Plunkett Training Site

Plunkett Training Site

CALFIRE will use the property to train inmate hand crews in the proper techniques of cutting fire line for wildland fire control. Activities will consist of brush cutting, piling, and burning. Dominant vegetation in the project area is brush. The project area is 252 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 fasiculatum) with scattered manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), interior live oak (Quercus wislizenii) and Gray Pine (Pinus sabiniana). 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, 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 be 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 degrade 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