Restoration with a Fire Resilience Focus: Mapping and Removal of Invasive and Non-native Species that Exacerbate Fire Risk

The restoration recommendations detailed in other restoration items in the Regional Priority Plan would also require the removal of invasive and non-native species from other high priority areas in the WUI. Creeks and terrestrial areas both benefit from the removal of invasive and non-native flammable species, and an inventory of focus areas where this treatment would occur in high risk fire areas of the County would be highly beneficial in reducing fire threats, such as the detailed report prepared for the Goleta Valley by the EDC, entitled "Goleta Watersheds and Wildland-Urban Interfaces Enhancing Fire Safety and Riparian Forest Health" (to view click here). Doing this at scale will require a concerted effort to map the locations of invasive species that need to be addressed. Once mapped, removal efforts could be conducted in concert with volunteer organizations like the Bucket Brigade, the Conservation Corps and alongside a neighborhood chipping program to facilitate the removal of debris. This kind of project could create openings to approach neighborhoods that have not formed formal associations to create new neighborhood networks around fire resilience. Los Padres Forest recently completed a Forest-Wide Invasive Plant Treatment Program EA in 2020 available here, that may serve as a model for areas outside of the forest boundary.

Status: In Progress (EDC has also just completed a report for Mission Canyon similar to the Goleta Watersheds analysis and report. Still requires an area by area approach until we address the highest risk areas including terrestrial.)

Cost: Medium

Partners:

Permitting: Site-specific CEQA may be required if not already addressed as part of existing County fire management plans or the California VTP that have undergone CEQA review. This will be determined once the project boundaries, scope, and details are specified. Work completed in the coastal zone may require a Coastal Development Permit. Coordination with CDFW/USFWS (if a federally-listed species is present) may be needed to assess potential impacts to ESH or species.

Funding Sources: