Agenda packet — Sutter Creek City Council, April 6, 2026 (part 1 of 6)

City Council Meeting Agenda
Monday, April 06, 2026 at 6:00 PM
33 Church Street, Sutter Creek, CA 95685
The Agenda can be found on the City’s Website: www.cityofsuttercreek.org The City of Sutter Creek City Council Meeting will be available in person and LIVE on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@CityofSutterCreek.

You can also watch the meeting on Zoom (please note Zoom participation is only available for viewing. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81391466458?pwd=4jXmBm1AP5bEbiID3iDwuxk4GpreRY.1 Or Dial by phone: 301 715 8592 Webinar ID: 816 8589 0182 Passcode: 186036 Unless stated otherwise on the agenda, every item on the agenda is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) per CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c), 15061(b)(3), 15273, 15378, 15301, 15323 and/or Public Resources Code Section 21065. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Call to Order and Establish a Quorum for Regular Meeting

2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

3. Public Forum
At this time, the public is permitted to address the City Council on items not appearing on the agenda.

Comments may not exceed 5 minutes. In accordance with State Law, however, no action or discussion may take place on any item not appearing on the posted agenda. The City Council may respond to statements made or questions asked or may request Staff to report back at a future meeting on the matter. The exceptions under which the City Council may discuss and/or take action on items not appearing on the agenda are contained in Government Code §54954.2. Public comment on any item listed below shall be limited to five minutes, unless additional time is permitted by the Mayor/Council.

4. City Manager’s Report
This section is an opportunity to provide Council members with a brief status update on staff activities. No action is expected to be taken by the Council.

5. Presentations
1 None.

6. Approval of Minutes
A. City Council Minutes of March 16, 2026
Recommendation: By motion approve minutes as presented.

7. Consent Agenda
Items listed on the consent agenda are considered routine and shall be enacted in one motion. Any item may be removed for discussion at the request of Council or the Public.

A. Adopt Resolution accepting the work and approving the City Manager to execute the Notice of Completion (NOC) regarding the Bryson Park Bathroom Expansion Project Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 25–26-xx, thereby accepting the work on the Bryson Park Bathroom Expansion Project and authorizing the City Manager to execute the Notice of Completion and cause it to be filed with the Amador County Recorder.

B. 2025 Amador County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (in accordance with AB 2140).

Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 25-26-xx, thereby approving the City's adoption of the 2025 Updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) in its entirety, including appendices and Annex.

8. Ordinances and Public Hearing
A. Public Hearing and Second (2nd) Reading of Draft Ordinance No. 25-26-XX updating the City's Uniform Building Code
Recommendation: Waive motion to have second reading by substitution of the title and adopt Ordinance No 25-26-XX, thereby amending Sections 15.04.010 and 15.04.030 of the Sutter Creek Municipal Code regarding Adoption of the 2025 California Building Standards Administrative Code, 2025 California Building Code, 2025 California Residential Building Code, 2025 California Electrical Code, 2025 California Mechanical Code, 2025 California Plumbing Code, 2025 California Energy Code, California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, 2025 California Historical Building Code, 2025 California Fire Code, 2025 California Existing Building Code, 2025 International Property Maintenance Code, 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, 1997 Uniform Housing Code, 2024 Uniform Building Security Code, and 2024 Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa, and Hot Tub Code.

9. Administrative Agenda
A. Surveillance Technology Policy
Recommendation: Discuss and Consider a Citywide Ordinance on surveillance technology B. Law Enforcement Update
2 Recommendation: Receive this update on discussions with County Sheriff and Proposal to Amador City and adopt a motion to extend a formal offer to Amador City to provide law enforcement services according to the terms presented here.

C. Mid-Year Expenses Review and Budget Amendments
Recommendation: Receive and accept the Mid-Year Expenses Review Report and approve the budget amendments.

10. Mayor and Council Member Reports
This section is to provide Council members an opportunity to present updates on their activities and to request items be placed on future agendas.

11. City Attorney’s Report
This section provides an opportunity for the City Attorney to report on any activities or upcoming legislation of importance to the City. No action is expected to be taken by the Council.

12. Information and Correspondence
A. Correspondence Received from the Public from March 12, 2026 to March 30, 2026 (3:30 PM).

13. Closed Session
None.

14. Report from Closed Session
None.

15. Adjournment
The next regularly scheduled meeting is April 20, 2026. 3 City Council Meeting Minutes (DRAFT)
Monday, March 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM
33 Church Street, Sutter Creek, CA 95685
The Agenda can be found on the City’s Website: www.cityofsuttercreek.org

1. Call to Order and Establish a Quorum for Regular Meeting

Present: Mayor Claire Gunselman, Vice Mayor Sierk, Council Members Susan Feist, Dan Riordan and James Swift.

Absent: none
City Treasurer: Victoria Runquist
Staff: Tom DuBois - City Manager, Derek Cole - City Attorney, Erin Ventura - Contract City Planner, Jim O’Connell - Police Chief, Mason Peters - Finance Supervisor, and Pam Caronongan - City Clerk

2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Mayor Gunselman led the Pledge of Allegiance

3. Public Forum

1. A gentleman who resides in Pine Grove spoke against cannabis and for protecting the youth.

2. Lindsey Wood, co-proprietor of the Brinnwood Bed and Breakfast, shared that the sidewalk in front of their business needs repair.

3. Ellon Brittingham, the new Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Representative for the San Joaquin, Calaveras, Amador Counties spoke to introduce herself. Ms. Brittingham can be contacted at 209-252- 2215 or via email at [email protected].

4. Josh Lewis from Embarc shared that there would be a Community Listening Session that Embarc would be hosting at the Kiota Inn & Event Center (271 Hanford Street, Sutter Creek) on Sunday, March 22, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

5. Andrea Roberts, proprietor of Evergreen Emporium, expressed her question on why the City is prioritizing outside businesses such as Embarc rather than supporting local businesses in terms of the City opening its market on cannabis.
4 Section 6, Item A.

Page 2 of 6 ends

6. Pete Jensen complimented staff for clearing up the bushes on certain areas of the City. He also stated that there are still more areas in the City that need to be cleaned up - areas that are covered with tarps, the property on Sutter Hill (the lawyer).

4. City Manager’s Report
City Manager DuBois provided his report to the City Council. Aside from responding to inquiries and requests for clarification from City Council, City Manager DuBois also provided a reply to public comments pertaining to:
● City staff are already looking into improving the sidewalk by Brinnwood Bed & Breakfast. ● The City only learned about the Embarc community listening session on Sunday during tonight’s public forum.
● The Visitor’s Center and the City are working together in ways on making The Palace site more aesthetically pleasing.
● City staff went to the Schell site last week.

City Manager DuBois’ report (slide presentation) can be accessed through this link:
https://www.cityofsuttercreek.org/media/10261

5. Presentations
A. Introduce New City Employee - Sutter Creek Police Department - Officer Kristina Stevens Sutter Creek Police Department (SCPD) Chief Jim O'Connell to introduce and administer the Oath of Office for new City employee / SCPD Officer Kristina Stevens.

This item was moved before Agenda Item 3 - Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Police Chief Jim O’Connell introduced and led the Oath of Office for newly-hired Police Officer Kristina Stevens. Officer Stevens’ two children were requested to assist in pinning her badge.

Officer Stevens thanked the City Council and the public for the opportunity to serve the community.

6. Approval of Minutes
A. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes of March 2, 2026 Recommendation: By motion, approve minutes as presented.

Vice Mayor Sierk noted that towards the bottom of Page 9 of the meeting minutes, the number of votes needed to be corrected to 3 ayes and 2 absent.

Council Member Swift noted that close to the top of Page 9, on the outcome regarding the City Treasurer, the sentence originally stated that the motion did not pass. The sentence needs to be modified since there was no motion made.

Motion made by Vice Mayor Sierk, seconded by Council Member Swift to approve the City Council Meeting Minutes of March 2, 2026 with the modifications noted above.

AYES: Mayor Gunselman, Vice Mayor Sierk, and Council Member Swift ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Council Member Feist and Council Member Riordan NOES: None
MOTION CARRIED 3-0

7. Consent Agenda
None.
5 Section 6, Item A.

Page 3 of 6 ends

8. Ordinances and Public Hearing
A. Discuss Moratorium on Review, Processing, or Approval of New Temporary Residential Uses Recommendation: Consider, introduce, waive the reading by substitution of title, and adopt Ordinance No. 25-26-XX - An Urgency Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Sutter Creek Imposing A Moratorium on the Permitting of Temporary Residential Uses within City Limits.

City Attorney Cole presented the report before City Council and provided clarification that tonight was the introduction of a new Urgency Ordinance now presented for the City Council’s review and consideration rather than a re-introduction of the Temporary Short-Term Rental (STR) Moratorium Urgency Ordinance. City Attorney Cole also informed the City Council that a four-fifths vote would be required to introduce and adopt the Urgency Ordinance. City Attorney Cole also responded to inquiries and requests for clarification from the City Council.

Mayor Gunselman opened the floor for public comment. Zero (0) public comments were received.

Motion made by Council Member Riordan, seconded by Vice Mayor Sierk to waive the first and final reading by substitution of the tile, then introduce and adopt Ordinance No. 25-26-xx thereby imposing a moratorium on the permitting of temporary residential uses within City limits.

AYES: Mayor Gunselman, Vice Mayor Sierk, and Council Members Feist, Riordan, and Swift ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
NOES: None
MOTION CARRIED 5-0
After the meeting, Ordinance No. 25-26-xx was assigned a permanent number: Ordinance No. 380.

9. Administrative Agenda
A. Approve Updated Impact Fees based on New Nexus Study Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 25-26-xx approving the Nexus Study and the updated development impacts fees to take effect on July 1, 2026.

City Manager DuBois presented the report before the City Council. Contract City Planner Ventura and City Manager DuBois responded to inquiries and requests for clarification from City Council such as the fee comparison and why Fire was not represented (roman numeral IV of the Nexus Study Report), and the significant “drop” for the fees under Parks and Recreation per the nexus findings.

Zero (0) public comments were received.

Motion made by Vice Mayor Sierk, seconded by Council Member Feist to adopt Resolution No. 25-26-xx, thereby approving the Nexus Study and the updated development impact fees to take effect on July 1, 2026.

AYES: Mayor Gunselman, Vice Mayor Sierk, and Council Members Feist, Riordan, and Swift ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
NOES: None
MOTION CARRIED 5-0
After the meeting, Resolution No. 25-26-xx was assigned a permanent number: Resolution No. 25- 26-18.
6 Section 6, Item A.

Page 4 of 6 ends

B. City of Sutter Creek Master Fee Schedule
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 25-26-xx, thereby approving the City of Sutter Creek Master Fee Schedule which would take effect on July 1, 2026.

City Manager DuBois presented the report and advised the City Council that staff made the changes per City Council feedback from the February 17, 2026 regular meeting.

The City Council did not have any inquiries or requests for clarification. Mayor Gunselman noted that the staff report addressed City Council’s feedback from February 17, 2026, provided a helpful communication and clear breakdown on how the City determines whether a service would be “cost recovery” or a “community benefit," and documented the City’s commitment in providing as many services as it could within its budget.

Zero (0) public comments were received.

Motion made by Council Member Riordan, seconded by Vice Mayor Sierk to adopt Resolution No. 25-26-xx, thereby approving the City of Sutter Creek Master Fee Schedule which would take effect on July 1, 2026.

C. Review and Accept the Annual Progress Report on Housing to the California Housing and Community Development (HCD)
Recommendation: Review and Accept the Annual Progress Report to Housing and Community Development (HCD).

Contract City Planner Ventura presented the report before the City Council. Contract City Planner Ventura responded to inquiries and requests for clarification from City Council such as the design standards for the Danco Project, is the working group still meeting, and the City maintaining an inventory of vacant homes Citywide.

Zero (0) public comments were received.

Motion made by Vice Mayor Sierk, seconded by Council Member Swift to accept the Annual Progress Report on Housing to the California Housing and Community Development (HCD).

AYES: Mayor Gunselman, Vice Mayor Sierk, and Council Members Feist, Riordan, and Swift ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
NOES: None
MOTION CARRIED 5-0
Mayor Gunselman called for a recess at 7:15 PM. The meeting resumed at 7:20 PM. 7 Section 6, Item A.

Page 5 of 6 ends

D. Continue City Council Discussions from the February 2, 2026 and March 2, 2026 Regular Meetings Regarding Parameters of a Citywide Short Term Rental (STR) Ordinance Recommendation: Resume review, discussion, and consideration regarding the parameters of a ShortTerm Rental (STR) Ordinance; and provide direction regarding said Ordinance. Materials from February 2, 2026 and March 2, 2026 regular meetings of the City Council are provided.

Mayor Gunselman announced the continuation of this agenda item from the discussion stemming from the regular meetings of February 2, 2026 and March 2, 2026.

City Manager DuBois presented the report before the City Council. City Manager DuBois, Contract City Planner Ventura, and Finance Supervisor Mason Peters responded to inquiries and addressed requests for clarification from City Council.

When the City Council paused the discussion, Mayor Gunselman opened the floor for public comment.

Three (3) people gave their public comment:

1. Quentin Taylor - Complimented the City Council for engaging in conversation and discussing the topic in order to come up with an equitable ordinance. He said for the City Council to not lose sight that STRs can negatively affect property values for all homeowners - the STR property owner and the neighbors.

2. Laura Damiani - Shared her thoughts regarding noise ordinances pertaining to STRs, methodology of data collection, that perhaps STR matters should be a two-step process (administrative and Planning Commission consideration and approval).

3. Byron Damiani, Jr. - Spoke that maybe it would be easier to pick a number rather than to determine a percentage for the City’s “cap” on STRs, and he believes that the “cap” has already been reached especially at the City’s historical district.

The City Council continued the discussion regarding the topic. Staff noted areas of consensus for the City Council as well as open issues that need to be addressed at a later meeting date:

1. Does the City want to make considerations based on density?

2. Does the City want to make considerations based on historic / non historic districts?

3. Formation of an ad-hoc committee to assist in drafting the ordinance.

After the discussions, City Council reached consensus on the following actions:

1. The formation of an ad-hoc committee is on hold, pending the outcome of the draft ordinance to be presented by staff at a future City Council meeting date.

2. Staff had enough information to draft an ordinance for City Council review and consideration. If the draft ordinance is developed enough to move forward, there would be no need for an ad-hoc committee.

3. If the draft ordinance would require additional consideration, the City Council will assign two members of the City Council to serve as part of the ad-hoc committee to work on the draft ordinance.

The staff presentation can be accessed at this link: https://www.cityofsuttercreek.org/media/10256 No motion was made regarding this agenda item. The City Council’s consensus was to direct staff to present a draft ordinance at a future City Council meeting, with the formation of an ad-hoc committee contingent upon Council feedback.
8 Section 6, Item A.

Page 6 of 6 ends

10. Mayor and Council Member Reports
The City Council clarified details with City Manager Dubois regarding the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Bryson Park Bathroom Project this week and requested an update on the fencing at The Palace.

Regarding future agenda items, the City Council reached consensus on the following:

1. Bringing back the City Treasurer agenda item for discussion since there was no motion and there were staff questions that remain unanswered.

2. Bringing back the Surveillance Policy agenda item for discussion.

Mayor Gunselman announced that the Annual Duck Race will be held on April 25, 2026.

11. City Attorney’s Report
City Attorney Cole said that he had nothing to report.

12. Information and Correspondence
A. Monthly Report - City Clerk (February 2026)
B. Monthly Report - City Treasurer (February 2026)
C. Monthly Report - Engineering (February 2026)
D. Monthly Report - Finance (February 2026)
E. Monthly Report - Planning (February 2026)
F. Monthly Report - Marketing / Social Media (February 2026) G. Monthly Report - Police (February 2026)
H. Monthly Report - Public Works (February 2026)
I. Correspondence Received from the Public
City Treasurer Runquist verbally provided a correction to her February 2026 monthly report. December 31, 2025 should be February 28, 2026.

In response to City Council’s request, City Manager DuBois will include in his next City Manager’s Report an update on the City and the Visitor Center’s efforts regarding The Palace.

13. Closed Session
None.

14. Report from Closed Session
None.

15. Adjournment
The next regularly scheduled meeting is April 6, 2026.

Mayor Gunselman adjourned the meeting at 9:01 PM.
9 Section 6, Item A.
18 Main St., Sutter Creek, CA 95685 • Telephone: (209)267-5647 • Fax: (209)267-0639 • TTY: 711 The City of Sutter Creek is an equal opportunity service provider and employer

TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE

CITY COUNCIL
MEETING DATE: APRIL 6, 2026
FROM: FRANK WHITMORE, CITY ENGINEER
SUBJECT: BRYSON PARK BATHROOM EXPANSION PROJECT

RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution No. 25–26-xx, thereby accepting the work on the Bryson Park Bathroom Expansion Project and authorizing the City Manager to execute the Notice of Completion and cause it to be filed with the Amador County Recorder.

BACKGROUND
The contractor, John Allen Construction, completed work on the Bryson Park Bathroom Expansion Project on February 27, 2026, in accordance with the Plans and Specifications approved by the City Council of the City of Sutter Creek. Final construction costs were $82,575.00.

DISCUSSION
All contract items of work for the Bryson Park Bathroom Expansion Project have been completed in substantial compliance with the plans, specifications, codes, and standards of the City. All work was determined substantially complete on February 27, 2026.

BUDGET IMPACT / FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION
Final project costs are as follows:

Original Contract Amount $ 82,575.00
Total Contract Change Orders (None) $ 0.00
Final Contract Amount $ 82,575.00
City Fund No. 73 (Park Impact Fees) was used to pay for this project.

ATTACHMENTS

1. Notice of Completion (NOC)

2. Draft Resolution
10 Section 7, Item A.

RECORDING REQUESTED BY:

CITY OF SUTTER CREEK

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

City Manager
City of Sutter Creek
18 Main Street
Sutter Creek, CA 95685
_______________________________

NOTICE OF COMPLETION

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

Date of Completion: February 27, 2026.

Name and Address of the Owner: City of Sutter Creek, 18 Main Street, Sutter Creek, CA 95685.

Nature of the Interest or Estate of the Owner: Owner in fee simple.

Description of the Site: Bryson Park, Sutter Creek, CA 95685 Name and Address of the Contractor for the above Work of Improvement: John Allen Construction, P.O. Box 353, San Andreas, CA 95249.

General Statement of Kind of Work Done or Materials Furnished: Improvements to Bryson Park’s existing building to add an 8-foot by 8-foot wood framed ADA compliant unisex bathroom.

CITY OF SUTTER CREEK – OWNER
By___________________________________
Tom DuBois, City Manager
TOM DUBOIS declares:

I am the City Manager of the City of Sutter Creek, 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. Dated at Sutter Creek, California this 6th day of April 2026.
______________________________________________
TOM DuBOIS, CITY MANAGER
11 Section 7, Item A.

RESOLUTION NO. _________

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SUTTER CREEK

ACCEPTING THE COMPLETION OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE

BRYSON PARK BATHROOM EXPANSION PROJECT, AND FILING A NOTICE OF

COMPLETION AND AUTHORIZING RECORDATION THEREFORE
WHEREAS, the contractor of work, John Allen Construction completed all work according to the plans and specifications on February 27, 2026; and WHEREAS, the improvements consisted of adding an 8-foot by 8-foot wood framed ADA compliant unisex bathroom to the existing building at Bryson Park.

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 Sutter Creek does hereby accept the completed public improvements and authorizes the City to file a Notice of Completion (NOC) with the Amador County Recorder’s Office.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Sutter Creek during the City Council’s regular meeting on the 4th day of April 2026 by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSTAIN:

ABSENT:

CITY OF SUTTER CREEK
________________________________
Claire Gunselman, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
Pam Caronongan, MMC, City Clerk
12 Section 7, Item A.
18 Main St., Sutter Creek, CA 95685 • Telephone: (209)267-5647 • Fax: (209)267-1655 • TTY: 711 The City of Sutter Creek is an equal opportunity service provider and employer ______________________________________________________________________________

STAFF REPORT
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: APRIL 6, 2026
FROM: CITY MANAGER DUBOIS
SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF UPDATED LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN RECOMMENDATION:

Pass the resolution adopting the 2025 Updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) in its entirety including appendices and Annex.

BACKGROUND:

At the end of 2024 and during 2025, Dan LaFontaine and I attended a series of meetings led by the county and the county’s consultant to identify hazards and potential mitigations. The result of that work is before you tonight, an updated local hazard mitigation plan compliant with AB2140 (which would enable the city to qualify for additional funding in the event of an emergency).

DISCUSSION:

During these meetings we identified threats and projects relevant to the City of Sutter Creek. Details specific to Sutter Creek can be found in Annex E.

The Council must adopt hte LHMP and we must also update the Safety Element of the General Plan to refer to the updated plan. The updated Safety Element will go to planning commission, and then come back to you with updated linking to this updated plan.

BUDGET IMPACT: None
ATTACHMENTS:

RCC 25-26-XX PENDING - Resolution to Adopt LHMP
Amador County LHMP Update Complete FEMA Draft
13 Section 7, Item B.

RESOLUTION NO. 25-26-XX

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SUTTER CREEK ADOPTING THE 2025 UPDATED LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
WHEREAS the City of Sutter Creek recognizes the threat that natural hazards pose to people and property within the County; and WHEREAS the City of Sutter Creek has prepared a multi-hazard mitigation plan, hereby known as the 2025 Amador County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with federal laws, including the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended; the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended; and the National Dam Safety Program Act, as amended; and WHEREAS the 2025 Amador County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies mitigation goals and actions to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property in the County of Amador and City of Sutter Creek from the impacts of future hazards and disasters; and
WHEREAS adoption by the Sutter Creek City Council demonstrates its commitment to hazard mitigation and achieving the goals outlined in the 2025 Amador County Local Hazard Mitigation -Plan;-and
WHEREAS the Sutter Creek City Council seeking FEMA approval of hazard mitigation plan desires to comply with the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act and to augment its emergency planning efforts by formally adopting the 2025 Amador County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan by reference into the Safety Element of the General Plan in accordance with the requirements of AB 2140; and.

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

The Amador County Board of Supervisors adopts the 2025 Amador County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. While content related to the County of Amador may require revisions to meet the plan approval requirements, changes occurring after adoption will not require the County of Amador to re-adopt any further iterations of the plan. Subsequent plan updates following the approval period for this plan will require separate adoption resolutions.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County of Amador adopts the 2025 Amador County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan by reference into the safety element of their general plan in accordance with the requirements of AB 2140; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Amador County Board of Supervisors will submit this adoption resolution to the California Office of Emergency Services and FEMA Region IX officials to enable the plan's final approval in accordance with the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of2000 and to establish conformance with the requirement of AB 2140.
14 Section 7, Item B.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Sutter Creek at a regular meeting held on this 6th day of April 2026, by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:

CITY OF SUTTER CREEK
_____________________________
Claire Gunselman, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________________
Pam Caronongan, MMC, City Clerk
15 Section 7, Item B.

Amador County
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
16 Section 7, Item B.

Amador County i
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
Executive Summary
Amador County, five incorporated communities, and two special districts prepared this Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) Update to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved 2020 Amador County LHMP. This Amador County LHMP is a multi-jurisdictional plan that geographically covers the entire area within Amador County’s jurisdictional boundaries (hereinafter referred to as the Planning Area). The following jurisdictions participated in the planning process and are seeking FEMA approval of the LHMP Update:
➢ Amador County*
➢ City of Amador City*
➢ City of Ione*
➢ City of Jackson*
➢ City of Plymouth*
➢ City of Sutter Creek*
➢ Amador Water Agency*
➢ Jackson Valley Irrigation District*
* Participated in 2020 Amador County LHMP
4 jurisdictions that were approved for the 2020 LHMP, but are not seeking approval for this Plan Update include:
➢ Amador Fire Safe Council
➢ Lockwood Fire Protection District
➢ Pine Grove Community Services District
➢ River Pines Public Utility District
The purpose of this 2025 Amador County LHMP Update and hazard mitigation planning process is to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property, critical facilities and infrastructure, natural and historic and cultural resources, and other community assets from future hazard events and natural disasters.

This LHMP Update demonstrates the participating jurisdictions’ commitment to reducing risks from hazards and serves as a tool to help decision makers direct mitigation activities and resources. This LHMP Update was also developed in order for the participating jurisdictions to be eligible for certain federal disaster assistance, specifically, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program.

Each year in the United States, natural disasters take the lives of hundreds of people and injure thousands more. Nationwide, taxpayers pay billions of dollars annually to help communities, organizations, businesses, and individuals recover from disasters. These monies only partially reflect the true cost of disasters, because additional expenses to insurance companies and nongovernmental organizations are not reimbursed by tax dollars. Many natural disasters are predictable, and much of the damage caused by these events can be alleviated or even eliminated through natural hazard mitigation. 17 Section 7, Item B.

Amador County ii
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
2025 LHMP Update Plan Development Process
Hazard mitigation planning is the process through which hazards that threaten communities are identified, likely impacts determined, mitigation goals set, and appropriate mitigation strategies determined, prioritized, and implemented. This LHMP Update documents the 2025 hazard mitigation planning process and identifies relevant hazards, community risk and vulnerabilities, and mitigation strategies the participating jurisdictions will use to decrease vulnerability and increase resiliency and sustainability in the Amador County Planning Area.

This LHMP Update was prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390), the implementing regulations set forth by the Interim Final Rule published in the Federal Register on February 26, 2002, (44 CFR §201.6) and finalized on October 31, 2007, and current FEMA guidance. Amador County jurisdictions followed a planning process prescribed by FEMA as detailed in Table ES-1.

Table ES-1 Local Hazard Mitigation Planning Process
DMA Process Modified CRS Process
1) Organize Resources
201.6(c)(1) 1) Organize the Planning Effort
201.6(b)(1) 2) Involve the Public
201.6(b)(2) and (3) 3) Coordinate with Other Departments and Agencies 2) Assess Risks
201.6(c)(2)(i) 4) Identify the Hazards
201.6(c)(2)(ii) 5) Assess the Risks
3) Develop the Mitigation Plan
201.6(c)(3)(i) 6) Set Goals
201.6(c)(3)(ii) 7) Review Possible Activities
201.6(c)(3)(iii) 8) Draft an Action Plan
4) Implement the Plan and Monitor Progress
201.6(c)(5) 9) Adopt the Plan
201.6(c)(4) 10) Implement, Evaluate, and Revise the Plan The planning process began with the organizational phase to establish the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (HMPC), comprised of key Amador County jurisdictional representatives, and other local and regional stakeholders; to involve the public; and to coordinate with other departments and agencies. A detailed risk assessment was then conducted followed by the development of a focused mitigation strategy for the Amador County Planning Area and specific to each participating jurisdiction. Once approved by Cal OES and FEMA, this 2025 LHMP Update will be adopted and implemented by the participating jurisdictions over the next five years.
18 Section 7, Item B.

Amador County iii
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
Risk Assessment
A natural hazard risk assessment was conducted that identified and profiled hazards that pose a risk to the Amador County Planning Area and to each participating jurisdiction, assessed the vulnerability of the Amador County Planning Area and jurisdictions to these hazards, and examined the existing jurisdictional capabilities to mitigate identified hazards.

The Amador County Planning Area is vulnerable to numerous hazards that are identified, profiled, and analyzed in this 2025 LHMP Update. Wildfires, floods, earthquakes, drought, dam failure, and other severe weather events are among the hazards that can have a significant impact on the Planning Area. Table ES2 details the hazards identified for this 2025 LHMP Update. 19 Section 7, Item B.

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Table ES-2 Amador County Planning Area Hazard Identification Assessment Hazard
Geographic
Extent
Likelihood of
Future
Occurrences
Magnitude/
Severity Significance
Climate
Change
Influence
Agricultural Hazards (severe
weather/pests/invasive species)
Extensive Highly Likely Limited Medium Medium
Avalanche Limited Likely Critical Medium Medium
Climate Change Extensive Likely Limited Medium --
Dam Failure Limited Unlikely Critical Medium Medium
Drought & Water shortage (w/
tree mortality)
Extensive Likely Critical Medium High
Earthquake (w/subhazards) Extensive Unlikely Catastrophic Medium Low Floods: 1%/0.2% annual
chance (w/ levee failure)
Significant Occasional/Unlikely Critical Medium Medium
Floods: Localized Stormwater Extensive Highly Likely Limited Medium Medium Landslide, Mudslide, Debris
Flow
Limited Likely Critical Medium Medium
Severe Weather: Extreme Cold,
Freeze, and Snow
Extensive Highly Likely Limited Medium Medium
Severe Weather: Extreme Heat Extensive Highly Likely Limited Medium High Severe Weather: Heavy Rains
and Storms (Hail, Lightning)
Extensive Highly Likely Limited Medium Medium
Severe Weather: High Winds
and Tornadoes
Extensive Highly Likely Limited Medium Medium
Wildfire (w/smoke and air
quality)
Extensive Highly Likely Catastrophic High Medium
Geographic Extent
Limited: Less than 10% of planning
area
Significant: 10-50% of planning area
Extensive: 50-100% of planning area
Likelihood of Future
Occurrences
Highly Likely: Near 100% chance of
occurrence in next year, or happens
every year.

Likely: Between 10 and 100% chance of
occurrence in next year, or has a
recurrence interval of 10 years or less.

Occasional: Between 1 and 10%
chance of occurrence in the next year, or
has a recurrence interval of 11 to 100
years.

Unlikely: Less than 1% chance of
occurrence in next 100 years, or has a
recurrence interval of greater than every
100 years.

Magnitude/Severity
Catastrophic: More than 50 percent of property severely damaged; shutdown of facilities for more than 30 days; and/or multiple deaths Critical: 25-50 percent of property severely damaged; shutdown of facilities for at least two weeks; and/or injuries and/or illnesses result in permanent disability
Limited: 10-25 percent of property severely damaged; shutdown of facilities for more than a week; and/or injuries/illnesses treatable do not result in permanent disability
Negligible: Less than 10 percent of property severely damaged, shutdown of facilities and services for less than 24 hours; and/or injuries/illnesses treatable with first aid
Significance
Low: Minimal potential impact
Medium: Moderate potential impact
High: Widespread potential impact
Climate Change Influence
Low: Minimal potential impact
Medium: Moderate potential impact
High: Widespread potential impact
20 Section 7, Item B.

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Mitigation Strategy
Based on the results of the risk assessment, a mitigation action strategy was developed to reduce the Amador County Planning Area’s risk and vulnerability to identified natural hazards. The resulting mitigation strategy is comprised of goals and objectives, and a mitigation action plan which includes a series of mitigation actions, projects, and implementation measures. The 2025 LHMP Update Goals and Objectives are detailed below followed by a summary table of the 2025 mitigation actions and projects.

Goal #1: Provide protection for people's lives, property, public health, and the environment and reduce risk and losses from natural hazards ➢ Minimize impact to existing development
➢ Minimize impact to future development
➢ Minimize economic and resource impact
➢ Promote resiliency strategies
➢ Consider and prioritize the use of prevention measures such as land use controls and code enhancements Goal #2: Provide protection for critical facilities, infrastructure, utilities and services from hazard impacts
➢ Protect and improve resiliency of critical facilities, services, and community lifelines from hazard impacts to protect life and reduce loss of property
➢ Implement critical facility upgrades, retrofits, and mitigation measures to ensure reliability of services ➢ Update and maintain GIS list of critical facilities: Essential Services, At-Risk Populations, Hazardous Materials Facilities
Goal #3: Improve community (public and stakeholder) awareness, education, and preparedness to natural hazard events
➢ Enhance public/stakeholder outreach, education and preparedness planning for all hazards of concern and for all populations, including underserved and vulnerable populations ➢ Reinforce emergency response systems
➢ Foster household preparedness and self responsibility for hazard mitigation ➢ Increase public and stakeholder knowledge and awareness about the risk and vulnerability to identified hazards and how to take responsibility for and mitigate these risks with a focus on high priority hazards such as wildfire and flood
➢ Leverage existing public outreach and education mechanisms such as community coalitions and other existing forums; expand social media presence and local community boards ➢ Increase use of technology to communicate hazard information (e.g., GIS) ➢ Provide education and outreach on evacuation routes, signage, roles and responsibilities, as well as on various emergency communication modes
Goal #4: Build community resilience and increase communities' ability to be prepared for, respond to, and recover from a disaster event
➢ Improve community capabilities to mitigate hazards, reduce losses, and to better recover from disasters 21 Section 7, Item B.

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➢ Integrate mitigation into planning and decision making by embedding mitigation strategies into everyday county policies, capital projects, and other similar mechanisms ➢ Improve interagency (local, state, federal) emergency coordination, communication, and operational capacity to ensure effective community preparedness, response and recovery ➢ Maintain current service levels and continue internal and operational training ➢ Enhance alert and warning systems and ensure effective system redundancies ➢ Improve emergency communication systems with reliable backup (e.g., cell phones, radios, sirens, reverse 911, multi-media, etc.)
➢ Improve identification, education, and emergency notifications of vulnerable and underserved populations
➢ Enhance the use of shared resources/Develop a strong mutual aid support system ➢ Improve and make better use of technology (e.g., GIS) ➢ Establish and expand GIS technologies to map hazards and community assets for mitigation planning and to support hazard response and community recovery
➢ Maintain coordination of disaster plans, data, and information with changing DHS/FEMA and State requirements
➢ Support and build upon evacuation planning and sheltering efforts in the County ➢ Mitigate future hazard losses through adequate land use/facilities planning Goal #5: Reduce fire severity and intensity in Amador County and surrounding lands ➢ Reduce life safety issues, property loss, natural resource impacts, and damages associated with wildfires ➢ Prevent and reduce wildfire ignitions
➢ Increase agency and jurisdictional coordination to reduce wildfire risk, severity and intensity ➢ Increase vegetation management countywide to reduce wildfire losses ➢ Be proactive in identifying and prioritizing mitigation funding to minimize risk and vulnerability to wildfire
➢ Prioritize wildfire mitigation around critical facilities and infrastructure ➢ Support efforts to gain access to affordable insurance for all communities including underserved and vulnerable populations
Goal #6: Maintain FEMA Eligibility/Position the communities for Grant funding ➢ Improve community ability to be competitive/successful with grant funding opportunities from application development to project delivery
➢ Establish and share best practices among agencies for development of grant applications, project permits, etc.
➢ Educate (and advocate) local officials to support local access to funding.

Based on the risk assessment review and goal setting process, the HMPC identified mitigation actions (Table ES-3), which provide direction for reducing future hazard-related losses within the Amador County Planning Area and specific to each participating jurisdiction. 22 Section 7, Item B.

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Table ES-3 Amador County Planning Area Mitigation Actions Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Amador County
Multi-Hazard Actions
Action 1. Integrate Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan into Safety Element of
General Plan
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Action 2. Enhance Public
Education and Awareness of Natural
Hazards and Public Understanding of
Disaster Preparedness
Previous
Action
X X X Prevention
Public Education
Action 3. Backup Power Projects
for Critical Facilities & Infrastructure
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 4. Establish and Fund a
Full-Time Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) position for Hazard
Mitigation and Emergency Planning
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Emergency Services
Action 5. Enhance and Harden
Cellular and Repeater Communications
Infrastructure Countywide
Previous
Action
X X Property Protection
Structural
Action 6. Upgrade and Replace
Countywide Emergency Radio
Communications Infrastructure
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Emergency Services
Action 7. Emergency Water
Storage & Hauling Infrastructure
Project
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Emergency Services
Action 8. Launch of PHapp
Mobile Preparedness Public Health
Application
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Agricultural Hazard Actions
Action 9. Invasive Pests (Insect) Previous
Action
X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 10. Invasive Pests (Weeds) Previous
Action
X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Climate Change Actions
Action 11. Climate Resilience
through Multi-Hazard Mitigation
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
23 Section 7, Item B.

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Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Dam Failure, Flood, Localized Flood, and Heavy Rains and Storm Actions Action 12. Flood & Dam Failure
Resilience Plan
New Action X X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Earthquake Actions
Action 13. Amador County
Earthquake Preparedness & Seismic
Resilience Plan
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Landslide Actions
Action 14. Landslide Hazard
Mitigation & Slope Stability Plan
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Severe Weather: Extreme Cold, Freeze, and Snow Actions
Action 15. Severe Winter Weather
Resilience Plan
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Severe Weather: Extreme Heat Actions
Action 16. Extreme Heat Resilience
Plan
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Wildfire, Drought, and Extreme Heat Actions
Action 17. Tree Mortality Program
Coordinator
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 18. Countywide wildfire
resiliency coordination GIS mapping
project to support fuels reduction
efforts
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 19. Forest Health Projects New Action X X Prevention Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 20. Ingress/Egress Phases I
and II: Public Education and Fuels
Reduction
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 21. Community Fuel Break
Network
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
24 Section 7, Item B.

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Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Action 22. Defensible Space
Assistance
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 23. Defensible Space Public
Education
New Action X X Public Education
Action 24. Develop Amador County
CWPP and Implementation of
Identified Projects
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Property Protection
Public Education
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 25. Vegetation Management
projects – Monitoring and
Maintenance
Previous
Action
X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
City of Amador City
Action 1. Integrate Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan into Safety Element of
General Plan
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Action 2. Enhance Public
Education and Awareness of Natural
Hazards and Public Understanding of
Disaster Preparedness
Previous
Action
X X X Prevention
Public Education
Action 3. Old Hwy 49/Main Street
Slope and Road Stabilization
Previous
Action
X X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 4. Cooling Center/Severe
Weather Center
New Action X X Structural
Action 5. Amador Creek Annual
Cleaning projects
New Action X X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 6. Stormwater Masterplan
Development and Implementation
Previous
Action
X X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 7. Vegetation Management
and Perimeter Wildfire Protection Fuel
Break
Previous
Action
X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
City of Ione
Action 1. Integrate Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan into Safety Element of
General Plan
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Action 2. Enhance Public
Education and Awareness of Natural
Hazards and Public Understanding of
Disaster Preparedness
Previous
Action
X X X Prevention
Public Education
Action 3. Develop a Climate
Adaptation Plan
New Action X X X Prevention
Public Education
25 Section 7, Item B.

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Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Action 4. Implement Water
Conservation and Drought
Preparedness Program
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 5. Update Floodplain
Ordinance and Join Community Rating
System (CRS)
Previous
Action
X X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 6. Develop a Storm Water
Master Plan
Previous
Action
X X X Prevention
Public Education
Action 7. Establish a Cooling
Center Network and Shelter Upgrades
Previous
Action
X X Emergency Services
Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 8. Implement Urban
Forestry and Debris Management
Program
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 9. Enhance Wildfire
Preparedness and Defensible Space
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 10. Develop a Sustainable
Sutter Creek Maintenance Program
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
City of Jackson
Action 1. Integrate Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan into Safety Element of
General Plan
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Action 2. Enhance Public
Education and Awareness of Natural
Hazards and Public Understanding of
Disaster Preparedness
Previous
Action
X X X Prevention
Public Education
Action 3. Creation of Drone
Program
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 4. Backup Power Projects
for Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
(e.g. Generators, Batteries, Solar, Etc.)
New Action X X Property Protection
Structural
Action 5. Creek Excavation and
Annual Clearing Projects
Previous
Action
X X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 6. Pitt Street Bridge
Replacement
New Action X X X Structural
26 Section 7, Item B.

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Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Action 7. Mattley Street Erosion
Project
New Action X X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 8. Home Hardening
Education Program/Go Bags, ARC
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 9. Defensible Space Public
Education
Previous
Action
X X Public Education
Action 10. Fuel Break Projects New Action X X Prevention Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 11. Jackson Fire Station 131
Replacement Project
New Action X X Structural
City of Plymouth
Action 1. Integrate Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan into Safety Element of
General Plan
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Action 2. Enhance Public
Education and Awareness of Natural
Hazards and Public Understanding of
Disaster Preparedness
Previous
Action
X X X Prevention
Public Education
Action 3. Develop a Community
Wildfire Prevention Plan
New Action X X Prevention
Public Education
Action 4. Repairs of Old
Sacramento Road to Reduce Flooding
and Road Blockage
New Action X X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 5. Additional Water Tank
Storage
Previous
Action
X X Structural
City of Sutter Creek
Action 6. Integrate Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan into Safety Element of
General Plan
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Action 7. Enhance Public
Education and Awareness of Natural
Hazards and Public Understanding of
Disaster Preparedness
Previous
Action
X X X Prevention
Public Education
Action 8. Auditorium, Community
Center, and WWTP Backup Power
Generators
New Action X X X Structural
Action 9. Development of Walking
Paths, Native Tree Protection, and
Native Tree Species Planting
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
27 Section 7, Item B.

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Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Action 10. Henderson Underdrain New Action X X X Structural Action 11. Recycled Water System
for New Development
New Action X X Structural
Action 12. Early EQ Warning
Program
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 13. Sutter Creek
Excavation/Annual Cleaning Projects
Previous
Action
X X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 14. Stormwater Masterplan
Development and Implementation
Previous
Action
X X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 15. Culvert Cleaning Projects Previous
Action
X X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 16. Karsan Drive Tributary
Slope and Road Stabilization
New Action X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 17. Cooling Center/Severe
Weather Center
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 18. Vegetation Management
Enforcement and Perimeter Wildfire
Protection Fuel break
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Amador Water Agency
Action 19. AWA Tank Flexibility
Connectors
New Action X X Structural
Action 20. Camanche WWTP
Treatment, Disposal, and Effluent
Storage Upgrades
New Action X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 21. CAWP Transmission
Main Improvements and Tank D
Replacement
New Action X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 22. CAWP Tiger Creek
Afterbay Alternate Supply
New Action X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
28 Section 7, Item B.

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Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Action 23. Ione WTP Backwash
Handling Improvements
New Action X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 24. Tanner Clearwell
Replacement
New Action X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 25. Tanner WTP Backwash
Drying Beds
New Action X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 26. Tank Replacement/
Tank Repair
New Action X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 27. Amador and Ione Water
Systems Taste and Odor Mitigation
Previous
Action
X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 28. Replacement of Two
Hypalon Lined and Covered Tanks
with New Tanks
Previous
Action
X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 29. Mt. Crossman Main Area
Tank for Upper CAWP System
Previous
Action
X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 30. Martell Regional Lift
Station and Collection System
Improvements
New Action X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 31. Mace Meadows Pump
Station Flooding
New Action X X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 32. Water Treatment Plant
Raw Water Bypasses
New Action X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 33. Upgrade Fire Pumps New Action X X Structural Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 34. Tanner WTP Flow
Control and Reliability Improvements
New Action X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
29 Section 7, Item B.

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Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Action 35. Ione Reliability Capacity
Expansion and Site Security
New Action X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Jackson Valley Irrigation District
Action 36. Aquatic Invasive Species
Monitoring Plan and Decontamination
Station
Previous
Action
X X Natural Resource
Protection
Action 37. Long Term Water
Solutions Analysis Due to Climate
Change
Previous
Action
X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 38. Jackson Creek Dam
Spillway Apron Extension Project
Previous
Action
X X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 39. Lake Amador Spillway
Rubber Dam Project
Previous
Action
X X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 40. JVID Water
Procurement and Additional Water
Storage Study
Previous
Action
X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 41. Jackson Creek
Streambank and Levee Maintenance
Project
Previous
Action
X X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 42. Lake Amador Drive Box
Culvert Expansion Project
Previous
Action
X X X Structural
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
30 Section 7, Item B.

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Table of Contents
Chapters
1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................1-1

1.1 Purpose ...................................................................................................................................1-1

1.2 Background and Scope...........................................................................................................1-1

1.3 Amador County Profile ..........................................................................................................1-2

1.3.1 History .............................................................................................................................1-7

1.3.2 Geography and Climate ...................................................................................................1-8

1.3.3 Population and Demographics.........................................................................................1-8

1.3.4 Economy and Tax Base ...................................................................................................1-9

1.4 Plan Organization.................................................................................................................1-11 2 WHAT’S NEW.............................................................................................................................2-1

2.1 What’s New in the Plan Update .............................................................................................2-1

2.2 Summary of Significant Changes to Current Conditions, Planning Area Vulnerability, and Hazard Mitigation Priorities................................................................................................................2-3

2.3 2020 LHMP Mitigation Strategy Successes and Status .........................................................2-8

2.3.1. Success Stories...............................................................................................................2-10

2.3.2. 2020 Mitigation Strategy Update...................................................................................2-14 3 PLANNING PROCESS................................................................................................................3-1

3.1 Local Government Participation.............................................................................................3-1

3.2 The 10-Step Planning Process................................................................................................3-2

3.2.1 Phase 1: Organize Resources..........................................................................................3-4

3.2.2 Phase 2: Assess Risks...................................................................................................3-19

3.2.3 Phase 3: Develop the Mitigation Plan...........................................................................3-19

3.2.4 Phase 4: Implement the Plan and Monitor Progress.....................................................3-20 4 RISK ASSESSMENT...................................................................................................................4-1

4.1 Hazard Identification..............................................................................................................4-2

4.1.1. Results and Methodology ................................................................................................4-2

4.1.2. Disaster Declaration History............................................................................................4-6

4.2 Amador County Asset Inventory and Growth and Development Trends.............................4-10

4.2.1. Assets Inventory ............................................................................................................4-11

4.2.2. Growth and Development Trends..................................................................................4-52

4.3 Hazard Profiles and Vulnerability Assessment ....................................................................4-59

4.3.1. Severe Weather: General ...............................................................................................4-71

4.3.2. Severe Weather: Extreme Cold, Freeze, and Snow .......................................................4-73

4.3.3. Severe Weather: Extreme Heat......................................................................................4-92

4.3.4. Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and Storm...................................................................4-105

4.3.5. Severe Weather: High Winds and Tornadoes..............................................................4-125

4.3.6. Agricultural Hazards: Severe Weather/Pests/Invasive Species ..................................4-135 31 Section 7, Item B.

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4.3.7. Avalanche ....................................................................................................................4-146

4.3.8. Climate Change............................................................................................................4-154

4.3.9. Dam Failure .................................................................................................................4-164

4.3.10. Drought and Water Shortage (w/Tree Mortality) ........................................................4-201

4.3.11. Earthquake ...................................................................................................................4-220

4.3.12. Flood: 1%/0.2% Annual Chance (w/Levee Failure)....................................................4-253

4.3.13. Flood: Localized Flooding..........................................................................................4-296

4.3.14. Landslides, Mudslides, and Debris Flows ...................................................................4-307

4.3.15. Wildfire (w/Smoke and Air Quality)...........................................................................4-332

4.4 Capability Assessment .......................................................................................................4-385

4.4.1. Amador County’s Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities................................................4-385

4.4.2. Amador County’s Administrative/Technical Mitigation Capabilities.........................4-403

4.4.3. Amador County’s Fiscal Mitigation Capabilities ........................................................4-404

4.4.4. Amador County Mitigation Education, Outreach, and Partnerships............................4-404

4.4.5. Other Mitigation Efforts ..............................................................................................4-405

4.5 Natural Hazards Summary .................................................................................................4-406 5 MITIGATION STRATEGY.........................................................................................................5-1

5.1 Mitigation Strategy: Overview...............................................................................................5-1

5.1.1 Continued Compliance with NFIP...................................................................................5-2

5.1.2 Integration of Mitigation with Post Disaster Recovery and Mitigation Strategy Funding Opportunities..................................................................................................................5-4

5.2 Goals and Objectives..............................................................................................................5-6

5.3 Identification and Analysis of Mitigation Actions.................................................................5-9

5.3.1 Prioritization Process.....................................................................................................5-11

5.4 Mitigation Action Plan .........................................................................................................5-13 6 PLAN ADOPTION.......................................................................................................................6-1 7 PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE ...............................................................7-1

7.1 Implementation.......................................................................................................................7-1

7.1.1 Role of Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee in Implementation and Maintenance..................................................................................................................................7-2

7.2 Maintenance ...........................................................................................................................7-3

7.2.1 Maintenance Schedule .....................................................................................................7-3

7.2.2 Maintenance Evaluation Process .....................................................................................7-3

7.2.3 Incorporation into Existing Planning Mechanisms..........................................................7-5

7.2.4 Continued Public Involvement ........................................................................................7-7 32 Section 7, Item B.

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Annexes
Annex A: City of Amador City
Annex B: City of Ione
Annex C: City of Jackson
Annex D: City of Plymouth
Annex E: City of Sutter Creek
Annex F: Amador Water Agency
Annex G: Jackson Valley Irrigation District
Appendices
Appendix A: Planning Process
Appendix B: References
Appendix C: Mitigation Strategy
Appendix D: Adoption Resolution
Appendix E: Threatened and Endangered Species
Appendix F: Critical Facilities
Appendix G: FEMA National Risk Index Report
Appendix H: Hazus Reports
33 Section 7, Item B.

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Abbreviations and Acronyms
Acronym Definition
AB Assembly Bill
AF Acre-feet
ALERT Automated Local Evaluation in Real Time
APG California Adaptation Planning Guide
AQI Air Quality Index
ASTDR Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s BAM Best Available Map
BCA Benefit Cost Analysis
BCEGS Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule
BFE Base Flood Elevation
BLM Bureau of Land Management
BRIC Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
CA-DWR California Department of Water Resources
CAISO California Independent System Operator
Cal EPA Environmental Protection Agency
Cal OES California Office of Emergency Services
CAP Climate Adaptation Plan
CAS Climate Adaptation Strategy
CAV Community Assistance Visit
CBC California Building Code
CCHPR Climate Change and Health Profile Report
CCSM Community Climate System Model
CDAA California Disaster Assistance Act
CDBG Community Development Block Grant
CDC Center for Disease Control
CDFW California Department of Fish and Wildlife
CEMP Comprehensive Emergency Management Program
CEQA California Environmental Quality Act
CERT Community Emergency Response Team
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CGS California Geological Survey
CIP Capital Improvements Plan
CLOMR Conditional Letter of Map Revision
CNPS California Native Plant Society
CNRA California Natural Resource Agency
COG Continuity of Government
COO Continuity of Operations
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Acronym Definition
CPUC California Public Utilities Commission
CRS (National Flood Insurance Program’s) Community Rating System CRV Contents Replacement Value
CVP Central Valley Project
CWPP Community Wildfire Protection Plan
DAC Disadvantaged Community
DFIRM Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map
DMA Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
DOF Department of Finance
DSOD Division of Safety of Dams
EF Enhanced Fujita
EOC Emergency Operations Center
EPSS Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings
ESPM University of California, Berkeley’s Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management ETSU Enhanced Treatment and Site Upgrade
F Fujita
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHSZ Fire Hazard Severity Zone
FIRM Flood Insurance Rate Map
FIS Flood Insurance Study
FMA Flood Mitigation Assistance Program
FPA Floodplain Administrator
FRA Federal Responsibility Area
FRAP Fire and Resource Assessment Program
FWS US Fish and Wildlife Service
GFDL Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
GHG Greenhouse Gases
GIS Geographic Information Systems
GPH Gallons per Hour
GRASP Geospatial Research, Analysis & Services Program
HHPD High Hazard Potential Dam
HI Heat Index
HMGP Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
HMPC Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee
ICS Incident Command System
IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
IRWM Integrated Regional Water Management
LHMP Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
LOMA Letter of Map Amendment
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Acronym Definition
LOMC Letters of Map Change
LOMR Letter of Map Revision
LRA Local Responsibility Area
MHI Median Household Income
MMI Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale
MSL Mean Sea Level
MW Megawatt
NASA National Aerospace and Science Agency
NAVD North American Vertical Datum
NCDC National Climactic Data Center
NDMC National Drought Mitigation Center
NEHRP National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act
NFIP National Flood Insurance Program
NGVD National Geodetic Vertical Datum
NIDIS National Integrated Drought Information System
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NPS National Park Service
NWS National Weather Service
OHP Office of Historic Preservation
PDM Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program
PIT Point-in-time Homeless Count
PM Particulate Matter
PNAS Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
PSPS Public Safety Power Shutoff
RCP Representative Concentration Pathway
RHNA Regional Housing Need Allocation
SAC-SJ Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley
SB Senate Bill
SBA Small Business Administration
SEMS Standard Emergency Management System
SFHA Special Flood Hazard Area
SGMA Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
SHBC State Historical Building Code
SRA State Responsibility Area
SVI Social Vulnerability Index
SWP State Water Project
UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
UBC Uniform Building Code
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Acronym Definition
UCERF Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast
UFMP Urban Forest Management Plan
UHF Ultra High Frequency
UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UPRR Union Pacific Railroad
URM Unreinforced Masonry
USACE US Army Corp of Engineers
USDA United States Department of Agriculture
USGS United States Geologic Survey
UWMP Urban Water Management Plan
VHFHSZ Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
WCD Water Control District
WRCC Western Regional Climate Center
WSOC Wildfire Safety Operations Center
WUI Wildland Urban Interface
WWTP Wastewater Treatment Plant
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Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1 Purpose
Amador County, five incorporated communities, and two special districts prepared this 2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) Update to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved 2020 Amador County LHMP. The purpose of this LHMP Update is to guide hazard mitigation planning to better protect the people and property of the County from the effects of hazard events and natural disasters. This LHMP Update demonstrates the communities’ commitment to reducing risks from hazards and serves as a tool to help decision makers direct mitigation activities and resources. This LHMP Update was also developed, among other things, to ensure Amador County and participating jurisdictions’ continued eligibility for certain federal disaster assistance: specifically, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program.

1.2 Background and Scope
Each year in the United States, natural disasters take the lives of hundreds of people and injure thousands more. Nationwide, taxpayers pay billions of dollars annually to help communities, organizations, businesses, and individuals recover from disasters. These monies only partially reflect the true cost of disasters, because most expenses to insurance companies and nongovernmental organizations are not reimbursed by tax dollars. Although the timing of natural disasters is unpredictable, their occurrence is largely predictable over time, and much of the damage caused by these events can be significantly reduced.

Hazard mitigation is defined by FEMA as “any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to human life and property from a hazard event.” The results of a three-year, congressionally mandated independent study to assess future savings from mitigation activities provide evidence that, overall, mitigation activities are highly cost-effective investments. On average, each dollar spent on mitigation saves society an average of $6 in avoided future losses in addition to saving lives and preventing injuries (National Institute of Building Science Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council 2019 Interim Report) (see Figure 1-1).
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Figure 1-1 Natural Hazard Mitigation Savings by Hazard Type and Mitigation Type Source: National Institute of Building Science Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council 2019 Interim Report Hazard mitigation planning is the process through which hazards are identified, likely impacts determined, mitigation goals set, and appropriate mitigation strategies determined, prioritized, and implemented. This plan documents Amador County’s hazard mitigation planning process and identifies relevant hazards and vulnerabilities and strategies the County and participating jurisdictions will use to decrease vulnerability and increase resiliency and sustainability in the community.

This Amador County 2025 LHMP is a multi-jurisdictional plan that geographically covers the entire area within Amador County’s jurisdictional boundaries (hereinafter referred to as the Planning Area). The following jurisdictions participated in the planning process and are seeking FEMA approval of the LHMP Update:
➢ Amador County*
➢ City of Amador City*
➢ City of Ione*
➢ City of Jackson*
➢ City of Plymouth*
➢ City of Sutter Creek*
➢ Amador Water Agency*
➢ Jackson Valley Irrigation District*
* Participated in 2020 Amador County LHMP
4 jurisdictions that were approved for the 2020 LHMP, but are not seeking approval for this Plan Update include:
➢ Amador Fire Safe Council
➢ Lockwood Fire Protection District
➢ Pine Grove Community Services District
➢ River Pines Public Utility District
This LHMP Update was prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390) and the implementing regulations set forth by the Interim Final Rule published in the 39 Section 7, Item B.

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Federal Register on February 26, 2002, (44 CFR §201.6) and finalized on October 31, 2007. (Hereafter, these requirements and regulations will be referred to collectively as the Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA) or DMA 2000.) This planning effort also follows FEMA’s most current effective LHMP Preparation and Review Guidance, LHMP Policy Guide FP 206-21-0002 effective April 11, 2025. While DMA 2000 emphasized the need for mitigation plans and more coordinated mitigation planning and implementation efforts, the regulations establish the requirements that local hazard mitigation plans must meet in order for a local jurisdiction to be eligible for certain federal disaster assistance and hazard mitigation funding under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act (Public Law 93-288). Because the Amador County Planning Area is subject to many kinds of hazards, access to these programs is vital.

Information in this LHMP Update will be used to help guide and coordinate mitigation activities and decisions for local land use policy in the future. Proactive mitigation planning will help reduce the cost of disaster response and recovery to communities and their residents by protecting public health and safety and critical community facilities; reducing liability exposure; and minimizing overall community impacts and disruptions. In the past, the Amador County Planning Area has been affected by numerous hazards on multiple occasions. The participating jurisdictions are thus committed to reducing future impacts from hazard events and maintaining eligibility for mitigation-related federal funding.

1.3 Amador County Profile
Amador County is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Range, approximately 25 miles east of Sacramento. State Route (SR) 49 traverses the county from north to south along the Mother Lode, connecting the cities of Plymouth, Sutter Creek, Amador City, and Jackson. SR 104 and SR 124 connect Ione with neighboring areas of Amador and Sacramento Counties, and SR 16 connects the county with Sacramento to the west. SR 88 extends from Stockton on the west, through the county to the Kirkwood ski resort, passing through Jackson, and the unincorporated communities of Martell, Pine Grove, Pioneer, Red Corral, and Buckhorn. SR 88 is an important route over the Sierra Nevada, connecting the Central Valley to U.S. 395 in the eastern Sierra Nevada.

Amador County is bordered by El Dorado County on the north, Alpine County on the east, Calaveras County on the south, and Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties on the west. The only public airport in Amador County is Westover Field, located in Martell. Private airports in the County include the Eagle’s Nest Airport in the northwestern portion of the county, south of SR 16. The former Amador Central rail line extends from Ione to Martell, and connects to active Union Pacific lines in the Central Valley.

A map of the County is shown in Figure 1-2. Multiple entities own land in Amador County. A land ownership map can be seen on Figure 1-3 and is detailed in Table 1-1. 40 Section 7, Item B.

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Figure 1-2 Amador County Planning Area
41 Section 7, Item B.

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Figure 1-3 Amador County Planning Area – Land Ownership 42 Section 7, Item B.

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Table 1-1 Amador County Planning Area – Land Ownership by Jurisdiction Jurisdiction / Land Ownership Total Acres % of Total Acres Amador City
Local Government 1.46 0.000%
Non-Designated Land Ownership (Countywide)* 196.56 0.038% Amador City Total 198.02 0.039%
Ione
Local Government 92.60 0.018%
Non-Designated Land Ownership (Countywide)* 2,866.15 0.558% Ione Total 2,958.75 0.576%
Jackson
Local Government 14.57 0.003%
Unknown/Other 0.97 0.000%
Non-Designated Land Ownership (Countywide)* 2,283.06 0.444% Jackson Total 2,298.59 0.447%
Plymouth
Local Government 27.81 0.005%
Non-Governmental Organization 0.80 0.000%
Non-Designated Land Ownership (Countywide)* 1,672.77 0.326% Plymouth Total 1,701.38 0.331%
Sutter Creek
Local Government 3.45 0.001%
Non-Designated Land Ownership (Countywide)* 1,713.39 0.333% Sutter Creek Total 1,716.84 0.334%
Unincorporated Amador County
Federal 223,196.50 43.434%
Local Government 72.95 0.014%
Non-Governmental Organization 4,637.08 0.902%
Parks/Recreation/Irrigation/Utility District 8,298.38 1.615% State 598.43 0.116%
Unknown/Other 298.67 0.058%
Non-Designated Land Ownership (Countywide)* 267,895.65 52.133% Unincorporated Amador County Total 504,997.67 98.273%
Grand Total 513,871.25 100.000%
Source: USGS
*This category is all other "blank/no data" areas
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1.3.1. History
The eastern Miwok historically occupied Amador County and surrounding areas to the west. While the Plains Miwok shared a common language and cultural background, they consisted of a number of separate and politically independent groups. Each group used a number of permanently inhabited and seasonally occupied locales. The eastern Miwok relied on a broad spectrum of plant and animal food sources. Of the plant species, the Plains Miwok most valued the valley oak, but also used buckeye, laurel, and hazelnut.

Various seeds include wild oats and balsam root, several species of edible roots, and greens such as wild pea and miner’s lettuce, berries, and a number of different mushroom varieties. Tule elk and pronghorn antelope were the most important animal species. Various species of rabbit were hunted in the summer.

Waterfowl and fish, especially salmon, were extremely important food sources for the eastern Miwok.

On January 28, 1848, John Marshall, a foreman working for John Sutter’s sawmill near Coloma happened upon a discovery that would shape the history of California and the nation: gold. As word spread of the discovery, gold miners flooded to the Mother Lode to search for fortune. In 1849, the population of California surged from 14,000 to over 100,000, comprised of Americans and immigrants from around the world. Throughout the Mother Lode, small mining camps and towns sprung up to supply gold mines and miners – the demand for food, booze, supplies, building materials, and entertainment drove development along the American and Mokelumne Rivers, and deep into the Sierra foothills.

Early in the gold rush, streams were placer mined (1846–1857). Most of the important lode deposits were discovered in the 1850s. From the 1870s to the 1890s, mining expanded to maintain profitability. By 1875, mines such as the Keystone, South Spring Hill, Oneida, Old Eureka, and Plymouth had become large and highly profitable. As mining progressed to greater and greater depths, costs increased. The Argonaut, Kennedy, Central Eureka, Bunker Hill, Fremont Gover, and Lincoln Cons were major gold sources in the 1880s and 1890s.

By some estimates, merchants supplying gold miners made more than the miners themselves. In Amador County, a proliferation of other industries, like wine, lumber, and agriculture supplied mining camps and towns with provisions. During the 1850s, the soil in Shenandoah Valley was found to be excellent for growing grapes without irrigation. The official Amador County map of 1866 lists 8 sawmills, and the 1881 map lists 10 sawmills. During the 1870s, cattle ranching became commonplace. As the County developed, towns rose up around early mining settlements and homes and buildings reflecting the popular architectural styles were built.

Mining costs continued to increase, and during the early 1900s and World War I the South Spring Hill, Lincoln Cons, Oneida, Zeila, South Eureka, Bunker Hill and Treasure mines were shut down. However, the County continued to yield large amounts of gold as the Argonaut, Kennedy, Central Eureka, and other mines grew. Mining occurred at greater and greater depths until the Argonaut and Kennedy became the deepest mines in the country.

All of the mines were shut down soon after the beginning of World War II. The Central Eureka mine was reopened in 1945, but due to high costs and a federally fixed price on gold, the mine was shut down again in 1953. This was the last active major gold mine on the Mother Lode in Amador County. However, in 44 Section 7, Item B.

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recent years, shaft mining activity has been resumed between the towns of Amador City and Sutter Creek, and gold panning continues to thrill hobbyists and professional gold miners alike.

Since the 1950s, Amador County has seen steady population growth, primarily in rural residential areas.

As mining and timber production have declined, tourism has become more important to the County’s economy.

1.3.2. Geography and Climate
The topography of the County ranges from low foothill to high Sierra Nevada Mountain areas, with elevations ranging from 150 feet above mean sea level (msl) in the western portion of the County to more than 9,000 feet above msl in the eastern portions of the County. The climate varies widely between the lower west foothill area to the alpine eastern portion of the County. In the western lowlands, summers are hot and winters are mild. Temperatures range from an average of 45 degrees Fahrenheit in January to 79 degrees Fahrenheit in July. Summers and winters are cooler in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the east and there is heavy snowfall in this area. Precipitation averages 20 and 60 inches in the western and eastern parts of the County, respectively.

1.3.3. Population and Demographics
The California Department of Finance 2024 estimates for population of Amador County and its jurisdictions are shown in Table 1-2.

Table 1-2 Amador County Population by Jurisdiction, 2024 Jurisdiction Total Population
City of Amador City 196
City of Ione 8,842
City of Jackson 4,933
City of Plymouth 1,063
City of Sutter Creek 2,589
Unincorporated County 22,301
Total 39,942
Source: California Department of Finance, 2024 E-1 Report Select social and economic information for the unincorporated Amador County are shown in Table 1-3.

Table 1-3 Unincorporated Amador County – Select Social and Economic Statistics Statistic Number
Populations
Population under 5 3.9%
Population over 65 27.2%
Median Age 49.9
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Statistic Number
Race
White 77.8%
Black or African American 2.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 1.2%
Asian 1.4%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Some Other Race 5.3%
Two or more races 12.3%
Income and Poverty
Median income $81,526
Mean Income $104,990
Poverty rate – All families 4.1%
Poverty rate – All people 7.8%
Unemployment Rate (December 2024) 5.3%
Source: 2020 US Census, 2023 US Census Bureau American Community Survey, California Employment Development Department

1.3.4. Economy and Tax Base
Amador County has a diverse economy. US Census estimate show economic characteristics for the unincorporated County. These are shown in Table 1-4 and Table 1-5.

Table 1-4 Unincorporated Amador County Civilian Employed Population 16 years and Over by Industry
Industry Estimated
Employment
Percent
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 501 3.1% Construction 1,645 10.3%
Manufacturing 894 5.6%
Wholesale trade 295 1.8%
Retail trade 1,871 11.7%
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 694 4.3%
Information 218 1.4%
Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing 892 5.6% Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services
1,814 11.3%
Educational services, and health care and social assistance 2,215 13.8% Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services 1,941 12.1% Other services, except public administration 1,280 8.0% Public administration 1,780 11.1%
Source: US Census Bureau American Community Survey 2023 Estimates 46 Section 7, Item B.

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Table 1-5 Unincorporated Amador County – Income and Benefits Income Bracket Percent
<$10,000 2.5%
$10,000 – $14,999 0.6%
$15,000 - $24,9999 4.9%
$25,000 – $34,999 8.1%
$35,000 – $49,999 11.5%
$50,000 – $74,999 15.3%
$75,000 – $99,999 17.8%
$100,000 – $149,999 17.7%
$150,000 – $199,999 11.0%
$200,000 or more 9.6%
Source: US Census Bureau American Community Survey 2023 Estimates Major employers in the County are shown in Table 1-6.

Table 1-6 Major Employers in Amador County Planning Area Employer Name Location Industry
Amador County Sheriff Jackson Government Offices-County American Legion Ambulance Jackson Ambulance Service
Beth Sogaard Catering Plymouth Caterers
Borjon Vineyard & Labor Svc Plymouth Farm Management Service Forestry Fire Protctn CA Dept Pine Grove City Government-General Offices Harrah's Northern CA Casino Ione Casinos
Ione Elementary School Ione Schools
Ione Junior High Jackson Schools
Jackson Cinema Is D'Place Jackson Theatres-Movie
Jackson Rancheria Casino Resrt Jackson Casinos
Kit Carson Nursing & Rehab Jackson Nursing & Convalescent Homes Lake Camanche Marina & Grill Ione Marinas
Louie Oliver's Rstrnt & Bar Ione Restaurants
Lowe's Home Improvement Jackson Home Centers
Mule Creek State Prison Ione State Govt-Correctional Institutions Raley's Jackson Grocers-Retail
Safeway Jackson Grocers-Retail
Save Mart Jackson Grocers-Retail
Sierra Pacific Industries Martell Lumber-Manufacturers
Sutter Amador Hospital Jackson Hospitals
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Employer Name Location Industry
Timber Products Co Sutter Creek Lumber-Wholesale
Timber Products Co Jackson Lumber-Wholesale
United Home Care Jackson Home Health Service
Volcano Vision-Kirkwood
Repair
Pine Grove Television-Cable & CATV
Walmart Jackson Department Stores
Source: America's Labor Market Information System (ALMIS) Employer Database, 2025 1st Edition.

1.4 Plan Organization
The 2025 Amador County LHMP Update is organized as follows:
➢ Chapters
✓ Chapter 1: Introduction
✓ Chapter 2: Community Profile
✓ Chapter 3: Planning Process
✓ Chapter 4: Risk Assessment
✓ Chapter 5: Mitigation Strategy
✓ Chapter 6: Plan Adoption
✓ Chapter 7: Plan Implementation and Maintenance
➢ Annexes
✓ Annex A: City of Amador City
✓ Annex B: City of Ione
✓ Annex C: City of Jackson
✓ Annex D: City of Plymouth
✓ Annex E: City of Sutter Creek
✓ Annex F: Amador Water Agency
✓ Annex G: Jackson Valley Irrigation District
➢ Appendices
✓ Appendix A: Planning Process
✓ Appendix B: References
✓ Appendix C: Mitigation Strategy
✓ Appendix D: Adoption Resolution
✓ Appendix E: Threatened and Endangered Species
✓ Appendix F: Critical Facilities
✓ Appendix G: FEMA National Risk Index
✓ Appendix H: Hazus Reports
The Base Plan provides the overall framework for this multi-jurisdictional LHMP. It is the umbrella document that includes the planning process, methodologies, and process requirements for all participating jurisdictions (i.e., unincorporated County and all Jurisdictional Annexes). As such, Chapters 1-7 of the Base Plan apply to the unincorporated County, the five incorporated communities, and the two special Districts as participants to this LHMP Update seeking FEMA approval of the Plan. Because this is a multijurisdictional plan, the Base Plan addresses the LHMP hazard mitigation planning elements specific to the 48 Section 7, Item B.

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Amador County Planning Area which includes data, information and analysis specific to all participating jurisdictions and also includes data, information, and analysis specific to unincorporated Amador County.

The Jurisdictional Annexes detail the hazard mitigation planning elements specific to each additional participating jurisdiction to this Amador County LHMP Update. Each annex is not intended to be a standalone document, but appends to, supplements, and incorporates by reference the information contained in the Base Plan document. As such, all Chapters 1-7 of the Base Plan, including the planning process and other procedural requirements and planning elements apply to and were met by each participating jurisdiction. The annexes provide additional information specific to each participating jurisdiction, with a focus on providing additional details on the risk assessment and mitigation strategy.

The Appendices provide additional information, data, and planning process documentation that applies to all participating jurisdictions (i.e., unincorporated County and all jurisdictional annexes) to this Amador County LHMP Update.
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Chapter 2 What’s New
44 CFR §201.6(d)(3) and §201.7(d)(3): A local jurisdiction must review and revise its plan to reflect changes in development, progress in local mitigation efforts, and changes in priorities, and resubmit it for approval within 5 years in order to continue to be eligible for mitigation project grant funding.

The previous 2020 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP), being updated as part of this 2025 Amador County LHMP Update, contained descriptions of planning processes, the risk assessments of identified hazards, and mitigation strategiesfor reducing the risk and vulnerability from these hazards. Since approval of the 2020 LHMP by FEMA, progress has been made on implementation of the 2020 mitigation strategies, as applicable to the respective participating jurisdictions. As part of this LHMP Update, a thorough review and update of the 2020 LHMP was conducted to ensure that this 2025 Amador County LHMP Update reflects current conditions and priorities in order to realign the updated mitigation strategy for the forthcoming five-year planning period. This section of this LHMP Update includes the following:
➢ What’s New in the LHMP Update. Section 2.1 provides an overview of the approach to updating the previous LHMP and identifies new analyses, data and information included in this LHMP Update to reflect current community conditions. This includes a summary of new hazard and risk assessment data as it relates to the Amador County Planning Area and participating jurisdictions as well as information on current and future development trends affecting hazard vulnerability and related issues.

The actual updated data, discussions, and associated analyses are contained in their respective sections within this LHMP Update.
➢ Summary of Significant Changes to Current Conditions, Planning Area Vulnerability, and Hazard Mitigation Program Priorities. Section 2.2 provides a summary of significant changes in current conditions, changes in hazard vulnerability, and resulting modifications to the Amador County hazard mitigation program priorities since the 2020 LHMP. ➢ 2020 Mitigation Strategy Status and Successes. Section 2.3.2 provides a description of the status of mitigation actions from the 2020 LHMP and also indicates whether a project is no longer relevant or is recommended for inclusion in the updated mitigation strategy. This section also highlights key mitigation success stories since the 2020 LHMP.

This What’s New section provides documentation of Amador County Planning Area’s progress or changes in risk and vulnerability to hazards and overall hazard mitigation programs. Completion of this LHMP Update further provides documentation of the participating jurisdictions to this Amador County Planning Area’s continued commitment and engagement in the hazard mitigation planning process.

2.1 What’s New in the Plan Update
Preparing the 2025 LHMP Update involved a comprehensive review and update of each section of the 2020 LHMP and includes an assessment of the success of the participating jurisdictions in evaluating, monitoring, and implementing the mitigation strategy outlined in the 2020 LHMP. Only the information and data still valid from the 2020 LHMP was carried forward as applicable into this LHMP Update. 50 Section 7, Item B.

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Also to be noted, Chapter 7 Implementation and Maintenance of this LHMP Update identifies key requirements for updating future plans:
➢ Consider changes in vulnerability due to action implementation of mitigation actions; ➢ Document success stories where mitigation actions have proven effective; ➢ Document areas where mitigation actions were not effective; ➢ Document any new hazards that may arise or were previously overlooked; ➢ Incorporate new data or studies on hazards and risks; ➢ Incorporate new capabilities or changes in capabilities; ➢ Incorporate growth and development-related changes to inventories; and ➢ Incorporate new recommended mitigation actions or changes in the prioritization of mitigation actions.

These requirements and others as detailed throughout this Plan were addressed during this LHMP Update process.

As part of the comprehensive review and update of each section of the LHMP Update, the participating jurisdictions recognized that updated data, if available, would enhance the analysis presented in the risk assessment and utilized in the development of the updated mitigation strategy. Highlights of new data used for this LHMP Update are identified below and also sourced in context within both the Chapter 4 Risk Assessment and the jurisdictional annexes. Sources of specific data used are also provided throughout this LHMP Update and included in Appendix D References. This new data and associated analysis contributed to the development of the updated risk assessment and mitigation strategy presented in Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 of this LHMP Update, as well as within the jurisdictional annexes to this Plan.

Highlights of new information and analyses contained in this LHMP Update includes the following:
➢ A thorough countywide planning process was conducted for this multi-jurisdictional LHMP Update including outreaching and inviting a broad range of agency, public, and private stakeholders for all participating jurisdictions, including those supporting underserved and vulnerable populations in the Amador County Planning Area.
➢ Disaster declarations were updated, including federal, state, and USDA disaster declarations. NCDC Storm Events and past historic hazard occurrences since the previous plans were added for each jurisdiction.
➢ A Local Concerns section was added to each jurisdiction’s vulnerability assessment to capture local issues and to support the resulting mitigation strategy. ➢ Incorporation and analysis of the updated California Department of Finance population data was utilized for this LHMP Update.
➢ A detailed discussion of socially vulnerable and underserved populations were added to the Base Plan and to each jurisdictional annex and included a discussion of how these populations could be affected by each hazard.
➢ An updated critical facility GIS layer was provided by the County and jurisdictions for the Amador County Planning Area. This allowed for an updated analysis of critical facilities for each mapped hazard in the Amador County Planning Area.
➢ Community lifelines were added to the overall asset inventory. ➢ Economic assets and community activities of value were added to the overall asset inventory. 51 Section 7, Item B.

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➢ Development since the last plan was analyzed in detail for each jurisdiction. ➢ Future development was gathered from each jurisdiction and analyzed using the most recent hazard data. This was included in each participating jurisdiction’s annex. ➢ A new section on Power Shortage/Failure was added. Public Safety Power Shutoff events were also added.
➢ Impacts of climate change, changes in population patterns, and changes in land use and development was reviewed and discussed for each hazard and for each jurisdiction. ➢ Cal-Adapt and other state and local climate change data was added to the climate change section, as well as to other hazards that are exacerbated by climate change. ➢ Most hazards from the 2020 plan were profiled in this LHMP Update, with the exception of pandemic.

Levee failure was placed inside the flood hazard. No new hazards were added. ➢ An updated and enhanced assessment of each participating jurisdictions’ continued compliance with the NFIP was conducted and used to support additional flood risk reduction measures. ➢ FEMA National Risk Index data for the County was added to all of the natural hazards in the Base Plan. ➢ New dam data provided by Cal OES and CA DSOD was used for the dam inventory and analysis. This data included an updated hazard classification for identified dams and updated inundation mapping.

Assets at risk to dam inundation was analyzed. Critical facilities at risk to dams were tabulated. ➢ Additional Hazus runs were performed on three separate earthquake shake scenarios for the Amador County Planning Area.
➢ Deep seated landslide data was added to the landslide hazard profile and vulnerability analysis. An analysis was performed on values at risk (including populations, structures, critical facilities, and future development).
➢ New CAL FIRE mapping and analyses were conducted using the 2024 State Responsibility Area and the 2025 Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zones data. ➢ To better meet the revised FEMA plan review tool, a more extensive analysis of the extents to identified hazards was conducted and included in this LHMP Update for all jurisdictions. ➢ Special Districts’ annexes include hazard maps and hazard extent tables for all mapped hazards of concern.
➢ A greater study of all jurisdiction’s mitigation capabilities was added. ➢ All previous mitigation actions were updated, and many new actions were added to this LHMP Update, including mitigation actions to address issues related to mitigation planning for vulnerable and underserved populations.

2.2 Summary of Significant Changes to Current Conditions, Planning Area Vulnerability, and Hazard Mitigation Priorities This section provides a summary by hazard of significant changes in current conditions, Amador County Planning Area vulnerabilities, and resulting modifications to the Amador County participating jurisdictions’ mitigation program priorities since the 2020 LHMP. As a result of this analysis of factors resulting in changes in community vulnerability since the last Plan, mitigation planning priorities were modified by participating jurisdictions as reflected in each jurisdictions updated lists of priority hazards of concern, updated LHMP goals and objectives, and an updated list and prioritization of mitigation actions and projects for this 2025 LHMP Update.
52 Section 7, Item B.

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Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
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2025 LHMP Update
Hazards
Decrease in Vulnerability No Change in
Vulnerability
Increase in Vulnerability
Agricultural Hazards:

Severe Weather/ Pests/
Invasives
X
➢ Since 2014, variable drought conditions have stressed local crops, timber, and grazing lands making them more susceptible to invasive species, and other issues. ➢ Noxious weeds can be more drought tolerant – better able to compete for water over local crops and vegetation and also increases wildfire risk.
➢ The discovery of the Golden mussel in the nearby Delta has significantly impacted the recreational industry in the County as illustrated by EBMUD’s proactive closure of boating activities in the Commanche Reservoir, and threatens additional impacts.
➢ Successful crop production relies on predictable weather patterns. ➢ No Hydrilla occurrences detected since 2014.
➢ Water table seems to be dropping which can impact water supply for all users, including the Agricultural industry.
2025 LHMP Update
Hazards
Decrease in Vulnerability No Change in
Vulnerability
Increase in Vulnerability
Avalanche X
➢ Avalanche risk changes from year to year depending on weather conditions, but overall Planning Area vulnerability to Avalanche has not significantly changed. ➢ No active avalanche areas were identified during the 2025 LHMP Update process. 2025 LHMP Update
Hazards
Decrease in Vulnerability No Change in
Vulnerability
Increase in Vulnerability
Climate Change X
➢ NWS data indicates temperatures are increasing resulting in more extreme heat days. Recent years (2021-2025) have been some of the hottest years on record. ➢ Snowpack levels have been occurring at higher elevations in recent years. ➢ Weather extremes, including precipitation, have been increasing and becoming more variable. Amador County is seeing increased precipitation and intensity, as seen with the atmospheric river events in recent years, as well as abnormally dry conditions.
➢ Changing climate conditions influence multiple hazards, such as heat, flooding, wildfire and others, as described in this LHMP Update.
➢ Increased temperatures associated with climate change increases the use and costs of energy leaving critical systems and infrastructure more vulnerable.
➢ Other ongoing impacts include impacts to food sources and food-related diseases, eco-system changes, impacts to natural resources, public health issues, etc. 53 Section 7, Item B.

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Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
2025 LHMP Update
Hazards
Decrease in Vulnerability No Change in
Vulnerability
Increase in Vulnerability
Dam Failure X
➢ Risk increases over the years due to aging dam infrastructure. However, dams are more regulated than ever, with requirements for Emergency Action Plans, inspections, and maintenance. ➢ More people moving within Dam inundation areas will increase the County’s vulnerability due to an increase in potentially affected population, not due to an increase in dam failure. However, population growth in Amador County has seen a decrease since 2020. 2025 LHMP Update
Hazards
Decrease in Vulnerability No Change in
Vulnerability
Increase in Vulnerability
Drought and Water
Shortage
X
➢ Drought conditions since the 2014 LHMP, including water supply issues, have had an impact on the Amador County Planning Area and California. As a result, the drought hazard has become a significant priority for mitigation planning.
➢ Several disaster declarations occurred in 2023 related to heavy rains and storms and flooding. While these storms temporarily alleviated drought conditions in the County, due to the cyclical nature of drought and storm events, the County remains vulnerable to drought. ➢ State drought mandates, including conservations measures, to protect water supply throughout California have been implemented with some continuing within the Planning Area. ➢ Drought conditions, when present, contribute to an increase in tree mortality issues, dry fuels, and general increase in wildfire conditions.
➢ Drought impacts the stability of soils in the Planning Area leading to more erosion and other issues. ➢ Water quality concerns are exacerbated in drought conditions. ➢ Amador County is participating in the State’s Drought Resilience Interagency and Partners (DRIP) collaborative, consistent with Senate Bill 552, and established to enhance California’s resilience to droughts and water shortage.
2025 LHMP Update
Hazards
Decrease in Vulnerability No Change in
Vulnerability
Increase in Vulnerability
Earthquake X
➢ Overall, Amador County is in a relatively low to moderate seismically active area. ➢ The primary factor that might change the earthquake vulnerability is additional development and more people moving to the area. However, adherence to current California building codes should ensure sound development in new development areas.
54 Section 7, Item B.

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Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
2025 LHMP Update
Hazards
Decrease in Vulnerability No Change in
Vulnerability
Increase in Vulnerability
Flood: 1%/0.2% events X
➢ Overall, the net increase or decrease in vulnerability to flood depends on the location within the Planning Area.
➢ The risk and vulnerability of 1% and 0.2% flood events remain somewhat constant, changing from year to year based on weather and new development in the Planning Area. ➢ Disaster declarations for heavy rains and storms and flooding occurred in 2021(1) and 2023 (3) causing significant flood impacts throughout the Planning Area and contributing to an increase in flood issues since the 2020 LHMP.
➢ Land use planning, flood control measures, and adherence to development requirements in identified floodplains have minimized additional exposure to this hazard in the Planning Area, even in years of heavy storms.
2025 LHMP Update
Hazards
Decrease in Vulnerability No Change in
Vulnerability
Increase in Vulnerability
Flood: Localized
Stormwater Flooding
X
➢ Climate change issues may result in more localized flooding as the climate warms and more frequent, wetter, and greater intensity storms create more runoff. Weather extremes seem more variable – the Planning Area seems to fluctuate between heavy rains and dry periods. ➢ New development in unmapped flood hazard areas could result in a net increase in vulnerability should these areas experience increased stormwater/localized flooding. However, development requirements that require mitigation of stormwater runoff help mitigate this hazard. ➢ Outdated and undersized drainage systems also contribute to a greater vulnerability to localized, stormwater flooding.
➢ 2020-2025 storms, many resulting in disaster declarations, including greater intensity atmospheric river events, resulted in more localized flooding throughout the Planning Area. Generally, damage occurs in low lying areas and around creeks and streams. Road damage and closures continue to occur during heavy storm events.
➢ Rain on snow events compound flooding in the Amador County Planning Area. ➢ Recent drought conditions in some areas have hardened soils and predisposed areas to worse flooding. ➢ Recent changes in vegetation caused by past drought conditions as well as large fires also contribute to more runoff, especially in post-fire burn scar areas.
2025 LHMP Update
Hazards
Decrease in Vulnerability No Change in
Vulnerability
Increase in Vulnerability
Landslides, Mudslides, and
Debris Flows
X
55 Section 7, Item B.

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Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
➢ With the most recent drought, compounded by several years of high intensity storms, much of the vegetation along sloped areas was lost contributing to a lack of vegetation to hold soil resulting in a greater landslide/mudslide potential.
➢ Compounded by climate change, heavy rains and higher intensity storm events, such as atmospheric rivers, contribute to saturated and barren soils, increasing the landslide potential, especially in post fire areas.
2025 LHMP Update
Hazards
Decrease in Vulnerability No Change in
Vulnerability
Increase in Vulnerability
Severe Weather: Extreme
Cold, Freeze, and Snow
X
➢ This is a new hazard of concern to Amador County, in part due to the impact to vulnerable and underserved populations in the County. Unhoused populations and economically challenged residents are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather conditions. ➢ Similar to other weather hazards, the overall vulnerability changes from year to year depending on the season.
➢ The agricultural industry is particularly vulnerable to increasing extreme cold, freeze, and snow events. 2025 LHMP Update
Hazards
Decrease in Vulnerability No Change in
Vulnerability
Increase in Vulnerability
Severe Weather: Extreme
Heat
X
➢ NWS data indicates temperatures are increasing resulting in more extreme heat days. Recent years (2021-2025) have been some of the hottest years on record. ➢ Climate change issues will continue to increase heat related impacts and vulnerabilities. ➢ Air quality issues increase with more extreme heat days. ➢ Vulnerable populations are at the greatest risk to this hazard. Economically challenged residents may not be able to afford air conditioning. Seniors, the very young, medically vulnerable, and the unhoused are not as resilient to this hazard. The increase in elderly/vulnerable populations increases the population at risk to this hazard.
➢ Extreme heat, combined with drought conditions, increases the potential for catastrophic wildfires. ➢ Extreme heat, combined with high winds, also contributes to the wildfire hazard, including the potential for a PSPS as well as other power outage events.
2025 LHMP Update
Hazards
Decrease in Vulnerability No Change in
Vulnerability
Increase in Vulnerability
Severe Weather: Heavy
Rains and Storms
X
56 Section 7, Item B.

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➢ Similar to other weather hazards, the overall vulnerability of the Planning Area changes from year to year depending on the season. Recent years have seen significant and heavy rains, and an increase in atmospheric river events causing flooding and other adverse impacts to the County. ➢ Post fire conditions and areas previously impacted by drought conditions can be significantly vulnerable during periods of heavy rain and storms resulting in slope failures, mudslides, and debris flows.
➢ The potential for power outages increase during extreme storm events leaving the Planning Area and its residents more vulnerable.
➢ Outdated and undersized drainage systems also contribute to a greater vulnerability to localized, stormwater flooding during heavy rain events.
➢ Climate change brings renewed concern moving forward for heavy and more intense rains, storms, and associated issues to the County.
2025 LHMP Update
Hazards
Decrease in Vulnerability No Change in
Vulnerability
Increase in Vulnerability
Severe Weather: High
Winds and Tornadoes
X
➢ Severe wind events have had greater impact in recent years following several years of drought combined with years of heavy rains, resulting in dead and downed trees in the Planning Area. These conditions lead to compromised, hazardous trees often falling over during high wind events. ➢ High winds, combined with extreme heat, also contributes to the wildfire hazard, including the potential for a PSPS event
2025 LHMP Update
Hazards
Decrease in Vulnerability No Change in
Vulnerability
Increase in Vulnerability
Wildfire (w/ smoke and air
quality)
X
➢ Climate change continues to affect the nature and intensity of wildfires. ➢ Compounded by recent drought conditions (increasing tree mortality and overall wildfire conditions) and followed by significant heavy rain events, the wildfire hazard has substantially increased, and is no longer just a seasonal issue. The wildfire season, including the potential for a catastrophic wildfire, is now a year around concern.
➢ The increased development in WUI areas within the County also contributes to an increase in vulnerability.
➢ The road network and infrastructure, including construction, connectivity, and ingress-egress issues compound the wildfire vulnerability and impact.
➢ Wind has been a major contributor to the potential for a catastrophic wildfire. And when combined with extreme heat, also can trigger a PSPS which leaves the community at risk in other ways. ➢ With large wildfires occurring throughout California, the Planning Area has seen a significant change in air quality from smoke (both from fires inside and outside the County) resulting in more recorded bad air days.
➢ Limited preventative building construction standards in older areas of the County, and ineffective code enforcement has led to more communities being at risk and vulnerable to large, devastating wildfires 57 Section 7, Item B.

Amador County 2-9
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025

2.3 2020 LHMP Mitigation Strategy Successes and Status
The participating jurisdictions successfully implemented numerous mitigation actions identified in the 2020 LHMP mitigation strategies, thus working diligently towards meeting their 2020 goals and objectives, as follows:

Goal #1: Provide protection for people's lives, property, public health, and the environment and reduce losses from natural hazards.
➢ Minimize impact to existing development
➢ Minimize impact to future development
➢ Minimize risk and vulnerability to wildfire
➢ Minimize risk and vulnerability to flood
➢ Minimize economic and resource impact
➢ Promote resiliency strategies
Goal #2: Provide protection for critical facilities, infrastructure, utilities and services from hazard impacts
➢ Implement critical facility upgrades and mitigation measures to ensure reliability of services ➢ Update and maintain GIS list of critical facilities: Essential Services, At-Risk Populations, Hazardous Materials Facilities
Goal #3: Improve community (public and stakeholder) awareness, education, and preparedness to natural hazard events
➢ Enhance public and stakeholder outreach, education and preparedness program to include all hazards of concern
➢ Increase public and stakeholder knowledge about the risk and vulnerability to identified hazards and how to take responsibility for and mitigate these risks with a focus on high priority hazards such as wildfire and flood
➢ Leverage existing public outreach and education mechanisms such as community coalitions and other existing forums; expand social media presence and local community boards ➢ Increase use of technology to communicate hazard information (e.g., GIS) ➢ Provide education and outreach on evacuation routes, roles and responsibilities, as well as on various emergency communication modes
Goal #4: Increase communities' ability to be prepared for, respond to, and recover from a disaster event
➢ Improve community capabilities to mitigate hazards and reduce losses ➢ Improve interagency (local, state, federal) emergency coordination, communication, and operational capacity to ensure effective community preparedness, response and recovery ➢ Increase the capacity to respond and recover, countywide ➢ Improve emergency communication systems (cell phones, radios, sirens, reverse 911, multi-media, etc.) ➢ Increase first responder preparedness and education to hazards of concern ➢ Improve identification, education, and emergency notifications of vulnerable citizens ➢ Enhance the use of shared resources/Develop a strong mutual aid support system ➢ Make better use of technology (e.g., GIS)
58 Section 7, Item B.

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Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
➢ Establish and expand GIS technologies to map hazards and develop models of mitigation planning and to support hazard response and community recovery
➢ Maintain coordination of disaster plans, data, and related needs ➢ Mitigate future hazard losses through adequate land use/facilities planning Goal #5: Maintain FEMA Eligibility/Position the communities for Grant funding ➢ Improve community ability to be competitive/successful with grant funding opportunities from application development to project delivery
➢ Establish and share best practices among agencies for development of grant applications, project permits, etc.
➢ Educate (and advocate) local officials to support local access to funding.

2.3.1. Success Stories
Since the 2020 LHMP, progress has been made on the implementation of the mitigation strategies contained within the previous Plan. Beyond the mitigation strategy implementation from the 2020 LHMP, the participating jurisdictions also continue to implement additional hazard mitigation measures not contained within the previous Plan. This section highlights key mitigation success since the 2020 LHMP.

Amador County
FireWise Community
The Amador Fire Protection District has made significant progress in community wildfire preparedness by utilizing the framework of Firewise USA. Firewise USA is a nationally recognized program developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), that encourages neighbors working together to reduce the risk of wildfires. The Firewise program strongly emphasizes community wildfire education, defensible space, home hardening, and community level fuel reduction work.

In Amador County, the Amador Fire Protection District serves as the coordinating agency for Firewise.

What began as a grassroots effort with one motivated resident in Pioneer teaming up with Amador Fire, has evolved into a robust, countywide initiative with over 40 recognized Firewise Communities and several more currently in the application process. These communities are very active with many of them hosting annual wildfire preparedness events and seasonal clean-up days with the common goal of creating a wildfire resilient community.

In recent years, Amador Fire has integrated evacuation drills in an effort to better prepare our communities.

These exercises are conducted in collaboration with allied agencies such as the Amador County Sheriff's Office, Office of Emergency Services (OES), the American Red Cross and local animal evacuation teams.

These drills provide critical hands-on experience for residents, first responders, and provide opportunities to test and improve our emergency alert notification systems.

Another key aspect to our approach is education-based property inspections. Amador Fire offers free wildfire defensible space inspections to help educate and guide homeowners through the oftenoverwhelming process of vegetation management. We provide tailored advice and practical starting points, 59 Section 7, Item B.

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Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
helping residents take realistic steps toward better protecting their homes should a wildfire occur in their community.

Amador Fire also works closely with the Amador Fire Safe Council to secure funding for fuel reduction and vegetation mitigation projects. This collaboration provides, local, state, and federal grants, to support on-the-ground work that reduces wildfire risk on both public and private lands.

The success of the Firewise USA program in Amador County is the result of committed partnerships, grassroots engagement, and a shared vision of wildfire preparedness. Amador Fire is proud to lead this initiative and will continue using the Firewise framework to strengthen local capacity, educate residents, and promote long-term community wildfire resilience.

Following the close calls of the Tamarack and Caldor fires in 2021, the Kirkwood community opted to move forward with achieving Firewise USA designation. One of the Firewise requirements was implementing the defensible space standards of Public Resources Code 4291. However, the local tree ordinance in Kirkwood prohibited removal of trees unless they were dead, dying, or diseased, and County permits were required for tree cutting, pruning, or thinning. To eliminate confusion between the State and local policies, the County amended the Kirkwood tree ordinance by adding an exemption to the tree removal permitting requirements to allow for tree trimming and removal to meet the defensible space requirements of PRC 4291. The amendment also eliminated an administrative burden to property owners by abolishing the requirement for tree removal permits for dead, dying, diseased, and hazard trees if certified by an arborist, forester, or fire inspector.

Generators
Amador County has invested in permanently installed generators at critical facilities, ensuring essential services continue during power outages. These generators have already proven their value during recent Public Safety Power Shutoffs and severe winter storms. This uninterrupted power supply insured that the District Attorney's Office was able to continue processing cases, support victims, and coordinate with other law enforcement agencies. Installing a generator at the Pioneer Veteran's Hall has been especially valuable for community resilience. The Hall serves as a gathering place during Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) and can also be used as a Warming Center during winter storms. With a generator in place, the facility can now provide reliable heat, lighting, and power for charging medical equipment, phones, and other essentials.
60 Section 7, Item B.

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Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
Table 2-1 Example of Generator Installed
Ingress/Egress
The Amador Fire Safe Council is currently concluding two Ingress/Egress Grants from CalFire; with these grants, the AFSC sought to enhance wildfire safety in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) through mapping and clearing roadside vegetation along ingress and egress routes. It was estimated this would benefit roughly 17,000 residents in Amador County.

With a substantial grant amount totaling $1,644,296 ($1,044,296.00 from the 1st iteration and $600,000 additional from a direct award grant) the AFSC sought to treat 90 miles or 425 acres of roadside vegetation, establish 6 new Firewise Communities, and develop a county-wide strategic plan for Ingress/Egress, and 61 Section 7, Item B.

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Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
hosting demonstration tours. The project has made significant progress, surpassing initial goals and resulting in a safer environment for the local community. By treating 113 miles or 520.73 acres of roadside vegetation, the initiative not only improved evacuation routes but also reduced the risk of wildfires spreading.

Additionally, the establishment of 32 new Firewise Communities has fostered a culture of preparedness and resilience among residents. These efforts, combined with a comprehensive strategic plan, have laid a strong foundation for ongoing wildfire mitigation and community engagement. Through collaborative efforts and continued education, Amador County is better equipped to face future challenges and protect its natural and human resources.

Jackson Creek Forest Health Project
The Jackson Creek Forest and Watershed Health Project, funded by CAL FIRE and managed by the Amador Resource Conservation District (ARCD), aimed to enhance forest and watershed health on 1,000 acres in Amador County. The project focused on reducing fire risk, conserving water, minimizing erosion, protecting water quality, and increasing forest resilience to drought and disease. With a grant of $3,603,152, the ARCD implemented a combination of treatment methods, including prescribed grazing, mastication, hand work, and prescribed fire. These treatments collectively worked to reduce fuel loading and protect local communities from severe wildfires. Given that the project was conducted on private land, community engagement was a key component of its success. The project aimed to create a sustainable and resilient forest ecosystem while providing educational opportunities and promoting long-term community involvement in forest management. Educational workshops and community events were organized to engage residents, equipping them with knowledge about fire prevention and sustainable land practices.

City of Sutter Creek
Dec 2022 to Jan 2023, heavy rains swelled creek leading to a fast and high current that eroded fill and armoring at bend in creek at base of WWTP. In Aug 2024, the Armor wall was reinforced protecting the WWTP.

Worley at Main Street: 2017-2018 storms caused the hillside to fall onto main street. Road was dug out and ultra block installed as temporary fix. After 3-5 years, ultra block was removed and Jute netting and Rice waddle were installed until vegetation returned to the hillside. Natural vegetation is impeding erosion currently.

Crestview Drainage on Meadow Crest – Sept 2023 Homeowner called City about drainage issues. No drainage was provided from upper development and too much flow was entering the residence on 310 Gopher Flat. City investigated and determined that the existing drainage pipe was too small and had been compromised. In fall of 2024, the City installed a 100 LF of new 18-inch pipe and 30 LF of 24-inch pipe, two new DI’s and 2 DI’s. Problem has been solved
Pump Station Debris – Over time dirt from unfinished road washed down into pump station vault (2020 to 2023). Vault was not above storm flows which would allow storm flow to enter pump station. Debris was removed and vault lip is now above storm flows. Issue solved for next 10 years, possible issue if high storm flows return, monitor debris accumulation and remove as necessary. Pump station vault needs to be lifted. 62 Section 7, Item B.

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Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
The City has passed an ordinance to remove fire debris and or to create a fire break on residents property.

The City has worked to clear dense vegetation areas throughout town including the Mine head site which is a known area of vegetation overgrowth. The City is working with CAL FIRE to clear dense vegetation roads. The ordinance allows the City to hire clearing crews for lots deemed with excessive vegetation growth. Vegetation management is a considerable expense to the City that is occurring every year around town.

Amador Water Agency
AWA received $1.660,533 in HMGP funding to remove 3 old redwood water storage tanks and replace with wildfire hardened steel tanks. This project was completed in 2022. Additionally, AWA received $1,706,830 in HMGP funding to retrofit the La Mel water treatment building against wildfires. This project is still ongoing.

2.3.2. 2020 Mitigation Strategy Update
The 2020 LHMP contained separate mitigation strategies for each participating jurisdiction. These have been combined below. The 2020 LHMP contained 93 separate mitigation actions for the jurisdictions. Of these, 8 are complete, 2 have portions that are complete and portions that are ongoing, 70 are ongoing, and 13 have not been started. 62 actions have been identified for inclusion in this LHMP Update and have been carried forward in Chapter 5. Table 2-2 provides a status summary of the mitigation action projects from the 2020 LHMP. Following the table is a description of the status of each project.

Table 2-2 Amador County Planning Area 2020 LHMP: Mitigation Action Status Summary Action Title Complete Ongoing
Not
Yet
Started
In 2025 Update*
Amador County
All Hazard Actions
Action 1. Integrate Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into Safety Element of General Plan
X Y
Action 2. Enhance Public Education and Awareness of Natural Hazards and Public Understanding of Disaster Preparedness X Y
Action 3. Evaluate All Major and Minor Structures Along Evacuation Routes within Amador County Right of Way
X Y
Action 4. Evaluate All Roadways Used as Evacuation Routes within Amador County Right of Way
X Y
Action 5. Harden and Enhance Cell service: Additional
Cell/Repeater Towers/Mobile Repeaters, Generator Backup, Etc.

X Y
Action 6. Amador County Evacuation planning for all Hazards; Include Establishment of Sheltering in Place and Refuge areas.

X Y
Action 7. Reverse 911 Enhancements X Y
Action 8. Enhance Agency Communications X Y
Action 9. PRC 4290 Compliant Street and Address Signage for Rural Areas
X Y
63 Section 7, Item B.

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Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
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Action Title Complete Ongoing
Not
Yet
Started
In 2025 Update*
Action 10. Fixed Generators to Essential County Facilities X Y Action 11. Implement modern GIS capabilities in Amador County X Y Avalanche Actions
Action 12. Annual Review of Kirkwood Ski Area Avalanche Mitigation Program
X N
Agricultural Hazards Actions
Action 13. Invasive Insect Pests X Y
Action 14. Invasive Weed Pests X Y
Climate Change Actions
Action 15. Energy Action Plan X N
Dam Failure, Flood, Localized Flood, Landslide, and Levee Failure Actions Action 16. Improve Storm Water Management Along Road
Segments Exhibiting Repetitive Losses From Localized Flooding and Landslides
X Y
Action 17. Review and Amend Flood Ordinance as Appropriate X N Action 18. Evaluate All Areas With Localized Flooding Along Amador County Maintained Roadways
X Y
Action 19. Monitor Shakeridge Road (upcountry) for Landslide or Road Movement
X Y
Action 20. Evaluate Each Roadways That is Subject to Local Land Movement and Minimize Debris Removal within Amador County Right of Way
X N
Earthquake Actions
Action 21. Identify Un-Reinforced Masonry (URM) and other seismically vulnerable buildings in the County
X Y
Wildfire and Drought and Water Shortage Actions
Action 22. Evaluate Evacuation Routes for Wildfire That Serve Critical Infrastructure
X N
Action 23. Community Ingress/Egress – Phase I: Fire Safe Programs and Public Education Activities*
X Y
Action 24. Community Ingress/Egress – Phase II: Brush Clearing and Fuels Reduction*
X Y
Action 25. Construction of Mitchell Mine Fuelbreak* X N Action 26. Outreach and Public Information Immobile Citizen Evacuation*
X Y
Action 27. Development of Firewise Communities in Amador County*
X Y
Action 28. Pine Acres Vegetation Management Program (2526 Acres)
X Y
Action 29. Shake Fiddletown Vegetation Management Program (2526 Acres)
X Y
64 Section 7, Item B.

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Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
Action Title Complete Ongoing
Not
Yet
Started
In 2025 Update*
City of Amador City Actions
Action 1. Integrate Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into Safety Element of General Plan
X Y
Action 2. Enhance Public Education and Awareness of Natural Hazards and Public Understanding of Disaster Preparedness X Y
Action 3. Wastewater Plant Emergency Power X Y
Action 4. Midtown Sewer Crossing X N
Action 5. Vegetation Management X X Y
Action 6. Landslide and Slope Failure Mitigation X Y
City of Ione Actions
Multi-Hazard Actions
Action 1. Integrate Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into Safety Element of General Plan
X Y
Action 2. Enhance Public Education and Awareness of Natural Hazards and Public Understanding of Disaster Preparedness X Y
Action 3. Harden and Enhance Cell Service: Additional
Call/repeater towers/mobile repeaters generator back up X N
Action 4. Shelter Upgrades to Evalyn Bishop Hall (E.B. Hall) X Y Action 5. Backup generators X Y
Flood, Localized Flood, and Levee Failure Actions
Action 6. Flood Ordinance Review and Update X Y
Action 7. Develop and Implement Storm Water Master Plan X Y Action 8. Develop Watershed Based Flood Reduction Programs X N Action 9. Stream Maintenance and Debris/Sediment Removal X Y Action 10. Replace Five Mile Bridge X N
Action 11. Pursue certification of the Levee along Sutter Creek X N Wildfire Actions
Action 12. Ordinance Review – Wildland Urban X N
City of Jackson Actions
Multi-Hazard Actions
Action 1.Integrate Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into Safety Element of General Plan
X Y
Action 2.Enhance Public Education and Awareness of Natural Hazards and Public Understanding of Disaster Preparedness X Y
Action 3.Station 131 generator X Y
Dam Failure, Flood, Localized Flood Actions
Action 4.Buena Vista Flood Mitigation Project X N
Action 5.Busi Parking Lot Slope Drainage X N
Action 6.Annual Creek Cleaning X Y
65 Section 7, Item B.

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Action Title Complete Ongoing
Not
Yet
Started
In 2025 Update*
Wildfire Actions
Action 7.Starks Lane Bridge X N
Action 8.Defensible Space X Y
Action 9.Picardo Bridge X N
City of Plymouth Actions
Multi-Hazard Actions
Action 1. Integrate Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into Safety Element of General Plan
X Y
Action 2. Enhance Public Education and Awareness of Natural Hazards and Public Understanding of Disaster Preparedness X Y
Action 3. Secure City Hall as Critical Infrastructure with Commercial Generator
X N
Action 4. Indian Creek Stream Restoration & Culvert Improvement in Flood Hazard Zone
X X N
Action 5. Maintain and Enhance Water Canal by Converting Earthen Arroyo Ditch to Fixed Pipeline or Gunite Lined Canal X N
Action 6. Develop a Community Wildfire Prevention Plan X Y City of Sutter Creek Actions
Multi-Hazard Actions
Action 1. Integrate Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into Safety Element of General Plan
X Y
Action 2. Enhance Public Education and Awareness of Natural Hazards and Public Understanding of Disaster Preparedness X Y
Action 3. Development of Walking Paths, Native Tree Protection & Native Tree Species Planting
X Y
Action 4. Installation of Generator at City Hall and Community Center
X N
Action 5. Upgrade Ditches and Culverts X Y
Action 6. Develop a Stormwater Management Plan X Y
Floods and Localized Flood Actions
Action 7. Sutter Creek City Hall Flooding X Y
Action 8. Sutter Creek Bank Stabilization X Y
Wildfire Actions
Action 9. Perimeter Wildfire Protection Fuel Break X Y
Amador Water Agency Actions
Multi-Hazard Actions
Action 1. AWP Standby Generators X N
Ag Hazards and Aquatic Invasive Species Actions
Action 2. Amador and Ione Water Systems Taste and Odor
Mitigation
X Y
66 Section 7, Item B.

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Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
Action Title Complete Ongoing
Not
Yet
Started
In 2025 Update*
Climate Change Actions
Action 3. Lower Bear Reservoir Expansion Study X Y
Drought and Water Shortage and Wildfire Actions
Action 4. Replacement of Two Hypalon Lined and Covered Tanks with New Tanks
X Y
Action 5. Mt. Crossman Main Area Tank for Upper CAWP System X Y Action 6. Upgrade Fire Pumps X Y
Flood and Localized Flood Actions
Action 7.Mace Meadows Pump Station Flooding X N
Action 8.Eggiman Lane Flooding X N
Jackson Valley Irrigation District Actions
Ag Hazards Actions
Action 1. Outreach to Farmers regarding Agricultural Hazards in the Area
X N
Aquatic Invasive Species Actions
Action 2. Lake Amador Aquatic Invasive Species Monitoring X Y Climate Change Actions
Action 3. Long Term Water Solutions Analysis Due to Climate Change
X Y
Dam Failure Actions
Action 4. Jackson Creek Dam Immediate Inundation Area Public Outreach – Dam Failure
X N
Action 5. Jackson Creek Dam Spillway Apron Extension Project X Y Drought and Water Shortage and Wildfire Actions
Action 6. JVID Water Meter Maintenance Program X N
Action 7. JVID Water Procurement and Additional Water Storage Study
X Y
Action 8. Lake Amador Spillway Rubber Dam Project X Y
Earthquake Actions
Action 9. Jackson Creek Dam Seismic Evaluation and Liquefaction Study
X N
Flood Actions
Action 10. Lake Amador Drive Box Culvert Expansion Project X Y Levee Failure Actions
Action 11. Jackson Creek Levee Maintenance Project X Y
Severe Weather Actions
Action 12. JVID Office Backup Generator X N
Action 13. JVID Freeze Protection Project X N
Wildfire Actions
67 Section 7, Item B.

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Action Title Complete Ongoing
Not
Yet
Started
In 2025 Update*
Action 14. JVID Fire Hydrant Expansion Project X N
* Actions not carried forward were determined by the jurisdictions to be no longer feasible, relevant, lacked funding and local resources to implement, and/or no longer considered a priority. 68 Section 7, Item B.

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October 2025
Chapter 3 Planning Process
44 CFR §201.6(b) and §201.6(c)(1): An open public involvement process is essential to the development of an effective plan. In order to develop a more comprehensive approach to reducing the effects of natural disasters, the planning process shall include:
1) An opportunity for the public to comment on the plan during the drafting stage and prior to plan approval;
2) An opportunity for neighboring communities, local and regional agencies involved in hazard mitigation activities, and agencies that have the authority to regulate development, as well as businesses, academia, and other private and nonprofit interests to be involved in the planning process; and
3) Review and incorporation, if appropriate, of existing plans, studies, reports, and technical information.
[The plan shall document] the planning process used to develop the plan, including how it was prepared, who was involved in the process, and how the public was involved.

Amador County, as the project lead, and the other participating jurisdictions to this 2025 Amador County LHMP Update, recognized the need for and importance of the update process for their 2020 LHMP and initiated its development. After securing funding for this LHMP Update, Amador County contracted with Foster Morrison Consulting, Ltd. (Foster Morrison) to facilitate and develop the Plan. Jeanine Foster, a professional planner with Foster Morrison, was the project manager in charge of overseeing the planning process and the development of this LHMP Update. Chris Morrison, also a professional planner with Foster Morrison, was the lead planner for the development of this LHMP Update. The Foster Morrison’s team’s role was to:
➢ Assist in establishing the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (HMPC) as defined by the Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA);
➢ Meet the DMA requirements as established by federal regulations and following FEMA’s planning guidance;
➢ Support objectives under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program;
➢ Facilitate the entire planning process;
➢ Identify the data requirements that HMPC participants could provide and conduct the research and documentation necessary to augment that data;
➢ Assist in facilitating the public input process;
➢ Produce the draft and final plan documents; and
➢ Coordinate with the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and FEMA Region IX Plan reviews.

3.1 Local Government Participation
Amador County and the other participating jurisdictions made a commitment to this 2025 Amador County Multi-Jurisdictional LHMP Update. The DMA planning regulations and guidance stress that each local 69 Section 7, Item B.

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October 2025
government (participating jurisdiction) seeking FEMA approval of their mitigation plan must participate in the planning effort in the following ways:
➢ Participate in the process as part of the HMPC;
➢ Detail where within the Amador County Planning Area the risk differs from that facing the entire area; ➢ Identify potential mitigation actions; and
➢ Formally adopt the Plan.

For all participating jurisdictions, “participation” meant the following:
➢ Attending and participating in the HMPC meetings;
➢ Completing and returning the Data Collection Worksheets; ➢ Collecting and providing other requested data (as available); ➢ Coordinating information sharing between internal and external agencies; ➢ Managing administrative details;
➢ Making decisions on LHMP process and content;
➢ Discussing their participation in the NFIP and any identified repetitive loss properties; ➢ Addressing changes in development since the 2020 LHMP and new development considerations; ➢ Providing status of 2020 actions and identifying mitigation actions for the Plan; ➢ Identifying opportunities for integrating the completed Plan into other planning mechanisms; ➢ Identifying jurisdictional capabilities to support mitigation strategy implementation; ➢ Making decisions on LHMP process and content;
➢ Identifying mitigation actions for the Plan;
➢ Reviewing and providing comments on Plan drafts;
➢ Providing Draft documents of the LHMP for public review; ➢ Informing the public, local officials, and other interested stakeholders about the planning process and providing opportunity for them to comment on the draft Plan; and ➢ Coordinating the formal adoption of the Plan by the governing boards for each jurisdiction.

The participating jurisdictions seeking FEMA approval of this LHMP Update met all of these participation requirements. Multiple representatives from participating jurisdictions attended the HMPC meetings described in Table 3-3 and also brought together an internal planning team to help collect data, identify mitigation actions and implementation strategies, and review and provide data on Plan drafts. Appendix A provides additional information and documentation of the planning process.

Individuals representing various departments and other representatives from the participating jurisdictions to this Amador County LHMP Update were actively involved throughout the Plan Update process as identified in Appendix A in the sign-in sheets for the meetings and as evident through the data, information and input provided by HMPC representatives for the development of this LHMP Update. This Chapter 3 and Appendix A provides additional information and documentation of the planning process and participants to this LHMP Update, including members of the HMPC.

3.2 The 10-Step Planning Process
Foster Morrison established the planning process for updating the Amador County LHMP using the DMA planning requirements and FEMA’s associated guidance. Specifically, the LHMP was developed pursuant to the requirements of DMA 2000, published at 44 CFR 201.6 and new FEMA LHMP guidance, LHMP 70 Section 7, Item B.

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Policy Guide FP 206-21-0002 effective April 11, 2025, as well as applicable California laws and mitigation requirements. This guidance is structured around a four-phase process:

1. Organize Resources;

2. Assess Risks;

3. Develop the Mitigation Plan; and

4. Implement the Plan and Monitor Progress.

Into this process, Foster Morrison integrated a more detailed 10-step planning process used for FEMA’s CRS and FMA programs. The modified 10-step process used for this Plan meets the requirements of six major programs: FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP); Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program; CRS program; FMA Program; Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) program; and new flood control projects authorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

Table 3-1 shows how the modified 10-step process fits into FEMA’s four-phase process. The sections that follow describe each planning step in more detail.

Table 3-1 Mitigation Planning Processes Used to Develop the 2025 Amador County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
DMA Process Modified CRS Process
1) Organize Resources
201.6(c)(1) 1) Organize the Planning Effort
201.6(b)(1) 2) Involve the Public
201.6(b)(2) and (3) 3) Coordinate with Other Departments and Agencies 2) Assess Risks
201.6(c)(2)(i) 4) Identify the Hazards
201.6(c)(2)(ii) 5) Assess the Risks
3) Develop the Mitigation Plan
201.6(c)(3)(i) 6) Set Goals
201.6(c)(3)(ii) 7) Review Possible Activities
201.6(c)(3)(iii) 8) Draft an Action Plan
4) Implement the Plan and Monitor Progress
201.6(c)(5) 9) Adopt the Plan
201.6(c)(4) 10) Implement, Evaluate, and Revise the Plan As part of this LHMP Update, all sections of the 2020 LHMP were reviewed and updated to reflect new data, processes, and resulting mitigation strategies. Only the information and data still valid from the 2020 LHMP were carried forward as applicable into this 2025 LHMP Update. 71 Section 7, Item B.

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3.2.1. Phase 1: Organize Resources
Planning Step 1: Organize the Planning Effort
With each participating jurisdiction’s commitment to participate in the DMA planning process, Foster Morrison worked with Amador County’s Office of Emergency Services (County OES), as overall project lead, to establish the framework and organization for development of this LHMP. An initial meeting was held with County OES to discuss the organizational and process aspects of this 2025 LHMP Update.

The initial project kick-off meeting was held on December 4, 2024. Invitations to the kickoff meeting were extended to key county and city departments and special districts, as well as to other federal, state, and local stakeholders, including representatives from the public, which might have an interest in participating in the planning process. Representatives from the HMPC members to the 2020 LHMP and other identified stakeholders were used as a starting point for the invite list, with additional invitations extended as appropriate throughout the planning process. The list of invitees is included in Appendix A.

Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee
The HMPC was established as a result of these initial meetings, as well as through interest generated through the initial public meeting and outreach conducted for this project as detailed later in this chapter.

The HMPC, comprised of county, city, special district, and other government and stakeholder representatives and the public, developed the Plan with leadership from County OES and facilitation by Foster Morrison. This list includes all HMPC members that were active participants in the Plan development process as evidenced through their attendance at one or more HMPC meetings, as well as those who provided key input into the Plan development process. Although not official participating jurisdictions seeking FEMA approval of the LHMP, several key local stakeholders should be noted for their ongoing participation and significant contribution to the LHMP development process. These key planning partners include the Amador County Fire Safe Council, Amador County Air Quality District, local representatives from the Red Cross and ARC, and others. The following individuals participated on the HMPC:

Table 3-2 Amador County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Organization Name
Amador County Participants
Amador County Sheriff Sheriff Gary Redman
Amador County Sheriff Lt Jeff Bellotti
Amador County Sheriff Sgt Matt Girton - OES Coordinator Amador County Board of Supervisors Supervisor Jeff Brown Amador County Board of Supervisors Supervisor Patrick Crew Amador County Board of Supervisors Supervisor Logan Carnell Amador County Board of Supervisors Supervisor Dan Epperson Amador County Board of Supervisors Supervisor Brian Oneto 72 Section 7, Item B.

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Organization Name
Amador County C.O.A. Chuck Iley
Amador County Health Officer Dr. Rita Kerr
Amador County Social Services Director - Anne Watts
Amador County Behavioral Health Director - Melissa Cranfill Amador County Public Health Director - Joanne Hasson
Amador County Public Health Diana Haley
Amador County Public Health Tracy Dehn
Amador County Public Works Director - Rich Vela
Amador County Public Works Jack O'Brien
Amador County Waste Management Jeff Gardner
Amador County Air District Hermina Perry
Amador County Environmental Health Scott Meyer
Amador County Animal Control Director - Evan Jacobs
Amador County Ag Dept Director - Eric Mayberry
Amador County Ag Dept Barry Clark
Amador County Planning Chuck Beatty
Amador County GSA Director - Glenn Spitzer
Amador County Environmental Health Scott Meyer
Amador County Building Department Todd Barr
City's Participants
City of Jackson City Manager – Carl Simpson
City of Ione Council Member – Stacy Rhoades
City of Sutter Creek City Manager – Tom Dubois
City of Sutter Creek Public Works Director – Dan Lafontaine City of Sutter Creek Vice Mayor – Julia Sierk
City of Sutter Creek Steve Christensen
City of Amador City City Manager – Dave Groth
City of Amador City Mayor – Sandra Staples
City of Plymouth City Manager – Margaret Roberts
City of Plymouth City Manager – Cameron Begbie
City of Plymouth Public Works Director – Cathleen Johnson Law Participants
Jackson Police Department Captain - Jose Arevalos
Fire Participants
U.S. Forest Service James Thornock
Amador Fire Protection District Chief - Rob Withrow
Amador Fire Protection District Battalion Chief - Justin Yelinek 73 Section 7, Item B.

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Organization Name
Amador Fire Protection District Ashley Anaya
Amador Fire Protection District Public Information Officer - Kayla Dale Jackson Fire Department Chief - Ryan Pidgeon
Ione Fire Department Chief - Ken Mackey
Sutter Creek Fire Department Chief - Dominic Moreno
Jackson Valley Fire District Chief - Randy Makemson
Medical & Health Participants
Amador County Public Health Director - Joanne Hasson
Amador County Public Health Diana Haley
Amador County Public Health Tracy Dehn
Sutter Amador Hospital Emergency Planner - Rachael Dimmer American Legion Ambulance President - Alan McNany
American Legion Ambulance Vice President - Michelle Tyer MACT Health Care Board Laura Ellison
Water Districts Participants
Amador Water Agency Rick Ferriera
Amador Water Agency Lucas Carthew
Amador Water Agency Brandt Cook
Amador Water Agency Antero Acierto
Jackson Valley Irrigation District General Manager - Steve Fredricks River Pines Public Utility District Amy Gedney
Other Utilities & Transportation Participants
PG&E James Croshurst
PG&E Kim Johansen
PG&E Samantha Hill
PG&E Andrew Murray
PG&E Kevin Quakenbush
PG&E Mother Lode Hydro Manager - Clint Harris
Volcano Communications General Manager - Frank Leschinsky Cal-Trans Wes Bingham
Cal-Trans Nick Uselton
Misc Participants
Foster Morrison Jeanine Foster
Red Cross Regional Director - Rebecca Mich
Red Cross Lisa Baker
Cal-OES Emergency Services Coordinator - John Anger,
74 Section 7, Item B.

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Organization Name
ARC Amador Executive Director - Karyn Gregorius
ARC Amador Lurali Moore
Amador Chamber of Commerce President - Matt Toma
Amador Chamber of Commerce Jim Guidi
Amador Chamber of Commerce Director - Ashley Carnicello Amador Resource Conservation District Executive Director - Amanda Watson Amador Fire Safe Council Todd Bertwell, RCD/FSC
Ione Citizen Larry Rhoades
Ione Citizen Bette Rhoades
ACART Kitten Chapman
Utilizing a Common Planning Process
The County and all participating jurisdictions developed this LHMP Update utilizing a common Plan development process utilizing the “whole community” approach. This included establishing an HMPC that included key stakeholders for all jurisdictions ensuring that the five required categories of stakeholders, specific to each jurisdiction, were identified and included. Utilizing a common planning process involving all jurisdictional stakeholders promoted better stakeholder participation for all jurisdictions. This approach respected the time and availability of stakeholders, while maximizing participation of a common group of jurisdictional stakeholders by not requiring them to come to duplicate (or really 8 separate meetings) on the same Plan development element(s), which for this Plan would have resulted in 40 separate meetings to cover the 5 primary HMPC topics and meetings. It also spurred conversations between jurisdictions, as well as their public stakeholders, who were invited to come to these meetings. Additional considerations and benefits for utilizing a common planning process for the development of the LHMP Update include:
➢ The small rural nature of Amador County, the five cities, and two participating special districts was best suited for a common plan development process.
➢ Common group of stakeholders to all participating jurisdictions necessitated a common plan development process.
➢ Several of the jurisdictions have shared or overlapping boundaries and economic ties, often work under the same authorities, and have similar needs and capabilities. ➢ A common plan development process brings key stakeholders together in the same meetings instead of siloing them to specific jurisdictional meetings. This adds value by getting different groups discussing key issues collectively with different experiences and perspectives to bring to the table. ➢ Improves stakeholder communication and coordination by increasing stakeholder attendance in support of all jurisdictions and not diluting their participation by requiring attendance at multiple, duplicate meetings that they won’t be able to attend.
➢ Key public stakeholders invited to be part of the HMPC were better able to attend a limited set of meetings.
➢ All participating jurisdictions face similar threats and hazards which drive the resulting mitigation strategy that benefits the Amador County Planning Area as a whole by promoting a comprehensive and regional approach to mitigation.
75 Section 7, Item B.

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October 2025
Additionally, Amador County, as the project lead, has been developing successful multi-jurisdictional LHMPs and LHMP Updates for nearly 20 years. Utilizing this common planning process resulted in multiple entities being engaged and in the room at the same time. All of this is shown in detail throughout this chapter and in Appendix A.

Meetings
The planning process officially began with a kick-off meeting of the HMPC held on December 4, 2024, followed by a public kick-off meeting held the same day at 5:30 pm. The meetings covered the scope of work and an introduction to the DMA requirements. During the HMPC meetings, participants were provided with data collection worksheets to facilitate the collection of information necessary to support development of the Plan. Using FEMA guidance, these worksheets were designed to capture information on past hazard events, identify hazards of concern to each of the participating jurisdictions, identify values at risk to identified hazards, inventory existing capabilities, record possible mitigation actions, and to capture information on the status of mitigation action items from the 2020 LHMP. A copy of the worksheets for this project are included in Appendix A. Each participating jurisdiction seeking FEMA approval of this LHMP Update completed and returned the worksheets to Foster Morrison for incorporation into this 2025 LHMP Update
During the planning process, the HMPC communicated through virtual Team and Zoom meetings, email, telephone conversations, Dropbox websites, and through a County developed webpage dedicated to the Plan development process. This later website was developed to provide information to the HMPC, the public and all other stakeholders on the LHMP process. Draft documents were also posted on these websites so that the HMPC members, stakeholders, and the public could easily access and review them.

The Amador County LHMP website (as shown on Figure 3-1) can be accessed online at:
https://www.amadorgov.org/departments/office-of-emergency-services/local-hazard-mitigation-plan. 76 Section 7, Item B.

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Figure 3-1 Amador County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Website Source: Amador County
The HMPC met formally five times during the planning period (December 2024 – October 2025) which adequately covers the four phases of DMA and the 10-Step CRS planning process. Internal jurisdictional meetings were held throughout the planning process to further support Plan development. The key meetings and topics discussed are described in Table 3-3. Invitations, agendas and sign-in sheets for each of the meetings are included in Appendix A.

Table 3-3 Amador County Internal and HMPC Meetings
Meeting Type Meeting Topic Meeting
Date
Meeting Location(s)
Amador County
Internal Kickoff
Meeting
1) Overview of LHMP plan development process
2) Initial identification of participating jurisdictions and HMPC members
3) Discussion of GIS and other data needs
October
23, 2024
Virtual Zoom Meeting
77 Section 7, Item B.

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Meeting Type Meeting Topic Meeting
Date
Meeting Location(s)
HMPC #1
Kick-off
Meeting
1) Introduction to DMA and the planning process
2) Overview of current LHMP;
3) Organize Resources (CRS Steps 1,2&3): the role of
the Planning Committee, planning for public
involvement, coordinating with other
agencies/stakeholders
4) Introduction to Hazard Identification
December
4, 2024
Amador County Board of
Supervisors Chambers
Jackson, CA
HMPC #2 1) Risk assessment overview and work session
-CRS Step 4: Assess the Hazard
-CRS Step 5: Assess the Problem
April 9,
2025
Amador County Board of
Supervisors Chambers
Jackson, CA
HMPC #3 1) Review of risk assessment summary
2) Review and update of mitigation goals
3) Intro to Mitigation Action Strategy
-CRS Step 6: Set Goals
-CRS Step 7: Review possible activities
June 11,
2025
Amador County Board of
Supervisors Chambers
Jackson, CA
HMPC #4 1) Review of mitigation alternatives
2) Review and update of mitigation actions from the
2020 LHMP
3) Identify updated list of mitigation actions by hazard 4) Review of mitigation selection criteria
5) Update and prioritize mitigation actions
6) Mitigation Action Strategy Implementation and Draft
Action Development
-CRS Step 7: Review possible activities
-CRS Step 8: Draft an Action Plan
June 12,
2025
Amador County Board of
Supervisors Chambers
Jackson, CA
HMPC #5 1) Review of final HMPC, jurisdictional and public comments and input to Plan
2) Review and documentation of changed conditions,
vulnerabilities, and mitigation priorities
3) CRS Step 8: Draft an Action Plan
4) CRS Step 9 & 10: Plan Maintenance and
Implementation Procedures
October 9,
2025
Amador County Board of
Supervisors Chambers
Jackson, CA
Planning Step 2: Involve the Public
Public stakeholders for all participating jurisdictions are generally defined as any stakeholder not attached to local government in the Amador County Planning Area. Up-front coordination discussions with Amador County established the initial plan for public involvement. Public involvement activities for this LHMP Update included press releases, social media communications, stakeholder and public meetings, development of an LHMP webpage and associated website postings, and the collection of public and stakeholder comments on the draft Plan through a variety of mechanisms. This included other public outreach activities as further described below and targeted outreach to different groups of people and other agencies throughout the Plan development process. At the internal kick-off meeting, the HMPC discussed additional strategies for public involvement and agreed to an approach using established public information mechanisms and resources within the County.
78 Section 7, Item B.

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Early Public Outreach Activities
Public outreach for this LHMP Update began at the beginning of the Plan development process with the development of a 2025 LHMP webpage and outreach on the LHMP development process through a variety of mechanisms as described below:
➢ Development of an Amador County 2025 LHMP Update webpage ➢ Inclusion of an Advertisement in the local community printed newspaper – The Ledger Dispatch, November 8, 2024, edition advertising the LHMP project kickoff and inviting the public to the kickoff meetings
➢ Posting of LHMP Public Information Flyer on community bulletin boards:
✓ Amador City, City Hall, Amador City California
✓ Amador County Administration Building, Jackson California ✓ Amador County Department of Health and Human Services, Sutter Creek California ✓ Amador County Transportation Commission Office, Sutter Creek California ✓ Comanche Blue’s General Store, Ione California
✓ Ione City Hall, Ione California
✓ Jackson City Hall, Jackson California
✓ Jackson Fire Department, Jackson California
✓ Jackson Library, Jackson California
✓ Plymouth City Hall, Plymouth California
✓ Sutter Creek City Hall, Sutter Creek California
✓ Young’s Payless Market, Pioneer California
✓ Pioneer Branch Library, Pioneer California
✓ Pioneer Veteran’s Hall, Pioneer California
✓ Fiddletown Community Center, Fiddletown California
✓ Pine Grove Town Hall and Library, Pine Grove California ✓ Pine Grove Market, Pine Grove California
✓ River Pines Town Hall, River Pines California
✓ Volcano Post Office, Volcano California
✓ Sizemore County Store, Volcano California
➢ Post on the Amador County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, November 14, 2024 The HMPC Risk Assessment Meeting was also advertised in the April 1, 2025 Fiddletown Community enewsletter, The Fiddler.

The purpose of this outreach was to inform the public and other stakeholders of the Amador County LHMP Update project, how they could get involved, and how to provide comments on the draft LHMP prior to submittal to Cal OES/FEMA. The outreach also invited the public stakeholders to the HMPC meetings for the project. Information on these outreach efforts can be seen in Appendix A to this LHMP.

Public Meetings
Two public meetings were planned for this LHMP Update project, during key times of the LHMP development process:
79 Section 7, Item B.

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Public Meeting #1: LHMP Kickoff
Public outreach for this LHMP Update began at the beginning of the Plan development process with the early public outreach activities to inform the public of the purpose of the DMA and the hazard mitigation planning process for Amador County and all participating jurisdictions. A press release was also issued at the beginning of the project to invite the public to attend either the public meeting or HMPC meetings.

Figure 3-2 captures the Amador County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page November 14, 2024, post.

Figure 3-2 Amador County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page, November 14, 2024 Source: Amador County
Public Meeting #2: On the Draft LHMP
The first draft of the LHMP Update was provided to the HMPC in August 2025, with a public review draft provided in September 2025. A public meeting was held on the evening of October 8, 2025, to present the draft LHMP and to collect public comments on the public review draft prior to finalization and submittal to Cal OES/FEMA. The public meeting was advertised in a variety of ways to maximize outreach efforts to both targeted groups and to the public at large and included an advertisement in local newspapers inviting the public to attend either the formal public meetings or the HMPC meeting at their convenience. The advertisement in the local newspaper included information on the date, location, and time of the meeting; where the draft Plan could be accessed in the community; and how to provide comments on the draft LHMP Update. In addition to a copy of the public review draft being placed on the Amador County LHMP website in advance of these meetings, a hard copy of the draft Plan was made available in the Amador County Sheriff’s Office, 700 Court St. Jackson, CA 95642. Documentation to support the final public meeting, including meeting outreach, can be found in Appendix A. 80 Section 7, Item B.

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In addition to the advertisement for public participation, notices of meetings were sent directly to all persons on the HMPC contact list and also to other agency and key stakeholders (including the public) with an interest in the Amador County Planning Area. The majority of these people reside in the Amador County Planning Area or in surrounding communities. Because this is a multi-jurisdictional planning effort, all public outreach activities for this LHMP Update were conducted in cooperation with and on behalf of the Amador County and all participating jurisdictions to this 2025 LHMP Update. Additional outreach for review of the Draft LHMP and final meetings included:
➢ Issuing of a Press Release on the Final Meetings and how to provide comments on the Draft LHMP ➢ Website additions announcing the final HMPC and Public meetings and how to provide comments on the Draft LHMP
➢ An advertisement/public notice in the Amador County Ledger Dispatch Print edition on September 19 and 26, 2025 announcing the final HMPC and Public meetings and how to provide comments on the Draft LHMP
➢ Posting of LHMP Public Information Flyer on the Draft LHMP at the following community bulletin boards:
✓ Amador City, Amador City Post Office, Amador City California ✓ Amador County Administration Building, Jackson California ✓ Amador County Department of Health and Human Services, Sutter Creek California ✓ Amador County Transportation Commission Office, Sutter Creek California ✓ Comanche Blue’s General Store, Ione California
✓ Ione City Hall, Ione California
✓ Plymouth City Hall, Plymouth California
✓ Sutter Creek City Hall, Sutter Creek California
✓ Pioneer Branch Library, Pioneer California
✓ Fiddletown Community Center, Fiddletown California
✓ Pine Grove Market, Pine Grove California
✓ River Pines Town Hall, River Pines California
✓ Sizemore County Store, Volcano California
✓ Volcano Post Office, Volcano California
✓ Young’s Payless Market, Pioneer, California
➢ Post on the Amador County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, September 15, 2025 The formal public meetings for this project are summarized in Table 3-4.

Table 3-4 Schedule of Public and Stakeholder Meetings
Meeting Type Meeting Topic Meeting Date Meeting Locations Early Public Kickoff
Meeting #1
1) Intro to DMA, CRS and mitigation
planning
2) 2025 LHMP Update Process
December 4, 2024 Amador County Board of
Supervisors Chambers
Jackson, CA
Final Public Meeting #2
on the Draft LHMP
1) Presentation of Draft LHMP and
solicitation of public and stakeholder
comments
October 8, 2025 Amador County Board of
Supervisors Chambers
Jackson, CA
81 Section 7, Item B.

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Where appropriate, stakeholder and public comments and recommendations were incorporated into the final LHMP throughout the Plan development process, including the sections that address the risk assessment and mitigation goals and strategies. Public comments were solicited throughout the planning process and prior to LHMP submittal to Cal OES and FEMA. No public comments were received as part of the 2025 LHMP Update project. All press releases, newspaper advertisements and articles, website postings, and public outreach efforts are on file with County OES and are included in Appendix A. The draft Plan is currently available online on the Amador County website at:
https://www.amadorgov.org/departments/office-of-emergency-services/local-hazard-mitigation-plan.

Planning Step 3: Coordinate with Other Departments and Agencies Early in the planning process, the HMPC determined that data collection, mitigation strategy development, and LHMP review and approval would be greatly enhanced by inviting other local, state and federal agencies and organizations to participate in the Plan development process. Based on their involvement in hazard mitigation planning, their landowner status in the Amador County Planning Area, and/or their interest as a neighboring or involved jurisdiction, representatives from the following agencies were invited to participate on the Planning Committee:
➢ American Red Cross
➢ Cal DWR
➢ CAL FIRE
➢ Cal OES
➢ Cal Trans
➢ California Department of Education
➢ California Department of Fish and Wildlife
➢ California Native Plant Society
➢ Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region IX
➢ National Weather Service
➢ Pacific Gas & Electric
➢ U.S Bureau of Reclamation
➢ U.S. Geological Survey
➢ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
➢ United States Forest Service
In addition, coordination with other key agencies, organizations, and advisory groups occurred throughout the planning process as needed to inform them on how to participate in the LHMP Update process and if they had any expertise or assistance, they could lend to the LHMP Update, including information on hazards, risks and vulnerability of the Amador County Planning Area, and any input on possible risk reduction measures. As part of the overall stakeholder and agency coordination effort, the HMPC coordinated with and utilized input to the LHMP Update from the following agencies:
➢ Cal-Adapt
➢ Cal Atlas
➢ Cal OES
➢ CAL FIRE
➢ Cal Trans
➢ California Department of Conservation
➢ California Department of Finance
82 Section 7, Item B.

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➢ California Department of Fish and Wildlife
➢ California Department of Food and Agriculture
➢ California Department of Parks and Recreation
➢ California Department of Water Resources
➢ California Division of Mines and Geology
➢ California Employment Development Department
➢ California Geological Survey
➢ California Invasive Plant Council
➢ California Natural Resources Agency
➢ FEMA Region IX
➢ Library of Congress
➢ National Drought Mitigation Center
➢ National Levee Database
➢ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association
➢ National Performance of Dams Program
➢ National Register of Historic Places
➢ National Resource Conservation Service
➢ National Response Center
➢ National Weather Service
➢ Pacific Gas & Electric
➢ Public Policy Institute of California
➢ United States Army Corps of Engineers
➢ United States Bureau of Land Management
➢ United States Bureau of Reclamation
➢ United States Department of Agriculture
➢ US Department of Transportation
➢ United States Forest Service
➢ United States Geological Survey
➢ Western Regional Climate Center
Several opportunities were provided for the groups listed above to participate in the planning process. At the beginning of the planning process, invitations were extended to many of these groups to actively participate on the HMPC. Specific participants from these groups are detailed in Appendix A. Others assisted in the process by providing data directly as requested in the Data Worksheets or through data contained on their websites or as maintained by their offices. Further as part of the public outreach process, all groups were invited to attend the public and HMPC meetings and to review and comment on the draft LHMP prior to submittal to CAL OES and FEMA.

Other Community Planning Efforts and Hazard Mitigation Activities Coordination with other community planning efforts is also paramount to the success of this LHMP Update.

Hazard mitigation planning involves identifying existing policies, tools, and actions that will reduce a community’s risk and vulnerability to hazards. Amador County and the participating jurisdictions to this Plan use a variety of comprehensive planning mechanisms, such as general plans and ordinances, to guide growth and development. Integrating existing planning efforts and mitigation policies and action strategies into this LHMP Update establishes a credible and comprehensive Plan that ties into and supports other community programs. The development of this LHMP Update incorporated information from the following existing plans, studies, reports, and initiatives as well as other relevant data from neighboring communities 83 Section 7, Item B.

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and other jurisdictions. This gives a general overall list of plans, studies, and reports. More can be found in Appendix B to this Plan Update.
➢ 2023 State of California Hazard Mitigation Plan
➢ CAL FIRE Plans and data
➢ CAL OES plans and data
➢ Cal-Adapt reports and data
➢ California Department of Finance demographic documents ➢ California Department of Public Health
➢ California Department of Water Resources plans and information ➢ California DWR Division of Safety of Dams plans and information ➢ California Geological Survey Plans
➢ Capital Improvement Plans for each jurisdiction
➢ Climate Adaptation Plans
➢ Climate Change and Health Profile Report – Amador County ➢ CWPPs
➢ Dam Emergency Action Plans
➢ Emergency Operations Plans
➢ Evacuation Plans
➢ FEMA mitigation planning documents
➢ Flood Insurance Studies
➢ General Plans for each of the jurisdictions
➢ General Plan Background Reports
➢ Housing Elements f for each of the jurisdictions
➢ National Weather Service documents
➢ Stormwater Master Plans
➢ US Department of Agriculture Reports
➢ US Department of Interior Plans
➢ US Fish and Wildlife reports
➢ USDA reports
➢ USGS Reports
Specific source documents are referenced at the beginning of each section of Chapter 4 and in Appendix B.

These and other documents were reviewed and considered, as appropriate, during the collection of data to support Planning Steps 4 and 5, which include the hazard identification, vulnerability assessment, and capability assessment. Data from these plans and documents were incorporated into the hazard risk assessment sections of the LHMP. Where data and information from the existing studies and reports is used in this LHMP Update, the source document is referenced throughout this Plan. The information was also used to identify potential hazard mitigation strategies for inclusion in this LHMP Update and in assessing the capabilities of the participating jurisdictions in implementing the resulting mitigation strategy.

Appendix B, References, provides a detailed list of references used in the preparation of this LHMP Update.

Coordination with Underserved Communities and Socially Vulnerable Populations As detailed in FEMA’s new 2025 LHMP Guidance, the LHMP development process should utilize the Whole Community approach to hazard mitigation planning. New 2025 FEMA guidance defines planning for the “Whole Community” as a focus on enabling the participation in national preparedness activities of a wider range of players from the private and nonprofit sectors, including nongovernmental organizations 84 Section 7, Item B.

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and the general public, in conjunction with the participation of all levels of government in order to foster better coordination and working relationships.

In consideration of these new FEMA requirements as well as applicable California state laws and LHMP requirements, the plan development process focused on key sectors of public and private entities that would enhance hazard mitigation planning for Amador County. Thus, engagement and coordination with a variety of community-based organizations that work directly with or provide support to underserved communities and socially vulnerable populations was a critical component to Amador County in addressing equity in mitigation planning and implementation.

For this LHMP project, significant efforts were made to identify and engage appropriate community members and groups to support the Plan development process. In Amador County, vulnerable populations groups primarily include seniors, children, low income, homeless populations, people with disabilities, those with lack of or limited mobility, and those with limited access to public transportation services in the more rural areas for evacuations and other hazard response needs. There is also a migrant population that arrives for the summer, many of which are Spanish speakers, which can create challenges during hazard events. The concept of Amador County being vulnerable due to its location and status as a small, rural, and somewhat remote community was determined to be a major descriptor of the County’s underserved and vulnerable populations.

Given the small, rural nature of Amador County, much of the support for these groups fell to applicable local government agencies, primarily the County. Thus, reaching out to the County departments providing these types of services was the most effective approach to meeting this element. As part of the planning process, efforts made to identify and engage these groups in the Amador County 2025 LHMP Update project included the following:
➢ Amador County Health and Human Service –The mission of Amador County’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is to provide benefits and services in a quality manner, promoting personal responsibility, job readiness and self-sufficiency in order to strengthen individuals and families. Representatives from the DHHS were invited to be on the HMPC and provide input into the Plan development process. Numerous (6) DHHS representatives, with varying roles and responsibilities, participated on the HMPC and provided input into the LHMP Update, including input on mitigation actions. Amador County DHHS divisions include Public Health, Social Services, and Behavioral Health.
➢ Sutter Amador Hospital – The Sutter Amador Hospital’s comprehensive services include a full array of programs designed for the needs of the communities it serves. Representatives of the Hospital were invited to be on the HMPC and review and provide comments on the Public Review Draft LHMP. The Hospital’s emergency planner attended and participated as part of the HMPC. ➢ American Legion Ambulance – The American Legion Post No. 108 Ambulance Service provides Advanced Life Support (ALS) emergency 911 response to Amador and Calaveras Counties. Its mission is to continue the relentless pursuit of perfection in quality health care and compassion for its patients.

American Legion Ambulance representatives were invited to be on the HMPC and review and provide comments on the Public Review Draft LHMP. The Ambulance Company’s President attended and participated as part of the HMPC.
➢ Mountain County EMSA- Mountain County EMSA is a State and County authorized service agency composed of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) specialists who coordinate and regulate local 85 Section 7, Item B.

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emergency service for our 4 county EMS system in California, including Amador, Alpine, Calaveras and Mariposa counties. Mountain County EMSA representatives were invited to be on the HMPC and review and provide comments on the Public Review Draft LHMP. ➢ MACT Health Board – The MACT Health Board provides services to Mariposa, Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, and Tuolumne counties. Their clinics are specialized and allow patients to receive affordable care for most medical, dental, behavioral health, optometry and chiropractic needs. MACT Health Board representatives were invited to be on the HMPC and review and provide comments on the Public Review Draft LHMP. A Board representative attended and participated as part of the HMPC. ➢ ARC Amador - The Arc of Amador and Calaveras’ mission is to provide support and services to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they can better learn, work, live and recreate in the mainstream of life. Since 1971, the Arc has been providing support and services to people with developmental disabilities. The Arc is a nonprofit membership corporation open to anyone with an interest in the welfare of individuals with developmental disabilities. ARC representatives were invited to be on the HMPC and review and provide comments on the Public Review Draft LHMP. Multiple representatives attended and participated as part of the HMPC. ➢ Red Cross - The Sierra-Delta Chapter of the Red Cross covers multiple counties including Amador.

The Red Cross mission in Amador County is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. This involves providing relief to individuals and communities impacted by disasters, teaching life-saving skills, and supporting those in need through various services. Specifically, in Amador County, the Red Cross focuses on disaster relief, including providing shelter, food, and health services during emergencies. They also offer training in first aid, CPR, and other life-saving skills.

Local Red Cross representatives were invited to be on the HMPC and review and provide comments on the Public Review Draft LHMP. Multiple representatives attended and participated as part of the HMPC.
➢ Victory Village - Victory Village is in its fourteenth year of serving veterans in the Central Sierra Nevada Foothills of California at two offices, one in Jackson, CA and one in Auburn, CA. Victory Village’s purpose and mission is to develop affordable housing with innovative supportive services and programs for veterans, seniors, families, women, and children experiencing homelessness, poverty, and vulnerability in underserved communities. Victory Village representatives were invited to be on the HMPC and review and provide comments on the Public Review Draft LHMP. ➢ Homeless Task Force – The Homeless Task Force, part of Amador County, serves the homeless populations, identifying needs and gaps in services in order to efficiently address homelessness in the County. Representative of the Homeless Task Force were invited to be on the HMPC and review and provide comments on the Public Review Draft LHMP.
➢ Area 12 Agency on Aging - The Area 12 Agency on Aging, established as a five county Joint Powers Agency in 1987, provides services to approximately 54,000 older adults. It is part of an aging network which includes 33 Area Agencies on Aging statewide and over 675 nationwide. The Area 12 Agency on Aging is responsible for providing funds, through an impartial request for proposal process, to community senior service providers which exhibit a high standard of program excellence. As an advocate for older adults, the Area 12 Agency on Aging strives to ensure opportunities for independence and the highest possible quality of life are available to all Area 12 residents age 60+. Area 12 Agency of Aging representatives were invited to be on the HMPC and review and provide comments on the Public Review Draft LHMP.
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➢ Jackson Senior Center – The Amador Senior Center exists to provide activities, education, and support services to the Seniors of Amador County. Representatives from the Jackson Senior Center were invited to be on the HMPC and review and provide comments on the Public Review Draft LHMP. ➢ Fiddletown Community Center - The Fiddletown Community Center is a nonprofit, all volunteer, community-based organization serving residents of Fiddletown and the surrounding area. Started over 60 years ago, this organization continues to be a vital part of local life providing an affordable event center, a free library and tutoring center, providing local gatherings throughout the year, and much more. Fiddletown Community Center representatives were invited to be on the HMPC and review and provide comments on the Public Review Draft LHMP.

3.2.2. Phase 2: Assess Risks
Planning Steps 4 and 5: Identify the Hazards and Assess the Risks Foster Morrison led the HMPC in a research effort to identify, document, and profile all the hazards that have, or could have, an impact to the Amador County Planning Area. Starting with the 2020 LHMP, natural hazards of concern were added, deleted, and modified for this LHMP Update. Data collection worksheets were developed and used in this effort to aid in determining hazards and vulnerabilities and where the risk varies across the Amador County Planning Area. Geographic information systems (GIS) were used to display, analyze, and quantify hazards and vulnerabilities.

The HMPC also conducted a capability assessment to review and document Amador County’s and each participating jurisdictions’ current capabilities to mitigate risk from and vulnerability to hazards. By collecting information about existing County/City/District programs, policies, regulations, ordinances, and emergency plans, the HMPC could assess those activities and measures already in place that contribute to mitigating some of the risks and vulnerabilities identified. A more detailed description of the risk assessment process, methodologies, and results are included in Chapter 4 Risk Assessment.

NFIP Participation
Also addressed in the risk assessment and mitigation strategy of this 2025 LHMP is an assessment of the County and five Cities’ floodplain management programs and participation in the NFIP, including a discussion of their continued compliance with NFIP requirements. However, it should be noted that this applies only to eligible NFIP communities. Participating special districts to this LHMP Update do not address their compliance with the NFIP as they are not eligible jurisdictions for purposes of the NFIP.

3.2.3. Phase 3: Develop the Mitigation Plan
Planning Steps 6 and 7: Set Goals and Review Possible Activities Foster Morrison facilitated brainstorming and discussion sessions with the HMPC that described the purpose and process of developing planning goals and objectives, a comprehensive range of mitigation alternatives, and a method of selecting and defending recommended mitigation actions using a series of selection criteria. This information is included in Chapter 5 Mitigation Strategy. Additional documentation on the process the HMPC used to develop the goals and mitigation strategy is in Appendix C. 87 Section 7, Item B.

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Planning Step 8: Draft an Action Plan
Based on input from the HMPC regarding the draft risk assessment and the goals and activities identified in Planning Steps 6 and 7, a complete first draft of the LHMP Update was developed. This complete draft was provided for HMPC review and comment via a Dropbox web link. HMPC comments were integrated into the second public review draft, which was advertised and distributed to collect public input and comments. The HMPC integrated comments and issues from the public, as appropriate, along with additional internal review comments and produced a final draft for CAL OES and FEMA Region IX to review and approve, contingent upon final adoption by governing boards of all participating jurisdictions.

3.2.4. Phase 4: Implement the Plan and Monitor Progress Planning Step 9: Adopt the Plan
In order to secure buy-in and officially implement the LHMP Update, the Plan was adopted by the governing boards of each participating jurisdiction using the sample resolutions contained in Appendix D.

Planning Step 10: Implement, Evaluate, and Revise the Plan The true worth of any mitigation plan is in the effectiveness of its implementation. Up to this point in the planning process, the HMPC’s efforts have been directed at researching data, coordinating input from participating entities, and developing appropriate mitigation actions and projects. Each recommended action includes key descriptors, such as a lead manager and possible funding sources, to help initiate implementation. An overall implementation strategy is described in Chapter 7 Plan Implementation and Maintenance.

Finally, there are numerous organizations within the Amador County Planning Area whose goals and interests interface with hazard mitigation. Coordination with these other planning efforts, as addressed in Planning Step 3, is paramount to the implementation and ongoing success of this plan and mitigation in the Amador County Planning Area and is addressed further in Chapter 7.

Implementation and Maintenance Process: 2020 Amador County LHMP The previous 2020 LHMP included a process for Plan maintenance and implementation of the mitigation strategy as well as formal updates to the LHMP. The 2020 process called for annual reviews, including a review of the status of mitigation strategy implementation. In addition, the 2020 processes called for a formal plan update as required by DMA regulations every 5 years. With respect to the 2020 LHMP, no formal process was followed for annual reviews. This 2025 LHMP Update, once approved and adopted, will meet the DMA formal 5-year update requirement for all participating jurisdictions.

In addition, the 2025 LHMP was relied on and integrated into other planning mechanisms in the Amador County Planning Area. Table 3-5 lists the planning mechanism the 2020 LHMP Update was integrated into by unincorporated Amador County. Specific to other participating jurisdictions, the jurisdictional annexes identify the planning mechanisms the 2020 LHMP were integrated into by each jurisdiction. 88 Section 7, Item B.

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Table 3-5 Unincorporated Amador County Incorporation of 2020 Amador County LHMP into Other Planning Mechanisms
Planning Mechanism 2020
LHMP Was Incorporated or
Implemented Through
Details
Amador County General Plan
(2016)
Incorporated by reference within Safety Element in accordance with AB2140.

Also, integrated as part of our Emergency Response.

Amador County Emergency
Operations Plan (2024)
Hazard I.D & Analysis, Hazard Summary, Hazard Mitigation, and just generally referenced.

Amador County Integrated
Preparedness Plan (2023)
Hazard I.D.

The plan implementation and maintenance process as set forth in the 2020 Plan has been updated for this LHMP Update. The revised update implementation and maintenance process for the Amador County 2025 LHMP Update is set forth in Section 7 of this Plan document. A strategy for continued public involvement for this update process is also included in Chapter 7.
89 Section 7, Item B.

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Chapter 4 Risk Assessment
44 CFR Requirement §201.6(c)(2): [The plan shall include] A risk assessment that provides the factual basis for activities proposed in the strategy to reduce losses from identified hazards. Local risk assessments must provide sufficient information to enable the jurisdiction to identify and prioritize appropriate mitigation actions to reduce losses from identified hazards.

As defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), risk is a combination of hazard, vulnerability, and exposure. “It is the impact that a hazard would have on people, services, facilities, and structures in a community and refers to the likelihood of a hazard event resulting in an adverse condition that causes injury or damage.”
The risk assessment process identifies and profiles relevant hazards and assesses the exposure of lives, property, and infrastructure to these hazards. The process allows for a better understanding of a community’s potential risk to natural hazards and provides a framework for developing and prioritizing mitigation actions to reduce risk from future hazard events.

This risk assessment followed the methodology described in the FEMA publication Understanding Your Risks—Identifying Hazards and Estimating Losses (FEMA 386-2, 2002), which breaks the assessment down into a four-step process:

1. Identify Hazards;

2. Profile Hazards;

3. Inventory Assets; and

4. Estimate Losses.

Data collected through this process has been incorporated into the following sections of this chapter:
➢ Section 4.1 Hazard Identification identifies the natural hazards that threaten the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County and describes why some hazards have been omitted from further consideration.
➢ Section 4.2 Amador County Planning Area Assets Inventory and Growth and Development Trends identifies the populations; structures and values; critical facilities and community lifelines; cultural, historical, and natural resources; and economic and community activities of value. It also identifies past growth in the Amador County Planning Area and reviews future development trends.

This information is not hazard specific and covers the entire Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County.
➢ Section 4.3 Hazard Profiles and Vulnerability Assessment provides an overview of each hazard, its location and extent, and discusses the risk, vulnerability, and impacts of each natural hazard to the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County. The hazard profile also describes previous occurrences of hazard events and the likelihood of future occurrences. The vulnerability assessment evaluates the Amador County’s exposure to natural hazards considering: populations; structures and values; critical facilities and infrastructure; community lifelines; natural, historic, and 90 Section 7, Item B.

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cultural resources; economic assets and community activities; and future development trends, and where possible, estimates potential hazard losses.
➢ Section 4.4 Capability Assessment inventories existing mitigation activities and policies, regulations, plans, and programs that pertain to hazards and mitigation in the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County and can affect net vulnerability. ➢ Section 4.5 Natural Hazard Summary summarizes the results of the risk assessment and whether a hazard is considered a priority for mitigation strategy planning.

This risk assessment covers the entire geographical extent of Amador County (i.e., the Amador County Planning Area) and unincorporated Amador County. And as required by FEMA, this risk assessment for the Amador County Planning Area also includes an evaluation of how the hazards and risks vary across the Planning Area.

This LHMP Update involved a comprehensive review and update of each section of the 2020 LHMP.

Information from the 2020 LHMP was used in this Update where valid and applicable. As part of the risk assessment update, new data was used, where available, and new analyses were conducted. Where data from existing studies and reports was used, the source is referenced throughout this risk assessment.

Refinements, changes, and new methodologies used in the development of this risk assessment update are summarized in Chapter 2 What’s New and are also detailed in this risk assessment portion of the Plan Update.

4.1 Hazard Identification
44 CFR Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(i): [The risk assessment shall include a] description of the type…of all natural hazards that can affect the jurisdiction.

The Amador County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (HMPC) conducted a hazard identification study to determine the hazards that threaten the Planning Area. This section details the methodology and results of this effort.

Data Sources
The following data sources were used for this Hazard Identification portion of the plan:
➢ National Climatic Data Center Storm Events Database
➢ 2020 Amador County Hazard Mitigation Plan
➢ 2016 Amador County General Plan
➢ 2023 State of California Hazard Mitigation Plan
➢ FEMA Disaster Declaration Database
➢ HMPC input

4.1.1. Results and Methodology
Using existing hazards data and input gained through planning meetings, the HMPC agreed upon a list of hazards that could affect the Amador County Planning Area. Hazards data from the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), FEMA, California Department of Water Resources, the National Oceanic 91 Section 7, Item B.

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and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and many other sources were examined to assess the significance of these hazards to the Planning Area.

The following hazards in Table 4-1, listed alphabetically, were identified and investigated for this LHMP Update. As a starting point, the 2020 Amador County LHMP Update and the 2023 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan were consulted to evaluate the applicability of new hazards of concern to the State to the Amador County Planning Area. Building upon this effort, hazards from the past plan were also identified, and comments explain how hazards were updated from the previous plan. Most hazards from the 2020 plan were profiled in this LHMP Update, with the exception of pandemic. Levee failure was placed inside the flood hazard. No new hazards were added.

Table 4-1 Amador County Hazard Identification and Comparison between 2020 and 2025 LHMP
2025 Hazards 2020 Hazards Comment
Agricultural Hazards (severe
weather/pests/invasive species)
Ag Hazards: Severe Weather/Insect
Pests
This hazard was kept.
– Aquatic Invasive Species This hazard was integrated into the Agricultural Hazards
Avalanche Avalanche This hazard was kept.

Climate Change Climate Change This hazard was kept.

Dam Failure Dam Failure This hazard was kept.

Drought & Water shortage Drought and Water Shortage This hazard was kept.

Earthquake (w/subhazards) Earthquake (minor/major) This hazard was kept and slightly renamed.

Floods: 1%/0.2% annual chance
(w/ levee failure)
Flood: 100/500-year This hazard was kept and levee failure was added.

Floods: Localized Stormwater Flood: Localized/Stormwater This hazard was kept.

Landslide, Mudslide, Debris Flow Landslide, Mudslide, and Debris Flows This hazard was kept. – Levee failure This was put into the flood hazard.
– Pandemic This hazard was dropped from the
LHMP.

Severe Weather: Extreme Cold,
Freeze, and Snow
Severe Weather: Winter Storms and
Freeze
This hazard was renamed.

Severe Weather: Extreme Heat Severe Weather: Extreme Heat This hazard was kept.

Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and
Storms (Hail, Lightning)
Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and
Storms (winds, hail, lightning)
This hazard was kept.

Severe Weather: High Winds and
Tornadoes
Severe Weather: High
Winds/Tornadoes
This hazard was kept.

Wildfire (w/smoke and air quality) Wildfire This hazard was kept, and smoke and air quality subhazards were added.

Certain other hazards were excluded from consideration for this Plan Update. They are shown in Table 4-2.
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Table 4-2 Amador County – Excluded Hazards
Hazard Excluded Why Excluded
Coastal Flooding, Erosion, and
Sea Level Rise
The County is not on the coast.

Hurricane The County is not on the coast.

Tsunami The County is not on the coast.

Volcano Given the location of active or potentially active volcanoes relative to the Planning Area, it was felt this hazard was not of concern to the County.

Table 4-3 was completed by the County and HMPC to identify, profile, and rate the significance of identified hazards. Those hazards identified as a high or medium significance in Table 4-3 are considered priority hazards for mitigation planning. Those hazards that occur infrequently or have little or no impact in Amador County were determined to be of low significance and not considered a priority hazard.

Significance was determined based on the hazard profile, focusing on key criteria such as frequency, extent, and resulting damage, including deaths/injuries and property, natural and cultural resources, and economic damage.
93 Section 7, Item B.

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Table 4-3 Amador County Hazard Identification Assessment Hazard
Geographic
Extent
Likelihood of
Future
Occurrences
Magnitude/
Severity Significance
Climate
Change
Influence
Agricultural Hazards (severe
weather/pests/invasive species)
Extensive Highly Likely Limited Medium Medium
Avalanche Limited Likely Critical Medium Medium
Climate Change Extensive Likely Limited Medium --
Dam Failure Limited Unlikely Critical Medium Medium
Drought & Water Shortage (w/
tree mortality)
Extensive Likely Critical Medium High
Earthquake (w/subhazards) Extensive Unlikely Catastrophic Medium Low Floods: 1%/0.2% annual
chance (w/ levee failure)
Significant Occasional/Unlikely Critical Medium Medium
Floods: Localized Stormwater Extensive Highly Likely Limited Medium Medium Landslide, Mudslide, Debris
Flow
Limited Likely Critical Medium Medium
Severe Weather: Extreme Cold,
Freeze, and Snow
Extensive Highly Likely Limited Medium Medium
Severe Weather: Extreme Heat Extensive Highly Likely Limited Medium High Severe Weather: Heavy Rains
and Storms (Hail, Lightning)
Extensive Highly Likely Limited Medium Medium
Severe Weather: High Winds
and Tornadoes
Extensive Highly Likely Limited Medium Medium
Wildfire (w/smoke and air
quality)
Extensive Highly Likely Catastrophic High Medium
Geographic Extent
Limited: Less than 10% of planning
area
Significant: 10-50% of planning area
Extensive: 50-100% of planning area
Likelihood of Future
Occurrences
Highly Likely: Near 100% chance of
occurrence in next year, or happens
every year.

Likely: Between 10 and 100% chance of
occurrence in next year, or has a
recurrence interval of 10 years or less.

Occasional: Between 1 and 10%
chance of occurrence in the next year, or
has a recurrence interval of 11 to 100
years.

Unlikely: Less than 1% chance of
occurrence in next 100 years, or has a
recurrence interval of greater than every
100 years.

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4.1.2. Disaster Declaration History
One method used to identify hazards was the researching of past events that triggered federal and/or state emergency or disaster declarations in the Amador County Planning Area. Federal and/or state disaster declarations may be granted when the severity and magnitude of an event surpasses the ability of the local government to respond and recover. Disaster assistance is supplemental and sequential. When the local government’s capacity has been surpassed, a state disaster declaration may be issued, allowing for the provision of state assistance. Should the disaster be so severe that both the local and state governments’ capacities are exceeded, a federal emergency or disaster declaration may be issued allowing for the provision of federal assistance.

The federal government may issue a disaster declaration through FEMA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and/or the Small Business Administration (SBA). FEMA also issues emergency declarations, which are more limited in scope and without the long-term federal recovery programs of major disaster declarations. The quantity and types of damage are the determining factors.

A USDA declaration will result in the implementation of the Emergency Loan Program through the Farm Services Agency. This program enables eligible farmers and ranchers in the affected county as well as contiguous counties to apply for low interest loans. A USDA declaration will automatically follow a major disaster declaration for counties designated major disaster areas and those that are contiguous to declared counties, including those that are across state lines. As part of an agreement with the USDA, the SBA offers low interest loans for eligible businesses that suffer economic losses in declared and contiguous counties that have been declared by the USDA. These loans are referred to as Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Disaster declarations for these programs are discussed in Section 4.3.6.

Based on the disaster declaration history provided in Table 4-4, Amador County is among the many counties in California susceptible to disaster. Details on federal and state disaster declarations were obtained by the HMPC, FEMA, and Cal OES and compiled in chronological order in Table 4-4. A review of state declared disasters indicates that Amador County received 31 state declarations between 1950 and 2025. Of the 31 state declarations: 22 were associated with severe winter storms, heavy rains, or flooding; 3 were for fire; 2 were for drought; 2 were from pandemic, 1 was for freeze and severe weather conditions; and 1 was from economic disaster. A review of federal disasters shows 27 federal disaster declarations from 1950 to 2025.

Of these 27 federal declarations: 20 were associated with severe winter storms, heavy rains, or flooding; 2 for fire; 2 were from pandemic, 1 for drought; 1 was for seismic sea wave (which was declared for the entire State of California); and 1 was for hurricane (a nationwide declaration for Katrina evacuations). A summary of these events by disaster type is shown in Table 4-5. 95 Section 7, Item B.

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Table 4-4 Amador County Federal and State Disaster Declarations, 1950-2025 Year Disaster Name Disaster Type Disaster Cause State Declaration # and Date
Federal
Declaration #
and Date
2023 California Severe
Winter Storms,
Straight-line
Winds, Flooding,
Landslides, and
Mudslides
Storm Storm – DR-4699
4/3/2023
2023 California Severe
Winter Storms,
Flooding,
Landslides, and
Mudslides
Flood Severe winter
storms
3/01/2023 EM-3592
3/10/2023
2023 California Severe
Winter Storms,
Flooding,
Landslides, and
Mudslides
Flood Severe winter
storms
2023-01
1/4/2023
DR-4683
1/14/2023
2021 December 2021
Storms
Storm Storm 2022-03
12/30/2021
–
2021 California Caldor
Fire
Fire Fire 2021-06
8/17/2021
9/1/2021
EM-3571
9/1/2021
2020 California Covid19 PandemicBiological Biological 3/22/2020 DR-4482 3/22/2020
2020 California Covid19 PandemicBiological Biological 3/13/2020 EM-3428 3/13/2020
2019 California Severe
Winter Storms,
Flooding,
Landslides, And
Mudslides
Storms Storms 2019-03
5/18/2019
DR-4434
5/18/2019
2017 Severe Winter
Storms, Flooding,
Mudslides in
California
Flood Storms 2017-03
3/7/2017
DR-4308
4/1/2017
2017 Severe Winter
Storms, Flooding,
and Mudslides in
California
Storm Storm 2017-01
1/23/2017
DR-4301
2/14/2017
2015 California Butte
Fire
Fire Fire – FM-5111
8/16/2016
2015 California
Drought/Tree
Mortality
Drought Drought 2015-05
10/10/2015
–
2015 Summer 2015
Wildfires
Fire Fire 2015-03
8/27/2015
–
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Year Disaster Name Disaster Type Disaster Cause State Declaration # and Date
Federal
Declaration #
and Date
2007 2007 Severe
Freeze
Freeze Freeze 2007-02
01/12/07,
01/16/07,
01/19/07,
01/20/07,
01/26/07
–
2006 California Severe
Storms, Flooding,
Landslides, and
Mudslides
Flood Storms 2006-03
4/10/2006
DR-1646
6/5/2006
2005/2006 Severe Storms,
Flooding,
Mudslides, and
Landslides in
California
Flood Storms 2006-01
1/12/2006
DR-1628
2/3/2006
2005 Hurricane
Katrina
Evacuations
Economic Hurricane – EM-3248
2/3/2006
2001 Energy
Emergency
Economic Greed 1/1/2001 –
1998 California Severe
Winter Storms
and Flooding
Flood Storms – DR-1203
2/9/1998
1997 California Severe
Storms/flooding
Flood Storms 97-01
1/2/1997-
1/31/1997
DR-1155
1/4/1997
1995 California Severe
Winter Storms,
Flooding,
Landslides, Mud
Flows
Flood Storms 95-03-N
95-04-S
3/12/1995-
3/24/1995
DR-1046
3/12/1995
1995 California Severe
Winter Storms,
Flooding,
Landslides, Mud
Flows
Flood Storms 95-01
1/09/1995-
2/17/1995
DR-1044
1/10/1995
1986 California Severe
Storms, Flooding
Flood Storms 86-01
2/18/1986-
3/12/1986
DR-758
2/21/1986
1982 Heavy Rain and
Flooding
Flood Storms 82-03
4/1/1982
–
1980 April Storms Flood Storms 80-01
4/1/1980
–
1977 California
Drought
Drought Drought – EM-3023
1/20/1977
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Year Disaster Name Disaster Type Disaster Cause State Declaration # and Date
Federal
Declaration #
and Date
1976 1976 Drought Drought Drought 2/9/76,
2/13/76,
2/24/76,
3/26/76,
7/6/76
–
1969 California Severe
Storms, Flooding
Flood Storms 1/23/69,
1/25,69,
1/28/69,
1/29/69,
2/8/69,
2/10/69,
2/16/69,
3/12/69
DR-253
1/26/1969
1964 California Heavy
Rains & Flooding
Flood Storms 12/22/64,
12/23/64,
12/28/64,
1/5/65,
1/14/65
DR-183
12/24/1964
1964 Seismic Sea Wave Other Other – DR-169
4/1/1964
1963 Severe Storms,
Heavy Rains and
Flooding
Flood Storms 2/7/63,
2/26/63,
2/29/63,
4/22/63
DR-145
2/25/1963
1962 Severe Storms
and Flooding
Flood Storms – DR-138
10/24/1962
1961 1961 Widespread
Fires
Fire Fire 9/8/1961 –
1959 1959 Heavy Rains Flood Storms 9/17/1959 –
1958 1958 April
Storms and
Floods
Flood Storms 4/2/1958 DR-82
4/4/1958
1958 1958 February
Storms and
Floods
Flood Storms 2/26/1958 –
1955 1955 Floods Flood Flood 12/22/1955 12/23/1955
1950 1950 Floods Flood Flood 50-01
11/21/1950
DR-15
2/15/1954
Source: Cal OES, FEMA. Retrieved March 2025.

Table 4-5 Amador County – Federal and State Disaster Declarations Summary 1950-2025 Disaster Type State Declarations Federal Declarations
Count Years Count Years
Drought 2 1976, 2015 1 1977
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Disaster Type State Declarations Federal Declarations
Count Years Count Years
Economic 1 2001 0 –
Fire 3 1961, 2015, 2021 2 2016, 2021
Flood 22 1950, 1955, 1958 (twice), 1959,
1963, 1964, 1969, 1980, 1982,
1986, 1995 (twice*), 1997, 2006
(twice*), 2017 (twice*), 2019*,
2021, 2023 (twice*)
20 1950, 1955, 1958, 1962, 1963,
1964, 1969, 1986, 1995 (twice*),
1997, 1998, 2006 (twice*), 2017
(twice*), 2019*, 2023 (three*)
Freeze 1 2007 0
Hurricane 0 – 1 2005
Pandemic 2 2020 (twice) 2 2020 (twice)
Seismic Sea Wave
(Tsunami)
0 – 1 1964
Totals 31 – 27 –
Source: Cal OES, FEMA. Retrieved March 2025.

Amador County Disasters since 2020 LHMP
➢ 2020 California Covid-19 Pandemic (2 state and 2 federal declarations) ➢ 2021 California Caldor Fire (state and federal declaration) ➢ 2021 December 2021 Storms (state declaration)
➢ 2023 California Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (2 state and 3 federal declarations)

4.2 Amador County Asset Inventory and Growth and Development Trends
As a starting point for analyzing the Amador County Planning Area’s vulnerability to identified hazards, a variety of data was used to define a baseline against which all disaster impacts could be compared. If a catastrophic disaster was to occur in the Amador County Planning Area, this section describes significant lands, assets, and other resources at risk. This section is broken into two parts:
➢ Asset Inventory – The assets inventory identifies the Amador County Planning Area’s and unincorporated Amador County’s total assets, including the people and populations: structures; critical facilities and infrastructure, and community lifelines; natural, historic, and cultural resources; and economic assets and community activities of value. This data is not hazard specific, but is representative of total assets within the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County, potentially at risk to identified hazards as discussed in Section 4.3 Hazard Profiles and Vulnerability Assessment.
➢ Growth and Development Trends – A discussion of growth and development trends in the Amador County Planning Area with a focus on unincorporated Amador County, both current and future, is presented.
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Data Sources
➢ 2016 Amador County General Plan
➢ 2021-2029 Amador County Housing Element
➢ 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data
➢ 2016 Amador County General Plan Land Use Element
➢ Amador County GIS
➢ CalAtlas
➢ California Department of Conservation
➢ California Department of Finance
➢ California Department of Fish and Wildlife Service
➢ California Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Historic Preservation ➢ California Department of Water Resources (CA DWR) Special Populations and Disadvantaged Community Mapping
➢ California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal EPA) Disadvantaged Communities ➢ California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
➢ California Natural Diversity Database
➢ Center for Disease Control (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index ➢ Amador County Building Department and Planning Department ➢ Amador County GIS
➢ FEMA Community Disaster Resilience Zones
➢ FEMA National Risk Index
➢ Hazus-MH 6.1
➢ National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
➢ State of California Department of Conservation
➢ US Census Bureau

4.2.1. Assets Inventory
If a catastrophic disaster was to occur in the Amador County Planning Area, this section describes populations, structures, critical facilities and infrastructure, and other key assets and resources at risk that comprise the existing built environment. Assets inventoried in this baseline assessment include:
➢ People and Populations
➢ Structures
➢ Critical Facilities and Infrastructure,
➢ Community Lifelines
➢ Natural, Historic, and Cultural Resources
➢ Economic Assets and Community Activities of Value
Populations
Life safety is a priority issue for hazard mitigation planning. The people that work and recreate in the Amador County Planning Area, and those that live and work in surrounding communities are also potentially at risk during a natural hazard event.
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The estimated population of Amador County (both incorporated communities and the unincorporated County) for January 1, 2025 was 39,563. Populations potentially at risk are described in the Table 4-6 based on California Department of Finance estimates. The most recent estimates are dated 1/1/2025, which are shown in the table below.

Table 4-6 Amador County Planning Area – Populations
Jurisdiction Population
Amador City 196
Ione 9,037
Jackson 4,822
Plymouth 1,122
Sutter Creek 2,538
Unincorporated Amador County 21,848
Total 39,563
Source: Cal DOF E-1. 1/1/2025
Table 4-7 illustrates the pace of population growth in Amador County dating back to 1940. The data on population and housing growth shows that Amador County saw tremendous growth during the late 20th century. That growth slowed somewhat between 2000 and 2010, and the County has seen smaller population growth since 2010, with a slight decline in population since the 2020 LHMP. Details on population growth in the cities is included in their respective annexes to this LHMP Update.

Table 4-7 Amador County Planning Area – Population Growth 1940-2024 Year Population Percent Increase
1940 8,973 –
1950 9,151 2.0%
1960 9,990 9.2%
1970 11,821 18.3%
1980 19,500 54.0%
1990 30,039 16.8%
2000 35,100 8.3%
2010 38,011 8.3%
2020 40,474 6.5%
2025 39,563 -2.3%
Sources: 2021-2029 Amador County Housing Element Background Report, California Department of Finance, US Census Bureau Vulnerable and Underserved Populations
Vulnerable populations include those who may be disproportionately affected by hazards or may need additional help or accommodation during a hazard event or disaster. The vulnerable and underserved populations discussion for the Amador County Planning Area is based on the following sources:
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➢ California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal EPA) Disadvantaged Communities ➢ Center for Disease Control (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index ➢ California Department of Water Resources (CA DWR) Special Populations and Disadvantaged Community Mapping
➢ FEMA Community Disaster Resilience Zones
➢ FEMA National Risk Index
➢ Local Input
Note: These sources below show information for the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County. Information on specific data for the incorporated jurisdictions can be found in their respective annexes to this Plan Update.

Cal EPA Disadvantaged Communities
Disadvantaged communities are defined by CalEPA as the top 25 percent of communities experiencing disproportionate amounts of pollution, environmental degradation, and socioeconomic and public health conditions according to the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment’s CalEnviroScreen tool.

CalEPA is responsible for identifying disadvantaged communities for the purposes of the Cap-and-Trade funding program. This uses the CalEnviroScreen 4.0 Tool. Maps showing these areas in the Planning Area are shown on Figure 4-1.

Figure 4-1 Amador County Planning Area – Cal EPA Disadvantaged Communities Source: Cal EPA, map retrieved 01/28/2025.

Cal EPA has another way to track disadvantaged communities. California Climate Investments are funds (Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and appropriated by the Legislature) from the proceeds of the State’s Cap-and-Trade Program specifically targeted for investment in disadvantaged communities in California.

These funds must be used for programs that further reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Senate Bill 535 102
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directed that at least a quarter of the proceeds go to projects that provide a benefit to disadvantaged communities and at least 10 percent of the funds go to projects located within those communities. Cal EPA has also mapped these communities. Those communities that fall inside this program in Amador County are shown on Figure 4-2. As shown, these areas are very limited in Amador County.

Figure 4-2 Amador County SB 535 Disadvantaged Communities (2022) Source: Cal EPA, map retrieved 01/28/2025.

CDC Social Vulnerability Index
Every community must prepare for and respond to hazardous events, whether a natural disaster like a tornado or disease outbreak, or a human-made event such as a harmful chemical spill. A number of factors, including poverty, lack of access to transportation, and crowded housing may weaken a community’s ability to prevent human suffering and financial loss in a disaster. These factors are known as social vulnerability.

Social vulnerability refers to the potential negative effects on communities caused by external stresses on human health. Such stresses include natural or human-caused disasters, or disease outbreaks. Reducing social vulnerability can decrease both human suffering and economic loss. CDC Social Vulnerability Index (CDC SVI) uses 15 U.S. census variables to help local officials identify communities that may need support before, during, or after disasters.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s (ATSDR) Geospatial Research, Analysis & Services Program (GRASP) created databases to help emergency response planners and public health officials identify and map communities that will most likely need support before, during, and after a hazardous event. CDC SVI uses U.S. Census data to determine the social vulnerability of every census tract. Census tracts are subdivisions of counties for which the Census collects statistical data. The CDC SVI ranks each tract on 15 social factors, including poverty, lack of vehicle access, and crowded housing, and groups them into four related themes. Each tract receives a separate ranking for each of the four themes, 103
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as well as an overall ranking. Maps of the four themes are shown in the Amador County Planning Area below. The overall SVI map is shown in Figure 4-3; the socioeconomic SVI for the Planning Area is shown in Figure 4-4; the household composition SVI is shown in Figure 4-5; the minority and language SVI is shown in Figure 4-6; and the housing and transportation SVI is shown in Figure 4-7. As shown on all of these maps, the County shows only minor changes across the County in social vulnerability.

Figure 4-3 Amador County Planning Area – Overall Social Vulnerability Source: CDC Social Vulnerability Index – map retrieved 12/16/2024.

Level of Vulnerability Rating: Yellow – Low; Green – Low/Medium; Aqua – Medium/High; Blue – High; Grey Hatched – No Data; Grey – Not Available
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Figure 4-4 Amador County Planning Area – Socioeconomic Status Vulnerability Source: CDC Social Vulnerability Index – map retrieved 12/16/2024.

Level of Vulnerability Rating: Faint Green – Low; Light Green – Low/Medium; Green – Medium/High; Dark Green – High; Grey Hatched – No Data; Grey – Not Available
Figure 4-5 Amador County Planning Area – Household Composition and Disabilities Social Vulnerability
Source: CDC Social Vulnerability Index – map retrieved 12/16/2024. 105
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Level of Vulnerability Rating: Faint Orange – Low; Light Orange– Low/Medium; Orange – Medium/High; Dark Orange – High; Grey Hatched – No Data; Grey – Not Available
Figure 4-6 Amador County Planning Area – Minority/Language Social Vulnerability Source: CDC Social Vulnerability Index – map retrieved 12/16/2024.

Level of Vulnerability Rating: Faint Purple – Low; Light Purple – Low/Medium; Purple – Medium/High; Dark Purple – High; Grey Hatched – No Data; Grey – Not Available
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Figure 4-7 Amador County Planning Area – Housing/Transportation Social Vulnerability Source: CDC Social Vulnerability Index – map retrieved 12/16/2024.

Level of Vulnerability Rating: Faint Blue – Low; Light Blue – Low/Medium; Blue – Medium/High; Dark Blue – High; Grey Hatched – No Data; Grey – Not Available
California DWR Disadvantaged Community Mapping Tool
The State of California’s Proposition 1 Disadvantaged Community (DAC) Involvement Program is designated to ensure the involvement of DACs as well as Economically Distressed Areas and Underrepresented Communities, which DWR collectively refers to as DACs. The Cal DWR definition for a Disadvantaged Community is a community with an annual median household income (MHI) that is less than 80% of the Statewide annual MHI (PRC Section 75005(g)), and those census geographies with an annual MHI less than 60% of the Statewide annual MHI are considered “Severely Disadvantaged Communities”. Those areas in the Planning Area considered disadvantaged are shown in Figure 4-8. 107
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Figure 4-8 Amador County Planning Area – Disadvantaged Areas Source: Cal DWR DAC Mapping Tool – retrieved 12/16/2024.

FEMA Community Disaster Resilience Zones
Community Disaster Resilience Zones aim to build and strengthen community resilience across the nation by driving federal, public, and private resources to the most at-risk and in-need communities. The Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act uses FEMA’s National Risk Index to identify the most at-risk and in-need communities to identify resilience zones. Designated zones will be prioritized for targeted federal support, such as increased cost-share for resilience and mitigation projects, lessening the financial burden on communities to perform resilience-related activities. On September 6, 2023, FEMA announced the initial 483 designations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Figure 4-9 shows these zones in teal green. As shown, there are none of these areas in the County. 108
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Figure 4-9 Amador County Planning Area – FEMA Community Disaster Resilience Zones Source: FEMA. Map retrieved 1/29/2025.

FEMA National Risk Index
Beginning in 2016, FEMA’s Natural Hazards Risk Assessment Program (NHRAP) started work on the National Risk Index by adopting an established vision for a multi-hazard view of risk that combines the likelihood and consequence of natural hazards with social factors and resilience capabilities. The goal was to take a broad, holistic view and create a nationwide baseline of natural hazard risk.

A community’s susceptibility to natural hazards varies from location to location. The National Risk Index is a dataset and online tool to help illustrate the United States communities most at risk for 18 natural hazards. It was designed and built by FEMA in close collaboration with various stakeholders and partners in academia; local, state, and federal government; and private industry. In the National Risk Index, risk is defined as the potential for negative impacts as a result of a natural hazard.

The risk equation behind the Risk Index includes three components (see Figure 4-10): a natural hazards component (Expected Annual Loss), a consequence enhancing component (Social Vulnerability), and a consequence reduction component (Community Resilience). 109
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Figure 4-10 National Risk Index Equation
Source: FEMA National Risk Index
Using these three components, composite Risk Index values and hazard type Risk Index values are calculated for each community (county and Census tract) included in the Index. Risk Index values form an absolute basis for measuring Risk within the National Risk Index, and they are used to generate Risk Index percentiles and ratings across communities.

Data from the National Risk Index for the Amador County Planning Area is seen below. Figure 4-11 shows a summary map and score for the County. As shown, Amador County’s Risk Index rating is Relatively Low. Figure 4-12 shows the expected annual loss map and score. As shown, Amador County’s expected annual loss rating is Relatively Low. Figure 4-13 shows the social vulnerability map and score. As shown, Amador County has a Relatively Moderate social vulnerability. Figure 4-14 shows the community resilience map and score. As shown, communities in Amador County have a Relatively Moderate ability to prepare for anticipated natural hazards, adapt to changing conditions, and withstand and recover rapidly from disruptions.

The Amador County FEMA National Risk Index Report is included in its entirety in Appendix G. 110
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Figure 4-11 FEMA National Risk Index – Summary Map and Score for Amador County Source: FEMA National Risk Index, retrieved 01/09/2025. 111
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Figure 4-12 FEMA National Risk Index – Expected Annual Loss Map and Score for Amador County
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, retrieved 01/09/2025. 112
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Figure 4-13 FEMA National Risk Index – Social Vulnerability Map and Score for Amador County
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, retrieved 01/09/2025
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Figure 4-14 FEMA National Risk Index – Community Resilience Map and Score for Amador County
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, retrieved 01/09/2025.

Local Input
The County noted that there is a somewhat sizable homeless population in Amador County. This causes issues with fire and pandemic as well as with other hazards. Additionally, there are limited transportation services for elderly and other vulnerable populations in rural areas for evacuations and other hazard response needs. There is a migrant population that arrives for summer. Many of these are Spanish speakers, which can also create challenges during hazard events and any necessary evacuations. The County Social Services Director provided information on vulnerable and underserved populations in the County. These can be seen in Table 4-8.
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Table 4-8 Amador County Planning Area – Vulnerable and Underserved Population Vulnerabilities and Data
Population Vulnerabilities Data/Comments
Foster youth Dependents of the court who Amador County
is responsible for; mental health needs;
placement instability; Other counties place
foster youth in Amador County but Amador
County DSS is unaware of who they are and
where they are placed.

Amador County DSS typically has 45-50
children in out of home placement.

In Home Supportive
Services recipients
Limited mobility; medical equipment;
communication barriers; at risk of out of home
care
Amador County has approximately 520
IHSS recipients.

Elderly Limited mobility, isolated, communication
barriers
Per July 2023 census data, approx.

28.1% of Amador County's population
identified as 65 years old or older.

Higher than the state average.

Adult Protective Services
clients
Victims of abuse/neglect; elderly and
dependent adults; limited mobility; medical
equipment; communication barriers
Amador DSS receives approx. 35-40
reports of elder/dependent adult
abuse/neglect each month.

Homeless Communication barriers; limited alternative
resources; isolated; challenge to locate
Although a smaller portion of the
population, the homeless face challenges
due to a lack of stable shelter options
and limited access to emergency
services. This makes them particularly
vulnerable during extreme weather
events or other disasters
People with disabilities Mobility challenges; cognitive impairments; hearing or vision impaired; communication
barriers
May need specialized support during
emergencies. In events like prolonged
power outages, accessible evacuation
routes and shelters are essential.

Non-English speaking Communication barriers According to the American Community Survey, 3.4% of Amador County
residents speak English less than “very
well.” The largest demographic of this

3.4% are the 2.2% of Amador County
residents who primarily speak Spanish,
but speak English less than “very well.”
California recently passed AB 1638
which requires local governments to
provide emergency information in all
languages spoken by 5% or more of the
population that speak English less than
“very well.” Although Amador County,
as mentioned above, does not meet this
threshold, we (using the Amador County
Emergency Alerts system) distribute
these emergency notifications in English
and in Spanish.

Source: Amador County Social Services
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Additionally, Amador County Public Health noted that Vulnerable populations face several hazard-related concerns that can significantly impact their health and well-being.

In Amador County, CA, vulnerable populations include:
➢ Low-Income Families: Economic challenges can limit access to healthcare, healthy food, and other resources.
➢ Elderly Population: Older adults may have mobility issues and chronic health conditions that require frequent medical attention.
➢ Children and Adolescents: Young people may lack access to preventive care, mental health services, and educational resources.
➢ Ethnic and Racial Minorities: Minority populations may experience disparities in healthcare access and outcomes due to language barriers, cultural differences, and systemic racism. ➢ Individuals with Disabilities: Those with disabilities may face additional barriers to accessing healthcare and other essential services.

The ways they can be impacted include:
➢ Limited Access to Healthcare: Economic and social barriers can limit access to healthcare in our rural setting, making it difficult for vulnerable populations to receive timely medical treatment and preventive care.
➢ Displacement and Homelessness: Natural disasters, economic instability, and other factors can lead to displacement and homelessness, which exacerbate health risks and reduce access to essential services in our rural county.
➢ Mental Health Issues: The stress and trauma from experiencing hazards, displacement, and economic hardship can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. ➢ Social Isolation: Elderly individuals and those with disabilities may experience social isolation, which can negatively impact their mental and physical health. ➢ Lack of Emergency Preparedness: Limited resources and information can hinder the ability of vulnerable populations to prepare for and respond to emergencies, increasing their risk during disasters.

Housing Element Special Populations
The County Planning Team noted that the Amador County 2021-2029 Housing Element discusses special populations in the County. Households with special housing needs often have greater difficulty in finding decent and affordable housing. As a result, these households may experience a higher prevalence of overpaying, overcrowding, and other housing problems. These are discussed below.

Seniors
The number of households with a head of household who is 65 years or older in 2019 increased by about

33.6% or 1,538 households when compared to 2010. The overall population in Amador County increased by approximately 0.3% between 2010 and 2019 with the number of 65+ persons increasing by 38.5%. The continuing growth of 65+ persons in the County indicates a need to provide more services for this segment of the community.
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Many of the senior households owned their own homes, with 5,333 households with a householder 65 years of age or older living in owner-occupied units; only 777 of these households lived in rental housing. The 2015-2019 ACS data indicates that 148 or 1.5% of seniors 65 and older live below the poverty level in Amador County. Because seniors tend to live on fixed incomes dictated by Social Security and other retirement benefits, those who do not own their homes are significantly affected by rising housing costs.

Also, while some seniors may prefer to live in single-family detached homes, others may desire smaller, more affordable homes with less upkeep, such as condominiums, townhouses, apartments, or mobile homes. According to the DOF E-5 Report, in 2021 about 82.0% of Amador County’s housing stock was made up of single-family detached homes, leaving 19.0% of the housing stock for those who choose to or must live in other forms of housing.

Disabled Citizens
A "disability" includes, but is not limited to, any physical or mental disability as defined in California Government Code Section 12926. Physical, mental, and/or developmental disabilities could prevent a person from working, restrict a person’s mobility or make caring for oneself difficult. Therefore, disabled persons often require special housing needs related to potential limited earning capacity, the lack of accessible and affordable housing, and higher health costs associated with disabilities. Amador County has 2,550 residents that are defined as disabled according to the ACS Census Data.

The number of people employed with a disability increased by 6.0% from 800 people in 2015 to 848 people in 2019. Additionally, the number of unemployed with disabilities also increased by 3.8% from 290 people in 2015 to 301 in 2019. Similarly, the number of people with a disability not in the labor force increased by about 16.8% from 1,460 persons in 2015 to 1,706 persons in 2019.

A developmental disability is a disability which originates before an individual attains age 18, continues or can be expected to continue indefinitely, and constitutes a substantial handicap for the individual. This term includes the diagnoses of intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism. This term also includes handicapping conditions found to be closely related to mental retardation or requiring treatment similar to that required for persons with an intellectual disability, but does not include other handicapping conditions that are solely physical in nature. While the US Census does not identify the subpopulation that has a developmental disability, the Valley Mountain Regional Center is responsible for serving this population group in 5 counties, including Amador. The data is reported by zip code, and thus is an approximate estimate of the total of >249 in 2021.

Large Family Households
In unincorporated Amador County, 1,006 households have five or more persons. On average, most of these large family households own their homes according to the Census, however, large households that rent have a disproportionate rate of housing problems including overcrowding, units lacking complete kitchen facilities, and units lacking complete plumbing facilities. In many cases, housing units of this size constitute a small portion of the total housing supply, forcing families to continue to live in what may be considered as overcrowded units. There is a need County wide for larger, affordable housing for these larger households.
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Female-Headed Households
While the majority of households in the County are either married couple or single person households, 11.3 percent of family households are headed by a single female. These households are homes with children under the age of 18 at home and don’t include single male headed households. These households generally have a higher ratio between their income and their living expenses. Therefore, finding affordable, decent, and safe housing is often more difficult for female-headed households. Additionally, female-headed households have special needs involving access to daycare or childcare, health care and other supportive services. With over 6,331 households in unincorporated areas of Amador County, there are 575 households with female heads, making up approximately 9.1% of households in unincorporated areas of Amador County. In 2019, about 27.5% of female-headed families in Amador County had incomes below the poverty line while families in poverty made up only 11.5% of all households in Amador County.

Farmworkers
Amador County is situated in the California Shenandoah Valley in Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.

The Shenandoah Valley is one of the principal viticultural regions of California. Agricultural workers play an important role in the region’s wine industry. Estimating the size of the agricultural labor force can be problematic as farmworkers are historically undercounted by the census and other data sources. For instance, the U.S. Census Bureau does not track farm labor separate from mining, fishing and hunting, and forestry, nor does the U.S. Census Bureau provide definitions that address the specific nuances of farm labor (e.g., field laborers versus workers in processing plants), length of employment (e.g., permanent or seasonal), or place of work (e.g., the location of the business versus agricultural field).

Although agriculture is an important part of Amador County economy, based on 2015-2019 ACS data, with over 13,665 residents employed in Amador County, only 702 persons (2.1% of Amador County residents) were estimated to be in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, and mining industry.

Homeless Persons
Homeless individuals and families have perhaps the most immediate housing need of any group. They also have one of the most difficult sets of housing needs to meet, due to both the diversity and complexity of the factors that lead to homelessness, and to community opposition to the siting of facilities that serve homeless clients. Similar to every other community in California, Amador County has a portion of its population experiencing homelessness. Every two years, there is a Point in Time count (PIT) of those who are homeless on a selected day in January. The counts derived from this effort not only establish funding thresholds for federal and state funds, but they also provide a snapshot of who is experiencing homelessness in each community.

The 2022 PIT count was able to count 184 persons in total. Traditionally, the PIT count is considered to likely undercount the number of people who are homeless, since it relies on volunteers canvassing communities to find individuals who are willing to participate in the survey on that one day. Therefore, the number of homeless in Amador County may be somewhat higher than shown. In addition to people and households that are homeless, there are also households at risk of becoming homeless due to various circumstances. The need for one-bedroom affordable units for single individuals will contribute significantly to long-term solutions.
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Structures
Structures include buildings used for a variety of purposes and reflect the Amador County Planning Area’s existing built environment. Depending on the nature and extent of a hazard event or disaster, all structures may be exposed to some level of risk, where certain buildings or concentrations of buildings are more vulnerable. This section captures the structures, and associated land and contents values, which comprise the Amador County Planning Area’s and unincorporated Amador County’s existing built environment.

Parcel and Structure Inventory and Assessed Values
An inventory of structures located within the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated County was developed utilizing data from the Amador County Assessor’s Office. It is based on the 2024 Assessor’s data/Parcel layer provided by Amador County GIS. This data represents best available data.

While conducting an inventory of structure assets within the Amador County Planning Area is a key element of this asset inventory, understanding the total assessed value of structures and built environment is a starting point to understanding the overall value of identified assets in the Planning Area. When the total assessed values are combined with potential values associated with other community assets such as area populations, public and private critical infrastructure, historic and cultural resources, and natural resources, and other identified assets, the big picture emerges as to what is potentially at risk and vulnerable to the damaging effects of natural hazards within the Amador County Planning Area.

Methodology
The 2024 Amador County Assessor’s data and County Parcel layer was utilized as the basis for the inventory of assessed values for both improved and unimproved parcels within the Amador County Planning Area. This data provides the land and improved values assessed for each parcel, along with key information such as property use. Other GIS data, such as jurisdictional boundaries, roads, streams, and area features, was also obtained from Amador County and CalAtlas to support mapping and analysis of the existing built environment.

Data Limitations & Notations
Although based on best available data, the resulting information should only be used as an initial guide to overall values in the Amador County Planning Area. In the event of a disaster, structures and other infrastructure improvements are at the greatest risk of damage. Depending on the type of hazard and resulting damages, the land itself may not suffer a significant loss. For that reason, the values of structures and other improvements are of greatest concern. Also, it is critical to note a specific limitation to the assessed values data within the Amador County Planning Area, created by Proposition 13. Instead of adjusting property values annually, no adjustments are made until a property transfer occurs. As a result, overall property value information is likely significantly low and does not reflect current market, replacement, or true potential loss values for properties within the Amador County Planning Area.

Another limitation to this data is found in the Williamson Act, also known as the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, that enables local governments to enter into contracts with private landowners for the purpose of restricting specific parcels of land to agricultural or related open space use. When the 119
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County enters into a contract with the landowners under the Williamson Act, the landowner agrees to limit the use of the land to agriculture and compatible uses for a period of at least ten years and the County agrees to tax the land at a rate based on the agricultural production of the land rather than its real estate market value. This further affects the County’s overall values for assessed taxable lands and structures.

Property Use Categories
The Amador County Planning Area Assessor data included property use categories which provides detailed descriptive information about how each property is generally used, such as residential, commercial, or industrial. The property use codes were refined and categorized into the following property use categories and linked back to the Assessor data. The final property use categories for the Amador County Planning Area include:
➢ Agricultural
➢ Commercial
➢ Industrial
➢ Miscellaneous
➢ Residential
Once property uses were grouped into categories, the number of total and improved parcels and land and improved values were inventoried for the Amador County Planning Area by property use.

Estimated Content Replacement Values
The Amador County Planning Area assigned property use categories were used to develop estimated content replacement values (CRVs) that are potentially at loss from hazards. FEMA’s standard CRV factors, derived from Hazus, were utilized to develop more accurate loss estimates for the total assets inventory and for all mapped hazard analyses. FEMA’s CRV factors estimate content values as a percent of improved structure value by property use. Table 4-9 shows the breakdown of the different property uses in the Amador County Planning Area and their estimated CRV factors.

Table 4-9 Amador County Planning Area – Content Replacement Factors by Property use Amador County Property Use Categories Hazus Property Use Categories
Hazus Content
Replacement Values
Agricultural Agricultural 100%
Commercial Commercial 100%
Industrial Industrial 150%
Miscellaneous Miscellaneous 0%
Residential Residential 50%
Unknown – 0%
Source: Hazus 6.1
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Parcel and Structure Asset Inventory with Values Results Values associated with land and improved structures were identified and summed in order to determine assessed values at risk in the Amador County Planning Area. Together, the land and improved structure values make up the majority of assessed values associated with each identified parcel or asset. Improved parcel counts were based on the assumption that a parcel was improved if a structure value was present.

Content replacement values were then added to the assessed values, as described below, to provide an estimate of land and structure values at risk in the Planning Area.

Table 4-10 shows the total values or exposure for the entire Amador County Planning Area broken out by jurisdiction. The values for unincorporated Amador County are broken out by property use category and are provided in Table 4-11. More information on parcels and structures at risk for each jurisdiction can be found in their respective annexes.

Table 4-10 Amador County Planning Area – Total Parcels and Structures by Jurisdiction Jurisdiction Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Amador City 180 111 $19,124,377 $21,078,306 $12,365,357 $52,568,040 Ione 2,205 1,976 $223,741,829 $496,467,157 $258,084,980 $978,293,966 Jackson 2,124 1,756 $201,851,988 $567,874,739 $380,312,415 $1,150,039,142 Plymouth 625 488 $85,143,363 $118,367,406 $69,262,141 $272,772,910 Sutter Creek 1,434 1,160 $133,675,205 $331,339,861 $197,619,665 $662,634,731 Unincorporated
Amador
County
17,828 12,434 $1,687,406,507 $3,026,753,541 $1,764,724,121 $6,478,884,169 Grand Total 24,396 17,925 $2,350,943,269 $4,561,881,010 $2,682,368,677 $9,595,192,956 Source: 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data
Table 4-11 Unincorporated Amador County – Total Parcels and Structures by Property Use Property Use Total
Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel
Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 1,789 1,161 $283,023,440 $217,062,083 $217,062,083 $717,147,606 Commercial 436 304 $96,801,856 $290,561,506 $290,561,506 $677,924,868 Industrial 52 30 $35,032,988 $13,475,594 $20,213,391 $68,721,973 Miscellaneous 821 75 $20,963,766 $13,813,018 $0 $34,776,784 Residential 14,555 10,778 $1,213,794,783 $2,473,774,282 $1,236,887,141 $4,924,456,206 Unknown 175 86 $37,789,674 $18,067,058 $0 $55,856,732
Unincorporated
Amador County
Total
17,828 12,434 $1,687,406,507 $3,026,753,541 $1,764,724,121 $6,478,884,169 Source: 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data
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Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Beyond just structures, it is important to identify the critical facilities and infrastructure that are critical for life safety and the economy. Critical facilities commonly include all public and private facilities that a community considers essential for the delivery of vital services and for the protection of the community.

They usually include emergency response facilities (fire stations, police stations, rescue squads, and emergency operation centers [EOCs]), custodial facilities (jails and other detention centers, long-term care facilities, hospitals, and other health care facilities), schools, emergency shelters, utilities (water supply, wastewater treatment facilities, and power), communications facilities, and any other assets determined by the community to be of critical importance for the protection of the health and safety of the population.

For purposes of this plan, a critical facility is defined as:

Any facility, including without limitation, a structure, infrastructure, property, equipment or service, that if adversely affected during a hazard event may result in severe consequences to public health and safety or interrupt essential services and operations for the community at any time before, during and after the hazard event.

A critical facility is classified by the following categories: (1) Essential Services Facilities, (2) At-risk Populations Facilities, (3) Hazardous Materials Facilities. ➢ Essential Services Facilities – include, without limitation, public safety, emergency response, emergency medical, designated emergency shelters, communications, public utility plant facilities and equipment, and government operations. Sub-Categories:
✓ Public Safety - Police stations, fire and rescue stations, emergency operations centers ✓ Emergency Response - Emergency vehicle and equipment storage and essential governmental work centers for continuity of government operations.
✓ Emergency Medical - Hospitals, emergency care, urgent care, ambulance services. ✓ Designated Emergency Shelters.
✓ Communications - Main hubs for telephone, main broadcasting equipment for television systems, radio, and other emergency warning systems.
✓ Public Utility Plant Facilities - including equipment for treatment, generation, storage, pumping and distribution (hubs for water, wastewater, power, and gas). ✓ Essential Government Operations - Public records, courts, jails, building permitting and inspection services, government administration and management, maintenance and equipment centers, and public health.
➢ At Risk Population Facilities – include, without limitation, pre-schools, public and private primary and secondary schools, before and after school care centers with 12 or more students, with 12 or more children, group homes, and assisted living residential or congregate care facilities with 12 or more residents.
➢ Hazardous Materials Facilities – include, without limitation, any facility that could, if adversely impacted, release hazardous material(s) in sufficient amounts during a hazard event that would create harm to people, the environment and property.
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Note: The Hazardous Materials Facilities, while considered critical facilities for purposes of this Plan Update, are not mapped in this Plan due to the lack of an available GIS layer. In addition to the mapped critical facilities, it should further be noted that additional critical facilities, including infrastructure, utilities, and others have been identified for the Amador County Planning Area but are not included in the mapping and inventory due to privacy and security concerns.

Critical facilities in the Amador County Planning Area are shown on Figure 4-15. A summary of critical facilities in the Planning Area is shown in Table 4-12 and detailed in Table 4-13. Additional details of individual critical facilities can be found in Appendix F of this Plan Update. 123
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Figure 4-15 Amador County Planning Area – Critical Facilities 124
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Table 4-12 Amador County Planning Area – Critical Facilities by Jurisdiction and Critical Facility Category
Jurisdiction / Critical Facility Category Facility Count City of Amador City
Essential Services Facilities 3
At Risk Population Facilities 0
City of Amador City Total 3
City of Ione
Essential Services Facilities 13
At Risk Population Facilities 5
City of Ione Total 18
City of Jackson
Essential Services Facilities 35
At Risk Population Facilities 13
City of Jackson Total 48
City of Plymouth
Essential Services Facilities 8
At Risk Population Facilities 1
City of Plymouth Total 9
City of Sutter Creek
Essential Services Facilities 7
At Risk Population Facilities 6
City of Sutter Creek Total 13
Unincorporated Amador County
Essential Services Facilities 138
At Risk Population Facilities 7
Unincorporated Amador County Total 145
Unincorporated Alpine County
Essential Services Facilities 1
At Risk Population Facilities 0
Unincorporated Alpine County Total 1
Grand Total 237
Source: Amador County GIS
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Table 4-13 Amador County Planning Area – Critical Facilities by Jurisdiction and Critical Facility Category and Facility Type
Jurisdiction / Critical Facility Category Critical Facility Type Facility Count Amador City
Essential Services
Fire Station 1
Post Office 1
Public Administration Building 1
Total 3
Amador City Total 3
Ione
Essential Services
Bridge 1
Clinic 1
EMS Station 2
Evacuation Shelter 1
Fire Station 2
Library 1
Other 1
Police Station 1
Post Office 1
Prison 1
Public Administration Building 1
Essential Services Total 13
At Risk Population
School 5
At Risk Population Total 5
Ione Total 18
Jackson
Essential Services
Civic Center 1
Clinic 9
Communications 1
Community Center 2
Court House 1
DMV 1
EOC 1
Evacuation Shelter 2
Fire Station 2
Government Administration 1
Healthcare/School Services 1
Hospital 1
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Jurisdiction / Critical Facility Category Critical Facility Type Facility Count Jail 1
Library 1
Police Station 3
Post Office 1
Public Administration Building 2
School District Office 1
Wastewater Facility 2
Wastewater Treatment Plant 1
Essential Services Total 35
At Risk Population
Community Center 1
Other 1
Residential Care Facility 4
School 5
Veterans Services 2
At Risk Population Total 13
Jackson Total 48
Plymouth
Essential Services
Bridge 1
Clinic 1
EMS Station 1
Evacuation Shelter 1
Fire Station 1
Library 1
Post Office 1
Public Administration Building 1
Essential Services Total 8
At Risk Population
School 1
At Risk Population Total 1
Plymouth Total 9
Sutter Creek
Essential Services
Community Center 2
Fire Station 2
Police Station 1
Post Office 1
Public Administration Building 1
Essential Services Total 7
At Risk Population Residential Care Facility 1
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Jurisdiction / Critical Facility Category Critical Facility Type Facility Count School 5
At Risk Population Total 6
Sutter Creek Total 13
Unincorporated Amador County
Essential Services
Animal Shelter 1
Bridge 31
Clinic 4
Community Center 5
EMS Station 2
Evacuation Shelter 1
Fire Station 15
Library 2
Other 5
Post Office 4
Public Administration Building 1
Public Water System 64
Ranger Station 1
Veterans Services 1
Wastewater Facility 1
Essential Services Total 138
At Risk Population
Clinic 1
School 5
Veterans Services 1
At Risk Population Total 7
Unincorporated Amador County Total 145
Unincorporated Alpine County
Essential Services Fire Station 1
Essential Services Total 1
Unincorporated Alpine County Total 1
Grand Total 237
Source: Amador County GIS
Community Lifelines
Assessing the vulnerability of the Amador County Planning Area to natural hazards and disasters also involves reviewing and inventorying the community lifelines in place that could be affected. It is important to include these items in hazard discussions as the continuous operation of critical government and business 128
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functions is essential to human health and safety and/or economic security. Information on community lifelines include:
➢ Lifelines are the most fundamental services in the community that, when stabilized, enable all other aspects of society to function.
➢ FEMA has developed a construct for objectives-based response that prioritizes the rapid stabilization of Community Lifelines after a disaster.
➢ The integrated network of assets, services, and capabilities that provide lifeline services are used dayto-day to support the recurring needs of the community and enable all other aspects of society to function.
➢ When disrupted, decisive intervention (e.g., rapid re-establishment or employment of contingency response solutions) is required to stabilize the incident.

For this Plan, Community Lifelines includes the following (as defined by FEMA):
➢ Safety and Security – Law Enforcement/Security, Fire Service, Search and Rescue, Government Service, Community Safety
➢ Food, Hydration, Shelter – Food, Water, Shelter, Agriculture ➢ Health and Medical – Medical Care, Public Health, Patient Movement, Medical Supply Chain, Fatality Management
➢ Energy – Power Grid, Fuel
➢ Communications – Infrastructure, Responder Communications, Alerts Warnings and Messages, Finance, 911 and Dispatch
➢ Transportation – Highway/Roadway/Motor Vehicle, Mass Transit, Railway, Aviation, Maritime ➢ Hazardous Material – Facilities, HAZMAT, Pollutants, Contaminants ➢ Water Systems – Potable Water Infrastructure, Wastewater Management In the Amador County Planning Area, these community lifelines are all in place and functional as part of regular government operations. It should also be noted that these community lifelines collectively include many of the individual components of other community assets inventoried for this LHMP including structures and critical facilities and infrastructure.

After the HMPC reviewed the list of hazards from Table 4-3, it was determined that most hazards that occur would not overwhelm the community lifelines in the County. A matrix was put together in Table 4-14 for the hazards of concern in the Amador County Planning Area. As shown, only earthquake and wildfire are thought be able to (temporarily) overwhelm the community lifelines in the County. The remaining hazards would likely not overwhelm community lifelines.

Note: This inventory of community lifelines and hazard analysis only occurs in this overall asset inventory for Amador County. To limit redundancy, it is not discussed further in the hazard profiles and vulnerability assessments in Section 4.3 below.
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Table 4-14 Amador County Planning Area – Hazards and their Potential to Overwhelm Community Lifelines
Hazard Potential to Overwhelm
Community Lifelines
Hazard Potential to Overwhelm
Community Lifelines
Severe Weather: Extreme
Cold, Freeze, and Snow
Limited Dam Failure Moderate
Severe Weather: Extreme
Heat
Limited Drought and Water
Shortage
Limited
Severe Weather: Heavy
Rains and Storms
Limited Earthquake High
Severe Weather: High
Winds and Tornado
Limited Flood: 1%/0.2% Annual
Chance
Moderate
Agricultural Hazards Limited Flood: Localized Flooding Limited Avalanche Limited Landslide, Mudslide, and
Debris Flow
Limited
Climate Change Limited Wildfire High
Source: Amador County Planning Team
Efforts to mitigate potential impacts to community lifelines are key to building resilience. These community lifelines connect to the sectors in the National Mitigation Framework and the Recovery Support Functions under the National Disaster Recovery Framework; the same agencies and departments that support these sectors also often support community lifelines and the recovery mission.

Specific information on these community lifelines in the Amador County Planning Area and how they may be affected by a hazard event or disaster are discussed in more detail in each jurisdictional annex to this Base Plan.

Natural, Historical, and Cultural Resources
Assessing the vulnerability of the Amador County Planning Area to disaster also involves inventorying the natural, historic, and cultural assets of the area. This step is important for the following reasons:
➢ The community may decide that these types of resources warrant a greater degree of protection due to their unique and irreplaceable nature and contribution to the overall economy. ➢ If these resources are impacted by a disaster, knowing so ahead of time allows for more prudent care in the immediate aftermath, when the potential for additional impacts are higher. ➢ The rules for reconstruction, restoration, rehabilitation, and/or replacement are often different for these types of designated resources.
➢ Natural resources can have beneficial functions that reduce the impacts of natural hazards, such as wetlands and riparian habitat, which help absorb and attenuate floodwaters.

Natural Resources
Natural resources are important to include in cost/benefit analyses for future projects and may be used to leverage additional funding for mitigation projects that also contribute to community goals for protecting 130
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sensitive natural resources. Awareness of natural resource assets can lead to opportunities for meeting multiple objectives. For instance, protecting wetlands areas protects sensitive habitat as well as reducing the force of and storing floodwaters.

The County’s broad range of elevation and topography results in a rich diversity of natural and biological resources. The western half of the County is characterized by rolling hills covered with oak woodland, grassland, and chaparral. The forested upcountry, which is part of the Eldorado National Forest, has a more rugged topography characterized by steep slopes, deep river canyons, and high mountain peaks covered by forests, montane shrublands, and lakes.

The South Fork Cosumnes River, the North Fork Mokelumne River, Dry Creek, Sutter Creek, Jackson Creek, Lake Camanche, Pardee Reservoir, and Lake Amador all provide vital fish spawning, rearing, and/or migratory habitat for a diverse range of fish.

Deer migration corridors are also a concern in many foothill counties, including Amador County. The County is home to both resident and migratory deer populations, with critical winter range for deer found at elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 feet above sea level, and summer critical habitat at 4,000 to 9,000 feet above sea level.

The vernal pool complexes and Ione chaparral of western Amador County, and the riparian habitats along corridors such as the Cosumnes River, the Mokelumne River, and Dry Creek are examples of some of the sensitive communities found throughout the County. These sensitive communities are a part of the county’s biological wealth and are home to some of its unique plant and animal species. Future residential, commercial, and infrastructure development and expansion of agricultural or mining activities have the potential to directly remove, degrade, or fragment these sensitive habitats.

Special Status Species
To further understand natural resources that may be particularly vulnerable to a hazard event, as well as those that need consideration when implementing mitigation activities, it is important to identify at-risk species (i.e., endangered species) in the Planning Area. An endangered species is any species of fish, plant life, or wildlife that is in danger of extinction throughout all or most of its range. A threatened species is a species that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Both endangered and threatened species are protected by law and any future hazard mitigation projects are subject to these laws. Candidate species are plants and animals that have been proposed as endangered or threatened but are not currently listed.

The California Natural Diversity Database, a program that inventories the status and locations of rare plants and animals in California, was queried to create an inventory of special status species in Amador County.

A summary list of these species is found below in Table 4-15. Appendix E lists the name, federal status, state status, California Department of Fish and Wildlife status, and the California Rare Plant rank of species in Amador County.
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Table 4-15 Amador County Planning Area – Summary of Special Status Species Type Number
Animals - Amphibians 5
Animals - Birds 52
Animals - Crustaceans 5
Animals - Fish 18
Animals - Insects 10
Animals - Mammals 10
Animals – Mollusks 2
Animals – Reptiles 3
Community – Terrestrial 9
Plants – Vascular 38
Source: California Natural Diversity Database. Retrieved January 2025.

Wetlands
Wetlands are habitats in which soils are intermittently or permanently saturated or inundated. Wetland habitats vary from rivers to seasonal ponding of alkaline flats and include swamps, bogs, marshes, vernal pools, and riparian woodlands. Wetlands are considered to be waters of the United States and are subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as well as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Where the waters provide habitat for federally endangered species, the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service may also have authority.

Wetlands are a valuable natural resource for communities providing beneficial impact to water quality, wildlife protection, recreation, and education, and play an important role in hazard mitigation. Wetlands provide drought relief in water-scarce areas where the relationship between water storage and streamflow regulation is vital and reduce flood peaks and slowly release floodwaters to downstream areas. When surface runoff is dampened, the erosive powers of the water are greatly diminished. Furthermore, the reduction in the velocity of inflowing water as it passes through a wetland helps remove sediment being transported by the water.

Fresh emergent wetland habitats occur in Amador County on virtually all exposures and slopes, provided a basin or depression is saturated or at least periodically flooded. They are most common on level to gently rolling topography. They are found in various depressions or at the edge of rivers or lakes. Soils are predominantly silt and clay, although coarser sediments and organic material may be intermixed. In some areas organic soils (peat) may constitute the primary growth medium. Climatic conditions are highly variable and range from the extreme summer heat to winter temperatures well below freezing.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has maps of wetlands in the United States. Those wetlands that fall in Amador County are shown on Figure 4-16 for the western County and on Figure 4-17 for the eastern County. They are detailed in Table 4-16 and are shown separated by jurisdiction. More information on the locations of wetlands in each City can be found in their respective annexes to this LHMP Update. 132
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Figure 4-16 Amador County Western Planning Area – Wetlands Locations 133
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Figure 4-17 Amador County Eastern Planning Area – Wetlands Locations Table 4-16 Amador County Planning Area – Wetlands
Wetlands Area Type Wetlands Count Wetlands Area (in Acres) Unincorporated Amador County
Freshwater Emergent Wetland 2,099 2,074.47
Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland 864 880.27
Freshwater Pond 1,385 1,216.43
Lake 48 6,850.05
Riverine 2,298 2,980.06
Unincorporated Amador County Total 6,694 14,001.29
Source: USFWS October 2024 National Wetlands Inventory
Wetlands Natural and Beneficial Functions
Wetlands are often found in floodplains and depressional areas of a watershed. Many wetlands receive and store floodwaters, thus slowing and reducing downstream flow. Wetlands perform a variety of ecosystem functions including food web support, habitat for insects and other invertebrates, fish and wildlife habitat, 134
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filtering of waterborne and dry-deposited anthropogenic pollutants, carbon storage, water flow regulation (e.g., flood abatement), groundwater recharge, and other human and economic benefits.

Wetlands, and other riparian and sensitive areas, provide habitat for insects and other invertebrates that are critical food sources to a variety of wildlife species, particularly birds. There are species that depend on these areas during all parts of their lifecycle for food, overwintering, and reproductive habitat. Other species use wetlands and riparian areas for one or two specific functions or parts of the lifecycle, most commonly for food resources. In addition, these areas produce substantial plant growth that serves as a food source to herbivores (wild and domesticated) and a secondary food source to carnivores.

Wetlands slow the flow of water through the vegetation and soil, and pollutants are often held in the soil.

In addition, because the water is slowed, sediments tend to fall out, thus improving water quality and reducing turbidity downstream.

These natural floodplain functions associated with the natural or relatively undisturbed floodplain that moderates flooding, such as wetland areas, are critical for maintaining water quality, recharging groundwater, reducing erosion, redistributing sand and sediment, and providing fish and wildlife habitat.

Preserving and protecting these areas and associated functions are a vital component of sound floodplain management practices for the Amador County Planning Area.

Farmlands
Williamson Act
The Williamson Act, also known as the California Land Conservation Act of 1965, enables local governments to enter into contracts with private landowners for the purpose of restricting specific parcels of land to agricultural or related open space use. When the County enters into a contract with the landowners under the Williamson Act, the landowner agrees to limit the use of the land to agriculture and compatible uses for a period of at least ten years and the County agrees to tax the land at a rate based on the agricultural production of the land rather than its real estate market value. This affects the County’s overall values for assessed taxable lands. The County has designated areas as agricultural preserves within which the County will enter into contracts for the preservation of the land in agriculture. Locations from the most recent map (dated 2023) can be seen on Figure 4-18 for western Amador County. There are no Williamson Act lands in eastern Amador County.
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Figure 4-18 Amador County – Williamson Act Lands
Source: California Department of Conservation. Retrieved 03/11/2025.

State Inventory of Important Farmland
The Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program was established in 1984 to document the location, quality, and quantity of agricultural lands and conversion of those lands over time. The program provides impartial analysis of agricultural land use changes throughout California. For inventory purposes, several categories were developed to describe the qualities of land in terms of its suitability for agricultural production. The State Department of Conservation utilizes the following classification system:
➢ The Prime Farmland category describes farmland with the best combination of physical and chemical features able to sustain long term agricultural production. This land has the soil quality, growing season, and moisture supply needed to produce sustained high yields. Land must have been used for irrigated agricultural production at some time during the four years prior to the mapping date. ➢ Farmland of Statewide Importance is farmland similar to Prime Farmland but with minor shortcomings, such as greater slopes or less ability to store soil moisture. Land must have been used for irrigated agricultural production at some time during the four years prior to the mapping date. ➢ Unique Farmland is farmland of lesser quality soils used for the production of the state’s leading agricultural crops. This land is usually irrigated but may include non-irrigated orchards or vineyards as found in some climatic zones in California. Land must have been cropped at some time during the four years prior to the mapping date.
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➢ Farmland of Local Importance is either currently producing crops or has the capability of production.

This farmland category is determined by each county’s board of supervisors and a local advisory committee.

The 2022 maps are the most recent versions. These lands are shown in Figure 4-19.

Figure 4-19 Amador County – Map of Important Farmlands 2022 Source: State of California Department of Conservation. Retrieved 03/11/2025.

Cultural and Historical Resources
Amador County has a large stock of historically significant homes, public buildings, and landmarks. To inventory these resources, the HMPC collected information from a number of sources. The California Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) was the primary source of information. The OHP is responsible for the administration of federally and state mandated historic preservation programs to further the identification, evaluation, registration, and protection of California’s irreplaceable archaeological and historical resources. OHP administers the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historical Resources, California Historical Landmarks, and the California Points of Historical Interest programs. Each program has different eligibility criteria and procedural requirements.
➢ The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. The National Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and 137
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private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect historic and archeological resources. Properties listed include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. The National Register is administered by the National Park Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior. ➢ The California Register of Historical Resources program encourages public recognition and protection of resources of architectural, historical, archeological, and cultural significance and identifies historical resources for state and local planning purposes; determines eligibility for state historic preservation grant funding; and affords certain protections under the California Environmental Quality Act. The Register is the authoritative guide to the state’s significant historical and archeological resources.
➢ California Historical Landmarks are sites, buildings, features, or events that are of statewide significance and have anthropological, cultural, military, political, architectural, economic, scientific or technical, religious, experimental, or other value. Landmarks #770 and above are automatically listed in the California Register of Historical Resources. ➢ California Points of Historical Interest are sites, buildings, features, or events that are of local (city or county) significance and have anthropological, cultural, military, political, architectural, economic, scientific or technical, religious, experimental, or other value. Points designated after December 1997 and recommended by the State Historical Resources Commission are also listed in the California Register.

Historical resources included in the programs above are identified in Table 4-17.

Table 4-17 Amador County Planning Area – Historical Resources Resource Name (Plaque Number)
National
Register
State
Landmark
Point of
Interest Date Listed
City/
Community
Amador City (P498) X 5/5/1977 Amador City
Lancha Plana (30) X 8/1/1932 Buena Vista
Drytown (31) X 8/1/1932 Drytown
Oleta (Old Fiddletown) (35) X 8/1/1932 Fiddletown
Rammed Earth Adobe (P107) X 12/11/1968 Fiddletown
Fiddletown (N627) X 6/7/1978 Fiddletown
Community Methodist Church of Ione (506) X 7/31/1953 Ione Ione City Centenary Church (N498) X 5/26/1977 Ione
Five Mile Drive--Sutter Creek Bridge (N1437) X 4/11/1986 Ione Scully Ranch (N706) X 11/21/1978 Ione
D. Stewart Co. Store (788) X 11/21/1963 Ione
Preston Castle (867) X 1/11/1974 Ione
Middle Bar (36) X 8/1/1932 Jackson
Pioneer Hall (34) X 8/1/1932 Jackson
Jackson Gate (118) X 3/29/1933 Jackson
Argonaut And Kennedy Mines (786) X 9/18/1963 Jackson
Amador County Hospital Building (N148) X 2/23/1972 Jackson 138
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Resource Name (Plaque Number)
National
Register
State
Landmark
Point of
Interest Date Listed
City/
Community
Site of Jackson's Pioneer Jewish Synagogue
(865)
X 11/16/1973 Jackson
Kennedy Mine Tailing Wheels (P397) X 5/9/1975 Jackson
Kennedy Tailing Wheels (N959) X 7/7/1981 Jackson
House and Indian Museum, Grace Blair Depue
(P582)
X 3/1/1982 Jackson
Depue, Grace Blair, House and Indian Museum
(N1101)
X 5/7/1982 Jackson
Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church (N1426) X 3/6/1986 Jackson Chichizola Family Store Complex (N1788) X 8/14/1992 Jackson Jackson Downtown Historic District (N2090) X 4/14/2000 Jackson Paugh, William H., House (N2364) X X 6/5/2007 Jackson
Butterfield, John A., House (N1461) X 9/11/1986 Jackson Butte Store (39) X 8/1/1932 Jackson
Maiden's Grave (28) X 8/1/1932 Kirkwood
Old Emigrant Road (662) X 11/5/1958 Kirkwood
Clinton (37) X 8/1/1932 Pine Grove
Irishtown (38) X 8/1/1932 Pine Grove
Plymouth Trading Post (470) X 8/30/1950 Plymouth
D'Agostini Winery (762) X 4/28/1961 Plymouth
Sutter Creek (322) X 7/12/1939 Sutter Creek
Knight's Foundry and Shops (N375) X 7/1/1975 Sutter Creek Sutter Creek Grammar School (N456) X 12/12/1976 Sutter Creek Knight Foundry (1007) X 8/21/1992 Sutter Creek
Site of First Amateur Astronomical
Observatory of Record in California (715)
X 10/6/1959 Unincorporated
County
Volcano (29) X 8/1/1932 Volcano
Indian Grinding Rock (N74) X 5/6/1971 Volcano
St. George Hotel (N1301) X 9/7/1984 Volcano
Source: California Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Historic Preservation. Retrieved 12/3/2024.

It should be noted that these lists may not be complete, as they may not include those currently in the nomination process and not yet listed. Additionally, as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), any property over 50 years of age is considered a historic resource and is potentially eligible for the National Register. Thus, in the event that the property is to be altered, or has been altered, as the result of a major federal action, the property must be evaluated under the guidelines set forth by CEQA and NEPA. Structural mitigation projects are considered alterations for the purpose of this regulation. 139
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Economic Assets and Community Activities of Value
Assessing the vulnerability of the Amador County Planning Area to natural hazards and disasters also involves inventorying the economic assets and community activities of value to the Amador County Planning Area.

Economic Assets
After a disaster, economic resiliency is one of the major drivers of a speedy recovery. Each community has specific economic drivers. These include:
➢ Primary Economic Sectors
➢ Major employers
➢ Commercial Centers
The HMPC and County Auditor noted that the economic drivers are Government – State & Local and Tourism such as it relates to wineries and grape growers, casinos, retailers, and restaurants. It was also discussed that the airport is an economic asset and could be more susceptible to threats and hazards than currently thought. More information on these drivers related to Tourism include:
➢ Tourism and Hospitality – Amador County is known for its Gold Rush history, award-winning wineries, outdoor recreation and small towns, making tourism and hospitality key industries. Historic towns like Sutter Creek, Jackson, and Volcano have various sites, museums, and other attractions that draw visitors year-round, which include the Kennedy Mine (Jackson), Preston Castle (Ione), the Knights Foundry (Sutter Creek), the Amador Whitney Museum (Amador City), the Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park (Pine Grove), Kirkwood Ski Resort, and the Black Chasm Cavern (Volcano). ➢ Wineries & Vineyards: Amador County is home to 50+ wineries which comprise the Amador Vintners Association. This includes numerous boutique wineries and tasting rooms, which draws both regional and international tourists. In May of 2024, the Amador County Board of Supervisors established the Amador County Wine Heritage District. This district imposes an annual assessment rate of 1% on gross direct-to-consumer sales revenue from winery sales within the county. The funds generated are intended to support marketing, quality enhancement, and educational programs for the wineries. See https://amadorwine.com/ for more information.
➢ Lodging: Amador County hosts a mix of boutique hotels, historic inns, and bed & breakfasts. Vacation rentals and VRBOs/Airbnbs have increased in popularity. Some wineries and/or vineyards also offer lodging.

Note: This inventory of economic assets is only included in this overall asset inventory for Amador County.

To limit redundancy, it is not discussed further in the hazard profiles and vulnerability assessments in Section 4.3 below. However, depending on the type, location, magnitude and extent of future hazard events and disasters, the County’s economic assets may be vulnerable.

More information on economic assets for the incorporated jurisdictions in the County can be found in the respective jurisdictional annexes to this Base Plan.
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Community Activities of Value
Inventorying economic assets in the Amador County Planning Area and their vulnerability to natural hazards and disasters also involves inventorying activities that have value to the community. This includes activities that are important to a community, like long-standing traditions such as a festival or fair. Some areas rely on seasonal industries to sustain them throughout the year. Many of these activities provide economic benefits to the Planning Area. A hazard event that cancels or shortens these can affect a community’s livelihood and can make disaster recovery more difficult or prolonged. This includes activities such as:
➢ Festivals and Fairs
➢ Sporting Events
➢ Tourism
Community Events (include but are not limited to): Amador County Fair (Plymouth), Dandelion Days (Jackson), Sutter Creek Parade of Lights (Sutter Creek), Preston Castle Haunt (Ione), Sutter Creek Duck Race (Sutter Creek), Italian Benevolent Society Crab Feed (Sutter Creek), Ione Rotary Crab Feed (Ione), Amador County Fair Foundation Casino Night (Plymouth), Jackson Lions Club Crab Feed (Jackson), Margaret Dalton Golden Acorn Awards Dinner (Jackson Rancheria Casino), Knight Foundry Dinner (Sutter Creek), Ione Picnic Association Hoedown (Ione), Amador Wedding & Party Showcase (Jackson), Italian Benevolent Society Shrimp Feed (Sutter Creek), Celebrate our Children (Jackson), 49er Wagon Train (throughout the County), Ione Homecoming (Ione), Mother Lode Cruise Car Show (Jackson), Italian Picnic (Sutter Creek), Music at the Mine (Jackson) Picnic in the Park, Beer Fest (Sutter Creek), An Evening Under the Stars (Volcano), Vines & Steins (Ione), Amador Farm Tours & Dinner (Various), Show in the Park (Pioneer), Feast at the Foundry (Sutter Creek), Purple Tie Gala (varies location), Fall Harvest Festivals (Various), Halloween Parade (Jackson), Christmas Delights (Jackson), Sutter Creek Open House (Sutter Creek), Veteran’s Day Parade (Jackson), Big Crush Harvest Wine Festival (various wineries), Amador Four Fires Food & Wine Festival (Plymouth) and a multitude of flea markets and farmer’s markets throughout the County.

Note: This inventory of community activities of value only occurs in this overall asset inventory for Amador County. To limit redundancy, it is not discussed further in the hazard profiles and vulnerability assessments in Section 4.3 below. However, depending on the type, location, magnitude and extent of future hazard events and disasters, the County’s economic assets may be vulnerable.

More information on community activities of value specific to participating jurisdictions can be found in the respective jurisdictional annexes to this Base Plan.

4.2.2. Growth and Development Trends
As part of the planning process, trends in growth and development, both current and future, were examined, both as a whole and in the context of hazard-prone areas, and how the changes in growth and development affect loss estimates and vulnerability over time. This discussion focuses on unincorporated Amador County.
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Land Use
The future use of land in the County is fundamental to attaining the vision of a balanced, self-sustaining community. A land use pattern which balances growth between rural and urban areas, as well as providing a balance between housing, employment, natural resources, and services in the County is a key element in maintaining the quality of life and unique character of the County. Descriptions of allowed uses for each classification are detailed in the Amador County General Plan Land Use Element. Figure 4-20 is sourced from this section.
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Figure 4-20 Amador County General Plan Land Use
Source: Amador County 2016 General Plan Land Use Element 143
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Population Projections
As indicated in the previous section, Amador County had been steadily growing from 1940 to 2020, with a recent slowing in population growth. Long term forecasts by the California Department of Finance project population growth in Amador County continuing through 2070. Table 4-18 shows the population projections for the County Planning Area as a whole through 2070. As shown, populations are expected to grow slowly over time.

Table 4-18 Population Projections for the Amador County Planning Area (incorporated and unincorporated), 2025-2070
2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050 2055 2060 2065 2070
Amador
County
40,289 41,327 43,076 44,815 46,549 48,299 49,927 51,844 53,901 56,182 Source: California Department of Finance, P-2 Report
Development since 2020 Plan
The Amador County Planning Department sought to track total building permits issued since 2020 for unincorporated Amador County. A summary of this development is shown in Table 4-19. Development by known flood and fire hazard areas is shown in Table 4-20. All development in the identified hazard areas, including the 1% annual chance floodplains and high wildfire risk areas, were completed in accordance with the current and applicable development codes and standards in place at the time. Thus, with the exception of more people living in the area potentially exposed to natural hazards, this growth should not cause a significant change in vulnerability of the County to identified priority hazards.

Table 4-19 Unincorporated Amador County Development 2020–2024 Summary Property Use 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Residential 22 44 44 49 36
Commercial 0 3 0 1 3
Industrial 0 0 0 0 0
Other 1322 1329 1421 1294 1193
Total 1,344 1,376 1,465 1,344 1,232
Source: Amador County Planning Department
Table 4-20 Unincorporated Amador County Development in Hazard Areas since 2020 Property Use Moderate or
Higher Fire
Hazard Severity
Zones
1% Annual Chance
Flood
Landslide Potential
Areas
Other
Residential 195 0 0 0
Commercial 7 0 0 0
Industrial 0 0 0 0
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Property Use Moderate or
Higher Fire
Hazard Severity
Zones
1% Annual Chance
Flood
Landslide Potential
Areas
Other
Other 6559 0 0 0
Total 6761 0 0 0
Source: Amador County Planning Department
Additionally, the County Planning Department noted that with respect to the above tables, winery-related permits are considered agricultural and not industrial or commercial. Also, the large number of “other” permits reflects everything from minor repairs and alterations, to major building additions. Another important item is that almost all of the unincorporated area of the County is designated as moderate or higher fire severity, so all of the permits fall in that category.

Future Development Areas
It is important to review future development plans for the County. Future development should be sited in areas that are away from known hazard risks. If this is not possible, mitigation should be done to ensure that future development is protected against future hazard events and disasters.

The County noted five areas where expansion is approved to occur, or is proposed to occur. This includes:
➢ A - Plymouth Casino – approved commercial area of 130 acres. ➢ B - SGI Quarry Expansion – proposed industrial area of 50 acres. ➢ C - Palisades Unit 6 – approved residential area of 13 acres (with 22 planned residences. ➢ D - Thunder Mountain- approved residential area of 2.5 acres (with 15 planned residences) ➢ E - Timber Creek Townhomes – approved residential area of 2 acres (with 20 planned residences) These areas are analyzed in the GIS analysis below.

In addition to the planned areas analyzed below, the Amador County Planning Department Director noted that there are talks about building a Town Center in Pine Grove and in Pioneer, but neither have gotten off the ground and their timeframe is unknown. The Board of Supervisors are currently reviewing plans for a new subdivision that could bring 300-700 new homes along Wicklow Way over the next 30 years. The status and timeframe to start building is unknown at this time. Lastly, there are plans to build a 4-story hotel in Martell (Highway 49/Jackson Gate Road). There is a rock-creek box drain issue that will require some engineering from the developers, but again, a build-start date is unknown.

GIS Analysis
Amador County provided five future development areas which were used as the basis for the inventory of future development for unincorporated Amador County. These were mapped in GIS. Figure 4-21 show the locations of the future development areas. Table 4-21 shows the details of the future development areas by acreage and parcel count.
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Figure 4-21 Unincorporated Amador County – Future Development Areas 146
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Table 4-21 Unincorporated Amador County – Future Development Parcels and Acres by Property Use
Property Use /Site/Map ID - Future Development Unimproved Parcel Count Total Unimproved Acres Commercial
A - Plymouth Casino 1 130
Commercial Total 1 130
Industrial
B - SGI Quarry Expansion 1 50
Industrial Total 1 50
Residential
C - Palisades Unit 6 1 13
D - Thunder Mountain 2 2.5
E - Timber Creek Townhomes 2 2
Residential Total 5 17.5
Grand Total 7 197.5
Source: Amador County
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4.3 Hazard Profiles and Vulnerability Assessment
44 CFR Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(i): [The risk assessment shall include a] description of the…location and extent of all natural hazards that can affect the jurisdiction. The plan shall include information on previous occurrences of hazard events and on the probability of future hazard events. 44 CFR §201.6(c)(2)(i): [The risk assessment shall include a] description of the…location and extent of all natural hazards that can affect the jurisdiction. The plan shall include information on previous occurrences of hazard events and on the probability of future hazard events. 44 CFR §201.6(c)(2)(ii): [The risk assessment shall include a] description of the jurisdiction’s vulnerability to the hazards described in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section. This description shall include an overall summary of each hazard and its impact on the community. 44 CFR §201.6(c)(2)(ii)(A): The plan should describe vulnerability in terms of the types and numbers of existing and future buildings, infrastructure, and critical facilities located in the identified hazard areas.
44 CFR §201.6(c)(2)(ii)(B): [The plan should describe vulnerability in terms of an] estimate of the potential dollar losses to vulnerable structures identified in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(A) of this section and a description of the methodology used to prepare the estimate. 44 CFR §201.6(c)(2)(ii)(C): [The plan should describe vulnerability in terms of] providing a general description of land uses and development trends within the community so that mitigation options can be considered in future land use decisions.

The hazards identified in Section 4.1 Hazard Identification, are profiled individually in this section. The Hazard Profiles set the stage for the Vulnerability Assessment, where the vulnerability is quantified, as data allows, for each of the identified hazards.

Hazard Profiles Methodology
Each hazard is profiled in the following format:
➢ Hazard/Problem Description—This section gives a description of the hazard and associated issues followed by details on the hazard specific to the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County. Where known, this includes information on the hazard extent, location, seasonal patterns, speed of onset/duration, and magnitude and/or any secondary effects. ➢ Past Occurrences—This section contains information on historical incidents, including impacts where known. Hazard research, historical incident worksheets and other input from the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee were used to capture information on past occurrences. ➢ Likelihood of Future Occurrence—The frequency of past events is used in this section to gauge the likelihood of future occurrences. Where possible, frequency was calculated based on existing data. It was determined by dividing the number of events observed by the number of years on record and multiplying by 100. This gives the percent chance of the event happening in any given year (e.g., three droughts over a 30-year period equates to a 10 percent chance of experiencing a drought in any given year). The likelihood of future occurrences is categorized into one of the following classifications:
✓ Highly Likely—Near 100 percent chance of occurrence in next year or happens every year. ✓ Likely—Between 10 and 100 percent chance of occurrence in next year or has a recurrence interval of 10 years or less.
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✓ Occasional—Between 1 and 10 percent chance of occurrence in the next year or has a recurrence interval of 11 to 100 years.
✓ Unlikely—Less than 1 percent chance of occurrence in next 100 years or has a recurrence interval of greater than every 100 years.
➢ Climate Change—This section contains the effects of climate change (as applicable). The possible influence of climate change on the hazard is discussed.

Vulnerability Assessment Methodology
With the Amador County Planning Area’s hazards identified and profiled, a vulnerability assessment was conducted to describe the vulnerability and impact that each hazard would have on the Amador County Planning Area and specific to each jurisdiction. The vulnerability assessment quantifies, to the extent feasible using best available data, assets at risk to identified hazards and estimates potential losses. This section focuses on the vulnerabilities of the Amador County Planning Area as a whole and specific to unincorporated Amador County. The vulnerability assessment is done in the following format:
➢ General Vulnerability Discussion – An assessment of the vulnerability of Amador County Planning Area to each hazard is provided in addition to the estimate of the risk of future occurrence. This is followed by a general discussion of the hazard and its vulnerability on the unincorporated Amador County. Vulnerability is measured in general, qualitative terms and is a summary of the potential impact based on past occurrences, spatial extent, and damage and casualty potential. It is categorized into one of the following classifications:
✓ Extremely Low—The occurrence and potential cost of damage to life and property is very minimal to nonexistent.
✓ Low—Minimal potential impact. The occurrence and potential cost of damage to life and property is minimal.
✓ Medium—Moderate potential impact. This ranking carries a moderate threat level to the general population and/or built environment. Here the potential damage is more isolated and less costly than a more widespread disaster.
✓ High—Widespread potential impact. This ranking carries a high threat to the general population and/or built environment. The potential for damage is widespread. Hazards in this category may have occurred in the past.
✓ Extremely High—Very widespread with catastrophic impact. ➢ Local Concerns – This includes information on how unincorporated Amador County is uniquely affected by or vulnerable to each hazard. Information contained in this section also supports the resulting mitigation strategy for the unincorporated County. Local concerns section specific to each of the other participating jurisdictions are included in their jurisdictional annexes to this Plan. ➢ Assets at Risk – A discussion of the assets at risk follows. This includes sections on: People and Populations; Structures; Critical Facilities and Infrastructure; and Natural, Historic, and Cultural Resources. These are discussed in specific terms for mapped hazards, and in more general terms for those hazards that are unmapped.
✓ FEMA NRI Hazard Vulnerability – For each hazard in the FEMA National Risk Index in Amador County, the relevant portions of the hazard analysis done by FEMA is presented. This includes the Hazard Risk Index Rating, Expected Annual Loss Values, Exposure Values, and the Historic Loss Ratio Rating.
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➢ Impacts – A discussion on hazard impacts is included. Impacts describe how each hazard can affect the County and its assets. The type and severity of impacts reflect both the potential magnitude of the hazard and the vulnerability of the asset.
➢ Future Conditions/Future Development – A discussion of how future conditions will influence or affect the hazard over time is included here and considers factors related to climate change, changes in population patterns, and changes in land use and development. This section also discusses future development plans relative to each hazard as well as mitigating measures that should be considered in the development process. Future conditions and future development is addressed specifically for mapped hazards, and in more general terms for those hazards that are unmapped.

Existing Built Environment and Assets at Risk
Vulnerability can be quantified in those instances where there is a known, identified hazard area, such as a mapped floodplain. In these instances, the numbers and types of assets subject to the identified hazard can be counted and their values tabulated. Other information can be collected in regard to the hazard area, such as the location of critical facilities, historic structures, and valued natural resources. Together, this information conveys the impact, or vulnerability, of the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County to that hazard.

The vulnerability assessment identified five hazards in the Amador County Planning Area for which specific geographical hazard areas have been defined and for which sufficient data exists to support a quantifiable vulnerability analysis. These five hazards are:
➢ Dam Failure
➢ Earthquake
➢ Flood: 1%/0.2%
➢ Landslide, Mudslides, and Debris Flows
➢ Wildfire
These hazards were analyzed using GIS, Amador County data, and hazard data.

The vulnerability and potential impacts from the nine priority hazards that do not have specific mapped areas nor the data to support additional vulnerability analysis are discussed in more general terms. These include:
➢ Agricultural Hazards
➢ Avalanche
➢ Climate Change
➢ Drought and Water Shortage
➢ Flood: Localized/Stormwater
➢ Severe Weather: Extreme Cold and Freeze
➢ Severe Weather: Extreme Heat
➢ Severe Weather: Heavy Rain and Storms
➢ Severe Weather: High Winds and Tornadoes
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Power Outages/Failure: A Common Vulnerability of all Hazards An additional impact or vulnerability common to most all hazards is power outage or power failure. The US power grid crisscrosses the country, bringing electricity to homes, offices, factories, warehouses, farms, traffic lights and even campgrounds. According to statistics gathered by the Department of Energy, major blackouts are on the upswing. Over the past two decades, blackouts impacting at least 50,000 customers have increased 124 percent. The electric power industry does not have a universal agreement for classifying disruptions. Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that different types of outages are possible so that plans may be made to handle them effectively. Electric power disruptions can be generally grouped into two categories: intentional and unintentional.

Intentional Disruptions
There are four types of intentional disruptions:
➢ Planned: Some disruptions are intentional and can be scheduled based on maintenance or upgrading needs.
➢ Unscheduled: Some intentional disruptions must be done "on the spot." in response to an emergency. ➢ Demand-Side Management: Some customers (i.e., on the demand side) have entered into an agreement with their utility provider to curtail their demand for electricity during periods of peak system loads.
➢ Load Shedding: When the power system is under extreme stress due to heavy demand and/or failure of critical components, it is sometimes necessary to intentionally interrupt the service to selected customers to prevent the entire system from collapsing, resulting in rolling blackouts.

The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) is tasked with managing the power distribution grid that supplies most of California, except in areas served by municipal utilities. CAISO is thus the entity that coordinates statewide flow of electrical supply. CAISO uses a series of stage alerts to the media based on system conditions. The alerts are:
➢ Stage 1 – reserve margin falls below 7 percent
➢ Stage 2 – reserve margin falls below 5 percent
➢ Stage 3 – reserve margin falls below 1.5 percent
Rotating blackouts become a possibility when Stage 3 is reached. Rotating outages and/or blackouts such as those experienced in 2000/2001 and 2006 can occur due to losses in transmission or generation and/or extremely severe temperatures that lead to heavy electric power consumption. Key California events include the following:

On January 17, 2001, CAISO declared a Stage 3 Emergency and notified the then Governor’s Office of Emergency Services that PG&E was dropping firm load of 500 megawatts (MW) in Northern California leading to rolling blackouts. Cal OES, in turn, issued an Electrical Emergency Message to all Emergency Services Agencies to prepare for rolling blackouts. This scenario was repeated the following day, January 18, 2001, and again on March 19, 2001.

A July 2006 heat storm event affected the entire state as well as most of the West, producing record energy demand levels in California. The State was able to avoid rotating outages due to a combination of favorable 151
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factors that included no major transmission outages, lower than typical generator outages, significant customer response to pleas for energy conservation, high imports from the Pacific Northwest despite unusually high loads, outstanding cooperation among western control area operators, and prompt response to fires that potentially threatened major interties. However, the event brought to light the vulnerability of the electric distribution system, as over 3,500 distribution transformers failed, leaving over two million customers without power at various times over the ten-day event, many for several hours and a small minority for up to three days.

In 2020, the state battled both extreme heat and wildfires. As a result of extreme heat, the CAISO declared a Stage 3 emergency. PG&E initiated rotating outages in August at the request of California's grid operator.

The outages, which impacted 220,000 customers, occurred during periods of high heat. These rolling blackouts lasted less than a week.

Unintentional Disruptions
Unintentional or unplanned disruptions are outages that come with essentially no advance notice. This type of disruption can be the most problematic. The following are categories of unplanned disruptions:
➢ Accident by the utility, utility contractor, or others ➢ Malfunction or equipment failure
➢ Equipment overload (utility company or customer)
➢ Reduced capability (equipment that cannot operate within its design criteria) ➢ Tree contact other than from storms
➢ Vandalism or intentional damage
➢ Weather, including lightning, wind, earthquake, flood, and broken tree limbs taking down power lines ➢ Wildfire that damages transmission lines
Public Safety Power Shutoff
A new intentional disruption type of power shortage/failure event has recently occurred in California. In recent years, several wildfires have started as a result of downed power lines or electrical equipment. This was the case for the Camp Fire in 2018. As a result, California’s three largest energy companies (including PG&E), at the direction of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), coordinated to prepare all Californians for the threat of wildfires and power outages during times of extreme weather. To help protect customers and communities during extreme weather events, electric power may be shut off for public safety in an effort to prevent a wildfire. This is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).

Public Safety Power Shutoff Criteria
The Wildfire Safety Operations Center (WSOC) monitors fire danger conditions across PG&E’s service area, including PSPS conditions. These factors include:
➢ A Red Flag Warning declared by the National Weather Service ➢ Low humidity levels generally 20% and below
➢ Forecasted sustained winds generally above 25 mph and wind gusts in excess of approximately 45 mph, depending on location and site-specific conditions such as temperature, terrain and local climate ➢ Condition of dry fuel on the ground and live vegetation (moisture content) 152
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➢ On-the-ground, real time observations from PG&E’s WSOC and field observations from PG&E crews The most likely electric lines to be considered for shutting off for safety will be those that pass through areas that have been designated by the CPUC as at elevated (Tier 2) or extreme (Tier 3) risk for wildfire (seen on Figure 4-22). This includes both distribution and transmission lines. The specific area and number of affected customers will depend on forecasted weather conditions and which circuits PG&E needs to turn off for public safety. Although a customer may not live or work in a high fire-threat area, their power may also be shut off if their community relies upon a line that passes through an area experiencing extreme fire danger conditions. This means that any customer who receives electric service from PG&E should be prepared for a possible PSPS. PSPS events, while preventative in nature, can cause a variety of issues related to the lack of power to those impacted by the PSPS. For the Amador County Planning Area, a significant concern is the impact to their communication systems as well as on other critical infrastructure and services. PSPS events also cause concerns for certain vulnerable populations. As seen on Figure 4-22, Amador County has areas inside the Tier 2 and Tier 3 areas, as well as areas outside of them. 153
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Figure 4-22 State of California Tier 2 and 3 Areas
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PG&E noted that extreme weather threats can change quickly. When possible, PG&E will provide customers with advance notice prior to turning off the power, as well as updates until power is restored.

Timing of notifications (when possible) are:
➢ Approximately 48 hours before power is turned off
➢ Approximately 24 hours before power is turned off
➢ Just before power is turned off
➢ During the public safety outage
➢ Once power has been restored
Power outages that affect Amador County residents do happen, though these outages are becoming less frequent and are not sustained as long as past years. This is due to PG&E’s hardening and undergrounding projects along with its enhanced vegetation management practices. During these outages, PG&E provides contacts and tools to assist the residents and officials with current outage information for planning purposes.

PG&E works with county officials to assist and help mitigate outages affecting the residents of Amador County.

Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) are another tool that PG&E uses to help eliminate and minimize ignitions caused by objects coming in contact with electrical circuits and causing fires. Severe weather, such as high winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation are some of the key elements to trigger a PSPS event in high fire threat areas (Tier 2 & Tier 3). By proactively shutting off power in areas that are very prone and susceptible to catastrophic wildfires, PG&E can help minimize the chance of a fire caused by electrical infrastructure. PG&E doesn’t take lightly the shutting off power to residents, business, and critical customers and has a strict protocol for these actions.

When a PSPS is forecasted, PG&E will notify County Emergency Management Agencies so they may monitor and make any plans they see needed. Customers affected will also get notified so they may also take steps to plan and make arrangements they deem necessary for the event. PG&E will support the customers with Community Resource Centers (CRC) near the affected areas of the PSPS and offer other programs to qualified customers. We will also work with the public safety agencies in the area to help mitigate any other issues related to the PSPS event. PG&E offers many tools to help assist the agencies in monitoring and planning for these events. The County noted that there have been events in the past where wildfires have not occurred, but wildfire conditions were high. During these times of high winds, high temps, and high wildfire risk, a PSPS occurred in the County. These events are discussed below and in each jurisdiction’s respective annex to this Base Plan:
➢ Oct 9 – 12, 2019; 16,400 customers impacted.
➢ Oct 23 – 25, 2019; 10,400 customers impacted.
➢ Oct 26 - Nov 1, 2019; 18,800 customers impacted.

A search of the CPUC PSPS Dashboard showed no events since October of 2021. The HMPC noted no events between 2019 and 2021. It should be noted that “customers” in PG&E vernacular refer to both households or business addresses.

PG&E has started to underground more power lines to reduce wildfire risks. The most recent map for Amador County showing this progress is included in Figure 4-23. 155
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Figure 4-23 Amador County – PG&E Undergrounding
Source: PG&E – January 2025.
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It was also noted that PG&E is working to enhance its power network with Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS) capable lines. EPSS are advanced safety settings. They allow PG&E powerlines to automatically turn off power within one-tenth of a second. This can happen when there is a hazard, like a tree branch falling into a powerline, which can cause a fire. These settings are in high fire-risk and surrounding areas. These have not yet been installed in and near the Amador County area, as PG&E focuses on other very high fire hazard areas in its service territory first. It is thought these EPSS capable lines will eventually come to the Amador County Planning Area.

Climate Change and Power Outages/Failures (Energy Shortage) Changing climate is expected to bring more frequent and intense natural disasters. Key climate parameters are starting to move outside of historically observed variability at a rate that makes historical data a poor predictor of future climate. For example, the warmest years on record in California occurred in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2019. 2023 was a remarkably hot year as well. In addition, the 2016-2017 year broke the record as the wettest ever recorded in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Changes in temperatures, precipitation patterns, extreme events, and sea level rise have the potential to decrease the efficiency of thermal power plants and substations, decrease the capacity of transmission lines, render hydropower less reliable, spur an increase in electricity demand, and put energy infrastructure at risk of flooding.

With climate warming, higher costs from increased demand for cooling in the summer are expected to outweigh the decreases in heating costs in the cooler seasons. Hotter temperatures in California will mean more energy (typically measured in “cooling‐degree days”) needed to cool homes and businesses both during heat waves and on a daily basis, during the daytime peak of the diurnal temperature cycle. During future heat waves, historically cooler coastal cities (e.g., San Francisco and Los Angeles) are projected to experience greater relative increases in temperature, such that areas that never before relied on air conditioning will experience new cooling demands.

Secondary impacts of energy shortages are most often felt by vulnerable populations. For example, those who rely on electric power for life-saving medical equipment, such as respirators, are extremely vulnerable to power outages. Also, during periods of extreme heat emergencies, the elderly and the very young are more vulnerable to the loss of cooling systems requiring power sources.

Additional impacts from a power disruption can also affect remote areas. This can affect evacuation messaging and coordination difficulties, and a reduction in firefighting capabilities due to lack of water access in more remote areas (especially for those on wells).

Hazard Profiles and Vulnerability Assessment by Hazard
The following sections provide the hazard profile and vulnerability assessments for each of the hazards identified in Section 4.1 Hazard Identification. The severe weather hazards are discussed first to paint the picture of the Amador County’s Planning Area’s climate and hazard environment which often lead to other hazards such as flood and wildfire. The remainder of the hazards follow alphabetically. 157
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Data Sources
In general, information provided by the County, participating jurisdictions, and the HMPC is integrated into this section with information from other data sources. The data sources listed below formed the basis for this Hazard Profiles portion of the plan. Where data and information from these studies, plans, reports, and other data sources were used, the source is referenced as appropriate throughout this risk assessment. ➢ 2014 California Natural Resources Report
➢ 2016 Amador County General Plan Conservation Element
➢ 2016 Amador County General Plan Safety Element
➢ 2017 California Adaptation Planning Guide
➢ 2020 Amador County LHMP Update
➢ 2020 US Census Bureau Average Household Size
➢ 2021 California Climate Adaptation Study
➢ 2023 Amador County Crop Report
➢ 2023 State of California Hazard Mitigation Plan
➢ 2024 Amador County Flood Insurance Study
➢ 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data
➢ Amador County Agricultural Commissioner
➢ Amador County Agricultural Commissioner Crop Reports (2020-2023) ➢ Amador County Archives
➢ Amador County Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map
➢ Amador County Emergency Operations Plan
➢ Amador County Fire Hazard Protection Plan Addendum, 2010 ➢ Amador County Geographic Information Services
➢ Amador County Office of Emergency Management
➢ American Society of Civil Engineers
➢ Bureau of Land Management
➢ Cal Adapt – Extended Drought Scenarios
➢ CAL FIRE
➢ CAL FIRE (FHSZ SRA 2024, FHSZ FRA 2007)
➢ CAL FIRE (LRA 2025)
➢ Cal-Adapt
➢ Cal-Adapt – Number of Extreme Heat Days by Year
➢ Cal-Adapt – Precipitation: Decadal Averages Map
➢ Cal-Adapt – Temperature: Decadal Averages Map
➢ Cal-Adapt 2017/2023
➢ Cal-Adapt Climate Projections
➢ California Climate Adaptation Strategy
➢ California Department of Conservation’s Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program ➢ California Department of Public Health
➢ California Department of Water Resources
➢ California Department of Water Resources 2012-2016 California Drought: Historical Perspective ➢ California Department of Water Resources Best Available Maps ➢ California Department of Water Resources Division of Safety of Dams ➢ California Division of Mines and Geology
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➢ California Geological Survey
➢ California Invasive Plant Council
➢ California Natural Resource Agency
➢ California Office of Emergency Services
➢ California Public Utilities Commission
➢ California’s Adaptation Planning Guide: Understanding Regional Characteristics ➢ Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes
➢ Climate Change and Health Profile Report – Amador County ➢ Design-Magnitude Avalanche Mapping and Mitigation Analyses ➢ DSOD/Cal OES/NID Dam Status 1/25
➢ Federal Emergency Management Agency – DFIRM 1/20/2016 ➢ Federal Emergency Management Agency – Disaster Declaration Database ➢ Federal Emergency Management Agency – National Flood Hazard Layer ➢ Federal Emergency Management Agency – Wind Zones in the United States ➢ Federal Emergency Management Agency: Building Performance Assessment: Oklahoma and Kansas Tornadoes
➢ Fire and Resource Assessment Program
➢ Foxweather.com
➢ Geology Open File Report 84-52 (1994)
➢ Hazus-MH 6.1
➢ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
➢ Jackson Valley Irrigation District
➢ Multi-Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment, FEMA 1997 ➢ National Aeronautics and Space Administration
➢ National Avalanche Center
➢ National Center for Atmospheric Research
➢ National Climate Assessment
➢ National Climatic Data Center Storm Events Database.
➢ National Drought Mitigation Center
➢ National Earthquake Information Center
➢ National Flood Insurance Program
➢ National Integrated Drought Information System
➢ National Inventory of Dams
➢ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
➢ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm Prediction Center ➢ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center ➢ National Park Service
➢ National Performance of Dams Program
➢ National Weather Service
➢ National Weather Service HeatRisk
➢ National Weather Service XMAC site
➢ Public Policy Institute of California
➢ Sierra Avalanche Center
➢ Smoke Impacts CA: 2020 Lessons – 2021 Actions
➢ State of California Department of Conservation Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program ➢ Susceptibility to Deep-Seated Landslides map – CSG Map Sheet 58 (05/2011) 159
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➢ UC Davis Health (Phillips MC, LaRocque RC, Thompson GR. Infectious Diseases in a Changing Climate. JAMA. 2024;331(15):1318–1319. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.27724) ➢ University of California, Berkeley’s Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management ➢ US Army Corps of Engineers
➢ US Department of Agriculture
➢ US Department of Agriculture – Farm Service Agency Secretarial Disasters Declarations ➢ US Drought Monitor
➢ US Farm Service Agency
➢ US Fish and Wildlife Service
➢ US Forest Service
➢ US Geological Survey Earthquake Intensity Zonation and Quaternary Deposits, Miscellaneous Field Studies Map 9093, 1977
➢ US Geological Survey Emergency Assessment of Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazards ➢ US Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center ➢ US Geological Survey Open File Report 2015‐3009
➢ Vaisala National Lightning Detection Network
➢ Western Regional Climate Center

4.3.1. Severe Weather: General
Severe weather is generally any destructive weather event, but usually occurs throughout the Amador County Planning Area as temperature extremes, localized storms that bring heavy rain and strong winds, and other extreme weather events.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) has been tracking severe weather since 1950. Their Storm Events Database contains data on the following: all weather events from 1993 to current (except from 6/1993-7/1993); and additional data from the Storm Prediction Center, which includes tornadoes (1950-1992), thunderstorm winds (1955-1992), and hail (1955-1992). This database contains 1,145 severe weather events that occurred in Amador County between January 1, 1950, and July 31, 2024. Table 4-22 summarizes these events.

Table 4-22 NCDC Severe Weather Events for Amador County 1950-7/31/2024* Event Type Number
of Events
Deaths Deaths
(indirect)
Injuries Injuries
(indirect)
Property
Damage
Crop
Damage
Avalanche 5 2 0 3 0 $0 $0
Blizzard 5 0 0 0 0 $0 $0
Cold/Wind Chill 41 0 0 0 0 $0 $0
Debris Flows 1 0 0 0 0 $100,000 $0
Dense Fog 18 9 9 44 19 $3,210,000 $0
Dense Smoke 2 0 0 0 0 $0 $0
Drought 158 0 0 0 0 $0 $1,500,000,000
Excessive Heat 43 12 2 2 0 $0 $0
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Event Type Number
of Events
Deaths Deaths
(indirect)
Injuries Injuries
(indirect)
Property
Damage
Crop
Damage
Extreme Cold/Wind
Chill
3 0 0 0 0 $0 $0
Flash Flood 3 0 0 0 0 $0 $0
Flood 40 3 0 0 0 $4,450,000 $7,800,000
Frost/Freeze 17 0 0 0 0 $700,000 $25,000,000
Funnel Cloud 3 0 0 0 0 $0 $0
Hail 2 0 0 0 0 $0 $0
Heat 81 2 3 18 3 $0 $0
Heavy Rain 6 0 0 0 0 $0 $0
Heavy Snow 131 3 3 2 1 $1,225,000 $0
High Wind 91 3 0 6 0 $17,276,000 $48,000
Strong Wind 66 6 1 4 3 $6,219,100 $0
Thunderstorm Wind 3 0 0 0 0 $3,000 $0
Wildfire 48 5 0 32 32 $1,225,000 $0
Winter Storm 272 1 1 3 1 $191,000 $0
Winter Weather 106 1 3 0 2 $100 $0
Total 1145 47 22 114 61 $34,599,200 $1,532,848,000
Source: NCDC
*Note: Losses reflect totals for all impacted areas, some of which fell outside of Amador County The NCDC table above summarizes severe weather events that occurred in Amador County. Only a few of the events actually resulted in federal and state disaster declarations. It is further interesting to note that different data sources capture different events during the same time period, and often display different information specific to the same events. While the HMPC recognizes these inconsistencies, they see the value this data provides in depicting the County’s “big picture” hazard environment.

As previously mentioned, most all of Amador County’s federal and state disaster declarations have been a result of severe weather. For this Plan Update, severe weather is discussed in the following subsections:
➢ Severe Weather: Extreme Cold, Freeze, and Snow
➢ Extreme Heat
➢ Heavy Rains and Storms
➢ High Winds and Tornadoes
Due to size of the County and changes in elevation (i.e., from approximately 250 feet to almost 10,000 feet above mean sea level (msl)) and climate, weather conditions can vary greatly across the County. For purposes of this Plan, the County will be divided into two distinct sections, as applicable: western Amador County, which is predominantly below an elevation of 2,000 feet above msl, is generally below the snowfall line, and includes the land to the west (including all incorporated communities); and eastern Amador County, which is generally above 2,000 feet above msl, and receives snowfall. The profiles that follow provide information, where possible, from two weather stations located in these two different parts of the 161
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County: Sutter Hill Ranger Station (elevation: 1,580 feet above msl) in west Amador County and Twin Lakes Weather Station (elevation: 7,840 feet above msl), in eastern Amador County.

4.3.2. Severe Weather: Extreme Cold, Freeze, and Snow
Hazard Profile
This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; likelihood of future occurrences; and how climate change can affect or influence this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC), extreme cold often accompanies a winter storm (and snow event) or is left in its wake. Prolonged exposure to cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia and can be life-threatening. Infants and the elderly are most susceptible. Pipes may freeze and burst in homes or buildings that are poorly insulated or without heat.

Freezing temperatures can cause significant damage to the agricultural industry. The effects of freezing temperatures on agriculture in Amador County are discussed further in Section 4.3.6 Agricultural Hazards.

Snowfall in the Sierras increases with elevation. The lower foothills rarely receive any measurable snow.

Middle elevations receive a mix of snow and rain during the winter. Above about 6,000 ft., the majority of precipitation falls as snow. It is not unusual, in some locations, to have ten feet of snow on the ground for extended periods. Figure 4-24 shows the average maximum measured snow depth in the Sierra Nevada for the month of March (the month of greatest average snow depths). 162
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Figure 4-24 Average Maximum Snow Depths of Sierra Nevada Mountains in March Source: http://www.sierranevadaphotos.com. This image is no longer available publicly. It was retrieved for the 2015 and 2020 Amador County LHMPs.

As discussed in Section 4.3.1 above, due to size of the County and changes in elevation and climate, weather conditions can vary greatly across the County. The profiles that follow provide information, where possible, from two weather stations located in these two different parts of the County: Sutter Hill Ranger Station (elevation: 1,580 feet above msl) in western Amador County and Twin Lakes Weather Station (elevation: 7,840 feet above msl), in eastern Amador County.

In addition to this difference in elevation in the County, it should be noted that the WRCC and NWS maintain data on weather normal and extremes in the western United States. Each of these data sources maintain data in slightly different ways. Data from the WRCC stopped being collected in April of 2016.

NWS covers the entire time period to present. Therefore, both data sets are shown below. WRCC and NWS data for both the western and eastern County is summarized below. 163
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Western Amador County—Sutter Hill Ranger Station Weather Station (WRCC), Period of Record 1943 to 2016
According to the WRCC, in western Amador County monthly average minimum temperatures from November through April range from the upper-30s to mid-50s. The lowest recorded daily extreme was 20°F on December 20, 1998. In a typical year, minimum temperatures fall below 32°F on 5.2 days with no days falling below 0°F. Table 4-23 shows the record low temperatures by month for western Amador County. Average daily temperatures for western Amador County are shown in Figure 4-25.

Figure 4-25 Western Amador County – Sutter Hill Ranger Station (WRCC) Daily Temperature Averages and Extremes 1943 to 2016
Source: Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved 3/10/2025.

Table 4-23 Western Amador County – Sutter Hill Ranger Station (WRCC) Record Low Temperatures 1943 to 2016
Month Record Low Date Month Record Low Date
January 23 1/6/2007 July 42 7/16/1999
February 26 2/27/2011 August 47 8/2/2010
March 28 3/5/2009 September 44 9/20/2004
April 29 4/15/2009 October 32 10/7/2011
May 31 5/16/1999 November 28 11/26/2006
June 41 6/02/1999 December 20 12/20/1998
Source: Western Regional Climate Center
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According to the WRCC, average snowfall on the western side of the County is 1.42 inches, as shown in Figure 4-26. The highest annual snowfall fell in 1967, when 9.0 inches fell. Highest monthly snowfall accumulation came in February of 1948, when 6.5 inches fell. Average snow depths in January through March are minimal. This can be seen in Figure 4-27.

Figure 4-26 Western Amador County – Sutter Hill Ranger Station (WRCC) Snowfall Averages and Extremes 1943 to 2016
Source: Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved 3/10/2025. 165
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Figure 4-27 Western Amador County – Sutter Hill Ranger Station (WRCC) Snow Depth Averages and Extremes 1943 to 2016
Source: Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved 3/10/2025.

Western Amador County—Sutter Hill Ranger Station Weather Station (NWS), Period of Record 1943 to 2025
Note: While the overall period of record for this NWS station is 1943 to 2025, not all data is recorded for those dates. Snowfall is covered from 1943 to November 2024. Snow depth is covered from January 1947 to November 2024. Extreme temperatures are covered from December 1968 to February 2025.

According to the NWS, monthly average minimum temperatures in the coldest months (December through February) range from the mid-40s to mid-50s. The lowest recorded daily extreme was 20°F on December 20, 1998. Figure 4-28 shows the average daily low temperatures and extremes for the County. Table 4-24 shows the record low temperatures for the County.
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Figure 4-28 Western Amador County – Sutter Hill Ranger Station (NWS) Daily Temperature Averages and Extremes, 1991-2020
Source: National Weather Service XMAC site. Retrieved 3/12/2025 Table 4-24 Western Amador County – Sutter Hill Ranger Station (NWS) Record Low Temperatures 1968 to 2025
Temperature Date

20.0° 12/20/1998

21.0° 12/22/1998

22.0° 12/19/2006

23.0° 12/20/2008

23.0° 1/6/2007

23.0° 12/18/2006

23.0° 12/21/1968

24.0° 3/2/2023

24.0° 2/25/2023
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Temperature Date

24.0° 12/8/2009
Source: National Weather Service XMAC site. Retrieved 3/12/2025 Table 4-25 shows historical data of the highest daily snowfall on January 26, 1957, when 5.0 inches fell.

The maximum snow depth came on the same day, with a depth of 4.0 inches. This can be seen in Table 4-26. There was no available data for monthly average snowfall.

Table 4-25 Western Amador County –Sutter Hill Ranger Station (NWS) Highest Daily Snowfall 1943 to 2025
Snowfall in Inches Date

5.0 1/26/1957

5.0 2/5/1948

4.0 12/18/1967

3.0 1/31/1968

3.0 2/4/21946

2.5 2/27/1951

2.0 1/27/1968

2.0 2/3/1949

2.0 1/23/1949

1.8 3/7/1952
Source: National Weather Service XMAC site. Retrieved 3/12/2025 Table 4-26 Western Amador County – Sutter Hill Ranger Station (NWS) Maximum Snow Depth 1947 to 2025
Snow Depth in Inches Date

4.0 1/26/1957

4.0 1/24/1949

4.0 2/6/1948

4.0 2/5/1948

3.0 1/23/1949

2.0 12/18/1967

2.0 1/27/1957

2.0 3/7/1952

2.0 2/3/1949

2.0 1/28/1947
Source: National Weather Service XMAC site. Retrieved 3/12/2025 168
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Eastern Amador County—Twin Lakes Weather Station (WRCC), Period of Record 1919 to 2000 According to the WRCC, in eastern Amador County monthly average minimum temperatures from November through April range from the mid-10s to mid-20s. The lowest recorded daily extreme was -26°F on January 19, 1937. In a typical year, minimum temperatures fall below 32°F on 231.4 days with 8.5 days falling below 0°F. Table 4-27 shows the record low temperatures by month for eastern Amador County.

Average daily temperatures for eastern Amador County are shown in Figure 4-29.

Figure 4-29 Eastern Amador County— Twin Lakes (WRCC) Daily Temperature Averages and Extremes 1919 to 2000
Source: Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved 3/11/2025.

Table 4-27 Eastern Amador County – Twin Lakes (WRCC) Record Low Temperatures 1919 to 2000
Month Record Low Date Month Record Low Date
January -26 1/19/1937 July 19 7/1/1997
February -24 2/12/1949 August 20 8/22/1947
March -18 3/9/1935 September 7 9/25/1934
April -14 4/8/1929 October 1 10/31/1935
May -4 5/8/1933 November -9 11/3/1935
June 7 6/1/1929 December -19 12/12/1932
Source: Western Regional Climate Center
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According to the WRCC, average snowfall on the eastern side of the County is 380.2 inches, as shown in Figure 4-26. The highest annual snowfall fell in 1982, when 693.4 inches fell. Highest monthly snowfall accumulation came in February of 1920, when 266.0 inches fell. Average snow depths in January through March vary from 48 to 76 inches. This can be seen in Figure 4-27.

Figure 4-30 Eastern Amador County – Twin Lakes (WRCC) Snowfall Averages and Extremes 1919 to 2000
Source: Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved 3/11/2025. 170
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Figure 4-31 Eastern Amador County – Twin Lakes (WRCC) Snow Depth Averages and Extremes 1919 to 2000
Source: Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved 3/11/2025.

Eastern Amador County—NWS Twin Lakes Weather Station, Period of Record 1919 to 2000 While the western Amador County weather station presented data using graphs, no graphing data was available for the Twin Lakes Weather station.

Location and Extent
Extreme cold and freeze events occur on a regional basis. Extreme cold can occur in any location of the County. All portions of the County are at risk to extreme cold, with the upper elevations of the County at greater risk.

In 2001, the NWS implemented an updated Wind Chill Temperature index (shown in Figure 4-32), which is reproduced below. This index was developed to describe the relative discomfort/danger resulting from the combination of wind and temperature. Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by wind and cold. As the wind increases, it draws heat from the body, driving down skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature.
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Figure 4-32 Wind Chill Temperature Chart
Source: National Weather Service
Extreme cold can affect agricultural products in the County. Freeze damages reduce the values of agricultural crops (discussed further in Section 4.3.6). While there is no scale (i.e. Richter, Enhanced Fujita) to measure the effects of freeze, temperature data from the County from the WRCC indicates that there are

25.1 days that fall below 32F. Note: there are no National Weather Service XMAC freeze probabilities, so only the WRCC is captured below. Freeze has a slow onset and can be generally be predicted in advance for the County. Freeze events can last for hours (in a cold overnight), or for days to weeks at a time. Figure 4-33 and Figure 4-34 show the probabilities in the western County of freeze for both spring and fall. There has not been a past occurrence of freeze in the months of May through September. 172
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Figure 4-33 Western Amador County – Sutter Hill Ranger Station (WRCC) Spring Freeze Probabilities 1943 to 2016
Source: Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved 3/11/2025.

Figure 4-34 Western Amador County – Sutter Hill Ranger Station (WRCC) Fall Freeze Probabilities 1943 to 2016
Source: Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved 3/11/2025. 173
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Figure 4-35 and Figure 4-36 show the probabilities in the eastern County of freeze for both spring and fall.

There have been multiple past occurrences of freeze in the months of May through September. Average number of days below 32° by month are:
➢ May – 20.9 days
➢ June – 9.2 days
➢ July – 1.8 days
➢ August – 2.2 Days
➢ September – 6.5 days
Figure 4-35 Eastern Amador County – Twin Lakes (WRCC) Spring Freeze Probabilities 1919 to 2000
Source: Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved 3/11/2025. 174
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Figure 4-36 Eastern Amador County – Twin Lakes (WRCC) Fall Freeze Probabilities 1919 to 2000
Source: Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved 3/11/2025.

Past Occurrences
Disaster Declaration History
The County has had no past federal and one past state disaster declaration for extreme cold and freeze.

Table 4-28 shows the dates of the disaster declarations. More information on USDA disaster declarations (twice in 2022) from cold and freeze can be found in Table 4-48 in the Past Occurrences in Section 4.3.6.

Table 4-28 Amador County – Federal and State Disaster Declarations for Freeze 1950-2025 Disaster Type State Declarations Federal Declarations
Count Years Count Years
Freeze 1 2007 0
Source: Cal OES, FEMA
NCDC Events
The NCDC data shows 575 extreme cold, freeze, and snow incidents for Amador County since 1993.

Information for these events is shown in Table 4-29.
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Table 4-29 NCDC Cold and Freeze Events for Amador County 1950-7/31/2024* Event Type Number
of Events
Deaths Deaths
(indirect)
Injuries Injuries
(indirect)
Property
Damage
Crop
Damage
Blizzard 5 0 0 0 0 $0 $0
Cold/Wind Chill 41 0 0 0 0 $0 $0
Extreme Cold/Wind
Chill
3 0 0 0 0 $0 $0
Frost/Freeze 17 0 0 0 0 $700,000 $25,000,000
Heavy Snow 131 3 3 2 1 $1,225,000 $0
Winter Storm 272 1 1 3 1 $191,000 $0
Winter Weather 106 1 3 0 2 $100 $0
Total 575 5 7 5 4 $2,116,100 $25,000,000
Source: NCDC
*Note: Losses reflect totals for all impacted areas, some of which fell outside of Amador County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Events
The HMPC noted that the heavy levels of snow in eastern Amador County combined with other inclement weather in the western portion of Amador County create many issues that impact the area. Extreme weather events associated with snow and blizzard events include those listed in previous tables and occur almost on an annual basis. Winter storms occur countywide and involve heavy rains, snow, ice, and high winds causing downed trees and power lines, power outages, accidents, and road closures. There are typically few injuries and limited damages. Most problems arise from snow packed roads, as well as downed trees and power lines. There have been instances where the Amador County Road Department crews have plowed non-stop for 72+ hours.

Specific events include the following:

In February of 2019, snowstorms occurred near Pioneer in Amador County. An elderly woman was trapped in her house without electricity. Amador County Sherriff’s Deputies dug through knee high snow in order to remove the wheelchair bound woman from her home. 2023 - a hard freeze occurred in 2023, affected the Shenandoah area.

March 2023 Snow Deluge: The 2023 water year was marked by an extraordinary snow season across California, driven by cold temperatures and frequent atmospheric rivers. While specific snowfall totals for Amador County are not detailed, the Sierra Nevada, including areas near Amador, saw snowpack levels at 186–269% of normal.

In late February to early March 2024, large winter weather events occurred, but the County had prepared well for the incidents.

April 4, 2024, a cold spring storm prompted the Amador County Unified School District to close schools due to expected snowfall and hazardous road conditions. While exact snowfall amounts are not specified, 176
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this event indicated measurable snow accumulation, likely in the range of a few inches to a foot in higher elevations like Pioneer.

Amador County Public Works noted no other incidents since 2020 where damages, injuries, or deaths occurred.

Likelihood of Future Occurrence
Highly Likely—Extreme cold, freeze, and snow are likely to continue to occur annually in the Amador County Planning Area, especially in the eastern portion of the County. In a typical year, minimum temperatures fall below 32°F on 231.4 days in eastern Amador County. Snow falls in the County every year. There have been 575 NCDC events since 1993. This equates to a likelihood of future occurrences being considered highly likely.

It is likely that climate change will decrease the chance of future occurrence as well as future impacts. More information on climate change and extreme cold, freeze, and snow can be found in the next section. More information on future impacts can be found in the Future Conditions/Future Development section of the Vulnerability Assessment below.

Climate Change and Extreme Cold and Freeze
According to the 2021 California Climate Adaptation Study (CAS), freezing spells are likely to become less frequent in California as climate temperatures increase. If emissions increase, freezing events could occur only once per decade in large portion of the State by the second half of the 21st century. According to a California Natural Resources Report in 2014, it was determined that while fewer freezing spells would decrease cold related health effects, too few freezes could lead to increased incidence of disease as vectors and pathogens do not die off. Recent studies, including a 2024 review from UC Davis Health, note that shorter, warmer winters reduce natural die-off of vectors and pathogens, increasing risks of diseases like Lyme disease, malaria, and fungal infections. Warmer conditions allow vectors to remain active longer, even into winter months, and expand into new regions.

Vulnerability Assessment
Vulnerability—Medium
Extreme cold, freeze, and snow events happen in the Amador County Planning Area each year. It can impact key assets in the Planning Area. The whole of the Planning Area has some measure of vulnerability to extreme cold, freeze, and snow. An assessment of a community’s vulnerability to this hazard begins with an understanding of local exposure to unincorporated Amador County and the Amador County Planning Area. This is included in the Local Concerns section below. After that, vulnerability is discussed in multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect both the entire Amador County Planning Area as well as the unincorporated portions of Amador County. How the hazard affects the other participating jurisdictions can be found in their respective annexes to this LHMP Update. These sections below include assets at risk, impacts, and how future development may affect the vulnerability of the County to this hazard. 177
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Local Concerns (unincorporated Amador County)
The unincorporated County has specific concerns regarding this hazard. These concerns form a portion of the basis for the mitigation strategy and mitigation actions that seek to reduce risk and vulnerabilities to this hazard.

The varying elevations in the County, in part, determine the extent to which a given area is affected by freeze, cold, and snow. The agricultural industry is especially vulnerable to extreme temperatures. Freezing temperatures can cause significant loss to crops. Historically, extreme cold and freeze have caused losses to agricultural crops and have resulted in USDA disaster declarations including the two noted above in the Past Occurrences section.

Heavy snow events occur on an annual basis in the higher elevations of the County. Snow removal is an ongoing issue in the upcountry areas of the eastern County. Snow removal is constant during the snowiest months, with the County and other agencies providing snow removal on public roads. Individuals and road associations are a primary snow removal resource for all the private roads. Impacts to the County as a result of winter snowstorms include damage to infrastructure, utility outages, road closures, traffic accidents, and interruption in business and school activities. Also of concern as described below is the impact to populations with additional needs such as the elderly, low income individuals, and those requiring the use of medical equipment, should the power go out. Delays in emergency response services can be of significant concern during large storm events. Further, there are economic impacts (tree clearing, damage to buildings, and snow clearing) associated with areas prone to heavy snow. Although the eastern portion of the County is the most vulnerable to the effects of snow, snowfall occurring in the lower elevations can create significant issues, as they may not be as prepared for snowfall.

Local concerns for each of the jurisdictions can be found under the Local Concerns heading in each respective jurisdictional annex to this LHMP Update.

Assets at Risk
Assets at risk from extreme cold, freeze, and snow include people and populations; structures; critical facilities and infrastructure; and natural, historic, and cultural resources. These are discussed in the following sections for the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County.

Additionally, for each hazard in the FEMA National Risk Index in Amador County, the relevant portions of the hazard analysis done by FEMA is presented below. This includes the Hazard Risk Index Rating, Expected Annual Loss Values, Exposure Values, and the Historic Loss Ratio Rating. These are presented for the Amador County Planning Area as a whole.

People and Populations
All populations within the Amador County Planning Area are vulnerable to extreme cold and freeze, but this hazard generally affects people spending large amounts of time outside to a greater extent. Prolonged exposure to cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia and can be life-threatening. Vulnerable populations to cold, freeze, and snow include the unhoused; individuals who exercise or train outdoors; outdoor workers; individuals that lack the resources to afford heat; and the young, old, or medically fragile individuals that 178
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are more susceptible to cold related impacts. In addition to vulnerable populations, pets and livestock are at risk to freeze, cold, and snow.

Structures
Structures in the Amador County Planning Area have some measure of risk from extreme cold, freeze, and snow. Buildings in the upper elevations of the County can be affected directly by freeze; pipes that feed buildings can be damaged during periods of extreme cold and cause water damage and other related impacts to a structure. High snow loads that accumulate on roofs can impact structures. Structures can also be damaged by downed trees and power lines during freeze and winter storm events.

Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Winter storms (though rare in the County) typically involve snow and ice, occasionally accompanied by high winds and cold temperatures, which can cause downed trees and power lines, power outages, accidents, and road closures. Transportation networks, communications, and utilities infrastructure are the most vulnerable physical assets in the County. Depending on the facility type and function, critical facilities and infrastructure may be affected directly by freeze and extreme cold and winter weather events. Damage to pipes that feed buildings can be damaged during periods of extreme cold. Other equipment may also be affected. Infrastructure such as roads, highways, and bridges can become slippery, causing accidents and road closures.

Natural, Historic, and Cultural Resources
Depending on how low the temperatures go and the duration of an extreme cold, freeze or snow event, natural resources in the Amador County Planning Area may be affected. During periods of freeze, trees in the Planning Area may be damaged. This is especially true if a freeze occurs during a winter storm with winds and precipitation. Other natural resources like wildlife may be at risk during a period of freeze.

While it is rare for buildings to be affected directly by freeze, damages to pipes that feed historic buildings can be damaged during periods of extreme cold and cause additional impacts to the structures.

FEMA NRI Hazard Vulnerability Assessment
The FEMA NRI was queried for additional specific data on Amador County’s vulnerability to Extreme Cold, Freeze, and Snow. The NRI contains data and analysis for 18 separate natural hazards. The NRI hazards related to Amador County’s Extreme Cold, Freeze, and Snow hazards are: cold wave, ice storm, and winter weather. As shown in Table 4-30, while cold waves and ice storms are expected to cause no expected annual losses and are given no historic loss ratio, winter weather could cause a total of $18,927 in expected annual losses, with a rating of relatively low. Winter weather has a relatively moderate rating for both social vulnerability and community resilience, with a risk index score of 25.9 out of 100. According to the NRI, there have been 132 events on record between the years 2005-2021, with an average of 8.1 events per year
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Table 4-30 Amador County Planning Area – Cold Wave, Ice Storm, and Winter Weather Vulnerability Ratings from FEMA NRI
NRI Hazard Hazard Risk Index
Rating*
Expected Annual
Loss Values
(total)**
Exposure Value
(total)***
Historic Loss Ratio
Rating
Cold Wave 0 $0 $0 –
Ice Storm 0 $0 $0 –
Winter Weather 25.9 $ 18,927 $477,114,646,325 Very Low
Source: FEMA NRI Report, retrieved 4/1/2025.
*Hazard Risk Index is calculated using data for only a single hazard type, and reflect a communities expected annual loss value, community risk factors, and the adjustment factor used to calculate the risk value. **Expected annual loss represents the average economic loss in dollars resulting from natural hazards each year. ***Exposure is a natural hazard consequence factor that is the representative value of buildings, populations, or agriculture potentially exposed to a natural hazard occurrence.

Additional information on the FEMA NRI can be found in Section 4.2 and Appendix G.

Impacts from Severe Weather: Extreme Cold, Freeze, and Snow Extreme cold, freeze, and snow can affect critical facilities and infrastructure, down trees, break pipes, and can be a life safety issue. Transportation networks, communications, and utilities infrastructure are often the most vulnerable physical assets in the Amador County Planning Area. Infrastructure such as roads and utilities are at risk to freezing temperatures and snow, causing failures and hazardous road conditions.

When extreme cold is coupled with high winds and freezing storms, power lines may be downed, resulting in power outages and an interruption of utilities and critical services. During periods of extremely low or prolonged cold temperatures, other impacts to the Planning Area include can include interruption in business and school activities.

The elderly, the young, and those experiencing medical issues are often more vulnerable to temperature extremes, but anyone can be affected. Exposure to cold temperatures can cause hypothermia and frostbite.

Those exercising or recreating outdoors, outdoor workers, and the unhoused may be at higher risk.

Impacts to identified assets at risk to this hazard and the overall vulnerability of the County may be affected in the future by climate change (which was discussed in the hazard profile section above), changes in population patterns, and changes in land use and development. The influencing effects of these factors on this hazard are discussed further in the Future Conditions/Future Development discussion below.

Future Conditions/Future Development
Future hazard conditions may be affected by climate change, changes in population patterns (migration, density, or the makeup of socially vulnerable populations), and changes in land use and development.

Findings on these factors for Amador County include the following:
➢ Climate change is unlikely to exacerbate extreme cold, freeze, and snow and their associated impacts to the County.
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➢ The population of Amador County is expected to slowly increase as time progresses. Future population growth should be considered, as having more or less people in a community affects the overall hazard vulnerability to the County. Changes in populations patterns should also be considered. Especially vulnerable individuals to this hazard include older adults, children, outdoor workers, , those below the poverty line and the unhoused. During hazard events, existing inequities can get worse, and these groups are the most likely to be affected and may require extra assistance. Planning for population changes will help to decrease the County’s overall vulnerability. Changes in population and population patterns may or may not increase the impacts and vulnerability of the County to this hazard depending on the location and nature of population growth and continued planning for future hazard conditions. ➢ Land use planning should be proactive to address future hazard conditions. County building codes are in effect to reduce this risk and should be updated as necessary to continue to address future freeze, extreme cold, and snow conditions. Due to adherence to protective building codes, changes in land use and development will likely not increase the impacts and associated vulnerabilities of the County to this hazard.

Future development built to code should be able to withstand extreme cold, freeze, and heavy snow. Current building codes provide such provisions for new construction. Older buildings and infrastructure should be evaluated to ensure that extreme cold and freeze will not cause negative impacts. Future development considerations should be ongoing and proactive. Ensuring that comprehensive land use planning is conducted, regulatory requirements such as building codes are followed, and varying needs for different demographic groups that reside within the County are considered can help make for a more resilient community.

4.3.3. Severe Weather: Extreme Heat
Hazard Profile
This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect the Amador County Planning Area. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; and how climate change can affect or influence this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description
According to information provided by FEMA, extreme heat is defined as temperatures that hover 10 degrees or more above the average high temperature for the region and last for several weeks. Heat kills by taxing the human body beyond its abilities. In a normal year, about 175 Americans succumb to the demands of summer heat. In the 40-year period from 1936 through 1975, nearly 20,000 people were killed in the United States by the effects of heat and solar radiation. In the heat wave of 1980, more than 1,250 people died.

Recently in California, records were set across the state during a July 2024 heat event. 2024 was considered the hottest on record. Extreme heat as it affects agriculture in Amador County is discussed further in the agricultural hazard discussion in Section 4.3.6.

Heat disorders generally have to do with a reduction or collapse of the body’s ability to shed heat by circulatory changes and sweating or a chemical (salt) imbalance caused by too much sweating. When heat gain exceeds a level at which the body can remove it, or when the body cannot compensate for fluids and salt lost through perspiration, the temperature of the body’s inner core begins to rise, and heat-related illness 181
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may develop. Elderly persons, small children, those on certain medications or drugs, and persons with weight and alcohol problems are particularly susceptible to extreme heat. Extreme heat can also affect the agricultural industry.

Location and Extent
Extreme heat events occur on a regional basis. Extreme heat can occur in any location of the County. All portions of the County are at risk to extreme heat. Extreme heat occurs throughout the Planning Area primarily during the summer months. The WRCC and NWS maintain data on weather normal and extremes in the western United States. Each of these data sources maintain data in slightly different ways. Data from the WRCC stopped being collected in April of 2016. NWS covers the entire time period to present.

Therefore, both data sets are shown below. WRCC and NWS data for the County is summarized below.

Western Amador County —Sutter Hill Ranger Weather Station (WRCC), Period of Record 1948 to 2016 According to the WRCC, in western Amador County, monthly average maximum temperatures in the warmest months (May through October) range from the mid-70s to the low 90s. The highest recorded daily extreme was 110°F on July 14, 2006. In a typical year, maximum temperatures exceed 90°F on 69.3 days.

Figure 4-37 shows the average daily high temperatures and extremes for the County. Table 4-31 shows the record high temperatures by month for the western County.

Figure 4-37 Western Amador County – Sutter Hill Ranger Station (WRCC) Daily Temperature Averages and Extremes 1943 to 2016
Source: Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved 3/19/2025 182
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Table 4-31 Western Amador County – Sutter Hill Ranger Station (WRCC) Record High Temperatures 1943 to 2016
Month Record High Date Month Record High Date
January 68 1/17/2007 July 110 7/14/2006
February 73 2/4/2009 August 107 8/9/1998
March 81 3/30/2004 September 104 9/2/1998
April 92 4/28/2004 October 99 10/2/2001
May 100 5/17/2008 November 89 11/27/2010
June 106 6/16/2012 December 70 12/26/2000
Source: Western Regional Climate Center
Western Amador County—Sutter Hill Ranger Station Weather Station (NWS), Period of Record 1943 to 2025
Note: While the overall period of record for this NWS station is 1943 to 2025, not all data is recorded for those dates. Extreme temperatures are covered from December 1968 to February 2025.

According to the NWS, monthly average maximum temperatures in the warmest months (May through October) range from the mid-70s to the low 90s. The highest recorded daily extreme was 110°F on July 24, 2006. Figure 4-38 shows the average daily high temperatures and extremes for the County. Table 4-24 shows the record low temperatures for the western County. 183
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Figure 4-38 Amador County – Sutter Hill Ranger Station (NWS) Daily Temperature Averages and Extremes, 1991-2020
Source: National Weather Service XMAC site. Retrieved 3/12/2025 Table 4-32 Western Amador County – Sutter Hill Ranger Station (NWS) Record High Temperatures 1968 to 2025
Temperature Date
110.0° 7/24/2006
110.0° 7/23/2006
109.0° 7/1/2015
109.0° 7/10/2002
108.0° 7/11/2021
108.0° 8/29/2017
108.0° 7/4/2017
107.0° 7/17/2023
107.0° 7/10/2021
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Temperature Date
107.0° 6/19/2021
Source: National Weather Service XMAC site. Retrieved 3/12/2025 Eastern Amador County—WRCC Twin Lakes Weather Station, Period of Record 1919 to 2000 According to the WRCC, in eastern Amador County, monthly average maximum temperatures in the warmest months (May through October) range from the mid-50s to the low 70s. The highest recorded daily extreme was 95°F on July 7,1998. In a typical year, maximum temperatures exceed 90°F on 0.3 days.

Figure 4-39 shows the average daily high temperatures and extremes for the eastern portion of the County.

Table 4-33 shows the record high temperatures by month for the eastern County.

Figure 4-39 Eastern Amador County – Twin Lakes (WRCC) Daily Temperature Averages and Extremes 1919-2000
Source: Western Regional Climate Center, www.wrcc.dri.edu/. Retrieved 3/12/2025 Table 4-33 Eastern Amador County – Twin Lakes (WRCC) Record High Temperatures 1919 to 2000
Month Record High Date Month Record High Date
January 74° 1/9/1928 July 95° 7/17/1998
February 76° 2/11/1980 August 91° 8/13/1929
March 70° 3/27/1926 September 88° 9/22/1928
April 78° 4/14/1926 October 83° 10/8/1928
May 82° 5/31/1926 November 72° 11/1/1966
June 92° 6/27/1926 December 74° 12/27/1975
Source: Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved 3/12/2025. 185
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Eastern Amador County—Amador Twin Lakes Weather Station (NWS), Period of Record 1919 to 2000 While the western weather station presented data using graphs, no averaging graphing data was available for the Twin Lakes Weather station.

Heat emergencies are often slower to develop, taking several days of continuous, oppressive heat before a significant or quantifiable impact is seen. Heat waves do not strike victims immediately, but rather their cumulative effects slowly take the lives of vulnerable populations. Heat waves do not generally cause damage or elicit the immediate response of floods, fires, earthquakes, or other more “typical” disaster scenarios. While heat waves are obviously less dramatic, they are potentially deadlier. According to the 2018/2023 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan, the worst single heat wave event in California occurred in Southern California in 1955, when an eight-day heat wave resulted in 946 deaths.

The NWS has in place a system to initiate alert procedures (advisories or warnings) when extreme heat is expected to have a significant impact on public safety. The expected severity of the heat determines whether advisories or warnings are issued. The NWS HeatRisk forecast provides a quick view of heat risk potential over the upcoming seven days. The heat risk is portrayed in a numeric (0-4) and color (green/yellow/orange/red/magenta) scale which is similar in approach to the Air Quality Index (AQI) or the UV Index. This can be seen in Table 4-34.

Table 4-34 National Weather Service HeatRisk Categories Category Level Meaning
Green 0 No Elevated Risk
Yellow 1 Low Risk for those extremely sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration
Orange 2 Moderate Risk for those who are sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration
Red 3 High Risk for much of the population, especially those who are heat sensitive and those without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration
Magenta 4 Very High Risk for entire population due to long duration heat, with little to no relief overnight Source: National Weather Service
The NWS office in Sacramento can issue the following heat-related advisory as conditions warrant. ➢ Heat Advisories are issued during events where the HeatRisk is on the Orange/Red threshold (Orange will not always trigger an advisory)
➢ Excessive Heat Watches/Warnings are issued during events where the HeatRisk is in the Red/Magenta output
Past Occurrences
Disaster Declaration History
There have been no FEMA or Cal OES disasters related to extreme heat, as shown in Table 4-4.

There have been no USDA disaster declarations for extreme heat. 186
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NCDC Events
The NCDC data shows 124 extreme heat incidents for Amador County since 1993. Information for these events are shown in Table 4-35.

Table 4-35 NCDC Extreme Heat Events in Amador County 1993 to 7/31/2024* Event Type Number
of Events
Deaths Deaths
(indirect)
Injuries Injuries
(indirect)
Property
Damage
Crop
Damage
Excessive Heat 43 12 2 2 0 $0 $0
Heat 81 2 3 18 3 $0 $0
Total 124 14 5 20 3 $ 0 $ 0
Source: NCDC
*Deaths, injuries, and damages are for the entire event, and may not be exclusive to the County.

Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Events
The HMPC noted some extreme heat events in Amador County. These include the following events:

July 21, 2016 – Information on the Amador County website was found on an extreme heat event in July of 2016. Amador County Public Health and the Amador County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services urge residents to prepare for extreme temperatures predicted to reach over 100 degrees this weekend. The National Weather Service indicates that temperatures will climb and remain above 100° into next week.

September 2017 – The Amador County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services urged residents to be prepared for an Excessive Heat Warning issued by the National Weather Services for this Labor Day weekend. High temperatures were seen in Amador County, as well as in much of central California.

August 31, 2022 - Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency due to extreme heat across California, including Amador County. Lower elevations likely saw temperatures of 100–105°F during peak hours (2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.), straining the electrical grid and prompting the use of backup generators.

July 2023 was one of the hottest months globally, with California breaking or tying 358 maximum temperature records. Nearby Redding hit 119°F, and Palm Springs reached 124°F. Amador County’s lower areas likely saw 105–110°F, with higher elevations like Pioneer in the mid-90s, under widespread heat advisories
The HMPC noted that extreme heat is a yearly event, but could not recall any other specific incidents since 2020 that caused damages, injuries, or deaths.

Likelihood of Future Occurrence
Highly Likely—Temperature extremes are likely to continue to occur annually in the Amador County Planning Area. Temperatures at or above 90°F are common most summer days in the western portion of the County. More information on climate change and extreme heat can be found in the next section. More information on future impacts can be found in the Future Conditions/Future Development section of the Vulnerability Assessment below.
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Climate Change and Extreme Heat
Climate change and its effect on extreme heat in the County has been discussed by three sources:
➢ California Climate Adaptation Strategy (CAS) – 2021 (as well as the 2024 Draft CAS) ➢ Climate Change and Health Profile Report –Amador County ➢ Cal-Adapt
Climate Adaptation Strategy
The 2021 CAS (as well as the 2024 Draft CAS), citing a California Energy Commission study, states that “over the past 15 years, heat waves have claimed more lives in California than all other declared disaster events combined.” This study shows that California is getting warmer, leading to an increased frequency, magnitude, and duration of heat waves. These factors may lead to increased mortality from excessive heat, as shown in Figure 4-40.

Figure 4-40 California Historical and Projected Temperature Increases – 1961 to 2099 Source: Dan Cayan; California Climate Adaptation Strategy As temperatures increase, California and Amador County will face increased risk of death from dehydration, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heart attack, stroke and respiratory distress caused by extreme heat. According to the 2021 CAS (as well as the 2024 Draft CAS) report and the 2023 State of California Hazard Mitigation Plan, by 2100, hotter temperatures are expected throughout the state, with projected increases of 3-5.5°F (under a lower emissions scenario) to 8-10.5°F (under a higher emissions scenario).

These changes could lead to an increase in illnesses and deaths related to extreme heat in Amador County.

Climate Change and Health Profile Report – Amador County The CCHPR noted for Amador County that increased temperatures manifested as heat waves and sustained high heat days directly harm human health through heat-related illnesses (mild heat stress to fatal heat 188
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stroke) and the exacerbation of pre-existing conditions in the medically fragile, chronically ill, and vulnerable. Increased heat also intensifies the photochemical reactions that produce smog and ground level ozone and fine particulates (PM2.5), which contribute to and exacerbate respiratory disease in children and adults. Increased heat and carbon dioxide enhance the growth of plants that produce pollen, which are associated with allergies. Increased temperatures add to the heat load of buildings in urban areas and exacerbate existing urban heat islands adding to the risk of high ambient temperatures.

Cal-Adapt
Cal Adapt also noted that overall temperatures are expected to rise substantially throughout this century.

During the next few decades, scenarios project average temperature to rise between 1 and 2.3°F; however, the projected temperature increases begin to diverge at mid-century so that, by the end of the century, the temperature increases projected in the higher emissions scenario (Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 8.5) are approximately twice as high as those projected in the lower emissions scenario (RCP 4.5).

These projections also differ depending on the time of year and the type of measurement (highs vs. lows), all of which have different potential effects to the state's ecosystem health, agricultural production, water use and availability, and energy demand. Future temperature estimates from Cal-Adapt for the Amador County Planning are shown in Figure 4-41. It shows the following:
➢ The upper chart shows the number of days in a year when daily maximum temperature is above the extreme heat threshold of 102.8°F. Data is shown for Amador County under the RCP 8.5 scenario in which emissions continue to rise through 2050 and maintain that trend into 2100. ➢ The lower chart shows the number of days in a year when daily maximum temperature is above the extreme heat threshold of 102.8 °F. Data is shown for Amador County under the RCP 4.5 scenario in which emissions show continued rise with more erratic patterns into 2100. 189
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Figure 4-41 Amador County – Future Temperature Estimates in Low and High Emission Scenarios
Source: Cal-Adapt – Number of Extreme Heat Days by Year. Retrieved 2/6/2024. 190
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Vulnerability Assessment
Vulnerability—Medium
Extreme heat happens in Amador County each year. Extreme heat may overload demands for electricity to run air conditioners and other utilities in homes and businesses during prolonged periods of exposure and presents health concerns to individuals outside in the temperatures. Extreme heat may also be a secondary effect of droughts or may cause drought-like conditions in a temporary setting. For example, several weeks of extreme heat increases evapotranspiration and reduces moisture content in vegetation, leading to higher wildfire vulnerability for that time period even if the rest of the season is relatively moist. Extreme heat, when combined with wind, can also lead to PSPS events in the County. Extreme heat also contributes to poor air quality during extended events.

Vulnerable populations are at the greatest risk to the effects of extreme heat. The Public Health Alliance has developed a composite index to identify cumulative health disadvantages in California. Factors such as those bulleted above were combined to show what areas are at greater risk to hazards like extreme heat.

These sections below include assets at risk, impacts, and how future development may affect the vulnerability of the County to this hazard.

Local Concerns (unincorporated Amador County)
The unincorporated County has specific concerns regarding this hazard. These concerns form a portion of the basis for the mitigation strategy and mitigation actions that seek to reduce risk and vulnerabilities to this hazard.

The County noted that extreme heat can cause crop damages. These can be substantial if extreme heat occurs during periods of plant susceptibility to heat. Extreme heat contributes to PSPS and wildfire issues in the County. Heat domes have settled over the County in the past, which has caused the County to open cooling centers. The County is also worried about the effects on vulnerable populations. It was also noted that extreme heat contributes to unhealthy air quality.

Local concerns for each of the jurisdictions can be found under the Local Concerns heading in each respective jurisdictional annex to this LHMP Update.

Assets at Risk
Assets at risk from extreme heat include people and populations; structures; critical facilities and infrastructure; and natural, historic, and cultural resources. These are discussed in the following sections for both the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County.

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People and Populations
All populations within the Amador County Planning Area are vulnerable to extreme heat, but it generally affects people spending large amounts of time outside or without means of cooling indoor structures.

During extended periods of high temperatures, extreme heat may overload the demands for electricity to run air conditioners and can present health concerns to individuals. When interruptions in power occur during extreme heat, the risk of heat related illnesses and deaths increase. Extreme heat is a significant concern to vulnerable populations. The unhoused; individuals who exercise or train outdoors; outdoor workers; individuals that lack the resources to afford heat; and the young, old, or medically fragile individuals that are more susceptible to heat related impacts. In addition to vulnerable populations, pets and livestock are at risk to extreme heat conditions.

Structures
Extreme heat normally does not generally impact structures, but individuals working in structures may be affected during periods of extended heat, especially in structures that might not be equipped with air conditioning or other means of cooling. In the Amador County Planning Area, extreme heat has caused interruptions to power in the past. Also depending on the structure, sensitive contents such as IT equipment can be impacted, especially if a power outage occurs.

Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Depending on their type and function, critical facilities and infrastructure can also be affected by extreme heat. Interruptions in power caused by extreme heat can lead to system failures. Schools without air conditioning may have to close or operate on a reduced schedule.

Natural, Historic, and Cultural Resources
Park areas and natural resource assets in the Amador County Planning Area may be vulnerable during periods of extreme heat. These include turfed areas; landscapes, trees, wildlife and habitat areas, and wetlands and marsh lands. Recently, trees were lost in areas of Amador County that were weakened by drought and extreme heat. Extreme heat may also cause drought-like conditions, contributing to other issues. For example, several weeks of extreme heat increases evapotranspiration and reduces moisture content in vegetation, leading to higher wildfire vulnerability in the region for that time period, even if the rest of the season is relatively moist. Historic and cultural resources are not expected to be affected by extreme heat.

FEMA NRI Hazard Vulnerability Assessment
The FEMA NRI was queried for additional specific data on Amador County’s vulnerability to Extreme Heat. The NRI contains data and analysis for 18 separate natural hazards. The NRI hazard related to Amador County’s Extreme Heat is a heat wave. As shown in Table 4-36, heatwaves could cause a total of $1,761,917 in expected annual losses, with a historic loss rating of relatively low. Heat wave has a relatively moderate rating for both social vulnerability and community resilience, with a risk index score of 94.3 out of 100. According to the NRI, there have been 30 events on record between the years 2005-2021, with an average of 1.9 events per year.
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Table 4-36 Amador County Planning Area – Heat Wave Vulnerability Ratings from FEMA NRI
NRI Hazard Hazard Risk Index
Rating*
Expected Annual
Loss Values
(total)**
Exposure Value
(total)***
Historic Loss Ratio
Rating
Heat Wave 94.3 $1,761,917 $477,114,646,325 Relatively Low Source: FEMA NRI Report, retrieved 4/1/2025.
*Hazard Risk Index is calculated using data for only a single hazard type, and reflect a communities expected annual loss value, community risk factors, and the adjustment factor used to calculate the risk value. **Expected annual loss represents the average economic loss in dollars resulting from natural hazards each year. ***Exposure is a natural hazard consequence factor that is the representative value of buildings, populations, or agriculture potentially exposed to a natural hazard occurrence.

Additional information on the FEMA NRI can be found in Section 4.2 and Appendix G.

Impacts from Severe Weather: Extreme Heat
The County experiences temperatures in excess of 100°F during the summer and fall months. The temperature moves to 105-110°F in rather extreme situations. Health issues are the primary concern with this hazard with vulnerable populations at greater risk, although economic impacts can also be an issue.

Air quality can also be an issue during extreme heat.

During these times, drought conditions may worsen, and the Planning Area may see an increase in dry fuels contributing to wildfires. For example, several weeks of extreme heat increases evapotranspiration and reduces moisture content in vegetation, leading to higher wildfire vulnerability for that time period even if the rest of the season is relatively moist. Also, power outage and PSPS events may occur during these times as well. Drought is discussed further in Section 4.3.10 and wildfire in Section 4.3.15.

Findings on this for Amador County include the following:
➢ Climate change is likely to exacerbate future extreme heat conditions and associated impacts and vulnerability of the County.
➢ Future population growth should be considered, as having more or less people in a community affects the overall hazard vulnerability to the County. Population is expected to increase for Amador County and, as such, the vulnerability to this hazard may increase, specifically affecting growing vulnerable populations as the senior citizen population continues to reside in and age within the communities of the County. Along with this, low income and the unhoused population are at risk to extreme heat which can put strain on emergency services and shelters. Changes in population and population patterns may 193
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or may not increase the impacts and vulnerability of the County to this hazard depending on the location and nature of growth and continued planning for future hazard conditions. ➢ Land use planning should be proactive to address future hazard conditions. County building codes are in effect to reduce this risk and should be updated as necessary to continue to address future extreme heat conditions. Due to adherence to protective building codes, changes in land use and development will likely not increase the impacts and associated vulnerabilities of the County to this hazard.

Future development in the County will take extreme heat into account. Backup generators are currently in use at many County facilities, and additional generators and backup power sources are being sought for other locations. The Office of Emergency maintains one, towable (portable) generator that can be used to support a facility that does not currently have a backup generator. One way to reduce the negative impacts of an extreme heat event is to develop a comprehensive heat response plan that combines individual strategies into an integrated approach. The County has one of these plans, and it is discussed in the Capability Assessment in Section 4.4.1. Components of such a plan might include forecasting and monitoring, education and awareness, and heat wave preparedness and response.

In addition to a comprehensive heat response plan, local officials can help areas adapt to extreme heat in the short-term by improving the resilience of infrastructure. Transportation planners can protect or modify roads, bridges, and other structures—for example, by using materials that are more resilient and heat tolerant—to help these systems withstand higher temperatures and reduce service disruptions. They can also implement energy efficiency and conservation efforts to reduce stress on electricity systems during heat waves and help avoid power outages.

Future development considerations should be ongoing and proactive. Ensuring that comprehensive land use planning is conducted, regulatory requirements such as building codes are followed, and varying needs for different demographic groups that reside within the County are considered can help make for a more disaster resilient community.

4.3.4. Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and Storm
Hazard Profile
This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect the Amador County Planning Area. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; likelihood of future occurrences; and how climate change can affect or influence this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description
Storms in the Amador County Planning Area occur throughout the Planning Area and are generally characterized by heavy rain often accompanied by strong winds and sometimes lightning and hail.

Approximately 10 percent of the thunderstorms that occur each year in the United States are classified as severe. A thunderstorm is classified as severe when it contains one or more of the following phenomena:
hail that is three-quarters of an inch or greater, winds in excess of 50 knots (57.5 mph), or a tornado. Heavy precipitation in the Amador County area falls mainly in the fall, winter, and spring months. 194
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Heavy Rain and Storms
The NWS reports that storms and thunderstorms result from the rapid upward movement of warm, moist air. They can occur inside warm, moist air masses and at fronts. As the warm, moist air moves upward, it cools, condenses, and forms cumulonimbus clouds that can reach heights of greater than 35,000 ft. As the rising air reaches its dew point, water droplets and ice form and begin falling the long distance through the clouds towards earth's surface. As the droplets fall, they collide with other droplets and become larger.

The falling droplets create a downdraft of air that spreads out at Earth's surface and causes strong winds associated with thunderstorms.

The County and the rest of California can be affected by a phenomenon known as an atmospheric river.

According to the NOAA, atmospheric rivers are relatively long, narrow regions in the atmosphere – like rivers in the sky – that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics. These columns of vapor move with the weather, carrying an amount of water vapor roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. When the atmospheric rivers make landfall, they often release this water vapor in the form of rain or snow. This can be seen in Figure 4-42.

Figure 4-42 Atmospheric Rivers
Source: NOAA
Although atmospheric rivers come in many shapes and sizes, those that contain the largest amounts of water vapor and the strongest winds can create extreme rainfall and floods, often by stalling over watersheds 195
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vulnerable to flooding. These events can disrupt travel, induce mudslides and cause catastrophic damage to life and property. A well-known example is the "Pineapple Express," a strong atmospheric river that is capable of bringing moisture from the tropics near Hawaii over to the U.S. West Coast.

Not all atmospheric rivers cause damage; most are weak systems that often provide beneficial rain or snow that is crucial to the water supply. Atmospheric rivers are a key feature in the global water cycle and are closely tied to both water supply and flood risks — particularly in the western United States.

While atmospheric rivers are responsible for great quantities of rain that can produce flooding, they also contribute to beneficial increases in snowpack. A series of atmospheric rivers fueled the strong winter storms that battered the U.S. West Coast from western Washington to southern California from Dec. 10– 22, 2010, producing 11 to 25 inches of rain in certain areas. These rivers also contributed to the snowpack in the Sierras, which received 75 percent of its annual snow by Dec. 22, the first full day of winter. Another example of this happened in 2022. Multiple atmospheric river storms occurred in the County and the rest of California. This can be seen in Figure 4-43. This also happened in the 2023 as well as in 2024, which can be seen in Figure 4-44 and Figure 4-45, respectively.

Figure 4-43 2022 Atmospheric River Events
Source: Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes. Retrieved 12/18/2024. 196
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Figure 4-44 2023 Atmospheric River Events
Source: Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes. Retrieved 12/18/2024.

Figure 4-45 2024 Atmospheric Rivers
Source: Foxweather.com. Retrieved 12/18/2024.

Short-term, heavy storms can cause both widespread flooding as well as extensive localized drainage issues.

In addition to the flooding that often occurs during these storms, strong winds, when combined with saturated ground conditions, can down very mature trees. 197
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Location and Extent of Heavy Rains and Storms
Heavy rain events occur on a regional basis. Rains and storms can occur in any location of the County. All portions of the County are at risk to heavy rains and storms. Most of these rains occur during the winter months, as discussed below.

There is no scale by which heavy rains are measured – usually it is measured in terms of rainfall amounts.

Magnitude of storms is measured often in rainfall and damages. The speed of onset of heavy rains can be short, but accurate weather prediction mechanisms often let the public know of upcoming events. Duration of thunderstorms in California is often short, ranging from minutes to hours. This can cause localized flooding, which is discussed in more detail in Section 4.3.13.

The WRCC and NWS maintain data on weather normal and extremes in the western United States. Each of these data sources maintain data in slightly different ways. Data from the WRCC stopped being collected in April of 2016. NWS covers the entire time period to present. Therefore, both data sets are shown below.

WRCC and NWS data for both the western and eastern County is summarized below.

Western Amador County—Sutter Hill Ranger Station Weather Station (WRCC), Period of Record 1943 to 2016 According to the WRCC, average annual precipitation in western Amador County is 26.55 inches per year.

The highest recorded annual precipitation is 46.19 inches in 1950; the highest recorded precipitation for a 24-hour period is 5.62 inches on March 18, 2012. The lowest recorded annual precipitation was 10.17 inches in 1976. Average monthly precipitation for western Amador County is shown in Figure 4-46. Daily average and extreme precipitations are shown in Figure 4-47. 198
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Figure 4-46 Western Amador County – Sutter Hill Ranger Station (WRCC) Monthly Average Total Precipitation 1943 to 2016
Source: Western Regional Climate Center, www.wrcc.dri.edu/. Retrieved 3/12/2025.

Figure 4-47 Western Amador County –Sutter Hill Ranger Station (WRCC) Daily Average and Extreme Precipitation 1943 to 2016
Source: Western Regional Climate Center, www.wrcc.dri.edu/. Retrieved 3/12/2025. 199
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Western Amador County—Sutter Hill Ranger Station (NWS), Period of Record 1943 to 2024 According to the NWS, average annual precipitation in western Amador County is 31.6 inches per year.

Average monthly precipitation for western Amador County is shown in Figure 4-48. The highest recorded precipitation for a 24-hour period is 5.62 inches on March 18, 2012. One day extreme precipitations are shown on Table 4-37.

Figure 4-48 Western Amador County— Sutter Hill Ranger Station (NWS) Monthly Average Total Precipitation 1991 to 2020
Source: National Weather Service XMAC site. Retrieved 3/12/2025.

Table 4-37 Western Amador County – Sutter Hill Ranger Station (NWS) 24 Hour Rainfall Extremes from 1943 to 2025
Rainfall in Inches Date

5.62 3/18/2012

5.40 10/25/2021

4.69 11/10/1944

4.20 2/27/2011

4.08 11/19/1950

4.05 2/1/1963

3.90 12/23/1964

3.70 1/23/2017

3.13 1/22/1967

3.12 12/11/2022
Source: National Weather Service XMAC site. Retrieved 3/12/2025. 200
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Eastern Amador County—Twin Lakes Weather Station (WRCC), Period of Record 1919 to 2000 According to the WRCC, average annual precipitation in eastern Amador County is 47.05 inches per year.

The highest recorded annual precipitation is 85.21 inches in 1983; the highest recorded precipitation for a 24-hour period is 9.35 inches on December 13, 1919. The lowest recorded annual precipitation was 10.17 inches in 1976. Average monthly precipitation for eastern Amador County is shown in Figure 4-49. Daily average and extreme precipitations are shown in Figure 4-50.

Figure 4-49 Eastern Amador County – Twin Lakes (WRCC) Monthly Average Total Precipitation 1919 to 2000
Source: Western Regional Climate Center, www.wrcc.dri.edu/. Retrieved 3/12/2025. 201
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Figure 4-50 Eastern Amador County – Twin Lakes (WRCC) Daily Average and Extreme Precipitation 1919 to 2000
Source: Western Regional Climate Center, www.wrcc.dri.edu/. Retrieved 3/12/2025.

Eastern Amador County—Twin Lakes Weather Station (NWS), Period of Record 1919 to 2000 The NWS XMAC site did not have graphical or tabular data for heavy rains and storms; as such, no analysis is presented here.

The NOAA Storm Prediction Center tracks thunderstorm watches on a county basis. Figure 4-51 shows thunderstorm watches in Amador County and the United States for a 20-year period between 2004 and 2023.
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Figure 4-51 Amador County – Average Thunderstorm Watches per Year (2004 to 2023) Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Retrieved 3/5/2025.

Hail
Hail can occur throughout the Planning Area during storm events, though it is rare in the County. Hail is formed when water droplets freeze and thaw as they are thrown high into the upper atmosphere by the violent internal forces of thunderstorms. Hail is sometimes associated with severe storms within the Amador County Planning Area. Hailstones are usually less than two inches in diameter and can fall at speeds of 120 miles per hour (mph). Severe hailstorms can be quite destructive, causing damage to roofs, buildings, automobiles, vegetation, and crops.

The National Weather Service classifies hail by diameter size, and corresponding everyday objects to help relay scope and severity to the population. Table 4-38 indicates the hailstone measurements utilized by the National Weather Service.

Table 4-38 Hailstone Measurements
Average Diameter Corresponding Household Object
.25 inch Pea
.5 inch Marble/Mothball
.75 inch Dime/Penny
.875 inch Nickel

1.0 inch Quarter
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Average Diameter Corresponding Household Object

1.5 inch Ping-pong ball

1.75 inch Golf-Ball

2.0 inch Hen Egg

2.5 inch Tennis Ball

2.75 inch Baseball

3.00 inch Teacup

4.00 inch Grapefruit

4.5 inch Softball
Source: National Weather Service
Location and Extent of Hail
Hail events can occur in any location of the County. All portions of the County are at risk to hail. Hail tends to be rare in California. There is no scale in which to measure hail, other than hail stone size as detailed above. The speed of onset of hail can be short, but accurate weather prediction mechanisms often let the public know of upcoming events. Duration of thunderstorms that can cause hail in California is often short, ranging from minutes to hours. Hail events last shorter than the duration of the total thunderstorm. The National Weather Service tracks hail events. Figure 4-52 shows the average days each year where hail of greater than 1" in diameter occurred during a 20-year period from 1986 to 2015 (the most recent data available).
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Figure 4-52 Amador County – Average Hail Days per Year (1986 to 2015) Source: National Weather Service. Retrieved 3/5/2024.

Lightning
Lightning can occur throughout the County during storm events. Lightning is defined by the NWS as any and all of the various forms of visible electrical discharge caused by thunderstorms. Thunderstorms and lightning are usually (but not always) accompanied by rain. Cloud-to-ground lightning can kill or injure people by direct or indirect means. Objects can be struck directly, which may result in an explosion, burn, or total destruction. Or, damage may be indirect, when the current passes through or near an object, which generally results in less damage.

Intra-cloud lightning is the most common type of discharge. This occurs between oppositely charged centers within the same cloud. Usually it takes place inside the cloud and looks from the outside of the cloud like a diffuse brightening that flickers. However, the flash may exit the boundary of the cloud, and a bright channel, similar to a cloud-to-ground flash, can be visible for many miles.

Cloud-to-ground lightning is the most damaging and dangerous type of lightning, though it is also less common. Most flashes originate near the lower-negative charge center and deliver negative charge to earth.

However, a large minority of flashes carry positive charge to earth. These positive flashes often occur during the dissipating stage of a thunderstorm's life. Positive flashes are also more common as a percentage 205
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of total ground strikes during the winter months. This type of lightning is particularly dangerous for several reasons. It frequently strikes away from the rain core, either ahead or behind the thunderstorm. It can strike as far as 5 or 10 miles from the storm in areas that most people do not consider to be a threat (see Figure 4-53). Positive lightning also has a longer duration, so fires are more easily ignited. And, when positive lightning strikes, it usually carries a high peak electrical current, potentially resulting in greater damage.

Figure 4-53 Cloud to Ground Lightning
Source: National Weather Service
Lightning in the County is also a concern due to the number of fires that are started by lightning strikes.

Wildfire is discussed in more detail in Section 4.3.15.

Location and Extent of Lightning
Lightning events can occur in any location of the County and are often associated with thunderstorms. All portions of the County are at risk to lightning. Lightning tends to be somewhat infrequent in the County, with more lightning events occurring in the higher elevations of the County, as discussed in the extent section below.

Lightning in the County can occur during thunderstorms. The speed of onset of thunderstorms that can cause lightning can be short, but accurate weather prediction mechanisms often let the public know of upcoming events. Duration of thunderstorms in California is often short, ranging from minutes to hours.

Thunderstorms and lightning are rare in the County. Lightning can also occur in the County outside of a thunderstorm event. Vaisala maintains the National Lightning Detection Network. It tracks cloud to ground lightning incidences in the United States. Figure 4-54 shows lightning incidences in the County and the rest of the United States from 2008 to 2017 (the most recent long term tracking map available). Figure 4-55 shows a more recent lightning density by county map. 206
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Figure 4-54 Amador County – Lightning Incidence Map 2008 to 2017 Source: Vaisala National Lightning Detection Network. Retrieved 3/20/2025.

Figure 4-55 Amador County – Average US Total Lightning Density per County 2015-2019 Source: Vaisala National Lightning Detection Network. Retrieved 3/20/2025. 207
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Past Occurrences
Disaster Declaration History
A search of FEMA and Cal OES disaster declarations turned up multiple events. Heavy rains and storms have caused flooding in the County. Events where flooding and heavy rains and storms resulted in a state or federal disaster declaration are shown in Table 4-39.

More information on USDA disaster declarations from heavy rain and storms (once in 2016 and once in 2017) can be found in Table 4-48 in the Past Occurrences in Section 4.3.6.

Table 4-39 Amador County – Disaster Declarations from Heavy Rain and Storms 1950-2025 Disaster Type State Declarations Federal Declarations
Count Years Count Years
Flood (including heavy
rains and storms)
22 1950, 1955, 1958 (twice), 1959,
1963, 1964, 1969, 1980, 1982,
1986, 1995 (twice), 1997, 2006
(twice), 2017 (twice), 2019*,
2021, 2023 (twice)
20 1950, 1955, 1958, 1962, 1963,
1964, 1969, 1986, 1995 (twice),
1997, 1998, 2006 (twice), 2017
(twice), 2019, 2023 (three)
Source: FEMA, Cal OES
NCDC Events
The NCDC data recorded 8 hail and heavy rain weather incidents for Amador County since 1950. Winter weather events tend to be rain in the lower elevations of the County, while snow falls in the upper elevations.

No incidents of lightning were found in the NCDC database for the County. A summary of these events is shown in Table 4-40.

Table 4-40 NCDC Severe Weather Events in Amador County 1950-7/31/2024* Event Type Number
of Events
Deaths Deaths
(indirect)
Injuries Injuries
(indirect)
Property
Damage
Crop
Damage
Hail 2 0 0 0 0 $0 $0
Heavy Rain 6 0 0 0 0 $0 $0
Winter Weather 106 1 3 0 2 $100 $0
Total 114 1 3 0 2 $ 100 $ 0
Source: NCDC
*Note: Losses reflect totals for all impacted areas, some of which fell outside of Amador County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Events
The HMPC noted some events of heavy rain and storm that caused agricultural impacts. Those are discussed in the Past Occurrences in Section 4.3.6. The HMPC also noted that Amador County experience localized heavy rains yearly. This creates potential flooding in localized area, such as upper Sutter Creek and unnamed drainages, within the County. Additionally, the County noted many of these past events are 208
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discussed in the Section 4.3.12 Flood: 1%/0.2% Annual Chance and Section 4.3.13 Flood: Localized Stormwater Flooding.

Likelihood of Future Occurrence
Highly Likely – Based on NCDC data and HMPC input, 114 heavy rain and storm incidents over a 75- year period (1950-2024) equates to a severe storm event every year. Severe weather is a well-documented seasonal occurrence that will continue to occur often in the Amador County Planning Area.

It is likely that climate change will increase the chance of future occurrence as well as future impacts. More information on climate change and heavy rains and storms can be found in the next section. More information on future impacts can be found in the Future Conditions/Future Development section of the Vulnerability Assessment below.

Climate Change and Heavy Rains and Storms
According to the 2021 CAS (as well as the 2024 Draft CAS), while average annual rainfall may increase or decrease slightly, the intensity of individual rainfall events is likely to increase during the 21st century.

It is unlikely that hail will become more common in the County. The amount of lightning is not projected to change.

Cal-Adapt noted that, on average, the projections show little change in total annual precipitation in California. Furthermore, among several models, precipitation projections do not show a consistent trend during the next century. The Mediterranean seasonal precipitation pattern is expected to continue, with most precipitation falling during winter from North Pacific storms. One of the four climate models projects slightly wetter winters, and another projects slightly drier winters with a 10 to 20 percent decrease in total annual precipitation. However, even modest changes would have a significant impact because California ecosystems are conditioned to historical precipitation levels and water resources are nearly fully utilized.

Future precipitation estimates for the County are shown in Figure 4-56. ➢ The upper chart shows annual averages of observed and projected Precipitation values for the selected area on map under the RCP 4.5 scenario. The gray line (1950 – 2005) is observed data. The colored lines (2006 – 2100) are projections from 10 LOCA downscaled climate models selected for California.

The light gray band in the background shows the least and highest annual average values from all 32 LOCA downscaled climate models.
➢ The lower chart shows annual averages of observed and projected Precipitation values for the selected area on map under the RCP 8.5 scenario. The gray line (1950 – 2005) is observed data. The colored lines (2006 – 2100) are projections from 10 LOCA downscaled climate models selected for California.

The light gray band in the background shows the least and highest annual average values from all 32 LOCA downscaled climate models.
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Figure 4-56 Amador County– Future Precipitation Estimates: High and Low Emission Scenarios
Source: Cal-Adapt – Precipitation: Decadal Averages Map. Retrieved 2/6/2025. 210
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Vulnerability Assessment
Vulnerability—Medium
According to historical hazard data, heavy rains and storms, including hail and lightning, are an annual occurrence in the Amador County Planning Area. Heavy rains can cause both localized flooding and flooding in the floodplains. Atmospheric river storms, which have been more frequent in recent years, are of great concern as they can dump large amounts of water in single storms, or in back-to-back storms.

An assessment of a community’s vulnerability to this hazard begins with an understanding of local exposure to unincorporated Amador County. This is included in the Local Concerns section below. After that, vulnerability is discussed in multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect both the entire Amador County Planning Area as well as the unincorporated portions of Amador County. How the hazard affects the other participating jurisdictions can be found in their respective annexes to this LHMP Update. These sections below include assets at risk, impacts, and how future development may affect the vulnerability of the County to this hazard.

One of the primary concerns of the County to heavy rains and storms is the resulting flooding that occurs during extreme storm events. These include large flood events as detailed in the Flood: 1%/0.2% annual chance flood hazard section and the localized flooding that occurs following these storms. Localized flood problem areas in the unincorporated County are shown in Table 4-113.

With the increased growth of the area, the lack of adequate drainage systems has become an increasingly important issue.

Local concerns for each of the other participating jurisdictions can be found under the Local Concerns heading in each respective jurisdictional annex to this LHMP Update.

Assets at Risk
Assets at risk from heavy rain and storms include people and populations; structures; critical facilities and infrastructure and community lifelines; natural, historic, and cultural resources; and economic assets and community activities of value. These are discussed in the following sections for the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County.

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People and Populations
All populations in the Amador County Planning Area have some measure of risk to heavy rains and storms.

Those populations that work or recreate outside and unhoused individuals are more vulnerable to impacts from heavy storm events. Heavy rains and storms occur every year and do not generally cause significant adverse impacts to individuals; it is the secondary hazard, flooding, that poses the biggest impact to people.

Populations at risk to flooding resulting from heavy rains and storm events include those who live in floodplains. (discussed in further detail in the Flood: 1%/0.2% Annual Chance in Section 4.3.12) and those who live in and near localized flooding areas floodplains (discussed in further detail in the Flood: Localized Stormwater Flooding in Section 4.3.13).

Structures
Structures in the Amador County Planning Area have some risk to heavy rains and storms. Structures built to modern building codes are built to withstand heavy rains and storms (including thunderstorm winds and lightning). During a heavy storm, localized flooding may cause water intrusion into buildings from the outside. Trees can be downed causing impacts to structures. Older homes and buildings may be at increased risk to heavy rains and storms. Power outages during severe storm events can occur, impacting the use of structures until the power is back online.

Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Heavy rain and storms can affect critical facilities and infrastructure, and community lifelines during large events. Power outages may occur taking facilities offline. High winds can down power lines and trees impacting facilities. Water intrusion into facilities and infrastructure can impact operations. Local roads, streets, and bridges can be impacted resulting in closures restricting traffic flow in the Planning Area. In certain areas, large storms can cause erosion and localized landslides which can impact affected facilities.

Many critical facilities are built to modern design standards that take heavy rains and storms into account when siting and building these structures, and others may need to be retrofitted to better withstand these events.

Natural, Historic, and Cultural Resources
Large storm events and associated flooding can affect natural, historic, and cultural resources. Silt and sediment can damage natural areas. Trees can be uprooted and downed by high winds. Extended periods of rainfall can erode natural banks along waterways and degrade soil stability for terrestrial species. While some natural systems can be adversely impacted during these large storms, heavy rain events can also provide benefits. Groundwater and wetland areas can be recharged and water supplies replenished. Historic and cultural resources may also be affected. Generally, the impacts are associated with damage to structures affected by large storm events, but other cultural resources such as those associated with Native Americans and old tribal areas can also be disturbed, damaged, and lost during extreme storm and flood events.

FEMA NRI Hazard Vulnerability Assessment
The FEMA NRI was queried for additional specific data on Amador County’s vulnerability to Heavy Rains and Storms. The NRI contains data and analysis for 18 separate natural hazards. The NRI hazard related 212
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to Amador County’s Heavy Rains and Storms are: hail and lightning. As shown in Table 4-41, hail could cause a total of $2,739 in expected annual losses, with a historic loss rating of very low. Lightning could cause a total of $21,900 in expected annual losses with a historic loss ratio rating of very high. Hail and lighting have a relatively moderate rating for both social vulnerability and community resilience, with a risk index score of 4.4 out of 100 for hail and 24.6 out of 100 for lightning. According to the NRI, there have been 5 hail events between the years 1986-2021 with an average of 0.1 events per year and 43 lightning events on record between the years 1991-2012, with an average of 1.9 events per year.

Table 4-41 Amador County Planning Area – Hail and Lightning Vulnerability Ratings from

FEMA NRI
NRI Hazard Hazard Risk Index
Rating*
Expected Annual
Loss Values
(total)**
Exposure Value
(total)***
Historic Loss Ratio
Rating
Hail 4.4 $2,739 $477,114,656,936 Very Low
Lightning 24.6 $21,900 $477,079,067,642 Very High
Source: FEMA NRI Report, retrieved 4/1/2025.
*Hazard Risk Index is calculated using data for only a single hazard type, and reflect a communities expected annual loss value, community risk factors, and the adjustment factor used to calculate the risk value. **Expected annual loss represents the average economic loss in dollars resulting from natural hazards each year. ***Exposure is a natural hazard consequence factor that is the representative value of buildings, populations, or agriculture potentially exposed to a natural hazard occurrence.

Additional information on the FEMA NRI can be found in Section 4.2 and Appendix G.

Impacts from Heavy Rains and Storms
Impacts from heavy rains and storms include damage to property, critical facilities and infrastructure, and the natural landscape. This includes: erosion, downed trees, damaged utility structures and infrastructure; power outages; road damage and blockages; and lightning strikes to critical infrastructure and people.

Lightning can also cause wildfires and urban fires to occur. Landslides occur when the soil on slopes becomes oversaturated and fails. Climate change may cause these impacts to worsen.

Actual damage associated with the primary effects of severe storms and heavy rains has been somewhat limited. It is the secondary hazards caused by these severe weather events, such as floods, landslides, and erosion that have had the greatest impact on the Planning Area. The risk and vulnerability associated with these secondary hazards are discussed in other sections of this Plan (Section 4.3.12 Flood: 100/500-year, Section 4.3.13 Flood: Localized Stormwater – specifically in the localized flood areas shown on Table 4-113, Section 4.3.9 Dam Failure, and Section 4.3.14 Landslide).

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Future Conditions/Future Development
Future hazard conditions may be affected by climate change, changes in population patterns (migration, density, or the makeup of socially vulnerable populations), and changes in land use and development.

Findings on this for Amador County include the following:
➢ Climate change is likely to exacerbate future heavy rain and storm conditions and associated impacts and vulnerability of the County to flooding.
➢ Future population growth should be considered as having more or less people in a community affects the overall hazard vulnerability to the County. Population is expected to increase slowly for Amador County; however, the vulnerability may change depending on changes to the makeup of more vulnerable populations. Certain vulnerable populations, such as the unhoused, outdoor workers, and others could experience disproportional effects from this hazard. and should be addressed as the County continues to grow. Thus, changes in population and population patterns may or may not increase the impacts and vulnerability of the County to this hazard depending on the location and nature of growth and continued planning for future hazard conditions.
➢ Land use planning should be proactive to address future hazard conditions. Changes in land use may also amplify the impacts of heavy rains and storms, as additional impervious surfaces can cause additional runoff and localized flooding throughout the County. Building codes in the County ensure that new development is built to current building standards, which should reduce the risk to future development in the County from heavy rains and storms. New critical facilities such as communications towers and others should be built to withstand hail damage, lightning, and thunderstorm winds. With adherence to development standards, changes in land use and development will not likely increase the impacts and associated vulnerabilities of the County to this hazard.

4.3.5. Severe Weather: High Winds and Tornadoes
Hazard Profile
This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect the Amador County Planning Area. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; likelihood of future occurrences; and how climate change can affect or influence this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description
High Winds
High winds, often accompanying severe storms and thunderstorms, can cause significant property and crop damage, threaten public safety, and have adverse economic impacts from business closures and power loss.

High winds, as defined by the NWS glossary, are sustained wind speeds of 40 mph or greater lasting for 1 214
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hour or longer, or winds of 58 mph or greater for any duration. These winds may occur as part of a seasonal climate pattern or in relation to other severe weather events such as thunderstorms.

Straight-line winds may also exacerbate existing weather conditions by increasing the effect on temperature and decreasing visibility due to the movement of particulate matters through the air, as in dust and snow storms. The winds may also exacerbate fire conditions by drying out the ground cover, propelling fuel around the region, and increasing the ferocity of exiting fires. These winds may damage crops, push automobiles off roads, damage roofs and structures, and cause secondary damage due to flying debris.

Location and Extent
The entire Planning Area is subject to significant, non-tornadic (straight-line), winds. Each area of the County is at risk to high winds. Magnitude of winds is measured often in speed and damages. These events are often part of a heavy rain and storm event, but can occur outside of storms. The speed of onset of winds can be short, but accurate weather prediction mechanisms often let the public know of upcoming events.

Duration of winds in California is often short, ranging from minutes to hours. The Beaufort scale is an empirical measure that relates wind speed to observed conditions at sea or on land. Its full name is the Beaufort wind force scale. Figure 4-57 shows the Beaufort wind scale. 215
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Figure 4-57 Beaufort Wind Scale
Source: National Weather Service
Figure 4-58 depicts wind zones for the United States. The map denotes that Amador County falls into Zone I, which is characterized by high winds of up to 130 mph. Portions of the County are also located in a special wind hazard region, which is a result of foehn winds. A foehn wind is a type of dry down-slope wind that occurs in the lee (downwind side) of a mountain range. Winds of this type are called "snoweaters" for their ability to make snow melt or sublimate rapidly. This snow-removing ability is caused not only by warmer temperatures, but also the low relative humidity of the air mass coming over the mountain(s). They are also associated with the rapid spread of wildfires, making some regions which experience these winds particularly fire prone. Burn patterns of almost all historic large wildfires in the County indicate they occurred during foehn winds. This is discussed in greater detail in the wildfire profile in Section 4.3.15.
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Figure 4-58 Wind Zones in the United States
Source: FEMA
Tornadoes
Tornadoes and funnel clouds can also occur during these types of severe storms. Tornadoes are another severe weather hazard that, though rare, can affect anywhere within the Amador County Planning Area, but most often in the lower elevations, and primarily occur during the storm season in the late fall and early spring. Tornadoes form when cool, dry air sits on top of warm, moist air. Tornadoes are rotating columns of air marked by a funnel-shaped downward extension of a cumulonimbus cloud whirling at destructive speeds of up to 300 mph, usually accompanying a thunderstorm. Tornadoes are the most powerful storms that exist. They can have the same pressure differential across a path only 300 yards wide or less as 300- mile-wide hurricanes. Figure 4-59 illustrates the potential impact and damage from a tornado. 217
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Figure 4-59 Potential Impact and Damage from a Tornado
Source: FEMA: Building Performance Assessment: Oklahoma and Kansas Tornadoes Location and Extent
Tornadoes, while rare, can occur at any location in the County, but most often occur in the lower elevations.

All areas of the County are at risk to tornadoes.

Prior to February 1, 2007, tornado intensity was measured by the Fujita (F) scale. This scale was revised and is now the Enhanced Fujita scale. Both scales are sets of wind estimates (not measurements) based on damage. The new scale provides more damage indicators (28) and associated degrees of damage, allowing for more detailed analysis and better correlation between damage and wind speed. It is also more precise because it considers the materials affected and the construction of structures damaged by a tornado. Table 4-42 shows the wind speeds associated with the original Fujita scale ratings and the damage that could result at different levels of intensity. Table 4-43 shows the wind speeds associated with the Enhanced Fujita Scale ratings.

Table 4-42 Original Fujita Scale
Fujita (F)
Scale
Fujita Scale Wind
Estimate (mph)
Typical Damage
F0 < 73 Light damage. Some damage to chimneys; branches broken off trees; shallowrooted trees pushed over; sign boards damaged.

F1 73-112 Moderate damage. Peels surface off roofs; mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned; moving autos blown off roads.

F2 113-157 Considerable damage. Roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars overturned; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-object missiles generated; cars lifted off ground.
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Fujita (F)
Scale
Fujita Scale Wind
Estimate (mph)
Typical Damage
F3 158-206 Severe damage. Roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed houses; trains overturned; most trees in forest uprooted; heavy cars lifted off the ground and thrown.

F4 207-260 Devastating damage. Well-constructed houses leveled; structures with weak foundations blown away some distance; cars thrown, and large missiles generated.

F5 261-318 Incredible damage. Strong frame houses leveled off foundations and swept away; automobile-sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 meters (109 yards); trees debarked; incredible phenomena will occur.

Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm Prediction Center, www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/f-scale.html Table 4-43 Enhanced Fujita Scale
Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale Enhanced Fujita Scale Wind Estimate (mph) EF0 65-85
EF1 86-110
EF2 111-135
EF3 136-165
EF4 166-200
EF5 Over 200
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Storm Prediction Center, www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/ef-scale.html It is difficult to predict a tornado or the conditions that preclude a tornado far in advance. Tornadoes can strike quickly with very little warning. In California it is rare for tornadoes to exceed EF3 magnitude. Most tornadoes that touch down are not long lived.

Past Occurrences
Disaster Declaration History
There have been no past federal or state disaster declarations due to high winds or tornadoes, according to Table 4-4. There was one USDA Secretarial Disaster Declaration for high winds from 2016, which can be found in Table 4-48 in Section 4.3.6 below.

NCDC Events
The NCDC data recorded 160 high wind, 3 funnel cloud, and no tornado incidents for Amador County since 1950. A summary of these events is shown in Table 4-44.

Table 4-44 NCDC High Wind and Tornado Events in Amador County 1950-7/31/2024 Event Type Number
of Events
Deaths Deaths
(indirect)t
Injuries Injuries
(indirect)
Property
Damage
Crop
Damage
Funnel Cloud 3 0 0 0 0 $0 $0
High Wind 91 3 0 6 0 $17,276,000 $48,000
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Event Type Number
of Events
Deaths Deaths
(indirect)t
Injuries Injuries
(indirect)
Property
Damage
Crop
Damage
Strong Wind 66 6 1 4 3 $6,219,100 $0
Thunderstorm Wind 3 0 0 0 0 $3,000 $0
Total 163 9 1 10 3 $23,498,100 $48,000
Source: NCDC
Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Events
The HMPC noted that winds have affected the agricultural industry in the past. Those events are discussed in the Past Occurrences in Section 4.3.6. HMPC members also noted that:
2004 – the Power Fire was a wind driven event that consumed 16,993 acres, affecting national forest, industrial timberlands, and electric transmission lines. Amador County experience localized high winds, due to topography within the County. This results in downed limbs or trees along roadway. 2019 – high winds downed trees throughout the Amador County resulting in debris removal and road repairs that was reimbursed by FEMA.

Amador County Public Works could recall no wind events since 2020 that caused damages, injuries, or deaths. They also noted that no damaging tornadoes could be recalled, including tornadoes since 2020.

Two tornado warnings occurred (April 21, 2022 and January 10, 2023) for Amador and surrounding counties, but no tornadoes occurred.

Likelihood of Future Occurrence
Highly Likely/Occasional – Based on NCDC data and HMPC input, 163 wind and tornado incidents over a 74-year period (1950-2024) equates to a severe wind/tornado event every year. High winds are a welldocumented seasonal occurrence that will continue to occur annually in the Amador County Planning Area.

Tornadoes tend to be rare in the County and warrant a likelihood of future occurrence rating of occasional.

Climate change may increase the chance of future occurrence as well as future impacts. More information on climate change and high winds and tornadoes can be found in the next section. More information on future impacts can be found in the Future Conditions/Future Development section of the Vulnerability Assessment below.

Climate Change and High Winds
According to the 2021 CAS (as well as the 2024 Draft CAS), while average annual rainfall may increase or decrease slightly, the intensity of individual thunderstorm events is likely to increase during the 21st century. This may bring stronger thunderstorm winds. The CAS does not discuss non-thunderstorm winds. 220
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Vulnerability Assessment
Vulnerability—Medium
The Amador County Planning Area is subject to potentially destructive high winds and tornadoes. High winds are common throughout the area and can happen during most times of the entire year and outside of a severe storm event. Tornadoes are rare. High winds and tornadoes can be a significant public safety and economic concern.

The whole of the Planning Area has some measure of vulnerability to high winds and tornadoes. An assessment of a community’s vulnerability to this hazard begins with an understanding of local exposure to unincorporated Amador County. This is included in the Local Concerns section below. After that, vulnerability is discussed in multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect both the entire Amador County Planning Area as well as the unincorporated portions of Amador County. How the hazard affects the other participating jurisdictions can be found in their respective annexes to this LHMP Update. These sections below include assets at risk, impacts, and how future development may affect the vulnerability of the County to this hazard.

The County noted that while there has been some scattered record keeping describing the impacts of windstorms, there is little information to indicate that straight-line winds are little more than a nuisance.

For example, while winds can blow weeds that can create an additional expense for farmers, they often cause little long-term damage and there is little justification for allocating resources to combat them. Trees may be downed in the County. As detailed in the wildfire discussion, one of the most significant concerns in the County is the effect of high winds in fueling wildfires. Even before a wildfire starts, high winds can cause PG&E to put PSPS events into effect.

Local concerns for each of the jurisdictions can be found under the Local Concerns heading in each respective jurisdictional annex to this LHMP Update.

Assets at Risk
Assets at risk from winds and tornadoes include people and populations; structures; critical facilities and infrastructure; and natural, historic, and cultural resources. These are discussed in the following sections for the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County.

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People and Populations
All populations are at some vulnerability to high winds and tornadoes. Certain vulnerable populations are at the greatest risk to the effects of high winds and tornadoes. These include the unsheltered, residents who live in mobile homes, residents who live in older buildings not built to withstand high winds and that may not have areas to shelter, such as below ground floors, and those working or caught outdoors during a wind or tornado event.

Structures
All structures in the Amador County Planning Area have some measure of risk from high wind and tornadoes. Though most structures are built to withstand winds, high wind speeds can still cause damages in the Planning Area. Though rare, a tornado could cause damage to virtually all facilities in the tornado touchdown path. This would affect homes, businesses, commercial property, as well as government and critical facilities. During a wind or tornado event, power lines in the Planning Area can be damaged causing power outages and falling trees can cause damage to nearby structures. High winds are also a cause for PSPS events to be declared, causing power outages to occur. High winds and tornadoes could cause sparks from electric wires and other sources, which could lead to wildfire ignition. Once ignited, high winds can also cause wildfires to rapidly spread and become out of control. High wind conditions can cause wildfires to move into more urban areas destroying structures and whole subdivisions, as seen in recent wildfire events in the California.

Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Though most critical facilities are built to withstand winds, high wind speeds can still cause damage to critical facilities and infrastructure in the Amador County Planning Area. Though rare, a tornado could cause damage to virtually all facilities in the tornado touchdown path. Winds can cause PSPS events and lead to out of control wildfires, which can damage critical facilities and impact their abilities to perform their critical roles in the community.

Natural, Historic, and Cultural Resources
Natural resources, such as trees, are vulnerable to winds. Increased levee and streambank erosion can occur during periods of high water and high winds. High wave action during significant wind events can cause levee and streambank erosion and impact marsh lands and habitat areas. Soil erosion can also occur during high winds. Most all natural, historic, or cultural resources are at risk to tornadoes. Tornadoes can tear apart habitats, causing fragmentation across ecosystems and can damage and destroy historic structures and cultural resources.

FEMA NRI Hazard Vulnerability Assessment
The FEMA NRI was queried for additional specific data on Amador County’s vulnerability to High Winds and Tornadoes. The NRI contains data and analysis for 18 separate natural hazards. The NRI hazard related to Amador County’s High Winds and Tornadoes are: strong winds and tornadoes. As shown in Table 4-45, strong winds could cause a total of $5,715 in expected annual losses, with a historic loss rating of relatively low. Tornadoes could cause a total of $23,039 in expected annual losses with a historic loss ratio rating of 222
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very low. Strong winds and tornadoes have a relatively moderate rating for both social vulnerability and community resilience, with a risk index score of 2.5 out of 100 for strong winds and 6.2 out of 100 for tornadoes. According to the NRI, there have been 2 strong wind events between the years 1986-2021 with an average of 0 events per year and 0 tornado events on record between the years 1950-2021, with an average of 0 events per year.

Table 4-45 Amador County Planning Area – Strong Wind and Tornado Vulnerability Ratings from FEMA NRI
NRI Hazard Hazard Risk Index
Rating*
Expected Annual
Loss Values
(total)**
Exposure Value
(total)***
Historic Loss Ratio
Rating
Strong Wind 2.5 $5,715 $477,114,656,936 Relatively Low
Tornado 6.2 $23,039 $477,114,656,936 Very Low
Source: FEMA NRI Report, retrieved 4/1/2025.
*Hazard Risk Index is calculated using data for only a single hazard type, and reflect a communities expected annual loss value, community risk factors, and the adjustment factor used to calculate the risk value. **Expected annual loss represents the average economic loss in dollars resulting from natural hazards each year. ***Exposure is a natural hazard consequence factor that is the representative value of buildings, populations, or agriculture potentially exposed to a natural hazard occurrence.

Additional information on the FEMA NRI can be found in Section 4.2 and Appendix G.

Impacts from Severe Weather: High Wind and Tornado
Wind and tornadoes can cause damage to property and loss of life. While most tornado damage is caused by violent winds, the majority of injuries and deaths generally result from flying debris. Property damage can include damage to buildings, fallen trees, and power lines. Local industries may also be damaged or destroyed. Access roads and streets may be blocked by debris, delaying necessary emergency response.

Winds can push automobiles off roads, damage roofs and structures, cause power outages, and cause secondary damage due to flying debris and hazardous trees. High winds can also contribute to the spread and intensity of wildfires.

Tornadoes can cause damage to property and loss of life. While most tornado damage is caused by violent winds, the majority of injuries and deaths generally result from flying debris. Property damage can include damage to buildings, fallen trees and power lines, broken gas lines, broken sewer and water mains, and the outbreak of fires. Agricultural crops and industries may also be damaged or destroyed. Access roads and streets may be blocked by debris, delaying necessary emergency response.

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Future Conditions/Future Development
Future hazard conditions may be affected by climate change, changes in population patterns (migration, density, or the makeup of socially vulnerable populations), and changes in land use and development.

Findings on this for Amador County include the following:
➢ Climate change is likely to exacerbate future wind conditions and associated impacts and vulnerability of the County. Climate change is not likely to affect future tornado conditions. ➢ Future population growth should be considered as having more or less people in a community affects the overall hazard vulnerability to the County. Population growth in Amador County is expected to continue slowly. Vulnerable populations could experience disproportional effects from this hazard and should be planned for as development of the County continues. Changes in population and population patterns may or may not increase the impacts and vulnerability of the County to this hazard depending on the location and nature of growth and continued planning for future hazard conditions. ➢ Land use planning should be proactive to address future hazard conditions. Building codes in the County ensure that new development is built to current building standards to withstand high winds, which should reduce the risk to future development in the County from high winds and tornadoes. With adherence to development standards, future losses to new development should be minimal. Changes in land use and increased development may amplify the impacts of high winds and tornadoes, as additional structures in the County increase the number of buildings at risk to high winds and tornadoes.

Future development considerations should be ongoing and proactive. Ensuring that comprehensive land use planning is conducted, regulatory requirements, such as building codes, are followed, and varying needs for different demographic groups with intersecting identities that reside within the County are considered can help make for a more resilient community. Utilities at risk to high winds should be undergrounded as new facilities are improved or added. Whether high winds and tornadoes will occur, where, when, and of what intensity are all factors that evolve over the days and hours before they form and after they do.

Improved weather forecasts coupled with new information technologies, including social media, has resulted in an increasingly large volume of risk information that is available to people when tornadoes and high winds threaten. Development trends in the County are not expected to increase vulnerability to this hazard.

4.3.6. Agricultural Hazards: Severe Weather/Pests/Invasive Species Hazard Profile
This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect the Amador County Planning Area. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; likelihood of future occurrences; and how climate change can affect or influence this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description
Farming and related agricultural industries are not only the backbone of Amador County’s economy, they also play a central role in the way of life of County residents and help define the character of the County.

Agriculture has always been an integral part of Amador County and has continually grown and changed 224
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along with the County. Today, the soils and climate of Amador County make it an ideal area to sustain many agricultural endeavors. Agriculture in Amador County is a mosaic of farm, grazing, and timber lands intermingled with other uses in the rural setting which typifies much of the County. In recent years, grape growing and the wine industry has become a key component of the agricultural industry in Amador. This agricultural hazard focuses on severe weather, as well as certain native and invasive species (insects, pests and weeds), all which can significantly affect the agricultural industry in the County.

Agricultural losses occur on an annual basis and can be affected by a variety of natural hazards, but are most often affected by severe weather events, including heavy rains, floods, freeze, heat, and drought. The 2023 State of California Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan attributes most of the agricultural disasters statewide to drought, freeze, and insect infestations. Other agricultural hazards include fires, crop and livestock disease, insects, and noxious weeds.

In addition to severe weather, certain native and invasive species can affect the agricultural industry in the County. Invasive species are organisms that are introduced into an area beyond their natural range and become a pest in the new environment. This hazard addresses the issues related to both native and invasive insects, pests, and weeds that are considered a nuisance and pose a significant threat to the agricultural industry in the Amador County Planning Area. This hazard does not address pests and plants that cause impacts to human health, as those issues are addressed in other planning mechanisms in the County.

Amador County is geographically and ecologically diverse, extending from the western edge of California's Central Valley east into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Foothill growers produce a wide diversity of crops in a range of microclimates. Agricultural production in Amador County remains a significant contributor to the local economy. According to the California Department of Conservation’s Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMPP), as of 2022 the County has 2,635 acres of prime farmland, 1,390 acres of farmland of statewide importance, 3,107 acres of unique farmland, 2,535 acres of farmland of local importance, and 187,804 acres of grazing land. These numbers have been reduced since 2006 due in part to increased development in the County. (see Table 4-46).

Table 4-46 Amador County Farmland Inventory – 2006, 2016, and 2022 Soil Category 2006 Acres 2016 Acres 2022 Acres
Prime Farmland 3,610 2,822 2,635
Farmland of Statewide
Importance
1,717 1,419 1,390
Unique Farmland 3,596 3,397 3,107
Farmland of Local Importance 1,272 2,299 2,535
Grazing Land 188,569 188,115 187,804
Urban and Built-Up Land 8,094 8,791 9,192
Other Land 88,191 88,275 88,673
Water area 5,322 5,253 5,036
Total Area Inventoried 300,371 300,371 300,371
Source: State of California Department of Conservation Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program, www.conservation.ca.gov/ 225
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According to the 2023 Amador County Crop Report, many commodities are grown in Amador County.

This includes timber products; fruit and nut crops; livestock and poultry; and field crops. The top three commodities for the County in 2022 were fruit and nut crops (grapes), livestock (cattle), and field crops.

According to the 2023 Crop Report, the gross value of Amador County’s agricultural production in 2023 was $35,701,766. This is a decrease of 7.1% in comparison to the estimated value in 2022. A summation of crop production values, sourced from the Amador County Agricultural Commissioner’s Annual Crop Reports, from 2020-2023 for Amador County is shown in Table 4-47.

Table 4-47 Amador County – Value of Agricultural Production 2020-2023 Crop 2020 2021 2022 2023
Fruit & Nut $17,347,460 $25,409,569 $13,632,517 $14,977,377 Field Crops $5,425,201 $6,144,723 $6,914,849 $5,449,186 Livestock Productions $11,967,192 $12,284,218 $17,262,390 14,965,155 Livestock & Poultry
Products
$105,250 $61,059 $52,053 $41,828
Miscellaneous $415,661 $444,587 $277.221 $301,633
Timber $3,102,503 $1,010,696 $39,606 $0
Total $38,363,267 $45,354,851 $38,203,048 $35,701,766
Source: Amador County Agricultural Commissioner Reports. Retrieved 3/12/2025.

Location and Extent
Agricultural hazards occur throughout the County where lands are used for farming, grazing, and other agricultural uses. The County has large swaths of agricultural lands in the lower elevations of the County.

These are shown in the Land Use Map for the County on Figure 4-20 above. Areas not as greatly affected by severe weather, insects, pests, and weeds are the cities, with limited agricultural uses, as well as the upper elevations of the County which all contain fewer agricultural acres. However, while the cities may not be directly affected, they are indirectly affected economically when agricultural losses occur.

There is no scale that measures agricultural hazards. Agriculture in the County is at risk to many hazards:
insects, weeds, severe weather, as well as downturns in commodity prices. Each of these has a different duration and speed of onset. Some, such as freeze, can have a short onset and a short duration. Drought can have a long onset and long duration. Insects, pests, and weeds can have short or long onset, and short or long durations. All agricultural losses can have a significant impact on affected communities.

Past Occurrences
Disaster Declaration History
The agricultural lands of Amador County have historically been affected by weather related events such as extreme heat, freeze, heavy rain, and drought. The severe weather events can have devastating effects leading to losses in yield and affecting quality. The US Farm Services Agency provided information on disaster declarations from 2014 through 2024. These are shown in Table 4-48. 226
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Table 4-48 Amador County – USDA Disaster Declarations 2012 to 2024 Year Declared/Disaster Type Designation Number Primary or Contiguous Begin Date 2012
Drought-FAST TRACK S3268 Contiguous 7/12/2012
Drought-FAST TRACK S3351 Contiguous 8/22/2012
Drought S3379 Contiguous 9/5/2012
Drought S3452 Primary 12/19/2012
2013
Drought – FAST TRACK S3558 Contiguous 7/31/2013
Drought – FAST TRACK S3569 Primary 8/21/2013
2014
Drought – FAST TRACK S3626 Primary 1/15/2014
Drought – FAST TRACK S3743 Primary 1/1/2014
2015
Drought – FAST TRACK S3784 Primary 1/1/2015
2016
Drought – FAST TRACK S3952 Primary 1/1/2016
Excessive rain, high winds, cold
temperatures, and hail
S4170 Contiguous 3/1/2016
2017
Drought – FAST TRACK S4144 Contiguous 1/1/2017
Drought – FAST TRACK S4163 Primary 10/1/2016
Excessive rain S4237 Contiguous 10/1/2016
2018
– – – –
2019
– – – –
2020
Drought – FAST TRACK S4697 Contiguous 4/21/2020
2021
Drought – FAST TRACK S4916 Primary 10/1/2020
2022
Drought – FAST TRACK S5146 Primary 4/8/2022
Freeze S5229 Contiguous 7/1/2022
Freeze S5230 Primary 7/1/2022
2023
Drought – FAST TRACK S5371 Primary 10/1/2022
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Year Declared/Disaster Type Designation Number Primary or Contiguous Begin Date 2024
– – – –
Source: Amador County Agricultural Commissioner, US Farm Service Agency NCDC Events
The NCDC does not track agriculture events.

Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Events
The HMPC noted that there have been other documented instances in which adverse weather events have occurred, not all of which warranted USDA Secretarial Disaster Declarations:
➢ In 1982, rains causing agricultural losses were reported in the County. Crop damage statistics were unavailable.
➢ In 1988, severe winter storms and flooding were reported in the County. Crop damage statistics were unavailable.
➢ In 2003, excessive rains and wheat stripe rust were reported in the County. Crop damage statistics were unavailable.
➢ In 2003, extreme heat and unseasonable rainfall occurred in the County. Crop damage statistics from the USDA were unavailable.
➢ In 2003, unseasonable rainfalls were reported in the County. Crop damage statistics were unavailable. ➢ In 2005, severe high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds occurred in the County. Crop damage statistics from the USDA were unavailable.
➢ In 2005, rains causing agricultural losses were reported in the County. Crop damage statistics were unavailable.
➢ In 2005, the HMPC noted that there was damage to the agricultural industry from strong winds in the County that warranted a USDA Secretarial Disaster Declaration. ➢ In 2005, cold wet weather occurred in the County. Crop damage estimates were unavailable. ➢ In 2006, a record setting heat wave occurred in the County. Crop damage statistics from the USDA were unavailable.
➢ In 2007, extremely low temperatures and drought conditions occurred in the County. Crop damage estimates were unavailable.
➢ In 2008, freezing temperatures occurred in the County. Crop damage estimates were unavailable. ➢ 2020-2022 – The Public Policy Institute noted that the prolonged drought from 2020 to 2022 severely affected Amador County’s agriculture, particularly its wine grape industry, which constitutes a substantial portion of the county’s agricultural output. Reduced precipitation and surface water availability led to increased groundwater pumping, raising production costs. The Public Policy Institute of California reported that statewide, farmers faced $1.7 billion in revenue losses and 14,600 job losses in 2021, with Amador County part of the impacted Sacramento Valley region. ➢ 2021 - The Western North America heat wave (June 25–July 1, 2021) brought temperatures 20–35°F above average, likely exceeding 105–110°F in Amador’s lower elevations (e.g., Jackson, Ione). This heat stressed crops, particularly grapes, which are sensitive to extreme temperatures during fruit development, reducing yields and quality. High temperatures can cause fruit to drop or spoil, as seen 228
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with walnuts in the Central Valley, where 40% of the 2021 crop was lost due to heat following rain.

Similar impacts likely affected Amador’s vineyards, though specific losses are not documented. ➢ In 2022, freezing temperatures occurred in the County in mid-April. This caused crop damage to the grape crop in the County. This caused a loss of yield of about 30-40% of the grape crop for the 2022 farming season.
➢ 2023 – Relentless storms and atmospheric rivers in early 2023 caused widespread flooding across California, with Amador County affected by heavy rainfall. While specific flood damage in Amador is not detailed, the storms led to hundreds of millions in agricultural losses statewide, particularly for crops like strawberries and leafy green. Flooded fields in Amador likely delayed planting and damaged vineyards, especially in low-lying areas. Saturated soils can cause root rot in grapevines, reducing yields. Dairy and livestock operations faced challenges with flooded pastures, increasing feed costs.

The USDA offered recovery assistance for crop, land, and livestock losses in California, indicating Amador’s eligibility.
➢ July 2024 saw prolonged heat with temperatures likely hitting 105–110°F in lower Amador County, followed by another heat wave in September 2024 (100–105°F). These events increased wildfire risks and stressed crops, particularly late-season grapes. Heat waves reduce grape quality (e.g., sugar content) and can cause sunburn on fruit, lowering market value. The 2023 statewide heat wave cost $1.6 billion in fruit and nut losses, suggesting similar, though smaller-scale, impacts in Amador. The Electra Fire in Amador and Calaveras counties burned 4,478 acres, threatening vineyards and grazing lands. While direct crop losses were not quantified, smoke taint from wildfires can render grapes unusable for winemaking, a significant concern for Amador’s wine industry. ➢ 2025 – Golden mussels threats in the County caused Camanche Reservoir to be closed. No mussels were found, but the threat was of great enough concern that the Reservoir was closed.

Likelihood of Future Occurrence
Highly Likely—As long as severe weather events, insects, pests, and weeds continue to be an ongoing concern to the Amador County Planning Area, the potential for agricultural losses remains.

It is likely that climate change will increase the chance of future occurrence as well as future impacts. More information on climate change and agricultural hazards can be found in the next section. More information on future impacts can be found in the Future Conditions/Future Development section of the Vulnerability Assessment below.

Climate Change and Agricultural Hazards
According to the 2021 CAS (as well as the 2024 Draft CAS), addressing climate change in agriculture will encompass reducing vulnerability through adapting to the ongoing and predicted impacts of climate.

Agriculture in California is vulnerable to predicted impacts of climate change, including less reliable water supplies, increased temperatures, and increased pests.

The 2023 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan noted that California farmers contend with a wide range of crop-damaging invasive pests and pathogens. Continued climate change is likely to alter the abundance and types of many pests, lengthen pests’ breeding season, and increase pathogen growth rates. It also noted that change in climate can directly impact crop growth through new temperature patterns and northward 229
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shifts of pests and disease. Additionally, longer growing seasons may enable pest species to complete more reproductive cycles, which can increase severity of infestations.

Finally, the 2023 State Plan noted that temperature is not the only climatic influence on pests. For example, some insects are unable to cope in extreme drought, while others cannot survive in extremely wet conditions. Furthermore, while warming speeds up the life cycles of many insects, suggesting that pest problems could increase, some insects may grow more slowly as elevated carbon dioxide levels decrease the protein content of the leaves on which they feed.

Vulnerability Assessment
Vulnerability—High
According to historical hazard data, severe weather affecting agriculture and agricultural pests and weeds are an annual occurrence in the Amador County Planning Area. If left unchecked, insects, pests, and weeds, including invasive species, can threaten native species, biodiversity, ecosystem services, recreation, water resources, agricultural and forest production, cultural resources, economies and property values, public safety, and infrastructure.

Local Concerns (unincorporated Amador County)
The unincorporated County has certain specific concerns regarding this hazard. These concerns form a portion of the basis for the mitigation strategy and mitigation actions that seek to reduce vulnerabilities to this hazard.

Invasive and Native Species (Insects/Pests)
Amador County is threatened by a number of insects that, under the right circumstances, can cause severe economic and environmental harm to the agricultural industry. Insects of concern to plants and crops include Glassy-winged sharp shooter, Gypsy moth, Japanese beetle, Mediterranean fruit fly, Melon fruit fly, Oriental fruit fly, and Bark beetle. Pest detection is a proactive program that seeks to identify exotic, invasive insects. These pests have a wide host ranges and are difficult and costly to manage once established. Early detection is essential for quick and efficient eradication. Public participation is critical to the success of this program, since staff relies on the goodwill of property owners who allow traps to be placed on their properties. The Amador County Department of Agriculture traps and monitors all of these agricultural pests.
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Aquatic invasive species include: Zebra and Quagga Mussels, invasive fish species, and aquatic weeds such as hydrilla, water hyacinth, arundo, loosestrife, sesbania, South American Spongeplant, and cyanobacteria.

An additional (and relatively new) invasive is the golden mussel. Golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei), an invasive, non-native freshwater bivalve, was recently discovered in the Port of Stockton by California Department of Water Resources staff while conducting routine operations. Suspected golden mussels have also been identified at O’Neill Forebay in Merced County and are currently undergoing genetic testing for confirmation. This discovery is the first known occurrence of golden mussels in North America. The species poses a significant immediate threat to the ecological health of the Delta and all waters of the state, water conveyance systems, infrastructure and water quality. While not yet in Amador County, they are in areas to the west of the County, as seen on Figure 4-60.

Figure 4-60 Golden Mussels Survey Results near Amador County Source: CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, retrieved 8/1/2025.

Due to the spread of the golden mussel recently discovered in Northern California, the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) kept boat launches closed to private vessels for the 2025 season. This closure was to allow EBMUD time to study how to prevent and respond to golden mussel infestation. Although boat quarantines and decontamination stations can help reduce the likelihood of introduction, risk remains.

EBMUD is working closely with state and federal agencies, research institutions, and other water managers to track the spread and prepare long-term plans in the event the mussel is introduced into the reservoirs.

The closure applies to private boats and other watercraft, including kayaks and paddleboards, excluding boats with a permanent slip for Camanche that were in the water or in onsite dry storage when boat launches closed in November 2024. This had an effect on the County, as its largest reservoir was restricted from being used for recreational purposes.
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Weeds (both invasive and native)
Noxious weeds, defined as any plant that is or is liable to be troublesome, aggressive, intrusive, detrimental, or destructive to agriculture, silviculture, or important native species, and difficult to control or eradicate, are also of concern. Noxious weeds within the Planning Area include those listed on Table 4-49.

Table 4-49 Amador County Weeds of Concern
Species of Concern
Rush Skeletonweed Giant Reed Oblong Spurge Tamarisk Yellow Starthistle Scotch Broom Perrenial Pepperweed Scotch Thistle Spanish Broom Barb Goatgrass French Bloom Medusahead Diffuse Knapweed Spotted Knapweed Source: California Invasive Plant Council
The Amador County Department of Agriculture uses mechanical and chemical control measures to contain these agricultural weeds.

Natural Disasters and Severe Weather
According to the USDA, every year natural disasters, such as droughts, earthquakes, extreme heat and cold, floods, fires, earthquakes, hail, landslides, and tornadoes, challenge agricultural production. Because agriculture relies on the weather, climate, and water availability to thrive, it is easily impacted by natural events and disasters. Agricultural impacts from natural events and disasters most commonly include contamination of water bodies, loss of harvest or livestock, increased susceptibility to disease, and destruction of irrigation systems and other agricultural infrastructure. These impacts can have long lasting effects on agricultural production including crops, forest growth, and arable lands, which require time to mature. Specific impacts by hazard are listed below:
➢ Drought's most severe effects on agriculture include water quality and quantity issues. Other impacts include decreased crop yields, impact to feed and forage, altered plant populations and tree mortality. ➢ Earthquakes, though rare in Amador County, can strike without warning and cause dramatic changes to the landscape of an area that can have devastating impacts on agricultural production and the environment. These impacts could include loss of harvest or livestock and destruction of irrigation systems and other agricultural infrastructure.
➢ Extreme cold may result in loss of livestock, increased deicing, downed power lines, and increased use of generators. Deicing can impact agriculture by damaging local ecosystems and contaminating water bodies. Downed power lines cause people to run generators more often, which can release harmful air pollutants.
➢ Hot weather and extreme heat can worsen ozone levels and air quality as well as leading to drought conditions. Excessive heat and prolonged dry or drought conditions can impact agriculture by creating worker safety issues for farm field workers, severely damaging crops, and reducing availability of water and food supply for livestock.
➢ Wildfires can spread quickly and devastate thousands of acres of land, which may include agricultural lands. This devastation could lead to large losses in crops, forestry, livestock, and agricultural infrastructure.
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➢ Flooding causes many impacts to agricultural production, including water contamination, damage to crops, loss of livestock, increased susceptibility of livestock to disease, flooded farm machinery, and environmental damage to and from agricultural chemicals. ➢ Landslides and debris flow occur in all 50 states and commonly occur in connection with other major natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, wildfires, and floods. Some of the threats from landslides and debris flow include rapidly moving water and debris that can cause trauma; broken electrical, water, gas, and sewage lines; and disrupted roadways and railways. This can lead to agricultural impacts including contamination of water, change in vegetation, and harvest and livestock losses.

The Amador County Agricultural Commissioner noted that of the above, the County is most concerned with drought, freeze, and insect infestations.

Local concerns for each of the participating jurisdictions can be found under the Local Concerns heading in each respective jurisdictional annex to this LHMP Update.

Assets at Risk
Assets at risk from agricultural hazards include people and populations; structures; critical facilities and infrastructure; and natural, historic, and cultural resources. These are discussed in the following sections for the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County.

People and Populations
Agricultural hazards (severe weather, and both native and invasive species) have a minimal effect on people and populations in Amador County, including vulnerable populations. However, damage to crops from invasive and nuisance species can cause significant increases in food prices and food insecurity among lowincome communities.

Structures
Structures in Amador County may be indirectly affected by agricultural hazards. The effects of severe weather on structures are included in the discussions on severe weather above. This section focuses then on native and invasive species and pests and weeds. Some species can impact vegetation and can result in stream bank instability, erosion, and increased sedimentation, impacting ground stabilization and possibly causing foundation issues for nearby structures. If species cause trees and other vegetation to die, there is an increased risk of damage to roadways, powerlines, and buildings, and increased risk to wildfire. Some invasive plants have been shown to destabilize soil due to high densities and shallow root systems, negatively impacting nearby buildings and septic systems. Other nuisance plant species have been known to clog culverts and streams, increasing flooding risk. 233
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Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Critical facilities and infrastructure in Amador County may be affected by agricultural hazards, though these effects are expected to be limited. The effects of severe weather on critical facilities are included in the discussions on severe weather above. This section focuses then on native and invasive species and insects, pests, and weeds. The 2023 State of California Hazard Mitigation Plan noted that water treatment plants could be impacted by invasive and nuisance species. Water that becomes polluted due to increased sedimentation and erosion will require additional treatment. If the system becomes clogged with these pollutants or with nuisance aquatic species, the ability of water treatment plants to operate may become impaired. Additionally, soil that becomes unstable due to decaying vegetation can impact critical facilities that are built on or around these soils.

Natural, Historic, and Cultural Resources
Natural resources can be affected by agricultural hazards. The effects of severe weather on these resources are included in the discussions on severe weather above. This section focuses then on native and invasive species, and insects, pests, and weeds. Negative impacts of these to natural resources include the following:
➢ Loss of wildlife habitat and reduced wildlife numbers; ➢ Loss of native plant species;
➢ Reduced livestock grazing capacity;
➢ Increased soil erosion and topsoil loss;
➢ Diminished water quality and fish habitat.

Historic and cultural resources have a more limited risk from agricultural hazards.

FEMA NRI Hazard Vulnerability Assessment
Agricultural hazards are not an NRI hazard, therefore no data is presented.

Impacts from Agricultural Hazards
According to the California Invasive Plants Council. California annually suffers over $3 billion in agricultural losses due to these invasive species. The magnitude of this problem cannot be understated, as both the United States and California Departments of Agriculture are mandated to protect against the invasion of exotic pests and diseases.

The consequences of agricultural disasters to the Planning Area include ruined plant crops, dead livestock, ruined feed and agricultural equipment, monetary loss, job loss, and possible multi-year effects (i.e., trees might not produce if damaged, loss of markets, food shortages, increased prices, possible spread of disease to people, and loss or contamination of animal products). When these hazards cause a mass die-off of livestock, other issues occur that include the disposal of animals, depopulation of affected herds, decontamination, and resource problems. Those disasters related to severe weather may also require the evacuation and sheltering of animal populations. Overall, any type of severe agricultural disaster can have significant economic impacts on both the agricultural community and the entire Amador County Planning Area.
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Impacts to identified assets at risk to this hazard and the overall vulnerability of the County may be affected in the future by climate change (which was discussed in the hazard profile section above), changes in population patterns, and changes in land use and development. The influencing effects of these factors on this hazard are discussed further in the Future Conditions/Future Development discussion below.

Findings on this for Amador County include the following:
➢ Climate change is likely to exacerbate future conditions that may impact the agricultural industry in Amador County.
➢ Future population growth should be considered as having more or less people in a community affects the overall hazard vulnerability to the County. Population growth in Amador County is expected to increase. Population changes are unlikely to affect the vulnerability of the County to this hazard unless the population growth significantly increases, displacing agricultural uses. Changes in population and population patterns may or may not increase the impacts and vulnerability of the County to this hazard depending on the location and nature of growth and continued planning for future hazard conditions. ➢ Land use planning should be proactive to address future hazard conditions. Limited growth is occurring in the County, which should result in limited changes to land uses that would affect the agricultural industry. As the County continues to add new development, land uses may change resulting in a reduction in agricultural uses. However, for the next five years covered by this LHMP Update, changes in land use and development will likely not increase the impacts and associated vulnerabilities of the County to this hazard.

Future development in the County is not likely to have an impact on agricultural hazards in Amador County, except to the extent that agricultural lands are taken out of production as new development occurs reducing available land for agricultural uses, including those related to farming, timber production and grazing. In addition, with additional development in the County, there may be additional competition for water resources thus possibly impacting the agricultural industry.

4.3.7. Avalanche
Hazard Profile
This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect the Amador County Planning Area. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; likelihood of future occurrences; and how climate change can affect or influence this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description
According to the 2016 Amador County General Plan Safety Element, avalanches occur when loading of new snow increases stress at a rate faster than strength develops, and the slope fails. Avalanches are a rapid down-slope movement of snow, ice and debris triggered by ground shaking, sound, or human or animal 235
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movement. Avalanches consist of a starting zone where the ice or snow breaks loose, a track which is the grade or channel the debris slides down and a run-out zone where the snow is deposited. This can be seen in Figure 4-61.

Figure 4-61 Avalanche Zones
Source: Sierra Avalanche Center
Critical stresses develop more quickly on steeper slopes and where deposition of wind-transported snow is common. The vast majority of avalanches occur during and shortly after storms. This hazard generally affects a small number of people, such as snowboarders, skiers, and hikers who venture into backcountry areas during or after winter storms. Roads and highway closures, damaged structures, and destruction of forests are also a direct result of avalanches.

Location and Extent
The combination of steep slopes, abundant snow, weather, snowpack, and an impetus to cause movement to create an avalanching episode. Avalanche hazards exist in eastern Amador County, where combinations of the above criteria occur. The two primary factors impacting avalanche activity are weather and terrain.

Large, frequent storms deposit snow on steep slopes to create avalanche hazards. Additional factors that contribute to slope stability are the amount of snow, rate of accumulation, moisture content, wind speed and direction and type of snow crystals. Topography also plays a vital role in avalanche dynamics. Slope 236
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angles between 30 to 45 degrees are optimal for avalanches. The risk of avalanches decreases on slope angles below 30 degrees. At 50 or more degrees they tend to produce sluff or loose snow avalanches that account for only a small percentage of avalanche deaths and property damage annually.

Avalanche-prone areas are found upcountry along SR 88 in the Devil’s Gate and Kirkwood areas (in the eastern portions County) where these combinations readily occur. Speed of onset of avalanche is short, as is the duration of each event. Most avalanches occur during and shortly after storms between January and March. A scale of avalanche danger has been created for North America. This can be found in Table 4-50.

Table 4-50 North American Public Avalanche Danger Scale Danger Level Travel Advice Likelihood of Avalanche Avalanche Size or Distribution.
5 – Extreme Avoid all avalanche terrain Natural and humantriggered avalanches certainLarge to very large avalanches in many areas
4 – High Very dangerous avalanche conditions.

Travel in avalanche terrain not
recommended
Natural avalanches likely;
human-triggered avalanches
very likely
Large avalanches in many
areas; or very large
avalanches in specific areas
3 – Considerable Dangerous avalanche conditions.

Careful snowpack evaluation, cautious
route-finding and conservative
decision making essential
Natural avalanches possible;
human-triggered avalanches
likely
Small avalanches in many
areas; or large avalanches in
specific areas; or very large
avalanches in isolated areas
2 – Moderate Heightened avalanche conditions on
specific terrain features. Evaluate
snow and terrain carefully; identify
features of concern
Natural avalanches unlikely;
human-triggered avalanches
possible
Small avalanches in specific
areas; or large avalanches in
isolated areas
1 – Low Generally safe avalanche conditions.

Watch for unstable snow on isolated
terrain features
Natural and humantriggered avalanches
unlikely
Small avalanches in isolated
areas or extreme terrain
Source: National Avalanche Center
Past Occurrences
Disaster Declaration History
There have been no federal or state disaster declarations related to avalanche in Amador County, as shown in Table 4-4.

NCDC Events
The NCDC shows five avalanche events in the County since 1993, as shown on Table 4-51.

Table 4-51 NCDC Avalanche Events in Amador County 1993-7/31/2024 Event Type Number
of Events
Deaths Deaths
(indirect)
Injuries Injuries
(indirect)
Property
Damage
Crop
Damage
Avalanche 5 2 0 3 0 $0 $0
Source: NCDC.
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Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Events
Historically, avalanches occur within the eastern portion of the County between the months of January and March, following snowstorms. Past events include those listed below.

In 1982/1983, an avalanche destroyed some USFS lease summer cabins located west of Highway 88. The cabins are only allowed to be occupied during the summer months, and no one was injured.

In 1982/1983, the mountain manager for Kirkwood ordered an evacuation of homes in this area during a multiple day Sierra snowstorm. A representative from Kirkwood provided one unconfirmed report of a local skier getting caught in an avalanche and digging out and skiing away. It is likely that other avalanche incidents such as this one go unreported.

In 1993, a man was buried in an avalanche in Kirkwood's Button Bowl. He was buried for nearly 15 minutes under five feet of snow before he was discovered by one of the resort's avalanche rescue dogs. He survived but suffered a broken back and ribs.
2018 – an avalanche occurred that resulted in two deaths. A mother and her son died skiing back to their cabin in Kirkwood.
2019 – This SR 88 spur was closed an estimated 28 days in 2019 for avalanche conditions and mitigation.

Cal-Trans noted that the winter of 2022-23 (with the heavy snow) led to numerous occasions where the Kirkwood community faced isolation with the highway being closed in both directions for longer durations than usual.

In March of 2024, an avalanche closed Highway 88 in Amador County. Transportation officials said the highway was closed from 3.5 miles east of Silver Lake to Kirkwood/Carson Spur. As far as singular “avalanche events” are concerned, 2024 had one of the most dramatic when three USFS leased cabins were destroyed in the Devil’s Gate Tract.

Likelihood of Future Occurrence
Likely – Given the topography and amount of snow falling on an annual basis in Eastern Amador County, avalanches will continue to occur. The loss of life due to an avalanche is usually due to people recreating in remote areas at the wrong time. Avalanche warnings are posted after winter storms; therefore, information is available to reduce the risk to those in avalanche prone areas.

Climate Change and Avalanche
According to the CAS, climate change may exacerbate the avalanche hazard in the County. Avalanches stemming from a weather pattern of heavy snowfalls followed by thawing may increase – a dangerous combination that can be expected with climate change.

Vulnerability Assessment
Vulnerability—Medium
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Avalanche events happen in the Amador County Planning Area each year. These often occur in the backcountry where no roads or structures exist. However, avalanche can impact key assets in the Planning Area. The upper elevations of the Planning Area has some measure of vulnerability to extreme cold, freeze, and snow.

Avalanche impacts vary, but include risk to property, injury, or death. Avalanches generally affect a few snowboarders, skiers, and hikers who venture into backcountry areas during or after winter storms.

Avalanches cause road closures, and can damage structures and forests.

In Amador County, avalanche-prone areas are found upcountry along SR 88 in the Devil’s Gate and Kirkwood areas, where these combinations readily occur (discussed in more detail below). Most avalanches occur during and shortly after storms between January and March. On the way to Kirkwood, there is a Spur of the Highway that is very vulnerable to traffic backups from Kirkwood. Because traffic flow is an issue in this area – the backed up cars could easily be affected by an avalanche. Cal Trans representatives on the HMPC noted that in addition to the highway issues, as far as Amador County is concerned, the marked increase in winter recreation would be of concern, as well as the overall awareness of avalanche areas that would be encountered by emergency service workers.

Highway 88 and Devils Gate area
With respect to Highway 88, Caltrans is responsible for avalanche mitigation. There have been no known fatalities or injuries within this area. The HMPC noted that the area of significant concern to the County (besides Kirkwood) is the spur leading up to Kirkwood on HWY 88. Avalanches and mitigation on Hwy 88 are managed by Cal Trans. They conduct a weekly conference call regarding conditions. Challenges to effective mitigation include older equipment, access, and qualified operators that can get to the area.

Kirkwood Resort Ski area
The Kirkwood Ski Area has conducted a series of Design-Magnitude Avalanche Mapping and Mitigation Analyses to guide future development of the area. Design-magnitude avalanches are of a size and destructive potential that should be considered in land-use planning and engineering. The designmagnitude avalanche path boundaries are subdivided into "red", "blue" and "white" zones which indicate 239
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the potential hazard severity based on the resulting impact pressure and return period (or frequency). Land use recommendations and restrictions are then applied to the identified hazard zones. This methodology for the identification of avalanche zones and the associated land use recommendations is relatively unique to the United States, and is based on similar methodologies used in other countries with development in and near avalanche areas (e.g., Switzerland and Austria). A summary of land use recommendations for identified zones is provided below.
➢ Red Zone (High Hazard) – Residential development within the red zone is not recommended.

Avalanche pressure potentials are beyond the practical design limits of most residential structures; avalanche frequency is high; and detached structural protection is difficult or impossible to build.

Additionally, any development that concentrates human activity in Red zones (e.g., ski-lift terminals, ticket areas, parking lots, trail heads, skating ponds, and public buildings) should be avoided. Even though structural protection of some facilities might be feasible, people standing or working outside of these facilities could be exposed to avalanches. Road construction through some red zones might be acceptable unless the frequency of avalanches is high. Utilities should be buried whenever possible. ➢ Blue Zone (Moderate Hazard) – By definition, blue zones are subject to much lower levels of avalanche frequency and energy than red zones. Thus construction of private buildings may be acceptable, but only if reinforced or protected for design avalanche loads. Even with structural protection, property owners must be made aware of the fact that living in an area designated as a blue zone means assuming the possibility of property damage or personal injury from avalanches because people outside may be exposed. Because of the potential for a greater concentration of people at public facilities, construction of public buildings in blue zones should be avoided. Other public facilities such as parking lots and ski-lift terminals should, if possible, be located near the outer limits of the blue zone and the area should be posted as potentially hazardous. Utilities should be buried. Road construction is acceptable.
➢ White Zone (Hazard Free) – There are no identified land use recommendations or development restrictions associated with Hazard Free White Zones.

There are approximately 50 major avalanche starting zones in Amador County that were mapped by an avalanche consultant prior to the formation of the ski resort. The avalanche zones are within Kirkwood's Special Use Permit (SUP) boundary on Forest Service land. Another 50 plus major avalanche starting zones are in Alpine County in the SUP boundary. According to representatives from the resort, the number of avalanches over the years in these areas would total in the thousands. There are a few starting zones that, while within the SUP, are outside of the current ski area boundary. Some avalanche control work has been done in this area over the years. Some of these starting zones are actually above existing housing in Amador County and nearest to Highway 88. The potential for a serious avalanche accident is greatest in this area of Amador County at Kirkwood.

The County is proactive in avalanche mitigation. In problem areas, roads are closed after significant storms for avalanche control. There is constant monitoring of the snow loads in problem areas. Much of this is done by Cal Trans. Likewise, Cal Trans is also responsible for monitoring and mitigating landslide areas along State routes. The County did note that slide paths are changing with new fire activity, wind changes, etc. The Caldor fire affected areas that were prone to avalanche sliding.

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Assets at Risk
Assets at risk from extreme cold and freeze include people and populations; structures; critical facilities and infrastructure; and natural, historic, and cultural resources. These are discussed in the following sections for the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County.

People and Populations
Most of the populations within the Amador County Planning Area have limited vulnerable to avalanche.

Those at risk include those traveling in the upper elevations of the County, as well as those who ski in these areas. Vulnerable populations to avalanche are not well known. The 2023 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan noted that in determining whether equity priority populations are exposed to the threat of avalanches, the best method available at the time of this Plan update is to consider how the counties in which avalanches take place score on existing social vulnerability indexes. Using that, Amador is relatively moderate in its social vulnerability index.

Structures
Structures in the Amador County Planning Area have some measure of risk from avalanche. Buildings in the upper elevations of the County can be affected directly by avalanche events. Most of these events occur away from structures in the Amador County Planning Area.

Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Avalanche can cause downed trees and power lines, power outages, accidents, and road closures.

Transportation networks, communications, and utilities infrastructure are the most vulnerable physical assets in the County. Depending on the facility type and function, critical facilities and infrastructure may be affected directly by avalanche events. Infrastructure such as roads, highways, and bridges can be blocked during these events.

Natural, Historic, and Cultural Resources
Depending on the location of an avalanche event, natural resources in the Amador County Planning Area may be affected. During periods of avalanche, trees in the Planning Area may be damaged, which may in turn cause increased fire risk due to an increase in wildfire fuels. Other natural resources like wildlife may be at risk during a period of avalanche. Historic structures in the County are located outside of the avalanche prone areas.
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FEMA NRI Hazard Vulnerability Assessment
The FEMA NRI was queried for additional specific data on Amador County’s vulnerability to avalanche.

The NRI contains data and analysis for 18 separate natural hazards, including avalanches. As shown in Table 4-52, avalanches could cause a total of $61,612 in expected annual losses, with a historic loss rating of relatively moderate. Avalanche has a relatively moderate rating for both social vulnerability and community resilience, with a risk index score of 26.4 out of 100. According to the NRI, there has been 1 event on record between the years of 1960-2019, with an average of 0 events per year.

Table 4-52 Amador County Planning Area – Avalanche Vulnerability Ratings from FEMA NRI
NRI Hazard Hazard Risk Index
Rating*
Expected Annual
Loss Values
(total)**
Exposure Value
(total)***
Historic Loss Ratio
Rating
Avalanche 26.4 $61,612 $59,000,000 Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA NRI Report, retrieved 4/1/2025.
*Hazard Risk Index is calculated using data for only a single hazard type, and reflect a communities expected annual loss value, community risk factors, and the adjustment factor used to calculate the risk value. **Expected annual loss represents the average economic loss in dollars resulting from natural hazards each year. ***Exposure is a natural hazard consequence factor that is the representative value of buildings, populations, or agriculture potentially exposed to a natural hazard occurrence.

Additional information on the FEMA NRI can be found in Section 4.2 and Appendix G.

Impacts from Avalanche
Avalanches occur when the weight of new snow increases stress faster than strength of the snowpack develops, causing the slope to fail. Avalanche conditions develop more quickly on steeper slopes and where wind-blown snow is common. The combination of steep slopes, abundant snow, weather, snowpack, and a trigger to cause movement create avalanches.

The most significant impacts from snow avalanches are the closure of transportation corridors, which can isolate populations and interrupt commodity flows. Avalanches tend to occur independently of other types of hazards, although it is possible for avalanches to be triggered by severe weather and earthquakes. There may be occasions where avalanches contribute to the presence of other hazards, such as flash floods resulting from mountainside erosion. Avalanches might cause erosion on sloped terrain, thereby increasing the likelihood of future landslides. In addition, debris deposited in a river or stream because of avalanches might alter its flow and contribute to flooding later.

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Future Conditions/Future Development
Future hazard conditions may be affected by climate change, changes in population patterns (migration, density, or the makeup of socially vulnerable populations), and changes in land use and development.

Findings on these factors for Amador County include the following:
➢ Climate change may exacerbate avalanches and their associated impacts to the County. ➢ The population of Amador County is expected to slowly increase as time progresses. Future population growth should be considered, as having more or less people in a community affects the overall hazard vulnerability to the County. Changes in populations patterns should also be considered. During hazard events, existing inequities can get worse, and vulnerable groups are the most likely to be affected and may require extra assistance. Planning for population changes will help to decrease the County’s overall vulnerability. It was noted that there is very limited housing stock in the avalanche areas.

Changes in population and population patterns may or may not increase the impacts and vulnerability of the County to this hazard depending on the location and nature of population growth and continued planning for future hazard conditions.
➢ Land use planning should be proactive to address future hazard conditions. County building codes, including those specific to building in avalanche zones, are in effect to reduce this risk and should be updated as necessary to continue to avalanche conditions. Due to adherence to protective building codes, changes in land use and development will likely not increase the impacts and associated vulnerabilities of the County to this hazard.

Future development considerations should be ongoing and proactive. Outside of any future development at the Kirkwood ski area where avalanche is comprehensively addressed in the siting of future structures, future development is unlikely to occur in avalanche prone areas.

4.3.8. Climate Change
Hazard Profile
This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect the Amador County Planning Area. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; likelihood of future occurrence; and how climate change can affect or influence this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description
Climate change is the distinct change in measures of weather patterns over a long period of time, ranging from decades to millions of years. More specifically, it may be a change in average weather conditions such as temperature, rainfall, snow, ocean and atmospheric circulation, or in the distribution of weather around the average. While the Earth’s climate has cycled over its 4.5-billion-year age, these natural cycles have taken place gradually over millennia, and the Holocene, the most recent epoch in which human civilization developed, has been characterized by a highly stable climate – until recently.

This LHMP Update is concerned with human-induced climate change that has been rapidly warming the Earth at rates unprecedented in the last 1,000 years. Since industrialization began in the 19th century, the 243
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burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) at escalating quantities has released vast amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases responsible for trapping heat in the atmosphere, increasing the average temperature of the Earth.

In Amador County, the HMPC noted that each year it seems to get a bit warmer. California’s Adaptation Planning Guide: Understanding Regional Characteristics has divided California into 11 different regions based on political boundaries, projected climate impacts, existing environmental setting, socioeconomic factors and regional designations (as shown in Figure 4-62). Amador County falls within the North Sierra Region characterized as a sparsely settled mountainous region where the region’s economy is primarily tourism-based. The region is rich in natural resources, biodiversity, and is the source for the majority of water used by the state. Table 4-53 provides a summary of Cal-Adapt Climate Projections for the North Sierra Region.

Table 4-53 North Sierra Region and Amador County – Cal Adapt Climate Projections Effect Ranges
Temperature
Change,
1990-2100
January increase in average temperatures: 2.5 °F to 4°F by 2050 and 6°F to 7°F by 2100. The largest changes are observed in the southern part of the region. July increase in average temperatures: 4 °F to 5°F by 2050 and I 0°F by the end of the century, with the greatest change in the northern part of the region. (Modeled average temperatures; high emissions scenario) Precipitation Precipitation decline is projected throughout the region. The amount of decrease varies from 3 to 5 inches by 2050 and 6 inches to more than 10 inches by 2100, with the larger rainfall reductions projected for the southern portions of the region. (CCSM3 climate model; high carbon emissions scenario)
Heat wave Heat waves are defined as five consecutive days over 83 °F to 97°F depending on location. By 2050, the number of heat waves per year is expected to increase by two. A dramatic increase in annual heat waves is expected by 2100, eight to I 0 more per year.

Snowpack Snowpack levels are projected to decline dramatically in many portions of the region. In southern portions of the region, a decline of nearly 15 inches in snowpack levels - a more than 60 percent drop - is projected by 2090. (CCSM3 climate model; high carbon emissions scenario) Wildfire Wildfire risk is projected to increase in a range of 1.1 to 10.5 times throughout the region, with the highest risks expected in the northern and southern parts of the region. (GFDL climate model; high carbon emissions scenario)
Source: Cal-Adapt 2017/2023.
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Figure 4-62 Amador County – Climate Impact Regions
Source: Cal-Adapt 2017/2023
Location and Extent
Climate change is a global phenomenon. It is expected to affect the whole of the County. There is no scale to measure the extent of climate change. Climate change exacerbates other hazard, such as drought, extreme 245
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heat, flooding, wildfire, and others. The speed of onset of climate change is very slow. The duration of climate change is not yet known but is feared to be tens to hundreds of years.

Past Occurrences
Disaster Declaration History
Climate change has never been directly linked to any declared disasters, as shown in Table 4-4.

NCDC Events
The NCDC does not track climate change events.

Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Events
While the HMPC noted that climate change is of concern, no specific climate change incidents could be recalled. HMPC members noted that the strength of storms does seem to be increasing and the temperatures seem to be getting hotter. The HMPC also noted that snow levels seem to be higher (or larger) each year and the recent atmospheric river winter rains were more intense. In addition, the Amador County Air Quality District noted that within the last five years, Amador County has experienced extreme droughts that have affected the health of the forest. The lack of rain lead to the Bark Beetle infestation, causing thousands upon thousands of trees to die. This has led to large areas of Amador County to be declared high fire hazardous zones as well. The combined effects of the drought, decline in the health of the forest, temperature changes, and wildfires in and around neighboring counties, much contributed to climate change, have also steered our way to poor air quality.

Likelihood of Future Occurrence
Highly Likely – Climate change is virtually certain to continue without immediate and effective global action. According to NASA, 2023 was one of the hottest years on record as was 2024. Without significant global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes in its Sixth Assessment Synthesis Report (2022) that average global temperatures are likely to exceed 1.5°C by the end of the 21st century, with consequences for people, assets, economies and ecosystems, including risks from heat stress, storms and extreme precipitation, inland and coastal flooding, landslides, air pollution, drought, water scarcity, sea level rise and storm surges.

Climate Scenarios
The United Nations IPCC developed several greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions scenarios based on differing sets of assumptions about future economic growth, population growth, fossil fuel use, and other factors.

The emissions scenarios range from “business-as-usual” (i.e., minimal change in the current emissions trends) to more progressive (i.e., international leaders implement aggressive emissions reductions policies).

Each of these scenarios leads to a corresponding GHG concentration, which is then used in climate models to examine how the climate may react to varying levels of GHGs. Climate researchers use many global climate models to assess the potential changes in climate due to increased GHGs. 246
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Key Uncertainties Associated with Climate Projections
➢ Climate projections and impacts, like other types of research about future conditions, are characterized by uncertainty. Climate projection uncertainties include but are not limited to:
✓ Levels of future greenhouse gas concentrations and other radiatively important gases and aerosols, ✓ Sensitivity of the climate system to greenhouse gas concentrations and other radiatively important gases and aerosols,
✓ Inherent climate variability, and
✓ Changes in local physical processes (such as afternoon sea breezes) that are not captured by global climate models.

Even though precise quantitative climate projections at the local scale are characterized by uncertainties, the information provided can help identify the potential risks associated with climate variability/climate change and support long term mitigation and adaptation planning.

Maps show projected change in average surface air temperature in the later part of this century (2071-2099) relative to the later part of the last century (1970-1999) under a scenario that assumes substantial reductions in heat trapping gases and a higher emissions scenario that assumes continued increases in global emissions.

These are shown in Figure 4-63.

Figure 4-63 Projected Temperature Change – Lower and Higher Emissions Scenario Source: National Climate Assessment
According to the California Natural Resource Agency (CNRA), climate change is already affecting California and is projected to continue to do so well into the foreseeable future. Current and projected changes include increased temperatures, sea level rise, a reduced winter snowpack altered precipitation patterns, and more frequent storm events. Over the long term, reducing greenhouse gases can help make these changes less severe, but the changes cannot be avoided entirely. Unavoidable climate impacts can 247
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result in a variety of secondary consequences including detrimental impacts on human health and safety, economic continuity, ecosystem integrity and provision of basic services.

The CNRA’s 2021 CAS (as well as the 2024 Draft CAS) delineated how climate change may impact and exacerbate natural hazards in the future, including wildfires, extreme heat, floods, and drought:
➢ Climate change is expected to lead to increases in the frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme heat events and heat waves in Amador County and the rest of California, which are likely to increase the risk of mortality and morbidity due to heat-related illness and exacerbation of existing chronic health conditions. Those most at risk and vulnerable to climate-related illness are the elderly, individuals with chronic conditions such as heart and lung disease, diabetes, and mental illnesses, infants, the socially or economically disadvantaged, and those who work outdoors. ➢ Higher temperatures will melt the Sierra snowpack earlier and drive the snowline higher, resulting in less snowpack to supply water to California users.
➢ Droughts are likely to become more frequent and persistent in the 21st century. ➢ Intense rainfall events, periodically ones with larger than historical runoff, will continue to affect California with more frequent and/or more extensive flooding. ➢ Storms and snowmelt may coincide and produce higher winter runoff from the landward side, while accelerating sea-level rise will produce higher storm surges during coastal storms. Together, these changes may increase the probability of floods and levee and dam failures, along with creating issues related to saltwater intrusion.
➢ Warmer weather, reduced snowpack, and earlier snowmelt can be expected to increase wildfire through fuel hazards and ignition risks. These changes can also increase plant moisture stress and insect populations, both of which affect forest health and reduce forest resilience to wildfires. An increase in wildfire intensity and extent will increase public safety risks, property damage, fire suppression and emergency response costs to government, watershed and water quality impacts, vegetation conversions and habitat fragmentation.

Vulnerability to Climate Change
Vulnerability—Medium
Climate change adaptation is a key priority of the State of California. The 2023 State of California MultiHazard Mitigation Plan stated that climate change is already affecting California. Sea levels have risen by as much as seven inches along the California coast over the last century, increasing erosion and pressure on the state’s infrastructure, water supplies, and natural resources. The State has also seen increased average temperatures, more extreme hot days, fewer cold nights, a lengthening of the growing season, shifts in the water cycle with less winter precipitation falling as snow, and earlier runoff of both snowmelt and rainwater in the year. In addition to changes in average temperatures, sea level, and precipitation patterns, the intensity of extreme weather events is also changing.

The whole of the County is at some measure of vulnerability to climate change. An assessment of a community’s vulnerability to this hazard begins with an understanding of local exposure to unincorporated Amador County. This is included in the Local Concerns section below. After that, vulnerability is discussed in multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect both the entire Amador County Planning Area as well as the unincorporated portions of Amador County. How the hazard affects the other 248
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participating jurisdictions can be found in their respective annexes to this LHMP Update. These sections below include assets at risk, impacts, and how future development may affect the vulnerability of the County to this hazard.

Amador County OES Concerns
Anthropogenic and other greenhouse gasses will continue to cause more extreme climate change conditions unless steps taken to minimize greenhouse gases and carbon footprints. The County’s roadways, infrastructure in flood zones, disadvantaged communities, agriculture sector and sensitives species habitat are among the most vulnerable to climate change impacts.

Climate change threatens the food security and economic viability of agriculture in Amador County.

Drought, flood, and severe weather are all poised to intensify as climate change continues to impact California. Agricultural practices need updating to become resilient and can be part of the solution to climate change in our region.

Amador County Air District Concerns
The Amador County Air District noted the following local concerns: Climate change brings on changes in our temperatures. Heat waves lead to poor air quality which impact public health. The changes in temperatures recently experienced (low temperatures at night/morning and mid to warm temperatures in the day) create inversion layers that trap air low to the ground exposing the public to bad air quality for longer periods of time. If Amador was to be hit with a wildfire during an inversion, the effects could be catastrophic. There is too much fuel present in the County. Drought affects crops in the County and health of the forest.

Amador County Public Health Concerns
Amador County Public Health noted the following local concerns: The chief public health concerns related to climate change are numerous and significant. Here are some of the most pressing issues:
➢ Respiratory and Cardiovascular Diseases: Increased air pollution and allergens can exacerbate conditions like asthma and heart disease.
➢ Extreme Weather Events: This can lead to injuries, illnesses, and deaths. ➢ Infectious Diseases: Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can alter the distribution of disease vectors.
➢ Food and Waterborne Illnesses: Changes in precipitation and temperature can affect food and water safety.
➢ Mental Health: The stress and trauma from experiencing extreme weather events and displacement can lead to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. 249
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➢ Vulnerable Populations: Certain groups, such as the elderly, unhoused, children, and those with preexisting health conditions, are more susceptible to the health impacts of climate change.

CAL FIRE Concerns
CAL FIRE noted that wildfires pose several significant public health concerns. Here are some of the chief local concerns:
➢ Respiratory Issues: Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, exacerbating conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
➢ Cardiovascular Problems: Exposure to wildfire smoke can increase the risk of heart attacks, arrhythmias, and other cardiovascular issues.
➢ Vulnerable Populations: Certain groups, such as children, the unhoused, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing health conditions, are more susceptible to the health impacts of wildfire smoke.
➢ Mental Health: The stress and trauma from experiencing wildfires and displacement can lead to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). ➢ Long-term Health Effects: Prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke can have lasting health impacts, including increased rates of respiratory infections and other chronic conditions. ➢ Emergency Room Visits and Hospitalizations: Increased air pollution from wildfires can lead to a rise in emergency room visits and hospitalizations for respiratory and cardiovascular issues which could overcome our small rural hospital’s ability to care for patients.

Assets at Risk
Assets at risk from climate change include people and populations; structures; critical infrastructure and vulnerable uses (with community lifelines); natural, historic, and cultural resources; and economic assets and community activities of value. These are discussed in the following sections for the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County.

People and Populations
Climate change affects people and populations within a community, especially those climate change issues related to increases in temperature over time. While all populations can be affected by temperature extremes, populations particularly vulnerable include the very old and very young, medically fragile people, people without means of shelter (and air conditioning) or transportation, people who are socially isolated and other socially vulnerable or underserved populations (as shown in Special Populations discussion in Section 4.2.1). Acclimatization to heat may help reduce risks from heat waves in the healthy general population but may not be sufficient to protect those with underlying issues and lack of resources. 250
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Structures
Climate change, on its own, does not generally impact structures. However, structures in areas of increased wildfire, drought, extreme heat, or flood areas exacerbated by the effects of climate change would be at increased risk, as described throughout this LHMP. Due to the slow onset of climate change, many structures in the County are expected to undergo improvements and adapt over time to a new climate normal.

Critical Infrastructure and Vulnerable Uses
As with structures, critical and vulnerable facilities in areas of increased wildfire, flood areas, or in other hazard areas exacerbated by climate change, would be at increased risk. Climate change is expected to increase the general vulnerability of critical and vulnerable facilities to natural hazards. Due to the slow onset of climate change, critical and vulnerable facilities and community lifelines in the County are expected to undergo improvements and adapt over time to a new climate normal.

Natural, Historic, and Cultural Resources
The rivers, streams, and open space areas of the County supports rich biodiversity, including many specialstatus species. These are all at risk from the effects of climate change. In addition, if heat changes wildfire patterns, all areas (on land) of the County are at increased risk from fire – including natural, historic, and cultural resources. Furthermore, if climate change exacerbates the drought hazard, areas of wetlands in the County may dry up temporarily, which could damage habitat areas for waterfowl and other species that depend on these areas.

FEMA NRI Hazard Vulnerability Assessment
Climate change is not an NRI hazard, therefore no data is presented.

Impacts from Climate Change
The 2017 California Adaptation Planning Guide (APG) North Central Valley Region identifies area specific impacts and vulnerabilities to the Amador County Planning Area. These impacts include:
➢ Increased temperatures
➢ Reduced precipitation
➢ Public health – heat and air pollution
➢ Reduced agricultural productivity
➢ Inland flooding
➢ Reduced tourism
Secondary impacts include changes in precipitation patterns, the global water cycle, melting glaciers and ice caps, and rising sea levels. According to the IPCC, climate change will “increase the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems” if unchecked.

Through changes to oceanic and atmospheric circulation cycles and increasing heat, climate change affects weather systems around the world. Climate change increases the likelihood and exacerbates the severity 251
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of extreme weather – more frequent or intense storms, floods, droughts, and heat waves. The 2023 State of California Hazard Mitigation Plan noted that there are direct and secondary impacts:
➢ Direct Impacts
✓ Increase in average temperature
✓ Changes in annual precipitation
➢ Secondary Impacts
✓ Increased frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme heat days and heat waves/events ✓ Increased flooding
✓ Increased wildfire
✓ Loss of snowpack and decreased water supplies
Consequences for human society include loss of life and injury, damaged infrastructure, long-term health effects, loss of agricultural crops, disrupted transport and freight, and more. Climate change is not a discrete event but a long-term hazard, the effects of which communities are already experiencing.

In addition to these sources, the 2023 State of California Hazard Mitigation Plan noted that according to California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, the state will experience the following climate impacts:
➢ Annual average daily high temperatures are expected to rise by 2.7 °F by 2040, 5.8°F by 2070, and

8.8°F by 2100 compared to observed and modeled historical conditions. These changes are statewide averages.
➢ Heat waves are projected to become longer, more intense, and more frequent. ➢ Warming temperatures are expected to increase soil moisture loss and lead to drier conditions. Summer dryness may become prolonged, with soil drying beginning earlier in the spring and lasting longer into the fall and winter.
➢ Droughts are likely to become more frequent and persistent through 2100. ➢ The strength of the most intense precipitation and storm events affecting California is expected to increase.
➢ Snowpack levels are projected to decline significantly by 2100 due to reduced snowfall and faster snowmelt.
➢ Marine layer clouds are projected to decrease.
➢ Extreme wildfires (i.e., fires larger than 24,710 acres) would occur 50 percent more frequently. The maximum area burned statewide may increase 178 percent by the end of the century. ➢ Sea level rise is expected to continue to increase beach, cliff, and bluff erosion.

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Future Conditions/Future Development
Future hazard conditions may be affected by climate change, changes in population patterns (migration, density, or the makeup of socially vulnerable populations), and changes in land use and development.

Findings on this for Amador County include the following:
➢ As climate change continues to accelerate over time, climate related impacts to the County will continue to increase.
➢ Climate change can influence population growth in the County over time. While the County is expected to see slow and steady growth, the County could see population fluctuations as a result of climate impacts relative to those experienced in other regions, and these fluctuations are expected to impact demand for housing and other development. While there are currently no formal studies of specific migration patterns expected to impact the County region, climate-induced migration was recognized within the UNFCCC Conference of Parties Paris Agreement of 2015 and is expected to be the focus of future studies. So while changes in population and population patterns are not expected to increase the impacts associated with this hazard, climate change may instead influence future population growth in the County.
➢ Land use planning should be proactive to address future hazard conditions. The increasing severity and frequency of storms and other weather events due to the changing climate should be taken into account while considering land use planning for the County. Ensuring that regulatory requirements, such as building codes, are updated and followed will help reduce future impacts to this hazard. Due to adherence to protective building codes, changes in land use and development will likely not increase the impacts and associated vulnerabilities of the County to this hazard.

4.3.9. Dam Failure
Hazard Profile
This hazard profile contains multiple sections that detail how this hazard can affect the Amador County Planning Area. These sections include a hazard/problem description; description of location and extent; past occurrences of this hazard; and how climate change can affect or influence this hazard.

Hazard/Problem Description
Dams are manmade structures built for a variety of uses including flood protection, power generation, agriculture, water supply, and recreation. When dams are constructed for flood protection, they are usually engineered to withstand a flood with a computed risk of occurrence. For example, a dam may be designed to contain a flood at a location on a stream that has a certain probability of occurring in any one year. If prolonged periods of rainfall and flooding occur that exceed the design requirements, that structure may be overtopped or fail. Overtopping is the primary cause of earthen dam failure in the United States. 253
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Dam failures can also result from any one or a combination of the following causes:
➢ Earthquake
➢ Inadequate spillway capacity resulting in excess overtopping flows ➢ Internal erosion caused by embankment or foundation leakage, or piping or rodent activity ➢ Improper design
➢ Improper maintenance
➢ Negligent operation
➢ Failure of upstream dams on the same waterway
In general, there are three types of dams: concrete arch or hydraulic fill, earth and rockfill, and concrete gravity. Each type of dam has different failure characteristics. A concrete arch or hydraulic fill dam can fail almost instantaneously; the flood wave builds up rapidly to a peak then gradually declines. An earthrockfill dam fails gradually due to erosion of the breach; a flood wave will build gradually to a peak and then decline until the reservoir is empty. A concrete gravity dam can fail instantaneously or gradually with a corresponding buildup and decline of the flood wave.

The CA DWR Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD) has jurisdiction over impoundments that meet certain capacity and height criteria. Embankments that are less than six feet high and impoundments that can store less than 15 acre-feet are non-jurisdictional. Additionally, dams that are less than 25 feet high can impound up to 50 acre-feet without being jurisdictional. FEMA and CA DWR Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD) assign hazard potential classifications to dams within the State that provides information on the potential impact should a dam fail. The following two factors are considered when assigning hazard ratings: existing land use and land use controls (zoning) downstream of the dam. FEMA categorizes the downstream hazard potential into three categories in increasing severity: Low, Significant, and High. DSOD adds a fourth category of Extremely High. Dams are classified in these four categories that identify the potential hazard to life and property:
➢ Extremely High Hazard – Expected to cause considerable loss of human life or would result in an inundation area with a population of 1,000 or more.
➢ High Hazard – Expected to cause loss of at least one human life. ➢ Significant Hazard – No probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, impacts to critical facilities, or other significant impacts. ➢ Low Hazard – No probable loss of human life and low economic and environmental losses. Losses are expected to be principally limited to the owner’s property.

Location and Extent
According to data provided by Cal DWR, DSOD data, there are 20 dams in Amador County constructed for flood control, storage, electrical generation, and recreational purposes. Of these, 4 are rated as extremely high, 9 rated as High Hazard, 1 as Significant Hazard, and 6 as Low Hazard. In addition to these dams located within Amador County, there are 16 other dams (2 Extremely High, 8 High Hazard, 4 Significant Hazard, and 2 Low Hazard) outside the County (located in San Joaquin, El Dorado, Calaveras, Alpine Counties) with the potential to affect people and property in Amador County. All 6 Extremely High and 16 of the 17 High Hazard dams (all but Patterson in El Dorado County) have inundations in Amador County.

There is no inundation data available for any of the Significant or Low Hazard dams. Figure 4-64 identifies 254
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the dams that have inundation areas located in the Amador County Planning Area. Table 4-54 gives information on each of the dams in the County, and the dams outside the County that could affect areas in Amador County.
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Figure 4-64 Amador County Dam Inventory (Including Dams from Outside the County) 256
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Figure 4-65 Dam Hazard Map Legend
Table 4-54 Amador County – Dam Inventory (both Inside and Outside the County) Name Owner
Hazard
Classification
Dam
Type River/Stream
Structural
Height (ft)
Maximum
Storage
(acre-ft)
Map
Location/
Mapped
Inundation
Bear River PG&E Extremely High Rockfill Bear River 83 6,818 Y/Y Camanche** East Bay
Municipal
Utility
District
Extremely High Earth Mokelumne
River
171 417,120 Y/Y
Lower Bear
River
PG&E Extremely High Rockfill Bear River 253 48,750 Y/Y
Pardee East Bay
Municipal
Utility
District
Extremely High Concrete
Gravity
Mokelumne
River
345 197,950 Y/Y
Salt Springs PG&E Extremely High Rockfill North Fork
Mokelumne
River
332 141,900 Y/Y
Sly Park** El Dorado
Irrigation
District
Extremely High Earth Sly Park Creek 182 41,000 Y/Y
Arroyo Seco Greenrock
Ranch Lands
LLC
High Earth Tributary of Dry
Creek
67 2,433 Y/Y
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Name Owner
Hazard
Classification
Dam
Type River/Stream
Structural
Height (ft)
Maximum
Storage
(acre-ft)
Map
Location/
Mapped
Inundation
Caples Lake** El Dorado
Irrigation
District
High Earthen
Rockfill
Caples Creek 71 21,580 Y/Y
CPUD Middle
Fork**
Calaveras
Public Utility
District
High Earth Middle Fork of
American River
98 1,700 Y/Y
CSP Mule
Creek
California
Department
of
Corrections
and
Rehabilitation
High Earth Offstream 51 535 Y/Y
Goffinet Private
Owner
High Earth Jackass Creek 38 197 Y/Y
Henderson Amador
Regional
Sanitation
Authority
High Earth Jackass Creek 56 500 Y/Y
Jackson Creek Jackson
Valley
Irrigation
District
High Earth
Concrete
Jackson Creek 193 22,000 Y/Y
Jeff Davis** Calaveras
Public Utility
District
High Earth Mokelumne
River
114 2,059 Y/Y
Lake Tabeaud PG&E High Earth South Fork of
Jackson Creek
123 1,170 Y/Y
Meadow
Lake**
PG&E High Earth
Rockfill
Tributary of
Fordyce Creek
37 4,930 Y/Y
Patterson** Private High Earth Offstream 37 350 Y/Y
Preston Amador
Regional
Sanitation
Authority
High Earth Tributary Mule
Creek
40 268 Y/Y
Silver Lake El Dorado
Irrigation
District
High CRIB Silver Fork 26 3,840 Y/Y
Tiger Creek
Afterbay**
PG&E High VARA North Fork
Mokelumne
River
115 3,960 Y/Y
Tiger Creek
Regulator
PG&E High SLBT Tiger Creek 112 523 Y/Y
Upper Blue
Lake**
PG&E High Earth
Rockfill
Blue Creek 31 7,576 Y/Y
258
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Name Owner
Hazard
Classification
Dam
Type River/Stream
Structural
Height (ft)
Maximum
Storage
(acre-ft)
Map
Location/
Mapped
Inundation
West Point
Regulating**
Calaveras
County
Water
District
High Earth Ruse Creek 36 60 Y/Y
Aukum
View**
Showcase
Ranches
Community
Services
District
Significant Earth Tributary of Flat
Creek
32 136 Y/N
Big Canyon
Creek**
Private Significant Earth Big Canyon
Creek
63 395 Y/N
D’Agostini** Private Significant Earth Spanish 32 355 Y/N Mokelumne
Hill**
Mokelumne
Hill Sanitary
District
Significant Earth Mokelumne
River
52 52 Y/N
Plymouth
Effluent
City of
Plymouth
Significant Earth Tributary of
Lower Indian
Creek
59 187 Y/N
Electra
Diversion**
PG&E Low Gravel North Fork
Mokelumne
River
44 65 Y/N
Ione Canal Amador
Water
Agency
Low Earth Ione Canal 48 24 Y/N
John Orr Private
Owner
Low Earth Tributary of
Jackson Creek
20 152 Y/N
Pond K US Mine
Corporation
Low Earth none 22 1,056 Y/N
Preston
Forebay
Amador
Regional
Sanitation
Authority
Low Earth Offstream 40 30 Y/N
Shenandoah
Lake**
Renwood
Ranch
Low Earth Pigeon Creek 33 168 Y/N
Tiger Creek
Forebay
PG&E Low Earth Tributary of
Tiger Creek
33 36 Y/N
Vicini Private
Owner
Low Earth Tributary of
Willow Creek
19 150 Y/N
Source: DSOD/Cal OES/NID Dam Status 1/25, National Performance of Dams Program *One Acre Foot=326,000 gallons
**Located outside of Amador County, but inundating areas inside Amador County Once a list of dams was established, dam inundation layers were obtained from DSOD and Cal OES in GIS.

Only extremely high and high hazard dams were analyzed for this LHMP due to the potential for these dams to cause loss of life in the Amador County Planning Area should a dam failure occur. All 6 of the 259
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extremely high dams and all of the 17 high hazard dams had available inundation mapping. Of these, all 6 extremely high and 16 of the 17 high hazard dams (all but Patterson in El Dorado County) have inundations that extend into Amador County. Dams with an inundation area in the Amador County Planning Area are shown on Figure 4-66 for extremely high hazard dams, and Figure 4-67 for high hazard dams. As shown, only the unincorporated County has areas located in the extremely high hazard dam inundation areas. The high hazard dam inundation zones are located in the unincorporated County, as well as in Ione and Jackson.

Geographic flood extents as shown on the dam inundation maps are detailed by dam in Table 4-55 for both extremely high and high hazard dams for the unincorporated County. Information on the high hazard dam extents by jurisdiction can be found in their respective annexes to this Plan. 260
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Figure 4-66 Amador County Planning Area – Extremely High Hazard Dam Inundation Areas 261
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Figure 4-67 Amador Planning Area – High Hazard Dam Inundation Areas 262
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Table 4-55 Amador County Planning Area – Geographical Dam Inundation Extents Jurisdiction /
Dam
Inundation
Area
Total Acres % of Total
Acres
Improved
Acres
% of Total
Improved
Acres
Unimproved
Acres
% of Total
Unimproved
Acres
Extremely High Hazard Dams
Unincorporated Amador County
Bear River 8,749 2.3% 300 0.2% 8,448 3.9%
Camanche 6 0.001% 0 0 6 0.003%
Lower Bear
River
7,893 2.1% 268 0.2% 7,625 3.6%
Pardee 4,606 1.2% 162 0.1% 4,444 2.1%
Pardee -
Spillway
3,651 1.0% 2,670 1.6% 980 0.5%
Salt Springs -
Scenario 1
8,520 2.2% 334 0.2% 8,186 3.8%
Salt Springs -
Scenario 2
5,548 1.5% 1,623 1.0% 3,925 1.8%
Sly Park 720 0.2% 348 0.2% 372 0.2%
High Hazard Dams
City of Ione
CSP Mule
Creek
373 12.6% 65 9.4% 308 13.5%
CSP Mule
Creek - Saddle
Dam
44 1.5% 0 0.0% 44 1.9%
Goffinet 123 4.1% 18 2.7% 104 4.6%
Henderson 239 8.0% 45 6.4% 195 8.5%
Preston 179 6.0% 35 5.1% 144 6.3%
City of Jackson
Lake Tabeaud 80 3.5% 31 3.9% 50 3.3%
Unincorporated Amador County
Arroyo Seco 1,525 0.4% 909 0.6% 616 0.3%
Caples Lake 8 0.002% - 8 0.004%
CPUD Middle
Fork
637 0.2% 26 0.02% 612 0.3%
CSP Mule
Creek
976 0.3% 636 0.4% 340 0.2%
CSP Mule
Creek - Saddle
Dam
1,147 0.3% 846 0.5% 301 0.1%
Goffinet 194 0.05% 113 0.07% 80 0.04%
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Jurisdiction /
Dam
Inundation
Area
Total Acres % of Total
Acres
Improved
Acres
% of Total
Improved
Acres
Unimproved
Acres
% of Total
Unimproved
Acres
Henderson 418 0.1% 258 0.2% 160 0.1%
Jackson Creek 4,701 1.2% 3,856 2.3% 845 0.4%
Jeff Davis 1,380 0.4% 31 0.02% 1,349 0.6%
Lake Tabeaud 2,071 0.5% 1,475 0.9% 596 0.3%
Meadow Lake 5,670 1.5% 44 0.03% 5,626 2.6%
Preston 156 0.04% 71 0.04% 85 0.04%
Silver Lake 519 0.1% 510 0.3% 9 0.004%
Tiger Creek
Afterbay
1,540 0.4% 39 0.02% 1,501 0.7%
Tiger Creek
Regulator
151 0.04% 0 0.0003% 150 0.07%
Upper Blue
Lake
645 0.2% - 645 0.3%
West Point
Regulating
65 0.02% 1 0.001% 64 0.03%
Source: DSOD/Cal OES/NID Dam Status 01/25
There is no scale with which to measure dam failure, only a scale to measure dam failure vulnerability based on size of dam and proximity to development. Dam failure may range from a small breach to a total failure. While a dam may fill slowly with runoff from winter storms, a dam break can have a very quick speed of onset. The duration of dam failure is not long – only as long as it takes to empty the reservoir of water the dam held back.

For dam overtopping, the speed of onset is somewhat slower than that of a dam break, and the duration is longer (as evidenced in the 2017 Oroville Dam event). The Amador County Planning Area would be affected for as long as the flood waters from the dam failure takes to drain downstream.

Past Occurrences
Disaster Declaration History
There have been no disaster declarations related to dam failure in Amador County, as shown in Table 4-4.

NCDC Events
There have been no NCDC dam failure events in Amador County.

National Performance of Dams Program Events
The National Performance of Dams Program at Stanford University tracks dam failures. A search of the National Performance of Dams Program database showed no past dam failure events in Amador County. 264
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Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee Events
No other events of dam failure were noted to have occurred in Amador County.

Likelihood of Future Occurrence
Unlikely—No dam failure events have occurred in the County. Further, based on historical data and input from the HMPC, it is unlikely that major dam failure event will occur in Amador County. There is concern that many of the State’s older dams, including those in Amador County, could start experiencing problems.

It is likely that climate change will increase the chance of future occurrence as well as future impacts. More information on climate change and dam failure can be found in the next section. More information on future impacts can be found in the Future Conditions/Future Development section of the Vulnerability Assessment below.

Climate Change and Dam Failure
The 2023 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan noted that modeling described in California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment projects less frequent but more extreme daily precipitation. Year-to-year precipitation will become more volatile, and the number of dry years will increase by mid-century. As the climate continues to warm, atmospheric rivers will carry more moisture, and extreme precipitation may increase. Climate model projections show a tendency for the northern part of the State to become wetter.

Increases in both precipitation and heat causing snow melt in areas upstream of dams could increase the potential for dam failure and uncontrolled releases in Amador County.

Vulnerability Assessment
Vulnerability—High
Dam failure flooding can occur as the result of a partial or complete collapse of an impoundment. Dam failures often result from prolonged rainfall and flooding. An earthquake event can also contribute to a dam failure. The primary danger associated with dam failure is the high velocity flooding of those properties downstream of the dam. A dam failure can range from a small, uncontrolled release to a catastrophic failure. Vulnerability to dam failures is generally confined to the areas subject to inundation downstream of the facility. Secondary losses would include loss of the multi-use functions of the facility and associated revenues that accompany those functions. Dam failure flooding would vary by community depending on which dam fails and the nature and extent of the dam failure and associated flooding.

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Local Concerns (unincorporated Amador County)
The unincorporated County has specific concerns regarding this hazard. These concerns form a portion of the basis for the mitigation strategy and mitigation actions that seek to reduce the risk and vulnerability to this hazard.

The County noted that per DWR DSOD Inundation Maps – there are multiple dams both inside the County, as well as outside the County, that could affect residents and structures in the County. These are discussed in the Assets at Risk section below. The County also noted that an early warning system could improve dam failure readiness and mitigation.

Local concerns for each of the jurisdictions can be found under the Local Concerns heading in each respective jurisdictional annex to this LHMP Update.

Assets at Risk from Dam Failure
Assets at risk from dam failure include people and populations; structures; critical facilities and infrastructure; and natural, historic, and cultural resources. These are discussed in the following sections for the Amador County Planning Area and unincorporated Amador County.

Methodology (Parcels and Structures)
In order to analyze people and populations, structures, and critical facilities at risk in dam inundation areas, GIS was used to quantify those values. The 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data was provided by Amador County and was used as the basis for the inventory of assessed values for both improved and unimproved parcels within the Amador County Planning Area. The dam inundation areas, obtained from DSOD, were then overlaid on the parcel layer. For the purposes of this analysis, if the dam inundation layer intersected any portion of a parcel polygon, the entire parcel was considered to be in the dam inundation area. The parcels were segregated and analyzed in this fashion for the entire Planning Area. This analysis was performed on extremely high and high hazard dam inundation areas only. No significant or low hazard dam analysis was performed, as significant and low hazard dams did not have available inundation mapping.

People and Populations
All people and populations located in dam inundation areas are vulnerable to dam failure. Certain vulnerable populations may be at increased risk to dam failure, especially during a large event with minimal advance notice. These vulnerable populations may include: the unhoused, those with limited mobility, and those that lack the resources to leave the area.
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Amador County residents that live in these dam inundation areas are often the most vulnerable. Not only are the residents at risk, but their homes and contents are all at risk, compounding the impacts associated with significant dam failure events. To further evaluate the impact to the Amador County Planning Area’s residential populations located in these hazard areas, a separate analysis was performed to determine residential populations in the dam inundation areas. The DSOD dam inundation areas were overlayed on the parcel layer and linked to the Assessor Data. Those residential parcel centroids that intersect the dam inundation areas were counted and multiplied by the Census Bureau average household factors for each jurisdiction. This is shown in Table 4-56.

Table 4-56 Amador County Planning Area – Improved Residential Parcels and Population by Dam Inundation Area (Extremely High and High Hazard) and Jurisdiction Dam Hazard
Class/Jurisdiction/Dam
Inundation Area
Improved Residential Parcels Population
Extremely High Hazard Dams
Unincorporated Amador County
Bear River 28 66
Lower Bear River 28 66
Pardee 8 19
Salt Springs 38 89
Sly Park 13 31
High Hazard Dams
Unincorporated Amador County
Arroyo Seco 3 7
CPUD Middle Fork 1 2
CSP Mule Creek 3 7
CSP Mule Creek Saddle 7 16
Goffinet 2 5
Henderson 3 7
Jackson Creek 52 122
Jeff Davis 2 5
Lake Tabeaud 27 63
Meadow Lake 4 9
Silver Lake 5 12
Tiger Creek Afterbay 4 9
West Point Regulating 3 7
Ione
CSP Mule Creek 219 501
Goffinet 96 220
Henderson 185 424
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Dam Hazard
Class/Jurisdiction/Dam
Inundation Area
Improved Residential Parcels Population
Preston 165 378
Jackson
Lake Tabeaud 84 185
Source: Cal OES, DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data, 2020 US Census Bureau Average Household Size – City of Amador City (2.07); City of Ione (2.29); City of Jackson (2.20); City of Plymouth (2.80); City of Sutter Creek (2.07): Unincorporated Amador County (2.35).

Structures
Many structures in the Amador County Planning Area have some measure of risk to dam failure. Dam failure flooding can affect the built environment of many locations in the Amador County Planning Area.

Structures in dam inundation areas are at risk and depending on flood depths, can range from slight damage to total inundation. Analysis by extremely high hazard dam and high hazard dam follows.

Extremely High Hazard Dam Analysis
Parcel counts, land, and improved values (i.e., those with a structure improvement on the parcel), estimated content replacement values, and total values that fall within each extremely high hazard dam inundation areas in the Planning Area are presented below by dam. For the extremely high hazard dam inundation areas, only the unincorporated County is affected. Analysis is presented in the following tables. ➢ Table 4-57 shows the summary counts and values of parcels in all extremely high hazard dam inundation areas in the Amador County Planning Area. It should be noted that only the unincorporated County is affected by extremely high hazard dam inundations. ➢ Table 4-58 shows the count and value of parcels in the Bear River Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
➢ Table 4-59 shows the count and value of parcels in the Camanche Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
➢ Table 4-60 shows the count and value of parcels in the Lower Bear River Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
➢ Table 4-61 shows the count and value of parcels in the Pardee Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
➢ Table 4-62 shows the count and value of parcels in the Pardee (Spillway) Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
➢ Table 4-63 shows the count and value of parcels in the Salt Springs (Scenario 1) Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County. ➢ Table 4-64 shows the count and value of parcels in the Salt Springs (Scenario 1) Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County. ➢ Table 4-65 shows the count and value of parcels in the Sly Park Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
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Table 4-57 Amador County Planning Area– Summary Counts and Values of Parcels and Structures in Extremely High Hazard Dam Inundation Areas Dam
Inundation
Area
Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Bear River 203 39 $8,399,246 $12,512,142 $5,167,406 $26,078,794 Camanche 1 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Lower Bear
River
189 37 $8,046,063 $11,809,991 $4,465,255 $24,321,309
Pardee 49 13 $4,476,186 $5,996,392 $1,234,147 $11,706,725 Pardee -
Spillway
120 69 $17,444,240 $120,892,069 $116,905,558 $255,241,867 Salt Springs -
Scenario 1
209 47 $9,366,590 $13,403,332 $5,217,659 $27,987,581
Salt Springs -
Scenario 2
214 66 $17,930,215 $119,893,936 $116,321,589 $254,145,740 Sly Park 65 32 $5,976,770 $3,187,889 $2,122,001 $11,286,660 Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-58 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Bear River Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 17 6 $1,929,258 $849,894 $849,894 $3,629,046 Commercial 2 2 $0 $702,151 $702,151 $1,404,302
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 112 2 $1,597,046 $3,706,565 $0 $5,303,611 Residential 70 28 $4,695,072 $7,230,721 $3,615,361 $15,541,154 Unknown 2 1 $177,870 $22,811 $0 $200,681
Bear River
Total
203 39 $8,399,246 $12,512,142 $5,167,406 $26,078,794
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-59 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Camanche Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
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Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Miscellaneous 1 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Unknown 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Camanche
Total
1 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-60 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Lower Bear River Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 16 6 $1,576,075 $849,894 $849,894 $3,275,863 Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 101 2 $1,597,046 $3,706,565 $0 $5,303,611 Residential 70 28 $4,695,072 $7,230,721 $3,615,361 $15,541,154 Unknown 2 1 $177,870 $22,811 $0 $200,681
Lower Bear
River Total
189 37 $8,046,063 $11,809,991 $4,465,255 $24,321,309
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-61 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Pardee Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 9 3 $1,211,353 $178,467 $178,467 $1,568,287 Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 25 2 $1,208,545 $3,706,565 $0 $4,915,110
Residential 15 8 $2,056,288 $2,111,360 $1,055,680 $5,223,328 Unknown 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Pardee Total 49 13 $4,476,186 $5,996,392 $1,234,147 $11,706,725 Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data 270
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Table 4-62 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Pardee Spillway Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 43 34 $10,169,354 $7,414,842 $7,414,842 $24,999,038 Commercial 2 2 $197,644 $105,185,102 $105,185,102 $210,567,848 Industrial 2 2 $464,990 $579,316 $868,974 $1,913,280
Miscellaneous 28 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 40 28 $6,101,998 $6,873,280 $3,436,640 $16,411,918 Unknown 5 3 $510,254 $839,529 $0 $1,349,783
Pardee
Spillway Total
120 69 $17,444,240 $120,892,069 $116,905,558 $255,241,867 Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-63 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Salt Springs (Scenario 1) Dam Inundation Area by Property Use Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 14 6 $1,554,370 $761,362 $761,362 $3,077,094 Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 103 2 $1,597,046 $3,706,565 $0 $5,303,611 Residential 89 38 $5,977,304 $8,912,594 $4,456,297 $19,346,195 Unknown 3 1 $237,870 $22,811 $0 $260,681
Salt Springs
Scenario 1
Total
209 47 $9,366,590 $13,403,332 $5,217,659 $27,987,581
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-64 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Salt Springs (Scenario 2) Dam Inundation Area by Property Use Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 50 36 $11,003,872 $7,318,703 $7,318,703 $25,641,278 Commercial 1 1 $66,727 $105,134,247 $105,134,247 $210,335,221 Industrial 2 2 $464,990 $579,316 $868,974 $1,913,280
Miscellaneous 110 0 $388,501 $0 $0 $388,501
Residential 45 23 $5,327,374 $5,999,330 $2,999,665 $14,326,369 Unknown 6 4 $678,751 $862,340 $0 $1,541,091
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Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Salt Springs
Scenario 1
Total
214 66 $17,930,215 $119,893,936 $116,321,589 $254,145,740 Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-65 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Sly Park Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 31 18 $3,255,214 $1,037,100 $1,037,100 $5,329,414 Commercial 2 1 $36,562 $19,012 $19,012 $74,586
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 8 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 23 13 $2,684,994 $2,131,777 $1,065,889 $5,882,660 Unknown 1 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Sly Park Total 65 32 $5,976,770 $3,187,889 $2,122,001 $11,286,660 Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data High Hazard Dam Analysis
Parcel counts, land, and improved values (i.e., those with a structure improvement on the parcel), estimated content replacement values, and total values that fall within each high hazard dam inundation areas in the Planning Area are presented below by dam. For the high hazard dam inundation areas, both the cities of Ione (CSP Mule, CSP Mule Creek, Goffinet, Henderson, Preston) and Jackson (Lake Tabeaud) as well as the unincorporated County are affected. The results are presented in tables below by:
➢ Table 4-66 shows the shows the summary counts and values of parcels in all high hazard dam inundation areas in the Amador County Planning Area. This table includes summaries for both the unincorporated County, as well as the cities of Ione and Jackson. ➢ Table 4-67 shows the count and value of parcels in the Arroyo Seco Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
➢ Table 4-68 shows the count and value of parcels in the Caples Lake Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
➢ Table 4-69 shows the count and value of parcels in the CPUD Middle Fork Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County. ➢ Table 4-70 shows the count and value of parcels in the CSP Mule Creek Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
➢ Table 4-71 shows the count and value of parcels in the CSP Mule Creek - Saddle Dam ➢ Table 4-72 shows the count and value of parcels in the Goffinet Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
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October 2025
➢ Table 4-73 shows the count and value of parcels in the Henderson Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
➢ Table 4-74 shows the count and value of parcels in the Jackson Creek Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
➢ Table 4-75 shows the count and value of parcels in the Jeff Davis Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
➢ Table 4-76 shows the count and value of parcels in the Lake Tabeaud Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
➢ Table 4-77 shows the count and value of parcels in the Meadow Lake Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
➢ Table 4-78 shows the count and value of parcels in the Preston Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
➢ Table 4-79 shows the count and value of parcels in the Silver Lake Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
➢ Table 4-80 shows the count and value of parcels in the Tiger Creek Afterbay Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County. ➢ Table 4-81 shows the count and value of parcels in the Tiger Creek Regulator Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County. ➢ Table 4-82 shows the count and value of parcels in the Blue Lake Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.
➢ Table 4-83 shows the count and value of parcels in the West Point Regulating Dam inundation area detailed by property use for the unincorporated County.

Table 4-66 Amador County Planning Area – Summary Counts and Values of Parcels and Structures in High Hazard Dam Inundation Areas
Dam
Inundation
Area
Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Arroyo Seco 23 14 $20,862,899 $3,270,164 $2,928,662 $27,061,725 Caples Lake 1 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
CPUD Middle
Fork
50 6 $993,450 $983,497 $728,387 $2,705,334
CSP Mule
Creek*
302 244 $53,806,623 $76,590,963 $40,657,441 $171,055,027 CSP Mule
Creek - Saddle
Dam*
38 25 $19,158,308 $4,642,410 $3,738,516 $27,539,234
Goffinet* 153 116 $33,505,937 $35,475,863 $19,379,877 $88,361,677 Henderson* 261 211 $45,414,036 $67,183,685 $36,094,798 $148,692,519 Jackson Creek 140 104 $28,588,375 $126,907,691 $121,029,857 $276,525,923 Jeff Davis 52 7 $1,007,857 $1,101,609 $787,443 $2,896,909 Lake
Tabeaud**
320 217 $39,194,635 $63,232,911 $50,887,510 $153,315,056 Meadow Lake 128 10 $2,004,451 $4,981,919 $784,547 $7,770,917 273
Section 7, Item B.

Amador County 4-185
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
Dam
Inundation
Area
Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Preston* 221 178 $36,796,108 $57,520,418 $29,960,587 $124,277,113 Silver Lake 19 8 $4,447,006 $3,549,172 $1,640,983 $9,637,161 Tiger Creek
Afterbay
76 10 $2,145,973 $1,807,548 $1,272,912 $5,226,433
Tiger Creek
Regulator
18 1 $369,457 $265,000 $265,000 $899,457
Upper Blue
Lake
15 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
West Point
Regulating
26 4 $1,138,221 $824,051 $544,526 $2,506,798
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data * Affect the City of Ione and the unincorporated County ** Affect the City of Jackson and the unincorporated County Table 4-67 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Arroyo Seco Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 17 10 $20,571,811 $2,851,740 $2,851,740 $26,275,291 Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 4 3 $113,615 $153,843 $76,922 $344,380
Unknown 2 1 $177,473 $264,581 $0 $442,054
Arroyo Seco
Total
23 14 $20,862,899 $3,270,164 $2,928,662 $27,061,725
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-68 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Caples Lake Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 1 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Unknown 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
274
Section 7, Item B.

Amador County 4-186
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Caples Lake
Total
1 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-69 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in CPUD Middle Creek Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 5 4 $569,033 $496,087 $496,087 $1,561,207
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 37 0 $58,386 $0 $0 $58,386
Residential 6 1 $188,161 $464,599 $232,300 $885,060
Unknown 2 1 $177,870 $22,811 $0 $200,681
CPUD Middle
Creek Total
50 6 $993,450 $983,497 $728,387 $2,705,334
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-70 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in CSP Mule Creek Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 26 16 $21,427,752 $3,426,117 $3,426,117 $28,279,986 Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 7 3 $246,965 $153,843 $76,922 $477,730
Unknown 2 1 $177,473 $264,581 $0 $442,054
CSP Mule
Creek Total
35 20 $21,852,190 $3,844,541 $3,503,039 $29,199,770
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-71 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in CSP Mule Creek Saddle Dam Inundation Area by Property Use Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 23 16 $18,010,322 $3,093,488 $3,093,488 $24,197,298 275
Section 7, Item B.

Amador County 4-187
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 1 1 $360,228 $2,857 $4,286 $367,371
Miscellaneous 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 11 7 $610,285 $1,281,484 $640,742 $2,532,511 Unknown 2 1 $177,473 $264,581 $0 $442,054
CSP Mule
Creek Saddle
Total
37 25 $19,158,308 $4,642,410 $3,738,516 $27,539,234
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-72 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Goffinet Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 23 16 $12,512,288 $3,302,580 $3,302,580 $19,117,448 Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 5 2 $839,343 $881,608 $440,804 $2,161,755
Unknown 2 0 $4,564,425 $0 $0 $4,564,425
Goffinet Total 30 18 $17,916,056 $4,184,188 $3,743,384 $25,843,628 Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-73 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Henderson Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 26 19 $12,641,098 $3,880,628 $3,880,628 $20,402,354 Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 1 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 6 3 $908,202 $1,091,345 $545,673 $2,545,220 Unknown 2 0 $4,564,425 $0 $0 $4,564,425
Henderson
Total
35 22 $18,113,725 $4,971,973 $4,426,301 $27,511,999
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data 276
Section 7, Item B.

Amador County 4-188
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
Table 4-74 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Jackson Creek Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 5 4 $569,033 $496,087 $496,087 $1,561,207
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 38 0 $58,386 $0 $0 $58,386
Residential 7 2 $202,568 $582,711 $291,356 $1,076,635
Unknown 2 1 $177,870 $22,811 $0 $200,681
Jackson Creek
Total
52 7 $1,007,857 $1,101,609 $787,443 $2,896,909
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-75 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Jeff Davis Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 5 4 $569,033 $496,087 $496,087 $1,561,207
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 38 0 $58,386 $0 $0 $58,386
Residential 7 2 $202,568 $582,711 $291,356 $1,076,635
Unknown 2 1 $177,870 $22,811 $0 $200,681
Jeff Davis
Total
52 7 $1,007,857 $1,101,609 $787,443 $2,896,909
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-76 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Lake Tabeaud Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 68 56 $10,810,626 $7,448,050 $7,448,050 $25,706,726 Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 1 1 $325,680 $90,189 $135,284 $551,153
Miscellaneous 26 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 38 27 $4,228,593 $6,034,698 $3,017,349 $13,280,640 Unknown 4 3 $435,547 $695,400 $0 $1,130,947
277
Section 7, Item B.

Amador County 4-189
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Lake Tabeaud
Total
137 87 $15,800,446 $14,268,337 $10,600,683 $40,669,466
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-77 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Meadow Lake Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 8 4 $813,874 $272,722 $272,722 $1,359,318
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 103 1 $388,501 $3,662,736 $0 $4,051,237
Residential 15 4 $624,206 $1,023,650 $511,825 $2,159,681 Unknown 2 1 $177,870 $22,811 $0 $200,681
Meadow Lake
Total
128 10 $2,004,451 $4,981,919 $784,547 $7,770,917
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-78 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels, and Structures in Preston Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 15 9 $11,795,247 $1,275,473 $1,275,473 $14,346,193 Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 3 0 $133,350 $0 $0 $133,350
Unknown 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Preston Total 18 9 $11,928,597 $1,275,473 $1,275,473 $14,479,543 Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-79 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Silver Lake Dam Inundation Area by Property Use
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
278
Section 7, Item B.

Amador County 4-190
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Commercial 3 2 $1,076,800 $1,418,746 $1,418,746 $3,914,292 Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 9 1 $1,280,819 $1,685,952 $2,966,771
Residential 7 5 $2,089,387 $444,474 $222,237 $2,756,098 Unknown 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Silver Lake
Total
19 8 $4,447,006 $3,549,172 $1,640,983 $9,637,161
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-80 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Tiger Creek Afterbay Dam Inundation Area by Property Use Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 8 5 $955,396 $761,087 $761,087 $2,477,570
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 51 0 $388,501 $0 $0 $388,501
Residential 15 4 $624,206 $1,023,650 $511,825 $2,159,681 Unknown 2 1 $177,870 $22,811 $0 $200,681
Tiger Creek
Afterbay Total
76 10 $2,145,973 $1,807,548 $1,272,912 $5,226,433
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-81 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Tiger Creek Regulator Dam Inundation Area by Property Use Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 2 1 $353,351 $265,000 $265,000 $883,351
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 15 0 $16,106 $0 $0 $16,106
Residential 1 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Unknown 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Tiger Creek
Regulator
Total
18 1 $369,457 $265,000 $265,000 $899,457
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data 279
Section 7, Item B.

Amador County 4-191
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
Table 4-82 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in Upper Blue Lake Regulator Dam Inundation Area by Property Use Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 15 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Residential 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Unknown 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Upper Blue
Lake Total
15 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Table 4-83 Unincorporated Amador County – Count and Value of Parcels and Structures in West Point Regulating Dam Inundation Area by Property Use Property Use Total Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel Count
Total Land
Value
Improved
Structure
Value
Estimated
Contents
Value
Total Value
Agricultural 2 1 $372,061 $265,000 $265,000 $902,061
Commercial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 14 $330,115 $0 $0 $330,115
Residential 10 3 $436,045 $559,051 $279,526 $1,274,622
Unknown 0 0 $0 $0 $0 $0
West Point
Regulating
Total
26 4 $1,138,221 $824,051 $544,526 $2,506,798
Source: Cal OES/DSOD, 2024 Amador County Parcel/Assessor Data Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Dam failure presents a threat to critical facilities and infrastructure. For example, transportation routes, including bridges and highways, are vulnerable to dam inundation and have the potential to be unpassable and even destroyed, creating isolation and supply chain issues. Those critical facilities that are most vulnerable are those that are already in poor condition and would not be able to withstand a large water surge. The following GIS analysis identifies critical facilities and infrastructure at risk to dam inundation flooding, separated out by extremely high hazard and high hazard dams. 280
Section 7, Item B.

Amador County 4-192
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
October 2025
Extremely High Hazard Dam Inundation Analysis
Dam failure present a threat to critical facilities and infrastructure. The following analysis discusses critical facilities and infrastructure. A separate analysis was performed on the critical facility inventory in the Amador County Planning Area to determine critical facilities in extremely high hazard dam inundation areas. Using GIS, the DSOD extremely high hazard dam inundation areas were overlayed on the critical facility GIS layer. Figure 4-68 shows critical facilities, as well as the extremely high hazard dam inundation areas. Table 4-84 details critical facilities by extremely high hazard dam inundation areas by facility type and count for the Planning Area. Details of critical facility category, type, name and address by extremely high hazard dam inundation areas are listed in Appendix F. As shown, all critical facilities that fall in the extremely high hazard dam inundation area are located in the unincorporated County. 281
Section 7, Item B.

Sutter Creek City CouncilApril 6, 2026

Sutter Creek City Council
April 6, 2026