Castle Valley committee begins update of 2020 hazard mitigation priorities, sets schedule to start with flood and fire

The Castle Valley Hazard Mitigation Committee on Jan. 28 reviewed the town's 2020 Hazard Mitigation Plan and agreed to begin a focused update this winter, starting with flood and wildfire mitigation at the committee's next meeting on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.

Committee members said the group has completed several items from the 2020 plan but still needs to finalize several ongoing projects, including formation of a volunteer rapid assessment/revenue assessment team, completion of certain easements, and formal documentation of drainage inspections. Members also discussed grant matching, permitting constraints for equipment access in drainages, and options for backup power at municipal facilities.

Why it matters: the state's updated planning guidance (issued since the committee's 2020 update) adds new requirements for hazard descriptions, documented public participation, and prioritization of mitigation projects that jurisdictions must meet to remain eligible for some federal mitigation grants. The committee intends to revise its plan to meet the new guidance so priority projects are eligible for funding and technical support.

Key status updates and next steps

- Emergency operations and rapid-assessment team: The committee reported that most elements of the 2020 emergency operations objective are complete, including evacuation-route work and an operations plan, but the volunteer rapid-assessment/revenue-assessment team remains to be formed. Staff said they expect that team to take shape this year and to be included in the updated plan.

- Ingress and egress projects: The committee confirmed completion of a four-season surface on the Shafer Lane extension to Fire Station 1. The planned easement to the Green Gate (to access adjacent BLM land) remains incomplete and currently requires agreement with one private property owner; the committee discussed keeping that item in the plan as a continuing goal.

- Drainage assessments and reporting: Following recent floods, staff said they are compiling standard operating procedures (SOPs) and will begin producing annual or interim drainage inspection reports (for Castle Creek and Placer Creek) to be published with council packets. Committee members emphasized the value of specific project descriptions (site, scope) to increase eligibility for grant funding.

- Fuel reduction and fuels management: Work with the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands and other agencies has occurred on some town-owned land, but the committee flagged disagreements over acceptable methods (members said state partners proposed pesticide use, which the town did not want). The group discussed disposal options for cleared biomass (chipper days, stockpiling, burn piles) and the challenges of maintaining treated areas.

- Backup power and solar: The Castle Valley Fire District has a diesel generator at Well of Lot 13; other municipal backup power is limited. The committee discussed adding batteries and transfer inverters to existing solar arrays and noted generator and battery projects remain a priority in the capital plan.

- Permitting, matching and grants: Committee members noted that National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and other grant-funded projects may allow in-kind work (equipment/time) as matching contributions if the scope includes that activity. The group also raised the need for stream alteration permits for equipment access in some drainages.

Public engagement and process

Committee members reviewed the updated state planning guidance and checklist (the document highlighted differences between 2020 requirements and the current guidance). They agreed to prepare a draft that documents prior public involvement, existing plans and technical information (for example, the town's Community Wildfire Protection Plan and EOP), and to circulate targeted sections to stakeholders for comment before public hearings. The committee identified stakeholders to invite for input, including the Castle Valley Fire District, county emergency management ("Cora" was mentioned as the county emergency manager contact), local businesses and lodging providers, and neighboring jurisdictions.

Schedule and immediate assignments

Members agreed to hold the committee's regular meeting on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m., beginning in February, and to dedicate the February meeting to detailed work on flood and fire mitigation actions. Staff volunteers will assemble existing event records (flood/fire/rockfall) and example project forms so the group can document and prioritize potential mitigation actions at the next meeting.

Taper: Committee members said they will circulate the state guidance and planning checklist to committee members and key stakeholders before the next meeting and pursue updates to MOUs and the town's resource list so the revised mitigation plan can meet the new state and FEMA guidance.