Agenda packet — Jackson City Council, June 8, 2026 (part 1 of 2)

Jackson City Council Agenda
Monday, June 8, 2026 – 6:30 PM Regular Meeting
Jackson City Hall, 33 Broadway, Jackson, California 95642 Public Teleconference Line: 1-650-419-1505
Meeting ID: 367821073
Please join using this link with PC, MAC, LINUX, iOS or Android:
https://v.ringcentral.com/join/367821073
One tap to join audio only from a smartphone: +16504191505 NOTE: The City Council meeting will be held in person at the address listed above. The City may also provide a courtesy option for the public to observe the meeting remotely using the teleconference line or RingCentral internet-based service option listed above. Callers will be muted upon entry and live remote public comment will not be taken unless required by Government Code section 54953, et. seq. If remote public comment is required, the Mayor will make announcement, and RingCentral participants may request to speak by selecting the “Raise Hand” icon, and telephone-only participants should wait until the Mayor opens public comment and then state their name for the record when prompted.

1. CEREMONIAL.

Introduction and swearing in of new Planning Commissioner Cole Giurlani.

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA.

Approval of agenda for this date; any and all off-agenda items must be approved by the City Council (pursuant to §54954.2 of the Government Code).

3. PUBLIC MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

Discussion items only, no action will be taken. Any person may address the Council at this time on any subject within the jurisdiction of the City Council. Please note – there is a three (3) minute limit.

4. CONSENT CALENDAR.

Items listed on the consent calendar are considered routine and may be enacted by one motion. Any item may be removed for discussion at the request of a Council member. a. Approval of May 7, 11, 14, & 28, 2026 Meeting Minutes. b. Approval of Expenditure Reports in the amount of $819,264.52 for May 22, 2026 & June 4, 2026.
c. Approval of May 2026 Payroll Expenditure Report in the amount of $480,906.59. d. Receive Fire Department Monthly Report for May 2026. e. Receive Police Department Monthly Report for May 2026. f. Receive Building Department Monthly Report for May 2026. g. Receive Homeless Outreach Monthly Report for May 2026. h. Approval of Resolution 2026-18 Concurring in the Call for an Election on the Question of ReEstablishing the Amador County Vehicle Abatement Program. i. Approval of Resolution 2026-19 Accepting the Completion of the Buena Vista Waterline Replacement Project and Filing a Notice of Completion and Authorizing Recordation Therefore.

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Jackson City Council Agenda Monday, June 8, 2026
j. Approval of Resolution 2026-20 Adopting a List of Projects and Approving the Use of SB1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act Funding for City Street Projects for FY 2026-27. k. Authorization of Biennial Review of the City’s Conflict of Interest Code. l. Approval of the Salary Range for Recruitment of City Manager m. Approval of Interim City Manager Employment Agreement. n. Approval of the Amador County Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

5. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.

This section is to provide staff an opportunity to present oral status reports on issues. No legal action is expected to be taken by the Council.

6. COUNCIL REPORTS.

This section is to provide Council members an opportunity to present reports on their activities and to request items be placed on future agendas.

7. DISCUSSION CALENDAR.
a. Receive, discuss, and provide direction regarding report from the Homeless Outreach Coordinator regarding the City’s response to homeless issues [Christine Platt].

8. REGULAR MEETING ADJOURNMENT.

Regular meeting adjournment.

9. CLOSED SESSION.

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT
Public Employment pursuant to Government Code 54957. Title: Interim City Manager

CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9: 1 case

10. CLOSED SESSION ADJOURNMENT
Closed Session Adjournment.

UPCOMING MEETINGS:

June 10, 2026 10:00 am Cemetery Committee Meeting
June 10, 2026 1:00 pm Economic Development Committee Special Meeting June 15, 2026 6:30 pm Planning Commission Meeting (TBD) June 18, 2026 1:30 pm Measure E/TOT Grant Committee Meeting June 22, 2026 6:30 pm City Council Meeting
June 24, 2026 1:30 pm Economic Development Committee Meeting July 8, 2026 10:00 am Cemetery Committee Meeting
July 13, 2026 6:30 pm City Council Meeting

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Jackson City Council Agenda Monday, June 8, 2026

UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS
June 13, 2026 6:30 pm Tropical Pool Party in the Mountains @ Jackson Pool June 20, 2026 6:30 pm Botilleas Dinner on Main Street
June 20, 2026 6:30 pm Country Splash Bash @ Jackson Pool July 3, 2026 9:30 am 3rd of July Parade on Main Street
July 3, 2026 6:30 pm Floating Under the Fireworks @ Jackson Pool July 3, 2026 7:30 pm Jackson Lion’s Club Fireworks Event July 11, 2026 6:30 pm Dive-In Movie Night – Finding Nemo @ Jackson Pool UPCOMING CLOSURE DATES FOR CITY OFFICE:

July 3, 2026 Independence Day (Observed)
Posted: June 5, 2026 City Hall, 33 Broadway, Jackson
Agenda materials will be available for review (pursuant to §54957.5 Government Code Section) in the City Clerk’s office in City Hall.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, including auxiliary aids or services, you should contact the Office of the City Clerk at (209) 223-1646 (voice) or (209) 223-3141 (fax). Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to assure accessibility to this meeting.

Visit our website at http://ci.jackson.ca.us for copies of previous agendas, minutes, and City budget.

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Jackson City Council
Special Meeting Draft Minutes
May 7, 2026
Mayor and Council Members
Chad Simmons, Mayor
Steve McLean, Vice Mayor
Max Godde, Council Member
Connie Gonsalves, Council Member
ABSENT:

Sierra McLean, Council Member
John Georgette, City Clerk
Josh Nelson, City Attorney
Staff Members:

Carl P. Simpson, City Manager
Chris Mynderup, Police Chief
Ryan Pidgeon, Fire Chief
Dalacie Blankenship, Finance/HR Manager
Bree Wilder, PW Superintendent
Dana Knight, Administrative Assistant
Mayor Simmons called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA.

Motion to Approve the City Council Agenda dated May 7, 2026, as presented. Moved by Councilmember Godde, seconded by Councilmember Gonsalves, and carried by a 4 to 0 vote:

AYES: Simmons, Steve McLean, Godde, Gonsalves
NOES: None
ABSENT: Sierra McLean
ABSTAIN: None

2. SPECIAL MEETING PUBLIC COMMENT.

Pursuant to the Brown Act, public comment for special meetings is limited to items on the special meeting agenda only. Those wishing to address the City Council during a special meeting may do so when the Chair calls for public comments. Please note – there is a three (3) minute limit and speakers are requested to state their name and community of residence. [None]

3. DISCUSSION CALENDAR.
a. Approval of the Termination and Dissolution Agreement Regarding the Amador County Recreation Agency
Council discussed the dissolution of ACRA and confirmed there were no remaining financial obligations between the City of Jackson and the agency. Ms. Blankenship explained that the City received approximately $36,000 in returned regional park impact fees, which may be used for future park-related projects pending clarification on Nexus study restrictions. Discussion also referenced prior expectations that ACRA may have allocated funding toward the Oro de Amador project, though no formal holding of funds was confirmed. Councilmembers additionally noted concerns regarding past fund distributions to other jurisdictions following ACRA’s dissolution.

Mayor Simmons called for public comment, hearing none he called for a motion.

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May 7, 2026 City Council Special Meeting Minutes
Motion to Approve the Termination and Dissolution Agreement Regarding the Amador County Recreation Agency. Moved by Councilmember Gonsalves, seconded by Councilmember Godde, and carried by a 4 to 0 vote:

AYES: Simmons, Steve McLean, Godde, Gonsalves
NOES: None
ABSENT: Sierra McLean
ABSTAIN: None
b. Approval of Resolution No. 2026-16 Awarding Sub Zero HVAC Services the Construction Contract for the City Hall HVAC System Improvement Project.

Public Works Superintendent Wilder discussed the replacement of two aging HVAC units serving City Hall in Jackson, noting the approximately 30-year-old units frequently require resets and ongoing maintenance. Although bids came in slightly above the original budget estimate at approximately $46,000, staff recommended replacing both units simultaneously to avoid higher emergency replacement costs and improve overall efficiency. Wilder also noted the contractor previously completed successful HVAC work at the Police Department, and staff plans to address the remaining units in future budget cycles.

Mayor Simmons called for public comment.

Tom Consolo, a resident of Jackson, spoke on the previous item and requested that the City Council consider establishing a Parks and Recreation Department or advisory committee to support long-term recreation planning, park improvements, community programming, and tourism-related opportunities throughout the City.

City Manager Simpson responded that the City of Jackson’s Pool Director is already developing recreation and senior programming ideas, including potential activities at the Scout Hut, and may present those concepts to the Council in the future. Discussion also acknowledged that some larger recreation improvements are currently on hold following an unsuccessful grant application, though Councilmembers agreed there is a need for improved park management and future discussion regarding recreation planning.

With no further public comments, Mayor Simmons called for a motion.

Motion to Approve Resolution No. 2026-16 Awarding Sub Zero HVAC Services the Construction Contract for the City Hall HVAC System Improvement Project. Moved by Councilmember Gonsalves, seconded by Vice Mayor Steve McLean, carried by a 4 to 0 vote:

AYES: Simmons, Steve McLean, Godde, Gonsalves
NOES: None
ABSENT: Sierra McLean
ABSTAIN: None

4. SPECIAL MEETING ADJOURNMENT.

Mayor Simmons adjourned the special meeting at 2:17 pm.

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May 7, 2026 City Council Special Meeting Minutes

ATTEST:
__________________________________ __________________________________ John Georgette, City Clerk Date Approved

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CITY OF JACKSON
City Council Draft Meeting Minutes
May 11, 2026
Mayor and Council Members
Chad Simmons, Mayor
Steve McLean, Vice Mayor
Max Godde, Council Member
Connie Gonsalves, Council Member
Sierra McLean, Council Member
ABSENT: None
John Georgette, City Clerk
Josh Nelson, City Attorney
Staff Members:

Carl P. Simpson, City Manager
Chris Mynderup, Police Chief
Ryan Pidgeon, Fire Chief
Bree Wilder, PW Superintendent
Dana Knight, Administrative Assistant
Mayor Simmons called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Simmons recognized the evening as City Manager Simpson’s final City Council meeting and thanked him for his dedicated service, leadership, creativity, and commitment to the City of Jackson. Mayor Simmons noted Simpson’s lasting impact on numerous City projects and presented him with the Key to the City in appreciation of his service.

Jason and Nicole Mulford of Victory Village recognized City Manager Simpson for his leadership in securing approximately $5.2 million through the California Homekey+ Program to support housing for veterans and individuals in need, presenting him with an award for his contributions to the community.

City Manager Simpson expressed appreciation for the recognition and kind remarks but emphasized that the accomplishments being recognized were the result of a collective team effort. Simpson credited City staff and department leadership for their hard work and dedication, stating that the City’s successes would not have been possible without their contributions and teamwork.

Mayor Simmons presented City Manager Simpson with two Adirondack chairs that he made special for Simpson and his wife Carrie.

Vice Mayor Steve McLean expressed appreciation for City Manager Carl Simpson’s leadership, creativity, and outside-the-box thinking, noting the City was fortunate to have recruited him from Texas.

McLean also reflected on traveling with Simpson to Serbia, describing it as a memorable experience.

1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA.

Motion to Approve the City Council Agenda dated May 11, 2026, as presented. Moved by Councilmember Sierra McLean, seconded by Councilmember Godde, and carried by a 5 to 0 vote:

AYES: Simmons, Steve McLean, Godde, Gonsalves, Sierra McLean NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None

2. PUBLIC MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

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____ May 11, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes__
Mel Welsh, of Homeless Task Force, thanked City Manager Simpson for his open-minded leadership and support of innovative homelessness solutions discussed during the May 4th town hall meeting. Welsh also expressed appreciation to the City Council members who visited regional shelter programs with open minds and thanked the Council for its continued engagement on homelessness issues.

Dan Pippen, a new Jackson resident, requested clarification regarding the City’s budget and asked whether water and sewer enterprise funds were subsidizing the City pool. Staff clarified that the pool is funded through the General Fund and is not part of the enterprise fund structure. It was further explained that the water and sewer departments operate as separate enterprise funds with no cross-subsidization between utilities or other City services.

Erika Simmons, on behalf of herself, the Economic Development Committee and the Chamber of Commerce, thanked City Manager Simpson for his leadership, collaboration, and support of community projects and events in Jackson, stating that his professionalism and dedication have made a lasting positive impact on the City and will be greatly missed.

Jim Laughton, Jackson resident, thanked City Manager Simpson for his support of the Cemetery Committee and service to the City of Jackson, while also expressing concerns regarding poor audio and limited visibility during the City’s Zoom meetings, emphasizing the importance of accessible remote participation.

3. CONSENT CALENDAR.

Motion to Approve the Consent Calendar dated May 11, 2026 as presented. Moved by Vice Mayor Steve McLean, seconded by Councilmember Gonsalves, and carried by a 5 to 0 vote:

AYES: Simmons, Steve McLean, Godde, Gonsalves, Sierra McLean NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None

4. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.

This section is to provide staff an opportunity to present oral status reports on issues. No legal action is expected to be taken by the Council.

Public Works Superintendent, Bree Wilder - Reported that sewer projects have begun in Jackson, with work starting on Clinton Road and expected to complete the underground portion by Friday before moving to Bright Avenue the following week. He also noted that two additional slip-lining projects and related CCTV work will begin next week, and that backflow testing letters are being mailed out.

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____ May 11, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes__
Fire Chief, Ryan Pidgeon – Reported that a volunteer firefighter sustained a back injury while assisting on a medical call but is recovering and expected to return soon. He also shared that rehabilitation work on Engine 6332 remains on schedule with no issues reported. Additionally, volunteer firefighter Brennan Chadwick recently graduated from the Columbia College Fire Academy and received the academy’s “Firefighter’s Firefighter” award, with congratulations extended for his achievement and continued service to the Jackson Fire Department.

Police Chief, Chris Mynderup – No report.

City Manager, Carl P. Simpson – Reported that the City of Jackson has secured signage for its sister cities and Purple Heart City designations, with additional updated signs currently being produced. He noted that Public Works staff are expected to install the signs in the coming weeks. Simpson also shared that he would be picking up a framed painting gifted by Bishop Manogue’s serving community, which will be displayed at City Hall once a location is selected.

City Attorney, Josh Nelson – No report.

5. COUNCIL REPORTS.

This section is to provide Council members an opportunity to present reports on their activities and to request items be placed on future agendas.

Councilmember Gonsalves – Announced a Special Economic Development Committee meeting on Wednesday to finalize details for the City of Jackson’s first July 3rd Main Street parade, noting that parade applications are now available online and at City Hall. She also reported that final preparations are underway for the upcoming car show on May 16th, with approximately 192 registered vehicles and downtown restaurants and food vendors expected to participate.

Councilmember Godde – Reported he will be attending the cemetery meeting. Offered to take back the Amador Council of Tourism meetings and will attend one this Wednesday at 9:00 am. Also got a Kennedy Mine Foundation meeting and will be delivering food on Thursday for the Senior Center and parking cars on Friday night and Saturday morning for the Car Show.

Councilmember Sierra McLean – Shared that she spent Mother’s Day on Main Street in Jackson and was encouraged to see strong community activity and a busy downtown. She thanked City Manager Simpson for his leadership and efforts in helping revitalize Main Street, acknowledging it as a collaborative effort.

Councilmember Steve McLean – Reported that he will be assisting with the upcoming car show in Jackson, including early morning vehicle staging and participation in the dunk tank event. He also noted that he would be absent from the following Chamber of Commerce board meeting and planned to coordinate coverage with Councilmember Godde.

Mayor Simmons – Reported attending several recent community fundraisers, including the 209 kickoff event supporting youth in agriculture alongside Vice Mayor Steve McLean, the Sheriff’s golf tournament with Police Chief Mynderup, and a golf fundraiser benefiting local school secretary Annette Adam. He noted strong attendance and community support at the events, along with continued participation in Chamber-related activities in Jackson.

6. DISCUSSION CALENDAR.
a. Fehr & Peers presentation on the submitted Caltrans grant and Main Street operations analysis. [Adrian Engel]

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____ May 11, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes__
The City received an update on the Historic Downtown Creek Walk Connectivity Plan and related Caltrans planning grant application. The project began with consideration of potential one-way traffic on Main Street but expanded into a broader downtown circulation, accessibility, parking, bicycle/pedestrian, wayfinding, and economic vitality study. Initial data showed Main Street traffic flows fairly evenly in both directions, parking utilization varies, and pedestrian activity is especially high near Main and Court Streets. The study also identified opportunities to improve access to nearby public parking, explore a Jackson Creek Walk connection under Highway 49, and coordinate with Caltrans on safer downtown crossings. If awarded, the grant would include significant community engagement and could support future applications for implementation funding. Council expressed support for the effort and interest in further study sessions if the grant is awarded.

Mayor Simmons called for Public Comment.

Tom Consolo, a resident of Jackson, expressed concerns that the traffic study did not account for future pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle impacts related to the planned Pitt Street Bridge replacement, nearby crosswalks, and the proposed Creek Walk extension. Staff responded that additional intersections and traffic data may be included through a future grant-funded expansion of the study and noted that environmental work on the bridge replacement project is underway with hopes of construction within two years.
b. Public Hearing: Second reading and possible adoption of Ordinance No. 742 Concerning Cost Recovery for Non-Emergency Services Response.

With no comments from staff Mayor Simmons called for public comment.

Michelle Tyer, President and CEO of American Legion Ambulance, opposed including ambulance services in the proposed cost recovery ordinance, citing limited reimbursement rates, potential impacts on public service operations, and a lack of prior consultation. Council clarified that the ordinance only establishes authority for future fees, with any specific fee schedule to be considered later by resolution following additional discussion and stakeholder input.

Mayor Simmons closed public comment and asked for Council discussion.

Council discussed that substantive changes to the proposed ordinance would require restarting the adoption process with a new first reading. Legal counsel clarified that the ordinance only establishes the City’s authority to adopt future cost recovery fees and does not immediately impose charges, noting that any specific fee structure would require separate Council approval by resolution at a future meeting.

Council members also expressed support for additional outreach to partner agencies, further study session discussion, and consideration of ongoing uncertainties surrounding future Measure M funding distributions.

Mayor Simmons called for a motion.

Motion to Adopt Ordinance No. 742. Moved by Councilmember Sierra McLean, seconded by Councilmember Godde, and carried by a 5 to 0 vote:

AYES: Simmons, Steve McLean, Godde, Gonsalves, Sierra McLean NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None

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____ May 11, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes__
c. Possible appointment to the Economic Development Committee Council discussion was held regarding the appointment to the vacant Economic Development Committee seat following the resignation of Jason Mulford. Council noted that one application had been received from Kevin Barnett, who has participated in recent EDC meetings and contributed ideas and support to committee efforts. A motion was made to appoint Barnett to the committee, citing his willingness to participate and positive contributions thus far.

Motion to Appoint Kevin Barnett to the Economic Development Committee. Moved by Councilmember Gonsalves, seconded by Councilmember Godde, and carried by a 5 to 0 vote:

AYES: Simmons, Steve McLean, Godde, Gonsalves, Sierra McLean NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None

d. Discussion and Approval of Resolution 2026-17 for the Annual Report on Unexpended Balances for Development Impact Fees
City Manager Simpson explained that the fees are reviewed annually, with periodic studies determining what portion may be applied toward eligible capital improvement projects. The current study identified approximately 17% of certain project costs as reimbursable through development impact fees, allowing funds to be transferred back to the General Fund or applicable enterprise funds. Council discussed the report stating that the fees will be used to mitigate impacts from new development and support essential services.

Mayor Simmons asked for public comment, hearing none, he called for a Motion.

Motion to Approve Resolution 2026-17 for the Annual Report on Unexpended Balances for Development Impact Fees. Moved by Vice Mayor Steve McLean, seconded Councilmember Gonsalves, and carried by a 5 to 0 vote:

AYES: Simmons, Steve McLean, Godde, Gonsalves, Sierra McLean NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
e. Review and Discuss City Council Compensation Policy related to stipend and benefits.

Council reviewed the proposed phased plan to gradually increase City Council healthcare contributions while modestly increasing monthly stipends to better align with regional agencies. Legal counsel advised that any adjustment to Council stipends should be made this year in order to take effect with the next Council term beginning in 2027. Counsel further clarified that future stipend increases may need to align with Council terms rather than annual increases, depending on interpretation of applicable Government Code provisions. Regarding health insurance benefits, counsel stated that preliminary legal review did not identify major concerns, though parity requirements between Council and employee benefits would still need to be evaluated.

Mayor Simmons asked for public comment.

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____ May 11, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes__
Debbie Collins, Jackson resident, thanked the City Council for its efforts to help save the City money and expressed appreciation as a community member.

Council provided direction for staff to move forward with preparation of an ordinance related to Council compensation and benefits, pending completion of additional legal review and analysis.

7. REGULAR MEETING ADJOURNMENT.

Mayor Simmons adjourned the regular meeting at 7:34 pm to go into Closed Session.

8. CLOSED SESSION.

CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Property: 149 Main Street
Agency negotiator: Carl Simpson
Negotiating parties: Tracey Towner
Under negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment

CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Property: 319 Laurel Drive
Agency negotiator: Carl Simpson
Negotiating parties: Blankenship Mary Jane & Busi Thomas James Franklin Under negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment

CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Property: APN 020-381-014 & 020-367-002
Agency negotiator: Carl Simpson
Negotiating parties: Lexar & Co. Limited Liability Company Under negotiation: Agreement for Exchange of Real Property CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Pursuant to Government Code § 54954.5(f)) Agency designated representatives: Carl Simpson, Josh Nelson Employee organizations (under discussion): Jackson Professional Firefighters Association CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Pursuant to Government Code § 54954.5(f)) Agency designated representatives: Carl Simpson, Josh Nelson Employee organizations (under discussion): Unrepresented Employees

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT
Title: City Manager Selection

9. CLOSED SESSION ADJOURNMENT.

Mayor Simmons reported out from closed session at 9:29 pm with no reportable action.

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____ May 11, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes__
ATTEST:
__________________________________ __________________________________ John Georgette, City Clerk Date Approved

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Jackson City Council
Special Meeting Draft Minutes
May 14, 2026
Mayor and Council Members
Chad Simmons, Mayor
Steve McLean, Vice Mayor
Max Godde, Council Member
Connie Gonsalves, Council Member
Sierra McLean, Council Member
ABSENT: None
Josh Nelson, City Attorney (Attended Remotely)
Staff Members:

Carl P. Simpson, City Manager
Dana Knight, Administrative Assistant
Mayor Simmons called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA.

Motion to Approve the City Council Agenda dated May 14, 2026, as presented. Moved by Councilmember Gonsalves, seconded by Councilmember Godde, and carried by a 5 to 0 vote:

AYES: Simmons, Steve McLean, Godde, Gonsalves, Sierra McLean NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None

2. SPECIAL MEETING PUBLIC COMMENT.

3. DISCUSSION CALENDAR – CLOSED SESSION.

CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL —EXISTING LITIGATION
(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9)
Name of case: Mackey v. City of Jackson, Amador Superior Court, Case No. 23-CV-13061

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT
Title: Interim City Manager

CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Agency designated representatives: Carl Simpson
Unrepresented employee: Interim City Manager

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May 14, 2026 City Council Special Meeting Minutes

4. CLOSED SESSION ADJOURNMENT.

Mayor Simmons adjourned the special meeting at 5:47 pm. with no reportable action.

ATTEST:
__________________________________ __________________________________ John Georgette, City Clerk Date Approved

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Jackson City Council
Special Meeting Draft Minutes
May 28, 2026 – 5:00PM
Mayor and Council Members
Chad Simmons, Mayor
Steve McLean, Vice Mayor
Max Godde, Council Member
Connie Gonsalves, Council Member
Sierra McLean, Council Member
ABSENT: None
Josh Nelson, City Attorney (Attended Remotely)
Staff Members:

Chris Mynderup, Acting City Manager
Dana Knight, Administrative Assistant
Mayor Simmons called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA.

Motion to Approve the City Council Agenda dated May 28, 2026, as presented. Moved by Councilmember Gonsalves, seconded by Councilmember Godde, and carried by a 5 to 0 vote:

AYES: Simmons, Steve McLean, Godde, Gonsalves, Sierra McLean NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None

2. SPECIAL MEETING PUBLIC COMMENT.

3. DISCUSSION CALENDAR – CLOSED SESSION.

CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL —EXISTING LITIGATION
(Paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 54956.9)
Name of case: Mackey v. City of Jackson, Amador Superior Court, Case No. 23-CV-13061

4. CLOSED SESSION ADJOURNMENT.

Mayor Simmons adjourned the special meeting at 5:19 pm. with no reportable action.

ATTEST:
__________________________________ __________________________________ John Georgette, City Clerk Date Approved

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JACKSON FIRE DEPARTMENT
33 Broadway, Jackson, CA 95642 - voice (209) 223-1646 - fax (209) 223-3141 - [email protected] Station 131 - 175 Main Street, Jackson, CA 95642 - (209) 223-2147 Station 132 - 10600 Argonaut Drive, Jackson, CA 95642 - (209) 223-9039 Personnel Name Jan Feb Mar Apr May Total
Bacchi-Monroy, Elijah 18 0 15 2 0 35
Berschens, Kyle 10 31 21 13 14 89
Chadwick, Brennan 20 0 1 0 48 69
Craig, Roc 59 52 66 56 64 297
DiGirolamo, Francis 54 55 58 33 62 262
DiGirolamo, Jesse 27 51 46 88 39 251
Eggers, Samantha 18 18 19 21 19 95
Fishback, Dale 3 3 8 2 6 22
Fishback, Daniel 36 0 0 0 0 36
Fishback, Jason 3 3 0 2 0 8
Flosi, Sonny 26 8 22 0 0 56
Gilmore, Brian 2 3 4 5 4 18
Greathouse, Robert 0 0 1 0 0 1
Gregerman, Katelyn 16 40 57 43 55 211
Hebel, Lindsay 44 53 60 52 33 242
Heliker, Zachary 11 21 12 3 0 47
Johnson, Jeremy 0 0 1 2 0 3
Judd, Kyle 0 0 32 68 67 167
Kinzer, Marissa 20 14 14 23 29 100
Kowalczyk, Cory 0 4 6 0 0 10
Mondani, Joseph 37 55 81 83 57 313
Pidgeon, Ryan 7 12 12 11 10 52
Ryder, Dylan 25 37 19 36 5 122
Sharp, Scott 2 4 2 5 2 15
Total Calls for 2026 = 844
149
155
186
188
164
166
180
196
161
184
168
152
174
156
159
150
199

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

TOTAL CALLS BY MONTH
2026 2025

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JACKSON FIRE DEPARTMENT CALL TOTALS
MAY 2026
Total Calls Percentage _
Public Assistance
Fire Related
Hazardous Condition
Traffic Collisions
Medical Calls
39 8
2 5
24%
5%
1%
3%
Code 2
Code 3
Staging Req’d
38 70
4 23%
42%
2%
Total calls for month – 166
Monthly average # of calls per day – 5.35
Annual average # of calls per day – 5.59
Annual total as of 5/31/2026 – 844
Monthly # of calls outside of City of Jackson – 20 calls or 12% Annual total of calls outside of City of Jackson – 152 or 18% Comparison to 2025 –
Total calls for May 2025 – 184
Monthly Average # of calls per day in May 2025 – 5.93
Total year to date calls 2025 – 883
Total calls for 2025 – 2,043

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Jackson Police Department
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Christopher Mynderup, Chief of Police
Subject: Monthly Activity Report – May 2026
Date: June 1, 2026
Total Number of Incidents 973
Calls for Service 270
Officer Initiated Incidents 703
Police Reports 92
Arrests 42 (32 Misdemeanor, 10 Felony)
Traffic Collisions 6 (6 non-injury)
Assault & Battery 1
Assault w/deadly weapon 1
Disturbance of the Peace 35
Public Intoxication (Drugs/Alcohol) 3
Driving Under the Influence 8
Child Abuse Investigations 2
Elder/Dependent Adult Abuse Investigations 0
Sex Assault Crimes 0
Missing Persons 0
Domestic Incidents 9 (3 arrests)
Coroner’s Case 1
Mental Health Detention 3

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Burglary 2
Robbery 0
Grand/Petty Theft 2
Vandalism 0
Vehicle Theft 1
Arson 0
Resisting Arrest 2

Drugs & Paraphernalia Possession Cites/Arrests 4
Traffic Stops 312 (106 citations: 99 infractions 7 misd.) Warrant Cites/Arrests 16
Security Checks 274
School Related Calls 4
Transient related contacts 62
Illegal camping cites/arrests 0

Total Incidents Year to Date: 4984
Total Calls for Service YTD: 1225
Total Officer Initiated YTD: 3759
Comparison to 2025
Total Incidents for May 2025 918
Total Calls for Service May 2025 290
Total Officer Initiated May 2025 628
Total YTD Incidents for 2025 4206
Total YTD Calls for Service for 2025 1425
Total YTD Officer Initiated incidents 2025 2781

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Permit Report
05/01/2026 - 05/31/2026
Permit # Permit Date Building
Permit Type
Description Parcel # Parcel
Address
Project
Cost
Total Fees
Group: Encroachment
10510 5/21/2026 Encroachment Replace current
asphault
driveway with
concrete.

Driveway is an
easement from
Stasal
residence to
Church St
020-173-
013-000
420 STASAL
AVE
12,850 $586.16
10509 5/21/2026 Encroachment To replace pole
in same
location
020-172-
010-000
409 STASAL
AVE
5,000 $262.40
10502 5/11/2026 Encroachment Gnd Bed
placement &
MH Access
020-221-
002-000
321 HILL ST 500 $81.50
10501 5/7/2026 Encroachment Pole equipment
transfer and
pole removal.

Concrete
removal and
restoration.
020-221-
021-000
315 HILL ST 2,500 $161.70
10495 5/1/2026 Encroachment To replace pole 044-085-
001-000
921 VOGAN

TOLL RD
5,000 $262.40
25,850 $1,354.16
Group Total: 5

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Group: Miscellaneous
10499 5/5/2026 Miscellaneous WALK IN TUB
WITH

DEDICATED
20-AMP

CIRCUIT
020-040-
003-000
1420

JACKSON

GATE RD
9,500 $442.04
10497 5/4/2026 Miscellaneous REPLACE 1

PATIO DOOR
WITH

RETROFIT

VINYL PATIO
DOOR
044-440-
030-000
10566

RIDGECREST
DR
5,302 $243.94
14,802 $685.98
Group Total: 2
Group: Plumbing
10507 5/15/2026 Plumbing Sewer line
repair on edge
of side street
020-221-
012-000
215 Mountain
View Dr
3,000 $306.50
3,000 $306.50
Group Total: 1
Group: Remodel
10514 5/27/2026 Remodel Replace tub
surrounding
and valve,
replace with
new
freestanding
tub. Replace
shower,
surrounding &
valve. Replace
45sqft of tile
flooring.
020-454-
014-000
36 FRONTIER
DR
50,833 $1,346.26
50,833 $1,346.26
Group Total: 1

Page 30 of 232 ends

Group: Reroof
10515 5/27/2026 Reroof Tear off roof
and go back
with new
shingles
020-352-
006-000
539

SARGENT
AVE.
12,000 $340.10
10513 5/22/2026 Reroof Reroof comp
to comp
044-064-
008-000
10463

BUENA VISTA
DR
15,000 $347.38
10511 5/22/2026 Reroof Roof Repair 020-200-
065-000
601 COURT
ST
4,700 $332.32
10506 5/15/2026 Reroof Tear off roof
and replace
with new
020-353-
004-000
230 KERN ST 13,687 $344.19
10505 5/15/2026 Reroof Re-roof, Fascia
repair/Replaced
020-590-009 152 VILLAGE
COURT
23,000 $366.78
68,387 $1,730.77
Group Total: 5
Group: Solar
10516 5/28/2026 Solar 27 KWH ESS 044-072-
007-000
10289

BUENA VISTA
DR
19,620 $477.58
10500 5/6/2026 Solar 4.4 kW PV
System (Roof
Mount) w 2
Enphase 5P
ESS No Backup
044-360-
008-000
10340

SPUNN RD
20,258 $929.12
39,878 $1,406.70
Group Total: 2
Group: Window Replacement
10504 5/14/2026 Window
Replacement
remove and
replace 3 fullframe windows
in wood and 1
insert window
020-451-
006-000
66 S

PIONEER CIR
20,475 $542.05
10496 5/4/2026 Window
Replacement
remove and
replace 11
insert windows
020-173-
002-000
520 STASAL
AVE
37,118 $982.85
57,593 $1,524.90
Group Total: 2
260,343 $8,355.27
Total Records: 18

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Homeless Outreach Report – 5/26/2026
Current Conditions
Outreach efforts continue regularly throughout the community to maintain contact with unsheltered individuals, provide resources, and coordinate available services and housing opportunities.

Program Updates
Work is continuing on the ERF application, and final numbers and supporting information are currently being finalized.

The Assistant Outreach Coordinator remains out on medical leave at this time, so outreach operations are still being managed by a single staff member. While this does impact overall capacity, outreach services are continuing as consistently as possible.

Service Outcomes
This month, two unsheltered clients successfully obtained permanent housing, and another individual recently secured employment.

We are also currently waiting for HUD to finalize the Point-in-Time Count numbers and are hopeful those results will be available for next month’s report.

Community Collaboration
Our mobile shower unit was loaned to the recent Homeless Resource Fair, which appeared to have a strong community turnout and positive engagement. I would also like to compliment Small Change 4 Big Change for organizing and hosting a successful event that brought together valuable resources and services for the community.

Closing
Thank you to the City for its continued attention to this issue. Outreach efforts will continue focusing on service connections, housing opportunities, and collaboration with local and regional partners.

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RESOLUTION NO. 2026-18

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JACKSON
CONCURRING IN THE CALL FOR AN ELECTION ON THE QUESTION OF REESTABLISHING THE COUNTYWIDE ABANDONED VEHICLE ABATEMENT FEE WHEREAS, the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Program is a State of California program whereby counties and incorporated communities can receive funding to help defray the costs of removing abandoned vehicles within their jurisdictions; and WHEREAS, in 1991, the City of Jackson adopted a resolution supporting the establishment of the Amador County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Authority and the County of Amador duly created the Authority and adopted a fee of $1.00 per vehicle registration to fund the abatement activities of the Authority; and
WHEREAS, Proposition 26, adopted by the voters of California in 2010, altered the definition of a fee and resulted in the classification certain, new fees as taxes subject to voter approval; and
WHEREAS, in November 2012, Amador County voters approved the renewal of the fee for an additional ten years, but the fee has since expired since the required 2/3rds majority of voters did not support the fee in November of 2022; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 22710 (h) of the California Vehicle Code, in order for the voters to consider re-establishment of the fee, a majority of the cities containing a majority of the incorporated population within the County must adopt resolutions agreeing to the re-establishment of the Authority and the continued imposition of the $1.00 fee per vehicle registration upon approval of the voters; and
WHEREAS, the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Authority is vital to keeping Amador County, including all of its incorporated cities, free of the nuisance of abandoned vehicles and the City of Jackson has determined that supporting a re-establishment of the Authority and the continued imposition of the fee will assist in the abatement of nuisance vehicles within the City of Jackson.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Jackson as follows:

1. That the City of Jackson concurs in the re-establishment of the Amador County Vehicle Abatement Program and in the renewed imposition of the $1.00 fee per vehicle registration subject to voter approval at an election to be scheduled by the Amador County Board of Supervisors; and

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2. That the City Clerk is directed to transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to the Clerk of the Board.

PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Jackson in the County of Amador, State of California, on the 8th day of June 2026 by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:

CITY OF JACKSON
________________________________
Mayor, Chad Simmons
ATTEST:

___________________________
City Clerk, John Georgette

Page 34 of 232 ends

CITY OF JACKSON
Council Meeting Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Matt Ospital, City Engineer

Date: June 8, 2026
Subject: Buena Vista Waterline Replacement Project

DISCUSSION
All contract items of work for the Buena Vista Waterline Replacement Project have been completed in substantial compliance with the plans, specifications, codes, and standards of the City. All work was determined complete on March 10, 2026.

Final Project Costs are as follows:

Original Contract Amount $ 569,946.00
Contract Change Orders $ 118,257.34
Final Contract Amount $ 688,203.34

RECOMMENDATION
I hereby recommend that the City Council, by resolution, accept this work as complete and authorize filing of the Notice of Completion.

Enclosures:

Notice of Completion
Resolution

Page 35 of 232 ends

Recording requested by:

CITY OF JACKSON

OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER
_______________________________ When recorded, mail to:

City Manager
City of Jackson
33 Broadway
Jackson, CA 95642

NOTICE OF COMPLETION

CITY OF JACKSON
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the completion of a Work of Improvement as follows:

Date of Completion: March 10, 2026
Name and Address of the Owner: City of Jackson, 33 Broadway, Jackson, CA 95642 Nature of the Interest or Estate of the Owner: Owner in fee simple.

Description of the Site: Buena Vista Waterline Replacement Project Name and Address of the Contractor for the above Work of Improvement: Wunschel & Sons, Inc., 3071 Newtown Road, Placerville, CA 95667.

General Statement of Kind of Work Done or Materials Furnished: Construction of approximately 640 LF of 6-inch diameter sewer main, 600 LF of 8-inch diameter waterline and 280 LF of 10-inch diameter waterline in Buena Vista Drive for a complete and operational waterline replacement project and appurtenant work.

CITY OF JACKSON – OWNER
By____________________________________
Christopher Mynderup, Acting City Manager
CHRISTOPHER MYNDERUP declares:

I am the Acting City Manager of the City of Jackson, the municipal corporation that executed the foregoing notice as owner of the aforesaid interest or estate in the property therein described; that I make this verification on behalf of said municipal corporation; that I have read this Notice of Completion and know the contents thereof, and that the facts stated therein are true.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed at Jackson, California this 8th day of June 2026.
_______________________________________
Christopher Mynderup, Acting City Manager

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RESOLUTION NO. 2026-19

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JACKSON

ACCEPTING THE COMPLETION OF THE BUENA VISTA WATERLINE

REPLACEMENT PROJECT, AND FILING A NOTICE OF COMPLETION AND

AUTHORIZING RECORDATION THEREFORE
WHEREAS, the contractor of work, Wunschel & Sons, Inc., completed all work according to the plans and specifications on March 10, 2026; and WHEREAS, the improvements consisted of construction of approximately 640 LF of 6- inch diameter sewer main, 600 LF of 8-inch diameter waterline and 280 LF of 10-inch diameter waterline in Buena Vista Drive for a complete and operational waterline replacement project and appurtenant work; and
WHEREAS, the improvements have been completed to the satisfaction of the City Engineering Department.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Jackson does hereby accept the completed public improvements and authorizes the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion with the Amador County Recorder.

The foregoing resolution was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Jackson at a regular meeting on the 8th day of June 2026 by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:

CITY OF JACKSON
______________________________________
Chad Simmons, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________________
John Georgette, City Clerk

Page 37 of 232 ends

Resolution No. 2026-20
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Jackson Adopting a List of Projects and Approving the Use of SB1:

The Road Repair and Accountability Act Funding for
City Street Projects for FY 2026-27
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (Chapter 5, Statutes of 2017) was passed by the Legislature and Signed into law by the Governor in April 2017; and
WHEREAS, the City of Jackson must include a list of all projects proposed to receive funding from the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA), created by SB1, in the City’s budget which must include a description and the location of each proposed project, a proposed schedule for the project’s completion, and the estimated useful life of the improvement; and
WHEREAS, the City of Jackson, will receive an estimated $141,554 in RMRA funding in Fiscal Year 2026/27 from SB1; and
WHEREAS, the City of Jackson has been using a Pavement Management System to develop its Capital Improvement Program project list, and SB1 funding will help provide funding for the most high-priority and cost-effective projects that also meet the community’s priorities for transportation investment; and
WHEREAS, future funding from SB1 will help the City of Jackson maintain and rehabilitate roadways; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that City Council of the City of Jackson does hereby approve the following:

The Fiscal Year 2026-27 RMRA shall be used for the following projects:
to partially fund the previously purposed Starks Lane Bridge Project. The estimated cost for this project is $500,000 with a contingency cost of 10% to be added, which brings the project cost to $550,000. This project consists of removing the existing concrete bridge and replacing it with a precast concrete bridge or bottomless concrete cast in place box culvert.

The location of this project is Starks Lane Road, approximately 200 feet west of North Main Street. This project is estimated to start August 2026 and end in October 2026. The estimated useful life of this project is 50 to 100 years. to fund the newly purposed Clinton Road Repave Project. The estimated cost for this project is $395,000 with a contingency cost of 10% to be added, which brings the project cost to $434,500. This project consists of repaving the portion of Clinton Road east of Broadway toward Butte Mountain Road up to City Limits – approximately 43,000 square feet of road. The scope of work includes grinding 9 inches of the existing road and

Page 38 of 232 ends

replacing it with 6 inches of aggregate base and 3 inches of asphalt concrete. The project is estimated to start April 2029 and end in August of 2029. The estimated useful life of this project is 15 to 25 years.

The foregoing resolution was duly introduced and adopted by the City Council of the City of Jackson on the 8th day of June, 2026 by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:

CITY OF JACKSON
________________________________
Chad Simmons, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________________
John Georgette, City Clerk

Page 39 of 232 ends

CITY OF JACKSON
Council Meeting Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: Joshua Nelson, City Attorney
Date: June 8, 2026
Subject: Biennial Review of the City’s Conflict of Interest Code

RECOMMENDED ACTION
It is recommended that the City Council direct the review of the City’s Conflict of Interest Code and the filing of a Biennial Notice with the City Clerk regarding such review, as required by the Political Reform Act.

SUMMARY
The proposed action is pursuant to the requirements set forth in section 87306.5 of the Political Reform Act and placed upon the City Council as the City’s code-reviewing body.

BACKGROUND
The Political Reform Act of 1974, Government Code section 81000 et seq. (the “Act”), requires all public agencies to adopt and maintain a conflict of interest code. The primary effect of the code is to establish disclosure requirements for various government positions involved in the requisite level of decisionmaking as set forth in the Act. The Act requires each city to adopt a local conflict of interest code designating city positions not otherwise designated in the Act itself, that are involved in making or participating in the making of city decisions at all levels of city government.

The Act further requires that agencies, including cities, regularly review and update their codes as necessary as directed by their code-reviewing bodies or when change is necessitated by changed circumstances. (Gov. Code §§ 87306, 87306.5.)
The Act provides that no later than July 1 of each even-numbered year, code-reviewing bodies shall direct the review of all agency codes under their jurisdiction and requires that the agency head, no later than October 1, shall file a statement regarding the results of that review. The City Council is the codereviewing body for the City’s Code and on or before July 1 it must direct the biennial review of the City’s Conflict of Interest Code (“Code”). (Gov. Code § 82011(c), 87306.5) The Act also requires that the City Manager file a statement regarding the results of the review no later than October 1 of the same year. If a change in the Code is necessitated by this review, it must be submitted to the City Council for approval within ninety (90) days of the filing of the Local Agency Biennial Notice with the City Clerk. (Gov. Code § 87303, 87306.5)

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CITY OF JACKSON
Council Meeting Memorandum
Monday, June 8, 2026 – 6:30 PM Regular Meeting
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Josh Nelson, City Attorney
DATE: June 8, 2026
SUBJECT: Set Recruitment Salary Range for City Manager position Recommendation
Approve the proposed salary range of $12,500 to $15,000 monthly for the recruitment of the City Manager position and authorize staff to proceed with recruitment efforts utilizing the approved salary range.

Summary and Discussion
The City of Jackson is currently recruiting for the position of City Manager following the departure of former City Manager Carl Simpson. The City Manager serves as the City's chief administrative officer and is responsible for implementing City Council policies, overseeing municipal operations, managing personnel, preparing and administering the annual budget, and ensuring the efficient delivery of services to the community.

To successfully attract qualified candidates with the experience and leadership skills necessary to manage the City's operations and address current and future challenges, it is necessary to establish a competitive salary range prior to initiating recruitment efforts.

The proposed range provides flexibility to negotiate compensation based on a candidate's qualifications, experience, education, and demonstrated leadership abilities. Final compensation and employment terms for the selected candidate will be presented to the City Council for approval through an employment agreement at a future meeting.

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City of Jackson Monthly Salary Schedule
Effective June 8, 2026
Position 1 2 3 4 5 6
Mayor / City Council 100/75
City Manager 12500 - 15000
Deputy City Clerk 5340 5607 5887 6181 6491 6815
Administrative Assistant 4070 4273 4487 4711 4947 5194
Administrative Assistant II 5210 5470 5744 6031 6332 6649 Finance/HR Manager 7734 8120 8526 8953 9400 9870
Accounting Manager/HR
Supervisor
7006 7357 7724 8111 8516 8942
Accounting Assistant IV 5210 5470 5744 6031 6332 6649
Accounting Assistant III 4070 4273 4487 4711 4947 5194
Accounting Assistant II 3687 3871 4065 4268 4482 4706
Public Works Superintendent 7361 7729 8115 8521 8947 9395 Assistant Public Works
Superintendent
6669 7002 7352 7720 8106 8511
Maintenance III / Foreman 4720 4956 5203 5464 5737 6024 Maintenance II / Leadworker 4070 4273 4487 4711 4947 5194 Maintenance Worker I 3597 3777 3966 4164 4372 4591
Senior Building Inspector 5340 5607 5887 6181 6491 6815 Building Inspector 4838 5079 5333 5600 5880 6174
Permit Technician 4070 4273 4487 4711 4947 5194
WWTP Chief Plant Operator 6669 7002 7352 7720 8106 8511 Wastewater Operator III 5083 5337 5603 5884 6178 6487
Wastewater Operator II 4383 4602 4832 5073 5327 5593
Wastewater Operator I 3874 4067 4271 4484 4708 4944
Fire Chief 9900 10395 10914 11460 12033 12635
Fire Captain 5750 6038 6340 6657 6990 7339
Fire Engineer 5210 5470 5744 6031 6332 6649
Firefighter 4276 4490 4714 4950 5197 5457
Police Chief 10927 11474 12047 12650 13282 13946
Police Captain 9900 10395 10914 11460 12033 12635
Police Sergeant 6669 7002 7352 7720 8106 8511
Police Officer 5210 5470 5744 6031 6332 6649
Police Detective / Investigator 5473 5747 6034 6336 6653 6985 Records Clerk 3509 3685 3869 4062 4266 4479

Page 42 of 232 ends

1 INTERIM CITY MANAGER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (“Agreement”), made by and between the City of Jackson, a California municipal corporation (“City”) and Christopher S. Mynderup (“Employee”), an individual, both of whom agree as follows:

RECITALS

1. Employee is currently employed as the City’s Police Chief, pursuant to an Employment Agreement (“Police Chief Employment Agreement”) dated July 2, 2019;

2. A vacancy exists in the position of City Manager, as of May 21, 2026, for which the City has commenced recruitment;

3. City is interested in employing Employee, on an interim capacity, as the Interim City Manager, and Employee is willing to accept and perform that interim appointment while the recruitment proceeds;

4. For the duration of this Agreement, Employee will fill both the role of Police Chief and Interim City Manager;

5. Following completion of the interim assignment, Employee will return to the position of Police Chief, which will remain governed by the terms of the Police Chief Employment Agreement; and

6. The parties desire to set forth the terms and conditions of the interim assignment; NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

Section 1. Appointment; Duties and Authority
City agrees to appoint Employee as Interim City Manager effective May 21, 2026, to perform the functions and duties specified in the City Manager job description, the Jackson Municipal Code, provisions of state law, and the directions of the City Council. Employee is subject to the direction and oversight of the City Council, and is appointed “at will,” meaning that the employee serves in the capacity of Interim City Manager at the pleasure of the City Council. During this time, Employee will also remain Police Chief and will fulfill the duties of both Police Chief and Interim City Manager. Subject to the oversight of the City Council, Employee has discretion to structure his time and prioritize tasks to ensure that necessary functions of each position are adequately fulfilled.

Section 2. Hours of Work.

Employee is exempt under applicable wage and hour laws and is expected to engage in those hours of work necessary to fulfill the obligations of the position. Employee must be available to other staff and members of the public during City’s regular hours of business, and generally Employee is expected to be working during such regular hours of business. Employee’s position also requires frequent time worked outside of customary business hours (e.g. to attend City Council meetings or other functions on City’s behalf). As such, Employee’s daily and weekly work schedule will vary in

Page 43 of 232 ends

2 accordance with the work to be performed, and in accordance with specific direction provided by the City Council.

Section 3. Performance Evaluation
During this interim assignment, Employee is subject to the City Council’s evaluation of performance, at time(s) selected by the City Council.

Section 4. Compensation
A. Salary: Effective May 21, 2026, Employee will receive a gross base salary of $160,000.00 per year (which is within the pay range established in the City’s salary schedule for the City Manager position). This amount is payable, less taxes and other deductions, on a periodic basis on the City’s established paydays. Employee shall be paid at the same intervals and in the same manner as other management employees, and all wage payments are subject to applicable payroll taxes and withholdings. Salary changes approved for and applied to any other employees of City shall not be applied to Employee in this interim appointment unless the City Council expressly provides that they shall apply. During the interim assignment, Employee will not separately receive a longevity incentive. All compensation to which he is entitled for the Interim City Manager assignment is incorporated into the monthly salary listed above.

B. Benefits: While serving in the capacity of Interim City Manager, Employee shall remain eligible to receive the benefits specified below, as set forth in the Police Chief Employment Agreement attached as Exhibit A hereto, and from which the sections cited are hereby incorporated by reference.

1. Vehicle: City agrees to provide Employee with a “take home vehicle” per section XII.a. of Exhibit A.

2. Paid Time Off: City agrees to provide Employee with vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay per section XII.c. of Exhibit A.

3. Health Insurance. City agrees to provide Employee with City-sponsored health and welfare benefit programs (medical, dental, vision, and life insurance), per section XI of Exhibit A.

Section 5. Retirement
A. CalPERS: Employee shall remain eligible for participation in CalPERS. For the duration of this interim assignment, during which Employee is serving both the role of the Police Chief and Interim City Manager, Employee will be treated as and accrue service credit as a nonsafety member. For pension purposes, CalPERS is responsible for calculating pension benefits based on respective years of service in safety and non-safety positions.

B. Deferred Compensation. Employee is eligible for participation in a deferred compensation plan as provided in section X of Exhibit A.

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3 Section 6. Term and Termination
Employee shall work no more than 960 hours in this interim assignment during fiscal years 2025/2026 or 2026/2027, unless terminated earlier by either party as provided herein. The intent of the parties is to comply with the terms of Government Code section 20480 with respect to out-ofclass appointments.

Section 7. Termination
A. Termination by City. Employee understands and agrees that, in this interim assignment, Employee works at the will and pleasure of the City Council, and that Employee may be removed from the Interim City Manager position at any time, with or without cause, without any due process rights. Upon any such removal, or at the completion of the assignment, Employee will resume the position of Police Chief. Notice of re-assignment shall be provided to Employee in writing.

B. Termination of Interim Assignment by Employee. Employee may voluntarily terminate this interim assignment at any time by giving not less than fourteen (14) days’ notice. Upon receipt by the City of Employee’s notice to voluntarily terminate pursuant to this provision, the City shall return Employee to the Police Chief position at any date within that 14-day notice period.

Employee will be paid for the Interim Assignment for the days it was performed, with the Police Chief salary resuming upon the effective date of return to that position.

C. Termination of Employment by Employee. Employee may voluntarily terminate employment with the City at any time by giving not less than fourteen (14) days’ notice. Upon receipt of voluntary termination, the City may, at its option, relieve Employee of duty effective any date prior to the end of such period, provided that the City pays Employee all salary that would have been earned by the Employee through the balance of the notice period.

D. Return to Police Chief Position. Upon Employee’s return to the Police Chief position, he will resume compensation at Step 3 of the City’s Salary Schedule for that position.

Applicable compensation, effective the date of return to the Police Chief position, will include any COLA or other pay adjustments the City Council may approve during this interim assignment.

Employee will also resume earning longevity pay of 5% upon resuming the Police Chief position.

Section 8. Indemnification
City shall indemnify and defend Employee in accordance with the California Government Claims Act. City’s obligation to defend and indemnify Employee shall extend only to the entry of a final judgment by the trial court, and shall not extend to providing defense or indemnity in connection with an appeal of the judgment, except as otherwise specifically required by law. City will determine, in its sole discretion, whether to compromise and settle any such claim or suit against Employee, as well as the amount of any settlement or judgment rendered thereon.

Section 9. Notices
Notice pursuant to this Agreement shall be given by personal service, by overnight delivery service (e.g. Federal Express), or by depositing in the custody of the United States Postal Service, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

Page 45 of 232 ends

4 Employer: City of Jackson
33 Broadway
Jackson, CA 95642
Attn: Mayor
Employee: Christopher S. Mynderup
Mailing address last on file with City
Notice shall be deemed given as of the date of personal service or as the date of deposit of such written notice in the course of transmission by overnight delivery or by the United States Postal Service.

Section 10. General Provisions
A. Integration. This Agreement sets forth and establishes the entire understanding between City and Employee with respect to the interim appointment. Any prior discussions or representations by or between the parties regarding this appointment are merged into and rendered null and void by this Agreement. The parties by mutual written Agreement may amend any provision of this Agreement during the life of the Agreement. Such amendments shall be incorporated and made a part of this Agreement.

B. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding on City and Employee and shall not be assignable or transferable, in whole or in part, by either party. Any such purported transfer or assignment shall be null and void.

C. Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective and Employee’s assignment shall commence as of May 21, 2026.

D. Severability. The invalidity or partial invalidity of any portion of this Agreement will not affect the validity of any other provision. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, the remaining provisions shall be deemed to be in full force and effect as if they have been executed by both parties subsequent to the expungement or judicial modification of the invalid provision.

E. Statutory Requirements. This Agreement shall be deemed to incorporate by reference the provisions of Sections 53243 et seq. of the Government Code, as it may be amended or renumbered.

F. Attorney's Fees. If any legal action or proceeding is brought to enforce or interpret this Agreement, the prevailing party, as determined by the court, shall be entitled to recover from the other party all reasonable costs and attorney's fees, including such fees and costs as may be incurred in enforcing any judgment or order entered in any such action. Nothing in this subsection shall be read to prevent the parties from agreeing to some alternative method of dispute resolution. If such a method is agreed to, any final determination shall include an award of attorney's fees and costs by the presiding officer.

G. Governing Law and Venue. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. Employee and City agree that venue for any dispute shall be in Amador County, California.

Page 46 of 232 ends

5 H. Representation by Counsel. The parties acknowledge and agree that they were, or had the opportunity to be, represented individually by legal counsel with respect to the matters that are the subject of this Agreement and that they are fully advised with respect to their respective rights and obligations resulting from signing this Agreement.

I. Waiver. Any failure of a party to insist upon strict compliance with any term, undertaking, or condition of this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such term, undertaking, or condition. To be effective, a waiver must be in writing, signed and dated by the parties.

J. Counterparts. The Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, including via facsimile or electronically-transmitted signature, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one-in-the-same document.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement the day and year first above written.

EMPLOYER:

CITY OF JACKSON
By: ____________________
Mayor Chad Simmons
____________________
Date
EMPLOYEE:
________________________
Christopher S. Mynderup,
Interim CityManager

APPROVED AS TO FORM
________________________
Joshua Nelson, City Attorney
Best, Best & Krieger LLP
____________________
Date
____________________
Date

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Amador County
Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Approved April 28th, 2026

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Signature Page
The following signatories mutually agree on and approve the final contents of this CWPP:

Amanda Watson Date
Coordinator Executive Director
Amador Fire Safe Council Amador Resource Conservation District Susan Peters Date
Board of Directors
Amador Fire Safe Council
David Wood Date
Unit Chief
Cal Fire Amador-Eldorado Unit
Jeff Hoag Date
Assistant Chief, Community Risk Reduction Program
Cal Fire Amador-Eldorado Unit
Dave Fournier Date
Forest Supervisor
El Dorado National Forest
Robert Withrow Date
Fire Chief
Amador Fire Protection District
Matthew Girton Date
Coordinator
Amador County Office of Emergency Services

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Patrick Crew Date
District 1 Supervisor
Amador County Board Of Supervisors
Dan Epperson Date
District 2 Supervisor
Amador County Board Of Supervisors
Jeff Brown Date
District 3 Supervisor
Amador County Board Of Supervisors
Logan Carnell Date
District 4 Supervisor
Amador County Board Of Supervisors
Brian Oneto Date
District 5 Supervisor
Amador County Board Of Supervisors
Sandra Staples Date
Mayor
City of Amador City
Joyce Davidson Date
City Clerk
City of Amador City
Jody Maita Date
Mayor
City of Ione

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Janice Traverso Date
City Clerk
City of Ione
Don Nunn Date
Mayor
City of Plymouth
Victoria McHenry Date
City Clerk
City of Plymouth
Chad Simmons Date
Mayor
City of Jackson
John Georgette Date
City Clerk
City of Jackson
Claire Gunselman Date
Mayor
City of Sutter Creek
Pam Caronogan Date
City Clerk
City of Sutter Creek

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Acknowledgments
The development of this Community Wildfire Protection Plan was made possible through the collaborative efforts of many individuals, agencies, and organizations listed in the Steering Committee and Working Group who contributed time, expertise, and resources throughout the planning process. Contributors provided guidance, technical input, data, local expertise, and feedback during meetings and engagement activities that helped shape the plan’s goals, strategies, and recommendations. Additional support was provided through data analysis, mapping, outreach coordination, and documentation efforts.

In addition, community members who participated in the public mapping survey and district meetings provided valuable insight from the community-at-large that helped inform this plan.

District meetings would not have been possible without the participation of each member of the Board of Supervisors.

This project was supported by Grant L24AC00434-00 “Rancheria Ridge Fuel Break and County-Wide Planning Project” from the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Plan Contact Information
Todd Bertwell
Natural Resource Project Manager
Amador Fire Safe Council, Amador Resource Conservation District [email protected]
Cover Photograph
CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado Unit.

Prescribed burn on the Shake-Omo Vegetation Management Project.

March 2025.

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Contents
Executive Summary.....................................................................................................................13 Purpose and Background...................................................................................................... 13 Planning Process...................................................................................................................13 Governance, Steering Committee, and Working Group.................................................. 13 Phased Approach............................................................................................................ 13 I.D. Community and Stakeholder Engagement................................................................13 Key Findings.......................................................................................................................... 14 Introduction..................................................................................................................................16 Goals and Objectives...................................................................................................................16 Plan Goals and Objective...................................................................................................... 16 Specific Objectives...........................................................................................................17 Roles and Responsibilities...........................................................................................................17 Table 1. Members and Organizations of the Amador County CWPP Steering Committee......................................................................................................17 Applicable Plans and Regulations............................................................................................... 18 Federal Framework................................................................................................................18 State of California Regulatory Framework.............................................................................18 State and Regional Planning Documents.............................................................................. 19 Local Plans and Ordinances..................................................................................................19 Relationship of the CWPP to Other Plans............................................................................. 19 Planning Area & Community Information.....................................................................................20 Table 2. Summary of Amador County CWPP Planning Area and Community Information..................................................................................................... 20 Fire History............................................................................................................................ 23 Fire Protection Areas...................................................................................................................25 Fire District Service Areas..................................................................................................... 25 Table 3. Fire Districts within the Amador County CWPP Planning Area........ 25 Responsibility Areas.............................................................................................................. 26 Federal Responsibility Areas........................................................................................... 26 State Responsibility Areas...............................................................................................26 Local Responsibility Areas...............................................................................................27 CAL FIRE Units................................................................................................................27 Wildland-Urban Interface Identification........................................................................................28 Interface WUI:..................................................................................................................29 Intermix WUI:................................................................................................................... 29 Influence Zone:................................................................................................................ 29 CAL FIRE Subdivision Review.................................................................................................... 30 Assessment of Wildfire Hazard and Wildfire Risk........................................................................33 Summary of Wildfire Behavior Simulations, Fire Weather and Spread Modeling..................33

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Quantitative Wildfire Risk Assessment Methodology.......................................................33 Wildfire Hazard Analysis and Simulation Results............................................................ 33 Measuring Wildfire Risk Methodology................................................................................... 33 Wildfire Hazard...................................................................................................................... 35 Wildfire Model Simulations...............................................................................................35 Summary of Wildfire Behavior Simulations, Exposure and Effects Analysis......................... 36 Geographic Breakdown of Fire Behavior and Risk..........................................................36 What This Means for Amador County..............................................................................36 Wildfire Model Simulations Results..................................................................................37 Quantitative Wildfire Risk Assessment.................................................................................. 43 High Valued Resources and Assets Characterization..................................................... 43 Risk Assessment............................................................................................................. 44 Table 4. Summary of Fire Type Exposure on Amador County - West............46 Table 5. Summary of Fire Type Exposure on Amador County - Central........ 47 Table 6. Summary of Fire Type Exposure on Amador County - East.............48 Table 7. Summary of Exposure on Amador County - West............................50 Table 8. Summary of Exposure on Amador County - Central........................ 51 Table 9. Summary of Exposure on Amador County - East.............................52 Table 10. Summary of Relative Wildfire Benefit (Positive Value Change), Threat (Negative Value Change), and Overall Risk (NVC) for each sub-HVRA - Amador County - West.................................................................................54 Table 11. Summary of Relative Wildfire Benefit (Positive Value Change), Threat (Negative Value Change), and Overall Risk (NVC) for each sub-HVRA - Amador County - Central............................................................................. 55 Table 12. Summary of Relative Wildfire Benefit (Positive Value Change), Threat (Negative Value Change), and Overall Risk (NVC) for each sub-HVRA - Amador County - East..................................................................................56 Action Plan...................................................................................................................................60 Table 13. Amador County CWPP Action Plan................................................60 Landscape Management and Prioritized Hazardous Fuel Reduction Treatments...................... 68 Definitions.............................................................................................................................. 68 Forest Health projects............................................................................................................68 Purpose............................................................................................................................68 Context.............................................................................................................................68 Function........................................................................................................................... 69 Examples (implemented)................................................................................................. 69 Community-scale fuel reduction............................................................................................ 69 Examples (implemented)................................................................................................. 70 Shaded Fuel Break Network..................................................................................................70 Context.............................................................................................................................70 Function........................................................................................................................... 70 Examples (implemented)................................................................................................. 70

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Process - CWPP development.............................................................................................. 71 Table 14. Amador County CWPP Fuel Treatment Project Priorities, Locations, Size and Methods of Treatment. Treatments are not listed in any particular order...............................................................................................................72 Ignitability Measures for Structures....................................................................................... 76 New And Existing Development Requirements............................................................... 76 Table 15. Common WUI construction and mitigation standards by building component..................................................................................................... 78 Ignitability Measures for Critical Infrastructure.......................................................................84 Water Infrastructure......................................................................................................... 84 Communications Infrastructure........................................................................................84 Electrical Infrastructure.................................................................................................... 84 Road Infrastructure.......................................................................................................... 84 Table 17. Critical Infrastructure Types and Wildfire Mitigation Actions...........85 Roles and Responsibilities for Critical Infrastructure Protection............................................ 86 Infrastructure Owners and Operators.............................................................................. 86 Fire Agencies and Emergency Responders.................................................................... 86 County and Local Governments...................................................................................... 86 State and Federal Agencies.............................................................................................86 Utilities and Private Service Providers.............................................................................86 Community Organizations and Fire Safe Councils.......................................................... 87 Amador County Wildfire Collaborators - coordination and CWPP implementation..........87 Wildfire Response and Suppression Capabilities.................................................................. 89 Emergency Water Supply and Infrastructure................................................................... 89 GIS, Mapping, and Decision Support...............................................................................89 Communications Systems Hardening..............................................................................89 Strategic Fuel Breaks and Landscape Treatments..........................................................89 Ingress/Egress Improvements......................................................................................... 89 Fiscal Resources................................................................................................................... 90 Potential Grant Funding Sources.....................................................................................91 References.................................................................................................................................. 95 GIS Data Sources..................................................................................................................96 Appendix A: CWPP Working Group Members and Stakeholders...............................................A1 Table A1. Amador CWPP Working Group members..................................... A1 Appendix B: Applicable Plans and Regulations.......................................................................... B1 Table B1. Applicable Plans and Regulations................................................. B1 Appendix C: Public Outreach and Engagement..........................................................................C1 C.1 Purpose and Approach to Outreach and Engagement...................................................C1 C.3 Public Outreach and Community Engagement Activities............................................... C2 C.3.1 County Supervisor District Community Meetings.................................................. C2 Table C1. County Supervisor District Community Meetings.......................... C3

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C.3.2 Public Project Web Map........................................................................................ C5 C.3.3 Planscape Scenarios.............................................................................................C6 C.3.4 Online Survey With Map-Based Feedback............................................................C7 Appendix D: Wildfire Simulation Inputs and Summary................................................................D1 D.1 Fuels...............................................................................................................................D1 Table D1. Summary of Amador County Fuel Models, Acres, and Descriptions. 1 D.2 Landscape Profile...........................................................................................................D4 D.3 Weather Summary..........................................................................................................D6 Table D2. Amador County SIG RAWS Information........................................D6 D.4 Energy Release Component and Burning Index............................................................ D7 D.5 Winds..............................................................................................................................D9 D.5.1 Critical NFDRS Indices........................................................................................ D11 Table D3. Critical NFDRS Indices from Amador County SIG.......................D11 Appendix E: Community HVRA Prioritization and Risk Assessment Inputs and Summary........ E1 E.1 Relative Importance Values............................................................................................ E1 E.2 Response Functions....................................................................................................... E1 Table E1. Response function scoring method used by WSP in determining relative beneficial or detrimental effects on each sub-HVRA.........................E2 Table E2. Flame Length Categories Used in Defining Fire Intensity............. E2 Table E3. HVRA weighting: Amador West.....................................................E3 Table E4. HVRA weighting: Amador Central................................................. E4 Table E5. HVRA weighting: Amador East......................................................E5 E.3 Calculating Net Value Change........................................................................................ E6 Appendix F: Vibrant Planet Scenario Development, Results, and Priority Project Areas............F1 F.1 Overview..........................................................................................................................F1 F.2 Subdivision of Amador County into DiMAs...................................................................... F1 F.3 Scenario Development.................................................................................................... F3 Table F1: Relative importance scores by DiMA............................................. F5 F.3.1 Recommended Management..................................................................................F5 F.4 Scenario Outputs............................................................................................................. F7 Table F2. West DiMA ownership categories within the proposed treatment areas............................................................................................................ F11 Table F3. West DiMA recommended treatment approaches, proportion of acreage and acreage assigned to each treatment approach.......................F11 Table F4. West DiMA estimated treatment costs associated with the proposed project portfolio............................................................................................ F12 Table F5. Central DiMA ownership categories within the proposed treatment areas............................................................................................................ F14 Table F6. Central DiMA recommended treatment approaches, proportion of acreage and acreage assigned to each treatment approach.......................F15 Table F7. Central DiMA estimated treatment costs associated with the

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proposed project portfolio............................................................................ F15 Table F8. East DiMA ownership categories within the proposed treatment areas............................................................................................................ F17 Table F9. East DiMA recommended treatment approaches, proportion of acreage and acreage assigned to each treatment approach.......................F18 Table F10. East DiMA estimated treatment costs associated with the proposed project portfolio............................................................................ F18 F.5 Countywide Proposal Outcomes................................................................................... F18 Table F11. Wildfire Hazard Metric by Action, No Action, and Change......... F19 Table F12. Ecosystem Service Metrics by Action, No Action, and Change. F20 Table F13. Hazard Class Acres by Action, No Action, and Change............ F21 F.6 Conclusion..................................................................................................................... F22 F.7 Project-Scale Scenario Development Example............................................................. F23 Appendix G. Planscape Scenario Development, Results, and Priority Project Areas................ G1 Overview......................................................................................................................... G1 Interpreting Planscape Relative to Vibrant Planet...........................................................G1 Scenario Maps and Priority Project Areas...................................................................... G1 Appendix H. Field Tour Summary……………………………………………………………………. H1

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Acronyms
ACBS Amador County Board of Supervisors
ACEH Amador County Environmental Health
ACITD Amador County Information Technology Department
ACTC Amador County Transportation Commission
ACTPW Amador County Transportation and Public Works
ACPD Amador County Planning Department
AEU Amador-El Dorado Unit
AFPD Amador County Fire Protection District
AFSC Amador Fire Safe Council
ARCD Amador Resource Conservation District
AWA Amador Water Agency
BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs
BLM Bureau of Land Management
BLM FMO Bureau of Land Management, Motherload Field Office CA FSC California Fire Safe Council
CAL FIRE California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection CALTRANS California Department of Transportation
CIFD City of Ione Fire Department
CWPM Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation (CAL FIRE – OSFM) CWPP Community Wildfire Protection Plan
EAPBA El Dorado Amador Prescribed Burn Association
EBMUD East Bay Municipal Utility District
ENF Eldorado National Forest
FAC Fire Adapted Community
FHSZ Fire Hazard Severity Zone
FRA Federal Responsibility Area
FRAP Fire and Resource Assessment Program
FSR Fire Safe Regulations
GIS Geographic Information System
HFRA Healthy Forests Restoration Act
HVRA Highly Valued Resource and Asset
IH Integrated Hazard
ITTS Interagency Treatment Tracking System

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JVFPD Jackson Valley Fire Protection District
JVID Jackson Valley Irrigation District
LRA Local Responsibility Area
OES Office of Emergency Services
OSFM Office of the State Fire Marshal
PGE Pacific Gas & Electric
QWRA Quantitative Wildfire Risk Assessment
SCFPD Sutter Creek Fire Protection District
SEDD Sierra Economic Development District
SIZ Structure Ignition Zone
SNC Sierra Nevada Conservancy
SRA State Responsibility Area
UCCE University of California Cooperative Extension
USFS United States Forest Service
VHFHSZ Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
WUI Wildland-Urban Interface

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Executive Summary
Purpose and Background
The 2026 Amador County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a countywide update to Amador’s wildfire risk reduction and resilience framework. This plan consolidates earlier planning efforts, including the 2004 Countywide CWPP, the 2012 Pioneer–Volcano CWPP, and the 2016 High Country CWPP, into a single, data-driven, and collaboratively maintained document.

The plan is sponsored by the Amador Fire Safe Council (AFSC) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in coordination with the Amador County Office of Emergency Services (OES), Amador Fire Protection District (AFPD), CAL FIRE Amador–El Dorado Unit (AEU), Amador Water Agency (AWA), the Eldorado National Forest (USFS), municipal and tribal governments, and local community organizations. Technical services are provided by the Spatial Informatics Group (SIG).

Planning Process
Governance, Steering Committee, and Working Group
The CWPP is guided by a Steering Committee consisting of representatives from AFSC, ARCD, CAL FIRE (AEU), AFPD, OES, AWA, the U.S. Forest Service (Eldorado National Forest, Amador Ranger District), and other local partners. This committee ensures compliance with federal CWPP standards and alignment with local and regional wildfire planning efforts.

In addition, the Working Group, consisting of representatives from a variety of stakeholders and groups within the county (Appendix A), provided consistent input and review of the data, analysis, planned approach, and document development for the CWPP.

Phased Approach
Initiation and Data Collection. Assemble and review spatial datasets, fire history records, and existing fuel reduction and emergency response plans.

Risk Assessment and Modeling. Apply probabilistic fire behavior models to evaluate exposure under moderate and extreme conditions.

Community Engagement and HVRA Identification. Conduct workshops, online surveys, and participatory mapping to identify locally important values and concerns.

Project Prioritization and Strategy Development. Use risk assessment results to identify cross-jurisdictional projects that achieve multiple benefits.

Implementation and Monitoring Framework. Develop measurable performance indicators, data management systems, and procedures for adaptive management.

I.D. Community and Stakeholder Engagement
Community engagement is a central element of the CWPP. Building on the public outreach methods used in earlier planning efforts, the 2025-6 process emphasizes broad participation through:

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● Public Workshops in both up country and low country communities. ● Online Interactive Mapping Tools such as Planscape, Vibrant Planet - Land Tender, and Survey 123 that allow participants to view data and submit feedback. ● Countywide Surveys for HVRA Prioritization to identify local assets and protection needs.
● Agency Coordination Meetings that align CWPP objectives with CAL FIRE, U.S.

Forest Service, and Amador OES planning cycles.
● Targeted Outreach to rural, vulnerable, and underrepresented populations.

Key Findings
Based on the Quantitative Wildfire Risk Assessment (QWRA), stakeholder input, and operational evaluations, the following key findings drive the strategies and priorities of the 2026 Amador County CWPP:
● Countywide Collaboration and Coordination: Coordination among state and local fire protection districts and departments, land management agencies, utilities, local government and public service organizations is essential to making meaningful progress toward wildfire resiliency. The Steering Committee, Working Group and Stakeholder Group that guided the development of this 2026 Amador County CWPP will be drawn on to expand and strengthen the Amador County Wildfire Collaborators (ACWC) group, led by the AFSC County Coordinator.
● Cross-jurisdictional Geographic Information System (GIS) Management: Amador County requires personnel to manage a centralized GIS database essential to planning and monitoring treatments, emergency access and response resources across public and private jurisdictions.
● Distinct Regional Hazard Profiles: Amador County exhibits distinct wildfire fire behavior across its geography. The western portion of the county is dominated by flashy fuels (grass and brush), resulting in high burn probabilities and rapid rates of spread, though generally producing flame lengths under 8 feet. In contrast, the central and eastern zones are characterized by dense timber and heavy understory. While burn probabilities are lower in these areas, they present a severe risk of extreme flame lengths (exceeding 25 feet) and active crown fires under 97th percentile weather conditions. Across the entire county, 83% of the area could experience flame lengths greater than 4 feet under severe weather scenarios, requiring mechanized suppression resources.
● Vulnerability of Critical Assets: The effects analysis indicates that agricultural lands, watersheds, forest vegetation, and the built environment (structures and utilities) face the highest potential for negative impacts from high-intensity wildfires. ● Primary Community Concerns: Public engagement revealed that the accumulation of hazardous fuels is the top concern among residents. Furthermore, rising homeowner’s insurance premiums and policy non-renewals have become primary drivers motivating residents to engage in mitigation efforts. The community is also highly concerned with

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the cascading impacts of wildfires, including prolonged smoke exposure, degraded air quality, and the disruption of local recreation and economic activity. ● Strategic Fuel Reduction is Essential: Addressing the county's hazard requires a multi-scale vegetation management approach. This includes large-scale Forest Health projects to improve ecosystem resilience, strategically placed Shaded Fuel Break Networks to aid suppression operations, and Community-Scale Fuel Reduction treatments directly adjacent to WUI neighborhoods.
● Home Hardening and Defensible Space: Because structures are most vulnerable to ember intrusion and radiant heat during a wildfire, widespread implementation of defensible space (Zones 0, 1, and 2) and structural hardening (e.g., upgrading vents, roofs, and siding to Chapter 7A WUI Building Code standards) are critical priorities for reducing property loss.
● Critical Infrastructure and Response Gaps: Effective wildfire response and safe evacuation are currently constrained by infrastructure limitations. Critical needs identified include expanding emergency water supply and storage, establishing comprehensive GIS hydrant mapping, hardening communications and radio systems, and improving narrow, one-way ingress/egress routes to support both civilian evacuation and emergency responder access.

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Introduction
Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) are collaboratively developed plans focused on reducing wildfire risk to identified community values within a defined planning area. They serve as an important vehicle for assessing local wildfire hazard and risk, coordinating wildfire risk reduction activities, and providing a mechanism for project funding and implementation.

A CWPP must meet three minimum requirements to be recognized under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act. First, it must be collaboratively developed, meaning that local government, local fire authorities, and the relevant state or federal land management agencies all participate in its creation. Second, the CWPP must identify and map the community’s Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI), which defines the areas where homes, infrastructure, and other community assets are most at risk from wildfire. Finally, the plan must outline prioritized fuel-reduction projects and recommendations for reducing structural ignitability, providing a clear, locally supported roadmap for mitigating wildfire hazards. These minimum elements ensure that the CWPP reflects community priorities, strengthens cross-jurisdictional coordination, and guides effective wildfire-resilience actions. This plan meets the minimum requirements for a CWPP.

The CWPP fulfills the intent of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (2003) by establishing locally supported priorities for hazardous fuel reduction, community preparedness, and landscape restoration. It renews Amador County’s eligibility for state and federal funding through programs such as CAL FIRE’s Wildfire Prevention and Forest Health Grants, FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), and the USDA Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program.

Goals and Objectives
Plan Goals and Objective

1. Protect Life and Property through targeted fuel treatments, defensible space, and home hardening.

2. Safeguard Critical Infrastructure and Natural Resources including transportation corridors, utilities, watersheds, and cultural assets.

3. Promote Cross-Jurisdictional Collaboration across public, private, and tribal lands to achieve landscape-scale resilience.

4. Advance Data-Driven Decision Making by using quantitative wildfire risk modeling to prioritize treatments and funding investments.

5. Strengthen Community Preparedness and Recovery through public education, evacuation planning, and coordination with emergency management.

6. Ensure Long-Term Sustainability by aligning projects with maintenance, monitoring, and adaptive management frameworks.

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Specific Objectives

1. Conduct a Quantified Wildfire Risk Assessment (QWRA) that integrates burn probability, flame length, and exposure of Highly Valued Assets (HVRAs).

2. Identify and map HVRAs such as homes, infrastructure, ecosystems, and cultural sites using community-defined priorities collected through surveys and meetings.

3. Define and maintain Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) boundaries and fuel management zones consistent with CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones and local plans.

4. Develop an Implementation Framework that outlines responsibilities, funding sources, and timelines for high-priority projects.

Roles and Responsibilities
The following CWPP Steering Committee holds primary responsibility for the plan development.

Table 1. Members and Organizations of the Amador County CWPP Steering Committee Amador CWPP Steering Committee
Name Organization/Agency Title CWPP Role
Matthew Girton
Amador County Office of
Emergency Services Coordinator
Committee Member
Kayla Dale
Amador Fire Protection
District Public Information Officer
Committee Member
Rob Withrow
Amador Fire Protection
District Amador Fire Chief
Committee Member
Susan Peters AFSC/AWA
Board Member - AFSC
Representative
Committee Member
Todd Bertwell AFSC/ARCD
Natural Resources
Project Manager
Committee Member
Amanda Watson AFSC/ARCD Executive Director Committee Member Susan Peters AFSC/AWA
Board Member - AFSC
Representative
Committee Member
Jeff Hoag CalFIRE AEU Assistant Chief Committee Member
David Wood CALFIRE AEU
Unit Chief (as of
December 2025)
Committee Member
Mike Blankenheim CalFIRE AEU
Unit Chief (until
December 2025)
Committee Member
James Thornock US Forest Service
District Fire Management
- Division Chief-1
Committee Member

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Applicable Plans and Regulations
Wildfire resilience planning in Amador County is guided by a complex and interconnected framework of federal, state, regional, and local plans, policies, and regulations. The Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is designed to function within this framework by aligning recommended actions with applicable regulatory requirements while remaining a non-regulatory, community-driven planning document. This alignment ensures consistency across agencies, maintains eligibility for funding, and supports coordinated implementation of wildfire mitigation strategies. See Appendix B for a list of plans and links to the documents.

Federal Framework
At the federal level, the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA) provides the statutory foundation for CWPP development. HFRA authorizes communities to collaborate with federal, state, and local partners to identify and prioritize hazardous fuel reduction, address structural ignitability, and improve wildfire preparedness. Compliance with HFRA enables prioritization of fuel treatments on federal lands adjacent to communities and supports eligibility for certain federal funding programs.

Federal land management agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, implement wildfire management through agency-specific land and resource management plans and fire management plans. These documents establish objectives for fuels management, suppression response, ecosystem restoration, and protection of communities and infrastructure. The CWPP complements these plans by identifying local priorities, values at risk, and opportunities for cross-boundary coordination, particularly in areas where federal lands interface with private and local jurisdictions.

State of California Regulatory Framework
California’s wildfire regulatory framework is extensive and directly influences CWPP implementation. Public Resources Code (PRC) Section 4291 establishes defensible space requirements, mandating vegetation clearance and fuel modification within 100 feet of structures in areas with flammable vegetation. These requirements form the basis for private property defensible space strategies identified in the CWPP and are enforced by local fire authorities.

Government Code Sections 51175–51189 define and regulate Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZs). These statutes require local jurisdictions to adopt fire hazard maps and apply wildfire-specific standards to development within designated areas. Government Code Section 51189 directs the Office of the State Fire Marshal to establish Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) building standards, which are implemented through the California Building Code (Title 24, Chapter 7A). These standards address structural ignitability by requiring ignition-resistant construction materials and design features for new construction and qualifying remodels in WUI areas.

Additional state regulations address wildfire ignition prevention and infrastructure safety. PRC Sections 4292–4296 and related California Code of Regulations provisions establish vegetation management and clearance standards for electrical utilities and railroads. These regulations are critical for reducing wildfire ignitions associated with infrastructure corridors and inform CWPP recommendations related to utility coordination and corridor fuel management.

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The California Emergency Services Act (CESA) provides the legal framework for emergency preparedness, response, and mutual aid. It establishes coordination responsibilities among state and local agencies and supports integration of wildfire evacuation planning, public notification, and emergency operations—key components addressed throughout the CWPP.

State and Regional Planning Documents
Several statewide and regional planning documents guide wildfire mitigation and resilience efforts in Amador County. CAL FIRE’s 2025 Strategic Fire Plan for the Amador-El Dorado Unit establishes priorities for fuels reduction, fire prevention, and community protection at the unit and statewide levels. These plans emphasize landscape-scale treatments, protection of communities at risk, and collaborative implementation across ownership boundaries, all of which are reflected in the CWPP’s fuels mitigation and community protection strategies.

Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plans, including those prepared by electric utilities serving the region, identify infrastructure hardening, vegetation management, and operational strategies to reduce ignition risk and enhance system reliability. The CWPP aligns with these plans by identifying priority corridors, critical infrastructure, and opportunities for coordinated mitigation.

Regional transportation and evacuation planning efforts, including evacuation studies and transportation plans prepared by regional agencies, provide important context for CWPP actions related to evacuation capacity, roadway resilience, and emergency access. Coordination with these plans ensures that wildfire evacuation and access improvements are integrated into broader transportation planning processes.

Local Plans and Ordinances
At the local level, the CWPP aligns with Amador County’s General Plan, including the Fire Safety Element, which addresses wildfire hazards, emergency access, infrastructure resilience, and land use considerations in fire-prone areas. State law requires periodic review of General Plan fire safety elements, and the CWPP provides supporting analysis and recommendations that can inform future updates.

Local fire codes, ordinances, and standards adopted by cities, fire districts, and the county establish requirements for defensible space, access, water supply, and building safety. These regulations are enforced by local Authorities Having Jurisdiction and form the regulatory backbone for many of the mitigation actions promoted in the CWPP. While the CWPP does not create new regulatory requirements, it reinforces existing standards and encourages consistent application across jurisdictions.

Community-level wildfire safety plans, Fire Safe Council plans, and fire district strategic plans further refine wildfire mitigation priorities at local scales. The CWPP builds upon these efforts by providing a countywide framework that connects local actions to regional and landscape-scale strategies.

Relationship of the CWPP to Other Plans
The CWPP is intentionally designed to complement—not replace—existing plans and regulations. It serves as a coordinating document that bridges regulatory requirements, agency mandates, and community priorities. By aligning with applicable plans and policies, the CWPP

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helps reduce duplication of effort, identify implementation gaps, and support collaborative project development.

Importantly, the CWPP maintains flexibility to adapt to changing conditions, emerging science, and evolving regulatory frameworks. Through periodic review and updates, the CWPP can continue to align with new legislation, updated hazard maps, and revised agency plans, ensuring its ongoing relevance and effectiveness.

See Appendix B listing Applicable Plans and Policies
Planning Area & Community Information
The following table (Table 2) provides a summary of the Amador County CWPP planning area and key community information. A map of the planning area boundary is provided in Figure 1.

Figure 2 displays the land ownership within the county. Figure 3 displays land use and Figure 4 shows the locations of low income and disadvantaged communities in the planning area (California Energy Commission 2022).

Table 2. Summary of Amador County CWPP Planning Area and Community Information CWPP Planning Area and Community Information
Topic Summary Data Source
Planning Area
Boundaries
Size: 606 sq mi (595 sq mi land,

11.4 sq mi water)
Neighboring Counties: El Dorado,
Alpine, Calaveras, San Joaquin,
Sacramento
Amador County GIS
Population Total: 40,474

30.8% urban, 69.2% rural
US Census Bureau, 2020 Census
Land Ownership Majority: Private
Secondary: Federal
CA State Geoportal - CALFIRE
US Census Bureau, 2020 Census
Fire Environment Fire environment varies
considerably across the county
due to changes in elevation, fuels,
slope, and proximity to
development. See Assessment of
Wildfire Hazard and Wildfire Risk
Landfire
Historical Fire Perimeters - CALFIRE
Assessment of Wildfire Hazard and
Wildfire Risk [SIG]
Land Use and
Development Patterns
18,805 housing units
● 83.4% occupied
● 75.7% owner-occupied
● 24.3% renter-occupied

35.5% of land zoned for
single-family residential use

34.1% of land is farmland
US Census Bureau, 2020 Census
Amador County General Plan
Socioeconomic
Characteristics
Per Capita Income: $53,900 (44th,
2023)
Unemployment Rate: 5.5% (2024)
California Department of
Transportation

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Figure 1. Amador County, CWPP Planning Area Boundary
Figure 2. Land Ownership

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Figure 3. Land Use Categories
Figure 4. Low income or disadvantaged communities

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Fire History
Amador County, like many areas in the central Sierra Nevada, has a long history of wildfire due to its Mediterranean climate, often varied topography, and fuel types that support frequent fire.

Prior to Euro-American settlement, Native American communities actively influenced the fire regime through intentional burning practices. These fires were used to manage vegetation, improve plant materials used for construction and agriculture. Many of these cultural burns spread widely throughout the foothill environment and helped maintain open and productive landscapes. Following the discovery of gold in the late 1840s, rapid settlement introduced new land uses such as livestock grazing and the spread of non-native plant species, which significantly altered the landscape and the region’s fire dynamics. Forest management, including timber harvesting and active fire suppression, further altered the region’s vegetation structure, generally leading to more dense forests with greater fuel loads and greater continuity between surface fuels and the tree canopies. Fires in the past 100 years have been influenced by a combination of human activity and land-use changes associated with settlement, logging, and agriculture. Over time, fire suppression policies reduced the frequency of smaller, low-intensity fires, allowing vegetation and forest fuels to accumulate, which has contributed to more intense wildfires in modern decades.

Significant wildfires did occur in Amador County during the 1960s, though the decade saw relatively few major incidents compared with other parts of California. The most significant event was the Rancheria Creek Fire of 1961, which burned more than 34,000 acres and remains one of the largest historical wildfires recorded in the county. The fire occurred during a period when large wildfire events were relatively infrequent in Amador County and were typically associated with periods of hot, dry weather and strong winds. Aside from this event, most fires during the 1960s were smaller and more localized, reflecting both lower development in the wildland–urban interface and different forest and vegetation conditions than those seen today.

Later decades demonstrated that the potential for large wildfires in Amador County still exists.

More recent events such as the Power Fire in 2004, which burned roughly 17,000 acres, and the Butte Fire in 2015 highlight the region’s vulnerability under extreme weather and fuel conditions. The 2015 Butte Fire, which ignited east of Jackson when a tree contacted a power line, spread rapidly through dry fuels and steep terrain, ultimately burning about 70,868 acres across Amador and neighboring Calaveras counties. The incident destroyed hundreds of structures, caused two fatalities, and led to a state of emergency declaration by the governor.

The Butte Fire demonstrated how quickly wildfires can grow in the Sierra foothills under hot, dry, and windy conditions and remains one of the most destructive events in the region’s fire history.

More recent wildfire events continue to highlight the county’s ongoing fire risk. Large regional fires such as the Caldor Fire (2021) and incidents like the Electra Fire (2022) and other local ignitions have affected or threatened parts of Amador County. These events reflect broader trends across California, where longer fire seasons, drought, and climate-driven changes in vegetation have increased wildfire frequency and intensity. Fires like Electra highlight that certain areas are prone to frequent wildfire. Not only are areas that burn likely to burn again, but previous fires may increase the chances that the same area may burn again due to changes in post-fire vegetation growth.

However, compared with many neighboring Sierra Nevada counties, Amador County has historically experienced fewer large and destructive wildfires. While nearby counties such as El Dorado, Calaveras, and Alpine have faced several major fires in recent decades—including events that burned tens of thousands of acres—Amador County has generally avoided incidents

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of similar scale. Many of the largest regional fires have occurred just outside the county’s boundaries. Although smaller fires and localized incidents have occurred within Amador County, the county has not experienced the same concentration of large wildfires that have affected surrounding regions. This relative absence of major fires does not eliminate risk, however, and recent large fires in adjacent counties highlight the potential for wildfire to impact Amador County under the right weather and fuel conditions.

Figure 5. Fire perimeters, by decade, since 1960

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Fire Protection Areas
Fire protection areas are defined geographic zones in which a specific agency, fire district, or jurisdiction is assigned primary responsibility for providing fire prevention, mitigation, and emergency response services. These areas establish clear boundaries for who responds to wildfire and structural fire incidents, who conducts inspections and code enforcement, and who leads local preparedness and public safety efforts. Fire protection areas help organize resources and personnel efficiently, reduce confusion during emergencies, and ensure that all lands—whether public or private—have an identified entity responsible for fire-related duties.

They also support coordinated planning across jurisdictions by clarifying roles, improving communication, and enabling consistent implementation of fire prevention and hazard-reduction practices.

Fire District Service Areas
Fire districts listed in Table 3 (shown in Figure 6) are responsible for providing fire protection within the Amador County CWPP planning area.

Table 3. Fire Districts within the Amador County CWPP Planning Area Fire Districts in CWPP Planning Area
Fire District Description of Geographic Area
Amador Fire Protection District Most of Amador County, includes contract with Plymouth Ione Fire Department City of Ione
Jackson Fire Department City of Jackson
Jackson Valley FPD Southwest Amador County
Kirkwood Volunteer FD City of Kirkwood
Plymouth - Contract with Amador FPD Community of Plymouth Sutter Creek FPD Communities of Sutter Creek and Amador City

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Figure 6. Fire District Service Areas within Amador County Responsibility Areas
The following wildland fire responsibility areas are within the Amador County CWPP planning area which determines the legal and financial responsibility for wildland fire prevention and protection within each of these areas.

Federal Responsibility Areas
Federal Responsibility Areas (FRAs) are lands where the federal government has primary authority and responsibility for wildfire management, including prevention, preparedness, suppression, and fuels reduction activities. These areas typically include National Forests managed by the U.S. Forest Service, rangelands and public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, National Parks under the National Park Service, and wildlife refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Within FRAs, federal agencies are responsible for developing and implementing fire management plans, conducting fuels treatments, maintaining access and infrastructure for wildfire response, and coordinating with state, local, and tribal partners. Their role also includes protecting federal resources and values at risk, supporting cross-boundary mitigation efforts, and ensuring wildfire policies align with national land management objectives.

State Responsibility Areas
State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) are lands where the state government holds primary responsibility for wildfire prevention, preparedness, and suppression, typically outside incorporated cities and beyond federal land boundaries. These areas often include privately owned land, rangelands, and watershed lands where fire risk is significant and coordinated

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management is essential. In SRAs, the state—often through agencies such as CAL FIRE or RCDs —develops fire management policies, conducts fuels reduction and vegetation management projects, enforces defensible space regulations, and oversees wildfire response operations. State agencies also work closely with local governments, fire districts, and landowners to reduce wildfire risk, protect communities and natural resources, and ensure consistent, statewide standards for fire resilience and mitigation.

Local Responsibility Areas
Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs) are lands where cities, counties, or local fire protection districts hold primary responsibility for wildfire prevention, mitigation, and emergency response.

These areas typically include incorporated communities, residential neighborhoods, commercial zones, and other developed lands where local governments have land-use authority and provide essential public safety services. Within LRAs, local agencies are responsible for enforcing building and fire codes, implementing defensible space and vegetation management standards, conducting public education and outreach, and coordinating local evacuation planning. They also manage initial wildfire response within their jurisdictions and collaborate with state and federal partners when incidents cross boundaries. Through these responsibilities, LRAs play a crucial role in protecting life, property, and critical infrastructure from wildfire risks.

Figure 7. Wildland fire responsibility areas within the Amador County CAL FIRE Units
CAL FIRE Units are regional administrative divisions of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, each responsible for managing the state’s fire prevention, preparedness, and wildfire response operations within a defined geographic area. These units oversee State

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Responsibility Areas (SRAs) and often provide contract services to local governments for structural fire protection and emergency medical response. Their responsibilities include conducting vegetation management and fuel-reduction projects, USFSorcing defensible space and fire-safe construction standards, operating fire stations and emergency dispatch centers, and coordinating incident response across local, state, and federal agencies. CAL FIRE Units also support community education, fire planning, and recovery efforts, ensuring consistent and effective wildfire resilience strategies throughout California.

Figure 8. Map of the CAL FIRE units and facilities related to the Amador County CWPP planning area
Wildland-Urban Interface Identification
The Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) is the zone where human development meets or intermingles with wildland vegetation. This area includes neighborhoods, businesses, infrastructure, and other community assets located near forests, shrublands, or grasslands that can carry wildfire. Because natural vegetation, steep terrain, and weather all influence fire behavior, the WUI represents the place where wildfire hazards and human exposure overlap most directly. As communities continue to expand into formerly undeveloped landscapes, the extent of the WUI increases, bringing additional challenges for fire management and public safety.

Recognizing the WUI is critically important because it highlights where the risk to life, property, and essential infrastructure is likely the greatest. Homes and development in the WUI are often more vulnerable to wildfire due to flammable building materials, inadequate defensible space, limited access routes, and the potential for ember ignition. Identifying WUI areas helps agencies, planners, and residents understand where to focus mitigation efforts, improve

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evacuation planning, and strengthen building and vegetation standards. It also supports more effective wildfire response by clarifying where firefighting resources may be most needed during an emergency.

Within a CWPP, the WUI serves as a foundational element that guides all other components of the plan. Mapping and defining the WUI establishes a key planning area where fuels reduction, defensible space programs, infrastructure improvements, and community outreach should be prioritized. It ensures that recommended projects reflect local values and address the highest-risk zones. By clearly identifying the WUI, a CWPP strengthens collaboration among local, state, and federal partners, aligns mitigation strategies with community needs, and supports access to funding for wildfire-resilience projects.

The WUI is composed of three distinctions based on the level of development, intermixing with wildland fuels, and exposure to wildland fire.

Interface WUI:

The Interface Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) zone is where structures and human development directly border large, contiguous areas of wildland vegetation. In this zone, residential neighborhoods or commercial areas sit adjacent to forests, shrublands, or grasslands without significant natural or manmade buffers. Because structures are concentrated along the wildland edge, fires approaching from nearby vegetation can quickly threaten homes and infrastructure. The clear boundary between development and wildland fuels makes the Interface WUI highly vulnerable to radiant heat, flame contact, and ember intrusion during a wildfire.

Intermix WUI:

The Intermix WUI zone describes areas where homes, buildings, and wildland vegetation are intermingled with one another, with no distinct separation between development and natural fuels. In this environment, vegetation is present throughout the community, often surrounding individual homes and parcels. This creates complex fire behavior conditions and challenges for firefighting, as fires can move simultaneously through wildland fuels and structures. The dispersed pattern of development in the Intermix WUI often results in limited access routes, longer response times, and a heightened need for defensible space and fire-resistant construction.

Influence Zone:

The Influence Zone represents the broader area beyond the immediate WUI where wildfire behavior can still significantly affect a community. These zones may be located several miles away from homes or infrastructure but can generate embers, smoke, or fast-moving fire fronts that impact Interface or Intermix areas. Recognizing the Influence Zone is important because conditions such as fuel buildup, topography, and prevailing winds in these areas can strongly influence the intensity and direction of fires that ultimately threaten communities. Managing fuels and fire behavior in the Influence Zone helps reduce the likelihood of severe wildfire impacts on nearby developed areas.

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CAL FIRE Subdivision Review
Subdivisions—defined here as developments containing more than thirty residential units—are identified in coordination with local jurisdictions. If a subdivision meets the criteria outlined in Section 4290.5 of the California Public Resources Code, it is evaluated for access and evacuation routes, as well as other fire safety considerations. The findings from these evaluations, along with any related recommendations, are published by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection and are publicly accessible.

This initiative is intended to share the results of subdivision surveys conducted under Assembly Bill 2911, which established Section 4290.5 of the Public Resources Code. Under Section 4290.5, the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection is responsible for surveying subdivisions located within State Responsibility Areas (SRA) or within Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones of more than 30 dwelling units that lack a secondary evacuation route and face significant wildfire risk. Based on these surveys, the Board provides recommendations.

The recommendations included in each Subdivision Survey Report are advisory only and are provided solely for the purposes described in Section 4290.5. Local jurisdictions may choose to offer additional recommendations if they wish.

The process of identifying and surveying subdivisions is ongoing. Because updated SRA Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) maps took effect on April 1, 2024, the hazard zone listed in reports for subdivisions surveyed before that date may differ from the current map. These subdivisions will be reassessed during the next review cycle.

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Figure 9. CAL FIRE subdivisions within State Responsibility Areas (SRA) or within Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones that lack a secondary evacuation route

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Figure 10. Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) boundaries within Amador County Figure 11. Fire Hazard Severity Zones by Responsibility Areas in Amador County

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Assessment of Wildfire Hazard and Wildfire Risk
Summary of Wildfire Behavior Simulations, Fire Weather and Spread Modeling Quantitative Wildfire Risk Assessment Methodology
The Amador County CWPP employs a rigorous Quantitative Wildfire Risk Assessment (QWRA) framework based on the Scott et al. (2013) methodology, which systematically integrates wildfire simulation, asset identification, and impact analysis. The process begins with Wildfire Simulations using FlamMap to model burn probabilities and fire intensities across the landscape using LANDFIRE data and Scott and Burgan 40 fuel models. This is followed by an Exposure Analysis that intersects these hazards with Highly Valued Resources and Assets (HVRAs)—the ecological and social elements prioritized by stakeholders. Finally, an Effects Analysis utilizes response functions to calculate Net Value Change (NVC), providing a weighted metric of potential beneficial or detrimental outcomes that allows planners to prioritize mitigation efforts based on integrated risk.

Wildfire Hazard Analysis and Simulation Results
The assessment characterizes wildfire hazard through high-resolution simulations of the 97th percentile weather conditions, revealing distinct spatial patterns across Amador County. Burn Probability is most elevated in the western portion of the county, particularly along the Highway 49 corridor, while the highest Flame Lengths and potential for Active Crown Fire are concentrated in the central timber and shrub-dominated zones. To synthesize these findings, the plan utilizes an Integrated Hazard (IH) index, which bins and cross-references burn probability with conditional flame length into a single classification matrix. This spatial data informs the county's strategic planning by identifying where fire intensity exceeds "direct attack" capabilities (flame lengths $>8$ feet) and where high rates of spread (>20 feet per minute) in flashy fuels pose the greatest threat to evacuation and suppression.

Measuring Wildfire Risk Methodology
To build a plan that protects Amador County, we need to understand exactly how and where wildfires threaten the things we care about most. To do this, we used a rigorous, science-based process known as a Quantitative Wildfire Risk Assessment (QWRA).

This framework breaks down the complex problem of wildfire risk into four logical, data-driven steps:

Step 1: Simulating the Fire (Wildfire Hazard)
First, we have to understand how a fire might behave on our specific landscape. We use advanced computer modeling software (called FlamMap) combined with local data on topography, weather, and vegetation (fuels). We ran these simulations under "97th percentile" weather conditions—meaning we modeled the fires based on the hottest, driest, and windiest days of the year. This step tells us two critical things:
● Burn Probability: How likely a specific area is to burn. ● Flame Length (Intensity): How hot and high the flames will be.

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Step 2: Identifying What Matters Most (Community Assets) Wildfire hazard only becomes a risk when it threatens something of value. We worked with local stakeholders and community members to identify and map our Highly Valued Resources and Assets (HVRAs). These are the ecological, social, and economic elements the community wants to protect, ranging from residential homes and critical water infrastructure to important wildlife habitats and cultural sites.

Step 3: Finding the Overlap (Exposure Analysis)
Next, we overlay our wildfire simulation maps directly onto our community asset maps. This "exposure analysis" evaluates the spatial interactions between fire hazards and our physical assets. By combining the likelihood of fire and the expected intensity, we generate an Integrated Hazard map, which visually highlights the neighborhoods and resources most exposed to severe fire behavior.

Step 4: Calculating the Impact (Effects Analysis)
Finally, we calculate the expected outcome if a fire were to reach these exposed assets. We measure this using a metric called Net Value Change (NVC). Because not all fire is bad—low-intensity fires can actually benefit certain natural habitats—this step weighs both the detrimental damages and the beneficial outcomes to HVRAs.

By integrating these metrics, we generate a comprehensive risk score. This allows us to prioritize our mitigation efforts and funding exactly where they will do the most good for Amador County.

Figure 12. Quantitative wildfire risk assessment process.

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Wildfire Hazard
The Amador County CWPP working group used the following process to incorporate a wildfire hazard assessment and associated map into the CWPP planning process.

Wildfire Model Simulations
Wildfire simulations are a central component of QWRA and wildfire hazard characterization, providing a scientific basis for understanding where and how fires are likely to burn under a range of environmental conditions (Scott et al. 2013, NWCG 2025a). These simulations integrate data on fuels, topography, historical weather patterns, and ignition sources (previously presented) to model potential fire behavior across the landscape (Scott 2012). Outputs such as burn probability, flame length, and rate of spread help quantify wildfire hazard and inform subsequent exposure and effects analyses. By simulating fire behavior under defined scenarios - such as percentile-based weather conditions completed for Amador County - QWRA enables planners and decision-makers to identify areas of elevated hazard and risk, prioritize mitigation efforts, and allocate resources more effectively to protect highly valued resources and assets (HVRAs).

FlamMap, used for simulating wildfire behavior for Amador County, is a fire behavior modeling tool developed by the U.S. Forest Service to simulate potential wildfire activity on landscapes using fuel, topography, and weather data (Finney 2006). Unlike dynamic models, FlamMap calculates fire behavior at each point under constant conditions, providing outputs like burn probability, flame length, rate of spread, and fire type. This makes it useful for strategic planning and risk assessment, as it evaluates fire hazards across different weather scenarios. In QWRA, FlamMap helps analyze landscape-level fire behavior and supports decisions on mitigation and fuel reduction priorities.

A fuel model is a standardized set of fuel bed characteristics that can be used for a variety of wildfire modeling applications. Fuel models and their characteristics, including fuel moisture content, fuel loading, and arrangement, are required for FlamMap to generate fire behavior outputs (USFS 2025b). Inputs for Amador County vegetation and fuel models were obtained from LANDFIRE (LANDFIRE 2025). The Scott and Burgan 40 Fire Behavior Fuel Models (Scott and Burgan 2005) were used for this analysis.

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Summary of Wildfire Behavior Simulations, Exposure and Effects Analysis Geographic Breakdown of Fire Behavior and Risk
When we look at these overall risk scores across the county, distinct hazard profiles emerge based on the local geography and vegetation :
● The Western Zone (Grass-Dominated): The highest burn probabilities occur here—mostly around areas like Camanche Village, south of Jackson, and the junction of Highways 16 and 49. In these flashy fuels, the rate of spread is predicted to be high (20-80 feet per minute). Fortunately, flame lengths in extreme weather generally won't exceed 8 feet. However, due to the high burn probability, the risk to Woodland Plant Species and Safety Protection infrastructure remains high. ● The Central Zone (Timber-Dominated): While burn probabilities are slightly lower here, the dense timber creates extreme intensity. Flame lengths are expected to exceed 25 feet in most areas, with passive and active crown fires likely. The Integrated Hazard (IH) is highly variable, but large areas fall into the "Highest" classification, posing severe risks to Woodland Plant Species and Safety Protection infrastructure. ● The Eastern Zone (Shrub and Forest): There is a massive area of high burn probability just west of Salt Springs Reservoir. This area combines heavy understory fuels with steep topography. Flame lengths can be expected to exceed 25 feet, resulting in a high risk to Watersheds, Agriculture, and Forest Vegetation.

What This Means for Amador County
Across the entire county, under 97th percentile extreme weather conditions, flame lengths greater than 4 feet may occur across 83% of the area. The areas with the most negative "Overall Risk" scores dictate our top priorities for action (Figures 19-21). To protect areas surrounding structures that would be severely impacted by these fast-moving or high-intensity wildfires, we must implement wildland mitigation measures, including mechanical fuel reduction (like shaded fuel breaks) and follow-up prescribed burning. Closer to home, reducing our overall risk relies heavily on property owners maintaining defensible space guidelines and utilizing fire-resistant building materials to harden their homes against embers and radiant heat.

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Wildfire Model Simulations Results
Burn Probability
Figure 13. Amador County CWPP 97th Percentile Burn Probability FlamMap calculates BP by running numerous fire simulations from random ignitions and dividing the number of times each pixel burned by the total number of simulations. The resulting map shows a value between 0 and 1 for each pixel, representing the probability of that pixel burning under the specified conditions (e.g., 8 hour burn duration, 97th percentile weather and fuel moisture conditions) (Figure 13). This output does not provide an indication of the probability of a fire starting but instead provides the probability of whether a pixel burns if a fire were to occur.

The FlamMap landscape burn probability analysis indicated the areas that are most likely to burn in Amador County under 97th percentile weather conditions. There are significant areas with high burn probabilities in the western portion of the county with the highest burn probabilities falling along the western side of the Highway 49 corridor.

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Flame Length
Figure 14. Amador County CWPP 97th Percentile Flame Length Wildfire behavior modeling at Amador County indicated that flame lengths are varied under 97th percentile weather conditions (Figure 14). Flame lengths of or greater than 8 feet are too intense for direct attack at the head of a fire with hand tools. Handline cannot be relied upon to hold the fire. Equipment such as dozers, engines, and retardant aircraft can be effective.

Flame lengths may exceed 4 feet over approximately 73% of Amador County under 97th percentile conditions. Significant flame lengths are not predicted in the same areas where burn probability was elevated (western zone). Significant flame lengths are predicted in the central zone where timber and shrub fuels predominate.

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Rate of Spread
Figure 15. Amador County CWPP 97th Percentile Rate of Spread (Feet per Minute) Generally, higher wind speeds combined with dry fuels drive higher rates of spread, particularly if the fuels are grass or grass-shrub types. Higher rates of spread (> 20 feet per minute) are observed in the western portion of the county where higher wind speeds and flashy fuel types combine (Figure 15). High rates of spread can be seen throughout the rest of the county where topography aligns with the prevailing wind under 97th percentile weather conditions.

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Fire Type
Figure 16. Amador County CWPP 97th Percentile Fire Type (Crown Fire Activity) Fire type is a wildfire simulation output that is divided into four categories: unburned, surface fire, passive crown fire, and active crown fire. Surface fires are considered those burning in surface fuels such as litter, downed woody debris, and low-level living plants (NWCG 2005).

Passive crown fires occur when surface fire intensity is sufficient to ignite tree crowns, individually or in groups, but wind speeds are not high enough to propagate fire between trees.

Active Crown Fire takes place when surface fire intensity ignites tree crowns and fire spread and intensity in the tree crowns reciprocates, advancing surface fire spread and intensity and being the most difficult type to suppress.

Surface fire and passive crown fire is expected for most areas of the county under 97th percentile weather conditions (Figure 16). Active crown is expected throughout many areas in the central part of the county where heavy fuel loading in dense timber predominates. [1] Handline definition: A fire prevention barrier (fireline) constructed by removing burnable organic materials down to mineral soil with hand tools such as shovels, hoes, and rakes.

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Integrated Hazard
Integrated Hazard (IH) combines burn probability and conditional flame length into a single characteristic that can be mapped (IFTDSS 2025). Values of both metrics are binned and classified to create the Integrated Hazard index. Because IH is based on the maximum Burn Probability of an analysis area, results are dynamic and dependent on the specific extent of the wildfire simulation. IH cannot be compared between analysis areas because it is dependent on the maximum results within an analysis area.

Burn Probability at Amador County was binned and classified as a percentage of the maximum value at 20% intervals. CFL was binned and classified in 2 feet flame length increments up to 12 feet. The resulting matrix of classified values (Figure 17) and the resulting Integrated Hazard map for Amador County are shown in Figure 18.

Figure 17. Integrated Hazard determination using Conditional Flame Length and Burn Probability (IFTDSS 2025).

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Figure 18. Amador County CWPP Integrated Hazard

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Quantitative Wildfire Risk Assessment
To perform the Quantitative Wildfire Risk Assessment (QWRA), Highly Valued Resources and Assets (HVRAs) were identified and assigned Relative Importance (RI) weights and Response Functions (RF). These response functions characterize the sensitivity of each asset to various levels of fire intensity (flame length). By integrating these socio-ecological values with geospatial wildfire simulation outputs—specifically Burn Probability (BP) and Conditional Flame Length (CFL)—we calculated the Expected Net Value Change (eNVC) across the landscape. This comprehensive metric represents the primary measure of wildfire risk, accounting for both the likelihood of a fire event and the magnitude of its potential impact on community assets.

High Valued Resources and Assets Characterization
HVRA Identification
To understand our wildfire risk, we first have to define exactly what is at risk. In wildfire planning, the physical, ecological, and social elements we want to protect are called Highly Valued Resources and Assets (HVRAs). These encompass everything from residential neighborhoods and critical water infrastructure to vital wildlife habitats and sacred cultural sites.

Identifying Amador County's Assets
To build a complete picture of what matters in Amador County, our technical team (Spatial Informatics Group) utilized advanced mapping data from Vibrant Planet and combined it with extensive input from local stakeholders and residents (Appendix E). We organized these community assets into eight broad categories:
● Community Assets: Residential homes, commercial buildings, electrical utilities, and water/wastewater facilities.
● Safety & Protection: Communications towers, emergency services, and designated safety zones.
● Water Resources: Surface water, broader watersheds, and hydrological features. ● Biodiversity & Wildlands Health: Important aquatic and woodland species, forest vegetation, and riparian (riverside) habitats.
● Ecological Commodities: Agricultural lands, grazing areas, and commercial forestry. ● Recreation, Science & Culture: Parks, recreational infrastructure, cultural resources, and ecological monitoring sites.

Relative Importance and Response Functions
Ranking
Because we cannot immediately apply fuel reduction treatments to every single acre of the county, we must prioritize our efforts. To accomplish this, the project team developed a survey asking CWPP Working Group members to assign Relative Importance (RI) rankings by evaluating how critical each HVRA group is to protect from wildfire. Recognizing that priorities

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change across a heterogeneous landscape, survey responses were grouped by zone to ensure the unique needs of Amador County's diverse communities were accurately captured.

Calculating Weighted Importance
To translate these community priorities into our spatial models, we applied a specific mathematical weighting process. Each HVRA’s Relative Importance (RI) value was divided by its corresponding relative extent. Relative extent values were calculated as the area burned in acres of each sub-HVRA relative to the total extent of that sub-HVRA.

This calculation creates a weighting variable used when combining multiple sub-HVRAs into an estimated weighted Net Value Change (NVC). This critical step allocates importance evenly across an HVRA’s area, which helps avoid overestimating the impact of highly widespread sub-HVRAs when summarizing our final risk results. Furthermore, the scores generated from the RI survey can also be used in Vibrant Planet’s ‘Emphasize Objectives’ weighting sliders for future scenario planning.

Determining Asset Vulnerability
Beyond simply ranking importance, we must also evaluate how these assets react to fire. The assignment of sub-HVRA response functions (RF)—which dictate an asset's vulnerability to different wildfire intensity classes—was provided by Vibrant Planet alongside expert opinion. As recommended by the foundational QWRA methodology (Scott et al., 2013), flame length was utilized as a proxy for wildfire intensity to determine these response functions.

By combining these Relative Importance weights and Response Functions, our final risk assessment doesn't just show where fires will burn, but mathematically highlights the specific areas where fire threatens the assets our community values most.

Risk Assessment
Exposure Analysis
Knowing where a fire might burn is only part of the assessment. To truly measure our risk, we need to understand exactly what happens when those flames interact with our homes, infrastructure, and natural resources. This final phase of our risk assessment is broken into two parts: Exposure (what gets hit) and Effects (how bad the damage is).

When we overlay our simulated wildfire maps onto our community asset maps, we look at the types of fire our assets will likely face (Tables 4-6). Not all fires are created equal:
● Surface Fires: These burn through grass, fallen leaves, and low shrubs. They are generally easier to fight and are common in the western, grass-dominated areas of the county.
● Crown Fires: These occur when fire climbs into the tree canopy and spreads from treetop to treetop . These fires are extremely difficult to suppress, produce dangerous

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flame lengths, and are a significant threat in the heavily forested Central and Eastern zones.

Fire suppression for passive and active crown fires is considered the most difficult. A considerable (>50%) amount of passive and active crown fire is possible in Amador County.

However, significantly less potential for active crown fire was identified under the modeled weather conditions

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Table 4. Summary of Fire Type Exposure on Amador County - West HVRA Sub-HVRA Acres
Burned % Unburned % Surface % Passive % Active
Assets
Structures 4,660 43 49 7 0
Utilities 4,185 25 60 15 0
Biodiversity
Aquatic/
Riparian
Animal
Species
4,947 11 83 6 0
Woodland
Plant Species
3,019 3 25 72 0.5
Ecological Commodity
Agriculture 132,249 7 70 23 0
Foresty NA - - - -
Recreation
Recreation
Areas
1,846 30 65 5 0
Recreation
Infrastructure

NA - - - -
Safety
Communicati
ons
39 23 62 15 0
Protection 89,985 15 65 20 0
Safety Zones 10,942 28 60 12 0
Services 65 40 51 9 0
Science & Culture
Cultural
Resources
1,158 7 27 65 0.1
Monitoring 6 10 67 23 0
Water
Hydro-geomo
rphology
3,125 3 42 55 0.5
Surface
Water
5,378 53 37 10 0
Watershed 17,909 24 53 23 0
Wildlands Health
Forest
Vegetation
16,097 6 47 47 0.1
Riparian
Vegetation
83 26 66 8 0

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Table 5. Summary of Fire Type Exposure on Amador County - Central HVRA Sub-HVRA
Acres
Burned % Unburned % Surface % Passive % Active
Assets
Structures 8,498 27 43 29 1
Utilities 4,537 19 38 40 3
Biodiversity
Aquatic/
Riparian
Animal
Species
869 13 72 15 0
Woodland
Plant Species
16,519 4 20 67 9
Ecological Commodity
Agriculture 72,325 4 37 53 6
Foresty 2,448 7 39 48 6
Recreation
Recreation
Areas

0.2 83 0 17 0
Recreation
Infrastructure
48 7 91 2 0
Safety
Communicati
ons
47 26 41 32 1
Protection 103,924 8 36 51 5
Safety Zones 10,285 22 37 38 3
Services 63 27 37 36 1
Science & Culture
Cultural
Resources
8,432 7 22 65 6
Monitoring 1 38 62 0 0
Water
Hydro-geomo
rphology
23,692 1 24 59 16
Surface
Water
5,649 14 26 50 10
Watershed 40,511 4 27 59 10
Wildlands Health
Forest
Vegetation
77,632 7 25 59 9
Riparian
Vegetation
12 26 33 40 1

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Table 6. Summary of Fire Type Exposure on Amador County - East HVRA Sub-HVRA
Acres
Burned % Unburned % Surface % Passive % Active
Assets
Structures 230 29 52 19 0
Utilities 799 13 58 29 0.2
Biodiversity
Aquatic/
Riparian
Animal
Species
737 12 68 20 0
Woodland
Plant Species
2,885 0 30 68 2
Ecological Commodity
Agriculture 49,779 15 43 41 1
Foresty 10,739 5 48 47 0.5
Recreation
Recreation
Areas
474 11 50 39 0
Recreation
Infrastructure
2,448 17 47 36 0.3
Safety
Communicati
ons
11 36 43 21 0
Protection 14,534 17 59 23 1
Safety Zones 2,399 17 59 23 1
Services NA - - - -
Science & Culture
Cultural
Resources
284 0 46 54 1
Monitoring 4 51 28 21 0
Water
Hydro-geomo
rphology
7,438 4 41 54 1
Surface
Water
4,687 35 37 28 1
Watershed 60,098 15 44 41 1
Wildlands Health
Forest
Vegetation
56,555 8 46 45 1
Riparian
Vegetation
167 22 49 29 0

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To understand our exposure, we look at three specific metrics generated by our fire modeling (Tables 7-9):
● Mean Flame Length (FL): This represents the near-maximum, worst-case fire intensity.

In wildland settings, flame lengths above 4 feet indicate that effective fire suppression may require mechanized resources (like dozers) instead of hand crews. Modeled results show many sub-HVRAs in Amador County are expected to experience mean flame lengths above this 4-foot threshold.
● Conditional Flame Length (CFL): This is the estimated mean flame length for all modeled fires that burn a given point. CFL values are typically lower than Mean FL because CFL accounts for the most likely fire spread direction (e.g., flanking or backing fires, rather than just worst-case head fires). Within the county, seven sub-HVRAs are expected to experience a mean CFL above 4 feet. Note: CFL is a primary input for generating our Integrated Hazard maps.
● Conditional Burn Probability (CBP): This represents the relative probability of any point burning if a fire starts somewhere on the landscape under our modeled weather conditions. Unsurprisingly, the highest mean CBP values in Amador County are found within our Biodiversity, Ecological Commodity, and Wildlands Health assets due to their dense forested composition.

Our analysis shows that under extreme weather conditions, the majority of the county could experience flame lengths over 4 feet, which is generally the limit for firefighters to safely attack a fire directly with hand tools.

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Table 7. Summary of Exposure on Amador County - West
HVRA Sub-HVRA Mean FL Mean CFL Mean CBP
Assets
Structures 4 3 0.83%
Utilities 8 4 1.06%
Biodiversity
Aquatic/Riparian
Animal Species
7 5 1.51%
Woodland Plant
Species
26 10 1.50%
Ecological Commodity
Agriculture 10 6 1.65%
Foresty - - -
Recreation
Recreation Areas 5 4 1.23
Recreation
Infrastructure
- - -
Safety
Communications 7 5 1.15%
Protection 9 5 1.14%
Safety Zones 7 4 1.18%
Services 5 3 0.77%
Science & Culture
Cultural Resources 24 9 1.26%
Monitoring 11 5 1.39%
Water
Hydro-geomorphol
ogy
22 10 1.82%
Surface Water 5 3 0.73%
Watershed 9 5 1.47%
Wildlands Health
Forest Vegetation 16 7 1.60%
Riparian
Vegetation
5 3 0.63%

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Table 8. Summary of Exposure on Amador County - Central HVRA Sub-HVRA Mean FL Mean CFL Mean CBP
Assets
Structures 12 5 0.40%
Utilities 19 6 0.40%
Biodiversity
Aquatic/Riparian
Animal Species
8 5 0.81%
Woodland Plant
Species
38 12 0.84%
Ecological Commodity
Agriculture 28 10 0.88%
Foresty 22 9 0.82%
Recreation
Recreation Areas 4 1 0.02%
Recreation
Infrastructure
2 2 0.09%
Safety
Communications 13 5 0.47%
Protection 26 8 0.78%
Safety Zones 19 6 0.61%
Services 14 6 0.49%
Science & Culture
Cultural
Resources
33 11 0.75%
Monitoring 5 3 0.35%
Water
Hydro-geomorpho
logy
43 13 0.88%
Surface Water 34 10 0.69%
Watershed 33 11 0.71%
Wildlands Health
Forest Vegetation 35 11 0.73%
Riparian
Vegetation
15 7 0.63%

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Table 9. Summary of Exposure on Amador County - East
HVRA Sub-HVRA Mean FL Mean CFL Mean CBP
Assets
Structures 5 3 0.20%
Utilities 11 6 1.14%
Biodiversity
Aquatic/Riparian
Animal Species
8 4 0.16%
Woodland Plant
Species
24 11 1.41%
Ecological Commodity
Agriculture 14 6 0.54%
Foresty 15 8 0.74%
Recreation
Recreation Areas 10 5 0.20%
Recreation
Infrastructure
11 5 0.30%
Safety
Communications 6 3 0.34%
Protection 12 5 0.27%
Safety Zones 9 4 0.27%
Services - - -
Science & Culture
Cultural
Resources
19 8 1.63%
Monitoring 5 3 0.89%
Water
Hydro-geomorpho
logy
18 9 1.24%
Surface Water 11 5 0.48%
Watershed 14 6 0.59%
Wildlands Health
Forest Vegetation 15 8 0.55%
Riparian
Vegetation
10 4 0.11%

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Effects Analysis
Once we determine that an asset is exposed to fire, the final step in our risk assessment is to calculate the expected outcome. We measure this using a metric called Net Value Change (NVC).

To calculate NVC, we must acknowledge a complex truth: wildfire is not always a bad thing. For certain fire-adapted landscapes in Amador County, low-intensity fire can actually be healthy, clearing out dead brush and promoting new ecological growth. Therefore, our NVC score evaluates the overall response by weighing both the Benefits (positive value change) and the Threats (negative value change).

By combining the likelihood of a fire, the intensity of the flames, and the specific vulnerability of the asset, we generate an "Overall Risk" score for every acre of the landscape (Tables 10-12).

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Table 10. Summary of Relative Wildfire Benefit (Positive Value Change), Threat (Negative Value Change), and Overall Risk (NVC) for each sub-HVRA - Amador County - West HVRA Sub-HVRA
Rel. Benefit Rel. Threat Risk
Assets
Structures 0.1 -8 -8
Utilities 0.1 -12 -12
Biodiversity
Aquatic/Riparian
Animal Species
10 -4 6
Woodland Plant
Species
3 -36 -33
Ecological Commodity
Agriculture 13 -100 -87
Foresty - - -
Recreation
Recreation Areas 0.1 -3 -2
Recreation
Infrastructure
- - -
Safety
Communications 0 -4 -4
Protection 8 -86 -78
Safety Zones 1 -12 -11
Services 0 -7 -7
Science & Culture
Cultural
Resources
1 -19 -18
Monitoring 0 -9 -9
Water
Hydro-geomorpho
logy

0.2 -21 -21
Surface Water 1 -8 -7
Watershed 2 -26 -24
Wildlands Health
Forest Vegetation 2 -26 -24
Riparian
Vegetation
0 -4 -4

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Table 11. Summary of Relative Wildfire Benefit (Positive Value Change), Threat (Negative Value Change), and Overall Risk (NVC) for each sub-HVRA - Amador County - Central HVRA Sub-HVRA Rel. Benefit Rel. Threat Risk
Assets
Structures 0.2 -10 -9
Utilities 0.1 -9 -9
Biodiversity
Aquatic/Riparian
Animal Species
5 -10 -6
Woodland Plant
Species
1 -38 -37
Ecological Commodity
Agriculture 5 -78 -73
Foresty 0 -10 -10
Recreation
Recreation Areas 0 0 0
Recreation
Infrastructure
0 0 0
Safety
Communications 0 -5 -5
Protection 5 -99 -94
Safety Zones 1 -17 -16
Services 0 -11 -11
Science & Culture
Cultural
Resources
1 -23 -22
Monitoring 0 -2 -2
Water
Hydro-geomorpho
logy

0.3 -41 -41
Surface Water 0.3 -16 -16
Watershed 1 -57 -57
Wildlands Health
Forest Vegetation 2 -100 -98
Riparian
Vegetation
0 -10 -10

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Table 12. Summary of Relative Wildfire Benefit (Positive Value Change), Threat (Negative Value Change), and Overall Risk (NVC) for each sub-HVRA - Amador County - East HVRA Sub-HVRA Rel. Benefit Rel. Threat Risk
Assets
Structures 0 -2 -2
Utilities 0 -20 -20
Biodiversity
Aquatic/Riparian
Animal Species
1 -1 -0.4
Woodland Plant
Species
2 -41 -39
Ecological Commodity
Agriculture 3 -77 -74
Foresty 1 -28 -27
Recreation
Recreation Areas 0 -0.4 -0.4
Recreation
Infrastructure

0.1 -2 -2
Safety
Communications 0 -2 -2
Protection 0.2 -12 -11
Safety Zones 0.4 -21 -20
Services - - -
Science & Culture
Cultural Resources 0.5 -21 -21
Monitoring 0 -8 -8
Water
Hydro-geomorpholo
gy

0.5 -33 -33
Surface Water 0.3 -16 -15
Watershed 3 -100 -97
Wildlands Health
Forest Vegetation 3 -76 -73
Riparian Vegetation 0 -1 -1

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Figure 19. Amador County CWPP Expected Weighted Net Value Change for High Value Resources and Assets - West Zone

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Figure 20. Amador County CWPP Expected Weighted Net Value Change for High Value Resources and Assets - Central Zone

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Figure 21. Amador County CWPP Expected Weighted Net Value Change for High Value Resources and Assets - East Zone

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Action Plan
The Action Plan is a set of concrete and measurable activities that agencies, organizations, and individuals can take—often collaboratively—to meet the Goals and Objectives of the CWPP. These activities are designed to be consistent with other local and regional plans while addressing the needs identified during the CWPP process to improve wildfire protection within Amador County.

The following Amador County CWPP Action Plan summarizes and integrates the information and findings from the CWPP process to identify specific projects, programs, and other implementation mechanisms that can help achieve the CWPP goals and objectives.

The Action Plan includes actions related to landscape management and prioritized fuel reduction treatments, reducing structural ignitability, and other hazard- and risk-reduction measures within the planning area.

Table 13 is organized using two complementary frameworks. Its overall structure follows the CAL FIRE CWPP Toolkit action-planning format, which groups actions under broader implementation headings and related objectives. The Plan Goal column separately identifies which of the six overarching Amador County CWPP plan goals described above in this report (p.17) each action most directly supports. Because many actions support more than one of the six overarching CWPP plan goals, the Plan Goal column lists up to three goals for each action in descending order from most to less directly applicable. The Action Plan also identifies lead agencies responsible for each action, implementation timeframes, resource needs, and metrics for tracking progress and outcomes.

Table 13. Amador County CWPP Action Plan
CWPP Action Plan
Action Lead(s) Timeframe Resources Required Metric for Success Plan Goal GOAL 1: Reduce the potential for catastrophic wildfires Objective 1.1: Develop interagency collaboration for pre-fire planning and fire response Coordinate on
cross-boundary
wildfire mitigation
and resilience
projects AFSC
2026 and
ongoing
County coordinator facilitates
collaborative planning among
local, state and federal agencies.

CAFSC County Coordinator
Grant. SNC RFFCP grant.

Participating stakeholder agency
staff time to prepare for, attend
and follow up with meetings.

Number of agencies represented at quarterly
(2026-2027) then annual (2028 and beyond)
Amador County Wildfire Collaborators 3, 6, 4
Emergency Water
Storage &

OES, AWA,
ACEH and
2031 FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program (HMPG), FEMA Building
See LHMP 2025, Amador County Planning
Area Mitigation Actions, Action 7.
2, 5, 1

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CWPP Action Plan
Action Lead(s) Timeframe Resources Required Metric for Success Plan Goal Hauling
Infrastructure
Project
others Resilient Infrastructure &
Communities (BRIC), California
Department of Water Resources
Grants, California Climate
Resilience Program, State Water
Resources Control Board
Emergency Drinking Water
Funds, USDA Rural Development
Programs
Ensure accurate
fire hydrant
mapping
All local fire
agencies,
ACTPW
2028 GIS capacity through staff and/or
consultant. Fire department staff
time to compile and verify data.

Complete and accurate fire hydrant map for
the County, for each City and select
additional unincorporated population centers 2, 4, 5
Establish and
Fund a
Full-Time
Geographic
Information
Systems (GIS)
position for
Hazard
Mitigation and
Emergency
Planning
ACPD,
ACITD
2029 FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program (HMPG), Building
Resilient Infrastructure &
Communities Grant (BRIC), State
Homeland Security Program
(SHSP), County General Fund
See LHMP 2025, Amador County Planning
Area Mitigation Actions, Action 4; aligns with
2025 Strategic Fire Plan Amador- El Dorado
Unit, p. 95.
4, 3, 6
Countywide
wildfire resiliency
coordination GIS
mapping project
to support fuels
reduction efforts
AFSC,
ACPD,
ACITD
2028 SNC RFFCP. CAFSC County
Coordinator Grant. County
General Fund.

Wildfire resiliency project information
consolidated, verified and made publicly
viewable.
4, 3, 6
Enhance and
Harden Cellular
and Repeater
Communications
OES, All
local fire
agencies,
2031 and
beyond
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program (HMGP), FEMA Building
Resilient Infrastructure and
See Amador County LHMP 2025, Amador
County Planning Area Mitigation Actions,
Action 5.
2, 5, 1

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CWPP Action Plan
Action Lead(s) Timeframe Resources Required Metric for Success Plan Goal Infrastructure
Countywide
police
departments,
American
Legion
Ambulance,
and Cell
Providers
Communities (BRIC), California
Public Utilities Commission
(CPUC) PSPS Mitigation Funds,
California Office of Emergency
Services (Cal OES) Infrastructure
Grants, or State Homeland
Security Program (SHSP)
Upgrade and
Replace
Countywide
Emergency Radio
Communications
Infrastructure

CAL FIRE,
Amador
County
Sheriff's
Office, All
local fire
agencies and
police
departments,
American
Legion
Ambulance,
ACTPW
2031 FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program (HMGP), FEMA
Homeland Security Grant
Program (HSGP), Cal-OES
Grants, Partner Agencies, County
General Fund
See Amador County LHMP 2025, Amador
County Planning Area Mitigation Actions,
Action 6.
2, 5, 1
Regularly update
Amador County
CWPP

AFSC, OES,

CAL FIRE,

AFPD, USFS
2036 Numerous grant sources
available including BLM Federal
Financial Assistance, CALFIRE
Wildfire Prevention Grant and
others.

CWPP updated by 2036 and at least every
10 years thereafter.
6, 4, 3
Fire Risk
Reduction
Community List

OES, AFSC,
ARCD
Apply July
2027 for
inclusion in
2028 list.

CAFSC County Coordinator
Grant. SNC RFFCP grant.

Amador County qualified and registered in
the Fire Risk Reduction Community List.
2025 Strategic Fire Plan Amador- El Dorado
Unit, pp. 34, 95.
5, 3, 1
Objective 1.2: Reduce fuel loads strategically

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CWPP Action Plan
Action Lead(s) Timeframe Resources Required Metric for Success Plan Goal Shaded Fuel
Break Network

AFSC, CAL

FIRE AEU,

SPI, USFS,
UMRWA,
PG&E
Ongoing CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention
Grants, SNC Wildfire and Forest
Resilience Grants, BLM Federal
Financial Assistance.

CALFIRE Fuels Treatment Effectiveness
Reporting. Number of new fuel breaks
implemented. Number of acres treated to
create new fuel breaks. 2025 Strategic Fire
Plan Amador- El Dorado Unit, pp. 82–84,
117.
1, 2, 3
Community Scale
Fuel Reduction

AFSC, CAL
FIRE
Ongoing CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention
Grants, SNC Wildfire and Forest
Resilience Grants, BLM Federal
Financial Assistance, PG&E.

Number of new projects implemented.

Number of acres treated. 2025 Strategic Fire
Plan Amador- El Dorado Unit, pp. 34, 117.
1, 5, 3
Monitoring and
maintenance of
strategic fuels
reduction
AFSC, ARCD 2027, then
ongoing
SNC Regional Forest and Fire
Capacity Program, CAL FIRE
Wildfire Prevention Grants, SNC
Wildfire and Forest Resilience
Grants, BLM Federal Financial
Assistance.

Monitoring protocol and database
established. Maintenance treatment
effectiveness evaluation. 2025 Strategic Fire
Plan Amador- El Dorado Unit, pp. 95, 117.
6, 1, 4
GOAL 2: Reduce risk to life and property from wildfires Objective 2.1: Improve compliance with Defensible Space and Home Hardening standards Home Hardening
Assistance

AFSC, CAL
FIRE AEU 2031
Grant funding. Agency staff
capacity to administer home
improvement reimbursement
program. Coordinate with
enhanced education and
outreach.

Number of homes engaged in program.

Percent of homes in High, Very High FHSV
retrofitted. 2025 Strategic Fire Plan AmadorEl Dorado Unit, pp. 34, 114. 1, 5, 6 Defensible Space
Assistance

ARCD, CAL
FIRE, All
local fire
agencies
2026 and
ongoing
CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention
Grants, explore additional funding
sources to sustain programs.

Number of households engaged in
programs. 2025 Strategic Fire Plan AmadorEl Dorado Unit, pp. 34, 113–114. 1, 5, 6
Defensible Space
Inspections/
CALFIRE Ongoing CAL FIRE staff and cooperating
agencies.

Number of inspections and assessments
performed. Number of structures brought into
1, 5, 6

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CWPP Action Plan
Action Lead(s) Timeframe Resources Required Metric for Success Plan Goal Qualified Entity
Program/ Real
Estate
Transaction
Inspections
compliance. 2025 Strategic Fire Plan
Amador- El Dorado Unit, pp. 34, 113–114.

Enforcement:

State level
CAL FIRE Ongoing CAL FIRE staff/ Amador District
Attorney.

Number of inspections and assessments
performed. Number of structures brought into
compliance. 2025 Strategic Fire Plan
Amador- El Dorado Unit, pp. 34, 113–114.
1, 5, 6
Good Neighbor
Packet
AFPD 2026 AFPD staff time to promote and
monitor the use of the policy.

Number of residents who utilize the Good
Neighbor Packet to conduct fuels reduction
work on adjacent properties.
1, 3, 5
Objective 2.2: Improve Ingress/ Egress Awareness
Identify and map
all single
Ingress-Egress
communities

OES, AFSC,
AFPD 2028
Multiple department staff time.

GIS capacity through staff and/or
consultant.

Complete and accurate county-wide map(s)
GIS polygons included in County-wide web
map, maintained and updated annually. 5, 2, 4
Identify and plan
road construction
and improvement
opportunities that
restore the
roadway
infrastructure and
improve ingress
and egress routes
where needed. ACTC
This plan is
updated every
four (4) years
and has a
20-year
planning
horizon. ACTC Staff and Resources
ACTC has held two (2) 'Call for Projects' to
date programming funding to 11 roadway
projects, of which one was completed in
early 2025, six are anticipated to go to
construction in 2026, and three are
estimated for completion by 2028. 2, 5, 1
Ingress/Egress
Roadside
Vegetation
Monitoring and
Maintenance
AFSC,
ACTPW,

CALTRANS
Ongoing CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention
Grants, explore additional funding
sources to sustain programs.

CALTRANS general funds.

Upcoming monitoring program will track
maintenance needs on Private and County
maintained roads.
2, 6, 1

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CWPP Action Plan
Action Lead(s) Timeframe Resources Required Metric for Success Plan Goal Tree Mortality
Program
ACTPW,
ARCD
2017-ongoing USFS match funding. Additional
funding sources will be required
to sustain the ACTPW program.

CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention
Grants. Seek additional funding
mechanisms to fill the gap in
need.

Number of trees treated. 2, 1, 6
Objective 2.3: Public Education and Outreach
Collaborative
planning with
local community
associations
All local fire
agencies,
AFSC,

ARCD, CAL
FIRE
ongoing County general fund. SNC
RFFCP, CAL FIRE Wildfire
Prevention Grants, SNC Wildfire
and Forest Resilience Grants.

Proportion of WUI covered by local wildfire
preparedness and resiliency plans.
5, 3, 6
Enhance Public
Education and
Awareness of
Natural Hazards
and Public
Understanding of
Disaster
Preparedness
AFSC ongoing CAFSC County Coordinator
Grant. SNC RFFCP, CAL FIRE
Wildfire Prevention Grants, SNC
Wildfire and Forest Resilience
Grants. Multi-agency staff time.

Number of outreach events offered. Number
of participants attended. Number of outreach
materials produced. 2025 Strategic Fire Plan
Amador- El Dorado Unit, pp. 34, 117.
5, 3, 1
Development and
support of
Firewise
Communities in
Amador County

FWC, AFPD,
AFSC, all
local fire
districts
Ongoing CAFSC County Coordinator
Grant. SNC Regional Forest and
Fire Capacity Program, CAL
FIRE Wildfire Prevention Grants,
SNC Wildfire and Forest
Resilience Grants. County staff
resources. Multi-agency staff
time.

Number of Firewise Communities in good
standing. 2025 Strategic Fire Plan AmadorEl Dorado Unit, pp. 34, 95. 5, 3, 1
GOAL 3: Improve Landscape Resilience
Objective 3.1: Implement landscape-scale fuels reduction projects

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CWPP Action Plan
Action Lead(s) Timeframe Resources Required Metric for Success Plan Goal Forest Health
Projects
AFSC,

ARCD, BLM
MLFO,
USFS,
UMRWA
Ongoing CAL FIRE Forest Health Grants,
SNC Wildfire and Forest
Resilience Grants, BLM Federal
Financial Assistance, USFS
Federal Financial Assistance,
and more.

Number of acres treated by type of
treatment. 2025 Strategic Fire Plan AmadorEl Dorado Unit, pp. 82–84, 117. 6, 1, 2
Objective 3.2: Sustainability maintain fire-safe landscapes Vegetation
Management
Program (VMP)

CAL FIRE,

SPI, AFSC
Ongoing CAL FIRE resources.

Cooperating agency/landowner
staff resources.

Number of acres treated by type of
treatment. 2025 Strategic Fire Plan AmadorEl Dorado Unit, pp. 82–84 1, 6, 3
Rangeland
Conservation and
Prescribed
Grazing
UCCE,
NRCS,
ARCD
2028 - strategy
development
UCCE, ARCD staff and
resources, potentially
supplemented by grant funding
from California Department of
Conservation, SNC, CAL FIRE
and others.

Acres of prescribed grazing implemented
and tracked by the California Wildfire and
Forest Resilience Task Force. Strategy
document finalized.
6, 1, 2
Facilitate
prescribed fire
Cooperating
fire agencies,
ACEH,
EAPBA,
ARCD
Ongoing EAPBA resources, coordinator.

CAL FIRE Business and
Workforce Development Grant.

State and local fire agency staff
and resources.

Acres of prescribed fire implemented.

Number of burn plans developed. 2025
Strategic Fire Plan Amador- El Dorado Unit,
pp. 35, 37-39, 56–57, 63-64, 70–72.
1, 6, 3
Workforce
Development
Amador Fire
Mitigation
Collaborators
Group,
UCCE
Ongoing Sierra Business Council grants.

CAL FIRE Business and
Workforce Development Grant.

Number of professionals trained by
practice/skill.
6, 3, 1
Facilitate
diversified
biomass markets
SEDD Ongoing Sierra Business Council grants.

CAL FIRE Business and
Workforce Development Grant.

Number of businesses with improved
capacity for biomass processing. Tons of
biomass processed per year.
6, 3, 1

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CWPP Action Plan
Action Lead(s) Timeframe Resources Required Metric for Success Plan Goal GOAL 4: Improve Governance and Legislation
Objective 4.1: Advocate to enhance support for wildfire mitigation and resiliency Advocate for
improved policy
AFSC,
ACBS
Ongoing CAFSC Coordinator Grant.

County staff resources.

Number of interactions with state legislators. 3, 6, 5

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Landscape Management and Prioritized Hazardous Fuel
Reduction Treatments
Definitions
By establishing shared definitions and descriptions for fuel reduction treatments, partners can better communicate intent, evaluate effectiveness, and design treatments that align with broader countywide goals.

Figure 22. Venn diagram of fuel reduction treatment types Forest Health projects
Purpose
Enhance ecosystem resilience: capacity to recover after wildfire Context
Forests of the Sierra Nevada foothills evolved through cycles of disturbance. Native Americans set frequent, low-severity cultural fire which improved the landscape to meet human needs; especially for foraging and hunting. After European settlement and especially after the California Gold Rush, between 1850-1950 timber harvest replaced fire as the primary mechanism of forest disturbance which led to higher tree density, understory and ladder fuels. With the introduction

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of the Z'berg-Nejedly Forest Practice Act of 1973, responsible forest management became mandated. Vegetation and stand density management expanded especially on industrial timberlands. In modern times, with the expansion of residential areas into the forest, fire exclusion and dramatically reduced forest management in the Wildland Urban Interface/Intermix have again increased the risk of high-intensity wildfire.

Function
Forest health projects are designed primarily to restore and maintain ecosystem resilience and forests’ capacity to withstand and recover after wildfire. These treatments typically emphasize ecological objectives such as reducing overly dense stands, favoring fire-adapted and drought-tolerant species, improving age and structural diversity, and reintroducing more natural fire regimes. Methods often include selective thinning from below, removal of ladder fuels, prescribed burning, and in some cases managed wildfire.

Healthy forests resemble a mosaic of stand structure and composition, experience frequent low-intensity fires and other types of disturbance, and provide numerous benefits, including:
➔ Emergency response can more successfully protect human lives and assets from wildfire.
➔ Forest pathogens such as bark beetles are less likely to cause epidemics that result in widespread tree mortality.
➔ Soils increase their capacity to absorb, store and slowly release water, reducing the likelihood of floods and regulating delivery to reservoirs. ➔ Water, light, and nutrients are made available to early successional plant communities, increasing forage quality and quantity for wildlife and livestock. ➔ Diverse habitats improve wildlife diversity, balance predator-prey relationships and may reduce the likelihood of human-wildlife conflict.

In this approach, fuel reduction is a co-benefit of ecological restoration. By lowering surface and canopy fuel loads and increasing crown spacing, these treatments aim to moderate potential fire behavior—reducing flame lengths, crown fire potential, and ember production—while supporting long-term ecosystem function.Projects can range in scale from a few acres to several thousand.

Examples (implemented)
● Jackson Creek Forest Health (ARCD/CAL FIRE)
● Buckhorn Ridge (AFSC/BLM)
● Crestview (AFSC/BLM)
● Private non-industrial landowners participate in CAL FIRE's CFIP program and NRCS's EQIP program to support forest health and rangeland conservation on their own properties.

Community-scale fuel reduction
Community-Scale Fuel Reduction projects focus on reducing fuels accumulation and potential wildfire intensity in areas closest to neighborhoods in the Wildland Urban Interface/Intermix zones. They range between approximately 10 and 100 acres. They provide similar benefits to Shaded Fuel Breaks and Forest Health projects at a smaller scale.

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Treatments prioritize defensible space principles: reducing surface fuels, pruning lower branches, spacing trees to limit crown fire spread, and removing flammable vegetation near structures.The primary objective is to modify fire behavior to improve the effectiveness of structure protection and evacuation, rather than to restore broader ecological conditions. By decreasing flame lengths and ember production near communities, these fuel reduction zones can provide safer conditions for firefighters and reduce the likelihood of home ignition from direct flame contact or radiant heat.

AFSC, with support of CAL FIRE, SNC, PG&E and other funding partners, plans and implements Community Fuel Break projects proposed by Firewise Communities, organized neighborhood groups, and City governments.

Examples (implemented)
● River Pines Community Fuel Break (AFSC/CAL FIRE)
● Butte Mountain Community Fuel Reduction project (AFSC/CAL FIRE) ● Jackson Gate Fuel Break (AFSC/PG&E)
NRCS, ARCD and AFSC are partnering to implement fuel reduction projects with groups of private non-industrial forest landowners through the mEQIP program.

Shaded Fuel Break Network
Context
Large-scale, high-intensity wildfires became more frequent and damaging since the turn of the century, especially in California's Sierra Nevada. Fuel reduction treatments are too costly to apply across all landscapes that need it. Shaded fuel breaks are a common approach to achieve the greatest benefit to wildfire mitigation given limited resources.

Function
Shaded fuel breaks are strips of forested areas typically ranging between 100 and 400 feet wide and covering tens to hundreds of acres. They are placed and designed to influence wildfire spread and support suppression operations at larger spatial scales. They are commonly located along ridgelines, roads, or other control features where firefighters can safely anchor and hold a line. Treatments may involve mechanical thinning, mastication, prescribed fire, or in some cases more intensive vegetation removal to create a clearly defined zone of reduced fuels. The goal is not to stop fire under all conditions, but to alter fire intensity and rate of spread so that suppression resources can engage more safely and effectively.

These fuel breaks are planned with operational strategy in mind, often using fire behavior modeling and historical fire data to identify high-leverage locations. When integrated into a network across a landscape, shaded fuel breaks can compartmentalize fuels, limit large fire growth, and create opportunities for burnout or backfiring operations. Their effectiveness depends on maintenance, alignment with topography and prevailing winds, and coordination across ownership boundaries, since fire does not respect jurisdictional lines.

Examples (implemented)
● Shake-Omo & Shake Fiddle Vegetation Management Plans (CAL FIRE/SPI)

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● Pine Acres Fuel Break (CAL FIRE/AFSC)
● Mitchell Mine Fuel Break (AFSC/CAL FIRE/ARCD)
● Tiger Creek Fuel Break (AFSC/BLM/SNC)
Process - CWPP development
The following describes the process of identifying priority projects for hazardous fuel reduction treatments. The process of identifying priority projects involved utilization of prioritization software, consolidation of treatment datasets, review of the QWRA results, and input from local stakeholders.

Priority project areas were identified and prioritized using Vibrant Planet and Planscape prioritization software. Priority project areas were identified for each zone. Vibrant Planet prioritized project areas based on the emphasized objectives (results of the relative importance survey). Planscape prioritized project areas based on three selected priority objectives. Outputs are delivered for each objective (Prioritize Areas with High Probability of High-Intensity Fire, Prioritize Areas w/ High Wildfire Risk around Built Environment, Prioritize Areas with High-Intensity Fire Probability and Wildlife Species Richness) (Appendix F).

Past, current, and planned fuel treatment project boundaries were consolidated into a database for the CWPP. Datasets included those from consolidated treatment trackers such as CalMapper and Interagency Treatment Tracking System (ITTS), as well datasets provided from stakeholders including AFSC, ARCD, PG&E, EBMUD, and CalTrans.

Priority project areas, treatment datasets, QWRA and wildfire modeling results, as well as several other layers relevant to the CWPP planning were displayed on a public online map to help stakeholders explore the various datasets.

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Table 14. Amador County CWPP Fuel Treatment Project Priorities, Locations, Size and Methods of Treatment. Treatments are not listed in any particular order
Fuel Treatment Projects and Priorities
Name Location Size Method(s) Status in 2026 Lead
Forest Projects Plan -
Phase 1
El Dorado National
Forest - Amador
District
11,023 ac in-progress
+ 8,508 ac planned
Mechanical
mastication, lop &
scatter, pile & chip, ... Active implementation
El Dorado National
Forest, UMRWA
Mokelumne - Amador -
Calaveras (MAC)
El Dorado National
Forest - Amador
District
Prioritized treatment
areas within 225,000
ac planning area
Prescribed fire,
mechanical
mastication, lop &
scatter, pile & chip, ...

Proposed, seeking
funding mechanism(s)
El Dorado National
Forest, UMRWA
Mokelumne Rim Fuel
Break
First ridge above
Mokelumne River from
HWY 49, south of
Jackson to Tiger Creek
Fuel Break in
Buckhorn. Bisected by
existing Pine Acres
Fuel Break. 500-750 ac
Mechanical
mastication, hand
treatment + chipping
Proposed, seeking
funding mechanism(s) AFSC, BLM
Amador Pines Forest
Health
Amador Pines:
between HWY 88 and
Shake Ridge Road,
Lockwood & Barton Up to 1000 ac
Mechanical
mastication, hand
treatment + chipping,
riparian restoration
Proposed, seeking
funding mechanism(s) ARCD, CAL FIRE
Mt. Crossman
Community Fuel Break Buckhorn / Barton 85 ac
Mechanical
mastication, hand
treatment + chipping
Planned, funding
approved AFSC, SNC
Thompson Ridge Fuel
Break
Between North Fork
Rancheria Creek and
South Fork Dry Creek 147 ac
Mechanical
mastication, hand
treatment + chipping
Planned, funding
approved AFSC, BLM
La Mel Community
Fuel Break
Mella Drive, above
headwaters of North 15 ac Mechanical mastication
Proposed, seeking
funding mechanism(s) AFSC, CAL FIRE

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Fuel Treatment Projects and Priorities
Name Location Size Method(s) Status in 2026 Lead
Fork Rancheria Creek
Upper Dry Creek Fuel
Break
North of Volcano, East
of Lockwood between
Fiddletown Rd and
Shakeridge Rd Up to 206 ac
Mechanical
mastication, hand
treatment + chipping
Proposed, seeking
funding mechanism(s) AFSC, BLM
Rendic Fuel Break
East of Amador City,
between Amador
Creek and Shakeridge
Rd Up to 178 ac
Mechanical
mastication, hand
treatment + chipping
Planned, seeking
funding mechanism(s) AFSC
Sutter Highlands
Community Fuel Break
Northeast of Sutter
Creek, between Sutter
Creek Rd and
Shakeridge Rd,
connecting to Upper
Rancheria Community
Fuel Break Up to 134 ac
Mechanical
mastication, hand
treatment + chipping
Proposed, seeking
funding mechanism(s) AFSC
Amador Foothill Rural
Resiliency
Targeted forest, oak
woodland and
rangelands
surrounding the lower
elevation towns of
Ione, Plymouth,
Drytown, Amador City,
Sutter Creek and
Jackson.

To be determined, up
to thousands of acres
implemented in
multiple phases
Mechanical
mastication, hand
treatment + chipping,
prescribed fire,
targeted grazing,
herbicide
Proposed, seeking
funding mechanism(s) ARCD
Ione Wildfire Resiliency
Phase 1: Mule Creek
Northeast of Ione
among Mule Creek,
Preston Castle
properties and HWY
124 corridor.

To be determined, up
to several hundred ac
Mechanical
mastication, hand
treatment + chipping,
prescribed fire,
targeted grazing,
Proposed, seeking
funding mechanism(s) ARCD or AFSC

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Fuel Treatment Projects and Priorities
Name Location Size Method(s) Status in 2026 Lead
herbicide
Ione Wildfire Resiliency
Phase 2: Firebrick
Between Ione and
Buena Vista
surrounding mine
To be determined, up
to several hundred ac
Mechanical
mastication, hand
treatment + chipping,
prescribed fire,
targeted grazing,
herbicide
Proposed, seeking
funding mechanism(s) ARCD
Ione Wildfire Resiliency
Phase 3: Sunnybrook
Between Ione and
Sutter Creek, North of
HWY 88
To be determined, up
to several hundred ac
Mechanical
mastication, hand
treatment + chipping,
prescribed fire,
targeted grazing,
herbicide
Proposed, seeking
funding mechanism(s) ARCD
Camanche Wildfire
Resiliency
Pastured land
surrounding Camanche
Village and Camanche
North Shore
subdivisions
To be determined, up
to several hundred ac
Targeted grazing,
rangeland conservation
technical assistance
Proposed, seeking
funding mechanism(s) ARCD
Doaks VMP
East of the community
of Pioneer on Tiger
Creek Road. 2,190-acres
Mechanical work, hand
crew work, and
broadcast burning Active CAL FIRE
Shake Fiddletown VMP
Shakeridge Road and
Fiddletown Road east
of the Community of
Volcano. 2,526-acres
Mechanical work, hand
crew work, and
broadcast burning
Active CAL FIRE
Shake Omo VMP
N. Amador Co. and
adjacent S. El Dorado
Co., along Omo Ranch
Rd.
4,748-acres
Mechanical work, hand
crew work, and
broadcast burning Active (retreatment ) CAL FIRE

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Fuel Treatment Projects and Priorities
Name Location Size Method(s) Status in 2026 Lead
Pine Acres VMP
Butte Fire perimeter,
proceeding north to
Highway 88
along the Mokelumne
River Canyon edge to
protect the community
of Pine Acres.
2,190-acre
Mechanical treatment,
prescribed fire, and
pile burning Active PG&E and CAL FIRE
Tiger Creek/Doaks
Fuel Break
West from the
Antelope Fuel
Break to the Tiger
Creek Power Plant on
the Mokelumne River.

TBD TBD Proposed CAL FIRE

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Figure 23. Amador County active and completed fuel treatment projects.

Treatments can be explored further using the live webmap at:
https://gsal.sig-gis.com/portal/apps/experiencebuilder/experience/?id=4d8a2179d6874e618fa8de8e504a8 a30&draft=true

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Ignitability Measures for Structures
Reducing the ignitability of structures is a critical component of private property protection and overall community wildfire resilience. During wildfire events, structures most commonly ignite as a result of ember intrusion, radiant heat, or direct flame contact rather than from the wildfire front itself. California’s Wildland–Urban Interface building and defensible space standards, established under Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations (Chapter 7A) as well as Public Resources Code 4291, and Chapter 49 of the California Fire Code, are specifically designed to address these ignition pathways by requiring the use of ignition-resistant materials, construction methods, and design features for buildings and parcels located in designated WUI areas.

Structural ignitability measures outlined in this plan build upon the intent of Chapter 7A by promoting both compliance for new construction and voluntary retrofits of existing structures.

When integrated with defensible space measures under Public Resources Code 4291 and broader community-scale mitigation efforts, these measures substantially increase structure survivability, reduce structure-to-structure fire spread, and lessen demands on emergency response resources, thereby strengthening community-wide wildfire resilience.

New And Existing Development Requirements
Adopted in 2008, Chapter 7A applies primarily to new construction and certain remodels within designated WUI areas; however, these standards provide best-practice guidance for retrofitting existing structures. Items not regulated by Chapter 7A are still critical ignition pathways and are addressed through defensible space laws, fire codes, and local ordinances.

California Fire Safe Regulations
California’s Fire Safe Regulations (FSR) establish minimum wildfire-safety standards for new subdivisions and other development in State Responsibility Areas (SRA) and Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ). These standards are adopted under Public Resources Code (PRC) §4290 and are intended to ensure that new development provides adequate emergency access, addressing, water supplies, and perimeter fuel modification so firefighters can safely reach and defend communities during wildfire.

In practice, FSR requirements are typically implemented through the tentative/parcel map process and development review (and enforced by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction in coordination with CAL FIRE where applicable). The regulations focus on four core areas: (1) road and driveway standards for fire apparatus access; (2) street and address signage; (3) emergency water supply standards; and (4) fuel modification/defensible space provisions tied to development layout and siting. Local jurisdictions may adopt standards that equal or exceed the state minimums.

Key Fire Safe Regulation elements include:
● Emergency access (roads/driveways): Minimum design features that support engine access and evacuation, including road geometry, turnouts, signage for limitations, and maintaining access during construction and long-term use. ● Addressing and road naming/signs: Requirements to ensure visible, legible, and standardized road and address identification to speed emergency response. ● Emergency water standards: Minimum provisions for available, accessible, and maintained water for wildfire response/structure defense, including hydrants/fire valves

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and marking water sources.
● Fuel modification and development siting: Standards intended to reduce fire intensity and improve safety around structures and along access routes, including defensible-space-related setbacks and maintenance provisions for commonly owned areas.

Although the Fire Safe Regulations primarily apply to new development, partners frequently use them as best-practice guidance for existing communities—especially for upgrading ingress/egress constraints, improving address visibility, ensuring reliable emergency water, and establishing/maintaining strategic fuel modification along key evacuation corridors and community edges.

California WUI Building Code Requirements
California’s Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) Building Code requirements are established in Chapter 7A and are intended to reduce structure ignition from wildfire exposure. These standards apply to new construction, additions, and significant remodels located within State Responsibility Areas (SRA) and Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) designated as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ). Chapter 7A focuses on improving the ability of structures to resist ignition from embers (firebrands), radiant heat, and direct flame contact—the three primary causes of structure loss during wildfire events.

The WUI Building Code is one of California’s most important wildfire mitigation policies and complements other state requirements such as defensible space (PRC §4291) and the Fire Safe Regulations (PRC §4290). While defensible space reduces fire intensity around structures, Chapter 7A reduces the likelihood that the structure itself will ignite when exposed to embers or nearby flame fronts.

Key Construction Standards
Chapter 7A includes performance and material standards for the most vulnerable components of a structure. Table 15 outlines applicable, but not all, WUI construction standards by building component. Key provisions include:
● Roofing: Roof assemblies must be Class A fire-rated. Because roofs are highly vulnerable to ember accumulation, materials and installation methods must resist flame penetration and ember intrusion.
● Vents: Attic, underfloor, and other ventilation openings must be covered with approved ember- and flame-resistant venting materials or protected by listed WUI-compliant vent products. Ember intrusion through vents has been identified as a leading cause of structure ignition during wind-driven fire events.
● Exterior Walls and Siding: Exterior wall coverings must use ignition-resistant materials or assemblies tested for wildfire exposure. This includes specific performance standards for siding, exterior wall systems, and sheathing.
● Windows and Glazing: Exterior windows and glazed doors must meet minimum performance requirements, typically including multi-pane glazing (e.g., tempered glass) to resist breakage from radiant heat exposure.
● Decking and Appendages: Decking surfaces, balconies, porches, and other attached structures must be constructed of ignition-resistant or approved materials. The underside

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of decks and projections may require enclosure or protection to prevent ember accumulation.
● Eaves and Soffits: Eave and soffit assemblies must meet ignition-resistant construction standards to reduce ember entry and flame spread into attic spaces. ● Gutters and Roof Edge Protection: Although not always regulated directly in the same way as other components, maintaining noncombustible or debris-free gutters is considered critical in conjunction with roofing standards.

WUI Building Code requirements apply at the time of building permit issuance for applicable projects. Local jurisdictions may adopt more restrictive standards based on local fire hazard conditions. Property owners undertaking substantial remodels or additions within designated hazard zones should consult with the local building department and fire authority to determine current compliance requirements.

Within the context of the CWPP, Chapter 7A compliance represents a foundational structural hardening strategy. Research following recent California wildfire disasters has consistently demonstrated that homes built to modern WUI standards perform significantly better than older structures built prior to adoption of Chapter 7A. As such, promoting awareness of WUI construction standards, encouraging retrofits of vulnerable building components (e.g., vents, windows, decking), and supporting enforcement of current code requirements are key actions to reduce community wildfire risk.

When combined with defensible space, fuel reduction treatments, and emergency access improvements, California’s WUI Building Code requirements form a critical part of a comprehensive wildfire resilience strategy.

Table 15. Common WUI construction and mitigation standards by building component Structural
Component
Mitigation Measures Relevant Chapter 7A
Reference
Chimney Install a code-compliant spark arrestor or chimney cap with noncombustible screening (maximum
5/8-inch openings) on all chimneys and stovepipes to
prevent ember intrusion or emission. Inspect and
maintain chimney components regularly to ensure
screens remain intact and functional.

Not directly addressed in
Chapter 7A; see California
Fire Code (CFC) and
Public Resources Code
§4291
Combustible
Items
Keep decks, porches, balconies, and areas
immediately adjacent to structures free of
combustible materials such as leaf litter, furniture
cushions, firewood, and stored items. Store
combustible materials at least 30 feet from structures
or within fire-resistant enclosures.

Not addressed in Chapter
7A; addressed through
defensible space
regulations (PRC §4291)
and local ordinances

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Detached
Accessory
Structures
Construct or retrofit detached structures using
noncombustible or ignition-resistant materials
whenever feasible. Apply the same ignition-resistant
construction principles used for primary structures
and maintain adequate defensible space separation.
§7A.1 (Scope and
Application)
Eaves Enclose open eaves with ignition-resistant materials such as fiber-cement board or exterior-grade
plywood to limit ember intrusion. Seal gaps, joints,
and exposed cavities where enclosure is not feasible.
§7A.3 (Vents); §7A.4
(Exterior Walls)
Exterior Siding Use noncombustible or ignition-resistant siding materials such as stucco, fiber-cement, masonry, or
metal. Maintain siding in good condition and seal
gaps or joints greater than 1/8 inch to reduce ember
entry and flame attachment.
§7A.4 (Exterior Walls)
Residential Fire
Sprinkler
Systems
Maintain existing residential fire sprinkler systems
through regular inspection and servicing to ensure
operability. Consider voluntary installation in existing homes where feasible to enhance interior fire
suppression capability.

Not addressed in Chapter
7A; see CBC §313
Roof Replace wood shake or shingle roofs with Class A
fire-rated roofing assemblies. Seal gaps at ridgelines, valleys, and roof coverings (including tile ends) to
prevent ember intrusion, and keep roofs free of
combustible debris through routine maintenance.
§7A.2 (Roofing)
Defensible Space
Defensible space refers to the managed area surrounding a structure where vegetation, combustible materials, and other fire hazards are modified or reduced to decrease wildfire intensity and improve structure survivability. Properly established and maintained defensible space reduces the likelihood that flames or embers will ignite a structure, limits fire spread between properties, and provides safer conditions for firefighters to defend homes during wildfire events. Defensible space is most effective when combined with structural hardening measures and ongoing maintenance.

In Amador County, defensible space requirements generally extend up to 100 feet from structures, measured from eaves, decks, porches, and other attachments to the property line, where applicable (Table 16, Figure 24). These requirements are established under California Public Resources Code §4291 and reinforced through county ordinances and local fire authority regulations. Consistent enforcement and maintenance of defensible space standards have been

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shown to significantly reduce wildfire impacts by interrupting fuel continuity and moderating fire behavior around homes and roadways.

Defensible space is organized into three zones based on distance from the structure, with progressively different objectives and treatment approaches. The most intensive measures are required closest to the building, where ember exposure and radiant heat pose the greatest risk.

Property owners are encouraged to work with their local CalFire unit or fire protection district, Fire Safe Council, or Firewise community to obtain parcel-level assessments and guidance tailored to site-specific conditions.

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Table 16. Defensible Space Zones and Recommended Mitigation Measures Zone Distance
from
Structure
Primary
Objectives
Recommended Mitigation Measures
Zone 0 –
Immediate
(Ember-Resista
nt Zone)
0–5 feet Eliminate
combustible
materials
immediately
adjacent to the
structure and
prevent ember
ignition.

Use noncombustible surfaces such as concrete,
pavers, or rock mulch adjacent to the structure.

Keep roofs, gutters, and downspouts clear of
leaves, needles, and debris. Remove firewood,
stored items, and combustible furniture from
this zone. Avoid woody vegetation, combustible
mulch, fences, or trellises that contact the
structure. Maintain a noncombustible clearance
between the ground and exterior siding. Use
noncombustible planters if vegetation is present
and keep plants low-growing and well-spaced.

Zone 1 –
Intermediate
(Lean, Clean,
and Green
Zone)
5–30 feet Reduce fuel
continuity and
slow fire spread
while minimizing
flame lengths near
structures.

Maintain low-growing, well-irrigated vegetation
and limit plant density. Create breaks between
vegetation groups to disrupt continuous fuels.

Remove ladder fuels by pruning lower tree
branches and separating shrubs from tree
canopies. Keep grass and herbaceous
vegetation trimmed to a low height. Remove
accumulated leaf and needle litter. Relocate
combustible structures such as sheds, trailers,
or recreational vehicles outside this zone where
feasible, or create defensible space around
them.

Zone 2 –
Extended
(Reduced Fuel
Zone)
30–100
feet
Modify fuels to
reduce fire
intensity and keep
wildfire on the
ground.

Thin trees and shrubs to reduce horizontal and
vertical fuel continuity. Remove dead or dying
vegetation and reduce concentrations of ladder
fuels. Increase spacing between tree canopies
and prune lower limbs to reduce crown fire
potential. Manage surface fuels to minimize
flame length while retaining soil stability and
ecological function. Treatments should be
tailored to slope, vegetation type, and site
conditions.

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Figure 24. Defensible space distance requirements (Image credit:
https://readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/defensible-space/) Parcel-Level Assessments
Parcel-level assessments provide a systematic evaluation of wildfire risk at the individual property scale. These assessments examine how site conditions, vegetation, structures, and surrounding topography interact to influence structure ignitability and fire behavior. Within the CWPP, parcel-level assessments help translate broader hazard analyses into actionable, property-specific mitigation measures.

The purpose of a parcel-level assessment is to identify vulnerabilities that increase the likelihood of structure ignition and to recommend practical, prioritized improvements.

Assessments typically evaluate three interrelated components:

1. Defensible Space Conditions – Consistent with Public Resources Code §4291 and the defensible space standards described above, assessments evaluate vegetation management within the required zones surrounding structures. This includes fuel continuity, ladder fuels, tree spacing, maintenance of grasses and shrubs, clearance from chimneys and propane tanks, and the condition of access routes. The assessment verifies whether the 0–5 foot “ember-resistant zone,” the 5–30 foot lean, clean, and green zone, and the extended reduced-fuel zone (where applicable) are properly established and maintained.

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2. Structural Vulnerability (Home Hardening) – Assessments examine exterior building components that influence ignitability, including roofing materials, vents, eaves, siding, windows, decking, fences, and attached structures. This directly relates to the WUI Building Code and ignitability section below by identifying whether structures meet modern ignition-resistant construction standards or would benefit from retrofits. Even where defensible space is adequate, structural vulnerabilities—such as ember-prone vents or combustible decking—can result in ignition.

3. Site and Access Factors – Evaluations may also include slope, driveway width and clearance, turnaround space, visible addressing, water supply access, and proximity to hazardous topographic features (e.g., chimneys, canyons, or ridge alignments). These factors influence both fire behavior and firefighter access during an emergency.

Parcel-level assessments are conducted through on-site inspections by trained personnel such as fire department staff, Fire Safe Council representatives, or qualified wildfire mitigation specialists. Findings are often documented using standardized checklists, photographs, and scoring criteria to ensure consistency across properties. Many programs classify risk into categories (e.g., low, moderate, high) to help prioritize mitigation efforts.

Parcel-level assessments provide property owners with clear, site-specific recommendations that connect directly to defensible space requirements and structural ignitability principles. By identifying both vegetation and building-related vulnerabilities, these assessments help ensure that mitigation actions address the full range of wildfire exposure—embers, radiant heat, and direct flame contact.

When implemented community-wide, parcel-level assessments support broader CWPP goals by:
● Increasing compliance with defensible space standards; ● Encouraging home hardening and retrofits;
● Identifying recurring risk patterns across neighborhoods; ● Informing fuel reduction project prioritization; and
● Enhancing overall community wildfire resilience.

In combination with defensible space compliance and ignition-resistant construction practices, parcel-level assessments serve as a critical bridge between policy and on-the-ground wildfire risk reduction at the individual property level.

Insurance and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is a national nonprofit research organization supported by the insurance industry that conducts scientific research on how homes and communities can better withstand natural hazards, including wildfire. IBHS has become a leading authority on wildfire mitigation and home survivability through its research conducted at the IBHS Research Center, where full-scale wildfire ember and flame exposure tests are performed on building materials, construction assemblies, and defensible space treatments. The organization’s findings have strongly influenced modern wildfire mitigation strategies, including California’s emphasis on home hardening, ember-resistant construction, and the creation of the “Zone 0” ember-resistant area immediately surrounding structures.

IBHS research consistently demonstrates that structure survival during wildfire is strongly influenced by both defensible space and building design. Embers generated during wildfires can

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travel long distances ahead of the main fire front and ignite vulnerable building components such as vents, roofs, decks, fences, mulch, and combustible materials near structures. As a result, IBHS promotes a “system approach” to wildfire resilience that combines defensible space, ignition-resistant construction, and ongoing property maintenance. Programs such as the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home™ designation provide voluntary standards and guidance for homeowners seeking to reduce wildfire risk and improve insurability. Within the context of this CWPP, IBHS research and recommendations support many of the structural hardening, defensible space, and parcel-level mitigation actions identified throughout this plan.

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Ignitability Measures for Critical Infrastructure
Critical infrastructure plays a vital role in protecting life safety, supporting emergency response, and sustaining community function during wildfire events. Facilities and systems such as water supply, communications networks, electrical utilities, and transportation corridors are essential not only for daily operations, but also for evacuation, firefighting, public notification, and post-fire recovery (Table 17). Damage to or failure of these systems during a wildfire can significantly increase risk to residents and first responders and prolong community disruption.

Wildfire impacts to critical infrastructure can occur through direct flame contact, radiant heat, ember intrusion, falling trees, slope failure, and post-fire hazards such as erosion and flooding.

As wildfire intensity and frequency increase, protecting these systems requires proactive planning, targeted mitigation, and coordination among infrastructure owners, emergency responders, and land management agencies. Strategies identified in this plan emphasize risk reduction, redundancy, defensibility, and rapid restoration to improve overall system resilience.

Water Infrastructure
Water infrastructure is fundamental to wildfire suppression, public health, and recovery efforts.

This includes municipal water systems, community water districts, storage tanks, treatment facilities, wells, and distribution lines. Wildfires can disrupt water supply through power outages, damage to aboveground facilities, contamination, or reduced access to critical components.

Protecting water infrastructure involves maintaining defensible space around facilities, ensuring adequate fire flow capacity, protecting pump stations and storage tanks from ignition, and coordinating with fire agencies to identify priority assets. Redundant power supplies and backup water sources further enhance system reliability during wildfire incidents.

Communications Infrastructure
Reliable communications systems are essential for emergency notifications, coordination among response agencies, and public situational awareness during wildfires. Infrastructure such as radio repeaters, cell towers, dispatch centers, and fiber-optic networks are vulnerable to fire, smoke, power loss, and access constraints. Mitigation measures include vegetation management around communications sites, fire-resistant facility design, redundant power and signal pathways, and coordination among public safety agencies and private providers.

Strengthening communications resilience improves emergency response effectiveness and supports timely evacuation and public safety messaging.

Electrical Infrastructure
Electrical infrastructure is both vulnerable to wildfire damage and a potential source of ignition.

Power lines, substations, and related equipment are exposed to vegetation contact, wind, and extreme fire behavior. Wildfire-related power outages can also disrupt water systems, communications, medical services, and evacuation efforts. Protective strategies include vegetation clearance in utility corridors, hardening or undergrounding of equipment where feasible, improved access for inspection and repair, and coordination with utility wildfire mitigation plans. These actions reduce ignition risk while supporting system reliability during high fire danger conditions.

Road Infrastructure

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Roadways are critical for evacuation, emergency access, and firefighting operations. Narrow roads, limited turnarounds, steep grades, and roadside vegetation can restrict evacuation capacity and impede response during wildfire events. Road infrastructure is also susceptible to damage from fire, falling trees, and post-fire erosion or slope failure. Mitigation measures include roadside fuel reduction, maintaining clear vertical and horizontal clearance, improving signage and wayfinding, and identifying priority evacuation routes for targeted treatment.

Coordinated planning among transportation agencies, fire departments, and emergency managers is essential to ensure that road systems function effectively during emergencies.

Table 17. Critical Infrastructure Types and Wildfire Mitigation Actions Infrastructure Type Primary Wildfire
Vulnerabilities
Representative Mitigation Actions
Water Infrastructure Loss of power to pumps,
damage to storage tanks and
treatment facilities, limited fire
flow, contamination, and
restricted access during
wildfire events
Maintain defensible space around tanks, pump
stations, and treatment facilities; harden
facilities with ignition-resistant materials;
ensure adequate fire flow and hydrant spacing;
install backup power supplies; coordinate with
fire agencies to identify priority water assets for
protection
Communications
Infrastructure
Damage to towers and
repeater sites, power
outages, signal disruption
from fire and smoke, limited
site access
Conduct vegetation management around
communications sites; harden structures
against ember exposure; provide redundant
power and communication pathways; improve
site access for maintenance and emergency
response; coordinate across public safety and
private providers to enhance system
redundancy
Electrical
Infrastructure
Ignition risk from power lines,
damage from fire and falling
trees, service interruptions
affecting emergency systems
Maintain vegetation clearance in utility
corridors; implement infrastructure hardening
or undergrounding where feasible; improve
access for inspection and emergency repair;
coordinate with utility wildfire mitigation plans;
prioritize protection of assets supporting water,
communications, and medical services
Road Infrastructure Limited evacuation capacity,
restricted emergency access,
roadside vegetation hazards,
damage from fire and
post-fire erosion
Reduce roadside fuels along evacuation
routes; maintain vertical and horizontal
clearance; improve signage and wayfinding;
identify and prioritize critical evacuation
corridors for treatment; coordinate
transportation, fire, and emergency
management agencies to address access and
safety constraints

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Roles and Responsibilities for Critical Infrastructure Protection Effective protection of critical infrastructure from wildfire requires coordinated action among infrastructure owners, public agencies, emergency responders, and land management partners.

While specific responsibilities vary by infrastructure type and jurisdiction, wildfire resilience is most successfully achieved when roles are clearly defined and complementary.

Infrastructure Owners and Operators
Owners and operators of critical infrastructure—including water districts, utilities, communications providers, and transportation agencies—are primarily responsible for maintaining, hardening, and operating their facilities in a manner that reduces wildfire vulnerability. This includes conducting routine maintenance, managing vegetation within established rights-of-way or facility boundaries, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, and implementing system-specific wildfire mitigation measures such as backup power, fire-resistant materials, and redundancy. Infrastructure owners are also responsible for participating in pre-fire planning, sharing asset information with emergency responders, and supporting post-fire damage assessment and restoration.

Fire Agencies and Emergency Responders
Fire departments, fire agencies, and emergency response agencies play a central role in identifying infrastructure assets critical to wildfire suppression, evacuation, and life safety. Their responsibilities include providing input on priority assets for protection, advising on defensible space and access requirements, and integrating infrastructure considerations into response planning and evacuation strategies. During wildfire incidents, fire agencies coordinate tactical protection efforts where feasible and support infrastructure operators with situational awareness and access coordination.

County and Local Governments
County departments, cities, and special districts support infrastructure protection through land use planning, ordinance development, emergency management, and interagency coordination.

Local governments facilitate collaboration among infrastructure owners, fire agencies, and land managers; support evacuation planning and public notification; and pursue funding opportunities that enhance infrastructure resilience. Counties also play a key role in integrating infrastructure protection priorities into broader wildfire preparedness, hazard mitigation, and recovery planning efforts.

State and Federal Agencies
State and federal agencies—including CAL FIRE, Cal OES, Caltrans, the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and other land management entities—provide regulatory oversight, technical guidance, funding, and implementation support in addition to wildfire response. These agencies assist with fuels management on public lands adjacent to infrastructure, support regional planning and coordination, and administer grant programs that fund mitigation projects. State and federal partners also support post-fire recovery and infrastructure repair through disaster assistance programs.

Utilities and Private Service Providers

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Electric, gas, telecommunications, and broadband providers have specialized responsibilities related to wildfire ignition prevention and system reliability. These entities develop and implement wildfire mitigation plans, manage vegetation along corridors, harden equipment, and coordinate with emergency managers on power shutoffs, restoration timelines, and public communications. Close coordination with local governments and fire agencies is essential to balance wildfire risk reduction with community needs during high fire danger conditions.

Community Organizations and Fire Safe Councils
Fire Safe Councils, non-profit organizations, and community groups play a supporting role by facilitating coordination, education, and project development. These organizations often serve as connectors between infrastructure owners, agencies, and residents, helping to identify vulnerabilities, pursue grant funding, and implement complementary mitigation projects such as roadside fuel reduction or defensible space near infrastructure assets.

Amador County Wildfire Collaborators - coordination and CWPP implementation The Amador County Wildfire Collaborators (ACWC) is a partnership network made up of agencies, organizations, departments, and community groups working on wildfire resilience across Amador County.

ACWC composition
Amador County and city elected officials and government departments especially local Fire Protection Districts and Fire Departments, the Office of Emergency Management, Transportation and Public Works, Code Enforcement and Air Resources Board represent the interests of public safety, infrastructure and regulatory compliance. Land management agencies and private forest and rangeland owners, especially Eldorado National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, Sierra Pacific Industries, Pacific Gas and Electric and East Bay Municipal Utility District manage for wildfire risk reduction and resiliency within their properties. Amador Fire Safe Council, Amador Resource Conservation District, CAL FIRE, Natural Resource Conservation Service, University of California Cooperative Extension and other partners support management of non-industrial private lands which surround and contain the populated areas of the county.

Together through the Amador County Wildfire Collaborators (ACWC), groups including those mentioned above collaborate to plan, maintain and expand wildfire mitigation efforts.

Primary Goals of the ACWC
● Coordinate and support implementation of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).
● Share project updates, funding opportunities, successes, and challenges. ● Foster collaborative development of multi partner wildfire resilience projects. ● Develop Project Pipeline and shared monitoring and maintenance vision/goals. ● Provide a mechanism for consistent communication.

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● Strengthen relationships between fire personnel, local jurisdictions, and community partners
● Annual Review of CWPP progress through providing annual metrics for success and information on individual organizations’ progress towards goals.

Authority
ACWC will not have authority or governance power over any partner group. Participation is collaborative, voluntary, and focused on information sharing and coordination.

Facilitation
Currently the AFSC has funding to serve as the role of coordinator, convener, and facilitator for the ACWC. AFSC will provide assistance in the facilitation of the annual CWPP review.

Meeting Structure
Collaboration Meetings: Meetings are held three times per year, strategically scheduled around fire season to ensure local, state, and federal fire personnel can participate.

Proposed Role of Subcommittees
As the Amador County Wildfire Collaborators (ACWC) begin coordinating implementation of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), there may be opportunities to form voluntary, topic focused subcommittees to enhance collaboration on specific action areas. These subcommittees would be informal working groups, created only when partners identify a shared need or benefit. Their purpose is to support deeper coordination, reduce duplication of effort, and strengthen alignment across agencies, organizations, and community partners. ● Leadership / Administration Committee
● Outreach & Education Committee
● Fuels Reduction Project Committee
● Mapping/GIS Committee
● Defensible Space & Home Hardening Committee

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Wildfire Response and Suppression Capabilities
An assessment of the wildfire response and suppression capabilities within the Amador County CWPP was undertaken to evaluate whether the current resources, organization, and strategies are appropriate for expected wildfire, and if not, what requires improvement. Effective wildfire response in Amador County depends on coordinated interagency planning, reliable infrastructure, and accurate situational awareness that improve firefighter access and operational success. The following categories were identified as requiring improvement to strengthen the County’s wildfire response and suppression capabilities across multiple levels—parcel, community, and landscape.

Emergency Water Supply and Infrastructure
Reliable water access is critical for structural defense and extended attack operations.

Expanding emergency water storage and hauling infrastructure, which aligns with the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP), was identified as a strategic improvement to water availability .

Additionally, ensuring accurate, up-to-date, and collaboratively shared fire hydrant mapping countywide improves dispatch accuracy and on-the-ground response effectiveness . Maintaining a complete, GIS-based hydrant inventory supports pre-incident planning, tactical water sourcing, and mutual aid response.

GIS, Mapping, and Decision Support
Modern wildfire response relies heavily on accurate geospatial information. Key improvements include establishing and funding a full-time GIS position dedicated to hazard mitigation and emergency planning. Efforts like this enhance pre-fire planning, evacuation modeling, project prioritization, and operational decision-making. Consolidated, publicly accessible mapping tools also support transparency and coordination across agencies and landowners.

Communications Systems Hardening
Resilient communications infrastructure is essential during wildfire incidents, particularly under Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) conditions or during extended emergency operations.

Hardening and enhancing cellular and repeater communications infrastructure countywide, as well as upgrading and replacing countywide emergency radio communications systems will improve firefighter safety, ensure continuity of command, and support coordination among fire, law enforcement, EMS, and public works agencies.

Strategic Fuel Breaks and Landscape Treatments
Fuel reduction is a foundational suppression support strategy. The Plan identifies fuel break networks designed to facilitate safe and effective wildfire suppression. Landscape-scale fuel breaks—often located along ridgelines, major access routes, or strategic containment features—provide anchor points for suppression operations and help moderate fire behavior.

Community-scale fuel reduction projects reduce fire intensity at the wildland-urban interface, improving structure defense conditions. In addition, improved monitoring and maintenance will ensure treatment effectiveness over time. Without sustained maintenance, fuel breaks lose operational value; consistent tracking supports long-term suppression readiness.

Ingress/Egress Improvements

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Safe evacuation and responder access are critical life-safety components of wildfire response.

Key improvements include identification and mapping of single ingress/egress communities; road construction and rehabilitation planning through the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), prioritizing projects based on evacuation designation and safety criteria; roadside vegetation monitoring and maintenance along private roads, county-maintained roads, and state highways; and continued implementation of the Tree Mortality Program to address hazard trees along roadways. These efforts would collectively improve emergency vehicle access, reduce evacuation bottlenecks, and minimize roadway ignition hazards during wildfire events.

Fiscal Resources
Funding to support CWPP implementation may be obtained from a variety of federal, state, and local grant programs. Larger-scale projects are most commonly supported through competitive grant opportunities, while smaller or more targeted actions may be funded through local or utility-based programs. The funding sources listed below represent commonly used programs for wildfire preparedness, mitigation, response capacity, and recovery activities; however, this list is not exhaustive.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs provide several key funding opportunities for fire protection and hazard mitigation. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) offers competitive funding to career and volunteer fire departments and eligible organizations to improve their capacity to protect public safety and firefighter health. Related programs under AFG include the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants, which support the hiring, retention, and training of frontline firefighters, and Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grants, which fund community risk reduction, fire prevention education, and firefighter safety research. FEMA also administers the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, a pre-disaster hazard mitigation program that supports proactive investments in resilience-focused infrastructure and planning. In addition, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), administered in California by Cal OES, provides funding for projects and plans that reduce the long-term impacts of natural hazards following disaster declarations.

At the state level, CAL FIRE administers multiple grant programs that directly support wildfire mitigation, forest health, and community resilience initiatives aligned with CWPP goals. These include California Climate Investments (CCI) programs such as the Forest Health Program, Urban and Community Forestry grants, and Fire Prevention grants, as well as the California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP) and Volunteer Fire Assistance funding. The California Fire Safe Council, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, administers State Fire Assistance (SFA) funding through its Grants Clearinghouse program. These funds support hazardous fuels reduction on non-federal lands, CWPP development and updates, and community education and outreach activities in at-risk areas.

Additional funding opportunities are available through infrastructure and transportation-related programs. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) offers Sustainable Communities Planning Grants and Strategic Partnerships Grants, which may be used to support wildfire evacuation studies, evacuation planning, and multimodal transportation improvements that enhance emergency response and community safety.

Utility-sponsored programs may also provide important implementation support. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) administers vegetation management and fuel reduction grant programs that assist Fire Safe Councils, public agencies, and partner organizations with wildfire prevention

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and fuels management projects, including Wildfire Safety and Preparedness grants and Fire Safe Council Fuel Reduction Program funding.

Collectively, these funding sources provide a diverse toolkit to support CWPP implementation across planning, prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response activities. Leveraging multiple funding streams, coordinating grant applications among partners, and aligning projects with funder priorities will be critical to sustaining long-term wildfire resilience efforts throughout the planning area.

Potential Grant Funding Sources
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG)
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), provides competitive funding to career and volunteer fire departments and eligible organizations. The program is designed to improve the health and safety of both the public and firefighting personnel by supporting the purchase of firefighting equipment, personal protective equipment, vehicles, training, and operational enhancements.

AFG funds may also be used to strengthen departmental capabilities related to wildfire response, emergency communications, and interagency coordination.

Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant The SAFER Grant Program, also administered by FEMA, focuses on increasing or maintaining the number of trained, frontline firefighters available in local communities. Funding may be used to support the hiring and retention of firefighters, including volunteer recruitment and retention initiatives. SAFER grants help fire departments meet national staffing, response, and operational standards, thereby improving response effectiveness during wildfire and other emergency incidents.

Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants
Fire Prevention and Safety Grants are a component of FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and are intended to reduce injuries and fatalities related to fire and fire-related hazards. These grants support community-based fire prevention programs, wildfire risk reduction education, smoke alarm initiatives, and firefighter safety research and development.

FP&S funding is particularly well suited for public outreach, education, and prevention-focused actions identified in the CWPP.

Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program is FEMA’s pre-disaster hazard mitigation grant program, authorized under the Stafford Act. BRIC supports states, tribes, and local governments in undertaking hazard mitigation projects that reduce risk from natural hazards, including wildfire. Eligible activities include planning, infrastructure improvements, and innovative mitigation projects that emphasize long-term resilience, multi-benefit outcomes, and partnerships. BRIC prioritizes proactive investment to reduce future disaster losses and enhance community resilience.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funding to support hazard mitigation projects and planning efforts following a federally declared disaster. In California, HMGP is administered

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by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). Eligible applicants include state agencies, local governments, special districts, and certain private non-profit organizations. HMGP funds may be used for wildfire mitigation planning, defensible space projects, fuel reduction, and other measures that reduce the long-term risk to people, property, and infrastructure.

CAL FIRE Fire Prevention Grant Program
The CAL FIRE Fire Prevention Grant Program provides funding for wildfire prevention activities that reduce the risk of wildfire to communities. Eligible activities include hazardous fuels reduction, wildfire prevention planning, education and outreach, and defensible space projects.

This program is a primary funding source for CWPP implementation in California and supports projects on both public and private lands, with an emphasis on protecting communities in high and very high fire hazard severity zones.

California Climate Investments (CCI) – Forest Health Program The CCI Forest Health Program, administered by CAL FIRE, funds projects that improve forest health and resilience while reducing wildfire risk and supporting climate adaptation goals.

Eligible activities include fuels reduction, forest restoration, reforestation, and landscape-scale forest management projects. Funding prioritizes projects that deliver multiple benefits, such as greenhouse gas reductions, watershed protection, habitat enhancement, and community wildfire resilience.

California Climate Investments (CCI) – Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program This CAL FIRE-administered program supports tree planting, maintenance, and urban forestry planning efforts that improve community resilience, public safety, and environmental conditions.

In wildfire-prone areas, these grants may be used to support vegetation management planning, community education, and strategic tree management that reduces fire risk while maintaining ecological and social benefits.

California Climate Investments (CCI) – Fire Prevention Program The CCI Fire Prevention Program provides funding for wildfire prevention activities that reduce the likelihood and severity of wildfires while supporting climate resilience objectives. Eligible activities include fuel reduction, defensible space, wildfire prevention planning, and public education. The program places emphasis on projects that protect vulnerable communities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with catastrophic wildfire events.

California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP)
The California Forest Improvement Program provides financial assistance to private forest landowners for forest management practices that improve forest health and productivity. Eligible activities include fuels reduction, reforestation, forest stand improvement, and resource protection. CFIP supports long-term stewardship that reduces wildfire risk while maintaining ecological and economic values on private lands.

Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Program
The Volunteer Fire Assistance Program provides funding to support volunteer and rural fire departments that protect communities in the wildland-urban interface. Administered through

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CAL FIRE in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, VFA funding may be used for training, equipment purchases, and wildfire preparedness activities that enhance local response capacity.

California Fire Safe Council – U.S. Forest Service State Fire Assistance (SFA) Grants Through a master agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, the California Fire Safe Council administers State Fire Assistance funding via its Grants Clearinghouse program. These grants support hazardous fuels reduction on non-federal lands, CWPP development and updates, and community wildfire education and outreach. The program emphasizes creating fire-adapted communities and restoring resilient landscapes through local, community-driven projects.

PG&E Vegetation Management and Fuel Reduction Grant Programs Pacific Gas & Electric offers grant programs that support wildfire prevention and fuels reduction efforts in high-risk areas. These programs provide funding to Fire Safe Councils, public agencies, and non-profit organizations for vegetation management, fuel reduction, and community wildfire preparedness projects. PG&E funding is intended to complement utility wildfire mitigation efforts while supporting local risk reduction initiatives.

Caltrans Sustainable Communities Planning Grants
The Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program, administered by the California Department of Transportation, supports local and regional planning efforts that advance state transportation and sustainability goals. These grants may be used to fund wildfire evacuation studies, evacuation route planning, and transportation system improvements that enhance emergency preparedness and community resilience.

Caltrans Strategic Partnerships Grants
The Strategic Partnerships Grant Program funds collaborative planning efforts that address transportation deficiencies on the state highway system. A subcategory of this program supports transit- and multimodal-focused planning projects, including those related to wildfire evacuation, emergency access, and interregional coordination. These grants can support CWPP actions related to evacuation planning and critical transportation infrastructure resilience.

Sierra Nevada Conservancy Wildfire and Forest Resilience Grant The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) Wildfire and Forest Resilience Grant Program funds projects that reduce wildfire risk and strengthen forest and watershed resilience across the Sierra-Cascade region. The program supports activities such as fuel reduction, forest restoration, and prescribed fire that protect communities while improving ecosystem health.

Funded in part through California’s Proposition 4 climate bond, the program provides millions of dollars for multi-benefit projects that enhance landscape resilience and advance statewide wildfire and climate goals.

Sierra Nevada Conservancy Community Resilience Grant
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) Community Resilience Grant Program supports planning and implementation projects that strengthen the long-term environmental, economic, and social resilience of communities in the Sierra-Cascade region. It provides funding for capacity building, technical assistance, and collaborative efforts that help local governments, tribes, and nonprofit organizations prepare for and recover from challenges such as wildfire,

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climate change, and economic transitions. The program emphasizes community-driven solutions that build local capacity, workforce development, and partnerships to support sustainable and resilient rural communities.

Sierra Nevada Conservancy Landscape Grant Program (Pilot) The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) Landscape Grant Program (Pilot) funds large, collaborative projects that restore forest health and reduce wildfire risk across entire landscapes in the Sierra-Cascade region. The pilot program aligns funding from multiple partners—such as state and federal agencies—into large grants that support coordinated portfolios of restoration projects implemented over 5–10 years. By investing at a landscape scale, the program aims to accelerate forest restoration, protect communities and critical resources, and increase resilience to climate-driven wildfire across multi-jurisdictional areas.

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References
CalFire. 2026. Defensible Space Zones.
https://readyforwildfire.org/prepare-for-wildfire/defensible-space Finney, M. A. (2006). An overview of FlamMap fire modeling capabilities. In In: Andrews, Patricia L.; Butler, Bret W., comps. 2006. Fuels Management-How to Measure Success:

Conference Proceedings. 28-30 March 2006; Portland, OR. Proceedings RMRS-P-41. Fort Collins, CO: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 213-220 (Vol. 41).

IFTDSS (Interagency Fuels Treatment Decision Support System) Help Center. 2025. Integrated Hazard. Accessed March 11, 2025.
https://iftdss.firenet.gov/firenetHelp/help/pageHelp/content/20-models/lbp/out/inthazard.htm LANDFIRE (Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools). 2025. LANDFIRE 2024 Update (LF 2.5.0), Various Datasets. US Department of Agriculture, US Department of the Interior, and US Geological Survey. https://www.landfire.gov/index.php NWS. 2025. Fire Weather. National Weather Service. Accessed May 1, 2025. https://www.weather.gov/wrh/fire?wfo=vef&LAT=34.8957&LON=-116.9968 NRCS. 2025. Wind Rose Data. US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Accessed February 12, 2025. Website.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/sswsf-snow-survey-and-water-supply-forecasting -program/wind-rose-data
NWCG. 2025a. Fire and Aviation Management (FAM) Production (PROD) website, Accessed February 12, 2025.
https://famprod.nwcg.gov/cognos11/bi/?perspective=content&tab=myContent&folder=i25415288 B31F4418B9C141C91647038A
NWCG (National Wildfire Coordinating Group). 2005b. Glossary of wildland fire terminology [Online]. Available:
https://www.nwcg.gov/publications/pms205/nwcg-glossary-of-wildland-fire-pms-205 Scott, J.H., and R.E. Burgan. 2005. Standard Fire Behavior Fuel Models: A Comprehensive Set for Use with Rothermel’s Surface Fire Spread Model. In United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-153. https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/pubs series/rmrs/gtr/rmrs gtr153.pdf Scott, J., Helmbrecht, D., Thompson, M. P., Calkin, D. E., & Marcille, K. (2012). Probabilistic assessment of wildfire hazard and municipal watershed exposure. Natural Hazards, 64(1), 707-728.

Scott, J.H., M.P. Thompson, and D.E. Calkin. 2013. A Wildfire Risk Assessment Framework for Land and Resource Management. US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-315. https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/pubs/rmrs gtr315.pdf

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University of Utah. 2025. MesoWest. Weather Conditions for KNKX (MIRAMAR EAST).

Accessed June 1, 2025.
https://mesowest.utah.edu/cgi-bin/droman/meso_base_dyn.cgi?stn=KNKX USFS 2025a. FireFamilyPlus. Accessed May 28, 2025.
https://research.fs.usda.gov/firelab/products/dataandtools/firefamilyplus USFS 2025b. FlamMap. Fire Analysis Desktop Application. Accessed May 1, 2025. https://research.fs.usda.gov/firelab/projects/flammap
GIS Data Sources
Amador County GIS. 2026a. Fire Protection Districts. Accessed January 10, 2026. https://services9.arcgis.com/Z65sx307Hunxj6eq/ArcGIS/rest/services/LAFCO/FeatureServer/3 Amador County GIS. 2026b. Fire Hazard Severity Zones in State Responsibility Areas.

Accessed January 10, 2026.
https://services9.arcgis.com/Z65sx307Hunxj6eq/arcgis/rest/services/Fire/FeatureServer/3 Amador County GIS. 2026c. Land Use. Accessed January 10, 2026. https://services9.arcgis.com/Z65sx307Hunxj6eq/arcgis/rest/services/General_Plan_2025/Featur eServer
Amador County GIS. 2026d. State Responsibility Areas (SRA23_1). Accessed January 10, 2026. https://services9.arcgis.com/Z65sx307Hunxj6eq/arcgis/rest/services/Fire/FeatureServer/2 CALFIRE. 2026a. Land Ownership. Accessed January 10, 2026. https://egis.fire.ca.gov/arcgis/rest/services/FRAP/ownership/FeatureServer/0 CALFIRE. 2026b. CALFIRE Administrative Units. Accessed January 10, 2026. https://gis-california.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/CALFIRE-Forestry::cal-fire-administrative-uni ts-1/about
CALFIRE. 2026c. CALFIRE Facilities. Accessed January 10, 2026. https://egis.fire.ca.gov/arcgis/rest/services/FRAP/Facilities/FeatureServer CALFIRE. 2026d. Wildland Urban Interface (WUI25_1). Accessed January 10, 2026. https://gis-california.opendata.arcgis.com/maps/ab3148666b084efcbe3bec0bf6af7441/about California Energy Commission. 2022. Low-Income or Disadvantaged Communities Designated by California. Accessed January 10, 2026.
https://cecgis-caenergy.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/CAEnergy::low-income-or-disadvantaged -communities-designated-by-california-1

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Appendix A: CWPP Working Group Members and
Stakeholders
Table A1. Amador CWPP Working Group members
CWPP Working Group Members and Stakeholders
Agency / Organization Primary Contact Title
Federal Government
U.S. Forest Service - Eldorado National Forest
James Thornock District Fire Management - Division Chief-1 Ryan Waggoner Forest Fire Planner
Ronnie Martinez Public Information Officer
Bureau of Land Management
Beth Brenneman Project Manager Fire/Fuels
Burns Brimhall Assistant District FMO
Jorge Pacheco
Fire Prevention/ Mitigation/ Education
Specialist
State / Tribal Governments
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Mike Blankenheim Unit Chief (through December 2025)
David Wood Unit Chief (as of December 2025)
Jeff Hoag Assistant Chief
Mike Boyce Assistant Chief
Megan Sheeline Unit Forester
California State Parks
Lee Eal
Central Valley District’s Cultural Resources
Manager and Chaw’se Park Manager
Richard Rappaport District Forester, Forester I
Heather Reith
Natural Resources Manager - Central Valley
District
James Suero District Forester, Forester II
University of California Cooperative Extension
Dan Macon Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor
Scott Oneto Farm Advisor
Tribal Nations
Buena Vista Band of Mi-Wuk
Indians Michael DeSpain COO
Buena Vista Band of Mi-Wuk
Indians Jeff Cutri CEO
Ione Band of Mi-Wuk Indians Jereme Dutschke Cultural Resources Coordinator Amador County CWPP 2026 Page A1

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CWPP Working Group Members and Stakeholders
Agency / Organization Primary Contact Title
Jackson Rancheria Crystal Myers CEO
Local Jurisdiction Departments
Planning / Building Department
Amador County Transportation
Commission John Gedney Executive Director
Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility
District Rick Ansel General Manager
Fire Department / Fire Protection Districts
Amador FPD Kayla Dale Public Information Officer
Amador FPD Rob Ebling Battalion Chief
Amador FPD Aaron Watkins Battalion Chief
Amador FPD Robert Withrow Fire Chief
City of Ione Ken Mackey Fire Chief
City of Ione James Bennet Engineer
City of Jackson Ryan Pidgeon Fire Chief
City of Jackson Robert Greathouse Fire Captain
Sutter Creek FPD Dominic Moreno Fire Chief
Jackson Valley FPD Randy Makemson Fire Chief
Kirkwood Volunteer Fire
Department (KVFD) Rick Ansel Fire Chief
Public Works Department
Amador County Public Works Jeff Christman Director
Amador Air District
Herminia Perry Air Pollution Control Officer
Local Elected Officials - Amador County Board of Supervisors District 1 Patrick Crew Supervisor
District 2 Dan Epperson Supervisor
District 3 Jeff Brown Supervisor
District 4 Logan Carnell Supervisor
District 5 Brian Oneto Supervisor
Amador County Office of Emergency Services
Matthew Girton Sheriff, Coordinator
Elected Officials / other Local Leadership
Amador City Dave Groth City Manager
City of Ione George Lee City Manager
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CWPP Working Group Members and Stakeholders
Agency / Organization Primary Contact Title
City of Jackson Carl Simpson City Manager
City of Plymouth Victoria McHenry City Manager
City of Sutter Creek Tom Dubois City Manager
City of Sutter Creek William Watson Project Manager
Local Fire / Forestry and Natural Resource Groups or Organizations Agriculture
Amador County Eric Mayberry Agricultural Commissioner
Amador County Barry Clark Deputy Agricultural Commissioner Amador Fire Safe Council
Todd Bertwell Natural Resources Project Manager
Amanda Watson Executive Director
Forest Management Groups
Sierra Pacific Industries Christopher Dow
South Sierra Vegetation Management
Specialist
Sierra Pacific Industries Jay Francis South Sierra Area Manager Mother Lode Land Trust Ellie Routt Executive Director
Amador Resource Conservation District (ARCD)
Steve Cannon Board President
Todd Bertwell Natural Resources Project Manager
Amanda Watson Executive Director
Upper Mokelumne River Watershed Authority (UMRWA)
Richard Skykes Executive Officer
Megan Layhee Environmental Consultant
Prescribed Burn Associations (PBA)
El Dorado Amador PBA Morgan Galleano Coordinator
Critical Infrastructure Companies or Districts
Electric / Power Utilities
Pacific Gas & Electric Todd Crawford Public Safety Specialist Pacific Gas & Electric Ty McCartney Wildfire Strategy & Engagement Pacific Gas & Electric Sashi Sabaratnam Wildfire & Climate Resiliency Pacific Gas & Electric Matt Waverly Natural Resource Management Pacific Gas & Electric Wes Whited Natural Resource Management Water Utility Districts
Amador Water Agency Rick Ferriera Operations and Engineering Manager Amador Water Agency Susan Peters Board of Directors
Amador County CWPP 2026 Page A3

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CWPP Working Group Members and Stakeholders
Agency / Organization Primary Contact Title
East Bay Municipal Utility District Charles Beckman Manager of Watershed and Recreation Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility
District Rick Ansel General Manager
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Appendix B: Applicable Plans and Regulations
Plans and Regulations reviewed to inform the CWPP planning process and content development. The updated list reflects applicable local plans and regulations. State legislation should also be monitored for any additional impacts on CWPP planning and regulatory considerations.

Table B1. Applicable Plans and Regulations
Applicable Plans and Regulations
Resource Title (and applicable sections) Additional Notes or Links Federal Plans
Healthy Forests Restoration Act https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CO MPS-1123/pdf/COMPS-1123.pdf
Disaster Mitigation Act (Stafford Act) https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/ 2020-03/stafford-act_2019.pdf
National Fire Plan https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/budg etoffice/NFP_final32601.pdf
National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy https://www.forestsandrangelands.gov/d ocuments/strategy/strategy/CSPhaseIII
NationalStrategyApr2014.pdf
Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission
Report
https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/
documents/wfmmc-final-report-09-2023.
pdf
State Plans
2018 Strategic Fire Plan for California (Board of Forestry and Fire Protection)
https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159c
dff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/m
edia/bof-website/regulations/documents
-associated-with-regulations/2018-strate
gic-fire-plan-approved-08_22_18.pdf?re
v=8a738f11cadc4ff2800f61a6cee18af5
&hash=F3CCC9D2FC2BCEA238EDA4
C80CD04727
California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan (2021)
https://wildfiretaskforce.org/wp-content/
uploads/2022/12/californiawildfireandfor
estresilienceactionplan.pdf
California State Hazard Mitigation Plan (2023) (This was already linked) https://www.caloes.ca.gov/wp-content/u
ploads/Hazard-Mitigation/Documents/20
23-California-SHMP_Volume-1_11.10.2
023.pdf
Public Resources Code
Division 4. Forests, Forestry and Range and Forage
Lands
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/c
odes_displayexpandedbranch.xhtml?toc
Code=PRC&division=4.&title=&part=&c
hapter=&article=&nodetreepath=7
California Code of Regulations
Title 14. Natural Resources
Division 1.5 Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Title 24. Building Standards Code
Title 14, Division 1.5
Title 24 Part 2
Title 24 Part 2.5
Title 24 Part 9
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Part 2 – California Building Code (Chapter 7A)
Part 2.5 – California Residential Code
Part 9 – California Fire Code
Part 12 – California Referenced Standards Code
Title 24 Part 12
California Government Code
Title 5. Local Agencies
Title 7. Planning and Land Use
Title 5
Title 7
California Health and Safety Code
Division 12. Fires and Fire Protection
HSC Division 12
California Environmental Quality Act https://www.califaep.org/docs/CEQA_H andbook_2021.pdf
Local Plans
General Plan https://www.amadorcounty.gov/departm
ents/planning/general-plan-update-draftenvironmental-impact-report-and-draft-g eneral-plan
Municipal Code Amador County Code
Multi-Jurisdictional or Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Amador County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update (May 2020)
Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan CA Office of Energy Infrastructure - 2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plan Updates
Website
Emergency Management Plan Amador County Office of Emergency Services Plans and Documents Website
CAL FIRE Unit Fire Plan 2025 Strategic Fire Plan - Amador-El Dorado Unit
Community / Urban Forestry Plan The Mokelumne Amador Calaveras Forest Health and Resilience Project
(formerly The Forest Projects Plan)
Local CWPPs High Country CWPP - 2016
Pine Grove CWPP - 2013
Pioneer/Volcano CWPP - 2011
Amador County CWPP Part 1 - 2004
Amador County CWPP Part 2 - 2004
Evacuation Plan Amador County Evacuation Procedures
Website
Amador Fire Safe Council Evacuation
Preparedness Website
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Appendix C: Public Outreach and Engagement
C.1 Purpose and Approach to Outreach and Engagement
Public outreach and engagement were central to the development of the Amador County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). As a community-based planning effort, the CWPP’s effectiveness depends on meaningful opportunities for residents to learn about the planning process, provide local knowledge and input, and review how technical analyses and recommendations align with community values and priorities. Engagement was therefore designed not as a single event, but as a sustained, countywide effort to support transparency, participation, and shared ownership of the plan.

Figure C1.

Direct public outreach was conducted through multiple complementary methods, with an emphasis on geographic equity, accessibility, and varied engagement formats. Public meetings were held across all five County Supervisor Districts to ensure countywide coverage and to provide residents with locally relevant opportunities to participate. In addition, field trips are planned to support on-the-ground discussion of wildfire hazards, fuel conditions, access constraints, and suggested mitigation strategies. These in-person engagement efforts were supported by a publicly accessible project website
[https://www.amadorfiresafe.org/amador-county-cwpp] that served as a centralized hub for CWPP information, updates, meeting announcements, and supporting materials. The Amador County Fire Safe Council (AFSC) played a critical role in outreach by promoting engagement opportunities through its website, email distribution lists, local newspaper notices, and radio communications, helping to reach residents who may not otherwise engage through formal planning channels.

An important component of public engagement was an online survey that allowed participants to identify community concerns using map-based input, written comments, and photographs. This tool enabled residents to provide location-specific information and observations that are difficult to capture through meetings alone. The survey received 69 submissions distributed across Amador County CWPP 2026 Page C1

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Amador County, reflecting participation from both upcountry and lower elevation communities and demonstrating broad geographic engagement. Together, these outreach methods provided multiple, accessible pathways for community members to contribute to the CWPP and ensured that public input informed both the analytical work (i.e. mappable data from the community) and the resulting recommendations.

Figure C2.

The CWPP Steering Committee and Working Group provided an essential layer of engagement through structured collaboration and stakeholder coordination. These In addition to the abovementioned groups include representatives from agencies and organizations involved in land management, fire protection, utilities, water supply, transportation, and economic activity, offering perspectives that complement public input and support implementation feasibility. While not a substitute for community outreach, the Steering Committee and Working Group functioned as conduits for information exchange through their professional roles and everyday interactions within the community, reinforcing and extending the reach of formal engagement efforts.

Together, these direct and indirect engagement pathways supported a CWPP that is both technically grounded and informed by the lived experience of Amador County residents.

C.3 Public Outreach and Community Engagement Activities C.3.1 County Supervisor District Community Meetings
To ensure broad geographic representation and locally relevant engagement, public community meetings were held in each of Amador County’s five County Supervisor Districts. These meetings provided in-person opportunities for residents to learn about the CWPP process, review preliminary findings, and share local knowledge, concerns, and priorities related to wildfire risk, preparedness, and mitigation. Meetings were scheduled at accessible community venues and coordinated with the respective County Supervisor to reinforce the connection between community input and county-level decision-making.

The Supervisor District meetings served as the first opportunity for direct, face-to-face public outreach in the CWPP development process, and were intentionally distributed across western Amador County CWPP 2026 Page C2

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Amador County and upcountry communities. A total of fifty-seven residents participated in the meetings. In addition to residents, many meetings were attended by local fire officials and representatives from the Amador County Fire Safe Council and Amador County Resource Conservation District, creating opportunities for dialogue between community members, emergency responders, and implementing organizations.

Table C1. County Supervisor District Community Meetings District Supervisor Date Time Location City
District 1 Patrick Crew November
10, 2025
6:00–8:00
p.m.

Amador County
Administrative Building
Jackson
District 2 Logan
Carnell
November
5, 2025
6:00–8:00
p.m.

Volcano Communications
Center
Pine
Grove
District 3 Jeff Brown November
1, 2025
11:00
a.m.–1:00
p.m.

Pioneer Community
Veterans Hall
Pioneer
District 4 Dan
Epperson
November
4, 2025
6:00–8:00
p.m.

Tackle Box Café Lake
Amador
District 5 Brian Oneto November
6, 2025
6:00–8:00
p.m.

Plymouth City Hall Plymouth
C.3.1.1 Key Themes and Observations from Supervisor District Meetings Several themes emerged across the Supervisor District community meetings, reflecting both shared countywide concerns and district-specific perspectives.

Concerns related to homeowner’s insurance availability and rising premiums were raised at nearly every meeting. Many participants expressed that increasing insurance costs, policy non-renewals, or coverage limitations have become a primary motivator for engaging with wildfire mitigation and preparedness efforts. Related to this, community members frequently referenced media coverage of major wildfires over the past decade, both within Amador County and in neighboring counties, noting that these events have heightened awareness of wildfire risk and contributed to a sustained sense of urgency. In addition to concerns about direct fire impacts, participants emphasized the cumulative effects of wildfire on air quality and smoke exposure, including prolonged periods of degraded air, public health impacts, and disruptions to daily life.

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Figure C3.

Community members also cited impacts to travel and recreation, such as road closures, reduced access to outdoor areas, and lost economic activity tied to tourism and seasonal use, as well as broader effects on quality of life and overall well-being. Together, these experiences reinforced the perception that wildfire risk extends beyond immediate fire footprints and includes longer-term social, economic, and health consequences that influence community preparedness and support for mitigation efforts.

Participants also raised questions and concerns about how fuel treatments are implemented, particularly regarding residual material left on site, disturbance of forest soils, and perceived impacts to forest floor conditions. In some cases, soil disruption and post-treatment aesthetics were cited as sources of dissatisfaction or skepticism, underscoring the importance of clear communication about treatment objectives, methods, and expected outcomes.

Overall, community members demonstrated a high level of local knowledge and engagement, with many participants expressing interest in taking action and understanding how to participate in or support mitigation efforts. At the same time, some residents conveyed feelings of being overwhelmed by the scale of the wildfire problem or frustrated with perceived gaps in response, funding, or follow-through.

Local fire chiefs and fire district representatives attended several meetings and shared concerns related to the distribution of resources across the county, particularly in western Amador County where wildfire risk is often driven by grass and brush fuels rather than forested conditions.

These discussions highlighted perceived disparities in attention and funding relative to more heavily forested areas and created space for candid dialogue about operational challenges and priorities.

While some interactions were strongly worded or complaint-oriented, the meetings ultimately served as productive forums for relationship-building and information exchange. Participants were able to connect directly with representatives from the Amador County Fire Safe Council and Amador County Resource Conservation District, including Todd Bertwell, Natural Resources Project Manager, and Amanda Watson, Executive Director. These interactions helped clarify roles and responsibilities, identify appropriate points of contact, and create pathways for Amador County CWPP 2026 Page C4

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continued involvement by community members who expressed concerns or dissatisfaction.

Collectively, the Supervisor District meetings supported greater mutual understanding and helped ground the CWPP in both technical considerations and lived community experience.

C.3.2 Public Project Web Map
A public-facing project web map was developed to provide transparency into the CWPP planning process and to allow community members to follow how wildfire hazard, risk, and mitigation priorities were assessed across Amador County. The web map presents the key spatial datasets used in the CWPP, including wildfire hazard indicators, mitigation opportunity layers, and Highly Valued Resources and Assets (HVRAs), organized in a clear and intuitive structure that mirrors the step-by-step analytical approach used to develop the plan.

The web map is structured to guide users through the process of identifying areas of greatest concern by integrating fire likelihood, fire behavior, and community-defined values. By displaying how these layers interact spatially, the map helps illustrate how priority areas for mitigation were identified—focusing on locations where targeted treatments can provide the greatest benefit for protecting community assets in a cost-effective and timely manner. This geospatial approach supports an understanding of how limited resources can be strategically applied to reduce wildfire risk in a heavily forested, rural county.

The project web map is hosted as a publicly accessible resource on the AFSC website and serves as a central engagement tool throughout CWPP development. Map layers and outputs have been used consistently in public meetings, presentations, and briefings to support discussion and interpretation of technical analyses. By making the underlying data and analytical framework visible and accessible, the web map supports informed community participation and helps bridge the gap between technical wildfire modeling and community understanding.

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Figure C4. Public Webmap:
https://gsal.sig-gis.com/portal/apps/experiencebuilder/experience/?id=4d8a2179d6874e618fa8de8 e504a8a30&draft=true
In addition to the core datasets displayed in the project web map, the CWPP planning process also incorporated outputs from advanced treatment planning platforms to explore and refine mitigation strategies. Results from these platforms were integrated into the public web map to allow community members to view proposed treatment scenarios alongside other key metrics.

While some analytical outputs were developed using Vibrant Planet, a proprietary software platform that requires licensing to access directly, publicly accessible treatment scenarios developed using Planscape are available for public exploration.

C.3.3 Planscape Scenarios
Planscape was used in parallel with Vibrant Planet as part of the CWPP treatment planning and evaluation process. The primary purpose of incorporating Planscape was to provide Amador County with a free, publicly accessible, and continuously available platform for exploring and refining wildfire mitigation strategies beyond the formal CWPP development timeline. While Vibrant Planet served as the primary treatment planning platform for the project, Planscape was intentionally included to ensure that the county and community retain long-term access to treatment planning tools should licensed software become unavailable in the future.

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Figure C5.

For Amador County, Planscape provides unlimited public access and regular (biannual) updates, allowing community members, local partners, and county staff to continue engaging in treatment planning, scenario exploration, and priority refinement over time. Making this platform available supports continued community participation and transparency by enabling users to view, iterate on, and compare treatment strategies at no cost. In addition, running Planscape alongside Vibrant Planet allowed for a comparative analysis between two similar planning frameworks, strengthening confidence in identified priority areas and providing an opportunity to compare assumptions, outputs, and treatment patterns across platforms. Planscape scenarios were shared with the community through public meetings and the project web map, reinforcing its role as both a planning resource and a public outreach tool.

C.3.4 Online Survey With Map-Based Feedback
An online survey was implemented to provide a flexible, accessible way for community members to share wildfire-related concerns and priorities throughout Amador County. The survey was designed to complement in-person meetings by allowing participants to contribute input asynchronously and to provide location-specific information that may not emerge during public forums.

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Figure C6.

The survey enabled respondents to identify areas of concern using a map-based interface, submit written comments, and upload photographs. This approach allowed participants to document site-specific conditions, propose potential mitigation actions, and share local knowledge in a format that could be directly integrated into the CWPP planning process. Survey submissions included mapped locations of concern, annotated treatment ideas, photographs, and narrative descriptions.

The survey was distributed through multiple outreach channels, including announcements at public meetings, links on the CWPP project website, and outreach conducted by the Amador County Fire Safe Council through its website, email distribution lists, and other media. The Amador County CWPP 2026 Page C8

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survey was open from September 20, 2025, through [insert close date] and remained available throughout much of the CWPP development process to allow continued public participation.

As of this writing, the survey has received approximately 65 submissions distributed across Amador County, spanning western communities and upcountry areas. The majority of submissions (approximately 60%) identified accumulation of fuels as the primary concern. Other commonly cited categories included unburned piles, ingress and egress constraints, opportunities for community fuel breaks, and proposed fuel mitigation projects. Collectively, these submissions provided geographically diverse, site-specific input that informed the identification of priority areas and supported alignment between technical analyses and community-identified needs.

Figure C7.

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Appendix D: Wildfire Simulation Inputs and Summary
D.1 Fuels
Descriptions of the fuel models and the acreage represented by each are provided in Table D1 and illustrated in Figure D1. Approximately 46,000 acres (3%) of Amador County is classified as non-burnable. Of the flammable vegetation and fuels, approximately 102,000 acres (26%) are Very High Load, Dry Climate Timber-Shrub. The next most prevalent fuel model is Low Load, Dry Climate Grass (GR2) (85,000 acres; 2%) and Moderate Load, Dry Climate Grass-Shrub (GS2) (51,000; 13%). Note that LANDFIRE fuel model descriptors shown in Table 7 are representative of 2024 conditions, subject to climatic changes, and can vary within and across years.

Table D1. Summary of Amador County Fuel Models, Acres, and Descriptions.

Fuel Type FBFM40 Acres Percent Description
Non-Burnable
NB1 19,542 5.0% Urban/Developed
NB3 5,857 1.5% Agricultural
NB8 7,958 2.1% Open Water
NB9 12,545 3.2% Bare Ground
Grass
GR1 2,934 0.8% Short, Sparse Dry Climate Grass
GR2 84,957 21.9% Low Load, Dry Climate Grass
GR3 1,897 0.5% Low Load, Very Coarse, Humid Climate Grass Grass-Shrub
GS1 3,288 0.8% Low Load, Dry Climate Grass-Shrub
GS2 51,445 13.3% Moderate Load, Dry Climate Grass-Shrub Shrub
SH1 97 0.03% Low Load Dry Climate Shrub
SH2 905 0.2% Moderate Load Dry Climate Shrub
SH3 4 0.001% Moderate Load, Humid Climate Shrub
SH4 25,584 6.6% Low Load, Humid Climate Timber-Shrub
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SH5 8,207 2.1% High Load, Dry Climate Shrub
SH7 13 0.003% Very High Load, Dry Climate Shrub
Timber
Understory TU1 5,379 1.4% Low Load Dry Climate Timber-Grass-Shrub TU2 1,235 0.3% Moderate Load, Humid Climate Timber-Shrub TU3 11,007 2.8% Moderate Load, Humid Climate Timber-Grass-Shrub TU5 102,561 26.4% Very High Load, Dry Climate Timber-Shrub Timber Litter
TL1 151 0.04% Low Load Compact Conifer Litter
TL2 1,823 0.5% Low Load Broadleaf Litter
TL3 9,572 2.5% Moderate Load Conifer Litter
TL4 11,015 2.8% Small downed logs
TL5 2,264 0.6% High Load Conifer Litter
TL6 9,768 2.5% Moderate Load Broadleaf Litter
TL7 3,297 0.8% Large Downed Logs
TL8 2,901 0.7% Long-Needle Litter
TL9 1,686 0.4% Very High Load Broadleaf Litter
Slash
Blowdown SB2 40 0.01% Moderate Load Activity Fuel or Low Load Blowdown Total Acres
387,933 100%
Key: FBFM40 = Scott and Burgan 40 Fire Behavior fuel models.

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Figure D1. Scott and Burgan 40 Fire Behavior Fuel Models Amador County CWPP 2026 Page D3

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D.2 Landscape Profile
The Amador County topographic analysis was conducted using the LANDFIRE topographic rasters for elevation, slope, and aspect (LANDFIRE 2025). The majority of Amador County terrain is rough with higher elevations in the Sierra Nevada mountains that occupy a significant portion of the county(Figure D2). The terrain in Amador County is predominantly between South and West (circular mean aspect 220°, R-value 0.163, circular variance 0.837) which should result in lower mean fuel moisture than if the slopes were predominantly North and East facing (Figure D4). It should be noted that in Figure D5. no color signifies flat terrain.

Figure D2. Elevation
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Figure D3. Slope
Figure D4. Aspect
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D.3 Weather Summary
Amador County is within Fire Weather Zones 217, 219, 267 and 269 (National Weather Service Western Region 2025). Wildfire-related weather in the area centers around hot, dry, windy conditions typically in the late summer and early fall. The combination of wind, heat, and dryness turns all vegetation types into explosive fuel for large wildfires.

The nearest weather data sources were considered for this analysis, namely CFA, Mount Zion, Beaver, and Campo SECO Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS). All four RAWS are located in or near Amador County were selected for analysis because they had a complete period of record to use in computing National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) fire danger indices (Figure D5). These stations are part of an established network of RAWS owned and maintained by counties, and both federal and state agencies. The four stations were combined into a “Special Interest Group” (Amador County SIG) for analysis in FF+ which allows a more rigorous analysis of the entire area. The Amador County SIG has recorded weather observations since 1999 with data recorded hourly each day. Weather observations from 2016 to 2024 (8-year period) were used for this analysis. Table D2 shows detailed site parameters for the four RAWS that compose the Amador County SIG.

Table D2. Amador County SIG RAWS Information.

May 15th-Nov 1st
2012-2024
Weather Stations
Campo Seco CFA RAWS Mt Zion Beaver Mean
Wx Percentile 90 97 90 97 90 97 90 97 90 97
Fuel
Moisture
1hr 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 2 3 3
10hr 4 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 4 3
100hr 7 6 6 5 5 4 5 5 6 5
1000hr 8 8 7 7 6 5 6 6 7 7
Herb 3 3 3 2 3 3 3 2 3 3
Woody 60 60 60 60 60 60 70 70 63 63
Wind
Wind
Speed 10 12 9 12 5 6 4 4 7 9
Gust
Speed 26 31 17 21 11 13 13 14 17 20
Wind
Direction 299 320 298 315 269 280 256 269 281 296
Key: ft = feet; ID = unique identification number; NESDIS = National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service; NFDRS = National Fire Danger Rating System; NWS = National Weather Service; RAWS = Remote Automated Weather Station.

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Figure D5. Amador County SIG RAWS Locations.

D.4 Energy Release Component and Burning Index
The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) classifies the RAWS in Amador County SIG as representative of Fuel Model B – California Chaparral (NWCG 2025a). Weather data from Amador County SIG were input into FireFamily Plus (FF+) software to determine NFDRS fire danger indices. FF+ is a software package used to calculate fuel moistures and fire danger indices, like Energy Release Component (ERC) and Burning Index (BI), using hourly or daily fire weather observations from RAWS.

ERC is a measure of potential heat or energy released from wildfires occurring during active burning portions of the year. ERC changes gradually as live and dead fuel conditions dry out and is a good indicator of overall wildfire potential, danger, and staffing needs. Burning Index is a measure of fire intensity which combines Spread Component (how fast a fire will spread) and ERC to relate how fire behavior impacts fire containment efforts. The BI is generally 10 times the flame length of a fire. Both ERC and BI are critical in determining potential fire danger and resistance to suppression efforts should an ignition occur under elevated conditions.

Figure D6 and Figure D7 show FF+ results for ERC and BI using Amador County SIG data for the period 2016 to 2024. ERC and BI are shown on the Y-axis (0 to approximately 120 and 220, respectively). The analysis period was set at 1-day intervals. Statistical analysis of the data is plotted with averages represented by the gray line. The red and blue lines represent the maximum and minimum values, respectively, recorded for a given day within the 8-year analysis period.

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Jackson City CouncilJune 8, 2026

Jackson City Council
June 8, 2026