SFPUC 2001 Alameda Watershed Management Plan

III. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND IMPACTSG. FIRE MANAGEMENTenvironmental review at a more detailed project-specific and site-specific level were necessary.Table II-1 identifies the specific management actions that are likely to require such study.Use of Prescribed BurnsFire is a naturally occurring ecological phenomenon within virtually all terrestrial communitiesoccupying Mediterranean climates. Prescribed burns, other than open burning of wastevegetation (pile burns), have not been employed historically within the Watershed. A generalfire suppression program has resulted in a heavy accumulation of fuel within the AlamedaWatershed. The prescribed burn method employs the natural process of fire to reduce fuel mass(available vegetation and vegetative litter) and can be used areawide (broadcast) or in restrictedspots (pile). Prescribed fire is an effective treatment in that it can be very cost effective, can beimplemented in remote and inaccessible areas, and can reduce desired levels of surface fuels.Prescribed fire is most effective in vegetation types such as grassland, eucalyptus groves, pinestands, chaparral, or oak woodland, where burns can simulate natural fires and can be controlled.Both broadcast and pile burning are often used in conjunction with manual and mechanicaltechniques as a way to remove debris. Prescribed fire is deemed an appropriate fire managementtool in the Alameda Watershed Management Plan (Policy F11), and several projects within theFire Management Element, as well as one of the Wildlife actions call for the use of thistechnique (Actions fir8 and wil7).The risks of using fire to modify fuels are primarily from smoke production, exposure of visitorsto fire outbreak under difficult rescue conditions, and potential escape of the fire from prescribedburn boundaries. Thus, prescribed burns would pose a potentially significant safety risk toSFPUC staff, visitors, adjacent landowners, and occupants. Use of prescribed fire is also apolitically sensitive issue and requires public outreach and education so that concerned citizensmay understand the benefits, risks, and safety of prescribed burns.Table III.G-3 links those management actions that could result in physical effects on Watershedresources with the full range of management actions that could be required to reduce thepotential physical effects. Under the Management Plan, the most important means of reducingpotential physical effects from prescribed burns would be for the CDF to develop a prescriptionor burn plan (Policy F9). The requirements for a prescribed burn would include: developing ofa pre-burn plan or prescriptions, coordinating with regulating agencies to review potential sitespecificenvironmental impacts, procuring a burn permit from the Bay Area Air QualityManagement District, preparing the pre-burn site, and notifying the public and neighboringagencies.Prescribed burns would occur only when conditions permit both adequate combustion andcontrol. Therefore, carrying out prescribed burns requires flexibility in the scheduling ofequipment and control personnel in order to respond to weather conditions. Prescribed burnsrequire trained fire protection personnel and would likely be conducted in coordination with theCDF as part of its Vegetation Management Program.NOP 96.223E: Alameda Watershed Management Plan III.G-12 ESA / 930385January 2001