Carmel Valley Fire Safe Garden Demonstration Project at Rancho Tierra Grande (June 2006)
Project History
The fire hazard had been growing there for years and, at every pass through the gate, so had the concern of the residents of Rancho Tierra Grande. There, along a heavily trafficked stretch of Carmel Valley Road, all of the classic hazards of a wildland-urban interface were in plain sight that could ignite the fire that would destroy all of the Rancho's 200 homes: A steep south facing slope, overgrown bushes, genista, poison oak.
Residents might have taken action long ago, but they didn't own the hazards. The land belonged to the County of Monterey, and only three acres at that. Progress towards a solution had been slow and the situation was clearly getting worse.
In April 2005, doing what Fire Safe Councils do at their best, the Monterey Fire Safe Council identified two leaders within the Rancho Tierra Grande Homeowners Association who could spearhead the local effort. They were Mike Sherwood, a retired US Army Officer, and Jennifer Valdez, a professional firefighter who'd already watched wildfire burn down homes, first hand.
Next, the Monterey Fire Safe Council consulted the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) who indicated their willingness to lend their expertise and assistance.
The Rancho Tierra Grande Homeowners had envisioned more than just clearing the brush. They had proposed planting a Fire Safe Demonstration Garden. Mike and Jen, the civilian Project Coordinators, began scoping out a plan with the help of the CDF.
It quickly became evident that achieving a simple result would entail a most complex series of processes that would necessarily involve the efforts of many experts and many costs.
The County agreed in principle to schedule the project but without having to plan and to execute it itself. Rather, it would need to enter into a standard agreement with a Prime Contractor. The County also indicated what liabilities would have to be mitigated with insurance. Absent a Principal Underwriter whose bond could hold the County harmless, every participating contractor would need special coverage.
In the interests of simplifying and expediting the process, the Monterey Fire Safe Council took on the responsibility both as Prime Contractor and as Principal Underwriter to manage the effort and to underwrite the liability to the satisfaction of the County.
Finally, the County agreed to fund the project but only at $19,000 which was insufficient to support the entire scope of the original plan for a Fire Safe Demonstration Garden. The Coordinators would have to find additional resources, but at last, the game was on!
Business and Community Support
The project coordinators started combing the community for "good neighbors" who believed in the project and were willing to discount their services for the good of the community.
ROSE BRUNO of TERRA BELLA LANDSCAPING agreed to donate a design plan and her time. One design plan ended up becoming three, but Rose hung in there and continued to provide the project with endless support and direction. She also activated a network of her colleagues and peers who were willing to assist with the project.
DROUGHT RESISTANT NURSERY supplied plants at a discount of 10% under wholesale.
DISCOVERY GARDENS supplied plants at wholesale less $.50 per plant.
TRI-COUNTY LANDSCAPING SUPPLY provided soil treatment at contractor rates for the project.
THE PEBBLE BEACH COMPANY donated over 20 plant sign markers.
PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC donated $1,000 to the project.
CAL AM donated a separate water meter and hose bib for the irrigation system.
ALEX RODRIGUEZ won the bidding process and put in our irrigation system.
GAVILAN PEST CONTROL sprayed the garden sites for poison oak in anticipation of Fire Demonstration Garden planting.
RANCHO TIERRA GRANDE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION agreed to pay for maintenance of the gardens and for the water to get the garden established.
The CDF MOUNTAIN HOME CONSERVATION CAMP agreed to make the large 5’ x 7’ garden identification and sponsor appreciation sign.
Public Agency Support
ED MUNIZ, COUNTY OF MONTEREY, consistently went more than the extra mile to ensure that this project, from financing through permitting, to resourcing, stayed on the fastest track possible.
The CDF (CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION) mobilized, organized, deployed, and tasked its fire crews to accomplish much of the work on the ground and in trees as efficiently and effectively as they suppress wildfires. Following the new State Public Resources Code 4291 guidelines, they cleared, trimmed, cleaned, and planted in very short order. Special appreciation belongs to the Gavilan Conservation Camp fire crews. In January of 2006, they dug in and cleared the site's three acres to code specifications. This included limbing trees, chipping brush, removing surface litter and ladder fuels. What was originally set for a couple days, ended up taking a week to accomplish and incapacitated several inmates from severe poison oak reactions.
Project Success
The final milestone of the Carmel Valley Fire Safe Demonstration Garden Project completed successfully between June 19th – 20th, when CDF Fire Crews planted three separate garden sites on the three acre parcel.
Each garden contains drought and fire resistant plants that best suit the individual locations.
Garden #1 is located along Tierra Grande Road and can be viewed without leaving your vehicle. Several plant markers are easily visible to determine plant names.
Garden #2 is located along the plateau at the intersection of Carmel Valley Road and Tierra Grande Roads. It also has several plant markers. It can be seen from Carmel Valley Road.
Garden #3 is the largest of all the gardens. It takes up ½ an acre, and will grow in to cover an acre in fire resistive vegetation. The plants in this location were chosen to withstand direct sunlight, since there are limited oaks to provide shading on this hillside. This garden and markers can be seen from Carmel Valley Road.
One can enjoy the best vantage point for viewing the full effect of all three garden plots by walking in from Tierra Grande Drive or Mercurio Road.
These three gardens embody the mission of the Monterey Fire Safe Council and should act as inspiration to all homeowners of any community to effect similar changes near their homes.
THANKS TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED AND PARTICIPATED IN THE MANY AND ENORMOUS EFFORTS TO BRING THIS WORTHWHILE PROJECT TO A MOST BEAUTIFUL AND FIRE SAFE CONCLUSION.
Plant List
Impatiens Gigantea “Large Impatiens”, Limonium Perezii “Marsh Rosemary”, Campanula “Serbian Bellflower”, Heuchera “Alum Root”, Bergenia “Bergenia”, Cistus “Rock Rose”, Erigeron “Fleabane”, Chyrsanthemum “Chrysanthemum”, Canna “Garden Canna”, Ceanothus Griseus “Carmel Creeper”, Vinca Major “Big Periwinkle”, Gazania “Gazania”, Eschscholzia Californica “California Poppy”, Plumbago Capensis “Plumbago”, Convolvulus “Morning Glory”, Coreopsis “Tick Seed”, Agave Attenuata “Swan’s Neck”, Gaura “Gaura”, Sedum “Tricolor”, Sedum “Blaze of Ulda”.
