Lawrence County Community Wildfire Protection Plan - Black Hills ...

project will help insure this importantinfrastructure is more prepared to survivea wildfire event.There are 16 active water intakes thatwould be in jeopardy in the event of acatastrophic wildfire. Treatment areas havebeen identified which will help protect thiscritical infrastructure. These treatmentareas need to receive treatments whichwould significantly reduce the threat of astand replacement type fire within theidentified treatment areas. Adequatecanopy spacing within these treatmentareas should be maintained to reduce thechance of a sustained crown fire. Surfacefuel loads need to be treated to reduce theamount of debris that could threaten thewater system infrastructure in the event ofa fire and subsequent precipitation events,upstream and upslope from the waterintakes. GIS data of these treatment areaswill be provided to agencies as required.There are 2 collection points on theClark & Bowen Ditch; these intakes are atrisk due to over stocked stand conditions.The identified treatment areas consist ofapproximately 381 acres that are upstreamand upslope from the intake points.There are 3 collections intakes on thePeake Ditch which are also at risk. Theidentified treatment areas for these 2 sitesconsist of approximately 1,473 acres.There are 3 water intakes on the LittleRapid Ditch that will require mitigationefforts to protect critical infrastructure.These areas consist of approximately 910acres.The Spearfish Ditch has 7 collectionpoints. This area consists of approximately1,455 acres that also needs mitigationefforts.The Hanna pump house intake alsois at risk, and 440 acres have beenidentified to help protect this critical area.This water collection system is thesole source of water to these communitiesand mitigation efforts should beimplemented as soon as possible to helpensure the integrity of the water system.The Lead Deadwood Sanitary Districtwill be contacted whenever there is any typeof work to be performed in the vicinity ofany of the components of the watercollection system including pipes, lines,structures, intake basins or any othercomponent of the system. Collaborationbetween entities is very import to protectthis important infrastructure which servesthe municipalities in central LawrenceCounty.RisksThe risk of wildfire occurring inLawrence County is evident based on thefire history within the County. Ignitions haveoccurred from railroads, vehicles, lightning,sawmills, burning debris, power lines,incendiary, and other human causedevents. Lawrence County has seen a largeamount of rural development over the pastseveral years. These areas are typicallysmaller tracts of land that are being brokenup into subdivisions for individualdevelopment. Considering the increasingnumber of people living in WUI areas,mitigating the risk from wildfire must be apriority. Utilizing better community planningof WUI areas, using Firewise choices topreserve life and property, updating firesuppression apparatus and by utilizingpublic education we can possibly decreasethe potential risk from wildfire. It is not amatter of “if it burns, but when it burns”.Heightened awareness of current forestLawrence County Community Wildfire Protection Plan 11