|
October 2011
PARKS & PARTNERS |
|
How can Fire damage Water?
Increased erosion after a wildfire can severely impact drinking water, as well as aquatic wildlife. Nutrients in ash can trigger algal blooms and loss of vegetation can cause large amounts of sediment to be washed into streams and lakes. Treatment costs go up and healthy water can become limited.
The Marin Municipal Water District is a key partner in the Bolinas Ridge Fuel Break along the shared border between NPS and MMWD in west Marin. This fuel break is critical to protection strategies for Kent Lake, the largest reservoir serving Marin County.
"We've invested over $62K in fuel reduction on Bolinas Ridge in the last couple of years," said Mike Swezy, MMWD watershed manager. "In 2009 we cleared about 7 acres of fuel break to create open understory similar to what NPS has done on the other side of the fire road. In 2011, we cleared about 25 acres of invading douglas-fir in the Ridgcrest Project south of Bolinas-Fairfax Road to maintain grasslands as desired fuel break conditions. We have also removed a lot of Sudden Oak Death killed tan oak under redwood forest adjacent to the road making access and egress under emergency conditions safer...."
If a wildfire got across Bolinas Ridge, there is no question, it would be very difficult to control.
BANNER PHOTO: Kent Lake in the Marin Municipal Water District, Marin County, as seen from west of Pine Mountain Fire Road. The Bolinas Ridge fuel break is on the opposite side of the far ridge. Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22127502@N04/3211117091/in/photostream/
|
|
 OCTOBER is Fire Safety Month
Do you have defensible space?
Listen to Captain Cary Gloeckner talk about the Defensible Space Evaluator class offered by Southern Marin Fire Protection District:
Part 1 - How to assess your home. (6:35 min)
Part 2 - What's the worst area? (5:28 min)
Part 3 - Agenda details for the workshop. (4:55 min)
Part 4 - What about cost? (2:01 min) |
|
|
|
