(a)
(1)On or before January 1, 2026, the department, in coordination with the United States Forest Service and other relevant state, federal, tribal, local, and private cooperators, shall identify and map a comprehensive network of potential operational delineations that can be used for strategic wildfire response or the proactive use of prescribed fire. This effort shall use existing tools, including, but not limited to, open-source tools, and build on existing plans, including, but not limited to, community wildfire protection plans, CAL-FIRE unit fire plans, and potential operational delineations for wildfires of the United States Forest Service.
(2)The map described in paragraph (1) shall comply with both of the
following:
(A)Be included in outreach efforts for state programs
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(a)
(1)
On or before January 1, 2026, the department, in coordination with the United States Forest Service and other relevant state, federal, tribal, local, and private cooperators, shall identify and map a comprehensive network of potential operational delineations that can be used for strategic wildfire response or the proactive use of prescribed fire. This effort shall use existing tools, including, but not limited to, open-source tools, and build on existing plans, including, but not limited to, community wildfire protection plans, CAL-FIRE unit fire plans, and potential operational delineations for wildfires of the United States Forest Service.
(2)
The map described in paragraph (1) shall comply with both of the
following:
(A)
Be included in outreach efforts for state programs related to fire planning and community engagement efforts, such as, but not limited to, the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program (Article 11 (commencing with Section 4208)).
(B)
Be assessed for potential impacts on tribal cultural resources and sensitive species in areas where there will be significant ground disturbance. The department, through local units of the department, shall engage with and consult tribal entities in the region for input on the potential network of delineations described in paragraph (1). Tribal leadership in this process shall be supported and engaged with to the extent feasible. If an appropriation by the Legislature has been made for these purposes, state resources may be used to support tribal engagement in developing, reviewing, and assessing proposed locations. This subparagraph
does not alter any duty by the department to consult with tribal governments during a wildfire event.
(b)
(1)
In order to provide a nuanced understanding of postfire conditions, on or before July 1, 2025, and updated annually thereafter, the Fire and Resource Assessment Program in the department shall develop maps of the severity of impacts from wildfires that includes fires of significant size across all land ownerships. To the extent feasible, in developing the maps described in this paragraph, the department shall collaborate with the United States Forest Service, the United States Geological Survey, and other relevant parties, and shall, where appropriate, use data from existing sources, including from the Burn Severity Portal maintained by the United States Geological Survey. For purposes of complying with this paragraph, the department may contract with a third party.
(2)
The department shall make the maps described in paragraph (1) available to the public on its internet website.
(c)
The department shall annually review the effects of recent fires in the context of community safety and ecological restoration goals to identify priority opportunities for prescribed fire that can further manage hazardous fuel conditions.