Some plants need a flame to reproduce. Therefore, it makes sense
that such flora are bouncing back nicely in the 3,200 acres torched
by the Croy Fire a year ago.
“One native plant – the bush poppy – the seeds will only
germinate when they’re exposed to fire,” said environmental
engineer Carol Presley, of the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
“It’s really fascinating. It’s the same with the knobcone pine.”
The highlands west of Morgan Hill
and Gilroy, on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, are
resprouting from last year’s conflagration, which began on Croy
Road.
Some plants need a flame to reproduce.
Therefore, it makes sense that such flora are bouncing back nicely in the 3,200 acres torched by the Croy Fire a year ago.
“One native plant – the bush poppy – the seeds will only germinate when they’re exposed to fire,” said environmental engineer Carol Presley, of the Santa Clara Valley Water District. “It’s really fascinating. It’s the same with the knobcone pine.”
The highlands west of Morgan Hill and Gilroy, on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, are resprouting from last year’s conflagration, which began on Croy Road.
The Croy Fire land is a “chaparral” ecosystem, according to Presley. A chaparral is characterized by infrequent rainfall and fire adaptations in plants.
Presley said she’s recently noticed some new flowers she’s never seen there before. She doesn’t even know their names yet, but there they are, sprouting up from the Croy Fire’s aftermath. Why weren’t they there before? Because the hillsides hadn’t seen fire in almost 80 years, she said.
“There are some species that absolutely need fire to regenerate,” Presley said.
The regrowth is entirely natural, Presley said. Although she and other water district staff did reseed portions of the ashen soil to prevent mudslides and erosion, they consciously planted sterile grasses with a one-year life span.
“We didn’t want to interfere with the natural process,” Presley said.
Neither the fire, its ash or erosion have ever compromised water quality in the area, Presley confirmed.
Many wild animals lost their habitats to the Croy Fire, and there was concern last year that post-fire erosion would affect fish as well by covering spawning grounds and food supplies with silt and ash. Among the fish species native to Uvas Creek is the steelhead trout, protected by the federal Endangered Species Act.
There is little formal information available on how fish and wildlife are doing now in the Croy area. Terry Palmisano, senior wildlife biologist with the state Department of Fish and Game, said budget cuts have gutted her department’s staff and, thereby, the ability to keep on top of many fish habitats.
In general, Palmisano said, most large animals in the Croy area – such as deer, mountain lions, wild pigs and coyotes – should have been able to escape the blaze. While the short-term loss of habitat might have been harsh, Palmisano said the area may become better in the long run.
