Marin Water is coordinating with the Marin County Fire Department to prepare for the prescribed burn season, with initial operations possible as early as this month. These operations are carefully planned to meet strict criteria for ecological benefit, weather conditions, smoke management and fire safety guidelines. Nearby communities will be notified in advance of any planned burn activity.  

Prescribed fire is an important tool in a proactive approach to fire fuel management and a more resilient, ecologically healthy forest. On the Mount Tamalpais Watershed, where we source the majority of our local water, prescribed burns are part of the ongoing stewardship of biodiverse, fire-adapted ecosystems.  

As a result of prescribed burn operations, community members may see or smell smoke and are asked to avoid calling 9-1-1 to report smoke from the burn area, allowing dispatchers to remain available for emergency calls. Visitors are required to heed any closure signs.

As with other vegetation management approaches, such as goat grazing and hand crews, prescribed fire helps create critical fuel breaks that can reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and leave behind healthier, less dense and more resilient woodlands. Funding to support this important work is provided in part by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Forest Health Program.

Learn more about prescribed burns on the watershed projects page.