The Grant PUD has officially withdrawn their plan to remove our irrigated green space. Thank you to the 260 of you who turned out to hold them accountable. Stay alert while we monitor the new landscaping plan to ensure our fire safety remains the top priority.
November 1, 2015
Final supporters
Dear Grant County Emergency Management and GCWPP Steering Committee:
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the recently drafted Grant County Wildfire Protection Plan (GCWPP). As residents of Sunland Estates, a tightly developed community of 434 homes on 549 residential lots on the eastern border of Grant County, we commend your efforts to engage the public and multiple organizations to improve wildfire protection in Central Washington.
We write to you today in the hopes that you will not finalize the GCWPP until a serious flaw in Grant County Public Utilities District (Grant PUD) Public Recreation Development Plan for Sunland Estates (PRDP) is resolved. As the PRDP currently stands, the most valuable fire defense element existing in Sunland Estates is in danger of being destroyed by Grant PUD. Despite the best and tireless effort of dozens of Sunland residents to work with Grant PUD, we have been unable to resolve this issue. Because of that we believe the existing fire safety status of Sunland Estates is at risk and we would like your assistance with a remedy.
In the PRDP, Grant PUD explains they plan to kill all the green irrigated areas currently surrounding Sunland. Grant PUD plans to cut and cap irrigation lines, use herbicide to kill irrigated vegetation, and plant up to 6,000 one-hour flash fuels (native grasses, wildflowers) and ten-hour shrub fuels, spaced only 3 or 6 feet apart on each of the approximately 40 acres Grant PUD manages in Sunland. Currently, those green, irrigated areas are the only active protection our community has against the flash fuels that surround us on all sides within Grant County and that loom high above us from miles of cliffs to our west in adjacent Kittitas County.
Please do what you can to encourage Grant PUD not to increase wildfire hazards in Grant County as the only way to fulfill their FERC mandate. Please help them recognize the right of hundreds of Washington State citizens and tax payers who would like to work with Grant PUD directly to establish a green defensible buffer for our 435 home community. Please urge the Grant PUD to cease killing green grass through capping of irrigation lines and use of herbicides until an agreement regarding the existing green, irrigated fire buffer can be reached with the residents of Sunland who care deeply about the fire protection and the safety of the emergency personnel.
Thank you very much for your time and attention to this matter. We truly appreciate the opportunity to provide these public comments.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
October 24, 2015
October 17, 2015
We hit a major milestone today and the momentum shows that Grant PUD cannot ignore us anymore. Post this link on your Facebook page and email your county representative to demand a stop to the plan before things move any further.
October 17, 2015
We just hit 100 signatures and have the attention of our local community leaders. Post this link on your Facebook page right now to keep the pressure on Grant PUD. Text this petition to three neighbors who still need to sign.
Reached 100 supporters
October 16, 2015
94 Comments
Please also note that the existing vegetation, which is slated for removal, is essential for reducing blowing sand and dust. When the lake level was dropped, the wind deposited enormous amounts of sand and silt on the shore. Those dunes continue to blow and move east, creating a public nuisance.
Why would you decrease a fire buffer? As a person that works in the fire prevention industry I know the cost and man power it takes to fight wild fires. This makes no sense.
With the fires in Lake Chelan barely out I find it puzzling why a govt agency would want to reduce a fire buffer to a community removed from quick county fire response. The policies seem to endanger the property and the families that live in Sunlands.
Please help us keep our community safe. The GPUD's plan to destroy existing green defensible space and replace it with native grasses and wildflowers (aka fuel for a fire) simply makes no sense. Thank you very much for your concern and help on this matter.
We need to keep a green zone in sun land to protect our homes. My lot does not have a hundred feet on my own land and would like to keep some of pud land green like it has been for 30 years
Fire is an increasing risk. The last 2 years have had record wild fires in WA state. One fire burned within just miles of Sunland. Please allow us to protect our homes with a natural barrier of irrigation. Thank you for your consideration.
I am concerned about fire - with our winds that occur in Sunland - who will be liable if our houses burn down?
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The Grant PUD has officially withdrawn their plan to remove our irrigated green space. Thank you to the 260 of you who turned out to hold them accountable. Stay alert while we monitor the new landscaping plan to ensure our fire safety remains the top priority.
November 1, 2015
Final supporters
Dear Grant County Emergency Management and GCWPP Steering Committee:
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the recently drafted Grant County Wildfire Protection Plan (GCWPP). As residents of Sunland Estates, a tightly developed community of 434 homes on 549 residential lots on the eastern border of Grant County, we commend your efforts to engage the public and multiple organizations to improve wildfire protection in Central Washington.
We write to you today in the hopes that you will not finalize the GCWPP until a serious flaw in Grant County Public Utilities District (Grant PUD) Public Recreation Development Plan for Sunland Estates (PRDP) is resolved. As the PRDP currently stands, the most valuable fire defense element existing in Sunland Estates is in danger of being destroyed by Grant PUD. Despite the best and tireless effort of dozens of Sunland residents to work with Grant PUD, we have been unable to resolve this issue. Because of that we believe the existing fire safety status of Sunland Estates is at risk and we would like your assistance with a remedy.
In the PRDP, Grant PUD explains they plan to kill all the green irrigated areas currently surrounding Sunland. Grant PUD plans to cut and cap irrigation lines, use herbicide to kill irrigated vegetation, and plant up to 6,000 one-hour flash fuels (native grasses, wildflowers) and ten-hour shrub fuels, spaced only 3 or 6 feet apart on each of the approximately 40 acres Grant PUD manages in Sunland. Currently, those green, irrigated areas are the only active protection our community has against the flash fuels that surround us on all sides within Grant County and that loom high above us from miles of cliffs to our west in adjacent Kittitas County.
Please do what you can to encourage Grant PUD not to increase wildfire hazards in Grant County as the only way to fulfill their FERC mandate. Please help them recognize the right of hundreds of Washington State citizens and tax payers who would like to work with Grant PUD directly to establish a green defensible buffer for our 435 home community. Please urge the Grant PUD to cease killing green grass through capping of irrigation lines and use of herbicides until an agreement regarding the existing green, irrigated fire buffer can be reached with the residents of Sunland who care deeply about the fire protection and the safety of the emergency personnel.
Thank you very much for your time and attention to this matter. We truly appreciate the opportunity to provide these public comments.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
October 24, 2015
October 17, 2015
We hit a major milestone today and the momentum shows that Grant PUD cannot ignore us anymore. Post this link on your Facebook page and email your county representative to demand a stop to the plan before things move any further.
October 17, 2015
We just hit 100 signatures and have the attention of our local community leaders. Post this link on your Facebook page right now to keep the pressure on Grant PUD. Text this petition to three neighbors who still need to sign.
Reached 100 supporters
October 16, 2015
94 Comments
Grassy areas on the water provide safe comfortable place for the public to boat to and is less likely to burn than the natural habitat. Many more live down here as residents, and know there is only one way out of Sunland in case of fire. Some safe green areas by the water provide an escape to the river for all!
Please also note that the existing vegetation, which is slated for removal, is essential for reducing blowing sand and dust. When the lake level was dropped, the wind deposited enormous amounts of sand and silt on the shore. Those dunes continue to blow and move east, creating a public nuisance.
Why would you decrease a fire buffer? As a person that works in the fire prevention industry I know the cost and man power it takes to fight wild fires. This makes no sense.
With the fires in Lake Chelan barely out I find it puzzling why a govt agency would want to reduce a fire buffer to a community removed from quick county fire response. The policies seem to endanger the property and the families that live in Sunlands.
Please help us keep our community safe. The GPUD's plan to destroy existing green defensible space and replace it with native grasses and wildflowers (aka fuel for a fire) simply makes no sense. Thank you very much for your concern and help on this matter.
We need to keep a green zone in sun land to protect our homes. My lot does not have a hundred feet on my own land and would like to keep some of pud land green like it has been for 30 years
Fire is an increasing risk. The last 2 years have had record wild fires in WA state. One fire burned within just miles of Sunland. Please allow us to protect our homes with a natural barrier of irrigation. Thank you for your consideration.
I am concerned about fire - with our winds that occur in Sunland - who will be liable if our houses burn down?
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Grassy areas on the water provide safe comfortable place for the public to boat to and is less likely to burn than the natural habitat. Many more live down here as residents, and know there is only one way out of Sunland in case of fire. Some safe green areas by the water provide an escape to the river for all!