Contra Costa Off-Camps Center One-Time Cultural Burn Event

A one-time cultural burn event is planned for an undeveloped area on California State University East Bay's Contra Costa Off-Campus Center property in Concord, California, with the goal of ecological and cultural restoration. The site, characterized by grasslands, ruderal vegetation, and scattered trees, is bordered by roads and parking and will undergo a controlled, intentional burn guided by traditional practices of the Chochenyo Ohlone and Bay Miwok peoples. Led by the Ohlone Land Conservancy, a Native-led nonprofit founded by Ohlone cultural leaders, the burn will be executed in alignment with cultural objectives such as biodiversity enhancement, ceremonial significance, and land stewardship, while adhering to state legal frameworks for cultural burning. Operational support and fire safety oversight will be provided by CAL FIRE and the Contra Costa Fire Department, ensuring the burn is conducted safely and in compliance with all fire regulations. The event will also comply with Bay Area Air Quality Management District guidelines and will not occur during any Mandatory Burn Ban. The activity is designed not only to restore fire-adapted ecosystems but also to reinforce community ties through cultural education and the reclamation of ancestral land management practices. Coordination with multiple agencies ensures compliance with environmental and public safety standards, while respecting Indigenous sovereignty and knowledge systems. The burn is scheduled in accordance with local air quality restrictions and is subject to weather and operational conditions approved by participating fire agencies. The project reflects a collaborative effort between a public university and Native cultural institutions to heal degraded landscapes and honor the enduring relationship between Indigenous peoples and their ancestral territories. All activities are managed under the direction of the university’s Director of Planning, Design and Construction, with full accountability to regulatory and cultural protocols.