Lakewood Pines Fuel Reduction

Lakewood Pines Fuel Reduction

The project consists of constructing, maintaining and improving fuel breaks. The project area is located in the center of Calaveras County along Independence Road off Railroad Flat road, approximately 1/2 mile north of the city of Railroad Flat. The project area elevation is approximately 2,550 ft above sea level. Vegetation types is in the conifer transitional belt and consists of Ponderosa Pine and Chaparral vegetation types. Major tree species include native oaks, Black Oak, Canyon and Interior Live Oak, along with the Ponderosa Pine, Sugar Pine, and Incense Cedar. Brush species include manzanita, toyon, ceanothus, poison oak, and bear clover. The project consists of fuel reduction and removals of fuel ladders. Project will consist of pre-commercial thinning trees to reduce crown densities to a level that will not carry a crown fire. Trees will be selected to create an open canopy and improve forest health and vigor. Trees with cavities will be left to maintain wildlife structure. Understory treatments will consist of removal of ground and ladder fuels by pruning and removal of selected vegetation. The project area is approximately 9.9 acres in size. Vegetation removal will consist of hand cutting and piling for burning during a safe burn windows or chipping and broadcasting chips at location. Heavy equipment will not be used and vehicles shall be confined to existing roads. Trees up to 12 in DBH may be removed to achieve the necessary spacing needed for achieving a functional fuel break. Any tree posing a threat to life and safety shall be removed. Grass, forbs and other low-lying ground vegetation will not be targeted for removal. The primary goal is to disrupt the horizontal and vertical continuity of fuels in order to provide a safe and feasible means of defense against the high probability of vegetation fire within the wildland urban interface.

Calaveras