Date of Graduation

Spring 5-23-2026

Document Access

Project/Capstone - Global access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Environmental Management (MSEM)

College/School

College of Arts and Sciences

Department/Program

Environmental Management

First Advisor

Amalia Kokkinaki

Second Advisor

Amalia Kokkinaki

Third Advisor

Simon Scarpetta

Abstract

Wildfire risk in the Northern Bay Area is increasingly shaped by climate driven vegetation dryness, expansion of the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and the fragmentation of environmental policy making. This paper investigates how Alameda, Contra Costa, and Sonoma Counties differ in their wildfire exposure and asks whether county level policies align with the areas of highest hazard and human exposure overlap. This project uses a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) overlay to overlay CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ), and WUI data to identify wildfire hot spots where WUI areas intersect with High or Very High FHSZ classifications. This spatial information is then compared with policy documents and community planning tools, including General Plan Safety Elements (GPSE), Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP), Wildfire Mitigation Plans (WMP), defensible space requirements and state frameworks on wildfire mitigation. Findings show that wildfire exposure is not evenly distributed across the three study counties. Alameda has concentrated hillside hot spots where dense development is in close proximity to steep terrain and heavy vegetation. Contra Costa has scattered exposure and expanding suburban and foothill development that is encroaching on historically fire prone areas. Sonoma County has the largest and most continuous hot spot pattern, which is indicative of its extensive WUI landscape and historical propensity for severe wildfires. Policy alignment in these counties varies, Alameda has strong but incomplete targeting, Contra Costa has weaker anticipatory planning, and Sonoma shows the strongest policy while facing extreme exposure due to its size.

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