2nd National Extension Nat Res Conference-Abstract 66

Steven Lewis and Ed Smith, University of Nevada, P.O. Box 338, Minden, NV 89423; 775.782.9960; slewis@mail.ag.unr.edu.

The key to living more safely in western Nevada?s high fire hazard environments is the proper management of wildland vegetation. Research results clearly demonstrate that proper reduction and modification of wildland vegetation improves house survivability during wildfire. Unfortunately, homeowners have been slow to adopt these practices. A major reason for this failure to implement firesafe vegetation management techniques is the property owner?s inability to easily dispose of unwanted plant material.

Cooperative Extension, in collaboration with several other entities, implemented a program to facilitate the disposal of flammable vegetation from high fire hazard neighborhoods in Douglas County and convert it into compost. Entitled ?Compost Your Combustibles,? the program: (1) taught property owners vegetation management techniques aimed at reducing the wildfire threat, (2) provided free disposal of flammable vegetation by locating drop-off locations in 8 neighborhoods, and (3) transported the plant material to a commercial compost operation that mixed it with dairy manure to make compost.

Hundreds of property owners participated in the project in 1999, generating 560 tons of plant materials. This also represents 560 tons of solid waste not taken to the landfill, but instead mixed with another waste product (i.e., manure) and converted into a useful product (i.e., compost). The local fire departments report a 60% reduction in burn permit requests. This translates into less smoke and pollutants and improved air quality.

The program has grown in recognition predominantly through neighbor participation and word of mouth. Free disposal and convenient neighborhood collection sites have provided an effective incentive for people to take action and remove wildfire fuels. Recommendations for those considering to adopt this program include: (1) find willing partners such as volunteers to monitor the drop off sites, a disposal company for processing and transporting of the plant material, and a user of the waste material; (2) be flexible and prepared because it is difficult to predict the amount of material that will be generated; (3) collect baseline data to assist in the evaluating the degree in which the fire hazard has been reduced; and (4) process waste plant material on site to improve hauling efficiency and be aware that some waste materials process more efficiently than others.