San Juan County, Washington Community Wildfire Protection Plan/Wildfire Risk Assessment 2010 Satellite Island Fire Adopted by the San Juan County Council August 2012 This plan was developed by the San Juan County Community Wildfire Protection Plan steering committee. Acknowledgements This Community Wildfire Protection Plan represents the efforts and cooperation of a number of organizations and agencies working together to improve preparedness for wildfire events while reducing factors of risk. Waldron Island Fire Brigade 2012 - /Wildfire Risk Assessment /Wildfire Community Wildfire Protection Wildfire Plan Community Washington Washington To obtain copies of this plan contact: County, San Juan County Emergency Management PO Box 669 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 360-370-7612 [email protected] San Juan Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................................................................ II FOREWORD .................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1 ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 OVERVIEW OF THIS PLAN AND ITS DEVELOPMENT ....................................................................................................... 3 GOALS AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Planning Philosophy and Goals ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) ................................................................................................................... 4 State and Federal CWPP Guidelines ................................................................................................................................................... 5 INTEGRATION WITH OTHER LOCAL PLANNING DOCUMENTS ............................................................................................................ 6 San Juan County – Town of Friday Harbor Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan ............................................................... 6 San Juan County Comprehensive Plan ................................................................................................................................................ 6 San Juan County-Town of Friday Harbor Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan ....................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER 2 ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 DOCUMENTING THE PLANNING PROCESS .......................................................................................................................... 7 DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANNING PROCESS ...................................................................................................................................... 7 THE PLANNING TEAM ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Multi-Jurisdictional Participation ........................................................................................................................................................ 7 STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS .................................................................................................................................................. 9 Committee Meeting Minutes ..............................................................................................................................................................10 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT.................................................................................................................................................................. 10 News Releases ....................................................................................................................................................................................10 Public Meetings ..................................................................................................................................................................................11 2012 Documented Review Process .............................................................................................................................................................14 - Public Comment Period ......................................................................................................................................................................14 Continued Public Involvement ...........................................................................................................................................................15 CHAPTER 3 ................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 SAN JUAN COUNTY CHARACTERISTICS ............................................................................................................................ 17 DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................................................................................................ 17 GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE .......................................................................................................................................................... 18 POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS ............................................................................................................................................... 18 Land Ownership .................................................................................................................................................................................19 Risk Assessment /Wildfire Development Trends ..........................................................................................................................................................................19 NATURAL RESOURCES .................................................................................................................................................................. 20 Biota ...................................................................................................................................................................................................20 Hydrology...........................................................................................................................................................................................21 Air Quality..........................................................................................................................................................................................21 CHAPTER 4 ................................................................................................................................................................................... 23 RISK AND PREPAREDNESS ASSESSMENTS ........................................................................................................................ 23 WILDLAND FIRE CHARACTERISTICS ............................................................................................................................................. 23 Weather ..............................................................................................................................................................................................23 Topography ........................................................................................................................................................................................23 Fuels ...................................................................................................................................................................................................24 Protection Wildfire Plan Community WILDFIRE HAZARDS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Fire History ........................................................................................................................................................................................25 Wildfire Ignition Profile .....................................................................................................................................................................27 Wildfire Extent Profile .......................................................................................................................................................................28 Washington WILDFIRE HAZARD ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................................................................. 30 Historic Fire Regime ..........................................................................................................................................................................30