfire Protection Plan and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area Fire Management Plan identify the remaining non-native eucalyptus groves along the park boundary as a fire hazard affecting Tamalpais Valley, and other communities along this wildland-urban interface. In 2008, Marin County Fire Department proposed a 30-acre tree removal project on park land, near the site of the 2004 Tam Fire where other trees had already been removed.
This proposal is only conceptual at this time. No funding currently exists to implement this proposal, however, the issues raised by discussion about the proposal are being explored by the park and the community. To find out more read the documents below.
Questions and Discussion During December 9 Planning Meeting (66 KB PDF)
Comments on Proposal Before December 9 Planning Meeting (16 KB PDF)
News Release: GGNRA Tam Valley Events, December 2008 (45 KB PDF)
Postcard: Restoration Workday and Planning Meeting, December 7 and 9, 2008 (278 KB PDF)
