The implementation of the East Dunne Ave Escape Route Project will be completed in three phases and serve to enhance fire resiliency by reducing ladder fuels, creating areas of shaded fuel break, reducing invasive species, and improving the functionality of the escape route during an evacuation making it safer for travel. In addition, this will also reduce the risk of a roadside fire escaping into the wildland as well as add strength to Santa Clara County’s developing shaded fuel break system and provide opportunities to protect or manage watersheds from future wildfires. Additionally, reducing competition in the understory and treating hazardous trees were feasible will create a healthier, more vigorous forest, and natural habitat.

Schedule

This escape route project will be executed over the course of three (3) Phases. The SCCFSC completed Phases 1 & 2 in 2023 and is scheduling Phase 3 for an early December 2025 start date and hope to be done before the winter rains. Those three phases are broken down accordingly…

  • Phase 1 – starts at the intersection of E. Dunne Ave. & Holiday Rd. and continues for approximately 1.2 miles, ending at the Southern end of Anderson Lake Bridge
  • Phase 2 – starts at the north end of Anderson Lake Bridge and continues for approximately 4.4 miles, ending at the intersection where E. Dunne Ave. meets Finely Ridge Rd.
  • Phase 3 – begins at the Intersection of E. Dunne Ave. & Finely Ridge Rd and continues for approximately 3.5 miles, ending near the entrance to Henry W. Coe State Park

 

Project Update

The East Dunne Ave Phase III Project is kicking into full planning mode. We are working on community outreach and have started the process for notifications and the Right of Entry process. Looking to get in contact with the ranchers up there and will be reaching out to State Parks to inform them of the project. We are looking at an early December 2025 start date and hope to be done before the winter rains. Stay tuned for more updates on this project initiative.

Click HERE to see the Final Report for Phase I & II

 

Click Here to sign up for project updates through our monthly Fire Adapted Santa Clara County e-newsletter.

Each of the three phases will unite for an overall coverage area that follows along E. Dunne Ave. starting near the entrance to Holiday Lake Estates at the intersection of E. Dunne Ave. and Holiday Rd., and ending near the entrance to Henry W. Coe State Park. The total length of all three phases adds up to be approximately 9.1 miles in one direction. After the completion of all three phases, the length of treated roadway will account for a total linear distance of 18.2 miles. With a speculated average treatment depth of 30 feet from the roadside edge on both sides of E. Dunne Ave., the approximate total treated acreage would account for over 66 acres of freshly manicured, wildfire resilient, escape route which local area residents will utilize during an evacuation worthy event.

Scope of Work

Work within 30-50 feet of roads and driveways: 

  • Remove small trees under 6” diameter; leave stumps in the ground.
  • Remove dead trees; Leave wood/logs over 6” diameter that cannot be chipped on site.
  • Remove tree limbs under 3” diameter a minimum of 8 feet above grade or three times the height of any remaining undergrowth fuel layer, whichever is higher.
  • For small trees, remove branches from lower 2/3 of tree, or up to 8 feet, whichever is less.
  • Remove any dead woody vegetation. 
  • Remove shrubs (ladder fuels) under and next to trees; cut off branches above the ground; leave root systems intact.
  • Selectively remove some shrubs and smaller trees to create spacing between tree canopies or shrub groups. Break up continuous vegetation into smaller groupings.
  • Chip material generated by above activities; chips will be left on the property at a location acceptable to the property owner and the FireSafe Council contractor.  

The East Dunne Ave. Escape Project is a collaboration between these public and private entities and is a part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment. particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution.

California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California. For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at: www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.