Fitch Ranch Shaded Fuel Break

Fitch Ranch Shaded Fuel Break

This area is moderately stocked with vegetation and crown closure ranges from 20 to 100 percent. The conifer component is experiencing a large amount of mortality from bark beetles as a years of drought have weakened the trees. This has resulted in dead standing trees posing threats to safety along the roads and potentially increasing the potential for wildfire spread. The project consists of fuel break construction. Construction will consist of pre commercial thinning over story trees to reduce crown densities to a level that will not carry a crown fire. Trees will be selected to create an open canopy with a goal of 40% crown cover, and improve forest health and vigor. Trees with cavities will be left to maintain wildlife structure. The project area is approximately 160 acres in size. Vegetation removal will consist of hand cutting and piling for burning during a safe burn window and mechanical mastication with light and/or heavy equipment. Trees up to 12 inches DBH may be removed to achieve the necessary spacing needed for achieving a functional fuel break. Any tree posting a threat to life and safety shall be removed. 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.

Tuolumne