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Tierra Times
Article April 1, 2004
City plans on testing use of goats for
brush maintenance & it's starting with
Tierrasanta as the pilot site for San Diego
by Deanna Spehn
During hearings held
by the City Council in the aftermath of The Cedar Fire, the use of
goats to do brush maintenance, especially in canyon areas, was
discussed. A pilot program will most likely begin this month in
Tierrasanta.
The proposed site is
in Tierrasanta Norte on a slope adjacent to Callejon Quintana and
Belardo. Both slopes need the existing brush thinned in order to
reduce the fire danger.
Between 35 and 50
goats will be brought into the flat area off Callejon Quintana and
penned in for the night, then let out early in the morning. The
probable working time for the goats is likely to be 6 am to 6 pm.
The flat area, which
will be fenced, is where supplemental feed, minerals and water will be
available. There will be a person on site at all times to supervise
the goats' activities, and one or more guardian dogs that are
specially trained to work with the goats.
While this will mark
the first time goats for brush management, it's a fairly common
occurrence in other jurisdictions not only in California but in other
states as well where they are used for brush and weed control.
The use of the goats
in this way is an effort to supplement the more “traditional"
forms of brush management as work crews in the canyon. Mr. Gonzales of
Ranchito Tivo Boer Goats out of Chino, California, has been highly
recommended by the City of Morovia’s Fire Department and by the Chino
Basin Water Conservation District.
Tierrasanta Open Space
Inspector Jan Eby has taken on the lead on this project for the City.
She has extensive experience
working
with goats, and, of course knows Tierrasanta open space well!
The Tierrasanta Open
Space Committee is looking forward to the results of this experiment,
as is the City, as we all work on ways to improve the in which,
brush management is done in
our canyon areas.
For more information click
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