Tuscan Buttes Communication Site Improvements

Tuscan Buttes Communication Site Improvements

The Tehama-Glenn Unit of CAL FIRE is proposing a project to improve the security of existing state and privately-owned safety infrastructure and to conduct necessary maintenance to the Tuscan Buttes access road. Tuscan Buttes is located 13 miles east of the city of Red Bluff and just south of State Highway 36E, settled in the eastern Sacramento Valley foothills. Atop Tuscan Buttes is the Tuscan Buttes repeater that is accessed by a 0.86-mile road extending from the Tuscan Springs Road. Elevations in the project area range from 1440 to 1868 feet. There are two categories of treatments involved in this project. Security improvement treatments will include the installation of a gate approximately 250 feet north of the intersection of Tuscan Springs Road and the Tuscan Buttes access road. A “No Turnaround” sign will be placed at this intersection as well. A masticator will be utilized in conjunction with manual treatment to remove brush and oak trees 3 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) and smaller along the Tuscan Buttes access road. The treatment zone will vary dependent on slope but will conform to a width of 50-75 feet. Hand crews will limb all oak trees over 3 inches DBH to a height of 8 feet and will limb to a height of 12 feet along the access road with a pole saw to allow easier access for large equipment. Dead/dying trees and trees with a poor live crown ration may also be removed. All vegetation removed will be piled and burned or chipped onsite. The second category of this project is maintenance to the access road and will include the reinstallation of all the inboard ditches and cleaning the inlets and outlets of culverts. Existing culverts will be assessed and replaced as deemed necessary. Future road maintenance will include reestablishing the gravel base to the access road as well as reshaping the access road prism.

Tehama

Northern California