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Defensible Space

Practicing good defensible space is an important part of being a property owner at Tahoe Donner Association. Read below to learn more.

Why is Tahoe Donner Association interested in a vegetation management program?

· Donner Ridge Fire of 1960
· 44,800 acres, burned to the state of Nevada.
· Burned the western half of Tahoe Donner Association, 3,200 acres.
· Changed the ecosystem from forest to brush.
· Records show that after the fire 1,525 acres were salvaged logged and 17.7 million board feet of timber was removed from the burned area.

More recent fire history
· Flash Fire 1979, 35 acres; burned into Tahoe Donner.
· Armstrong Fire 1997, 20 acres; burned up to Tahoe Donner.
· Donner Fire 2003, 85 acres; burned into Tahoe Donner.
· "80" Fire 2007, 78 acres; burned into Tahoe Donner.

Program objectives are to maintain a "healthy forest" and lessen the chance of a catastrophic wildland fire.

· Carol Rice of Wildland Resource Management completed a fire history study for the State Park system. Information from Donner State Park showed that between 1635 to 1990 a fire occurred in the park at an average interval of 9.1 years. This information was obtained by looking at the annual rings of dead trees and stumps within the park.

· US Forest Service records show that over the last 35 years over 150 fires burned in or within a two-mile radius of Tahoe Donner Association.

· Computer fire simulation runs for the fuel types present in Tahoe Donner Association show fire moving through brush 4 times faster than it would through a forest.

So how do we improve the health of the forest and reduce the threat of fire?

· Create and maintain fuelbreaks in strategic areas.

· Remove brush and plant trees to establish a forest on the landscape.

· Masticate (mow) brush from around trees to increase the growth of the forest and change the arrangement of the fuels. Also remove the ladder fuels. Ladder Fuel: fuels which provide vertical continuity allowing fire to spread from the surface fuel into shrubs and brush and up into tree crowns.

· Create a mosaic of practices to lessen the impacts to the human eye and encourage different wildlife species.

· Thin dense forest stands through commercial logging operation or by hand crews.

· Chip all excess vegetative material in the forest or pile and burn.

· Maintain the seasonal road system in the western portion of Tahoe Donner Association to lessen erosion and allow access to fire fighting equipment and crews..

· Help the property owners bring their properties into compliance with state, local and association fire safety standards..

Check list of fire safety items around your home:

Residence:

• Pine needles must be removed from the roof of all structures.

• Pine needles on the ground must be removed within 10 feet of all structures.
  
• Limbs must be removed from within 10 feet of the chimney.
  
• Chimney must have an approved spark arrestor.
  
• Ten feet of clearance required around the propane tank.
  
• Firewood and lumber must be stacked away from the residence by law. However, firewood may be stacked next to a structure if it is completely covered with a high quality tarp.
  
• The address of the residence must be clearly visible.
  
  100-feet or To Property Line:
  
  
  • All dry, flammable vegetation and woody debris between 1/2 inch and 12 inches in diameter must be removed.
  • Dead and/or beetle infested trees must be removed.
    
  • The areas of contiguous brush must be broken up.
    
  • Excessively dense tree cover must be thinned. Call the Forestry Department for advice.
    
  • Remove the lower branches, six feet from the ground, on trees over 12 feet tall. On shorter trees remove the lower branches to 1/2 the height of the tree.
    
  • All dead plants or grasses must be cut to a height of six inches or less.
    
    To view the Tahoe Donner Association inspection forms for fire safety, click on the following links:
    Developed Lot
    Undeveloped Lot
    
    Click here to visit the Calfire website for general guidelines for creating defensible space.
    

Staff available to give advice with tree health and fire safety on the lots.


Available to Property Owners:

· Chipping program to remove either green material from curbside (see Chipping Program under Forestry Programs).

· Deadwood, bark, short stick, and pine needles may be dropped off on selected days during the summer (see Vegetation Drop off program under Forestry Programs).

· If you would like help with your property concerning tree health or fire safety please call the forestry department at (530) 587-9432 or email forestry@tahoedonner.com.