East Bay Regional Park District Board to Vote on Future
Wildfire Hazard Reduction and Resource Management Plan

Oakland, CA – On Tuesday, April 20, 2010, the East Bay Regional Park District will hold a public hearing at their board meeting to consider approval of a long-range wildfire fuels hazard  and resource management plan.  A vote will take place at the District’s Board Meeting to be held at the AC Transit Board room, 1600 Franklin Street in Oakland.  Open Session starts at 6:00 pm.  Public comments are welcome. 

The draft Wildfire Hazard Reduction and Resource Management Plan was completed in 2009 after three years of planning between District staff and outside consultants with an extensive public review process and on-site field trips. The plan is unique within the Park District in that it is the first comprehensive plan which strategically aims for a system-wide approach covering 13 parks and 19,000 acres. The District previously had worked on a park-by-park basis regarding wildland fire prevention. For the first time, the District was able to use computer generated modeling of potential wildfires and their spread to see which areas would be most vulnerable and plan accordingly.

Along with protecting public safety in hills communities, the plan takes a strategic approach  regarding ecological features within the park with a two-fold goal of maintaining each park’s scenic character while protecting natural resources.  A major challenge for all agencies in the East Bay is the rapid growth of non-native vegetation such as eucalyptus which, in dense, unmanaged stands, is highly flammable.  The plan generally recommends thinning of some eucalyptus, along with Monterey pine, which pose a hazard to residents or could contribute to rapid wildfire spread. 

The Park District works in a coordinated effort with all local fire protection agencies and cities to provide neighborhood fire protection by educating homeowners about designing fire safe homes and landscaping. Neighboring fire chiefs have enthusiastically supported the Park District’s proposed plan.
Funding is provided largely by Measure CC, a voter approved parcel-tax measure, designated for park and environmental maintenance and wildfire protection, passed in 2004.  The District will pursue other funding, such as grants from FEMA and the California Fire Safe Council, to augment the Measure CC funding.  The study area for the plan included 19,000 acres of which 3,600 acres are designated as needing some type of vegetation management treatment or maintenance program. Over 133 treatment areas have been identified in the project plan area and will be completed on a project-by-project basis over a number of years as funding becomes available.  Thirteen regional parks are slated for fuels treatment activities, including Anthony Chabot/Lake Chabot, Claremont Canyon, Huckleberry, Kennedy Grove, Leona Canyon, Miller Knox, Redwood, Point Pinole, Sibley, Sobrante Ridge, Temescal, Tilden, and Wildcat Canyon.  The Wildfire Hazard Reduction and Resource Management Plan has gone through an extensive environmental impact review (EIR). More information: www.ebparks.org/stewardship/fireplan.

The Park District Board Meetings are generally held at 2pm at the District’s corporate office however twice a year meetings are held in the evenings at various locations, which is why this meeting is at AC Transit, downtown Oakland. Attendees are encouraged to use street parking as most downtown parking garages close early.