Novato Fire's Vegetation Management Program has identified wildfire hazards and developed multiple projects to assist and protect the residents in Novato for over 20 years. Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA), created in 2020 and funded by the Measure C parcel tax, funds many projects including evacuation routes, shaded fuel breaks, fire smart demonstration gardens, and fire road maintenance. Along with the other NFD Prevention programs, this vegetation management work creates a more fire-adapted Novato. Since 2020, the vegetation management program has widened key evacuation route roads, implemented multiple vegetation reduction projects in city-owned open space properties, and created two demonstration gardens. 

NFD’s vegetation management team is comprised of two members: Sarah Labberton, vegetation management program manager, and Elizabeth Neill, vegetation management specialist. Together, they manage all the vegetation projects throughout Novato, including those funded by the MWPA. Their contact information can be found below. 

MWPA was created in 2020 by a Joint Powers Agreement among 17 member agencies covering most of Marin County. MWPA is funded through the Measure C parcel tax to plan, finance, implement and manage fire protection and prevention services across multiple jurisdictions. MWPA’s goals and objectives, listed below, have been developed based on priorities set in the Marin Community-Wide Protection Plan (CWPP). For additional information, please click here.

• Vegetation Management
• Detection, Alert and Evacuation
• Grants
• Public Outreach and Education
• Defensible Space and Home Hardening