Wildfire Mitigation Project

The Municipality of North Cowichan analysed its wildfire risk in the 2020 Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). The overall wildfire risk in North Cowichan was determined to be moderate to high and is expected to increase in the future with climate change. The project described on this page was launched in 2021 to respond to several of the Community Wildfire Protection Plan’s recommendations. This work will support wildfire resilience through a variety of strategies to proactively reduce wildfire risk in North Cowichan.

2022 Project - Mount Tzouhalem Fuel Management

Fuel hazard reduction treatments will take place between Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 on Mount Tzouhalem as per the fuel management prescription. This phase of the work will be done on a portion of the treatment area that features high risk forests near homes, future development, and high public traffic areas. There will be future treatment phases that will take several years to complete the entire identified treatment area on Mount Tzouhalem.

This work will require periodic closure of trails and portions of the Kaspa Road parking lot. Please watch for warning/closure signage and personnel on site.

For more information about the 2022 project, click the posters below:

     

Treatment map:

2021 Projects

The scope of the 2021 wildfire risk reduction project includes three components:

	Click for more information
1. Wildfire risk reduction treatment plans for municipal land (also referred to as fuels management prescriptions): the prescriptions set out objectives and strategies to reduce the wildfire risk on Municipality-owned forested areas adjacent to homes or other important infrastructure in three high-risk areas identified in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Mount Tzouhalem fuel management prescription Maple Mountain fuel management prescription Mt. Richards fuel management prescription
2. FireSmart assessments of critical infrastructure: the assessments quantify wildfire risk for infrastructure that is critical to the functioning and resilience of the community. Once quantified, small and targeted interventions can be planned to reduce the wildfire risk. Firesmart materials and resources are available for residents at Municipal Hall! Critical Infrastructure Firesmart Assessments - Summary Report
3. Development of a Wildfire Development Permit Area and associated guidelines for private property development and construction within high-risk wildfire areas: the development permit area will create a framework allowing the municipality to work with private property undergoing development towards more wildfire resilient developments. Wildfire Development Permit Area - DRAFT

Learn more

You can learn more about all three project components and find up-to-date information about the project by visiting the interactive project page (click on the thumbnail below).

Community members

Community members were invited to attend four virtual public information sessions to learn more and ask questions about the wildfire risk reduction treatment plans, FireSmart assessments, and the wildfire development permit area. Three of the public information sessions were focused on each one of the wildfire risk reduction treatment areas. A fourth information session focused on the wildfire development permit area. Please see video recordings of these session below:

PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION 1: Mt. Tzouhalem Wednesday, November 3, 2021 from 7:00-8:30 p.m.    Watch the recording of this presentation at: https://youtu.be/h8SV5pxwKJs

PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION 2: Maple Mountain Monday, November 22, 2021 from 7:00-8:30 p.m.   Watch the recording of this presentation at: https://youtu.be/6OxxUrtbsbM

PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION 3: Mt. Richards Tuesday, January 18, 2022 from 7:00-8:30 p.m.    Watch the recording of this presentation at: https://youtu.be/bOdgkfyDqnc

PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION 4: Wildfire Development Permit Area Wednesday, January 26, 2022 from 7:00-8:30 p.m.    Watch the recording of this presentation at: https://youtu.be/VL2qq6-S7uI

Questions?

Questions about this project can be directed to Municipal Forester Shaun Mason by phone 250-746-3124 or email shaun.mason@northcowichan.ca 

Related projects

The Municipality of North Cowichan is currently engaging community members on the future management of the Municipal Forest Reserve. This is part of the Council directed technical review of forest management practices being conducted by the UBC Partnership group. You can find out more about the Forestry Review at www.ConnectNorthCowichan.ca/MFR 

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