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San Anselmo discussion splits over goat grazing for fuel reduction and slope safety
Summary
Public commenters and committee members debated using goat grazing in Upper Hawthorne Canyon to reduce fire risk and restore grasslands; speakers urged avoiding riparian zones and protecting trees, and experts warned grazing on steep slopes could increase landslide risk. No formal vote was taken.
Bianca, identifying herself as with Star Creek, urged the town to clearly mark fence lines and delay moving goats until fences are inspected, and cautioned that grazing scheduled in April–May can encourage invasive yellow star thistle.
“Based on the meeting on-site with Renee, we were told where to walk the animals,” Bianca said, asking the town to “flag where you want the fence line” so contractors do not begin grazing until boundaries are established.
A resident who displayed photos of the site warned the committee that goats had been driven through riparian areas and said the impact was severe. “You can imagine 400 goats going through this riparian — it’s causing serious problems,” the resident said, describing fence openings and erosion that damaged earlier restoration work.
Several committee members and long-time open-space practitioners agreed the town must balance fuel-reduction benefits against geotechnical and habitat risks. A resident with decades of conservation experience in San Anselmo said a 2023 geotechnical report on Upper Hawthorne Canyon identified serious hazards and that the town nearly declined the property; that speaker warned against denuding slopes because of landslide danger.
The presiding member repeated the need for balance, noting that the region alternates between drought and fire risk and periods of heavy rain that can trigger slides. One committee member said the 50% slope threshold mentioned in the discussion likely derives from a CalPTP environmental-impact document and is not a universal standard used by range managers.
A committee member who expressed conditional support for limited grazing urged a set of practical safeguards: avoid moving animals through riparian zones; reroute movements along roads or fire access trails when possible; install and inspect temporary fencing before graze events; exclude trees with targeted fencing; time grazing to reduce impacts from invasive species; and combine grazing with short mechanical mowing beneath trees. The member said a PCA grant application that would have funded larger-scale restoration was not advanced and that longer-term planning and funding will be required.
No formal motion or vote was recorded on the item. Committee members said they will continue the dialogue with staff and town council to refine routes, fencing and timing before any grazing occurs.
Next steps: the item was closed for public comment and deliberation continued informally; speakers offered to work with staff and council on an implementation plan rather than seek immediate authorization.
