Minidoka County, Idaho, Wildland-Urban Interface Wildfire Mitigation Plan Mmmaaaiiinnn Dddooocccuuummmeeennnttt Oooccctttooobbbeeerrr 111888,,, 222000000444
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Minidoka County, Idaho, Wildland-Urban Interface Wildfire Mitigation Plan MMMaaaiiinnn DDDooocccuuummmeeennnttt OOOccctttooobbbeeerrr 111888,,, 222000000444 Vision: Institutionalize and promote a countywide wildfire hazard mitigation ethic through leadership, professionalism, and excellence, leading the way to a safe, sustainable Minidoka County. This plan was developed by the Minidoka County Wildland-Urban Interface Wildfire 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 the preparedness for wildfire events while reducing factors of risk. Minidoka County Commissioners Mid-Snake Resource Conservation and and the employees of Minidoka County Development USDI Bureau of Land Management USDA Forest Service Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency Minidoka County Fire Protection District West End Fire Protection District Rupert Fire Department & Local Businesses and Idaho Department of Lands Citizens of Minidoka County To obtain copies of this plan contact: Minidoka County Commissioners Office Minidoka County Courthouse 715 G Street, P.O. Box 368 Rupert, ID 83350 Phone: 208-436-7111 Fax: 208-436-0737 Table of Contents CHAPTER I: OVERVIEW OF THIS PLAN AND ITS DEVELOPMENT ..........................................................1 1 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................................1 1.1 GOALS AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES.................................................................................................................1 1.1.1 Federal Emergency Management Agency Philosophy ............................................................................1 1.1.2 Additional State and Federal Guidelines Adopted...................................................................................2 1.1.2.1 National Fire Plan ........................................................................................................................................... 3 1.1.2.2 Idaho Statewide Implementation Strategy....................................................................................................... 4 1.1.2.2.1 County Wildland Fire Interagency Group.................................................................................................. 5 1.1.2.3 National Association of State Foresters .......................................................................................................... 6 1.1.2.3.1 Identifying and Prioritizing Communities at Risk...................................................................................... 6 1.1.2.3.2 Conceptual Approach................................................................................................................................. 6 1.1.2.4 Healthy Forests Restoration Act ..................................................................................................................... 8 1.1.3 Local Guidelines and Integration with Other Efforts...............................................................................9 1.1.3.1 Minidoka County Fire Mitigation Planning Effort and Philosophy ................................................................ 9 1.1.3.1.1 Mission Statement...................................................................................................................................... 9 1.1.3.1.2 Vision Statement........................................................................................................................................ 9 1.1.3.1.3 Goals .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 2: PLANNING PROCESS....................................................................................................................10 2 DOCUMENTING THE PLANNING PROCESS ..........................................................................................10 2.1.1 Description of the Planning Process ......................................................................................................10 2.2 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT................................................................................................................................11 2.2.1 News Releases .......................................................................................................................................11 2.2.1.1 Radio Messages ............................................................................................................................................ 11 2.2.1.2 Public Postings.............................................................................................................................................. 11 2.2.1.3 Newspaper Articles....................................................................................................................................... 11 2.2.2 Public Mail Survey ................................................................................................................................12 2.2.2.1 Survey Results .............................................................................................................................................. 13 2.2.3 Committee Meetings..............................................................................................................................16 2.2.4 Public Meetings .....................................................................................................................................19 2.2.4.1.1 Paul Public Meeting ................................................................................................................................. 19 2.2.4.1.2 Rupert Public Meeting ............................................................................................................................. 19 2.2.4.1.3 Heyburn Public Meeting .......................................................................................................................... 19 2.2.4.1.4 Meeting Notices ....................................................................................................................................... 19 2.3 REVIEW OF THE WUI WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN ...................................................................................20 CHAPTER 3: COUNTY CHARACTERISTICS & RISK ASSESSMENT .........................................................21 3 BACKGROUND AND AREA DESCRIPTION.............................................................................................21 3.1 DEMOGRAPHICS..........................................................................................................................................21 3.2 SOCIOECONOMICS.......................................................................................................................................23 3.2.1 European Settlement of Minidoka County.............................................................................................25 3.3 DESCRIPTION OF MINIDOKA COUNTY .........................................................................................................26 3.3.1 Highways...............................................................................................................................................26 3.3.2 Rivers.....................................................................................................................................................26 3.3.3 Temperature...........................................................................................................................................26 3.3.4 Growing Season.....................................................................................................................................26 3.3.5 Days of Sunshine ...................................................................................................................................27 3.3.6 Recreation..............................................................................................................................................27 3.3.7 Resource Dependency............................................................................................................................27 3.4 EMERGENCY SERVICES & PLANNING AND ZONING.....................................................................................28 3.4.1 Growth and Development......................................................................................................................28 3.5 CULTURAL RESOURCES ..............................................................................................................................28 3.6 TRANSPORTATION.......................................................................................................................................30 Minidoka County WUI Wildfire Mitigation Plan Page i 3.7 AGRICULTURE.............................................................................................................................................30 3.8 VEGETATION & CLIMATE ...........................................................................................................................31