Plenary Speakers
David Ackerly
David Ackerly is a climate change biologist, professor in the departments of Integrative Biology and Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, and Dean of the Rausser College of Natural Resources at UC Berkeley. Ackerly’s research group studies the impacts of climate change on biodiversity in California, and post-fire forest dynamics in mixed hardwood and oak woodlands. He has focused on the importance of spatial climate heterogeneity at landscape and regional scales to enhance resilience and facilitate range shifts for native plants and animals. Ackerly is a recipient of the UC Berkeley 2011 Distinguished Faculty Mentor Award, a Senior Fellow with the Berkeley Institute of Data Sciences, a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, and a Fellow of the Ecological Society of America.
Don Hankins
Don Hankins is a professor at California State University Chico and Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve field director. His expertise spans pyrogeography, water stewardship, and conservation. His academic and cultural knowledge as a Miwkoʔ traditional cultural practitioner informs applied research and projects involving prescribed and cultural burns, ecocultural restoration, and policy. Don engages in stewardship and conservation with diverse organizations, agencies, and Indigenous entities in North America and Australia. He is internationally recognized for his work on Indigenous fire. He’s in leadership roles with the Indigenous Peoples Burning Network, Indigenous Stewardship Network, and California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force.
Jennifer Norris
Dr. Norris’ career began as a federal scientist delivering innovative conservation projects at scale working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in New Mexico and then as the USFWS Sacramento Field Supervisor. Norris then moved to the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) where she served as Deputy Secretary for Biodiversity and Habitat since 2020. At CNRA, Norris led California’s 30x30 initiative to conserve 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030 and oversaw the Cutting Green Tape initiative to accelerate the pace and scale of ecological restoration.
In its 76-year history, WCB has had six executive directors, and Dr. Norris becomes the first female to fill the role. Norris holds a bachelor’s degree in resources policy and planning from Cornell University, a master’s degree in conservation biology from the University of Michigan, and a Ph.D. in ecology from the University of New Mexico. A native of New York State, Norris lives in Sacramento with her husband Scott and occasionally sees their grown children Jessica and Daniel.
Program Speakers
Zan Rubin, Brigid Lynch
zrubin@balancehydro.com, www.balancehydro.com
A Framework for Using Post-fire Sediment to Restore Streams
Abstract
Impacts such as dam construction, channel straightening, and wood removal have impacted channel morphology and, in many cases, have triggered incision and disconnected channels from their former floodplains. Many restoration projects seek to enhance floodplain connectivity for benefits to nutrient cycling, groundwater recharge, flood control, and increasing and cooling baseflow. Concurrently, wildfires, exacerbated by climate change and forest mismanagement, increase sediment delivery to the channel network, presenting the potential for opportunistic restoration to utilize post-fire sediment to un-incise channels and increase floodplain connectivity. We propose a framework to identify areas in river networks for increasing floodplain connectivity, typically- wider, lower-gradient segments. This approach could be implemented quickly after wildfire, taking advantage of increased sediment loads, available materials such as burned trees, and fire access roads that may facilitate equipment access to stream reaches typically beyond the reach of equipment. To demonstrate this approach, we applied it to the Waddell Creek watershed, affected by the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire. We identified potential floodplain reconnection sites using “rain-on-grid” HEC-RAS methodology to model flood inundation extents and identified incised segments where floodplain surfaces are inundated only during extreme events (i.e., 500-year floods) but not inundated by more regular flood flows; these reaches are the optimal targets for low-cost and effective post-fire restoration.
Biography: Zan Rubin, Ph.D.
Dr. Zan Rubin is a principal geomorphologist and hydrologist with Balance Hydrologics who has 20 years of experience in the investigation of complex hydrogeologic, geomorphic, bed sedimentation, water quality, and sediment quality questions in streams, lakes, and wetlands throughout California. He has led many of the firm’s restoration projects, bringing extensive research and applied experience in developing defensible conceptual models of hydrologic, geomorphic, and ecological dynamics at a site, and developing programs to evaluate changes in watershed conditions. Dr. Rubin holds a Ph.D. degree in environmental planning from UC Berkeley and an M.S. degree in geosciences from Colorado State University. He regularly teaches a course on river restoration at UC Berkeley and publishes on topics related to restoration and the impacts of dams.
Biography: Brigid Lynch, Ph.D.
Dr. Brigid Lynch is a geomorphologist and hydrologist with Balance Hydrologics who specializes in watershed restoration, hydrologic monitoring, and GIS analysis. She has successfully led and contributed to projects focused on long-term geomorphic monitoring, watershed-scale restoration opportunity evaluations, sediment source assessments, and restoration design. As the firm’s GIS lead, Dr. Lynch conducts remote analysis, develops field-ready GIS tools, and creates impactful visualizations. She earned her Ph.D. from Indiana University, where she applied numerical models to channel evolution and erosional processes and led field campaigns in southern Peru to collect sediment samples used to quantify uplift rates in the Central Andes. Dr. Lynch has a B.S. degree in geological sciences from the University of Michigan.
Ian Cook
killian.cook@sjsu.edu
A Prescription for Success? Spatial Analysis of Prescribed Fire Effects on Woody Shrub Encroachment in California’s Coastal Prairie
Abstract
Frequent fires historically maintained California’s coastal prairies. Without fire, woody plants encroach on these landscapes, including the native shrub Baccharis pilularis (coyote brush). Coyote brush spreads and resprouts vigorously, hampering land stewards’ management efforts. Prescribed fire curbs coyote brush encroachment, though its efficacy is limited by narrow burn windows and discontinuous fuels. We monitored three prescribed fire units treated with fire alone or additional mastication pre-treatments to examine differences in fire behavior and effects.
We obtained visible-spectrum drone imagery of each prescribed fire unit before mechanical pre-treatment and immediately following prescribed fire. To quantify treatment impact, we used spatial analyses to measure proxies for fire occurrence and behavior: ash presence and color, and changes in shrub canopy cover or color. We trained a supervised, object-based classification model that detected changes in masticated (ash presence) and unmasticated areas (shrub canopy consumption, browning from radiant heat, or no change, and ash presence).
Finally, we used spatial statistics to investigate landscape factors associated with restoration success, such as shrub arrangement, slope, and arrangement of surrounding fine fuels. This method illustrates prescribed fire’s benefits and limitations in coastal prairie restoration, which can help land managers make effective use of the tools at their disposal.
Biography: Zan Rubin, Ph.D.
Ian Cook is a recent MS graduate at San José State University studying prescribed fire ecology. With a background in biology from UC Berkeley and several years of parks maintenance guiding his perspective, he hopes to contribute to more proactive, ecologically informed fire management across California's Coastal Prairie. His current research combines in-situ observation with remote sensing to assess the impact of prescribed fire and other treatments on woody shrub encroachment in these landscapes. When not working, Ian is likely taking pictures of his cats.
Stuart Weiss, Ph.D.
stu@creeksidescience.com, www.creeksidescience.com
Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition is a Profound Threat to Biodiversity in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Abstract
Air pollution contains reactive nitrogen (N) compounds that fertilize ecosystems worldwide. Atmospheric N-deposition is a profound change in a largely N-limited world. N-deposition processes - emissions, atmospheric transport and chemistry, deposition—are complex. Increased N-availability enhances growth of naturalized annual grasses, smothering native wildflowers, accumulating thatch, and increasing fuel loads and pollen allergies. N-deposition impacts on the threatened Bay checkerspot butterfly were the major nexus for the Valley Habitat Plan, which (along with other mitigation projects) will generate ~$700,000,000 of funding over 50 years. Management of annual grasses requires cattle grazing, fire, timed mowing, or graminicides. Grazing is the only sustainable method at present. Nitrate in baseflow from springs draining serpentine grasslands can exceed 50% of the drinking water standard. The Santa Cruz Sandhills and the lower slopes of San Bruno Mountain (habitat for endangered Mission Blue and callippe silverspot butterflies), and many other grasslands are at risk. Despite tight regulation of NOx emissions, catalytic converters on vehicles emit unregulated NH3. Annual N-deposition from 2000 to 2023 is modeled at 12 km scale (TDEP) (https://space-geographer.projects.earthengine.app/view/tdep). 2023 TDEP estimates in the Santa Cruz Mountain range from 2 to 8 kg-N ha-1 year-1. Regulation of NOx emissions has decreased N-deposition by 30-50% since 2000, But even relatively clean sites have cumulative doses of hundreds of kg-N/ha since 1950, and much of the damage has been done.
Biography: Zan Rubin, Ph.D.
Stuart Weiss, Ph.D. (Stanford University 1996) is Chief Scientist of Creekside Science, providing scientific and conservation expertise to diverse organizations coping with the rapidly changing 21st Century environment. He studies species ranging from the Bay checkerspot butterfly to bristlecone pines, using a wide range of modeling and statistical methods, and has authored dozens of scientific papers concerning climate change/microclimate, population dynamics, nitrogen deposition, and conservation ecology. Creekside Science executes many hands-on restoration projects, including butterfly reintroductions, propagation of endangered plants, assessment and design of overwintering monarch habitat, and habitat monitoring and management. His research and advocacy were instrumental in the development of the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan, and he is Science Advisor for the Bay Area Conservation Lands Network. For more information see www.creeksidescience.com
Clifton Herrmann
clifton@sanmateorcd.org, www.sanmateorcd.org
Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition is a Profound Threat to Biodiversity in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Abstract
Bacteria monitoring is a common tool for assessing water quality, yet its role in guiding land stewardship decisions is often complicated and uncertain. In urban-wildland interface areas, natural sources of bacteria are difficult to distinguish from human-associated inputs, which complicates management responses. As a result, land managers may invest significant resources in mitigation efforts that fail to deliver improvements to public health outcomes. Drawing on monitoring data from the San Mateo coast as illustrative examples, this presentation will highlight what bacteria data can and cannot tell us, and consider the implications for regulatory compliance and land stewardship. Because bacteria monitoring relies almost entirely on proxy indicators, it presents unique challenges compared to other compliance approaches. This talk will explore these challenges and emerging scientific developments, and reflect on how practitioners can make informed stewardship decisions with the best available evidence.
Biography
Clifton is the technical lead in San Mateo RCD's efforts to identify, assess, and remediate sources of water pollution to help ensure clean creeks and beaches, benefiting both humans and wildlife. As a marine ecologist specializing in coastal California habitats, his background includes outdoor education, community science program development, private consulting in marine and watershed science, and regulatory policy work in water supply planning. He holds a bachelor’s in Marine Biology from UC Santa Cruz and an M.S. in Applied Marine and Watershed Science from CSU Monterey Bay. Clifton is passionate about nature and strives to promote environmental conservation and equitable community resilience. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, tinkering, and spending time in the great outdoors.
Maya Elson
armillarianabs@gmail.com
Can Fungi and Other Microbes Transform Biomass to Reduce Wildfire Risk in the WUI?
Abstract
As catastrophic wildfires and flooding intensify across the western United States, fungi and other microbes are emerging as key allies in wildfire resilience. Acting as mediators between fire and water, they sink carbon, retain moisture, prevent erosion, digest toxins, and restore ecological balance. The Biome Logs Project builds on this understanding by exploring microbial inoculation as a tool for ecological regeneration in Bonny Doon, California. Utilizing on-site organic matter, the Biome Logs Project seeks to transform biomass into a resource for long-term soil and ecosystem health. This research compares Biome Logs (BL) with conventional methods such as Pile Burning (PB) and Lop and Scatter (LP), assessing soil moisture retention, organic carbon, microbial diversity, and fuel reduction effectiveness. Through collaboration with FENiXS and a growing grassroots network spanning California, Colorado, and Hawai‘i, this work integrates science, Indigenous fire knowledge, and community engagement to co-create scalable, ecologically based strategies for wildfire-adapted land management. In this participatory workshop, we will share research findings, discuss the integration of microbial inoculants into land-tending practices, and invite dialogue on building resilience within fire-prone ecosystems.
Biography
Maya Elson is an MS student at San José State University whose work explores the dynamic relationships between fire, soil, and humans. She is the co-founder of Radical Mycology and former Executive Director of CoRenewal. Maya has led field research and community projects on post-fire microbial inoculation for erosion control, toxin mitigation, forest fuel reduction, and ecological regeneration. As the lead investigator of the Biome Logs Project, she is developing an innovative fuels mitigation technique designed to provide multiple co-benefits for both human and ecological communities. Maya holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from The Evergreen State College and consults wildfire mitigation and bioremediation projects in Los Angeles, Hawai‘i, Canada, Greece, and Lebanon. Through her company, MycoPsychology Experiences, she teaches applied mycology and ecology.
Evan Cole
ecole@smcgov.org, www.smcgov.org/parks
Coast Yellow Leptosiphon: A Species on the Edge
Abstract
The coast yellow leptosiphon (Leptosiphon croceus) is a rare and endangered plant species known from only one small population located on an eroding seacliff along the San Mateo County coast. The San Mateo County Parks Department has been working to protect this extant population, as well as to collect and amplify seed in order to establish other metapopulations in suitable coastal prairie habitats. Through ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and partnerships with other land managers, the Parks Department seeks to improve the resilience of this imperiled species.
Biography
Evan Cole is the Natural Resource Manager for San Mateo County Parks. He has worked for the Parks Department for over five years, and has previously worked as a wildlife biologist in federal and local government, private consulting, and the nonprofit sector. He holds an M.S. in Environmental Management and has published works on the responses of wildlife and vegetation communities to climate change in alpine ecosystems. His work for the Parks Department includes leading the Natural Resource Management Division, supervising a team of biologists and arborists, and overseeing invasive species management, wildlife monitoring, and fuels reduction projects.
Doug Millar
doug@sanmateorcd.org, www.sanmateorcd.org
Contributor: Eliza Milio
Compost: A Call to Action
Abstract
Across the Santa Cruz Mountains, many working lands are experiencing depleted soil organic matter, an issue with consequences for agricultural productivity, water security, and ecological function. Because soil organic matter is largely carbon, rebuilding it is an opportunity to strengthen both the resilience of rangelands and the climate. Compost is one tool that can help, when used appropriately and with the necessary considerations. Drawing on peer-reviewed research and recent RCD field trials, we will discuss how a science-informed, tailored approach to applying compost on rangelands can enhance forage production, improve soil health, and increase above- and below-ground biodiversity. We will address key concerns and limitations, with specific considerations of existing context, species composition, Phytophthora risk management, and the importance of site-specific prescription of compost quality and application rates. Compost is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but when guided by sound science, it is a powerful tool for climate-smart stewardship. The RCD invites collaboration from land managers, researchers, and practitioners to advance this work and scale its impact.
Biography
Doug Millar grew up surrounded by farmland in the Midwest. He received a degree in Greenhouse Production and Management from Ohio State University. As the RCD's Conservation Technical Advisor, Doug works across all program areas, with a particular focus on soil science, irrigation efficiency, crop health and conservation planning. He's also the creator of Doug's Soiled Shorts: short films on soil health. Doug’s passion for soil and surf make San Mateo County his ideal home.
Brian Woodward
bdwoodward@ucanr.edu, https://link.ucanr.edu/scforests
Early Insights from the Santa Cruz Mountains Forest Stewardship Monitoring Program
Abstract
The Santa Cruz Mountains Long Term Forest Monitoring Program was established in 2024 through a CalFire Forest Health Research Grant to track the near- and long-term outcomes of forest stewardship actions across the region and to support the development and communication of region-specific best practices. In collaboration with partners in the Santa Cruz Mountains Stewardship Network (SCMSN), we developed a standardized forest monitoring protocol through workshops and field visits to ensure consistency across diverse projects and ownerships. To support broader collaboration, these protocols, datasheets, and electronic resources are openly available for outside organizations and researchers to contribute additional data and establish compatible sites. In its first year, the program established 13 Stewardship Research Areas containing ~300 permanent plots in sites with stewardship strategies planned in the near future, including prescribed fire, selective harvest, thinning, fuels reduction, restoration, and no-action baselines. These plots form the foundation of a long-term experimental network that will be resampled in 2027 and is designed to evaluate how management interventions influence forest structure, fuel profiles, regeneration, vegetation composition, and resilience. This presentation will share early insights from the program’s establishment, highlight the collaborative process that guided its development, and present initial findings and next steps, including factsheets and data summaries to be developed for each research area.
Biography
Brian Woodward is the Regional Forest Advisor for the Santa Cruz Mountains (Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and San Mateo Counties). He leads a forest management and ecology research and extension program addressing the challenges facing landowners, industry, non-profits, and government forest property owners in the Santa Cruz Mountains. His research and extension is centered around coast redwood forest management, restoration, wildfire resilience, ecological monitoring, insects and disease, and conservation. He serves as PI or co-PI on research related to coast redwood wildfire history, carbon retention, wildland fuels modeling, and invasive shothole borer management.
Bryan Largay
https://landtrustsantacruz.org
Developing a Landscape Linkage between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Gabilan Range
Abstract
The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County is actively developing a critical landscape linkage between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Gabilan Range to mitigate habitat fragmentation and safeguard regional biodiversity. The initiative, a key priority in the Land Trust's 2023-2027 Conservation Roadmap, addresses the urgent need to connect two diverse mountain ranges essential for California's Central Coast Ecoregion. This effort is vital for the genetic health of wide-ranging species, like mountain lions, whose populations have become isolated by development and major highway infrastructure, leading to issues like inbreeding.
The project is a collaborative effort involving over 80 advisors, representing an array of scientific disciples, numerous federal, state and local agencies, working lands operations, and six land trusts. The linkage is being established primarily through the protection of key properties and the development of safe wildlife passages over major roadways. Priority strategies also include habitat restoration and the promotion of compatible land management practices for working lands and rural residential landowners.
A central component is the acquisition of several thousand acres of strategically located properties located at the bottleneck between the mountain ranges. This geography includes a 2.5-mile boundary with US Highway 101, a hotspot for wildlife-vehicle collisions documented through a series of studies by the UC Santa Cruz Puma Project, Pathways for Wildlife, and the UC Davis Wildlife Veterinary Laboratory, and coordinated by the Peninsula Open Space Trust and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County.
The project involves collaborating with partners, including Caltrans, to implement infrastructure improvements like retrofitting culverts to facilitate safer animal movement. Building on the success of the Highway 17 wildlife crossing at Laurel Curve, this project applies proven strategies to enhance connectivity. By protecting core habitats and establishing robust corridors, the project aims to ensure that wildlife and even plants can move, disperse, and adapt to changing conditions, including climate change over the next 100 years, promoting long-term ecological resilience and species viability.
Biography
Bryan has worked in conservation science and management for 30 years, mostly in the Monterey Bay region. As Conservation Director for the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County since 2012, his work is often at the intersection of biodiversity conservation, sustainable working lands, and public access to nature. He collaborates extensively, incorporating many perspectives to develop robust solutions benefitting environment and community. Previously, Bryan led the Tidal Wetland Program at the Elkhorn Slough Reserve, ran a small consulting firm, and worked at the Resource Conservation Districts of Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. He received an MS in Hydrologic Sciences at UC Davis, and a bachelor’s in English at Princeton. He lives in Felton and likes roaming the Santa Cruz mountains and coast with his family.
Matt Timmer
matthew.timmer@landtrustsantacruz.org, https://landtrustsantacruz.org
Ecological Restoration of a Natural Floodplain Along Watsonville Slough
Abstract
The Watsonville Sloughs in the Pajaro Valley are some of the largest freshwater wetlands in coastal California. Nestled amongst extremely productive farmland, the ecological function and health of these wetlands have been impacted by channelization, habitat loss, and nutrient and sediment run-off. The Bryant-Habert Ecological Restoration Project is a multi-phased project that began in 2016 with the goals of improving water quality, providing flood capacity, and restoring aquatic, wetland, and wet meadow habitat in the historic floodplain of Watsonville Slough. The project entailed retiring 25 acres of marginal farmland, reintroducing topography into the leveled fields and revegetating with native plants.
The first two phases created four oval ponds and a wetland depression with multiple arms and a sinuous shoreline. The seasonal depressions were designed to support California red-legged frog breeding but dry down most years to control invasive predators. Red-legged frog egg masses were first observed in the ponds in 2020. Phase 3 focused on shallower scrapes to create seasonal wetlands and enhance wet meadow habitat. All graded areas were revegetated with native plants using hydroseeding, broadcast seeding, drill seeding, and container planting. Weed management involved mowing, flame weeding, and hand removal. Wildlife has become abundant, particularly raptors, songbirds, shorebirds, reptiles, and amphibians. The project is a partnership between LTSCC, Watsonville Wetlands Watch and the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County.
Biography
Matt’s appreciation for nature stems from spending time outdoors exploring and catching critters in the woodlots, creeks and ponds of Michigan during his childhood. He has been exploring the Monterey Bay Area’s rich biodiversity since he moved there in 2003. Matt currently leads a team that stewards over 9,000 acres to achieve a variety of objectives including biodiversity and endangered species conservation. Prior to joining LTSCC, Matt earned a M.S. in Biology from San Jose State University studying the distribution and nesting success of the yellow warbler in Santa Cruz County, conducted biological research on bird and small mammal communities in the Sierra Nevada for the USFS, and worked as a wildlife ecologist for a consulting firm in the SF Bay area.
Georgia Third
gthird@ucsc.edu
Fish, Fauna, and Food Webs: How Steelhead/Rainbow Trout Shape Santa Cruz Mountain Streams
Abstract
Disturbances such as fire, land-use change, and migration barriers reshape stream ecosystems by altering habitat and the populations of aquatic predators. As top predators, Oncorhynchus mykiss (steelhead/rainbow trout) influence food webs by preying on benthic macroinvertebrates, which in turn regulate algae and organic matter. Shifts in O. mykiss populations can therefore cascade through entire ecosystems, yet the effects of their population variability remain poorly understood.
We studied four streams in the Santa Cruz Mountains (Laguna, Scott, Big and Soquel Creek) that are divided by barriers to fish passage, creating contrasts in trout population structure and life history strategy. At each site, we combined habitat assessments, fish surveys, and ecosystem experiments to test how trout density and size structure affect stream communities and functions.
Our results show that streams with higher trout densities have lower macroinvertebrate biomass, altering biodiversity interactions and ecosystem processes such as algal growth and organic matter decomposition. These effects are further influenced by habitat features like canopy cover, especially in post-fire landscapes.
Overall, this work highlights how variation within O. mykiss populations shapes stream food webs and underscores the importance of habitat conditions and land stewardship in maintaining healthy, functioning ecosystems in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Biography
Georgia Third is a PhD candidate in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a Fulbright scholar from New Zealand. Supervised by Professor Eric Palkovacs, her research examines how ecological and evolutionary processes shape fish populations and their ecosystems. She focuses on applied questions that inform sustainable management practices. Georgia holds a Master of Science in Marine Science and a Bachelor of Science in Marine and Environmental Science from the University of Auckland.
Hudson Northrop, David Cowman
hudson.northrop@parks.ca.gov dcowman@sempervirens.org, https://sempervirens.org
Forty Years of Fire: Using Research, Field Data, and Observation to Guide Forest Management in Big Basin
Abstract
This presentation examines four decades of prescribed fire in Big Basin Redwoods State Park and how science, stewardship, and observations are shaping forest management in the park. Since 1978, prescribed burning has been used to reduce fuels, restore ecological functions, and maintain habitat diversity, particularly within old growth redwood stands in the park.
Between 2018 and 2020, State Parks staff collected data on fuels and vegetation composition in areas treated with prescribed fire, as well as unburned control stands. This data later served as a valuable benchmark for assessing wildfire impacts and the effectiveness of prior treatments. Post-fire studies in 2021 and 2022, including work led by San José State University, revealed mixed outcomes, with prescribed burns appearing to have positively impacted survivorship, canopy cover, and seedling regeneration.
Following the CZU Fire, State Parks and partners, including Auten Resource Consulting and Save the Redwoods League, developed a comprehensive forest management plan for the property based upon robust forest inventory data to guide park management over the next decade. This presentation will discuss how integrating scientific research, field observations, and forest inventory data informs adaptive management in the park. By linking empirical findings with on-the-ground experience, it will demonstrate how data-driven insights are shaping restoration priorities and refining fire management strategies, utilizing both fire and fire analogs to meaningfully reintroduce disturbance as an ecosystem process.
Biography: Hudson
Northrop
Since April 2023, Hudson has been working with California State Parks as an Environmental Scientist. In this role, he helps manage the wildfire and forest resilience program for the Santa Cruz District of CA State Parks. This involves planning, implementing, and monitoring various forest health and prescribed fire projects throughout the Santa Cruz mountains. He develops CEQA documents, conducts field layout and mapping, provides contractor oversight during project implementation, and collects and analyzes data to monitor treatment results. Hudson holds a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Forestry degree, both from UC Berkeley. Prior to joining State Parks, he gained experience working under a Registered Professional Forester in Plumas County and via various seasonal jobs researching forest ecology in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Biography: David Cowman
David Cowman is the Director of Land Stewardship for Sempervirens Fund, where he leads restoration, forest management, and climate resilience projects across the Santa Cruz Mountains. He is a California Registered Professional Forester (RPF #3236), and previously served as District Forester and Forest Ecologist with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District and spent five years with California State Parks’ Natural Resource Management Program in the Santa Cruz District. David earned his M.S. from San José State University, where his research examined prescribed fire effects in old-growth coast redwood forests, and his B.A. in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz. His work integrates science-based management, collaborative partnerships, and applied research to advance forest restoration, wildfire resilience, and long-term ecosystem stewardship in California’s redwood region.
Morgan Abbott
mmabbott@ucsc.edu
Contributors: Blair C. McLaughlin, Suzanne Lipton, David D. Ackerly, Brooke M. Rose, Holly V. Moeller, Erika S. Zavaleta
Future Forests: Climate Refugia Potential of the Santa Cruz Mountains
Abstract
The Santa Cruz Mountains are emerging as a critical climate refugium for some of California’s foundational tree species. Using species distribution models based on CNRM and HadGEM climate projections under high-emissions scenarios, we evaluated range shifts for 27 California endemic and near-endemic tree species by 2050 and 2100. Results indicate that the Santa Cruz Mountains will retain suitable habitat for many species currently under climate stress in other areas, while also offering newly suitable habitat for additional California trees that do not currently occur locally. These findings highlight the potential importance of the Santa Cruz Mountains not only for conserving existing forest biodiversity but also for facilitating future adaptation and persistence of regional biodiversity. This presentation will translate modeling outcomes into stewardship-relevant insights, including where conservation planning, restoration, and habitat connectivity efforts may be most impactful in preparing for resilient forests across the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Biography
Morgan is a Ph.D. candidate in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz whose research examines how climate change and wildfire shape both freshwater and forest ecosystems in California. His work spans wildfire-driven mercury cycling in coastal streams, behavioral and genetic adaptation in steelhead trout, and climate-driven range shifts in California’s foundational tree species. Morgan integrates biogeochemistry, molecular biology, geospatial analysis, and species distribution modeling to understand ecosystem responses to changing fire regimes and climate.
Jodi McGraw
jodi@jodimcgrawconsulting.com, www.jodimcgrawconsulting.com
Contributors: Bethany Frantz, Matt Chaney, Ken Hickman, David Laabs, and Mark Allback
Habitat Suitability Analysis for Santa Cruz Kangaroo Rat in Sierra Azul
Abstract
Models depicting habitat suitability can inform efforts to conserve rare species by identifying habitat to protect, connect, enhance, and manage, as well as conduct additional research. In this project, we developed a habitat suitability model for the Santa Cruz kangaroo rat (Dipodomys venustus venustus; SCKR) within the Sierra Azul region—one of just two areas where SCKR is known to occur.
Developed based on statistical analysis of SCKR habitat occupancy and input from biologist with expertise with the species, the weighted overlay model integrates slope, topographic position, geology, soil texture, vegetation type, and canopy conditions derived from LiDAR. The analysis revealed: 1) small and often fragmented highly suitable habitat associated with geologic formations that give rise to friable soils and support manzanita-dominated chaparral, which is often concentrated along ridgelines and crests where thin soils maintain open canopy that supports foraging, movement, and burrowing even in the absence of fire; and 2) adjacent areas of moderate habitat suitability where fire or fire surrogates that mimic the natural disturbance processes could be used to expand SCKR habitat.
Developed for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, the model is informing the design of strategies to protect, connect, enhance, and manage SCKR habitat as well as guide future studies and adaptive management as part of a habitat and population management plan the SCKR in the Sierra Azul Region.
Biography
Jodi McGraw is a conservation ecologist who has spent the past 30 years conducting ecological research, habitat restoration, management, and conservation projects in Central Coastal California. Jodi serves as Principal of Jodi McGraw Consulting (JMc), a small biological consulting firm in Santa Cruz County that focuses on project designed to conserve rare and endangered species and promote native biodiversity in sensitive natural communities.
In this project, Jodi teamed with JMc geospatial analyst Bethany Frantz, wildlife biologists Matt Chaney, Mark Allaback, and David Laabs, and naturalist and camera trapper Ken Hickman to develop the habitat suitability model and elements of a the habitat and population management plan for Santa Cruz kangaroo rat Sierra Azul.
Angie Vasconcellos, Hannah Travers, Laurel Bard
Igniting Collaboration to Restore the Santa Cruz Sandhills
Abstract
We will share our experience safely reintroducing fire in one of the most challenging settings in Santa Cruz County—the ecologically sensitive Santa Cruz sandhills at the interface of urban and rural residences. This project was the first large-scale pile burn undertaken by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County and the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County. The project’s location within a residential area, presence of special-status species, and proximity to critical infrastructure created significant challenges and scrutiny. These factors required extensive relationship-building with neighbors, local fire agencies, and regulators to ensure trust, transparency, and shared goals. What began as logistical and regulatory obstacles evolved into lasting collaborations that strengthened community support for ecological management using fire. We will highlight the lessons learned from planning to implementation, including how early coordination, clear communication, and adaptive management can turn potential conflict into cooperation. Finally, we will share our strategies for increasing the safe and effective use of prescribed fire in the wildland urban interface, in sensitive habitats like the sandhills, and on private lands to build long-term regional capacity for ecological resilience.
Biography: Hannah Travers
Hannah, the Natural Resource Coordinator at the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, holds a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Studies. With over three years of experience in natural resource management in the wildlands of Santa Cruz, she applies her knowledge of land management techniques to implement impactful restoration projects and promote adaptive, long-term stewardship of the land.
Biography: Laurel Bard
Laurel has been a member of the RCD Santa Cruz Forest Health Team since 2022. They hold a B.S. in Society and Environment and a B.A. in Sociology from UC Berkeley. They practice an interdisciplinary approach to land stewardship that recognizes humans as an integral part of ecosystem processes. While at the RCD, they have led projects that assist residents in creating defensible space, prepare forest land for prescribed fire, and reduce wildfire risk while maintaining biodiverse landscapes.
Biography: Angie Vasconcellos
Angie joined the RCD in 2022, bringing experience from diverse land stewardship roles across the Sierra Nevada and Santa Cruz Mountains. She holds a B.S. in Animal Ecology from Iowa State University and a Master’s in Natural Resources from Oregon State University. An ISA Certified Arborist, Angie combines her background in biology and forestry to plan and implement restoration and forest health projects as part of the RCD’s Forest Health Team.
Bernadette Quiroz and Tadashi Fukami
fukamit@stanford.edu
Initial Steps Toward Two-eyed Seeing at Stanford's Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve ('Ootchamin 'Ooyakma)
Abstract
This talk will present some of the recent collaborative research and education activities conducted at Stanford University's Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve ('Ootchamin 'Ooyakma) by the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area and the Stanford community. These activities include annual campout for the Muwekma youth, capacity building to bring back cultural burning, and the relearning of culturally significant plants along with Chochenyo language classes. This collaboration facilitates the Tribe's cultural revitalization and contributes to promoting stewardship founded on the spirit of two-eyed seeing, with Indigenous and Western sciences viewed as independent but complementary approaches.
Biography: Bernadette Quiroz
Bernadette Quiroz, member of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area, is a dedicated and passionate leader for the preservation and promotion of the Chochenyo language. She is a descendant of the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Bay Area, who were baptized at Mission San Jose in the early 19th century. As the Language Revitalization Chair for the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, Bernadette is responsible for developing and implementing various language learning programs and resources for tribal members. She works closely with the Culture Bearer, the Community Education Chair, and other allies to integrate the Muwekma language into cultural and educational activities while supporting fundraising efforts for the Tribe’s language programs.
Biography: Tadashi Fukami
Tadashi Fukami, born and raised in Japan, is a Professor of Biology and Earth System Science at Stanford University. His research is aimed at understanding how the history of species arrival shapes the way ecological communities develop. One of his study systems to address this question involves the bacteria and yeast that form microbial communities in the nectar of the hummingbird-pollinated sticky monkeyflower. He also studies Traditional Ecological Knowledge and seeks to facilitate collaboration with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe in his role as the Faculty Director of Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve ('Ootchamin 'Ooyakma). Tad is a board member of the Muwekma Ohlone Preservation Foundation and of the Stanford Habitat Conservation Board.
Alec Apodaca and Esak Ordoñez
alec.apodaca@amahmutsun.org
Integrative Stewardship Practices
Abstract
A goal of the Amah Mutsun Land Trust (AMLT) is to protect, steward, and conserve all cultural resources within their ancestral homelands. This approach to cultural resource stewardship requires integrating holistic perspectives, centering on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and weaving multiple disciplines such as ecology, biology, anthropology, and archaeology. In this presentation, we discuss the Amah Mutsun Land Trust’s approach to integrative stewardship, which serves as a model for revitalizing Indigenous stewardship practices in the Santa Cruz Mountains amid climate challenges and biodiversity loss. The model integrates processes including: 1) research on historical stewardship and cultural landscapes, 2) experimentation and implementation in a modern setting, 3) monitoring of cultural resources, and 4) education, ceremony, and revitalization. The key takeaway is to share information about research findings, success stories, and current challenges in protecting Popeloutchom for future generations through eco-cultural resilience.
Biography
Alec is the Cultural Resource Program Manager for AMLT. In his role, Alec focuses on the research, protection, and stewardship of Tribal cultural resources and landscapes.
Esak is an Amah Mutsun Tribal Band member and core member of AMLT's Native Stewardship Corps. Esak's role also includes engaging the Amah Mutsun Youth Group on education and brings experience in the planning and implementation of cultural burn projects in Mutsun territory.
David Liefert
dliefert@openspace.org
Low-Cost Workflow for Prioritizing Pond Management Under Climate Stress
Abstract
Hydroperiod and late-season temperature determine habitat quality for pond-dependent species in the Santa Cruz Mountains, yet many ponds lack bathymetric mapping or calibration records, making full water-balance modeling impractical. I present a replicable, screening-level workflow that uses two seasonal grab samples (spring/fall) of stable water isotopes to diagnose the dominant drying mechanism, quantify sensitivity to evaporation, and prioritize management actions. Using d-excess and fall-spring δ¹⁸O enrichment, I apply a simple Climate Sensitivity Index to flag ponds as evaporation-sensitive (at-risk) or buffered “refugia.” For a subset of ponds, I cross-validate isotope signals against outputs from Pond-IT (Balance Hydrologics’ publicly available water-balance model) to check inflow/outflow partitioning. Initial case studies from Midpen lands show how isotope signals can triage restoration investments and steer evaporation-mitigation designs. The workflow is low-cost, fast, and repeatable by stewardship staff, enabling climate monitoring and response across many ponds while reserving full H&H modeling for the smaller set of sites that require engineering analyses to support design and construction.
Biography
David Liefert leads the Earth Sciences Program at Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, a California special district tasked with preserving and restoring public lands in the Santa Cruz Mountains region. He holds a Bachelors in Geoscience from the University of Colorado Boulder and a PhD in Geoscience and minor in Environment and Natural Resources from the University of Wyoming. His work now focuses on aquatic habitat restoration, climate adaptation, and applying long-term climatological perspectives to environmental issues presently affecting California’s ecosystems and aquatic resources.
Georgia Vasey
gvasey@ucsc.edu
Managing Prescribed Fire in California Coastal Prairies for Native Vegetation Recovery and Soil Carbon
Abstract
Prescribed fire is a management tool for maintaining and stewarding California grasslands, yet it can also promote the invasion of weeds and loss of soil carbon. Few studies monitor the effect of prescribed fire across multiple sites. In this study, we evaluated nine prescribed burns in the Central Coast region with paired burned and unburned prairies. At each site, we monitored fuel characteristics, vegetation, and soil carbon before and after the burn along ten 50 m transects. We found that prescribed fire did not change vegetation among most plant guilds, but slightly increased non-native annual forbs. Soil carbon did not change significantly with burning immediately post-fire, although there was a trend in increased root growth in the first growing season. The fuel measurements were combined into a composite burn index, confirming that most burns were low-severity. These results suggest that fire is not the silver wand for promoting grassland biodiversity, and that burn impacts are context-dependent. Land managers should consider pairing burning with other management strategies like revegetation, herbicide, or grazing to achieve best results.
Biography
Georgia Vasey is a fourth-year PhD candidate at UC Santa Cruz in Environmental Studies. Her focus is on restoration ecology, specifically on how to restore California coastal prairies with prescribed fire. She is leading an observational study monitoring vegetation and soil health in multiple prescribed burns across the Central Coast region, implemented an experiment to reestablish native annual forbs, and is working on a life cycle analysis to quantify the carbon footprint of various grassland restoration interventions. She holds a MS in Natural Resources and Environmental Science from the University of Nevada Reno, with prior work experience leading restoration volunteer programs for the Park Stewardship Program at the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (5 years) and Senior Natural Resources Specialist for Carson City (1 year).
Anna McGarrigle
amcgarrigle@openspaceauthority.org
Measuring Mulch from Space: Using Remotes Sensing to Assess Conservation Grazing Goals
Abstract
The Open Space Authority has adopted optical remote sensing methods in recent years to assess mulch retention on a landscape-scale in addition to traditional clipping point methods. This methodology utilizes Sentinel-2 imagery collected after grass senescence to perform a supervised classification with training data collected in pounds per acre. The result is a property-wide classification of mulch retention in pounds per acre, grounded in accurate hand-clipped data. Applying well-studied conservation science techniques to estimate aboveground biomass for mulch retention purposes allows land managers to more accurately describe complex heterogeneous pasture conditions, instead of relying on anecdotal findings and monitoring points unrepresentative of pastures. This method, dubbed HARPER (Herbage Remotely to Predict Environmental Risk), was applied by Certified Rangeland Manager Keith Gunther of Wildland Solutions and has been enhanced by Open Space Authority staff to incorporate recent scholarship, address multiple mulch goals across serpentine and annual grasslands, and include extensive python automation. Scalable, efficient rangeland management methods are essential in the face of drought conditions and changing global climate. Sharing learnings from these applied methods will help close the gap between AI technology and land management techniques.
Biography
Anna McGarrigle is the GIS Administrator for the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority. She develops applications and workflows to collect, edit, and analyze data. Previously, she was a GIS Analyst at Lawrence Livermore National Lab, and before that she was a researcher mapping historic fuel loads at Lassen Volcanic National Park in Google Earth Engine. She embraces using geographic data for storytelling through visualizations, cartography, and complex spatial analysis.
Emily Tucker
etucker@valleywater.org
Native Ecosystem Enhancement Tools—A NEET approach to supporting watershed enhancement in Santa Clara County
Abstract
Valley Water has recently published several Watershed Master Plans with the vision of “managing Santa Clara County water resources holistically and sustainably to benefit people and the environment in a way that is informed by community values”. These plans set targets and outline priority actions for ecological resources such as connecting and expanding riparian corridors, removing fish passage barriers, enhancing highly modified channels, improving water quality, and facilitating wildlife connectivity, among others.
The Coyote Creek and Upper Pajaro Native Ecosystem Enhancement Tools (CCNEET and UPNEET, respectively) provide physical and ecological data-driven guidance for the effective placement of ecological enhancement actions on the landscapes they cover. While the tools are directly applicable to the implementation of Valley Water’s Watershed Master Plans they were developed with input from regional resource experts and stakeholders with the intent to:
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Coordinate resource management, restoration planning, and permitting within Valley Water’s programs,
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Support inter-agency management and planning regardless of land ownership,
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Facilitate meaningful ecological improvements across multiple projects and funding sources, and
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Support a watershed approach to restoration and climate adaptation planning, project permitting, and mitigation.
This presentation is intended to bring awareness to the NEET tools by describing the development process, highlighting past use-cases, and introducing the ways in which these tools can be used to support collaboration among organizations for meaningful ecological improvement.
Biography
Emily Tucker is an Associate Biologist with Valley Water in the Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Unit. Emily’s work primarily focuses on the native fish species of Santa Clara County but she dabbles in other realms such as vegetation, wildlife, and conservation from time to time.
Before her work with Valley Water, she served as a Natural Resource Specialist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and worked in both freshwater and marine environments with UC Santa Cruz and the National Marine Fisheries Service. Emily holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from UC Santa Cruz and a Master's in Environmental Management from Duke University.
Esther Adelsheim, PhD
ecolea@stanford.edu
Pond Creation Confers Benefits to Pond Associated Species
Abstract
Aquatic organisms are particularly sensitive to climate change because changes in temperature and precipitation alter both the amount and quality of aquatic environments. On Stanford’s open space, the Stanford Conservation Program has created a network of 15 perennial to ephemeral ponds to increase the number of suitable habitat patches that support California tiger salamanders and California red-legged frogs. From 1997-2025, we completed robust monitoring of California tiger salamanders and California red-legged frogs to track patch occupancy and population size. Over nearly four decades of monitoring, we have documented the role of non-native species, pond creation, and disease in the persistence of two relatively small populations of pond-breeding amphibians. Overall, we have found that increasing the number of available habitat patches can increase the stability of populations of pond breeding amphibians in the long term. We also have documented wide-ranging benefits to non-target species. Pond creation can be a formidable challenge, performance can be mixed, and maintenance of those ponds is a long-term commitment, but we see pond creation as an essential component of the strategy to conserve pond associated species in the long term.
Biography
Esther is an ecologist that uses applied science and adaptive management for environmental stewardship. She is the Conservation Program Manager for Stanford University and in that capacity supports the university through conservation of special status species, restoration of degraded landscapes, land use planning, and facilitation or implementation of research and teaching activities on Stanford property.
Sean Cochran
sean.cochran@wildlife.ca.gov
Recovering Anadromous Salmonids in the Santa Cruz Mountains: Redwood Forests; Valley Bottoms; and Coastal Lagoons
Abstract
Coastal watersheds in the Santa Cruz Mountains region are home to Central California Coast (CCC) steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and CCC Coho Salmon (O. kisutch). Both species have experienced significant population declines over the last century and are currently listed as threatened (steelhead) or endangered (coho salmon) under state and/or federal Endangered Species Acts. The Santa Cruz Mountains represent the southernmost distribution of coho salmon in North America, and local populations are highly imperiled and vulnerable to regional extinction. In this presentation we will discuss what we know from long-term monitoring and research regarding the current population status of both salmonid species, and our evolving understanding of actions needed to rehabilitate habitats and recover the populations. We will use steelhead monitoring data from Scott and Pescadero Creeks as a case study to show that fish display diverse behaviors and exploit a variety of habitats throughout these watersheds. We argue that, although evidence suggests actions are needed to restore habitats across entire watershed networks, our greatest challenge will be reimagining the rehabilitation of habitats closest to the coast, inclusive of historic alluvial valleys and coastal estuaries.
Biography
I am a District Fisheries Biologist for California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bay Delta Region, where I have worked for ten years working on inland fisheries management in Bay Area Counties. I currently oversee several Department monitoring projects assessing steelhead trout and coho salmon populations in Santa Cruz Mountain watersheds. Outside of work I enjoy spending time in the outdoors camping, hiking, fishing, cooking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Nadia Hamey
Santa Cruz Mountains Post-Fire Redwood Defect Study
Abstract
In August 2020, the CZU Lightning Complex Fire burned nearly 87,000 acres in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties, including extensive redwood forest. The resilience of redwood at different fire severities to introduced defect and the lasting impacts on wood quality are not well understood. This study documents the post-fire effects on redwood trees at varying burn severities and the corresponding internal defect to see if there is a correlation. The results have implications for post-fire management decisions.
Biography
Nadia Hamey is a Registered Professional Forester practicing in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Her consulting firm, Hamey Woods, has been in business since 2014. Prior to that, Nadia worked for 10 years as a forester for Big Creek Lumber Company. Nadia holds a BS in forestry from UC Berkeley. Her passions include gardening and burning.
Arjan Walia and Jessica Yu
awalia@stanford.edu
Smoke from Prescribed Fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains: Policy Insights from Air Quality Monitoring and Stakeholder Interviews
Abstract
Prescribed fire, the intentional application of low-intensity fire to landscapes, is a key nature-based solution in addressing California’s worsening wildfire crisis, and the state consequently aims to implement 1.5 million acres of it annually by 2045. Given the substantial wildland-urban interface (WUI) in the Santa Cruz Mountains, which are adjacent to the highly populated Santa Clara Valley, smoke is a particularly acute concern in this fire-dependent range. The smoke impacts from prescribed fire necessitate its regulation by local air districts across the state—which play a key role in the approval and implementation of prescribed fire—and strategies are needed to measure and mitigate its impacts on local populations. To better understand these barriers and propose policy solutions to achieve California’s ambitious goals, we collaborated with landowners to collect PM2.5 data using low-cost air quality sensors around prescribed burns at two sites in the Santa Cruz Mountains: Swanton Pacific Ranch and Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. Then, we conducted semi-structured interviews with federal, state, and local prescribed fire practitioners, fire agency experts, fire researchers, public health practitioners, and others involved with prescribed fire (N=18) to identify smoke-related challenges preventing its implementation, particularly in regions near notably large populations. The interviewees identified the public’s hesitance about smoke impacts due to the burden of wildfire, growing pushback from farmers and vineyards, and the difficulty of communicating with the public about prescribed fire as key barriers. Our findings can inform policy proposals to scale up prescribed fire in the state, including the need to measure and share data about smoke impacts to better inform the public, incorporate public health agencies into interagency collaborations to mitigate exposure, and develop prescribed-fire-specific modeling programs to more clearly understand smoke impacts from such burns.
Biography
Arjan Walia is a researcher with the Climate and Energy Policy Program at Stanford University. He is interested in investigating the intersections of human and planetary health to find interdisciplinary solutions to public health challenges, particularly wildfire. When he is not working, there is a very good chance he is hiking and admiring native plants in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Spencer Klinefelter and/or Jared Childress
sklinefelter.@gmail.com
Takeaways from Prescribed Burns in Coast Redwoods
Abstract
The Central Coast Prescribed Burn Association has conducted multiple broadcast burns in coast redwood stands over the past several years. Lessons learned relate to seasonality influences on fire behavior and fire effects, post-fire operations and mop up guidance, burn unit preparation, and combining different treatments with broadcast burning, as well as postfire recovery.
Biography
Spencer Klinefelter has a background in botany and ecology, and received a masters studying prescribed fire and PBAs in California. He has prescribed fire experience across the state and the southern U.S., including Georgia, the Carolinas, and Alabama. He has lived in the Santa Cruz region for the past fourteen years.
Timothy Federal, Matt Abernathy
Timothy@sanmateorcd.org, mabernathy@rcdsantacruz.org, www.sanmateorcd.org, www.rcdsantacruz.org
The Santa Cruz Mountains Regional Priority Plan: A Collaborative Roadmap for Healthy Forests and Resilient Communities
Abstract
Wildfire seasons are growing longer, droughts hit harder, and the Santa Cruz Mountains’ rich biodiversity is under increasing strain. The Santa Cruz Mountains Regional Priority Plan (RPP), an initiative of the SCMSN, is uniting land managers, communities, and local experts around one essential question: Where will action matter most? By transforming cross-boundary collaboration into a shared, actionable roadmap, the RPP is accelerating high-value, multi-benefit projects across the region.
Built in partnership with land-managing agencies, conservation groups, fire professionals, foresters, researchers, and other local experts, the RPP provides a guide to landscape-scale forest and wildfire resilience—protecting people, natural resources, wildlife, water, and working lands. The plan establishes a collaboratively developed prioritization framework that supports the design of multi-benefit projects and creates a consistent way to evaluate the regional impact of each project.
This presentation will share how the RPP was developed, what it is already making possible, and why collaboration is the key ingredient. You’ll see examples of priority projects now underway—from landscape-scale forest health initiatives to neighborhood-level defensible space assistance—and learn how this shared roadmap is helping partners secure funding, align priorities, partner efficiently, and coordinate individual actions to achieve regional benefits. Attendees will gain an understanding of the value of cross-boundary collaboration and practical strategies for applying this model in their own landscapes.
The RPP is more than a document—it’s a living, collaborative tool expanding the scale and scope of forest stewardship in the Santa Cruz Mountains and facilitates our collective work to build a more resilient, adaptive future for the entire region.
Biography: Matt Abernathy
Matt Abernathy is the Forest Health and Fire Resiliency Program Manager at the RCD of Santa Cruz County. Growing up in the Santa Cruz Mountains instilled in him a deep appreciation for the environment and the systems that sustain local forests and communities. That connection led Matt to study Watershed Science at Colorado State University, where he built a foundation in forest ecology, hydrology, and natural resource management. In Colorado, he gained hands-on experience monitoring forest fires, assessing post-fire recovery, and implementing restoration treatments on both private and public lands.
As the Conservation Forester for the Fort Collins Conservation District, Matt discovered the value of supporting individual landowners while improving regional resilience. Returning home, he brings his technical expertise and community-centered approach to the landscapes that shaped him.
Biography: Timothy Federal
Timothy Federal is Senior Program Manager of San Mateo RCD’s Forest Health and Fire Program, improving the ecological function of forests and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire. He holds a Master’s in Biogeography from Appalachian State University and a B.A. in Geography from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Before joining the RCD, Timothy spent four years with the Parks Conservancy managing stewardship and restoration programs at Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore, and eight years with the National Park Service implementing restoration projects across 53 National Park units from Alaska’s North Slope to the Arizona borderlands. Beyond the RCD, he serves as the primary environmental liaison between the annual Burning Man arts festival and the Bureau of Land Management, coordinating environmental compliance and permitting. His experience has made him a committed navigator of complex partner relations to deliver effective, landscape-scale solutions.