Agenda

Return

D.4

To:	Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors
From:	Lewis T. Broschard III, Chief, Contra Costa Fire Protection District
Date:	February 8, 2022

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

CAL FIRE California Climate Investments Fire Prevention Grants Program - Shaded Fuel Break

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 02/08/2022

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, Director
Candace Andersen, Director
Diane Burgis, Director
Karen Mitchoff, Director
Federal D. Glover, Director

Contact:

Lewis T. Broschard III, Fire Chief (925) 941-3300

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: February 8, 2022
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

ADOPT Resolution 2022/2 approving and authorizing the Fire Chief, or designee, to apply for and accept grant funding from the CAL FIRE California Climate Investments Fire Prevention Grants Program in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 for the creation of a shaded fuel break.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The grant application request will not exceed $5,000,000. There is no local agency cost sharing requirement. The grant award may be lower than the amount requested.

BACKGROUND:

CAL FIRE California Climate Investments Fire Prevention grants support projects that focus on hazardous fuels reduction, wildfire prevention planning, and wildfire prevention education.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The CCCFPD Lafayette/Walnut Creek Shaded Fuel Break (Project) will significantly reduce the threat of uncontrolled wildfire and associated greenhouse gas emissions by reducing high fuel concentrations and disrupting the horizontal and vertical continuity of fuel beds. The tree canopy formed by healthy mature trees will remain largely intact to reduce the future growth of brush and understory vegetation and to preserve sequestered carbon in existing trees. The desired result is to restore fuel loading to more natural levels that can be maintained by the periodic introduction of prescribed fire.

This Project will result in the collective protection of over 10,000 residents by creating a shaded fuel break approximately 12 miles in length. Expected outcomes include reduction of biomass of woody and vegetative material available for combustion; significant reduction in the probability of uncontrolled wildfires from starting or entering the area; increasing the effectiveness of defensible space surrounding residential structures in the area; decreasing the amount of woody and vegetative material that is available for conversion to greenhouse gasses by unplanned wildfire; and providing for a safer community.

The Project is a fuels reduction effort that will involve the use of hand crews, chippers, and medium duty excavators equipped with forestry rotary brush cutters on articulating arms. The excavators will work from existing fire trails or roads to reduce soil disturbance and will focus on removing ladder fuels and accumulated ground fuels within mechanical reach of a fire trail or road. In areas that the excavators cannot reach, work will be accomplished using hand crews and chippers.

Once awarded the grant, the Fire District will initiate a public outreach campaign to community stakeholders and environmental advocacy groups to build momentum and support for the project. Simultaneously, the Fire District will post an RFP for hand crew/masticator contractors. As contracts are awarded, the Fire District will begin scheduling work units dependent on time of year and weather conditions.

All project and activity work related to the grant will be completed by March 15, 2026, in accordance with grant program requirements.