The post-fire landscape is especially susceptible to stormwater runoff-related hazards such as landslides, debris flow, flooding, and rockfall. Fire can damage vegetation and root systems that provide stability within the soil. Fire damage may also create hydrophobic soils, which can concentrate runoff into slopes that may already be prone to failure. These types of post-fire hazards can lead to sediment and pollutant transport into creeks, streams, and reservoirs. For more information on stormwater runoff, watch The Adventures of Junior Raindrop.

Napa County’s watersheds have been severely impacted by recent wildfires. In 2020, wildfires have burned large swaths of the watersheds feeding Napa River, Lake Berryessa, Hennessey Reservoir, Rector Reservoir, Milliken Reservoir, Lake Curry, Kimball Reservoir, and the Friesen Lakes.

Property owner who are concerned or have questions regarding potential hazards resulting from the fires (i.e. flooding, debris flows, landslides, and erosion) may call the Watershed Hazards hotline.  The hotline is intended to be a location where Napa County staff can provide property owners with available technical resources for assessing hazards, mitigating hazards, managing your lands after the fire and provide locations and vendors for erosion and sediment control supplies.

WATERSHED HAZARDS HOTLINE: (707) 253-4417

Residents are concerned about the effects of the recent fires on our watersheds, the County shares that concern and is taking the following actions:

• Working closely with the Resource Conservation District (RCD), Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and CalFire to evaluate all affected watersheds and identify areas where the fire burned most intensely so that they can be targeted to minimize erosion.  
• Coordinating with the surrounding impacted cities and counties to minimize potential impacts of debris and erosion on local drinking water supplies. 
• Working directly with soil conservationists at the RCD and NRCS to provide technical assistance for landowners to assess potential erosion sites and prepare their property to prevent problems in the winter. 
• Improving public safety by patrolling and preparing County roads for the upcoming rains. This includes removing dead and dangerous trees, clearing drainage areas, clearing debris along roadways, replacing road signs, replacing guard rails, and replacing retaining walls damaged in the fires.  

The Watershed benefits everyone and we all share the responsibility of taking steps to ensure its continued health, so that it has time to naturally recover from the wildfires. Napa County is here to help landowners in this important effort.  

While it is property owner’s responsibility to control stormwater runoff from their property, Napa County is providing resources to help prepare for this upcoming rainy season. Property owners and contractors on burned lots and rebuild sites must take action to prevent pollutants, including sediment, from entering storm drains, creeks, rivers, and wetlands. 

If your property was damaged or destroyed, we are here to help. Do you want us to send you important information updates about the recovery and rebuilding processes? If so, provide us with your current contact information by submitting your Property Owner Contact Information Form through this link (information is confidential and will only be used for fire recovery communication purposes). 

Find more information about tree-vegetation removal program here.