Addressing WUI Wildfire Buffer Gaps
The communities throughout Santa Barbara County have varying degrees of wildfire buffer along their WUI edges. Goleta benefits from significant portions of its WUI edged by irrigated orchards
Project Fundraising, Management and Collaboration Facilitation Capacity
Building resilience will require implementing the projects listed in the RPP, and doing so requires additional capacity to catalyze partnerships, further project planning, prepare compelling grant proposals, and successfully managing projects.
Assessment of Jurisdictional Wildland Firefighting Liability: Assessment and Education for Electeds
This is an educational tool that LAFCO needs to weigh the cost of wildfire suppression when considering a SOI, or more importantly, an annexation that involves any land with inherent fire severity.
Countywide Fine Resolution LIDAR Data
There is a long term need to acquire Santa Barbara County wide, cross jurisdictional, LIDAR data in addition to the periodic orthographic overflights that are undertaken for aerial mosaic mapping product needs.
Countywide Evacuation Route Assessment
Undertake a comprehensive evacuation study countywide across all jurisdictions to review existing evacuation routes for potential improvements. This has been done for smaller areas like portions of Mission Canyon…
Firefighting Infrastructure Needs Assessment
This project would refine our understanding of countywide needs for additional wildfire infrastructure (station upgrades, engines, safe areas, crews) building on the City Gate report that documented SBCFD infrastructure needs…
Emergency Response Dispatch System Integration
The current countywide dispatch system for all emergency response is grouped under the Sheriff's Department including fire and law enforcement. Each fire district and law enforcement agency (e.g. Santa Barbara City Police Department)…
Wildfire Literacy Education: Educational Forum for Community Leaders
There is a need to enhance elected officials' understanding of the nuances and complexities of wildfire and its impact and importance in every arena of government activity. Wildfire helps define community needs…
Home Hardening Fund Communities in high fire risk portions of the WUI are top priority places to support home hardening and emergency preparedness.
There is a need to help homeowners prepare their homes for wildfire across the county, particularly those in more vulnerable areas and those who lack resources or know how.
Coordination of WUI Projects Across Management Entity Boundaries for example with LPNF, VAFB, Land Trusts, and County Parks
When fires occur, they often start in areas of the national forest and enter into the unincorporated WUI portions of the County. There is a need to conduct detailed mapping of invasive, flammable vegetation or other fire risks…
Restoration with a Fire Resilience Focus: Riparian Restoration in Goleta Valley to Reduce Fire Risk
Healthy riparian corridors with natural unimpaired hydrology are natural fire breaks, with well watered vegetation acting to catch and extinguish embers and dampen fire advancement.
Prescribed Grazing: Develop a Countywide Plan
Prescribed grazing (also known as prescribed herbivory) enables fuel treatment in sloped and difficult to access areas where other vegetation management options are challenging or impractical.