Fuel reduction and new community wildfire protection plans by 2010

As evidenced by the wild land fires of 2008, most wild land in Shasta County is highly susceptible to catastrophic wildfires.

In light of this very volatile environment, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors has contracted with the Western Shasta Resource Conservation District to update seven existing strategic fuel reduction plans and to develop a new Community Wildfire Protection Plan in western Shasta County by June 2010.

The fuel reduction plans will create a network of projects such as shaded fuel breaks, thinning and defensible space. Shaded fuel breaks are located mostly along fire access and escape routes to provide safer escape routes for residents and safer access for firefighters when wildland fires threaten.

Plans to be updated include the Cottonwood Creek Watershed Strategic Fuels Reduction and Management Plan, Cow Creek Watershed Strategic Fuels Reduction Plan, French Gulch Fuels Reduction and Management Plan, Lakehead Area Strategic Fuels Reduction Plan for Private Land, Lower Clear Creek Watershed Strategic Fuels Reduction Plan, Shasta West Strategic Fuels Management Plan and the Fire Safe Plan for the Shingletown Community.

These plans can each be viewed at www.westernshasta.org under the Shasta County Fire Safe Council link. The new Community Wildfire Protection Plan will include the Stillwater-Churn Creek watersheds and Jones Valley planning area.

Lee Delaney, fire safe program manager for the conservation district, stated that, "Most of the plans are five to nine years old and need updating."

"A review and update of the plans and development of the Stillwater-Churn Creek CWPP will point us in the right direction when we submit grant applications to construct or maintain fuel reduction projects," Delaney continued. "The updated plans will assure the projects are complimentary with each other and to what is occurring on adjoining private commercial forest lands. Approaching it on this manner will allow us to accomplish fuel reduction on a landscape basis in the long run rather than piece meal."

Delaney noted the effort demonstrates the county boards' dedication to reducing fire danger for Shasta County residents.

Meetings specific to each plan will be held throughout western Shasta County during the next several months. Public input is crucial to assure the best plans possible are developed, Delaney noted.

For information, contact Lee Delaney, Fire Safe Program Manager, at 530-365-7332, ext. 203. His email is lee@westernshastarcd.org.

The funding for the effort is from funds provided to Shasta County under the Federal Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act - Title III- County Funds. These funds are intended to support planning efforts to design fire safe communities.