MVFSC projects are based on our completed Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) that includes an assessment of the wildfire risks in our community. The identification and prioritization of the projects have been reviewed by agencies or people including CalFIRE. A few basic concepts are to:

• Do work that will help to protect lives of civilians and emergency responders.

• Ensure civilians can get out and emergency responders can get in on county and private roads.

• Create Shaded fuel breaks* on ridgelines, along and from roads to those ridgelines allowing CalFIRE to conduct offensive and defensive operations that will limit the spread, severity and size of Wildland fires to “compartments” in the Mayacamas watershed.

• Grants were applied for and awarded to fund the projects that do not cost taxpayers or members of our community anything. Property owner support and permission is essential and appreciated by all those people involved in getting the work done.

*Shaded Fuel Break

A shaded fuel break is the process of selectively thinning and removing more flammable understory vegetation while leaving the majority of larger, more fire tolerant tree species in place. Typically, the tree canopy is thinned to reduce the potential for a crown fire to move through the canopy. The woody understory vegetation is likewise thinned out. The shade of the retained canopy helps reduce the potential for rapid re-growth of shrubs and sprouting hardwoods and can reduce erosion. It is Not clear cutting.

Pending Projects That Have Been Awarded Grants

Bald Mountain Legacy Fire Road Project #1 is a fuels reduction and tree removal project that targets the residents along the Bald Mountain Ridge Rd. This is a legacy fire break that runs North/South along the Napa/Sonoma County Line parallel and above Wall Rd. This Legacy Fire Road (LFR) serves several residents located on private drives and extends nearly three miles north as a dirt road along the ridge top towards Bald Mountain and Sugarloaf State Park. The project is a shaded fuel break project that will create fuel setbacks that range between 30-80ft on either side of the ridge road depending on the terrain. This is the first of several projects that the MVFSC is undertaking in conjunction with the newly established Mayacamas Fire Safe Council. As a joint priority our intention is to utilize this initiative to help standup that organization, train them on funding requests and cross train them on the project and vendor management associated with an initiative of this scale.

• Dry Creek to Old Ridge Road Legacy Fire Road Project #2 is a fuels reduction and tree removal project that targets the residents living on a series of paved and dirt roads that serve the residents at 4523-4717 Dry Creek Road. This is a legacy fire break that will connect Dry Creek Road to the Old Ridge Road Shaded Fuel Break. This Legacy Fire Road (LFR) serves seven residents located on private drives and extends one mile to the ridge top. The project is a shaded fuel break project that will create fuel setbacks that range between 30-80ft on either side of the ridge road depending on the terrain. Fuels consist of densely forested areas, as wells as dead and dying trees from the recent fires. Treatment will include thinning, limbing, and bucking fallen trees. Pruning debris will be chipped and broadcast on site.

• Mt Veeder Ridge Road Legacy Fire Road #3 is a fuels reduction and tree removal project that targets the residents along the Mt Veeder Ridge Rd which is a legacy fire break that runs north south along the Napa Sonoma County Line and parallel to Mt Veeder Rd. This Legacy Fire Road (LFR) serves several residents located on private drives and extends nearly three miles south as a dirt road along the ridge top towards the Archer Taylor Preserve . The project is a shaded fuel break project that will create fuel setbacks that range between 30-80ft on either side of the ridge road depending on the terrain. Treatment will include thinning, limbing, and bucking fallen trees. Pruning debris will be chipped and broadcast on site. This is the second of several projects that the MVFSC is undertaking in conjunction with the newly established Mayacamas Fire Safe Council.

• 1300-1310 LAR#10 is a fuels reduction and removal project that targets the residents at addresses 1300 and 1310 Mt Veeder Rd which is a Limited Access Road connecting Mt Veeder to the top of the ridge and the Old Ridge Road (ORR) Shaded Fuel Break. The ORR is a feature that was developed with funds from CFSC, PG&E and CalFire and it acts as a ridge top fire break. LAR#10 is a further investment in this feature to ensure there is adequate access from the Southwest side of the ridge off of Mt Veeder Road.

• This Limited Access Road (LAR) serves the 2 residents and vineyard properties located on the private drive and then extends nearly .5 miles east and south as a dirt road along the ridge top in an open vineyard. The project is a shaded fuel break project that will create fuel setbacks that range between 30-80ft on either side of the driveway depending on the terrain.

• 1525-1601 LAR#2 is a fuels reduction and removal project that targets the residents at addresses 1525-1601 Oakville Grade Rd and serves the 7 residents located on the private drive. The project is a shaded fuel break project that will create fuel setbacks that range between 20-50ft on either side of the driveway depending on the terrain. Fuels consist of mixed scrub and shrub as well as densely forested areas. Treatment will include thinning, limbing, and bucking fallen trees. Pruning debris will be chipped and broadcast on site.

• Oakville Ridge Road LAR#3 is a fuels reduction and removal project that targets the residents at addresses 1835-1865 Oakville Grade Rd and 5780 Dry Creek Rd. This Limited Access Road (LAR) serves the 4 residents located on the private drive. The project is a shaded fuel break project that will create fuel setbacks that range between 20-50ft on either side of the driveway depending on the terrain.

List of Completed Projects

The Old Ridge Road Shaded Fuel Break is located on the ridgetop above and to the west of Dry Creek Rd. This fuel break was effectively used by many Fire Agencies during the October 2017 fires. It helped to slow or stop the fire’s spread in some places.

1. Limited Access Road (LAR)#1 Connects the Old Ridge Road Shaded Fuel Break to Dry Creek Road. Many hazardous trees were removed that could have blocked ingress/egress along the road for both residents and Fire or Law Enforcement Agencies.

2. Veeder Loop LAR#5 was a fuels reduction and removal project that targeted the residents at addresses 3405-3655 Mt Veeder Rd. This Limited Access Road (LAR) starts on Mt. Veeder Rd. loops uphill serving the 8 residents located on the private drive and ends back on Mt. Veeder Rd.. The project is a shaded fuel break project that has created fuel setbacks that range between 20-50ft on either side of the driveway depending on the terrain.

3. Redwood Road LAR#6 The MVFSC Limited Access Road 6 Project was a fuels reduction and removal project that targeted the residents at addresses 3600-3665 Redwood Rd. This Limited Access Road (LAR) serves the 5 residents located on the private drive. The project is a shaded fuel break project that will create fuel setbacks that range between 20-50ft on either side of the driveway depending on the terrain. Treatment will include thinning, limbing, and bucking fallen trees. Pruning debris will be chipped and broadcast on site.

4. LAR#7 was another shaded fuel break that connects Dry Creek Rd. to the Old Ridge Road shaded fuel break and helps to compartmentalize the terrain.

5. Lokoya Community Fuel Reduction Project. This project complimented a previous shaded fuel break project in the same area from 2014 by enlarging and finishing the perimeter fuel modification along Lokoya Road and old fire roads thus providing an alternative means for fire suppression equipment to access area and for resident to evacuate area in the case of a major wildland fire.

6. Wall Road Wall Road serves approximately 30 residents located on a public road that extends from Dry Creek Road. This is a one way in and out road that had tremendous fuel build up. Fuels consisted of mixed oak and bay forest as well as densely forested undergrowth including Douglas Fir and areas of Redwood stands. Treatment will included thinning, limbing, and bucking fallen trees. Pruning debris was chipped and broadcast on site. This project accomplished Fuel modification along Wall Road within County Right of Way (15’ from pavement edge both sides of the road). Removal of many dead or dying trees/limbs overhanging the road. This will be an important fuel break to slow the eastern or western advance of a fire through the Mayacamas range. The project is a shaded fuel break project that will create fuel setbacks that range between 20-50ft on either side of the road depending on the terrain. This project is consistent with the MVFSC effort to compartmentalize the area of responsibility to improve the protection of lives and property as it relates to timely egress for residents and access for fire and emergency response personnel. In addition to the protection of life and property this road is vital to the protection of the larger watershed of Dry Creek of the lower Mayacamas range which is a critical system that directly and indirectly impacts the water needs of the Napa Valley through water tables and reservoirs. This project is a vital part of our effort to provide larger residential populations with adequate means of egress.

7. The Cove and Enchanted Hills Camp benefited from fuel reduction and education projects.