Project Updates

December will mark the last month available to complete all work under the 2010 Santa Barbara Community Hazard Reduction Grant that has been funded in cooperation with the California Firesafe Council.

There is currently only a small amount of ground work left to be completed, in addition to the removal of several large Eucalyptus Trees that have been identified for removal, on the Eucalyptus Hill Road vegetation management unit project. These trees are either dead or pose a significant fire hazard. Work to remove these trees is taking place this week.

We are also in the final days of completing work in the Coyote Road/Circle Drive/Westmont project. That project is expected to be completed within the next 2 weeks.

It's Been A While.

"Before" on Coyote Road

Time does fly. Especially when you are busy and busy we are. With multiple projects in the works, I have found that I am a bit back logged updating pictures and projects. I will, over the next few weeks, be posting pictures about our activity through the Wildland Fire Suppression Assessment District over the past few months.

The picture above is one of the many reasons we have been so busy. We are 2 weeks into our last California Fire Safe Council Grant project area. This project area is a combination of the Coyote Road, Westmont/Las Barrancas. and Circle Drive Vegetation Management Units. Overgrown, loaded with exotic/invasive plants, and full of dead material that was hit hard during the 2008 Tea Fire, this project area leaves us with plenty to do.

Current project work is occurring on the parcels on the South end of Coyote Road. Work is being accomplished with a California Conservation Corp, Type I Fire Handcrew being run under the direction of Cal Fire. I expect that work that will take place, wildland fires permitting, throughout the next few weeks in hopes that we have completion by the Thanksgiving holiday.

While I don't have any "after" pictures uploaded yet, I have included some "before" shots to give you an idea of what we have been working with in this project.

Big Work Starts Tomorrow

Large Trees Throughout the Eucalyptus Hill Project

In addition to the ground work treatment that is accomplished through our projects, on many occasions, work will also require us to thin out, limb up and treat larger stands of mature trees. The Eucalyptus Hill Road project is a great example of a project area that has a dense stand of very tall, mature trees that have not been maintained. These Eucalyptus, Pittosporum and Palm trees are all invasive, contribute significantly to the overall fuel load in the area, create ladder fuels and limit the growth of more fire resistant native vegetation.

Over the next few week we will have a crew working through our project area to reduce the overall density of these larger Eucalyptus trees in the area.

It's A Jungle Out There



Before

 We are now two weeks into the Eucalyptus Hill Road project and our crews are making great progress. They have cut nearly 3 acres and are working on pulling that material out from a large canyon area located just off Eucalyptus Hill Road. This area currently poses a significant fire hazard due to the total fuel load comprised of dead vegetation, overgrown/unmaintained vegetation and invasive plants like pittosporum and eucalyptus trees that have taken over the area.

Through this project we will also be targeting the removal of some larger eucalyptus trees. Initial removal of these trees is set to begin Monday, August 27th


Vegetation Being Hauled Out



Eucalyptus Hill Road Project Begins

With the release of our bird nesting season requirements we broke ground this week on the Eucalyptus Hill vegetation management project. This project is expected to run through mid-October. A total of 26 acres is scheduled to be treated. Stay tuned for information and more pictures.

Behind The Scenes



Coyote/Circle/Westmont Project



Eucalyptus Hill Project

Now that our defensible space chipping services are wrapped up, our vegetation road clearance project doesn't start for two more months, and we are observing our vegetation management biological/environmental requirements during bird nesting season, you may find yourself wondering what we do.



Besides starting this blog off with a very long sentence, we are behind the scenes preparing for all of the work ahead of us this fall. Specifically, the remaining two projects funded in part by the National Fire Plan grant provided through the California Fire Safe Council. These remaining project areas, scheduled to be completed by December, will kick off in early August.



Work through these projects will occur outside of a homeowner’s defensible space requirement area (100' to 150' from edge of structure) in the large open spaces where multiple properties join together. Work on each parcel requires the Fire Department to enter into a signed Letter of Understanding. This document allows us to perform work on private property and also outlines future maintenance requirements. Work is performed according to the vegetation management specifications provided under the City’s 2004 Wildland Fire Plan.

The two project areas that we have scheduled for completion include the Eucalyptus Hill project area and the combined Coyote Road/Coyote Circle/Westmont-Las Barrancas project area. Treatment in these areas will occur on an estimated 15-20 acres and will be completed utilizing a combination of privately contracted crews and by the California Conservation Corps. crews provided by CAL FIRE.

FUNDING

Our current four Vegetation Management Projects are funded by two sources:

1. Wildland Fire Suppression Assessment District Funds
2. Funding provided by a National Fire Plan grant from the Cooperative Fire program of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, Pacific Southwest Region, through the California Fire Safe Council.

IS IT REALLY THE SAME PLACE?

Well, here we are, 6 working days since work began. Our crews are making fast progress.

Here is a quick glimpse into the work that is in progress. (This picture was taken "inside" of the area shown in the previous blog post pictures.)

LAS TUNAS PROJECT BREAKS GROUND THIS WEEK!

Over a year in the making, the Las Tunas/Mountain Drive vegetation management project finally broke ground this week. The 10 acre project involves cooperative agreements between private property owners and the Fire Department.

Through this project, the Fire Department, in conjunction with a USFS grant, funded through the California Fire Safe Council, will assist over 30 homeowners to complete additional defensible space work. This project will target the removal of dead, flammable, overgrown, invasive and unmaintained vegetation that makes the neighborhood prone to an increased risk from wildfires.

You can check out the early stages of this project in the location of Mountain Drive (just above Santa Barbara Tennis Club). Stay tuned for further pictures and information about this and future projects occuring this fall.

The pictures below show snapshots from the first day on the project. With the exception of the stacked vegetation, all other pictures were taken before any work was done. You can see we have our work cut out for us!