Two New Fuel Break Projects Proposed in Sierra County

SIERRA COUNTY — After a brief period of uncertainty regarding federal funding for fire management projects, work has ramped back up and two new Tahoe National Forest fuel break projects have been proposed within the county. The Pliocene Ridge Fuel Break Project would create breaks near Pike, Alleghany, Henness Pass Road, and other forest roads southeast of Bassetts. The Forty-Niner Gold Fuel Break Project targets Highway 49 east of Downieville and west of Sattley, as well as most of Gold Lake Highway and several forest roads northeast of Downieville. The projects could start as soon as June this year, pending public comment and an expedited objection period.

The Forty-Niner Gold project would create an “inner core” of significant fuel management up to 200 feet on each side of affected roads, with further fuel reduction work in an “outer core” up to 500 feet from the road. The Pliocene Ridge project would create similar breaks up to 400 feet from roads. In either case, crews would employ mechanical thinning, hand thinning, mastication, prescribed fire, and herbicide application to decrease surface fuels and increase the canopy base height, making fire spread more difficult.

Environmental protection regulations apply to all fire management projects and could limit the treatable area. In particular, protections are in place against disturbing the California Spotted Owl, the American Goshawk, and the Sierra Nevada Yellow-Legged Frog. Surveys will be conducted before and during project implementation to identify whether those species are present, which could limit project scope.

Fuels projects could temporarily affect recreation sites, including by closure if necessary, starting this summer. Notices about project activities will be posted at relevant campsites and trailheads two weeks in advance, with flaggers present on roads as needed during operations. The projects also seek to schedule operations during periods of low use, avoiding peak weekends and holidays. Vegetation management and heavy equipment use will occur during off-peak times, starting after 7 AM where possible.

Both projects are currently in the scoping phase and are accepting public comments until April 25th. Further details for the Pliocene Ridge project are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/tahoe/?project=67777 and for the Forty-Niner Gold project at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/tahoe/?project=67778. The projects were introduced together and have some overlap in their documentation.