Fire Risk Reduction

Reducing Fire Risk in Sacramento County Parks

Sacramento County’s Regional Parks is continuing our goal to decrease the number and size of wildfires in our parks, and protect our high priority forests, wildlife habitats, and cultural resources. Parks staff are using and evaluating a number of techniques to balance resource protection and fire risk, including prescribed fire, livestock grazing, and maintaining our designated firebreaks and fire roads.

Listed below is a schedule of Sacramento County Regional Parks' wildfire risk reduction activities.

Resident and Property Owner Responsibilities

Anyone who owns or lives on property adjacent to County Parks should be aware of the following rules and guidelines:

Do not dispose of yard waste or trash onto County property behind your fences. Residents in the unincorporated area of Sacramento County are entitled to one bulky waste collection per calendar year at no charge
Reduce fire fuel on your property. Visit Ready for Wildfire for tips and info.
Learn about the Metro Fire Department's Community Risk Reduction Division, (formerly Fire Prevention Bureau) is responsible for protecting the public through coordinated efforts in fire prevention, code enforcement, fire protection engineering, fire and life safety education and fire investigation.
Fuel Break Maintenance Permits now available for those who live next to Regional Parks

Annual Encroachment Permits are now available to those residents who wish to maintain a fuel break behind their backyard fence on Regional Parks property. These annual permits are free of charge and will allow residents to string-trim grass and weeds for up to 50 feet beyond their private property line.
The permit is only for cutting non-woody vegetation, such as a grasses and weeds, and does not allow cutting or removing woody plants, such as trees, shrubs or vines. Acceptable methods include string trimming or hand-tool removal. Lawn mowers, which could spark a fire, or herbicides are not permitted.
To see specific permit conditions, read the pdf document.
You may request a permit by providing your name, address and contact information to Regional Parks at parksinfo@SacCounty.gov.

Parks Visitor Responsibilities

Visitors to Sacramento County Regional Parks should be aware of the following regulations:

Smoking is only allowed in developed picnic areas, asphalt surfaces, golf courses and levee tops in the American River Parkway.
Open flame fires are not allowed and barbequing is only permitted in designated picnic areas.

Fire Fuel Reduction Action Plan

Listed below is a tentative schedule of Fire Fuel Reduction Plans for 2024. This schedule is subject to change, so check back for updates!

General

	Action	Desired Completion Date
	Increase outreach to residents about encroachment permit opportunities for reducing flashy fuels in County open space adjacent to private property.	Ongoing

American River Parkway (Fire Fuel Management Activity Map - 2023)

	Action	Desired Completion Date
	Lower Reach: Cal Expo and Woodlake areas – Fuel breaks with mowing, string-trimming, and/or herbicide (approximately 30 feet wide)	July 4
	Lower Reach: Cal Expo and Woodlake areas – Fuel reduction utilizing hand crews to address ladder fuels & dead wood less than 6 inches in diameter in higher-risk areas including trails, roads, and areas within 100 feet of development.	Ongoing
	Lower Reach: Discovery to Cal Expo - Grazing by sheep/goats to reduce fuel loads	June 30
	Middle Reach: Campus Commons – Grazing by sheep/goats to reduce fuel loads	June 30
	Middle Reach : Campus Commons up to Arden Bar - Fuel breaks provided via mowed levees (conducted by levee maintaining agencies)	July 4
	Upper Reach: Arden to Nimbus - Grazing by sheep/goats to reduce fuel loads	June 30
	Upper Reach: Arden to Nimbus - Fuel breaks with mowing, disking, string-trimming, and/or herbicide (approximately 30 feet wide)	July 4
	Upper Reach: Arden to Nimbus - Fuel reduction/ladder fuel removal with hand crews along designated trails, maintenance/fire roads, and within 100-feet of adjacent neighborhoods	Ongoing

Dry Creek Parkway (Fire Fuel Management Activity Map - 2023)

	Action	Desired Completion Date
	Dry Creek Parkway: North of Elkhorn Blvd - Fuel breaks with mowing, string-timming, and/or herbicide along trails, roads, and other high risk areas.	July 4
	Dry Creek Parkway: North of Elkhorn Blvd - Grazing by sheep/goats to reduce fuel loads (see map)	June 30
	Dry Creek Parkway: North of Q Street - Fuel breaks with mowing, string timming, and/or herbicide along trails, roads, and other high-risk areas.	July 4
	Dry Creek Parkway: North of Q Street - Grazing by sheep/goats to reduce fuel loads	June 30
	Dry Creek Parkway: South of Elkhorn Blvd - Fuel breaks with mowing, string timming, and/or herbicide along trails, roads, and other high-risk areas.	July 4
	Dry Creek Parkway: South of Elkhorn Blvd - Grazing by sheep/goats to reduce fuel loads (see map)	June 30

Indian Stone Corral

	Action	Desired Completion Date
	Grazing by sheep/goats and/or horses to reduce fuel loads	July 4

Mather / Illa M. Collin Conservation Preserve (Fire Fuel Management Activity Map - 2023)

	Action	Desired Completion Date
	Fuel breaks with mowing, string timming, and/or herbicide along trails, roads, and adjacent to development.	July 4
	Grazing by sheep/goats to reduce fuel loads adjacent to development	June 30

Rollingwood Open Space (Fire Fuel Management Activity Map - 2023)

	Action	Desired Completion Date
	Fuel reduction utilizing hand crews to address ladder fuels & dead wood less than 6-inches in diameter	Ongoing
	Grazing by sheep/goats to reduce fuel loads	June 30

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Fire Risk Reduction

​Reducing Fire Risk in Sacramento County Parks

Fire Reduction Action Plan ‭[1]‬

Reducing Fire Risk in Sacramento County Parks