Five years ago today, CA faced one of its most devastating fire sieges. Aug. 15, 2020: a rare dry lightning storm ignited hundreds of wildfires—burning 4.2M acres over four months, destroying communities, claiming lives, and changing landscapes forever. (1/3) #CALFIRE #FireSiege2020

Banana slug feeding on a hypoxylon fungus on the side of a dead tanoak in a lightly burned area of Pescadero Creek Park, San Mateo County, CA.

Field season has begun in the Santa Cruz Mountains! Our crew of 4 will be working across 15 different sites to establish plots for a permanent stewardship monitoring program. Couldn’t be more excited to be working w. this amazing set of early career scientists (my 1st grant funded crew!)

I hope to see many of you at the California Forest Science Symposium in Sacramento next week. I will be leading a moderated session on coast redwood forest fire science and management with an amazing panel including Nadia Hamey, Jared Childress, Tori Norville, and David Cowman. See you there!

I will be recruiting for one 850 hour forest research crew lead and 4-5 500 hour technicians over the coming month. All positions are located in Santa Cruz Mountains. Official recruitment still going through HR but interested folks can send me their resume and questions at [email protected].

Great day to burn chemise… when surrounded by green grass and most other fuels are unavailable. #goodfire

Maddddrone

Ponderosa pine woodlands make me feel like the future is worth fighting for

Just above Potbelly #Beach in Santa Cruz. Between New Brighton and Rio Del Mar, a little visited hamlet.

Registration for CA Tree School in Santa Cruz County is officially OPEN! Reg closes in March and the event is April 5th in Felton! Students get to choose from over 25 classes for a day of forestry education like no other. This event is SO COOL. ucanr.edu/sites/forest...

A twist in our invasive shothole borer (ISHB) infestation in Santa Cruz County... the beetle-pathogen complex in Felton has been positively identified as Euwallacea interjectus–Fusarium floridanum. This represents a new shothole borer species introduction in California (and the US west coast).

Hard to decide what’s more impressive… the sunset or the deer on the edge of this massive coastal cliff.

Please save the date for the Santa Cruz Session of California #TreeSchool. April 5th, 2025 in Felton. We have over 25 classes on forests, management, wildfire, nature art and ecology taught by regional/global experts. Students choose 4 classes for the day. Reg. opens soon $70, scholarships available

Black oak #trees

Kick back and soak it all in

Good to be back home in Rio Del Mar

Good to be back on the family property, where I originally fell in love with #trees as a kid

Peak moss season in the Santa Cruz mountains. Also, get out there, the maples and black oaks are near peak color!

#santacruzmountains #landscapes #photography #flora #autumn #fall #leaves Scotts Valley Pile

Aptos creek outlet. #riodelmar #cementship #santacruz

Another great Fall sunset in Rio Del Mar and a cool old photo of the same beach I came across today. #santacruz

The king tides have rerouted Aptos Creek on Rio Del Mar beach once again. Lots of dolphins out today.

These perfectly round entry holes about the size of the top of a ballpoint pen are a good indicator of invasive shothole borer. ISHB was recently found near Felton and could be in other parts of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Learn how to ID @ ISHB.org and reach out to me if you think a tree is infested

A Rio Del Mar evening, Santa Cruz Co, CA. Fall is the best season here!

Otis at New Brighton State Beach, Santa Cruz Co., CA

Del Monte Forest, Monterey County, CA

PhD student opportunity in my lab at Colorado State University! Focused on quantitative integration of geospatial and field data to understand disturbance in western US forests. Involves collaboration with a great team including @mhurteau.bsky.social www.francisforestecologylab.com/opportunities

Another beautiful night at Manresa State Beach, just south of Santa Cruz. Feel so lucky to live, play, and work in the Monterey Bay.

Was a beautiful weekend in the Monterey Bay this past weekend. And already Wednesday!

The ink has dried! I'm so excited to announce I will join the University of California Cooperative Extension as the Assistant Area Forestry Advisor for Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and San Mateo Counties starting in November!