MENDOCINO CO., 11/8/24 – If you see smoke just east of U.S. Route 101 in Hopland, it’s likely due to a small, prescribed burn taking place at the University of California Hopland Research and Extension center today.
The burn started around 9 a.m. and will wrap up by the afternoon, if not sooner, said Hannah Bird, community educator at the center.
Two acres will be burned.
“The focus of the burn is to engage participation in good fire to enhance wetland plant diversity,” said Bird. “The burn area is a permanent sag pond, a rare California landscape feature.” A sag pond is a body of water in a low-lying area between two sides of an earthquake fault zone.