Page 12 - Sonoma County Gazette - January 2018

HEALING cont’d from page 1
When the Santa Rosa City Council didn’t jump to re-build Fountaingrove and a new project, but instead said - WAIT, we have to think things through. That was a very good sign.
Yes, people need to go home, but is that the best place to build homes in the path of two of the largest and most destructive fires in Sonoma County history? Maybe Not. Maybe there’s a different - and better - way to think and build.
The Post-Fire Landscape
While we are pondering what changes need to be made to protect us in the future as we re-build what was lost - our land is calling to us for help. And people are hearing the call. It’s a beautiful thing...
White ash, by contrast, indicates a very hot fire that may have killed the seed bank – but even hot fires don’t kill certain fire-adapted species.
By The Sonoma Ecology Center
The devastating fires of October 2017 have created serious challenges for
residents, many of whom are concerned about soil erosion, toxic runoff, and the health of fire-ravaged landscapes. Read on for insights and advice on these issues, presented by our staff of expert ecologists.
In most cases, once man-made debris and ash are removed from a burn site, the land will heal itself in time. In many cases, and on most of any given property, the best thing to do will often be nothing.
All residents, especially property owners and caretakers, are encouraged to follow the guidelines below in order to ensure the continued health of our beautiful county. By working together, we will rebuild – and make our home more healthy and sustainable than ever before.
Look for wildflowers to grow in great profusion for the next few years, including the “fire followers” that only appear after fire. Also watch for rare species such as spotted owls, which take advantage of burned landscapes.
12 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 1/18
Residents can help by using natural-fiber rolls called “wattles.” The wattles are staked to the ground, where they filter sediment and debris while letting water seep through. Wattles may be made of weed-free straw or coconut fiber called “coir,” and may be made with biochar or mushroom spores to increase uptake of toxics.
Though at first sight a blackened landscape can look badly damaged, look again after the first rains. Native grasses and flowers thrive in a burned landscape, and will begin poking up as soon as the time is right. The truth
is, wildfire can be ecologically beneficial to California landscapes, especially when it’s a cooler fire that burns through the understory (the layer of vegetation beneath the main canopy of a forest), leaving a black ash on the ground.
Toxic Runoff
Although burned vegetation is non-toxic, burnt man-made structures leave behind toxins including sulfates, nitrates, asbestos, and heavy metals. This toxic ash can wash into our waterways during heavy rains, so keeping the ash and debris in place until it can be hauled away is a top priority.
Authorities are quickly following their procedure for removing toxic ash and debris from burned sites with structures and vehicles – let them do it. State agencies have mapped the likelihood of debris flow. Many agencies, nonprofits and residents are working quickly to contain and remove toxic ash and debris before heavy rains come.
HEALING cont’d on page 13