Neighborhood
News
A Message From
The City of Boise
And Idaho Power
Over the past 11 months, the City of Boise and Idaho Power worked together
implementing remedial measures to assist our community and the residents
affected by the Aug. 25, 2008 Oregon Trail fire. We recognize the one year
anniversary is upon us and feel it is important to look back as we move forward.
Many improvements and changes have been made to enhance the area,
reduce the risk of fire damage and raise your level of safety. We began with
three primary objectives: control fuel sources, provide vegetation as a buffer to
prevent fire spread and replant native vegetation. This final newsletter provides
an overview of the completed work, upcoming activities as well as answers to
frequently asked questions. With the fire season here and many dry acres in
the area, please be sure to read the article on page 2 regarding fire prevention
strategies.
City and Idaho Power representatives remain in close contact with residents
and Homeowners Association leaders. Their names and contact information
are included in this newsletter (page 4) should you have additional questions or
need further clarification.
August 2009
Update On
Revegetation
Activities
The burn area rehabilitation efforts
were designed to accomplish the
following objectives: 1) reduce
fuel loading, 2) stabilize soils and
3) re-establish native vegetation.
Overall efforts to date helped
reduce the threat of wild fire.
Last fall and again this winter,
specialized herbicides were
applied targeting germinating
annual grasses, such as cheatgrass.
Cheatgrass provides abundant
fine-fuels that increase fire intensity
and the speed with which a fire can
spread. The herbicide treatments
were very successful at reducing
the amount of cheatgrass on both
the burned and unburned area.
A soil stabilizer was applied to the
hill slope when it was hydro-seeded
last fall. “We’ve seen very little
soil movement anywhere on the
burned lands, even with the heavy
rains that occurred this spring,”
said Idaho Power Environmental
Supervisor Brett Dumas.
Thus, the first two objectives
were met successfully.
Unfortunately, the native seeding
was less successful than planned.
Dumas said it is common for
David H. Bieter
City of Boise Mayor
J. LaMont Keen
Idaho Power CEO & President
Continued on page 2
Page 2
Update On Revegetation
Activities
Continued from page 1
native seeds to take more than one growing season to
become established.
The seeds will stay viable for multiple years. “While
this year’s response was a little disappointing, we are
hopeful that we’ll see a better response next spring,”
said Dumas.
Existing vegetation responded positively. The native
grasses were not killed by the fire and they, as well as a
number of wildflowers, are growing well. Sometimes
fire actually invigorates native plants and the lack of
competition from cheatgrass allowed them to
flourish.
On Idaho Power’s property, more work is planned to
clear sagebrush, and later in the fall, tall grass and weeds
around the substation will be removed.
Idaho Power staff continues to monitor area
vegetation to assure all three objectives are met.
How To Protect Your
Home From Fire
The recent brushfires in southeast Boise are a strong
reminder the fire season is here and residents should
take steps to protect their homes.
One of the most important steps is to establish defensible
space—at least 30 feet of space surrounding your home that
is lean, clean and green. The objective of defensible space
is to reduce the wildfire threat to your home by changing
characteristics of the surrounding vegetation. Here’s what
we mean:
Lean Prune shrubs and cut back tree branches,
especially within 15 feet of your chimney.
Clean Remove all dead plant material from around
your home; this includes dead leaves, dry grass and
stacked firewood.
Green Plant fire-resistant vegetation that is healthy
and green throughout the year.
Additionally, remove the “ladder fuels”—vegetation that
serves as a link between grass and tree tops. These fuels
can carry fire from vegetation to a structure or from a
structure to vegetation.
Another important step is to identify your home and
neighborhood with legible and clearly marked street
names and numbers so emergency vehicles can rapidly
find the location of a critical situation. Include a driveway
that is at least 12 feet wide with a vertical clearance of 15
feet to provide access to emergency apparatus.
Below is a list of other suggested measures to help keep
your home safe from fire. For more information, contact
the Boise Fire Department Fire Prevention Division
at 570-6500.
• Remove roof debris
(Above) Removal of
sagebrush on a wide
area of Idaho Power
property.
(Right) Herbicide treatments successfully
controlled cheatgrass.
• Remove branches that
overhang the structure
• Clean out non-combustible
groundcover/flower beds;
keep mulch wet
• Clean rain gutters
of debris
• Clean debris from under
decks, elevated porches
and under homes
• Clean chimneys
annually
• Move firewood away
from homes
• Install ½” (or less) spark
arrestor on chimney
• Water and maintain lawns;
mow dry grass and weeds
• Cover exterior attic and
under floor vents with
wire mesh
• Place hoses at all
outdoor hose bibs
Page 3
Answers to Frequently
Asked Questions
1. Why is there little vegetation
growth in some areas?
The seeded grasses did not establish
well this first year. However, many
native seeds take more than one
growing season to get established.
Idaho Power environmental staff are
optimistic the seeded grasses will
show more growth in the coming year.
2. What is being used to kill the weeds
and is it working?
A variety of herbicides were used to
reduce the amount of cheatgrass and
other weeds. They are working very
well. There is still a problem with
skeleton weed, which is a notoriously
hard weed to control. Idaho Power did
not treat it again this spring because
we did not want to further reduce
the chances of the seeded grasses to
become established. We will treat the
skeleton weed in subsequent years.
3. What is the plan to allow access
through Idaho Power’s property to/
from the Homestead Rim subdivision?
Idaho Power is developing a plan
to allow limited pedestrian and
bicycle access. Boise City emergency
vehicles will use this road as needed.
4. What signs were installed?
Currently, “no trespassing” signs
are posted on the gate and fences
around Idaho Power’s property in
accordance with city code. To ensure
your safety, please comply with the
no trespassing requirement. Please
call local police if you see trespassers.
MAP LEGEND
Idaho Power Property
City of Boise Property
Ada County Property
Existing Firebreak
New Firebreak
T-line Structure
Distribution Pole
Buffer Area
Idaho Power Flat Seeding
Slope Seeding
City And Idaho Power Contacts:
• A message from the
City of Boise and
Idaho Power
• Revegetation activities
• Fire prevention
strategies
• Frequently asked
questions
The City of Boise
Idaho Power
P.O. Box 500
150 N. Capitol Blvd.
Boise, ID 83701-0500
(208) 384-4422
P.O. Box 70
Boise, ID 83702
www.idahopower.com
John Tensen
City Engineer and City Lead
Area Vegetation and Erosion Control
(208) 384-3908
[email protected]
Steve Webb
Erosion and Sediment Control Permits
(208) 794-9491
[email protected]
Blake Watson
Community Relations Representative
(208) 388-2413
[email protected]
Dennis Trumble
Regional Operations Manager
(208) 388-2080
[email protected]
Warren Kline
Vice President of Customer Service
and Regional Operations
(208) 388-2880
[email protected]
Printed on recycled paper.
Inside this last
newsletter you’ll
find the following:
Page 4