To: Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Steve Madrone
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Certification of the Orleans-Somes Bar Community Wildfire Protection Plan
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Review the agenda report and the Orleans-Somes Bar Community Wildfire Protection Plan; and
2. Certify that the Orleans-Somes Bar Community Wildfire Protection Plan has adequately met the standards of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act for consideration as a Community Wildfire Protection Plan by authorizing the Chair of the Board to sign the Orleans-Somes Bar CWPP “Reviewed Signature Page”included in the document.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Sustainable Natural Resources & Infrastructure Stewardship
Strategic Plan Category: 5001 - Enhance climate adaptation landscapes and communities
DISCUSSION:
A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a mechanism authorized in the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 <https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-1123/pdf/COMPS-1123.pdf> (HFRA) <https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-1123/pdf/COMPS-1123.pdf>to allow an at-risk community <https://bof.fire.ca.gov/media/0x5eysuw/ada-communities-at-risk.pdf> to collaboratively identify and prioritize fuel reduction projects on federal and non-federal land, and recommend measures to reduce the ignitability of structures.
A CWPP must meet the following criteria:
1) is developed collaboratively;
2) identifies and prioritizes fuel reduction project; and
3) recommends measures to reduce the ignitability of structures.
A benefit of maintaining a CWPP is that the HFRA gives funding priority to projects identified in a CWPP and directs federal agencies to consider recommendations identified in CWPPs and implement those projects on federal lands. This priority will also help communities be more competitive as they pursue CWPP implementation grants on their own to fund projects designed to reduce the risk of wildfire damage to their local communities.
CWPPs are reviewed and certified to meet the above criteria by the applicable local and Tribal governments, local fire departments and CAL FIRE, in consultation with interested parties and the U.S. Forest Service as the federal land management agency responsible for land management in the vicinity of the at-risk communities. Certification of a CWPP by these entities does not constitute plan adoption or approval but does represent the signees’ agreement that the contents of the plan conform to HFRA standards.
The Mid Klamath Watershed Council (MKWC) has submitted the Orleans-Somes Bar CWPP on behalf of the Orleans-Some Bar Fire Safe Council for review by the Board of Supervisors (Attachment 1). The MKWC requests that the Board certify that the CWPP was developed collaboratively, identifies fuel reduction projects and recommends measures to reduce the ignitability of structures.
The following identifies where in the plan these criteria are met:
• Collaborative effort is demonstrated throughout the plan and confirmed by the long list of partners and agencies found on page 5 of the CWPP.
• Fuel reduction projects are identified in Part 4. Community Hazard Reduction and Action Plan (particularly 4.2 and 4.3) and Appendix H. Prioritization is discussed in the “Summary of Priorities” section of Part 4. Figure 18: WKRP Overlay Assessment also illustrates priority areas using a point system.
• Measures to reduce structure ignitability are identified in Part 4. Community Hazard Reduction and Action Plan, 4.2 Fire Preparedness (particularly 4.2.1 and 4.2.6). The inclusion of the Appendix D: Home Risk Assessment also provides an abundance of measures to reduce structural ignitability.
Based on this evaluation, it can reasonably be found that the plan meets the HFRA standards of a CWPP without amendment or changes. Therefore, it is recommended that the Board of authorize the Chair of the Board to sign the CWPP “Reviewed Signature Page” found on page 5 of the document.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
There are no related costs to sign the CWPP’s review signature page to certify the document.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Orleans-Somes Bar Fire Safe Council and the Mid Klamath Watershed Counsel
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to certify the CWPP or ask for modifications or clarifications before doing so.
ATTACHMENTS:
The Orleans-Somes Bar Community Wildfire Protection Plan
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A