Resilient Infrastructure​

Summary of Objective Implementation Status

In order to meet this objective, TPW is committing additional resources to improve drainage (flood mitigation) and expand vegetation management (fire mitigation) efforts within the road right of way. In order to increase maintenance services in these areas by 5% annually the Department is focusing on developing community partnerships, implementing new programs and undertaking additional projects. Examples of these partnerships, programs and projects include:

• Partner with workforce development organizations which provide job skills training and increase ongoing vegetation management efforts
• Identify and a allocate resources for fire fuel reduction in geographically isolated areas
• Increase fire fuel reduction in the right of way by increasing vegetation clearing from the edge of asphalt from two feet to four feet.
• Implement a Hazardous Tree Removal Program with input from the Board and community at large
• Review and update TPW’s Vegetation removal policy on a regular basis

The following is a list of partnerships, programs, and projects undertaken by the Department in 2021 and 2022.

• Partnerships with the following organizations to perform over 25 miles of vegetation removal.
• Cavedale and Trinity Roads, led by the Maycamas Fire Safe Council
• Sweetwater Springs/Mt. Jackson, led by Circuit Riders
• Wilshire, Crystal, Donner and Dana Drives, led by the Wilshire Heights Mutual Water Company
• Partnership with Northern California Conservation Corps to perform fire fuel reduction work within the road right of way along five miles on Grove Street near Sonoma and in and around Occidental. These roads serve as key emergency egress routes serving approximately 6,000 total residents.

Implementation of a Hazardous Tree Removal Program, including:

• Identification and removal of 110 Eucalyptus trees in the Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery (project W22702).
• Identification of hazardous trees along 8th St East in Sonoma (project W22701). TPW is currently working to resolve right-of-way issues with plans to begin tree removal in 2023.
• Identification and removal of hazardous trees along Main Street, Petaluma Hill Road, and  Adobe Road in Penngrove (project M22101) by Road Maintenance crews in Spring 2022.
• Identification and removal of hazardous eucalyptus trees near Ross Road in Sebastopol (project W22704) in Spring 2022

Key Milestone Update

Miles of fire fuel reduction in geographically isolated areas

• The department completed 30 miles of roadside fire fuel reduction.

Number of hazardous trees removed

• The Rural Cemetery project removed 110 eucalyptus trees deemed hazardous.

Coordination and Partnership Update

Job skills training for vegetation maintenance

• TPW partnered with State of California Human Development (CHD) in a program that provides job skill training for road maintenance activities

Fire fuel reduction in geographically isolated areas with community partnerships, amounting to over 25 miles of vegetation removal in Sonoma County:

• Cavedale and Trinity Roads, led by the Maycamas Fire Safe Council
• Sweetwater Springs/Mt. Jackson, led by Circuit Riders
• Wilshire, Crystal, Donner and Dana Drives, led by the Wilshire Heights Mutual Water Company

Fuel reduction in the right of way

• TPW partnered with Northern California Conservation Corps to perform fire fuel reduction work within the road right of way. Work is being performed along a total of five miles along Grove Street near Sonoma and in and around Occidental.

Job skills training for vegetation maintenance

• TPW has partnered with State of California Human Development (CHD) in a program that provides job skill training for road maintenance activities including vegetation removal, culvert cleaning and ditch re-establishment in the LNU Fire areas, including Sweet Water Springs Road.

Community, Equity, and Climate Update

The fire fuel reduction efforts being performed Countywide provide improved evacuation routes in geographically isolated areas. In addition, TPW is actively supporting community groups in their efforts to reduce fire fuel. The partnerships with community groups engage the public and assist in implementation of the services. The drainage culvert projects are spread throughout the County in geographically isolated areas to promote equitable services. Reports from the public of localized maintenance issues through our website and SoCoReportIt app provide public engagement and ensure equity in service.

Funding Narrative

Through traditional Roads funding sources such as annual allocations from State Highway Users Tax Account (HUTA) and Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Act (SB1) as well as grants, and one-time allocations by the Board TPW spent approximately $12.75M on vegetation management efforts from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2022.

In addition, TPW has been able to leverage our financial resources through community partnerships with workforce development agencies and other community organizations focused on disaster mitigation. The following is a list of resources TPW will be using to continue this work.

• Job skills training for vegetation maintenance
  
  • TPW partnered with State of California Human Development (CHD) in a program that provides job skill training for road maintenance activities. The program provides the labor at no cost to the TPW.
• Fire fuel reduction in geographically isolated areas
  • Sonoma County Board of Supervisors provided one-time PG&E Settlement funding
• Fuel reduction in the right of way
  • This work cost $78,670 and was funded by Proposition 68.
• Hazardous Tree Removal Program
  • This work will be funded with one-time PG&E Settlement funds of $2,500,000.
• TPW’s Vegetation removal policy
  • The ongoing increased cost associated with this policy change will be funded with road maintenance funds from SB1.
• Increase culvert replacements

The ongoing increased cost for the culvert replacement contract will be funded with road maintenance funds supplemented by SB1 funds.

• The ongoing increased cost associated with this policy change will be funded with road maintenance funds.