The New Normal Sustainable and Firewise Landscaping. UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County Mimi Enright, Program Manager

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1 The New Normal Sustainable and Firewise Landscaping UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County Mimi Enright, Program Manager

2 Sustainable & Firewise Landscaping Framework & Agenda Sustainable & firewise landscaping Rebuilding soil after fire Landscape design for defensible space Maintenance & water use for a firewise garden

3 October, 2017 Nor Cal: 172 wildfires Tubbs Fire: 36,807 acres Pocket Fire: 17,357 acres Nuns Fires: 56,556 acres Total: 110,720 acres Structures Destroyed: 7,010

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6 Wildfire is Important Photo: Redwood National Park Fire adapted species need fire to become established or survive Keeps forests and rangelands open Maintains oak woodlands Can promote wildlife habitat Removes fuels Frequent low intensity wildfire, reduces future high intensity wildfire

7 Conserve Water Right Plant, Right Place Protect & Encourage Wildlife Protect Water Quality Sustainable Gardening Incorporate IPM Conserve Energy Nurture the Soil

8 Why Sustainable Gardening? The key goals of sustainable gardening practices are to: sustain water availability and quality reduce off-site water movement into storm drains, creeks, rivers & lakes reduce energy use reduce our green waste to landfill prevent soil degradation facilitate wildlife, and reduce the spread of invasive plant species

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11 Summer Temperature Trends

12 Rainfall Trends in Sonoma County

13 Climate & Increased Wildfire A rapidly warming climate may increase wildfire in California and the western United States in the near term, particularly in montane forests of the region, as greater evapotranspiration combines with highly variable precipitation to produce more frequent and intense droughts with drier vegetation. (Westerling, 2018)

14 Climate & Increased Wildfire The presence and characteristics of wildfires are determined by biophysical factors : Temperature Moisture Wind Vegetation and anthropogenic factors: Ignitions development at the wildland- urban interface wildfire suppression activities (Mann et al., 2016).

15 What is the WUI? Wildland Urban Interface: The area where urban and suburban development meets undeveloped areas containing natural vegetation. So why is it important?

16 Wildfire in the U.S. 10 year Average Acres Burned 7,000,000 6,000,000 5,000,000 4,000,000 3,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 0 There has been a 72% population increase in WUI areas since the 1960s.

17 There is no guarantee. Caerleon Safford, Fire Safe Sonoma: There were things we were very worried about that happened. There were things we didn t think would happen that happened. Homes with all of the right stuff burned. Homes with none of the right stuff survived.

18 However... The information we will be presenting is firmly based in research. The principles are valid. There is no such thing as a fireproof WUI home, especially in extreme conditions. It is well worth the time, expense and effort to follow the principles. We hope you can move forward with some good tools and ideas for a fire-adapted home.

19 Homeowner action is key. Lately, there is more fire than there are firefighters. YOUR WORK will be the most effective defense for your home.

20 So What Can We do? During wildfires, home ignition is primarily related to: Vulnerabilities on the structure itself Fuels 100+ feet surrounding it. Weather Position on slope Jack Cohen, USFS

21 Know the basics of fire: Fuel + Oxygen + Heat = Fire Which of these 3 can you control? Fuel is anything that will burn Dry or dead vegetation Wood siding, roofing, fencing Trees Woody shrubs or perennials Landscape mulch

22 Direct Flame Radiant Heat

23 Embers

24 Start with the House and work out!

25 Two Guiding Principles to prevent wildfire home ignitions: Harden structures to resist ignition AND Decrease surrounding vegetation

26 Structure Survival Priorities for Wildland Fire : Dr. Steve Quarles, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) 1 Roof / Edge 2 Vents Exposure from embers that may have been blown a mile or more. Embers can also ignite near-home vegetation and debris. 3 Vegetation/Defensible Space and STUFF 4 Windows 5 Decks 6 Siding Ember, radiant, and/or flame impingement exposures from nearhome vegetation, other structures, and wildfire

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28 Defensible Space

29 Fire Safe Councils Education and outreach Planning, such as Community Wildfire Protection Plans Community fuels reduction projects

30 Community Wildfire Protection Plans Collaboratively developed Identify community assets and risks Prioritize methods and strategies to reduce risk Identify funding sources and local solutions

31 Red Flag Warnings Issued by National Weather Service when conditions for a fire are at the highest 3 criteria are considered: Sustained wind speeds Relative humidity 10 hour fuel moisture See our Firewise: Red Flag Warning Days handout for specific hints & tips!

32 Current Scientific Studies Sonoma County Fires Produce Safety After Urban Wildfire in Sonoma County (citizen science) Soil Sampling (citizen science) UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) Bay Area Air Quality Management District

33 Current Scientific Studies Sonoma County Fires Chemical exposures of firefighters (UC-Berkeley) Impact of toxicants on food animals (backyard chickens) (UC-Davis) Ash and air quality (UC-Davis)

34 Visit The UC Master Gardener of Sonoma County Firewise Landscaping web page!

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36 Sonoma Marin Water Saving Partnership Collaborative of 10 utilities in Sonoma and Marin Counties Formed in 2010 to maximize the cost effectiveness of water conservation in Sonoma and Marin and identify water use efficiency programs Regional and coordinated approach

37 Thank you! To all of the Master Gardeners who stepped up after the October 2017 fires to create firewise landscaping content for our community. Special thanks to Cal Fire, Fire Safe Sonoma, Yana Valachovic, UCCE Humboldt County & Van Butsic, UC Berkeley for sharing slides!