Plumas County Hears Answers to Concerns About Forest Service Community Protection Project

QUINCY — District 2 Supervisor Kevin Goss and Planning Director Tracey Ferguson represented Plumas County at a March 14 public meeting with Forest Service Representatives to discuss issues related to the Plumas National Forest Community Protection – Central and West Slope Project.

The Forest Service project, announced in draft form in October 2024, intends to use a combination of mechanical and hand thinning, herbicide treatment, and prescribed fire to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire in over 200,000 acres of Plumas National Forest (PNF) in Plumas, Sierra, Butte, and Yuba Counties. More information about the project is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/plumas/?project=62873.

Plumas County had previously acknowledged the importance of the project but filed formal objections to some aspects of the draft plan in a letter submitted on December 16, 2024. Planning Director Ferguson said at the April 1 meeting of the Plumas County Board of Supervisors that two main concerns were brought forward in the county’s letter. One was for the county to be informed of and involved, when appropriate, in planning that could affect critical infrastructure, trails, roads, and emergency routes. She said PNF staff had agreed to that request. The county’s letter also asked for chemical herbicides to be used only as a last resort and recommended that the Forest Service consider other methods for control of invasive and noxious plants, including grazing by sheep, cattle, and goats. PNF staff responded that the plan calls for herbicides to be used “judiciously” according to best practices, mainly along roads and in reforestation areas. However, they said PNF does have some experience with grazing goats and would “look into” using them.

In a related development at the April 1 Supervisors meeting, the Acting Fire Chief for Plumas National Forest, Marty Senter, reported that the federal hiring freeze has been lifted for firefighting personnel and that PNF is now fully staffed for the coming fire season.