Mountain Fire Reforestation

Mountain Fire Reforestation

This project will result in a minor amount of soil disturbance due to mechanical mastication. However, given the one-time nature of mechanical mastication operations, soil disturbance will be minimized. All heavy equipment use will comply with the standard prescribed in the California Forest Practice Rules. Hand crew work (lopping and scattering slash and brush), planting, and herbicide application are not expected to create a significant soil disturbance. This project is located on privately owned property in the Skookum Gulch Planning Watershed (PW) (tributary to Moffett Creek and Scott River, approximately 11 ¾ miles southeast of Fort Jones, CA), Malley Rock and Lime Gulch Planning Watersheds (tributary to Willow Creek and Shasta River, approximately 6 ½ miles west-southwest of Gazelle, CA), and Doggett Creek, Dona Creek, Marble Creek, and Quigleys Cove Planning Watersheds (tributary to the Klamath River approximately 1 mile west-northwest of Klamath River, CA). The portions of the project area in the Skookum Gulch, Malley Rock, and Lime Gulch PWs were devastated in the 2022 Mountain Fire, with the portion in the Doggett Creek, Dona Creek, Marble Creek, and Quigleys Cove PWs burned in the 2022 McKinney Fire. The Mountain Fire, which started the same afternoon as the Mill Fire that destroyed parts of Weed, experienced rapid growth with nearly 1,500 acres burned in the first 24 hours and nearly 11,500 in 72 hours. Total fire area included 13,440 acres. Most of the natural habitat including timber resources, shrubs, grasses and wildlife were destroyed during this fire event. The riparian habitat along portions of Moffett Creek, Skookum Gulch, Sissel Gulch, Willow Creek, and Lime Gulch, and many unnamed tributaries was also damaged or destroyed. The McKinney Fire experienced explosive weather-driven growth consuming more than 50,000 acres in less than 36 hours, destroying at least 185 structures (including most of the community of Klamath River) and causing 4 fatalities. The total fire area included more than 60,000 acres. Most, if not all, natural habitat including timber resources, shrubs, grasses and wildlife were destroyed during this fire event. On the north side of the Klamath River, riparian habitat along portions of Doggett Creek, Smith Gulch, Fish Gulch, and Quigley’s Cove, and unnamed tributaries was also destroyed. These areas had largely been burned in the 2014 Beaver Fire and replanted following salvage harvesting at that time. Notices of Emergency Timber Operations 2-22EM-00254-SIS and 2-22EM-00268-SIS were filed by RPF #3106 Cole Humphrey, 2-22EM-00281-SIS and 2-23EM-00046-SIS were filed by RPF #2830 Jad Dickson, and 2-22EM-00253- SIS and 2-23EM-00131-SIS were filed by RPF #2867 Clayton Code. All of these harvest documents included a comprehensive review of known occurrences of Rare, Threatened, or Endangered plant or animal species within the treatment areas where none were discovered. Additionally, Confidential Archaeological Letters were filed for all projects. Salvageable timber resources were removed from the project area from Fall of 2022 into Spring of 2024. This project intends to accomplish the following goals: 1) reduce the threat of future wildfire by treating standing dead trees and brush through masticating or hand treating that material, 2) improve forest health by planting healthy young tree seedlings of several species using locally sourced seed from the appropriate seed zone(s), and 3) increase carbon storage through the management of newly planted tree seedlings. Treatments to accomplish these goals include mechanical site preparation, hand site preparation within riparian areas, tree planting and herbicide applications to ensure seedling establishment and survival.

Fort Jones, Gazelle, Klamath River

Siskiyou

Unincorporated

Siskiyou