The Cascade foothills of the Reserve are a fire adapted habitat. Our vegetation and habitat improvement programs make use of broadcast and pile burning to reduce forest fuels and encourage native grasses. Yellow starthistle is a major target of our broadcast burns, and we have had success in restoring native plants to areas once dominated by it.

Hankins, Don, 2015: Restoring Indigenous Fire to California Oak Woodlands (PDF)

Gruenberg, Robert, 2018: Effects of Prescribed Fire on Soil Physical and Chemical Characteristics (PDF)

Lynch, Mark, 2011: Beetle Response to Seasonal Prescribed Fire in Blue Oak ( Quercus douglasii) Woodlands of Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (PDF)