INTRODUCTION

As fire is an important and naturally occurring part of Southern California’s ecology – playing a regulatory and regenerative role in dense, coastal sage scrub and chaparral communities – Terremoto LA has engaged with the Friends of Elysian Park and Los Angeles RAP to use this opportunity and timing to remove invasive annuals that thrive in post-fire disturbance, and establish native plants that are adapted to fire. The site poses exciting challenges – it’s in a high visibility area right off the highly used Elysian Park Trail, it’s on a steep slope filled w/ fast-growing mustard and other invasive species that are rapidly making their return already, and irrigation is a challenge so timing around rain has proven to be critical.

We’ve noticed that human created fires are occurring more frequently in our urban parks, including one that was set at nearby Rio de Los Angeles Park this past summer. We hope to use this plot as a testing ground for regeneration in other urban conditions.

To track this process, we’re taking regular logs so pls make sure to follow along each month. We also host monthly workdays on Friday mornings. Check out “Visit” for more info.