Canyon County, Idaho, All Hazards Mitigation Plan Volume II
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Canyon County, Idaho, All Hazards Mitigation Plan Including the municipalities of Nampa, Caldwell, Middleton, Notus, Parma, Wilder, Greenleaf, & Melba 222000000666 UUUpppdddaaattteee Volume II Canyon County Wildland-Urban Interface Wildfire Mitigation Plan FFFEEEMMMAAA PPPrrreee---AAAdddoooppptttiiiooonnn RRReeevvviiieeewww JJJuuunnneee 222666,,, 222000000666 Vision: Promote a countywide hazard mitigation ethic through leadership, professionalism, and excellence, leading the way to a safe, sustainable Canyon County. This plan was developed by the Canyon County Wildland-Urban Interface Wildfire Mitigation Plan Committee and All Hazard Mitigation Plan Committee in cooperation with Northwest Management, Inc., 233 E. Palouse River Dr. P.O. Box 9748, Moscow, Idaho 83843, Phone: (208) 883-4488, Fax: (208) 883-1098, www.Consulting-Foresters.com Acknowledgments This Wildland Urban Interface Wildfire Mitigation Plan represents the efforts and cooperation of a number of organizations and agencies, through the commitment of people working together to improve preparedness for wildfire events while reducing factors of risk. Southwest Idaho Resource Canyon County Commissioners USDI Bureau of Land Management Conservation and Development and the employees of Canyon County Council, Inc. Idaho Bureau of Homeland Federal Emergency Management USDI Bureau of Reclamation Security Agency USDA Forest Idaho Transportation USDI Fish and Idaho Department Idaho Fish and Game Service Department Wildlife Service of Lands City of Notus City of Greenleaf City of Wilder City of Parma & City of Melba Local Businesses and City of Nampa City of Caldwell City of Middleton Citizens of Canyon County Mercy Medical Center Melba Fire Department Middleton Fire, Rescue, & Emergency Services Parma Fire Department Upper Deer Flats Fire Department Kuna Fire District Marsing Rural Fire Department Nampa Fire Murphy-Reynolds-Wilson Fire District Nampa Police Caldwell Fire Department Notus Fire Department Department Protection District Star Joint Fire Protection District Wilder Rural Fire Protection District Caldwell Police Department To obtain copies of this plan contact: Canyon County Commissioners Office Canyon County Courthouse 1115 Albany Caldwell, ID 83605 Phone: (208) 454-7300 Canyon County, Idaho Wildland – Urban Interface Wildfire Mitigation Plan Page i Table of Contents CHAPTER I: OVERVIEW OF THIS PLAN AND ITS DEVELOPMENT ..........................................................1 1 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................................1 1.1 GOALS AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES.................................................................................................................2 1.1.1 Federal Emergency Management Agency Philosophy ............................................................................2 1.1.2 United States Government Accounting Office ........................................................................................3 1.1.2.1 Technology Assessment - April 2005 – “Protecting Structures and Improving Communications during Wildland Fires” .................................................................................................................................................................. 3 1.1.2.1.1 Why GAO Did This Study......................................................................................................................... 3 1.1.2.1.2 What GAO Found ...................................................................................................................................... 3 1.1.3 Additional State and Federal Guidelines Adopted...................................................................................4 1.1.3.1 National Fire Plan ...................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1.3.2 Idaho Statewide Implementation Strategy.................................................................................................. 6 1.1.3.2.1 County Wildland Fire Interagency Group.................................................................................................. 7 1.1.3.3 National Association of State Foresters...................................................................................................... 8 1.1.3.3.1 Identifying and Prioritizing Communities at Risk...................................................................................... 8 1.1.3.3.2 Conceptual Approach................................................................................................................................. 8 1.1.3.4 Healthy Forests Restoration Act............................................................................................................... 10 1.1.4 Local Guidelines and Integration with Other Efforts.............................................................................11 1.1.4.1 Canyon County Fire Mitigation Planning Effort and Philosophy............................................................. 11 1.1.4.1.1 Mission Statement.................................................................................................................................... 11 1.1.4.1.2 Vision Statement...................................................................................................................................... 11 1.1.4.1.3 Goals ........................................................................................................................................................ 11 CHAPTER 2: PLANNING PROCESS....................................................................................................................12 2 DOCUMENTING THE PLANNING PROCESS ..........................................................................................12 2.1.1 Description of the Planning Process ......................................................................................................12 2.2 THE PLANNING TEAM .................................................................................................................................12 2.3 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT................................................................................................................................14 2.3.1 News Releases .......................................................................................................................................14 2.3.1.1 Newspaper Articles .................................................................................................................................. 14 2.3.1.2 Flyers ....................................................................................................................................................... 14 2.3.2 Public Mail Survey ................................................................................................................................16 2.3.2.1 Survey Results.......................................................................................................................................... 16 2.3.2.2 Committee Meetings ................................................................................................................................ 19 2.3.2.2.1 June 2, 2004: Canyon County Committee Meeting.................................................................................. 20 2.3.2.2.2 July 14, 2004 Committee Meeting ........................................................................................................... 21 2.3.2.3 Public Meetings........................................................................................................................................ 22 2.3.2.3.1 Caldwell Public Meeting.......................................................................................................................... 22 2.3.2.3.2 Melba Public Meeting.............................................................................................................................. 23 2.3.2.3.3 Notus Public Meeting............................................................................................................................... 23 2.4 DOCUMENTED REVIEW PROCESS ................................................................................................................24 2.5 CONTINUED PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT............................................................................................................24 CHAPTER 3: COUNTY CHARACTERISTICS & RISK ASSESSMENT .........................................................26 3 BACKGROUND AND AREA DESCRIPTION.............................................................................................26 3.1 DEMOGRAPHICS..........................................................................................................................................26 3.2 SOCIOECONOMICS.......................................................................................................................................28 3.2.1 European Settlement of Canyon County................................................................................................30 3.3 DESCRIPTION OF CANYON COUNTY ............................................................................................................30 3.3.1 Highways...............................................................................................................................................31 3.3.2 Rivers.....................................................................................................................................................31