Santa Cruz County Grand Jury • 2022-2023

Reducing Our Community’s Risk from Wildfire It Will Take Money, Time, and Serious Cooperation Santa Cruz and San Mateo

33 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 10 findings

F1
Vegetation reduction must become a major priority for the County to adequately protect communities, critical infrastructures, and ingress/egress routes from increasing wildfire risk.
Related Recommendations (3)
R3
By December 31, 2022, the Board of Supervisors should require County Fire to report directly to the Board of Supervisors on vegetation reduction planning and execution every six months. (F1, F9)
R4
By December 31, 2022, the Board of Supervisors should require the Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience to report directly to the Board of Supervisors on vegetation reduction planning and execution every six months. (F1, F10)
R5
By December 31, 2022, the Board of Supervisors should allocate funding for the strategic plan and community outreach recommended in this report. (F1, F2, F3,
F2
Currently, there is not a countywide strategy for prioritizing vegetation-reduction projects.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
By September 30, 2022, the Board of Supervisors should designate the appropriate lead agency to work with other local fire agencies to produce and publish the County Strategic Plan for Safe Movement and Community Protection in the Wildland Urban Interface by June 30, 2023. This document should include up-to-date wildfire risk levels across the County, along with prioritization and selection criteria for projects, and how completing them will reduce the wildfire risk to County residents. The criteria should emphasize public safety, including safe movement, community protection, and infrastructure fire resilience. (F1, F2,
R5
By December 31, 2022, the Board of Supervisors should allocate funding for the strategic plan and community outreach recommended in this report. (F1, F2, F3,
R9
Each year, during the budget presentation, the County Board of Supervisors should require County Fire to provide a vegetation-management plan, including a priority list of projects and a timeframe for their completion. Board of Supervisors’ Response to Recommendation 9: REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS: There is currently no funding for a vegetation-management plan for the County Fire Department. We currently coordinate with CAL FIRE on a priority list of projects that have timelines related to available funding. In order to implement such a process will require additional analysis and potential funding. To summarize the position of the Board of Supervisors two years ago: 1. Property owners are responsible for vegetation reduction on their property, not the County. 2. The County could improve its vegetation reduction activity on County-maintained roads. 3. County Fire does not have a plan. It coordinates with CAL FIRE to identify priority projects. 4. Because there is no funding for vegetation-management planning, the planning isn’t being done. 5. Priority projects are only done after grant funding has been obtained. Santa Cruz County Fire (County Fire) is Santa Cruz County’s fire department, discussed later in this report. CAL FIRE is the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also discussed later in this report. The Grand Jury determined that vegetation reduction along roadways is a major problem that the County must lead in solving. We wanted to understand what is really needed to protect our community from future wildfires, who is responsible for achieving it, and the County’s role in ensuring this work gets done. Protecting Communities from Wildfires The highest priority areas for vegetation reduction are those that are located within, or are adjacent to, the WUI, especially high-density, special needs, or disadvantaged communities.[14] [15] Within the WUI, vegetation reduction addresses the following high-priority community protection elements: ● Costly and difficult to rebuild public infrastructure ● Above-ground utility transmission lines for water, gas, and electricity ● Communications infrastructure, such as cell towers ● Water infrastructure, such as pump stations, water tanks, pipelines, and water treatment plants ● Communities ● Schools, hospitals, and government or commercial buildings ● Homes and agricultural buildings ● Transport and natural resources ● Ridges, truck trails, access roads, and evacuation routes ● Areas where fires pose a considerable threat to water supply and water quality Beyond the WUI, where infrastructure supporting nearby communities exists, that infrastructure must be protected. During the CZU Fire, communications infrastructure failed, limiting the ability to warn residents to evacuate. Protecting this infrastructure is critical.[4] The San Lorenzo Valley Water District also suffered significant damage to above-ground pipelines.[16] Much other essential infrastructure was damaged, slowing recovery operations. Creating fuel breaks is a well-understood and commonly applied vegetation reduction method. There are two types of fuel breaks: ● A fuel break is a gap in vegetation created by removing most of the vegetation in an area to prevent the spread of a fire, as shown in Figure 3. ● A shaded fuel break is created by the thinning of dense tree cover and removal of lower-level vegetation. Less material is removed than a full fuel break, as shown in Figure 4. Fuel breaks are more effective than shaded fuel breaks, but are generally used away from residential areas because of their aesthetics. Fuel breaks are often employed to protect critical infrastructure. A large fuel break constructed by the University of California at Santa Cruz enabled firefighters to halt the advance of the CZU Fire and protected the campus.[17] Another large fuel break was constructed during the CZU Fire in Henry Cowell State Park along a heavily forested ridge to prevent the fire from reaching San Lorenzo Valley High School and Highway 9. Shaded fuel breaks are frequently used along roadways, particularly those that may become evacuation routes in the event of a wildfire. Shaded fuel breaks are cheaper and easier to maintain, are less detrimental to sensitive habitat, and often have more community support.[18] Figure 3. Construction of a fuel break along a ridge[19] Figure 4. Construction of a shaded fuel break along an existing road[19] Two Major Elements to Protecting Our Communities Ensuring Safe Movement During Wildfires Providing safe evacuation routes, shelter-in-place locations, and access routes for fire crews enables safe movement for affected residents and emergency services. Safe movement is the responsibility of the state and local agencies described in
F3
County residents are not sufficiently informed of vegetation-management strategy, planning, and implementation.
Related Recommendations (3)
R2
The production of the strategic plan for vegetation management should be visible to County residents, and public opinion should be sought and included in the final document. (F3, F5, F7)
R5
By December 31, 2022, the Board of Supervisors should allocate funding for the strategic plan and community outreach recommended in this report. (F1, F2, F3,
R6
By December 31, 2022, the Board of Supervisors should direct County Fire, with support from the Resource Conservation District and the Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience, to report annually to the public on progress toward published goals for improving safe movement and community protection. The first report should be published by June 30, 2023. (F3, F7, F8) Commendation C1. The Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County is commended for its successful efforts in obtaining significant grants for vegetation reduction. Required Response Respond Within/ Respondent Findings Recommendations Respond By
F4
No single agency guides the County vegetation-reduction programs and projects, a situation that contributes to the observed lack of strategic planning. Funding Vegetation Reduction through the Grants Process
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
By September 30, 2022, the Board of Supervisors should designate the appropriate lead agency to work with other local fire agencies to produce and publish the County Strategic Plan for Safe Movement and Community Protection in the Wildland Urban Interface by June 30, 2023. This document should include up-to-date wildfire risk levels across the County, along with prioritization and selection criteria for projects, and how completing them will reduce the wildfire risk to County residents. The criteria should emphasize public safety, including safe movement, community protection, and infrastructure fire resilience. (F1, F2,
R9
Each year, during the budget presentation, the County Board of Supervisors should require County Fire to provide a vegetation-management plan, including a priority list of projects and a timeframe for their completion. Board of Supervisors’ Response to Recommendation 9: REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS: There is currently no funding for a vegetation-management plan for the County Fire Department. We currently coordinate with CAL FIRE on a priority list of projects that have timelines related to available funding. In order to implement such a process will require additional analysis and potential funding. To summarize the position of the Board of Supervisors two years ago: 1. Property owners are responsible for vegetation reduction on their property, not the County. 2. The County could improve its vegetation reduction activity on County-maintained roads. 3. County Fire does not have a plan. It coordinates with CAL FIRE to identify priority projects. 4. Because there is no funding for vegetation-management planning, the planning isn’t being done. 5. Priority projects are only done after grant funding has been obtained. Santa Cruz County Fire (County Fire) is Santa Cruz County’s fire department, discussed later in this report. CAL FIRE is the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also discussed later in this report. The Grand Jury determined that vegetation reduction along roadways is a major problem that the County must lead in solving. We wanted to understand what is really needed to protect our community from future wildfires, who is responsible for achieving it, and the County’s role in ensuring this work gets done. Protecting Communities from Wildfires The highest priority areas for vegetation reduction are those that are located within, or are adjacent to, the WUI, especially high-density, special needs, or disadvantaged communities.[14] [15] Within the WUI, vegetation reduction addresses the following high-priority community protection elements: ● Costly and difficult to rebuild public infrastructure ● Above-ground utility transmission lines for water, gas, and electricity ● Communications infrastructure, such as cell towers ● Water infrastructure, such as pump stations, water tanks, pipelines, and water treatment plants ● Communities ● Schools, hospitals, and government or commercial buildings ● Homes and agricultural buildings ● Transport and natural resources ● Ridges, truck trails, access roads, and evacuation routes ● Areas where fires pose a considerable threat to water supply and water quality Beyond the WUI, where infrastructure supporting nearby communities exists, that infrastructure must be protected. During the CZU Fire, communications infrastructure failed, limiting the ability to warn residents to evacuate. Protecting this infrastructure is critical.[4] The San Lorenzo Valley Water District also suffered significant damage to above-ground pipelines.[16] Much other essential infrastructure was damaged, slowing recovery operations. Creating fuel breaks is a well-understood and commonly applied vegetation reduction method. There are two types of fuel breaks: ● A fuel break is a gap in vegetation created by removing most of the vegetation in an area to prevent the spread of a fire, as shown in Figure 3. ● A shaded fuel break is created by the thinning of dense tree cover and removal of lower-level vegetation. Less material is removed than a full fuel break, as shown in Figure 4. Fuel breaks are more effective than shaded fuel breaks, but are generally used away from residential areas because of their aesthetics. Fuel breaks are often employed to protect critical infrastructure. A large fuel break constructed by the University of California at Santa Cruz enabled firefighters to halt the advance of the CZU Fire and protected the campus.[17] Another large fuel break was constructed during the CZU Fire in Henry Cowell State Park along a heavily forested ridge to prevent the fire from reaching San Lorenzo Valley High School and Highway 9. Shaded fuel breaks are frequently used along roadways, particularly those that may become evacuation routes in the event of a wildfire. Shaded fuel breaks are cheaper and easier to maintain, are less detrimental to sensitive habitat, and often have more community support.[18] Figure 3. Construction of a fuel break along a ridge[19] Figure 4. Construction of a shaded fuel break along an existing road[19] Two Major Elements to Protecting Our Communities Ensuring Safe Movement During Wildfires Providing safe evacuation routes, shelter-in-place locations, and access routes for fire crews enables safe movement for affected residents and emergency services. Safe movement is the responsibility of the state and local agencies described in
F5
The grants process is competitive, fragmented, and opaque, and lacks the published priorities and governance to ensure the money is well spent.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The production of the strategic plan for vegetation management should be visible to County residents, and public opinion should be sought and included in the final document. (F3, F5, F7)
F6
Santa Cruz County is obtaining significant vegetation reduction funding through the grants process but not sufficient to complete high-priority vegetation reduction areas in a reasonable time.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
County residents do not have easy access to grant prioritization and project selection criteria. County Fire Organization
Related Recommendations (2)
R2
The production of the strategic plan for vegetation management should be visible to County residents, and public opinion should be sought and included in the final document. (F3, F5, F7)
R6
By December 31, 2022, the Board of Supervisors should direct County Fire, with support from the Resource Conservation District and the Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience, to report annually to the public on progress toward published goals for improving safe movement and community protection. The first report should be published by June 30, 2023. (F3, F7, F8) Commendation C1. The Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County is commended for its successful efforts in obtaining significant grants for vegetation reduction. Required Response Respond Within/ Respondent Findings Recommendations Respond By
F8
Neither County Fire nor the Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience have staff or funding that are charged with creating, managing, and reporting on vegetation-reduction strategy, planning, and execution for the benefit of County residents.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
By December 31, 2022, the Board of Supervisors should direct County Fire, with support from the Resource Conservation District and the Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience, to report annually to the public on progress toward published goals for improving safe movement and community protection. The first report should be published by June 30, 2023. (F3, F7, F8) Commendation C1. The Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County is commended for its successful efforts in obtaining significant grants for vegetation reduction. Required Response Respond Within/ Respondent Findings Recommendations Respond By
F9
The County Fire/CAL FIRE Chief reporting to General Services does not give vegetation reduction sufficient priority and visibility.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
By December 31, 2022, the Board of Supervisors should require County Fire to report directly to the Board of Supervisors on vegetation reduction planning and execution every six months. (F1, F9)
F10
The Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience reporting to the County Administrative Officer does not give vegetation reduction sufficient priority and visibility.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
By December 31, 2022, the Board of Supervisors should require the Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience to report directly to the Board of Supervisors on vegetation reduction planning and execution every six months. (F1, F10)

Conclusions 2

Commendations 35

No Responses Found 1

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office