Fire Protection on the Watershed: Fuel Breaks Under Way

Fear of fire seems to be all around these days (understandably) —especially if you live along or near typical California grassland.

On the Peninsula Watershed weed control goes on throughout the spring, summer and early to mid- fall months to protect land, our native habitats and the diverse plant and animal life they support from destruction by fire. 

With the initial mowing plus trimming now done, we’re working our way, where needed, along property edges and turning the ground by mechanical “disking.” It exposes a wide stretch of bare mineral soil that works as a fuel break to slow and stop any potential fire.

Normally we launch the first phases of weed control early in the spring, as soon as the ground is dry enough to support the weighty tractor mower. Crews also come back to certain spots a week or so later with hand-operated trimmers and other tools to cut away the growth that mowers can’t get to along fence lines and around valves or other structures.

It all started later than usual this year because the heavy rains that lasted through late March saturated the ground into April and May, stalling our equipment in the mud. Subsequent stages, including the fuel breaks, were delayed too.

But if we usually dig an annual fuel break near you and our crews haven’t been by yet, they’re on the way!