San Rafael Hill and Deer Valley Fuel Reduction Project

The San Rafael Hill and Deer Valley Fuel Reduction Project is a Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority funded initiative proposed by the San Rafael Fire Department to reduce wildfire risk through vegetation management. The project covers 122 total acres, with 79.1 acres located in the San Rafael Hill open space area and 42.9 acres in the Deer Valley open space area. The primary objective is to create fuel reduction zones by removing fire-hazardous invasive species and dead vegetation, which will slow wildfire spread, reduce intensity, and improve evacuation times and firefighter access. Technical activities include specific treatment methods and biomass disposal using air curtains and kiln burners to reduce emissions. Initial treatments are scheduled to begin in 2025, with each site requiring approximately six weeks of work and an overall duration of about three months. All activities will occur on weekdays between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, with potential road closures along Robert Dollar Drive for the San Rafael Hill site. The project adheres to CEQA compliance, with a Negative Declaration certifying no significant environmental effects. Strict operational requirements are in place, including mandatory nesting bird surveys between February and July, biological resource training for all crew members, and rigorous equipment cleaning to prevent the spread of invasive species. Additionally, the project must comply with BAAQMD regulations for open burning and maintain comprehensive spill prevention and hazardous materials response protocols.