Pine Mountain Lake Fuel Reduction Project
4 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024010405
Lead Agency
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
(CAL FIRE)
Document Title
Pine Mountain Lake Fuel Reduction Project
Document Type
MND - Mitigated Negative Declaration
Received
Present Land Use
The Pine Mountain Lake Association (PMLA) is a large Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) subdivision in an extreme fire hazard zone in southern Tuolumne County. Since the major bark beetle infestation began in 2010, due to drought conditions and expanding climate change, the landscapes around Pine Mountain Lake have been dramatically impacted by conifer mortality. In some sections of the forest, it is not uncommon to witness over 50% mortality of the mature ponderosa pine component of the Sierra mixed conifer habitat type. Within the 3,360 acres that encompasses the PMLA, most of the dead, standing trees around houses and structures have been addressed through the hard work of the community. Their uninhabited green space has not been treated. This green space of PMLA, and adjacent properties to the east, need to have the dangerous dead fuels removed. These untreated lands to the east are relatively large parcels owned by landowners who have limited financial resources to adequately address the imposing wildfire threat that is currently present. The town of Groveland is located to the west of PMLA and is an important gateway to Yosemite National Park. Both PMLA and Groveland are large economic centers within Tuolumne County. This Project will dramatically decrease the wildfire threat to the 2,834 parcels within PMLA, and the approximately 1,250 other parcels within the Groveland Community Service District. This region of Tuolumne County has historically been impacted by large wildfires. This Project’s intent is to develop a defensible fuel break on the eastern flank of Pine Mountain Lake and Groveland. This Project will develop a defensible fuel break of approximately 820 acres, using the anchors of Highway 120 to the south and the rim of the Tuolumne River to the north.
Document Description
The PMLFR Project is composed of two contiguous areas: Pine Mountain Lake 1 (PML 1) and Pine Mountain Lake 2 (PML 2). PML 1 is a 640 acre area just east of the PMLA. The first two phases described below have been completed in this area. This work was completed under SCH #2024010405. PML 2 is comprised of two different locations. The first is a 156 acre area east of PML 1 and the second is an approximately 22-acre area within the PML 1 boundary. It is funded under CAL FIRE Grant 5GG23222. No work has been done in PML 2. A variety of methods will be utilized to reduce fuel loading and remove ladder fuels on this highly dense, approximately 820 acre WUI area east of Pine Mountain Lake.
Phase I: Initial Fuels Reduction
Manual or mechanical tree felling of dead/hazard trees with a felling crew with chain saw or tracked style feller buncher to establish a safe work environment. Brush, ladder fuels and suppressed trees less than 12” DBH will be targeted for removal with a goal of retaining diverse species and stand structure. Ideal spacing in the treated landscape will be variable and dependent on vegetation density. Generally, 10-40 foot crown spacing. The primary treatment method for this will be mastication using tracked style excavators or skid-steers.
Phase II: Slash Treatment
Slash treatment (if required) will be done with a tracked or rubber-tired masticator. In areas where machinery is unable to access or is excluded from, slash disposal will be done by hand and piled for burning or lopped and scattered.
Phase III: Maintenance
A targeted herbicide hand application may be conducted 1-2 growing seasons after Phase 1 activities have been completed in an area.
- Herbivory may be used to browse the resprouting vegetation. If herbivory is used it is anticipated that:
- Locally sourced goats will be used for the grazing treatment.
- There will be approximately 50 head of goats when executing the herbivory treatment.
- Exclusion fencing will be installed to protect riparian and sensitive botanical resources. The fencing will be removed immediately following herbivory activities.
- Herbivory activities can occur anytime of the year.
Prescribed burning may also be utilized.
Contact Information
Name
Len Nielson
Agency Name
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Job Title
Staff Chief of Prescribed Fire and Environmental Protection
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Groveland
Counties
Tuolumne
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
Ferretti Rd and Clinton Rd
Zip
95321
Total Acres
820
Parcel #
many
State Highways
120
Railways
none
Airports
Pine Mountain Lake Airport
Schools
Tenya and Tioga, BOF/G District
Waterways
Long Gulch, Big Creek and Texas Gulch
Township
1S
Range
16E
Section
13, 23
Base
MDBM
Other Location Info
The Pine Mountain Lake Fuel Reduction (PMLFR) Project is located East of Groveland, CA adjacent to the community of Pine Mountain Lake in Tuolumne County. The Project footprint is owned by multiple private landowners. The PMLFR Project boundary is described as portions of sections 13, 23, 24, 25 & 26, T1S, R16E and portions of section 19, T1S, R17E, Mount Diablo Baseline and Meridian (MDB&M).
Other Information
APN No:
066-160-054
066-160-069
066-160-071
066-160-071
066-160-076
066-160-077
066-160-077
066-160-078
066-160-084
066-160-085
066-220-074
066-220-093
066-340-008
066-460-006
066-460-007
066-460-010
066-460-013
066-460-022
066-460-023
066-460-024
066-460-025
066-460-028
066-460-029
066-460-030
066-460-031
066-460-042
066-460-043
066-740-008
066-740-009
066-830-001
066-830-002
066-830-005
090-010-016
090-010-024
090-010-025
Notice of Completion
State Review Period Start
State Review Period End
State Reviewing Agencies
California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 10 (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Fish and Game Commission (CDFGC), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Fresno Region 5 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Central Valley Flood Protection Board, Delta Protection Commission, Delta Stewardship Council, Department of General Services (DGS), Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board, Divison of Financial Assistance
Development Types
Other (Fuels Reduction)
Local Actions
Fuels Reduction
Project Issues
Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Geology/Soils, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Noise, Recreation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildfire
Public Review Period Start
Public Review Period End
Attachments
Draft Environmental Document [Draft IS, NOI_NOA_Public notices, OPR Summary Form, Appx,]
Notice of Completion [NOC] Transmittal form
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