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The Marinview subdivision, comprised
of 259 high value homes, is located at the southern end of
Tamalpais Valley, along the border of Golden Gate National
Recreation Area (GGNRA). Approximately 25 acres of vegetation
was treated in strategic locations within Marinview and on
adjacent GGNRA land during the 2002, 2003 and 2004 field seasons.
These treatments were done to reduce the wildland fire hazard
created by dense vegetation surrounding the subdivision, including
a eucalyptus grove immediately downslope of structures. The
treatments were designed to create defensible space around
structures; to re-establish a shaded fuel break on County
Open Space lands within the subdivision; to replace flammable
non-native eucalyptus with a more fire resistant native plant
community; and to improve firefighter access and public evacuation
during a wildfire.
During the fall and winter of 2002-2003,
1.5 acres of eucalyptus was removed from GGNRA land, southwest
of the Marinview subdivision. Also in 2002-2003, fuel was
removed from 21 acres of county-owned land within the subdivision
in a wildland-urban interface, community assistance project.
During 2003-2004, 3 additional acres of eucalyptus was removed
from GGNRA land.
The eucalyptus treatment on GGNRA land involved removing all
stages of the grove, from new shoots to mature trees up to
40 inches in diameter. The work was carried out by a contractor
under the direction of the GGNRA Fire Management Officer and
staff. The project successfully removed 4.5 acres within a
15 acre grove. The eucalyptus treated in 2002-2003 was cut
into haul truck lengths, cabled to the top of the slope, and
loaded onto trucks for removal. The eucalyptus treated in
2003-2004 was cut and stacked into 40 piles which were later
burned in February 2005 by GGNRA Fire Mangement staff.
The treatment within the Marinview subdivision
involved removing eucalyptus and pine saplings, weeds, and
dead and down material which was piled and later burned by
Southern Marin Fire Protection District. This community assistance
project was a cooperative effort between Marin County Fire
Department, Southern Marin Fire Protection District, Tamalpais
Community Services District, FIRESafe MARIN, Marin County
Open Space District, and the National Park Service.
Planning for fuel removal near Marinview
was a collaboration between Southern Marin Fire Protection
District, Marin County Fire Department, and the National Park
Service. Outreach was conducted with the subdivision residents
through the homeowners' association. Fuel reduction to enhance
fire protection for Marinview was identified as a high priority
in the Marin County Fire Plan, which ranks this area as a
very high risk zone.
Contact: Alex Naar, Fire Management
Officer
Phone: (415) 331-6374 |
