Natural Areas and Wildlife

Consider becoming a Firewise Community, a process that will prompt the development of a wildfire risk assessment, an action plan, educational outreach and more steps toward fire-readiness. Jurisdictions Pilot approaches to bring landowners and key agencies together to plan and implement runoff management, erosion management and riparian restoration activities. Identify models and best practices for joint Implement an education campaign related to climate change and ecosystem/vegetation adjustments and resulting impacts in natural areas. Require the planting of vegetation with strong root systems following a wildfire as a condition for program financing. Plant native vegetation in the buffer around lakes to help maintain their ecological health and water quality. Promote diverse economic opportunities that are responsive to changes in available natural resources. Optimize the use of salt and sand to reduce impacts on natural areas and roadway maintenance. Use flood walls, levees, floodways or diversions to control and direct floodwaters. Adopt holistic strategies that minimize upstream and downstream impacts. Designate ecologically important areas as “permanent natural features.” Expand public awareness campaigns on human-caused fires. Designate an individual to regularly report to the Climate Resiliency Task Force on forest health, in order to assist with early identification of wildfire risk, changes to wildlife patterns, dangers Collaborate with state floodplain managers and mitigation officials to incorporate Integrated Flood Management (IFM) approaches that consider entire basins or watersheds into local plans. IFM considers Through policies or incentives, ensure the viability of neighborhood-based gardens that contribute to local food production and beneficial pollinator habitat. Develop an ecosystem fire recovery master plan to address revegetation and post-fire treatments for open space and community parks. The plan could outline implementation actions for protecting and improving Plant dense vegetation along riparian corridors to create a buffer from intensely flowing waters during flood events. Work with neighboring elected officials to establish wildfire mitigation requirements for large-scale areas. When developing a long-term watershed management plan, include the results of ecological assessments. Develop policies for addressing controlled (prescribed) burn requests from property owners. Monitor the success of migration by species of concern to newly suitable habitats. Identify additional protections for water and land, as needed, to ensure Educate the public about natural and native drought tolerant species.