SCH Number 2024040088

Project Info

Title

Mitigated Negative Declaration for the proposed Lassen County Wildfire Recovery Project Lassen County, California

Description

The project will result in up to 28,650 acres of private non-industrial timberlands and woodlands receiving site preparation to remove dead and dying trees and shrubs and regrowth of competing vegetation resulting from the Hog, Sheep, Sugar, and Dixie Fires, planting of seedlings to reforest areas prepped as a result of this project and other areas previously cleared by private landowners. The project proposes removal of standing dead biomass material for site preparation in burned stands of Eastside Pine (EPN), Sierra Mixed Conifer (SMC), and Montane Hardwood Conifer (MHC) habitats (See Project Vicinity and Project Area Map). Clearing dead and dying trees which will fall down over time and become a fuel hazard to the reforested area is a key step in ensuring successful regeneration and protecting the investment from reburning. Long-term, downed firekilled trees inhibit reforestation treatments, increase watershed degradation, decompose and increase fuel loads for a highly probable reburn event. Both occurrences release excess greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Projects will be implemented within the project area over several years as funding becomes available. Site preparation will begin as soon as possible and will remain continuous as weather permits. Variable prescriptions will be applied to promote Habitat Retention Areas (HRA). HRAs will be established to preserve some snag and thicket structure where appropriate. Up to 10% of the total area would be left untreated as HRA. The largest tree snags (over 18” DBH) will be left onsite for habitat value. Steep areas (>40% slope) will not be treated. To complete site preparation, all areas cleared will have follow-up herbicide treatment to remove resprouting woody vegetation and grasses from competition with the new conifer seedlings. Herbicide treatments will occur in early summer to fall. Watercourses and springs will be buffered per herbicide label requirements. The spring after site preparation, trees will be planted. Variable density silviculture prescriptions will be used to promote a mixture of tree sizes and structural diversity throughout the project area. “Islands” of area will be established using native plant seed. These seeded patches will vary in size, from two up to ten acres. The seed mix is certified weed free and composed of native grasses, forbs, and brush. Seed will be broadcast in the fall. Residual stands will be more open, increasing the amount of available soil moisture and sunlight for individual trees. Allowing some shrub cover in regenerating forests, in balance with tree seedlings, will increase the resilience and habitat diversity of reforested areas. Erosion control will be installed on disturbed areas and all roads used for hauling and yarding per Forest Practice Rules (14 CCR §943). Much of the thinning activity and removal of trees >11” dbh will be conducted under California Forest Practice Exemptions. The balance of the treatment activities, including the mastication of brush and small trees, hand treatments of brush and small trees, prescribed fire, herbicide treatments, and tree planting will be conducted under this Notice of Exemption (NOE).

4 documents in project