City of San Diego Brush Management Plan

The City of San Diego Open Space Division, under three awarded FEMA grants, carried out a brush management plan to create a defensible space within 100 feet of structures for a 342-acre area which included the communities of Carmel Valley, Scripps Ranch, and Del Cerro. HELIX Environmental Planning (HELIX) biologists conducted vegetation mapping of existing conditions, identified sensitive vegetation communities, assessed the potential for sensitive species to occur, and recorded the conditions using photographic documentation. HELIX also prepared a fuel reduction plan that detailed and illustrated fire hazards, provided recommendations for compliance with the City’s brush management regulations, and identified monitoring requirements based on project complexity and existing biological and cultural resource sensitivity. HELIX provided environmental support prior to and during the clearing activities, including flagging environmentally sensitive areas for avoidance, conducting environmental awareness training, and monitoring, inspecting, and reporting.