RCI Reportswashoe County Fire Plan

Appendix E - Homeowner Guidelines

Homeowner Guidelines

Defensible Space Guidelines

Download the Defensible Space Guidelines fact sheet for Washoe County

(PDF, 144kb, 2 pages)

Homeowner’s Annual Checklist

Download the Homeowner’s Annual Checklist fact sheet for Washoe County

(PDF, 22kb, 1 page)

Fuelbreaks and Fuel Reduction Treatments

Download the Fuelbreaks and Fuel Reduction Treatments fact sheet for Washoe County

(PDF, 66kb, 1 pages)

Washoe County Weeds

Russian Knapweed

Download the Russian Knapweed info sheet for Washoe County

(PDF, 415kb, 3 pages)

Spotted Knapweed

Download the Spotted Knapweed info sheet for Washoe County

(PDF, 170kb, 1 page)

Tall Whitetop

Download the Tall Whitetop info sheet for Washoe County

(PDF, 163kb, 1 page)

Yellow Starthistle

Download the Yellow Starthistle info sheet for Washoe County

(PDF, 164kb, 1 page)

Seed Mix and Planting Specifications for Washoe County

Common Name Scientific Name Seeding Rate PLS pounds/acre
Broadcast Application Drill Application
“Hycrest” wheatgrass Agropyron fragile spp. sibericum 7.0 3.0
“Sodar” Streambank wheatgrass Elymus lanceolatus ssp. psammophilus 5.0 2.0
“Immigrant” Forage Kochia Kochia prostrata 2.0**
Sandberg bluegrass Poa sandbergii 1.5 0.75
TOTAL PLS POUNDS PER ACRE 15.5 7.75
**Kochia prostrata should always be broadcast seeded on the soil surface.

This seed mixture is for treating all disturbed areas and areas cleared for fuel reduction purposes. Seeding application rates are specified on a “pure live seed” (PLS) basis. All seeds should be thoroughly mixed and seeded together at the same time. Drill seeding is recommended where feasible. Drill rows should be spaced as 12 inches apart and seed should be planted at a depth of 1/2 inch. Broadcast seeding is recommended for rocky, steep, or small treatment areas. The seed can be broadcast using hand held seeders such as a “Whirlybird” or a broadcast seeder mounted on an ATV. Continually mix the seed while seeding to equally distribute the small seeds throughout the mix. Following the broadcast seed application, seeded areas should be lightly raked to assure seed placement at an average depth of 1/2 inch. This can be done with hand held rakes, or by pulling a harrow implement or piece of chain link fence behind a truck or ATV in areas that are less rocky.

Use of a pre-emergent herbicide prior to seeding may be advisable in areas where cheatgrass is an apparent problem.

These guidelines are provided as overall recommendations. However, site-specific evaluation of the treatment areas by a specialist from a land management agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, or the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension will provide even greater assurance for success.

Jeffrey Pine Tree Thinning Guide

Thin Jeffrey Pine trees to reduce the stocking level to 80 - 100 square feet of basal area per acre. Basal area of a tree is defined as the cross–sectional area at breast height (4.5 feet above the ground) and is expressed in square feet. The following is a chart of tree sizes and the spacing needed between trees of the same size.

Thinning Guide Basal Area (sq. ft.) / Acre
Tree Diameter
at 4.5 feet high
(inches)
Basal Area  
60 sq ft
Dia. X 2
80 sq ft
Dia. X 1.7
100 sq ft
Dia. X 1.5
10 20 17 15 Tree Spacing (ft.)
110 147 183 # Trees/Acre
12 24 21 18 Tree Spacing (ft.)
76 101 127 # Trees/Acre
14 27 24 22 Tree Spacing (ft.)
56 74 93 # Trees/Acre
16 32 28 25 Tree Spacing (ft.)
42 57 71 # Trees/Acre
18 36 31 28 Tree Spacing (ft.)
33 45 56 # Trees/Acre
20 40 34 31 Tree Spacing (ft.)
27 36 45 # Trees/Acre
22 44 38 34 Tree Spacing (ft.)
22 30 37 # Trees/Acre
24 48 41 37 Tree Spacing (ft.)
19 25 31 # Trees/Acre
26 52 45 40 Tree Spacing (ft.)
19 25 31 # Trees/Acre
28 56 48 43 Tree Spacing (ft.)
14 18 23 # Trees/Acre
30 60 52 46 Tree Spacing (ft.)
12 16 20 # Trees/Acre
  1. Remove the trees with forked tops. Forked topped trees can be become a hazard, as part of the top could fail and damage buildings, cars, and people.
  2. Remove trees with basal scars that are showing signs of wood boring insects and ants in the bole of the tree.
  3. Remove trees with dead or broken tops. These trees will attract bark beetles.
  4. Remove trees that are infested with dwarf mistletoe. If a tree only has dwarf mistletoe in the lower branches, then prune the branches off. Dwarf mistletoe is a parasitic plant that spreads by seed and will eventually kill the tree.
  5. Remove the smaller trees that are not in a dominant position in the canopy and are being crowded by the taller trees. Remove enough trees to all for ten to fifteen (10-15) feet of space between crowns. Jeffrey and ponderosa pine need direct sunlight to survive. Trees in a shaded condition will slowly die from lack of sunlight, but until they die, they will continue to use moisture and nutrients the larger trees could use. This stress for moisture in a overstocked condition will predispose all the trees to attacks from bark beetles, especially during years of drought.
  6. Treat the stumps with borax powder (decca hydrate borax) to prevent harmful root rot fungi (Fomes annosus) from becoming established.
  7. Thinning debris (limbs, tops and tree trunks) should be promptly removed from the site. Ips beetles will breed in wood larger than three (3) inches in diameter if the wood and slash remain on the site longer than four weeks. If the homeowner wants to keep the wood to burn in a fireplace, then the wood should cut to the proper length and split to help dry it out. Do not stack the wood between trees, next to buildings or under decks. Dispose of the limbs and tops by burning or chipping and hauling the chips away.