 |
SAN DIMAS |
|
Set amid the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, the San Dimas Forestry Unit serves the Pomona Valley, San Gabriel Valley and surrounding foothills. Four foresters provide natural resource protection, tree planting, and conservation education programs to 4 million residents in a 963 square mile unit area. The San Dimas Forestry Unit was founded in 1954 to provide professional forestry services to homeowners in eastern Los Angeles County. The one acre forest nursery employed juvenile offenders incarcerated at Camp Glenn Rocky, providing them with meaningful work experience in an outdoor environment. Today, the San Dimas Forest Unit produces 40,000 forest tree seedlings annually. The trees are propagated by seed and held at the nursery for two years until they are ready for field planting. Forest tree seedlings for erosion control and windbreaks are available free of charge to Los Angeles County residents. Tree Planting programs have developed forest plantations at Bonelli Regional Park, San Gabriel Canyon, Puente Hills Landfill, Cogswell Reservoir Mount Baldy Road, the Santa Anita Equestrian Trail and the Rio Hondo Flood Control Channel. The San Dimas Forestry Unit also serves as an outdoor classroom. Nursery tours, nature walks and a wildlife care center are available to school, scout, and youth organizations. Bus access, drinking water and restrooms are available. Park and picnic facilities are in close proximity. The San Dimas Forestry Unit is open to the public from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday.
The Forestry Division of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department can provide your school or organization with conservation education programs. Topics include:
County Foresters can visit your classroom with a variety of audio visual and hands on materials. Or join a forester at one of five forestry units located in the foothills for a unique outdoor experience. All programs are offered free of charge. Contact your local forestry unit for program availability and reservations.
Professional foresters can assist property owners with land management concerns. A forester will meet with you on site to advise you on such issues as:
Contact your local forestry unit to schedule a free consultation. Since its inception in 1911, the Forestry Division of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department has been involved in the conservation and protection of natural resources through its urban forestry programs. Today, eleven forestry units, located throughout thecounty, address the following environmental concerns:
Southern California has one of the most flammable watershed covers in the world. A comprehensive vegetation management program has developed innovative strategies to reduce the risk of wildland fire hazards. Wildland hazard mitigation training for the department and general public along with the successful completion of numerous prescribed burns are part of this comprehensive program.
Increasing urban populations and changing land use have imposed tremendous pressure on our fragile natural resources. Review of environmental documents, emergency watershed protection programs and monitoring the county’s Oak Tree Ordinance are all part of the Forestry Division’s natural resource program.
The Forestry Division is dedicated to improving the quality of life through the development of a managed urban forest. Eighty years of tree planting with over three million trees planted, has made the Forestry Division experts in dry land planting. Each year 80,000 tree seedlings are distributed free of cost to the public for use in erosion control and windbreaks.
In 1920 the Los Angeles County Charter mandated the Forestry Division to provide educational programs on fire prevention and natural resource conservation. Today, over 140,000 people a year participate in programs and tree planting projects which promote an appreciation of our natural resources San Dimas Forestry Unit
San Dimas Unit
1. Los Angeles County Fair: The San Dimas Forestry Unit manages in conjunction with the United States Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management the ‘Caring for the Land’ outdoor exhibit display at the Los Angeles County Fair Grounds in Pomona. This outdoor exhibit gives adult and children alike an opportunity to view native plant communities in a natural setting along educational shows and materials. Many other items are also available for the outdoor enthusiast. The SDFU provide staff and maintenance for this display along with 30,000 pine seedlings for the public. Please take a few minutes while at the Fair to enjoy our exhibit, pick up a tree, and talk with our friendly and knowledgeable staff.
The purpose of Bonelli Park is to provide timber stand Improvement of tree plantations planted in the early 70’s, remove dead and drying trees, limb up existing ones, replace with new seedlings as needed. Forestry division staff and camp crews complete work. The San Dimas Forestry Unit (SDFU) manages 19 tree plantations within the 2500 acres of Bonelli Regional Park. Working with County of Los Angels Department of Parks and Recreation, these plantations were developed in the 1970’s for recreation and conservation opportunities such as Mountain biking, hiking, picnicking, and to provide habitat for various plant and animal communities. SDFU staff continues to maintain these plantations. By removing dead and dying trees and replacing with new ones, along with liming up existing ones, this process will allow a continued healthy forest environment. Along with the Fire Department’s Heavy Equipment section they maintain roads and install fire beaks around these tree plantations for added protection and access.
The San Dimas Unit works within three geographical areas of the Santa Fe Dam Recreation area and adjacent areas to eradicate evasive plant species, primarily Arundo Donex, and establish native plant communities. Working in conjunction with the County of Los Angels Public Works and the Army Corp of Engineers, areas were determined in the San Gabriel River drainage to cut, chemically treat and remove Arundo Donax and establish and reestablish native plant communities more conducive their natural environment. This plant species has thrived in the San Gabriel River drainage. It destroys native plant and animal communities by out competing the native plants for moisture and growing space. SDFU staff work along with camp crews to oversee this work for safe and proper eradication efforts and plant revegetation success. |
Air & Wildland | Emergency Medical Services | Fire Prevention | Forestry | Health Haz Mat - CUPA | Lifeguards | Special Ops |
Hometown Fire Stations | Heroes In Action | Call Firefighter | Regional Approach
Administrative Services | Medical Director | Compliance Office | LACoFD Executive Team | Chaplains | Honor Guard | Affiliated Organizations
Earthquake | Fire Prevention Tips | Firestorms | Flood & Mud Slides | Swiftwater | Terror Attack | Tsunami
Youth Programs | Special Programs | CERT | Public Education | Firefighters Memorial Service | Seasonal Events Calendar | Shift Calendar
For all technical issues regarding our Website, please e-mail us at WebAdmin@fire.lacounty.gov
For more information or to send us your comments, please e-mail us at info@fire.lacounty.gov
For more information or to send us your comments, please e-mail us at info@fire.lacounty.gov
© 2011 Los Angeles County Fire Department
 |
Abducted Children | Runaway Children | Board Correspondence | Delinquent Parents | LA County Information |