Kent Woodlands

Kent Woodlands is an area situated above Kentfield in the urban wildland interface. There is nearly 800 high value homes surrounded by volatile vegetation. Very narrow roads hamper access and evacuation. Topography ranges from relatively flat along the valley bottom to very steep along upper slopes and ridges. Assets at Risk Water flows into the Marin Municipal Watershed, which provides about 75% of the water to Marin County residents. The watershed is part of a designated California Unified Watershed Assessment Priority Category I Watershed (San Pablo Bay, 18050002a). Additional values provided by the municipal watershed include recreation and habitat. The watershed is among the most highly valued resources in Marin.

Stakeholders:

Fire Safe Marin
Kent Woodlands Property Owners Association
Kentfield Fire Protection District
Marin Conservation Corps
Marin County Fire Department
Marin County Parks and Open Space District
Marin Municipal Water District
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

One of the several brush piles created by the Marin Conservation Corp.

Project Description

An effective fire-protection zone along the interface lands of Kent Woodlands would improve firefighter safety and effectiveness. The principal goals of this project are to:

(1) provide fire department access into critical fire areas;
(2) clear areas to provide protection for fire personnel and staging fire equipment;
(3) protect access to water supplies;
(4) slow fire spread and improve opportunities for offensive fire attack;
(5) protect evacuation routes for residents and resource users; and
(6) provide defensible space for structure protection.

Defensible space created by the removal of flammable brush.

The proposed project dovetails with the existing vegetation management plan for the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed now being administered by the Marin Municipal Water District and the Marin County Parks and Open Space District. The proposed project consists of three elements — vegetation management, community outreach, and administration. By creating an effective fuel break, the county can improve protection to a highly valued neighborhood, its 2400 residents, and the municipal watershed with its treasured resources.

Please see the Kent Woodland I-Zone Map.

Marinview

Marinview is a residential development consisting of 252 homes and publicly managed open space along the urban-wildland interface in southern Marin. The community is comprised of numerous wood sided, decked, and roofed dwellings. The dwellings are intermixed with French broom, pine, and eucalyptus that have substantially increased the flammability of the area. In the event of a wildfire, these hazardous fuel conditions threaten the lives and properties of the 750 residents in the community.

Stakeholders:

Marin County Parks and Open Space District
Southern Marin Fire District
Tamalpais Community Services District
Marin County Fire Department
The National Park Service
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Fire Safe Marin

Project Description

Various treatments will be used reduce hazardous fuels and promote forest health in open space areas. These treatments will reduce fuel loading and the spatial arrangement (vertical and horizontal) of natural fuels. Treatments include: tree pruning, thinning, and removal, chipping, and pile burning. Eleven management units have been delineated for treatment by the project.

The before and after effects from the FireSafe Demonstration Site are shown in the picture below. The multi-family living unit was situated on the top of a steep slope with heavy vegetation growing to within inches of the dwelling. If a wildfire burned from the bottom of the slope to the top, the protecting the dwelling would be very difficult. With defensible space, the dwelling stands a much higher chance of surviving a wildland fire!

Place the cursor over the photo to see the change!

Please see the Marinview Map.