We need volunteers starting on Tuesday, September 26th - November 6th to help us communicate information about the sheep and the grazing project to any curious hikers. No previous experience is required and we will provide information regarding frequently asked questions.
Volunteers will sit in a stationary spot along the trail near where the sheep are grazing. Feel free to bring a comfy camp chair, a book, binoculars, water, and anything else you would like with you while relaxing in the beauty of the San Marcos Foothills Preserve.
The Importance of Prescribed Sheep Grazing
Channel Islands Restoration (CIR) is conducting carefully designed prescribed sheep grazing to restore the native grassland on this site.
Native grasslands used to inhabit millions of acres of California, providing nesting opportunities for birds such as grasshopper sparrow and burrowing owl. Now, very little is left. One place that native grassland remains is here on the San Marcos Foothills, where it is dominated by purple needlegrass (the tall bunch grass you see on this mesa). However, it is threatened by invasive grasses from Europe such as wild oats and brome.
Although uncontrolled grazing has caused damage in many regions, carefully designed and timed grazing programs support the growth of native plants and reduce the number of nonnative grasses.
Also, grazing has important effect on fire safety. CIR started a grazing program in 2018 on the nearby Preserve. In November 2018, the Cave Fire burned the area and was extinguished at the Preserve. County Fire Chief Rob Hazard credits CIR’s grazing program with saving the neighborhoods around San Marcos Foothills. In a letter to CIR, Chief Hazzard wrote:
“By all accounts most firefighters were convinced the fire would burn into the developed neighborhoods in the North La Cumbre area and had the potential to result in significant structure loss. This did not happen, no structures were lost, and the primary reason was the buffer provided by the grazed areas in the preserve.”
