Goat Grazing Program Overview

  • Laguna Beach has used goats for vegetation management and wildfire fuel reduction since the early 1990s. 
  • The program was inspired by a similar initiative in the San Francisco Bay area and introduced by then-City Manager Ken Frank.  

  • Expanded after the 1993 wildfire, which burned 14,000 acres and destroyed or damaged 441 homes.

Goats 2

Purpose and Benefits 

  • The program primarily focuses on using goats to clear vegetation on the city's outer edges, creating fuel breaks to mitigate wildfire risks, with the goats working on designated "fuel modification zones" throughout the year depending on vegetation growth and rainfall levels
  • Reduces wildfire risk by managing the amount of vegetation (fuel) available to burn.  
  • Addresses areas inaccessible to mechanical equipment due to steep, rocky terrain.  
  • Cost-effective: Goat grazing typically costs 10% or less per acre compared to hand crews.  
  • Environmentally sustainable alternative to chemical and mechanical methods.  
  • Enhances rangeland, improves wildlife habitats, and reduces invasive species.  

Program Operations

  • Focuses on 10 fuel modification zones on the city’s perimeter.
  • The goats are primarily used to graze on vegetation in specific areas, creating fuel breaks that separate wildland from developed areas, thereby reducing the potential spread of wildfire.
  • A fuel break is a area where vegetation is reduced by 50 - 90%  to separate the wildland from developed portions of the City.  The fuel breaks were started by the Laguna Beach Fire Department in 1991 after the Oakland Hills Fire, and now includes approximately 363 acres.   Approximately 276 acres are maintained by goat grazing, and the rest by hand crews.   The Fire Department manages the fuel break program, and is working to expand the acreage to protect more of the City. 
  • The goats are brought in seasonally to graze the landscape, typically when vegetation is dry and most flammable.  
  • Between 75 and 600 goats are used annually, though up to 1,000 goats have been used in a year. 
  • Goats are housed in movable pens with electric fencing to prevent wandering and protect them from predators.  
  • Managed by the Laguna Beach Fire Department, with oversight to protect sensitive plant species.  

 Goats eating fuel

Environmental Considerations

  • Botanists assess grazing areas to identify and protect endangered or sensitive plants.  
  • Areas are flagged, and environmentally sensitive plants are fenced off.  
  • Permits are obtained for grazing activities.  

Funding and Costs

  • In 1995, a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant provided $396,000 to expand the program, with the city contributing $132,000.  
  • Current annual cost of the program is approximately $185,000.

Wider Adoption and Impact

  • Similar programs are used in states like Nevada and Utah for wildfire mitigation and land management.  
  • Fuel reduction by goat grazing is widely accepted due to its sustainability, cost-efficiency, and effectiveness.