Open Space Parks Brush Management Program
 Brush Management: Doing it Right
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Of the 24,655 total acres of open space managed by the Park and Recreation Department's Open Space Division, approximately 1,180 acres are located within 100 feet of structures. Among other duties related to open space land management, the Open Space Division is responsible for conducting brush management (vegetation thinning) on city owned open space adjacent to privately-owned lots which are developed with "previously conforming" (legal) structures built prior to establishment of the city's first brush management regulations in 1989.
The Open Space Division conducts brush management in accordance with Section 142.0412 of the San Diego Municipal Code (PDF) and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department’s Canyon Fire Safety guidelines and policies related to brush management.
Specifically, the Open Space Division will thin brush on city property only within 100 horizontal feet of a previously conforming structure unless a site-specific report, which indicates that a greater distance is necessary, is approved by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (per SDMC Section 142.0412(i) or a previously recorded entitlement requires a width more or less than the standard 100 feet. In no case shall new development (new structures or additions to existing structures) qualify for additional brush management on city open space beyond the 100 feet associated with a previously conforming structure. More information can be found under Development Services’ Brush Management and Building Fire Safety Regulations.
The Open Space Division schedules brush management based on a prioritization of all City lands, from highest to lowest, by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department as part of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department's update of the City's Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) Map. Currently all the Open Space Division managed property within the VHFHSZ has been prioritized as listed below (Priority Areas 1-17). It is anticipated that prioritization of the Open Space Division's remaining managed property will be completed by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department by December, 2009.
If the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department's prioritization work is not complete when the Open Space Division completes the existing priority areas, the Open Space Division will rely on the grid values previously assigned each Open Space parcel by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. If the Open Space Division must rely on grid values to schedule work, schedules shall be based on grid values, from highest to lowest.
When scheduling is based on grid values, the following will apply:
When two or more parcels have an identical grid values, preference shall be established based on whether the parcel contains California gnatcatcher (CAGN) habitat. During the breeding season (March 1-August 15), parcels which do not contain CAGN habitat shall be completed. Outside the breeding season, parcels which contain CAGN shall be completed. During the breeding season, if no non-CAGN habitat parcels remain, the Division will conduct presence/absents surveys to continue work during the breeding season. At no time shall the Division schedule work on a parcel with a lower grid value based on CAGN breeding season restrictions while a parcel with a higher grid value remains.
Priority Area Maps
Priority
Area | Name | Start | Finish | Status |
|---|
| 1 | Maple Canyon (PDF) | August 13, 2008 | September 2, 2008 | Complete |
| 2 | Switzer Canyon (PDF) | August 27, 2008 | November 20, 2008 | Complete |
| 3 | Tecolote Canyon (PDF) | November 20, 2008 | January 9, 2009 | Complete |
| 4 | Scripps Ranch (PDF) | January 12, 2009 | December 31, 2009 | On Hold |
| | Scripps Ranch/Tierrasanta Fuel Reduction Plan (PDF: 12.4Mb) |
| 5 | Tierrasanta (PDF) | June 26, 2009 | December 18, 2009 | In Progress |
| | Scripps Ranch/Tierrasanta Fuel Reduction Plan (PDF: 12.4Mb) |
| 6 | Marian Bear (PDF) | March 16, 2009 | December 4, 2009 | In Progress |
| 7 | Mission Valley (PDF) | March 30, 2009 | May 29, 2009 | Complete |
| 8 | Del Cerro (PDF) | June 15, 2009 | February 15, 2010 | In Progress |
| 9 | Sabre Springs (PDF) | June 19, 2009 | February 1, 2010 | In Progress |
| 10 | Los Peñasquitos (PDF) | July 24, 2009 | February 15, 2010 | In Progress |
| 11 | Serra Mesa (PDF) | February 16, 2010 | March 15, 2010 | |
| 12 | Carmel Valley (PDF) | October 19, 2009 | April 1, 2010 | In Progress |
| 13 | Black Mountain (PDF) | November 12, 2009 | December 11, 2009 | |
| 14 | Otay Mesa (PDF) | December 4, 2009 | January 29, 2010 | |
| 15 | Mira Mesa (PDF) | January 15, 2010 | February 1, 2010 | |
| 16 | South Bay Terraces (PDF) | February 2, 2010 | February 4, 2010 | |
| 17 | San Pasqual (PDF) | February 5, 2010 | February 6, 2010 | |
How can you help the Division?
Due to limited public access between city streets and brush management locations, crews often need to haul deadwood and cut brush more than 300 feet across steep slopes in order to haul it away. By offering crews access through your property, you can make the brush management program more efficient. If you would like to offer this access, please complete the City of San Diego/Homeowner Brush Management Access Agreement (PDF) and send it to:
Brush Management Schedule Coordinator
1250 Sixth Avenue, MS 804A
San Diego, CA 92101
Can you conduct brush management on Division managed lands?
You or your contractor may also thin brush on city property behind your property by obtaining a Right of Entry permit. To obtain a permit, please fill out and submit this information sheet. A blank Right of Entry Permit will be sent to you for signature and is not valid until also executed by the City.
For questions, please call (619) 533-6726.
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