Priority Projects List

The Priority Projects List is a compilation of data received by participants in our first public data collection in 2022. Over 110 projects were submitted and mapped. While many projects have multiple activities required for success, for the purposes of this plan we categorized projects by one main treatment type, which we understand as the primary implementation method. Almost half of the projects (47%) submitted are categorized as Fuel Reduction, consisting of manual, mechanical, or grazing to reduce fuel loads, and Fuel Break establishment or maintenance. 17% of projects are Prescribed Burning, 13% of projects are Capacity Building, 12% are GSOB Management, 6% are Ecological Restoration, 2% are Hazard Dead Tree Removal, and 3% are categorized as Other

Next Steps

RCDGSDC will continue to engage and coordinate with partners to track priority projects, wildfire funding, capacity, and other priority needs for the region to advocate on their behalf. The Priority Project List will evolve in subsequent data collection and management periods as additional organizations, tribes, and communities participate, and as project status changes are tracked through to implementation. In alignment with this work, an additional $6.9M in grants and other funding has been secured that leverages and increases the scope and impact of the RFFC program. As part of the next phase of the RFFC Program, RCDGSDC plans to:

• Continue to convene and grow our local collaborative group (currently 45+ groups engaged) and work on aligning efforts across the region.

• Develop a framework for data stewardship and ongoing management and maintenance of the Priority Project List. This data includes detailed regional project information including the status, scope, scale, impact areas, partnerships, and other key information about each project.

• Utilize this framework to build relationships and assist in project readiness and implementationprogress will be shared and tracked at both the regional and state level.

• Develop a framework for regional block grant implementation and management to fund priority projects identified in the Priority Project List.

• Strengthen efforts to support community level groups such as Fire Safe Councils, Homeowners Associations (HOAs), or other communities with planning and implementation through:

º Community Wildfire Protection Plans; Defensible space assistance; Vegetation chipping and clean up days; Education and outreach on structure hardening, fire preparedness, ignition reduction, defensible space zones, etc.; Goldspotted Oak Borer and other pest management resources and tools.

• Strengthen efforts to support landscape scale planning and implementation with Tribal Partners and Collaborative Partnerships through:

º GSOB and other pest management plans and resources to suppress infestations; Fuels modification and hazard dead tree removal; Reforestation and habitat restoration; Cultural Burning and prescribed burning.

• Implementing the second phase of the Indigenous Fire Stewardship Pathway program with Climate Science Alliance and La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians.

Stakeholders thoughout the region are encouraged to submit project plans for implementation activities that will advance wildfire and forest resilience project and initiatives. You can participate to help inform the plan and its Priority Projects List using the online project submission tool here: https://resourceconserverationdistrict.formstack.com/forms/rpp_project_submission_form