Despite urgings from us, and others, UC failed to make last minute amendments its Plan and EIR to reduce the risk of wildfire on its Hill Campus beyond versions of released in July, 2020 (the Plan) and January 2021 (the EIR). In response, the Conservancy has filed a petition with the Superior Court as we believe both the Plan and EIR, in their present forms, violate state law.
In its pleading the Conservancy states, "The Final Environmental Impact Report is inaccurate and inadequate in that it is based on erroneous information about the vegetation within the Plan area . . . . It also fails to take into account the expected future effects of climate change on both the vegetation within the Plan area and how a potential wildfire would behave under the expected conditions as climate change continues to progress.”
Over the years the Conservancy has worked closely with UC to remove invasive and fire-prone vegetation and build and maintain trails for the benefit of area residents and UC students, so we deeply regret that litigation was necessary. We would like nothing better than to work cooperatively with UC to make its vegetation management plan robust enough to counteract the increased wildfire risk imposed by climate change and increased fuel loads in the upper campus area.
