Forest Health Wildfire Resilience Project
Whispering Winds Catholic Camp is a 161-acre camp near Julian, California, that experienced severe impacts during the 2003 Cedar Fire. The wildfire burned 100% of the property, destroyed approximately 80% of structures, and resulted in an estimated 60% loss of forest cover. Although the camp rebuilt structures using fire-resistant practices, changing post-fire vegetation conditions continued to create forest health, wildfire risk, and forest regeneration challenges. Trihydro was retained to provide Wildfire Resilience Consulting Services for the camp’s Forest Health Phase One and Two Project.
Assessing Post-Fire Forest Health Conditions
By 2025, much of the vegetative cover consisted of 6- to 10-foot-tall post-fire shrub fields dominated by Ceanothus palmeri. Natural pine regeneration was sporadic, oak regeneration was limited, and Goldspotted Oak Borer mortality was present.
Within the remaining forested areas, trees per acre averaged approximately 172, basal area averaged 142 square feet per acre, and average DBH was approximately 10.5 inches. These conditions indicated a younger, relatively dense stand requiring targeted thinning and vegetation management. The identified conditions created risks to:
- Life and property
- Buildings and infrastructure
- Forest structure
- Natural pine and oak regeneration
- Long-term forest health
- Wildfire resilience
Developing Forest Health and Fuels Reduction Treatments
Trihydro developed treatment strategies for approximately 52 acres. Planned treatments include mechanical thinning, hand thinning, pruning, chipping, biomass removal, and post-treatment herbicide application. The desired future conditions include:
- Increased forest cover
- Release of natural pine regeneration
- Improved oak regeneration
- Reduced tree density and basal area
- Greater forest structural heterogeneity
- Increased species diversity
- Removal of dead and downed material
- Increased vertical and horizontal separation between vegetation layers
- Management of shrub and understory resprouts
- Increased quadratic mean diameter within treatment units
Trihydro developed eight treatment units with treatment categories and biomass estimates by unit to support contractor bidding and implementation.
Permitting, Procurement, and Implementation Support
Trihydro supported regulatory permitting and compliance, including anticipated use of applicable California Forest Practice Rules exemptions for vegetation management near qualifying structures. Our team also supported the procurement and coordination of Licensed Timber Operator services, including bid package development, virtual and on-site bid walks, contractor selection, implementation coordination, administration, and work certification. This multidisciplinary approach helped move the project from post-fire forest health challenges to a structured, grant-funded implementation program.
Building Long-Term Wildfire Resilience
Trihydro’s role helped Whispering Winds move from post-fire recovery challenges to a structured, grant-funded implementation path. The project combined RPF-led prescriptions, compliance strategy, contractor coordination, biomass considerations, and work certification to support a safer, more resilient camp landscape.
