The first Year of the Environment event of the spring semester at Moorpark College began Monday with the first speaker in a series of talks and films, aimed at getting students to think more about our environment.
Barbara Balen, an archaeologist with the U.S. Forest Service in Northern California, spoke to about 100 students and staff on the importance of watershed preservation and the effects of the Simi fires of 2003 in her presentation, called “Paving Paradise.”
“When we withhold fire from the landscape, something happens,” said Balen. “The fires move so hot and so fast, it bakes the soil.”
Balen lives and works in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and was the 2007 president of the Tuolumne Utilities District Board, an elected position. She also serves as executive board member of Mountain Counties Water Resources Association, and as board member for the Association of California Water Agencies Region 3.
A film series is on tap for the second part of the Year of the Environment, which started with “Clavey Reflections,” a short film about the Clavey watershed and what effects humans have had on that particular ecosystem.
Balen also made specific mention of local burn areas, and what effects might have happened from the fires.
“Shimo Canyon burned very hot and that can lead to more debris flow and potential mudslides,” said Balen. “Tapo Canyon was a lighter burn, and a cooler fire. The oak trees survived because they have 2000 years of adaptive fire protection.”
Cal Fire did an assessment during the fires to see the status the Simi watershed.
The college will have other Year of the Environment speakers and films, with the next one on Feb. 13. Jana Johnson will speak about “The Butterfly Project,” which is a captive breeding program at Moorpark College for the endangered Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly. Johnson will be speaking at noon in the TV studio.
Steve Pfeffer will speak about “Environmental Policy in the U.S. and Japan” on Mar. 12 in the TV studio at noon, and on Apr. 16, this year’s theme for Multicultural Day will be “Nurturing Nature.”
At Multicultural Day, there will be a green technology expo and also several environmental events.
Balen wrapped up with a question and answer time and fielded several questions about the Simi watershed and also the Simi fires.
“Nature ends up paving a part as well,” said Balen. “Smokey the Bear has had a 100-year-old campaign to prevent all fires, even the good fires. Fires help keep down the brush, but if natural fires don’t burn it off, it builds up and that’s how it burns so hot.”
