El Dorado County COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN Community Tab for GRIZZLY FLATS FIRE SAFE COUNCIL ACTIVITIES

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1 El Dorado County COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN Community Tab for GRIZZLY FLATS FIRE SAFE COUNCIL ACTIVITIES Photo: Hoskins Hotel, Main Street, Grizzly Flat, CA, Dedicated 1886 Prepared for Inclusion in the: EL DORADO COUNTY FIRE SAFE COUNCIL Community Wildfire Protection Plan Diamond Springs, California Prepared for: GRIZZLY FLATS FIRE SAFE COUNCIL PO Box 152 Grizzly Flats, California JANUARY 2017 pg. 133

2 Community Description The Community of Grizzly Flats was identified in the August 17, 2001 Federal Register as an Urban Wildland Interface community within the vicinity of federal lands that is at high risk from wildfire. Grizzly Flats is adjacent to the Eldorado National Forest (ENF). In 2003, the ENF started planning for the Last Chance Project (LCFRP), which was to supplement the Grizzly Flats community s overall efforts to reduce the heavy fuel loading at the community s boundaries. The LCFRP is located immediately south of the community s southern boundary. In 2002, the Grizzly Flats community residents came together to discuss living in the heart of a high fire hazard area. In an effort to prevent or minimize catastrophic wildland fire to their community, they organized a volunteer group of residents, who in turn created the Grizzly Flats Fire Safe Council (GFFSC) in The GFFSC, under the guidance of the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council (EDCFSC), the GFFSC's parent organization, and the requirements of Cal Fire, created its first Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) in The Grizzly Flats community is located in El Dorado County. The Village of Grizzly Flat was created in 1850 as a gold rush settlement and evolved into a community around gold mining in the 19 th century and around the timber industry in the 20 th century. The 1852 Village of Grizzly Flat is described in a pioneer s journal as a beautiful rolling country before us but no vegetation except tall pine timber was visible. (Doble, 1999) John Doble s Journal and Letters From The Mines; Volcano, Mokelumne Hill, Jackson and San Francisco , Volcano Press, Inc., This text offers the reader a comparative description of the vegetation during the Gold Rush era and today. The Grizzly Flats Community Services District encompasses approximately 1,670 acres, including 1,235 parcels of land, with 497 homes and approximately 1250 people. Parcel of land within the GFFSC range in size from 1/4 to 40 acres. The GFFSC s Sphere of Recognition incorporates approximately 25,000 acres, a population of 1,404, and 819 housing units (per the 2010 census). Grizzly Flats is located south and east of Placerville, CA, with approximately 85% of its boundary abutting the Eldorado National Forest. The main access roads are Grizzly Flat Road and String Canyon Road. The average elevations is about 4,000 feet. The topography within the community is relatively gentle. String Canyon Creek, and the Steely Fork and the North Fork of Cosumnes River form steep canyons with heavy fuel loadings. The vegetation is primarily a second growth stand of mixed conifers with a heavy understory fuel loading. The community has a Post Office, an elementary school, a community church, and a Community Service District (CSD), the purveyor of water. The CSD water system stores, treats and distributes metered water, and includes fire suppression water to the fire hydrants. Grizzly Flats is within the governmental administration of the County of El Dorado. Emergency Services The Pioneer Fire Protection District is the provider of structure fire protection. Fire Station 35, with an unstaffed Type 4 engine, is in Grizzly Flats. Fire Station 31 is about 10 miles west of Grizzly Flat and is staffed by volunteers during a part of the year. The next nearest Fire Station is Station 38 in Mt. Aukum, a full time staffed station about 35 minutes away. The El Dorado County Fire District s Station 19, located in Pleasant Valley, has structure firefighting equipment and the closest ambulance. Station 19 equipment is approximate 35 minutes away. Grizzly Flats pg. 134

3 is within the State Responsibility Area (SRA), with Cal Fire providing wildland fire protection. The closest Cal Fire Stations are in River Pines and Camino. Both are approximate 60 minutes away. The USFS Station 63 is in Grizzly Flats. It is staffed during wildfire season; from May until November, depending on the wildfire season s length. Engine 363 and its crew respond to Federal forest fires across the nation, which can leave the Station unoccupied for periods of time. pg. 135

4 Exhibit 1: Grizzly Flats Fire Safe Council Sphere of Recognition pg. 136

5 Exhibit 2: Grizzly Flats Projects waiting for grant funding COMMUNITY PRIORITY PROJECT NUMBER PROJECT DESCRIPTION TREATMENT TYPE ACRES MILES ESTIMATED COST Grizzly Flats 1a GF-32 Hazard Tree Removal Hazard Tree $200,000 Grizzly Flats 1 GF-13 Near Eagle Mine Road 91 $182,000 Grizzly Flats 2 GF-28 Tyler Break 44 $88,000 Grizzly Flats 3 GF-26 GFCSC Reservoir Protection 9 $18,000 Grizzly Flats 4 GF-33 GFCSD Water Tank Protection 2 $4,000 Grizzly Flats 5 GF-17 Caldor Road 213 $426,000 Grizzly Flats 6 GF-18 Henry's Diggings 75 $150,000 Grizzly Flats 7 GF-20 Cosumnes Mine Road Area 70 $140,000 Grizzly Flats 8 GF-23 Woodpecker Acres Reservoir Infrastructure 2 $30,000 Grizzly Flats 9 GF-14 Vacant Lot Hazard 100 $200,000 Grizzly Flats 10 GF-16 Huggy Bear 20 $40,000 Grizzly Flats 11 GF-24 Steely Ridge 30 $60,000 Grizzly Flats 12 GF-30 Log Cleanup SE of Community 80 $160,000 Grizzly Flats 13 GF-29 Gilbert Break 25 $50,000 pg. 137

6 COMMUNITY PRIORITY PROJECT NUMBER PROJECT DESCRIPTION TREATMENT TYPE ACRES MILES ESTIMATED COST Grizzly Flats 14 GF-11 Break Maintenance 50 $100,000 Grizzly Flats 15 GF-10 Break Maintenance 50 $100,000 Grizzly Flats 16 GF-22 Samaan Break 40 $80,000 Grizzly Flats Total Grizzly Flats $1,986,000 pg. 138

7 Exhibit 3: GF-13 Project Location Map pg. 139

8 Exhibit 4: GF-28 Project Location Map pg. 140

9 Figure 5: GF-26 Project Location Map pg. 141

10 Exhibit 6: GF-33 Project Location Map pg. 142

11 Exhibit 7: GF-17 Project Location Map pg. 143

12 pg. 144