Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Peggy Jensen, Interim Parks Director
Subject: Letter of Support for the California Vegetation Treatment Program's Draft Program Environmental Impact Report
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to sign the proposed Letter of Support regarding the California Vegetation Treatment Program's Draft Program Environmental Impact Report.
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BACKGROUND:
Vegetation overgrowth and the effects of climate change have contributed to a dangerous alteration in California's wildfire season. To mitigate the resulting wildfire threats to vulnerable communities, many land management agencies are working to reduce fire fuels and restore and preserve critical habitat. The Department is working to achieve these objectives by, among other things, partnering with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection ("CAL FIRE") to maintain and create shaded fuel breaks, dedicating greater financial resources to stewardship activities, and offering additional training opportunities so staff can implement more fuel reduction and habitat restoration projects. Because a significant amount of work is required to reduce wildfire threats, greater efficiencies in the project implementation process are needed.
The objective of the California Vegetation Treatment Program ("CalVTP") is to reduce wildfire risks through the use of authorized vegetation treatment activities. These activities can be implemented by CAL FIRE, public agencies and organizations funded by CAL FIRE grants, or public agencies that own or manage qualified lands. Treatment is only able to occur after the project has gone through an environmental review process.
While the primary benefit of the CalVTP is the authority it grants CAL FIRE to treat up to 250,000 acres annually, another advantage is the streamlining of vegetation m...
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