In Santa Cruz County, Arizona, Great Ecology is collaborating with local stakeholders to develop a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) tailored to the region’s unique topography and ecological conditions. By combining ecological expertise with high-resolution geospatial data, the team created and applied a wildfire risk model that integrates key variables contributing to wildfire behavior. This model enables ecologists and the community to identify high-risk areas and ultimately craft a well-informed CWPP.

GIS analysts at Great Ecology utilized a combination of ArcGIS Pro Software and FlamMap, a wildfire modeling tool developed by the U.S. Forest Service, to understand and visualize six key variables related to both landscape conditions and stakeholder concerns in Santa Cruz County. These variables included slope, aspect, vegetation cover, vegetation composition, rate of fire spread, and proximity to the wildland urban interface (WUI). The layers were integrated into ArcGIS Pro using a weighted overlay analysis. This resulted in a comprehensive wildfire risk map that layered these critical factors to highlight areas of heightened vulnerability across the county. Ecologists and planners from Great Ecology took the risk model to the field in Santa Cruz County, strategizing with local authorities on priority areas for management and appropriate modes of intervention. The community-tailored spatial model fostered the development of a detailed and focused management plan by isolating areas of immediate concern across the county.

This is just one example of how GIS informs wildfire protection and resilience. With these tools, professionals and communities achieve a comprehensive understanding of the landscapes they work with and design effective management protocols. Tools like GIS help us stay ahead of future wildfires by strategically hardening communities for destructive events and planning infrastructure that is adapted to local ecosystems.