… The Department of Water Resources is planting fire-resistant native species around the dam and its facilities as part of a broader effort to reduce wildfire risk at one of the most critical pieces of water infrastructure in California. Lake Oroville is the state’s second-largest reservoir and the centerpiece of the State Water Project, which delivers water to 27 million people. The native plantings are designed to replace flammable vegetation with species that are naturally more resistant to fire, creating a buffer around the dam, spillways, power plant and other structures. The approach aligns with Cal Fire’s defensible space guidelines, which recommend removing or replacing high-fire-risk vegetation within a set distance of structures.

Other water and wildfire news:

• Pagosa Daily Post (Pagosa Springs, Colo.): Editorial: The cost of wildfire preparations, part four