Midpen’s newly developed Wildland Fire Resiliency program will proactively expand our environmentally sensitive vegetation management to:
- Promote healthy, resilient, fire-adapted ecosystems
- Reduce wildland fire risk
- Facilitate the response of fire agencies
PUBLIC HEARING: FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT & PROJECT APPROVAL
MAY 12, 2021 @ 5pm
Due to COVID-19, this meeting will be held by teleconference only.
Join Midpen’s board of directors as they consider certifying the final environmental impact report and approving Midpen’s newly developed Wildland Fire Resiliency Program, allowing implementation to begin this year. The report will be posted below on this webpage on April 30.
Visit openspace.org/board-meetings for information on how to participate in the public hearing, and to access the meeting agenda and report that will be posted there by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 7.
The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is continuing our essential wildland fire prevention and preparation work. This includes finalizing the environmental impact report (EIR) for our newly developed Wildland Fire Resiliency Program, which is now available for review.
How to Review the Final EIR
For more information on the program, and to review the final environmental impact report, please visit the project webpage at openspace.org/wfrp
To review a printed copy; available at Midpen’s administrative office in Los Altos, Foothills Field Office in Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve and Skyline Field Office in Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve; please contact us to make an appointment at 650-691-1200.
How to Comment on the Final EIR
Comments can be provided by using this online form, and by participating in the Virtual Public Hearing on Wednesday, May 12 at 5 p.m. during which the Midpen board of directors will consider certifying the final EIR and approving the program. A separate email with details about the public hearing will be sent to you when the agenda is posted.
The goals of the Wildland Fire Resiliency Program are to proactively expand Midpen’s ecologically sensitive vegetation management to establish healthy ecosystems, reduce wildland fire risk and facilitate fire agency response.
Thank you for your interest.
You are receiving this information because you have signed up to receive updates on projects related to Wildland Fire or Natural Resources Management at Midpen.
PROGRAM DETAILS
The proposed Wildland Fire Resiliency Program has four main elements:
- Vegetation Management Plan
Expanding environmentally sensitive vegetation management into new areas of our preserves beginning in 2020 for ecological health and public safety.
- Prescribed Fire Plan
Reintroducing prescribed fire to Midpen’s land management toolbox in 2022, in partnership with Cal Fire.
- Preserve Maps to Assist Fire Agencies (Pre-plan and resource advisor maps)
Updating and expanding preserve maps that provide critical information to fire agencies responding to wildland fire events, including water sources, roads and gates and sensitive natural and cultural resources.
- Monitoring Plan
Collecting scientific data and monitoring to ensure the program is adaptable and meeting our goals.
Read the proposed details for each of these four elements in Midpen’s Wildland Fire Resiliency Program.
WILDLAND FIRE RESILIENCY PROGRAM – FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
The comment period for the draft EIR has closed. The Final EIR will be deliberated by the Board of Directors for certification and program adoption on May 12, 2021 at 5 p.m..
The Final Program EIR (SCH# 2020049059) is available for review below.
Final EIR
Draft EIR
Wildland Fire Resilency Program
The program documents below were created with extensive public and partner agency feedback and have been updated to reflect changes due to public comment.
Appendices to the Program Description
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE
| 2019 |
Research and public outreach workshops. |
| April 8, 2020 |
Public Meeting: Study session for Midpen board and public to provide feedback on program scope. No board action. |
| April 27 – June 18, 2020 |
Program scoping and public comment period. |
| May 13, 2020 |
Public Meeting: Midpen board approved program scope allowing required environmental impact report to proceed. |
| January 15 – March 1, 2021 |
Draft program environmental impact report released and public comment period. |
| Feb. 25, 2021 |
Public Hearing: Review draft program environmental impact report. |
| May 12, 2021 |
Public meeting: Midpen board to consider certifying final environmental impact report and approving program, allowing program implementation to begin this year. The agenda and report for this meeting will be posted here by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 7. |
| 2021-22 |
Tentative public input and environmental impact report process for prescribed fire. |
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