Wildfire Risk Reduction Through Hydrated Vegetated Greenbelt Buffers at the Wildland-Urban Interface

Santa Barbara County’s Mediterranean climate and fire-prone landscape pose significant wildfire risk to the wildland-urban interface (WUI) and local communities. Historically, Santa Barbara has benefited from surrounding agriculture and other hydrated vegetation that slow wildfire spread, known as vegetated greenbelt buffers (VGBs). VGBs are increasingly threatened by water scarcity, rising costs, and pressures from prospective development. Considering the water needs of fire-resilient plant species, this project focuses on alternative water sources, such as greywater, treated wastewater, and stormwater infiltration that could support the cost-effective maintenance of VGBs. Through assessing existing regulations, energy requirements, technical feasibility, and incorporating community perspectives, this project will develop an integrated framework to identify how and where VGBs can effectively mitigate wildfire risk. The anticipated outcomes will inform policy and planning strategies to enhance wildfire resilience through landscape design and sustainable water use in Santa Barbara County.