Listen: Linda Higgins, Deputy Director for Customer Services for the Placer County Water Agency
Eagle Scout candidates Cody Hansen and David Hurren of Rocklin are partnering with PCWA and the City of Auburn Fire Department to makeover the thirsty turf at Auburn’s Maidu Fire Station into a fire-resistant, water-wise landscape. The project is part of their application to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America.
A fire-resistant landscape features plants less likely to catch fire placed in ways to resist the spread of fire to a home. These plants can be damaged or even killed by fire, but their foliage and stems are less likely to significantly contribute to the fuel and fire's intensity as long as they are properly maintained, pruned and watered.
Fire-resistant plants are great in California, because they are often native and/or drought tolerant, too. When finished, the landscape will include more than 100 beautiful flowers, plants and shrubs that are both fire-resistant and water-wise.
The garden also will feature state-of-the art drip irrigation and a WaterSense-labeled weather-based sprinkler timer. The drip irrigation, placed below the soil surface in a grid pattern, will deliver water at the root zone with zero evaporation. The sprinkler timer will use local weather conditions to deliver just the right amount of water plants need to be healthy.
The existing lawn and plants are scheduled to be removed in August and September, followed by installation of plants, the irrigation system and mulch in October. The entire project is expected to be completed by November.
The garden also will feature state-of-the art drip irrigation and a WaterSense-labeled weather-based sprinkler timer. The drip irrigation, placed below the soil surface in a grid pattern, will deliver water at the root zone with zero evaporation. The sprinkler timer will use local weather conditions to deliver just the right amount of water plants need to be healthy.
“Auburn Fire is not only excited to upgrade our lawn to something more water-wise, but we love the fire-wise component,” said Battalion Chief Rob Zaucha. “We believe this improved landscape can demonstrate to the community that defensible space does not mean absence of vegetation around their homes, but, rather, strategic vegetation.”
The project is ambitious and will require countless hours to secure and manage donations of materials and volunteers. Several businesses have already stepped in to offer their services and products. In addition to Yamasaki Landscape Architecture (landscape plan), donors include Mid-City Nursery and Village Nurseries (plants); Hunter Industries (irrigation system and controller) and BrightView Landscape (irrigation installation).
For more information about the fire station landscape makeover, including the landscape plan, plant list and details about volunteering, please visitpcwa.net.
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