Soda Springs Crew Training

Soda Springs Crew Training

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal FIRE) is planning inmate hand crew training exercise on private property to the northeast of the town of Napa, CA. Hand crews will be trained in proper brush cutting, piling, and burning techniques, as well as creating fire line using hand tools. The continuous training of these crews furthers the mission of CAL FIRE, as the crews are a major contributor to fire suppression efforts in the state. This project will allow years of training for Delta Conservation Camp hand crews. The project area is 89 acres and consist of a brush-covered hilltop and oak woodland on private property that is easily accessed using existing dirt roads. Vegetation on the hilltop is dominated by chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) with scattered manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), interior live oak (Quercus wislizenii) and California bay laurel (Umbellularia californica). The hilltop is undulating in nature, with moderate slopes (average 25%) and valleys throughout. The oak forest is situated south of the chamise-covered hilltop and is dominated by interior live oak with native grasses and scattered brush in the understory. Crew training exercises will mainly occur in the chamise-dominated brush field. Brush will be cut and piled for disposal by burning. Chamise will be the targeted species for removal, and scattered manzanitas and interior live oaks will be retained where possible for aesthetics and to reduce erosion potential. Although much of the project area is shielded from view from the valley below, care will be taken to cut and pile brush in a mosaic pattern rather than straight strips in order to minimize the visual effect of the treatment. Within the oak woodland portion of the project area, isolated areas of dense brush and ladder fuels will but cut, piled and burned. Brush will be the target vegetation for removal within the oak woodland areas; however, if it is determined that small trees should be removed for fuel reduction, only trees less than 6" diameter will be cut. If repeated use of dirt roads within the project area by crew buses degrades the roads, they will be repaired using a bulldozer or grader as determined to be necessary. Road maintenance will be confined to existing roads within the project area.

Napa