Middle Trinity Fuels Reduction Phase I: Lewiston Area

Middle Trinity Fuels Reduction Phase I: Lewiston Area

The Trinity County Resource Conservation District (the District) plans to implement fuels reduction activities on Trinity Dam Blvd, Mountain View Drive, Wilson Road, Texas Ave., and smaller side roads in Lewiston, Trinity County, CA. This 278-acre footprint comprises of multiple public (municipal) and private ownerships that are an integral part of the District’s landscape fuel reduction strategy, aimed at protecting the Lewiston subdivision and surrounding WUI neighborhoods from catastrophic wildfire events. This project is an integral part of the District’s landscape strategy aimed at protecting Trinity County communities from future catastrophic wildfire events and returning the landscape to a healthy, less hazardous state. Fuel Reduction treatments will be strategically implemented along roadsides and ridgetops and adjacent to habitable structures and critical infrastructure to protect the life and property of residents of Lewiston as well as to provide safe ingress and egress on dead-end roads for evacuation and fire suppression efforts. The project area includes portions of many different private landowners within the WUI, as well as small areas of county-managed public land, and our objective is to treat =100 acres over a 5-year period. Topography is moderate (10-50%) throughout much of the project area, with some steeper and gentler areas, and elevations range from approximately 2000’-2600’. The prescription includes hand thinning of small diameter (less than 10” DBH) trees and shrubs that are adjacent to habitable structures, critical infrastructure, and/or roadways and driveways. Emphasis will be placed on eliminating the continuity of surface and ladder fuels. Some sub canopy trees may be removed to break up vertical continuity to dominant trees as well as to raise the canopy base height, which will reduce future fire intensity. Cut materials will be bucked and carried to the chipper whenever feasible and then chipped and broadcasted on site. Any remaining material that cannot be chipped will be lop-and-scattered on site or built into hand piles less than 10’x10’ in size. The project will be maintained in perpetuity using similar treatments.

Lewiston

Trinity

Northern California

Trinity