Stanford Dish area closed from June 16 to June 30

The Stanford Dish area will be closed from June 16 to June 30, 2025 for annual maintenance and wildfire fuel reduction work.

Why fire fuels treatments? The ecosystems at the Stanford Dish, like many of California’s ecosystems, have experienced decades of fire suppression. Tree thinning, tree trimming, and shrub removal can mimic the effects of fire and help to maintain native grasslands and create sufficient spacing between trees so that individual trees can thrive.

Why are large logs on the ground? Large logs laying on the ground create refuge from predators and maintain micro-climates that support a diverse set of native species including amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, and insects. Large logs laying on the ground pose minimal fire risk.

Why are standing snags left? Dead oak snags provide habitat for a host of native species. Native birds and small mammals’ nest in the cavities found in dead oaks. Acorn woodpeckers embed acorns methodically in oak “granaries” so they can store and eat the acorns when other food sources are scarce.

Photo courtesy of Stanford News Service