Rumsey Buffer Prescribed Burn and Prescribed Grazing

Rumsey Buffer Prescribed Burn and Prescribed Grazing

The Capay Valley Fire Protection District (FPO), in partnership with Yolo County Resource Conservation District, is continuing implementation of the Rumsey Buffer project across multiple properties in northern Rumsey, CA. The project consists of fuels management strategies including prescribed fire, prescribed grazing, pile burning, and mechanical thinning and chipping. In previous years, the project area has been managed with prescribed fire, mechanical thinning, and pile burning. The primary management objective across the project area is hazardous fuels reduction to reduce dead and downed debris and manage invasive grasses and yellow starthistle. In late spring/early summer of 2026, an 11-acre prescribed burn is planned to occur on parcel 060270002 to be implemented by the Ca pay Valley FPO with support from the Yolo County RCD and other local agencies. Burning may occur in subsequent years in the spring or fall with appropriate species monitoring and buffers implemented. Within the burn unit, containment lines (mowed buffers) will be implemented to ensure fire stays within the burn unit. This project continues management of the Rumsey Buffer Project. All burning will be performed or supervised by the Capay Valley Fire Protection District in accordance with the terms and conditions of an air quality burn permit issued by the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District. Fuels management and pile burning decreases fuel continuity, which reduces the probability of catastrophic wildfires and promotes a healthy ecosystem. A biological assessment and site visits performed by Yolo County RCD identified two active nests on the parcel next to the prescribed fire footprint: a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and a white-tailed kite (Elanus leucurus). Both species are species of concern and subject to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Yolo County RCD qualified biologists consulted with CDFW to develop a Biological Monitoring Plan and to identify proper buffer measures to ensure work does not impact the nesting species. Bald eagle Buffer and Monitoring An active bald eagle nest was identified in a eucalyptus tree 684 feet from the burn site. This nest does not have a direct line of site with the prescribed burn project site and will not be impacted by prescribed fire smoke. A 660-foot no-disturbance buffer will be implemented between the tree with the active nest and the burn unit. No ignition, vehicles, equipment, or staff will be allowed within the buffer. An on-site biologist will monitor the nest during site preparation, burn operations, and active work for signs of disturbance and work will be halted if the birds show signs of disturbance. White-tailed kite Buffer and Monitoring An active white tailed kite nest was identified in a tree approximately 840 feet from the burn site. This nest does not have a direct line of site with the prescribed burn project site and will not be impacted by prescribed fire smoke. An on-site biologist will monitor the nest during site preparation, burn operations, and active work for signs of disturbance and work will be halted if the birds show signs of disturbance. Burning and site prep is planned for mid to late May which is later in the development season of chicks, especially for the white-tailed kite chicks. For both species, smoke impacts will be minimal or non-existent and implementation of the burn will be halted if smoke drifts towards the nest. Capay Valley Fire Protection District (CVFPD) is the lead implementor for the prescribed burn. CVFPD will obtain CAL FIRE burn permits (if required) and submit a Smoke Management Plan and coordinate with the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District. RCD staff, who are Firefighter Type II certified, will be on-site to assist with the burn and survey and monitor (both in the weeks before the burn and during active work) for species. Additional work that may occur in this project area (across all three parcels) includes pile burning, prescribed grazing, mechanical thinning, and chipping but will not occur while occur while nesting birds are on-site without no-disturbance buffers and monitoring (when appropriate).

Rumsey

Yolo

Unincorporated

Yolo