Redwood Lake Prescribed Burn

Redwood Lake Prescribed Burn

This project will implement a series of controlled broadcast burns in Austin Creek State Recreation Area to meet long-term goals of creating and maintaining habitat for native wildlife and plant species and an improved upland habitat that is more resilient to catastrophic changes due to wildfire. It will also provide training opportunities for staff and partner agencies and organizations, build relationships with tribal governments and members, and help protect critical infrastructure and other park facilities. There are three phases for implementation of successful prescribed fire projects: unit preparation, ignitions, and mop-up, and reducing potential fuel loads. Burn units will cover approximately 255 acres and will be generally located in the Giliam and Schoolhouse creek watersheds. Burn units will utilize handlines and existing or legacy roads and trails as control lines. Workers will use handtools such as hoes, rakes and Pulaskis; small equipment such as string trimmers, brush cutters, leaf blowers, and chainsaws; and heavy equipment such as mowers and tractors. Vegetation removal on, under and around department structures shall meet the Guidelines for the Protection of Structures from Wildland Fire. More specifically, fuel modification work will: Remove limbs up to a height of 15-ft (from the uphill side) on trees; Modify, relocate, and reconfigure downed and dead material; Selectively remove tree seedlings, saplings, and poles less than 11-in. DBH; Create spacing between shrubs and trees (2x the shrubs height); Fell dead and dying trees while maintaining sufficient snags for wildlife habitat; Mow dry grass and relocate clippings; Rake away excess litter and duff or create a scratch line around the base of trees, snags, stumps, infrastructure, developed areas, structures, or other resources; and Dig to mineral soil for handlines. Prior to start of controlled burns, a DPR Environmental Scientist(s) shall identify protected wildlife and plant species and habitat and prescribe proper measures to maintain or increase populations and habitat and avoid adverse impacts, and a DPR Archaeologist(s) shall identify protected sites and prescribe proper treatments to avoid adverse impacts. Tribal consultation shall be initiated when required. The project may require temporary closure of trails and other facilities during project implementation, and/or have trail use be restricted, for public safety. Adjacent property owners will be notified before any broadcast burn event. Public notifications will be made via social media and/or news outlets before any broadcast burnevent.

Geurneville

Sonoma

Northern California