GOLD CREEK
FIRE RESTORATION

Located in the Angeles National Forest, the 240-acre Gold Creek Ecologial Reserve is used for academic research by the Los Angeles Community College District. The reserve was severely damaged by the 2017 Creek Fire, with extensive damange to the native flora. The objective of the restoration plan is to restore the site to pre-fire conditions to ensure that recovery proceeds in a way that maintains its learning value and ecological diversity. To gain an understanding of the ecological complexity of the site, our team initiated the project with an extensive site analysis of microclimates, hydrology, soils, geology, vegetation, species of concern, land use, and fire history.
​​
Based on the site analysis, we identified target areas and developed explicit goals and objectives for planting and invasive species control. Coupled with close monitoring of site-specific recovery data, our design creates flexibility to respond and adapt to changing site conditions.