Title
Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience (OWPR), a division of the Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board:
1) Receive and file an annual update presentation from the Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience;
2) Receive and file the 2025 OWPR Annual Report;
3) Approve and endorse the 2026 OWPR Annual Work Plan;
4) Make findings that the Western El Dorado County Community Wildfire Protection Plan is a road map for potential future action with no legally binding effect on future activities; and
5) Approve and authorize the Chair and Chief Administrative Officer to sign the Western El Dorado County Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On September 21, 2021 (Legistar file 21-1515), the Board directed the Chief Administrative Office (CAO) to convene an El Dorado County Vegetation Management and Resiliency Working Group to collaborate on lessons learned, define funding streams, and initiate a robust, community-based wildfire resiliency and vegetation management program that would accelerate current County efforts, and then return to the Board with recommendation for consideration. The CAO convened this working group in November 2021, consisting of representatives from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Amador-El Dorado Unit (CAL FIRE AEU), El Dorado County Fire Safe Council, El Dorado County and Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs), El Dorado County Fire Chiefs' Association, and El Dorado County Fire Prevention Officers' Association.
On March 22, 2022 (Legistar file 22-0491), the working group presented a set of recommendations to the Board, including the creation and implementation of a strategic wildfire protection strategy for El Dorado County as well as the establishment of a dedicated wildfire resilience office within the CAO to prioritize and coordinate efforts on a countywide level based on the wildfire strategy. With the Board’s approval of these recommended actions, the Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience (OWPR) was established on July 1, 2022. Additionally, the working group transitioned to a Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience Coordination Group (Coordination Group), which has grown and expanded to include additional agencies and organizations whose missions and/or statutory authorities and funding include wildfire prevention and preparedness.
Since its establishment, OWPR has facilitated the Coordination Group and other working groups formed to achieve significant milestones outlined in the Wildfire Strategy and Annual Work Plan. The purpose of this item is to highlight key accomplishments from 2025 and to preview upcoming priorities under the proposed 2026 OWPR Annual Work Plan. OWPR is also presenting the 2025 Annual Report, which provides a comprehensive summary of OWPR’s programs, progress, and accomplishments throughout the past year. This report highlights the collaborative and coordinated efforts of the County and its partner agencies to advance wildfire preparedness and resilience efforts across the County.
In addition, OWPR is asking the Board to approve and adopt the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). The CWPP provides a road map and guiding document to assist agencies, organizations, communities, and the public to better prepare for, mitigate against, respond to, and recover from future wildfire threats. This plan is a significant update to the existing Western El Dorado County CWPP from 2022. This CWPP update identifies and prioritizes areas for fuel reduction, emphasized the importance of collaboration with stakeholders, and addresses structural ignitability. This CWPP was developed using the latest tools, resources, and best practice guidance on wildfire resiliency planning and preparedness including science- and engineering-based hazard, risk, and vulnerability assessments using high resolution topography, fuels, weather, and values at risk data. Hazard and risk mitigation efforts and other action items were specifically tailored to address the unique issues in the areas of greatest concern using a range of strategies, including pre-fire planning; wildfire resiliency planning using holistic fire safety principles and strategies for protecting life, property, natural resources, and other community assets; public education and outreach to promote and implement fire adapted community practices; vegetation management and fuel reduction at the community level; and reducing structure ignitability by promoting and enforcing building codes, ordinances, and statutes. This document provides a framework that can be used to identify, prioritize, implement, and monitor hazard and risk reduction activities throughout the region.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board may choose not to approve the 2026 OWPR Annual Work Plan and/or the Western El Dorado County Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar file 21-1515 - September 21, 2021 - Board directed the CAO to convene an El Dorado County Vegetation Management and Resiliency Working Group.
Legistar file 22-0491 - March 22, 2022 - The Working Group recommended the Board create and implement a strategic wildfire protection strategy for El Dorado County as well as the establishment of a dedicated wildfire resilience office within the CAO to prioritize and coordinate efforts on a countywide level based on the wildfire strategy.
Legistar file 24-1717 - December 10, 2024 - OWPR’s annual update to the Board and approval of 2025 Annual Work Plan.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado Unit
Eldorado National Forest
El Dorado County Fire Chiefs Association
El Dorado County Fire Prevention Officers)
El Dorado County Fire Safe Council
El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services
El Dorado and Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts
Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team
El Dorado Water Agency
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost associated this item.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
OWPR will provide an original copy of the CWPP for the Board and CAO to sign.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Tanya Harlow, Acting Program Manager
Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience