Coast Ridge Forest Council Pathway to Fire Resilient Landscapes on the Sonoma Coast
Project Overview
Basics
Coast Ridge Forest Council Pathway to Fire Resilient Landscapes on the Sonoma Coast
- Address Climate Change and Extreme Event Effects, Impacts and Vulnerabilities
- Document and Share the Sustainable Economic Benefits of Working Landscapes and Natural Areas
- Ensure that Disadvantaged and Underrepresented Communities Benefit from Initiatives
- Integrate Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Collaboration with Tribes
- Prioritize Plans, Projects and Actions that Result in Long Term Sustainability of Jobs & Revenues
- Protect and Enhance Forest Based Carbon
- Protect and Enhance Watersheds and Ecosystems that Provide Water Quality and Supply Benefits
- Respect Local Autonomy and Local Knowledge in NCRP Planning and Implementation
- Work across Jurisdictional Boundaries to Achieve Common Objectives Effectively and Efficiently
NCRP RFFC Technical Assistance (DOC)
Completed
The forested landscape of the Sonoma coast is characterized by overly dense timber stands and excess fuel loading. This area was damaged by wildfires in 54, 65, 78, and 2020. Following these fires, tanoak came back as the dominant tree vegetation type and is now being killed in significant numbers. These conditions continue to degrade the health of the region’s forests, rendering them vulnerable to wildfire and threatening the safety of communities and natural and cultural resources. Remedying these conditions requires a paradigm shift that focuses on landscape-level planning and long-term strategic coordination through partnerships and collaborations.
2023
2023
2024
11/4/2024
Project Attributes
General Information
Project Description Narrative (1,000 character limit)
In response to the 2017 fires, an early coalition of stakeholders formed the Sonoma Coast Collaborative to confront the threat of wildfire at a landscape level. While some problems and solutions were addressed individually and in the short term, most require long-term, strategic, and cross-sector coordination. By centralizing this work under the leadership of the Coast Ridge Forest Council, we aim to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce wildfire risk to people, communities, and natural and cultural resources while sustaining and restoring healthy, resilient fire-adapted forests. This collaborative approach relies on local knowledge and expertise while benefitting from the combined strengths of a robust network of partners with the experience and ability to improve vegetation mapping, navigate CEQA, inform decision-making based on the best available data and science, conduct community outreach and education, and coordinate vegetation management projects throughout the region.
Solutions
Capacity - Data and Planning, Capacity - Technical Assistance, Capacity - Year-round Local Capacity, Community Health and Safety - Fuel Breaks, Fire Resilient Forests - Beneficial Fire Capacity, Fire Resilient Forests - Fuel Management
Spatial Information
Tribal Region
None
Project Size (Acres)
1375
acres
Location
Organizations
| Contract Manager | |
| Funders | |
| Partners |
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| Project Sponsor | |
| Local and/or Political Support | County of Sonoma 5th District Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, North Bay Fire, Timber Cove Fire Protection District, North Sonoma Coast Fire |
Contacts
| Contact | |
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| Additional Representative |
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| Authorized Contact |
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Project Benefit Performance Measures
Expected Project Benefit Performance Measures
| Capacity Enhancement - # of projects | 1 count | |
| Capacity Enhancement - Type(s) of CE | Type: Technical Assistance | 1 |
| Environmental justice and social equity - # of projects | Activity focus: Capacity building | 1 count |
| Jobs created or retained (FTE) | 0.1 | |
| Technical Assistance - Type(s) of TA | Type of Technical Assistance: Plan development | Not Provided |
Reported Project Benefit Performance Measures
| Capacity Enhancement - # of projects | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Units | |
| 1 | count | |
| Total | 1 | count |
| Capacity Enhancement - Type(s) of CE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | 2024 | Units |
| Technical Assistance | 1 | number |
| Total | 1 | number |
| Jobs created or retained (FTE) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Units | |
| 0.1 | number | |
| Total | 0.1 | number |
| Technical Assistance - Type(s) of TA | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type of Technical Assistance | 2024 | Units |
| Plan development | 1 | number |
| Total | 1 | number |
| No accomplishments to report for: | |
| Year(s): | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Explanation: | all accomplishments reported in 2024 |
Financials
Budget
| Comment: | None provided |
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Reported Expenditures
| 2023 | 2024 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCRP Technical Assistance (CA Dept of Conservation) | $0.00 | $15,000.00 | $15,000.00 |
| Grand Total | $0.00 | $15,000.00 | $15,000.00 |
| Note: | None provided |
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Project Types
Project Types
This project is being added to Sonoma County's CWPP and will contribute available data, mapping, analysis, and monitoring for the region.
The project connects to regional wildfire resiliency work of Sonoma Land Trust, The Wildlands Conservancy, CA State Parks, and Kashia Band of Pomo Indians. Fuel reduction projects are underway on four subdivided ranches including Gualala Ranch, Navarro Ranch, and Sea View Ranch in Cazadero, and Muniz Ranches in Jenner. These projects are funded by a CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention grant. Partners on the 2022 CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention grant proposal are Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, Save the Redwoods League, Richardson Ranch LLC, and Rips Redwoods. Awards have not yet been announced.
CRCF is leading the way for fire prevention on the north Sonoma coast. We are working with four local fire services, from Cazadero to the Mendocino County border, to help build capacity for this work in their individual districts and together on fire prevention planning throughout the region. Working with local HOAs, community groups, and Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, we are providing through these projectsg trainings and tools to help build a local workforce and reduce fire risks. Partnerships with local, regional, and state agencies are building support for project development and funding.
CRFC is working with multiple operators in the area to develop a local workforce for fuel reduction work. We are partnering with Fire Forward on prescribed fire offering trainings and opportunities for hand crews and local operators for site preparation. Through our partnership with UCCE, we are developing a grazing school to expand the network of community grazers who can provide contract grazing for fuel reduction and vegetation management.
Seven community workshops were held in 2022 with more than 150 people in attendance. Two prescribed fires brought more than 100 local residents and community groups together for workdays, trainings, and the fire event. Through our partnership with UCCE, CRFC developed a grazing school to increase the network of community grazers in local communities along the coast. CRFC executive director will present a talk on collaboration at the Sonoma County Forest Working Group Conference in June 2023 further increasing support and capacity throughout the north coast.
The collaborative project aims to improve forest ecosystem health and minimize the impacts of future wildfires. Project activities include the construction of shaded fuel breaks, targeted grazing and prescribed burning as tools to reduce hazardous fuels and improve soil health, biochar workshops and demonstrations, and partnering with a local forest collective that utilizes small diameter trees for designed collections of wood products.
Phase I of this multi-phased project was a fuel reduction and evacuation route shaded fuel break. This project was prioritized in an evacuation planning meeting with CalFire and local fire chiefs. It is the main access to four rural communities and a model for similar projects in the region. Creating defensible space and home hardening are at the core of fall community outreach meetings.
There are a range of projects which could include thinning, pruning, fuels reduction (by hand labor, mechanized labor, livestock, prescribed fire, piles and herbicide applications), planting and restoration efforts to restore the landscape from several significant wildfires since the 1950s, the current pest problems which range from Sudden Oak Death, pitch canker, and several insect issues, to expanding forest cover to areas which have been cleared for historic practices. The general idea is to thin out overstocked stands, encourage multi-aged stands, & reduce competition for healthy stands.
Project Details
Attachments
Coast Ridge Forest Council Application
- Uploaded On
- 5/18/2023
- File Type
- Description
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Notes
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External Links
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