Rim Contingency Fuel Break Maintenance

Rim Contingency Fuel Break Maintenance

The project area is located in northern Tuolumne County, approximately 1.5 miles south of the city of Tuolumne. The project area ranges from approximately 2,150 feet to 2,860 feet in elevation above sea level. Vegetation type is at the transition zone with lower portions of the project in the chaparral belt and the upper portion entering the ponderosa pine zone. Native oaks such as black oak and live oak along with ponderosa pine, sugar pine, and gray pine are the dominant tree species found. Brush species include manzanita, toyon, ceanothus, and poison oak. The project consists of maintenance and improvement of an existing fire break. Maintenance consists of removal of ground and ladder fuels that have regrown since the fuel break was re-opened during the Rim Fire of 2013 along with widening of the fuel break up to 400 feet in total width for better defense against vegetation fires. The project area is approximately 3.5 miles in length and 200 acres in size. During the rim Fire of 2013, a fire break was constructed approximately 100 feet wide. Vegetation removal will consist of hand cutting and piling for burning during a safe burn window along with mechanical mastication with light and/or heavy equipment. Heavy equipment will be confined to slopes that do not exceed 40%. Trees up to 12 inches DBH may be removed to gain the necessary spacing needed for achieving a functional fuel break. Larger trees shall not be cut unless deemed to be a safety hazard. Grass, forbs and other low-lying ground vegetation will not be targeted for removal.

Tuolumne