Meaningful Investments Made in Reducing Fire Fuels in Marin

A little over half a year into the FY2021-22 Work Plan, MWPA has made lots of on-the-ground progress on its vegetation management goals to reduce flammable vegetation in medium and high-risk areas.

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Vegetation management projects that have been completed, are currently underway, or are ready to implement include:

• 280 miles of roadside evacuation route improvements

• 479 acres of shaded fuel breaks and prescribed herbivory to reduce wildfire fuels

• 12 miles of fire roads maintained

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Additionally, MWPA’s 2021 Chipper Days program managed by Fire Safe Marin provided an excellent return on taxpayer dollars. Chipper Days provide curbside pickup of flammable vegetation to neighborhoods across Marin County free of charge. Highlights include:

• 14,635 cubic yards of flammable material removed

• 3,700 completed pick-ups county wide, up 40% from 2020

• 80% of participants were new to curb chipping in 2021

• 87% of participants stated that the curbside chipper program motivated them to remove harmful vegetation from their property

• 84% of pickups were in medium risk to highest risk zones

• Service extended to fully include Bolinas and Inverness in2021

• The program came in under budget – the cost per pickup in 2021 decreased by 11% compared to 2020

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Read the full 2021 Chipper Annual Report here. Looking ahead to 2022, the Chipper Days program will further expand with a focus on improved marketing of the program to residents.

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