Assets at Risk

Structures | Non-Game Wildlife | Fire Flood Potential
Water Supply and Storage | Soil Erosion | Recreation | Rangeland

The primary purpose of wildland fire protection in Marin is to protect the wide range of assets. These assets include life and safety, rangeland, recreation, water and watershed, air quality, soil erosion, cultural and historic resources, unique scenic areas, structures, and wildlife.

Knowledge of the type and magnitude of assets at risk to wildfire, as well as their locations, is critical to fire protection planning. Given the limits on fire protection resources, these resources should be allocated, at least in part, based on the value of the assets at risk.

The department has accessed eight different assets at risk. Other assets listed in the California Fire Plan have not been assessed or do not exist within the county. Each asset is listed with the assessment methodology used.

Structures

Marin County has the potential for a very large dollar-loss fire, while burning very little acreage. The average home price in the county is just under $600,000. Comparing the number of homes to the fuel rank assigned created the structure at risk map.

NUMBER OF HOMES	FUEL RANK	STRUCTURE RANK
0	All	Not ranked
1-10	Moderate	Moderate
11-100	Moderate	Moderate
> 100	Moderate	Moderate
1-10	High	Moderate
11-100	High	High
> 100	High	Very High
1-10	Very High	High
11-100	Very High	Very High
> 100	Very High	Very High

Non-Game Wildlife

The loss of rare plants and wildlife from a fire is a very real threat. After the Mt. Vision Fire, mountain beavers were almost eliminated from the Point Reyes National Seashore. The non-game wildlife at risk is identified based on designated wildlife areas, important habitats, and locations of past species sightings. The following methodology was used to rank non-game wildlife.

Fire-Flood Potential

After a fire, soil-stabilizing vegetation would not be present. There is then a potential for winter flooding. The fire-flood potential assets at risk were assessed to calculate the possible number of people affected by flooding following a large fire. Population density taken from the last census was used to determine where the problems might be. The following methodology was used to rank fire-flood potential:

Water Supply and Water Storage

In Marin Water County, 75 percent of the drinking water supplied to the residents comes from county watersheds. The watersheds are susceptible to a large and costly fire due to vegetation types, possible human caused ignition sources, and the proximity to residential development. The water supply and water storage assets at risk were placed in separate categories due to the differences in potential impacts. A water supply facility is a lake or reservoir that is piped directly to end-users. A fire within those watersheds could result in health and safety concerns.

Water Storage

Water storage facilities are lakes or reservoirs that store water but flow into a supply facility prior to use. A fire within these watersheds would be an economic issue instead of health and safety issue. Debris and sediment would displace the total water volume of the reservoir, requiring more filtration. Filtration could cost the water district and end-user in the long run. The following methodology was used to rank fire-flood potential. Watersheds with runoff into either a water storage facility or water supply facility were ranked high.

Soil Erosion

Soil erosion following a fire can damage homes, streams, and endangered species habitat. Using the National Resource Conservation Service data, soil types and slopes were compared and a hazard class rank determined. Ranks were assigned based on the amount of each soil hazard present in each Q81. The following is a small sample of the methodology used to rank soil erosion assets at risk:

* This is a small example from a table of over 2500 entries.

Recreation

Recreation is a major economic contributor to the County of Marin. Fires can cause severe damage to unique recreation opportunities that cannot be replaced. The Mount Vision fire had a detrimental financial affect to 38 local businesses that depend on tourist dollars. Fires can also damage recreational facilities such as picnic tables, and campgrounds

The recreation asset at risk ranking methodology compares recreational areas to fuel ranking.

Rangeland

Ranching is the largest form of agriculture in Marin. Cattle for both milk and beef production are found on nearly one-third of the land within the county. Areas that are grazed were found in the California Department of Conservation’s Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program. This data was queried and combined with land use parcel information to create a grazing map. The National Park Service provided grazing information for its lands. Areas that are grazed were ranked high.

Other assets such as scenic areas, historic buildings, utilities and ecosystem health will be addressed in the next revision of this plan.

Please see the following assets at risk maps:

• Structure Ranking - Under Construction
• Non-Game Wildlife Ranking - Under Construction
• Fire-Flood Potential Ranking - Under Construction
• Water Supply Ranking - Under Construction
• Water Storage Ranking - Under Construction
• Soil Erosion Ranking - Under Construction
• Recreation Ranking - Under Construction
• Range Ranking - Under Construction
• Total Assets at Risk Ranking - Under Construction

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