Open Space Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2012 03 14

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PURPOSE This report is a study of the wildfire hazard of the open space properties and how that risk relates to adjacent homes and infrastructure. Part of having open, natural spaces with unmowed vegetation within the city limits includes an associated risk of wildfire. All of the properties assessed are within Louisville city limits and owned by the city of Louisville (Figure 1). None of the jointly owned properties were included in this study. Given the right weather conditions and an ignition source, any vegetation can burn. Although the areas in Louisville are not heavily forested like in the Foothills, there are continuous fuels (vegetation) across most of the open space properties that pose a potential threat to the surrounding homes. Photos are included on Page 6 to provide visual documentation and clarification of some of the hazards identified on the properties. ABOUT LOUISVILLE OPEN SPACE The mission of the city of Louisville Open Space Division is, “to conserve and restore open space through land acquisition and management for the protection of natural and cultural resources and provide opportunities for education, volunteering and appropriate passive recreation”. Open space is an important part of Louisville’ssense ofcommunity; residents highly value these spaces, as they add to theirquality of life and maintain a rural, less-urban feeling. The city of Louisville owns an interest in 1,800 acres of open space, 680 acres of which arelocated within the city limits and managed solely by the city of Louisville. Each open space property is classified into the categories Preserve, Protect, Visitor or Other. Several of the parcels are large and serve as buffers betweenadjacent communities, while many of the smaller parcelscreate wildlife and recreational corridors between neighborhoods. Open space areas provide recreational opportunities, as well as habitat for a variety of plant and animal species. An expansive trail system provides walking, running, and biking through many of the properties throughout the city of Louisville. Throughout the open space properties, grass areasare the most common, with riparian corridors interspersed through several low-lying areas. Native grasses such as blue gramma, buffalograss, June grass, little bluestem, prairie cordgrass, and squireltail are just a few of the species found. In the riparian corridors there are various wetland species, including peach-leaf willows, lanceleaf cottonwood, narrowleaf cottonwood, and cattails. Non-native species are also present, including American elm, Chinese elm, green ash, plum trees, and Russian olive. 1