Point Reyes Light - August 9, 2001

County to cut in half grading of fire roads

By Simone Garrigues & Marian Schinske

A mix of county, state and federal agencies have agreed to reduce the amount of grading done on fire roads in thousands of acres of West Marin watershed to decrease the negative environmental impacts of erosion.

In order to support growing populations of federally protected fish, shrimp, and frogs in the 103-square-mile Lagunitas Creek watershed, a "memorandum of understanding" was signed in May by county supervisors and staff of National Park Service, California State Parks and Recreation, Marin Municipal Water District, and the Point Reyes Station-based Marin Resource Conservation District (RCD). Several county agencies also signed onto the agreement, including the Marin Fire Department, Public Works Department, Open Space District, and Community Development Agency.

The Lagunitas Creek watershed provides habitat for coho salmon, steelhead trout, California freshwater shrimp, and the California red-legged frog among other species, said RCD Director Richard Plant of Inverness. "We look at the [agreement] document as a way to recommend good [watershed] management practice."

Sensitive species

Plant explained that aquatic species in the Lagunitas Creek watershed are particularly vulnerable to problems caused by the build-up of sediment and other pollutants in the creeks and tributaries. By decreasing erosion caused by maintenance work on fire roads – most of which are unpaved – the sensitive species will have a better chance of surviving, he said.

Historically, the county fire department graded 400 miles of roads in the watershed, but the new agreement mandates that only 200 miles will "get the blade," said Fire Department forester Kent Julin.

Julin said that the fifty-percent decrease in fire road maintenance will not compromise fire protection in remote wildlands. "There is not going to be a change in service," he said. "The roads will be passable."

So-called "primary roads" – those that are most important to keep clear for fire-safety-vehicle access – are so designated by the Marin County Fire Department because of their strategic location, Julin said. "Many of these roads run along ridge tops and in communities."

Annual inspection

The fire department inspects the network of fire roads annually, but only clears and grades primary roads, said county Deputy Fire Chief Jim Selfridge.

"We are balancing environmental concerns with public safety... It’s kind of a toss up. In some ways, heavy equipment does more damage than fires do," he said.

The devastation to forests caused by Sudden Oak Death Syndrome could pose a threat to fire safety "in the short term," Julin noted. "Sudden Oak Death Syndrome does increase the fire hazard on those roads where you have additional brush and the trees can support a crown fire."

Fire trucks will be able to gain access to remote areas by towing in bulldozers, Julin added. "We have four-wheel-drive trucks and really good drivers. We have bulldozers on trailers that can be there at the same time as the fire trucks."

Won’t affect private roads

As for other unpaved roads in the Lagunitas Creek watershed, RCD director Plant emphasized that his agency approved the memorandum "with the understanding that the resource district does not have any regulatory authority over anybody’s private dirt roads."

Plant said RCD would like to work with willing landowners to make improvements to privately owned roads as they are needed.

"We work with a number of consultants and agencies who have expertise on erosion and pollution control, and landowners can come to us with any questions."

Those with questions can call 663-1170.

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