Tribal-led Cultural Burns at Miossi Open Space and Johnson Ranch Open Space

yak tit?u tit?u yak tilhini (ytt) Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region will lead two cultural burns at open space properties owned by the City of San Luis Obispo known as Miossi Open Space and Johnson Ranch Open Space. The goal of the project is to promote traditional tribal uses of the land, as well as reduce non-native species and promote recruitment of native perennial bunchgrasses such as purple-needle grass (Stipa pulchra). The burn unit at Miossi Open Space will be 13 acres and the burn unit at Johnson Ranch Open Space will be .71 acres, as shown on the attached maps. The sites will be prepared for the cultural burns using a mower and hand tools. The fire will be ignited using natural materials, however conventional prescribed fire ignition tools may be utilized depending on whether conditions. The project will be carried out pursuant to California Senate Bill No. 310 and will be led by a Cultural Burn Practitioner. The project will utilize a burn plan and will be implemented in close coordination with CAL FIRE and the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District. Data collected through onsite biological and botanical surveys published in the Open Space Conservation Plans of both Miossi Open Space and Johnson Ranch do not identify sensitive status plant species within the project area. The project will not impact habitat for sensitive status animals. The effects of the burns are temporary (seasonal) and are intended to be culturally and environmentally beneficial.