Greater Ross Valley Shaded Fuel Break Project

Use slider bar above to explore an example of a shaded fuelbreak, before and after treatment

The Greater Ross Valley Shaded Fuel Break (GRVSFB) will create a 38-mile shaded fuel break running along the backyards of about 1,700 parcels. The fuel reduction zone includes about 1,300 acres from Fairfax to Corte Madera. The project is designed to slow the spread of wildfire to give firefighters time and space to suppress the flames. This project would reduce fire risk to several communities in the wildland urban interface (otherwise known as the WUI) while improving forest and ecosystem health by reducing non-native plant cover. 

Project planning was completed in the 2021-22 fiscal year and included mapping, modeling, project design, collaboration with partner agencies, public outreach, field surveys, and environmental compliance. Project implementation began in summer 2022 and is expected to continue through 2024. Future maintenance would include phased implementation of recommended vegetation management activities along the shaded fuel break.

The Greater Ross Valley Shaded Fuel Break Project is a collaboration of MWPA, Marin County Fire Department, Ross Valley Fire Department, Kentfield Fire Protection District, and Central Marin Fire Department.

This project is funded by Measure C and by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Fire Prevention Program.

Did you receive a letter from us recently?

The Property Owner Right of Entry Form is intended to grant permission to MWPA employees, contractors, and partner agency employees to access private property while providing services as part of the GRVSFB project. If your property is within the project area you may have received this form in the mail. Please sign and return the form digitally by clicking "here", or mailing the hard copy to 1600 Los Gamos, Suite 345, San Rafael, CA 94903. If you have misplaced your copy you may print it yourself or contact us to request another at jhampshire@marinwildfire.org, or by phone at (415) 539 - 6972.

The following public events have occurred for the Greater Ross Valley Shaded Fuel Break Project. To receive info regarding future project meetings, please send an email to: GRVSFB@panoramaenv.com. Future public events for this project will also be advertised on this project webpage and included in the MWPA community calendar. Project neighbors will generally receive a mailed postcard advertising relevant public events in their area. Additionally, follow MWPA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest information and updates. 

8/17/22 Site Visit: Terra Linda/Sleepy Hollow Preserve, 9:30am-noon. Nearly 50 people joined a field trip to explore the first phase of the Greater Ross Valley Shaded Fuel Break Project. 

7/26/22 Public Meeting: Sleepy Hollow Community Center, 6-7:30pm, with remote viewing option provided. At this meeting, residents and stakeholders learned about the first phases of project implementation. Presentations, posters, and handouts are posted below.

Presentation Video: Available here

Presentation Slides: Available here

Project Map Posters:

     Poster 1: Overall Project Area

     Poster 2: Phase 1 Project Area

     Poster 3: CalVTP Process

     Poster 4: Treatments within the Project Area

Project Summary Handout: Available here

3/10/22 Public Meeting: The MWPA and participating member agencies hosted an online public meeting via zoom on March 10, 2022 from 6-8pm to share information about the Greater Ross Valley Shaded Fuel Break Project.

Topics included:

• A description of the project and its goals and objectives

• Fuels management methods and monitoring

• California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP) environmental review process

Public Meeting Announcement

Meeting Agenda

Main Presentation Slides

Breakout Room 1 Slides: Vegetation Treatments

Breakout Room 2 Slides: Methods and Modeling

Breakout Room 3 Slides: Environmental Resources and Compliance Process

Video: Main Presentation and Breakout Room 1 (all 3 sessions)

Video: Breakout Room 2 (all 3 sessions)

Video: Breakout Room 3 (all 3 sessions)

FAQs & Photo Examples

Frequently Asked Questions - Greater Ross Valley Shaded Fuel Break

Photos of Treated Areas

Environmental Documents

The Greater Ross Valley Shaded Fuel Break Planning Project (GRVSFB) includes activities covered by CAL FIRE’s California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP) Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). That analysis is available here: Project Specific Analysis (PSA)-Addendum

More Project Resources

Draft Project Area Maps (updated 3/10/22)

To view the project area spatially, click on this link: Overview KMZ and download the file. This file is viewable using Google Earth and allows the user to navigate and zoom into different parts of the project area. Open the file with earth.google.com or install Google Earth - use these instructions.

Note: The KMZ file shows the shaded fuel break as 300 feet wide, although typically fuel and forest health restoration treatments would occur within a 200-foot-wide zone.

WORK IN PROGRESS:

Vegetation management work is expected to occur along a 10-mile segment from Red Hill in San Anselmo to Whitehill in Fairfax as well as a section in Corte Madera from August 2022 through January 2023.

Relevant Projects

Status

Implementation

Approval Meeting

June 16, 2022

CEQA Documentation

PSA-Addendum
PSA-Addendum

Zone/Location

Central Marin
Marin wild fire projects

Project Type

Shaded/ Non-shaded Fuel Break

Lead Agency

MWPA in collaboration with Central Marin Fire Department
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form