The San Lorenzo Valley Water District (SLVWD) announced this week that it is taking action to create and conserve defensible space – a buffer zone that aims to protect structures from wildfire – around dozens of water supply sites.
The project, scheduled to begin later this month, is funded by a Cal Fire prevention grant, which was approved at the Sept. 4 meeting of the SLVWD board of directors. The project’s goal is to create defensible space around 37 district water supply infrastructure sites, including water tanks, pump stations, wells and water intakes, further bolstering efforts against catastrophic wildfire.
“Preventive work to protect critical water facilities from wildfires is essential,” SLVWD general manager Jason Lillion said in a media release. “By protecting the key components of the district’s infrastructure, we’re doing our part to ensure resiliency for the water system and community.”
The defensible space project is the latest step in the district’s ongoing work to protect the local water supply from wildfire. Recent efforts have included managing vegetation in the Olympia Watershed and replacing aging water infrastructure, as well as increasing fire flow capacity and adding hydrants to support firefighting efforts.
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