On July 14, 2025, the Ventura County Prescribed Burn Association (VCPBA) burnt another 16.03 acres at Steelhead Preserve on OVLC property. This prescribed burn was an ecologic burn with 2 main objectives: 1) to burn the invasive yellow star thistle (Centaurea solstitialis) while in flower to prevent the plant from going to seed and 2) to scarify native annuals that have been seeded (arroyo lupine, red maides, and Festuca microstachys). This burn is part of a wider research effort started by OVLC and UCANR to research the effectiveness for burning invasives and seeding with native plants!
The burn was a great success, with huge thanks to VCPBA Burn Boss, Woody Bouska, for writing the burn plan and for conducting the operations as IC. I would like to thank VCFD, BCVFD, MRCA, BHFD, SBFD, and OVLC for their support and collaboration on this burn. We could not have conducted this mid-summer burn without all agencies involved on burn day. Huge thanks to CalFire crews, OVLC, Operation Flame and all volunteers who assisted with site prep. Big thanks to VCFD for working with the PBA, giving input on site prep, and for permitting us to conduct a mid-summer prescribed burn in Ventura County. Thanks to VCAPCD for assistance on air quality input and being open to us doing this mid-summer burn.
If you would like to volunteer with the VCPBA, email [email protected] to join the listserv.
