A Research Paper by Land Use Planning to Reduce Wildfire Risk: Lessons from Five Western Cities BOULDER FLAGSTAFF SANTE FE SAN DIEGO AUSTIN COLORADO ARIZONA NEW MEXICO CALIFORNIA TEXAS January 2016 Land Use Planning to Reduce Wildfire Risk: Lessons from Five Western Cities January 2016 PUBLISHED ONLINE: http://headwaterseconomics.org ABOUT HEADWATERS ECONOMICS Headwaters Economics is an independent, nonprofit research group whose mission is to improve community development and land management decisions in the West. CONTACT INFORMATION Ray Rasker | [email protected] | 406-570-7044 Kimiko Barrett | [email protected] | 406-224-1837 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This report was made possible through generous support from the Kresge Foundation. In addition, we would like to thank the city departments and community leaders highlighted in this report that provided valuable background information and historical data. In particular, we want to acknowledge the City of Austin, Texas (Austin Fire Department, Office of Sustainability, and Development Services Department); Boulder County, Colorado (Land Use Department); City of Flagstaff, Arizona (Flagstaff Fire Department, Ecological Restoration Institute, Community Development Department, and Sustainability & Environmental Management Section); City of San Diego, California (San Diego Fire- Rescue Department and Planning Department); City of Santa Fe, New Mexico (Land Use Department, Fire Department, and Office of Emergency Management). Lastly, a special thanks to Carter Wilkinson for his time and contributions to this report. Any errors or omissions are solely the responsibility of Headwaters Economics. P.O. Box 7059 Bozeman, MT 59771 http://headwaterseconomics.org Cover Image: Headwaters Economics HEADWATERS ECONOMICS TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY OF PLANNING TOOLS USED ............................................ 1 II. BACKGROUND: THE CHALLENGE OF WILDFIRE ADAPTATION IN THE WEST ................. 6 III. AUSTIN, TEXAS ............................................................................................................................... 12 History of Wildfire in Austin .................................................................................................................. 12 Impacts of Wildfire on the City of Austin .............................................................................................. 12 How Austin Is Addressing Wildfire Risk Through Land Use Planning and Regulations ...................... 13 Austin Prepares for Wildfire Risk and the Impacts of Climate Change ................................................. 16 Key Takeaways ....................................................................................................................................... 16 IV. BOULDER COUNTY, COLORADO ................................................................................................ 19 History of Wildfire in Boulder ................................................................................................................ 19 Impacts of Wildfire on the City of Boulder ............................................................................................ 20 How Boulder County Is Addressing Wildfire Risk Through Land Use Planning and Regulations ....... 21 Boulder Prepares for Wildfire Risk and the Impacts of Climate Change ............................................... 24 Key Takeaways ....................................................................................................................................... 24 V. FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA .................................................................................................................. 28 History of Wildfire in Flagstaff .............................................................................................................. 28 Impacts of Wildfire on the City of Flagstaff ........................................................................................... 28 How Flagstaff Is Addressing Wildfire Risk Through Land Use Planning and Regulations ................... 30 Flagstaff Prepares for Wildfire Risk and the Impacts of Climate Change .............................................. 32 Key Takeaways ....................................................................................................................................... 33 VI. SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA ............................................................................................................. 36 History of Wildfire in San Diego ............................................................................................................ 36 Impacts of Wildfire on the City of San Diego ........................................................................................ 37 How San Diego Is Addressing Wildfire Risk Through Land Use Planning and Regulations ................ 38 San Diego Prepares for Wildfire Risk and the Impacts of Climate Change ........................................... 39 Key Takeaways ....................................................................................................................................... 40 VII. SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO .............................................................................................................. 43 History of Wildfire in Santa Fe ............................................................................................................... 43 Impacts of Wildfire on the City of Santa Fe ........................................................................................... 44 How Santa Fe Is Addressing Wildfire Risk Through Land Use Planning and Regulations ................... 45 Santa Fe Prepares for Wildfire Risk and the Impacts of Climate Change .............................................. 47 Key Takeaways ....................................................................................................................................... 47 VIII. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................... 50 IX. APPENDIX ......................................................................................................................................... 51 HEADWATERS ECONOMICS TABLE OF FIGURES Land Use Planning Strategies to Reduce Wildfire Risk ............................................................................... 1 Distribution of Wildfire: 2000-2013 ............................................................................................................. 6 Urban Areas Within 10 Miles of Major Wildfires: 2000-2013 .................................................................... 7 Number of Urban Areas Threatened by Major Wildfires: 2000-2013 .......................................................... 7 Distribution of Urban Areas Relative to Major Wildfires: 2000-2013 ......................................................... 8 Characteristics of Major Wildfires Near Urban Areas: 2000-2013 ............................................................. 8 Percent of Major Wildfires that Threaten Urban Resources: 2000-2013 ..................................................... 9 Major Wildfires in Austin, Texas: 2000-2013 ............................................................................................ 13 Major Wildfires in Boulder, Colorado: 2000-2013 .................................................................................... 20 Major Wildfires in Flagstaff, Arizona: 2000-2013 ..................................................................................... 29 Major Wildfires in San Diego, California: 2000-2013 ............................................................................... 37 Major Wildfires in Santa Fe, New Mexico: 2000-2013 .............................................................................. 44 HEADWATERS ECONOMICS INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY OF PLANNING TOOLS USED Wildfires across the American West are increasing in frequency, size, and severity. The impacts from climate change, including rising average air temperatures, unpredictable precipitation patterns, and prolonged droughts further exacerbate wildfires. These changes, coupled with continued development within the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), present significant wildfire protection and recovery challenges for communities in the region. This report documents how wildfires are increasingly an urban problem, affecting not just homes but also water and power supplies, transportation networks, and cultural resources, resulting in injuries, lost lives, and millions of dollars in damages. We then report on how five cities have used innovative land use planning techniques as a way to adapt to this growing threat. Headwaters Economics met with city planners, elected officials, and firefighters in Austin, Texas; Boulder, Colorado; Flagstaff, Arizona; San Diego, California; and Santa Fe, New Mexico—all communities with a recent history of wildfire and a reputation for being problem solvers. In each case study, we describe the urban nature of wildfires in the West, including fire history and associated impacts, and then profile how individual cities are responding to wildfire risk through improved land use planning (summarized in the table below). We hope cities and towns across the West can learn from each other about how to implement land use planning tools to minimize the threat from wildfires. The audiences for this report are planners and elected officials, firefighters,