Updates from July - September 2022:

• Contracted with the United States Forest Service for $750,000 of fiscal year 2022 Congressionally Directed Spending to launch the Ponderosa West Grass Valley Defense Zone Phase 2 Project.
• Contracted with the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County to begin work on the South County Shaded Fuel Break which is funded by a $952,610 grant award from CAL FIRE.
• Began on-the-groundwork for two Phase 1 Federal Emergency Management Agency Access and Function Needs (AFN) defensible space grants totaling $1.3 million dollars.
• Developed and circulated an internal Scope of Work for the Evacuation Study which is funded by a $135,422 grand award from CAL FIRE.
• Was awarded $2,178,044 grant from CAL FIRE for the Woodpecker Ravine Shaded Fuel Break.
• Received notice that our 31 million dollar proposal to the FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program has advanced to the environmental and cultural review phase.
• Submitted two concept proposals to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to satisfy the local match requirements for the Ponderosa Phase 1 Maintenance Project (matched against a FY23 earmark request) and the South Yuba Rim Shaded Fuel Break Project (matched against a FEMA HMGP proposal); full proposals for both projects were invited.
• Awarded 26 micro-grants to support Firewise Communities using funds grant funds awarded from the Disaster Relief, Recovery and Resilience Fund at the League of California Community Foundations with support from the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation.

Defensible Space Updates:

• The Nevada County Defensible Space (DSI) Program opened 62 cases. 14 came into compliance on the first visit, 41 came into compliance after the notice to abate was sent, 17 came into compliance after a warning letter was sent, 3 after the first citation, 1 after the second citation and 2 after the third citation. 61 cases were complaint driven and 1 was a proactive case. This quarter the DSI program saw a 49% compliance rate and a 53% education rate*. 3 Cases were referred to the Code Compliance Department.  These numbers are down over last quarter as this type of work is unsafe for residents during the peak of fire season.
• *Educational Rate: The percent of complaint based and pro-active cases with hazardous vegetation violations that achieve compliance with the Nevada County Hazardous Vegetation Ordinance prior to being issued an administrative citation. The goal is 80%.
• The DSI team workshopped the fuel on open lands and 50/50 cost share concerns brought forward by residents. These were concerns directly related to the County Hazardous Vegetation Ordnance 2477.  They created a public survey and conducted outreach with key communities and stakeholders. This input shaped Board of Supervisor recommendations for a presentation in the next quarter.  
• The grant funded defensible space inspector began work with the Fire Safe Council inspecting prequalified homes ahead of grant abatement. This will help local residents with access and functional needs achieve their necessary defensible space to mitigate against wildfire. 

Plans for next quarter;

• Submit two full proposals to Sierra Nevada Conservancy for the Ponderosa Phase 1 Maintenance Project and the South Yuba Rim Shaded Fuel Break Project.
• Submit a proposal to the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program for the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) update.
• Strategize priority projects and submit proposals to the fall round of CAL FIRE grants.
• Release a Request for Qualifications (contracting requirement) for a consultant to conduct the CAL FIRE funded Evacuation Study.
• Release a Request for Qualifications (contracting requirement) for a consultant to satisfy environmental compliance for the Ponderosa Phase 2 fuel reduction Project. 

Roadside Vegetation: 

• Continue to seek funding and use existing funding to reduce roadside vegetation to continue making evacuation routes safer during this year’s fire season. Crews will also increase roadside vegetation reduction as the fire threat wanes.

Green Waste:

• Work with the Nevada County Resource Conservation District to learn more about their efforts to support local resident prescribed burning as a way to reduce our local fuel load.
• Begin planning for the Spring 2023 Western & Eastern Nevada County Green Waste Events. 

Defensible Space: 

• Continue to implement the FEMA Access and Functional Needs (AFN) Defensible Space Grant home treatment and pre-inspection schedule.
• Board of Supervisors recommended updates to the Hazardous Vegetation Ordinance will be completed and presented at a public hearing for Board review, comment, and adoption.
• Collaborate with the Code Compliance Department on pursing a priority hazardous vegetation abatement case to abate hazardous vegetation.