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installation of utilities, we built 3,300 feet of 100 foot wide firebreak. Unfortunately the crested wheat seeding we expected to block out the cheat grass this year failed to do so. John Davis (Sierra Nevada Emergency Support) has cleaned up the firebreak for us, including cutting the cheat grass and sculpting the sage to give the firebreak a more finished appearance (pictures sent separately). We are extremely pleased with his work and look forward to his help with fuel reduction in the future.

This fall we expect to add more firebreaks and also provide sample areas of fuel reduction (possibly 50% and 75%) so that parcel owners can understand that fuel-reduced areas can still be attractive. It is our goal to significantly reduce fire fuels on all 55 parcels, which is critical to everyone's safety since the parcels average 5 acres in size.

Initial planning of a phase 1 project is underway; project will include approximately 15 acres of mastication fuel break and cheat grass abatement along east side of community area.  A 10 acre cheat grass treatment project on a preexisting fuel break will be conducted by Eagle Ridge.  A culture resources survey through Division of Forestry has been requested. This project is planned to start this fall, after fire season.

Eagle Ridge Chapter –Phase III Fuels Project   11-09-05

The Community Wildfire Risk/Hazard Assessment for Douglas County identifies the area north of Genoa as a very high-risk rating.  The plan identified the following recommendations for the area of Eagle Ridge:

• Develop safe egress for residents and safe access for firefighters.
• Encourage preplan notification and evacuation of residents in response to wildfire threats.
• Develop residential and community fuels reduction treatments that will lower the resistance to fire control allowing firefighters to successfully provide fire protection.

In order to meet the fuels reduction recommendations, the Nevada Fire Safe Council is providing the Eagle Ridge HOA $20,000 in cost share funding to complete the following fuels treatments:

• Reseed the existing south-side fuel break with perennial grass and forbs seed mix.
• Treat the existing south-side fuel break with the cheat grass herbicide, Plateau
• Construct a new east-side fuel break adjacent to Jacks Valley Road, through seeding, mastication and herbicide, Plateau treatment.

The cost share required for the grant will be $15,000, to be assessed through in-kind sweat equity documentation.

Scope of Work:  Landowner consent forms will be required for participation in the fuels reduction project.

South-Side Fuel Break

• Broadcast seeding of a perennial grass/forbs seed mixture will be applied to the south-side fuel break to assure establishment of desirable perennial grasses. This treatment will be applied in early December of 2005.
• The previously completed, south-side fuel break will be treated with the herbicide, Plateau, to remove a dense stand of cheat grass.   The herbicide will be applied through a contract with Douglas County Weed District during early part of the month of December.

 Seeding Cost: $2,000

 Herbicide Treatment Cost: $1,000

East-Side Fuel Break

• Broadcast seeding of a perennial grass/forbs seed mixture will be applied to the east-side fuel break to assure establishment of desirable perennial grasses. This treatment will be applied in early December of 2005.
• Mastication of fuel break, with consent/consultation, will be completed following seed treatment.
• Plateau herbicide treatment will be applied following seed treatment, anticipate application to be completed prior to end of December 2005.
• Size:  15 acres
• Seeding Cost:  $5,000
• Mastication Cost:  $10,000
• Herbicide Treatment: $2,000

Total Project Cost: $20,000

Phase 1 Fuel Reduction project map