2024 Projects

In 2024 San Mateo County Parks continues its efforts to enhance forest health and increase safety to nearby communities by reducing wildfire fuel in Quarry Park. Follow-up work on numerous projects continue. 

  • Between April 22 and May 31, we will continue to selectively thin understory of small diameter trees and shrubs along fire roads. Treatment aims to remove ladder fuels that could carry a ground fire into the canopy and to preserve access routes that allow first responders to protect neighboring communities. This work involves targeted application of the herbicide triclopyr to the cut-stumps of Eucalyptus trees.
  • From January 24 through April 5, crews will resume work on the fuel reduction project begun in 2022 in partnership with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District and funding from the California Coastal Conservancy. This project is aimed at treating up to 100 acres of dense fire fuels and creating a network of shaded fuel breaks along park fire roads and multi-use trails.
  • On January 16–19 & 22, crews followed up on CalFire-funded work from 2023 by manually and mechanically removing several non-native invasive species, including French broom, Eucalyptus, and jubata grass, which have regrown in previously treated areas.
2023 Projects
  • In July through October 2023 we resumed a fuel reduction project begun in 2022 in partnership with San Mateo Resource Conservation District aimed at treating up to 100 acres of dense fire fuels and creating a network of shaded fuel breaks along park fire roads and multi-use trails. 
  • A CalFire-funded project to control invasive plant regrowth within previously treated areas occurred between Aug 28 and Sep 1, 2023. 
  • A CalFire-funded project to relocate logs in the fuel break along El Granada Blvd and the neighborhood of El Granada occurred in September. Some logs were positioned along the edge of the fuel break as habitat features.
  • A Measure K-funded project to clear trees fallen or damaged in Mirada East during storms in March 2023 occurred in September. Work included removing of select trees along Mirada Fire Road which posed hazard to private property.

These projects are listed among the San Mateo County Parks Department’s Wildlife Fuel Management Program 2021-2026 Projects.

 
Thin trees and shrubs

Before

Quarry-FH-After-Oct22_2021.jpg

After

Before and after photos courtesy of Erica Harris, Conservation Project Manager with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District.


Learn more about San Mateo County Parks' Forest Health & Community Safety Initiative

Previous Projects
2021 Quarry Park & Mirada East Shaded Fuel Break Along Fire Roads

A 100-acre fire mitigation project in partnership with San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD) which create shaded fuel breaks within 100 feet of select trails and removed hazard trees.

Quarry Park Governor's Project

In 2019, fulfilling an executive order from Governor Gavin Newsom, San Mateo County Parks collaborated with CAL FIRE to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire in Quarry Park by creating fuel breaks and shaded fuel breaks along primary access routes and fire roads and by expanding critical defensible space. These breaks are essential for controlling the spread of wildfire and preventing ground f

Coastside Wildfire Safety & Risk Reduction Meeting

View the Feb 10 informational meeting hosted by San Mateo County Parks and learn about wildfire risk reduction, fuel management, and public safety on the coast.