California State Parks will conduct prescribed burns at Wilder Ranch State Park in Santa Cruz over the next two weeks and expects to temporarily close portions of Chinquapin Trail, Long Meadow Trail and Englesman Loop Trail.
The burns will take place between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day, depending on weather and air quality conditions “being favorable for smoke dispersal,” and could extend into the evening when required.
The project will affect roughly 400 acres of grassland habitat. The state is warning that people throughout the Monterey Bay area, as well as motorists on Highway 1, could see smoke.
The burns are intended to manage vegetation that could fuel wildfires and to improve wildlife habitat.
“Treatments enhance the health of the forest by removing fuel buildup and restoring essential nutrients to the soil while reducing the chances of catastrophic wildfires,” California State Parks said in a release. “These burns are permitted, planned and coordinated with the Monterey Bay Air Quality Management District to minimize smoke impacts to surrounding communities.”
While prescribed burns “produce significantly less smoke than wildfires,” California State Parks recommends that residents avoid strenuous outdoor activity and remain indoors as much as possible if they smell the smoke, particularly children, the elderly and people with respiratory and heart conditions.
Have news that should be in Lookout Briefs? Send your press releases, including contact information, to news@lookoutlocal.com.
