Sonoma Mountain Road Shaded Fuel Break

Sonoma Mountain Road Shaded Fuel Break

The project area is located along Sonoma Mountain Road in Petaluma, on the western side of Sonoma Mountain. The proposed project consists of constructing a 169-acre shaded fuel break along Sonoma Mountain Road. Hazardous fuels, including understory and mid-story vegetation, will be removed from both sides of the road to reduce wildfire risk and improve safe ingress and egress. In areas with gentle to moderate slopes, crews will treat vegetation up to 100 feet on both sides of the road. In areas where slopes exceed 50 percent, treatment will be limited to 30 feet on both sides of the road. On steep slopes, slash will be dragged downslope to the road prior to processing. A tracked chipper will be used to chip woody material, and chips will be broadcast onsite to a depth of no more than six inches. in steep areas, slash will be chipped at the road surface to minimize soil disturbance. Vegetation within the project area is primarily annual and perennial grassland. Smaller portions include hardwood forest, riparian forest, and herbaceous wetland communities. Fire Hazard Severity is classified as predominantly Moderate in the southern half of the project area and High in the northern half. Slopes are generally gentle to moderate in the southern portion and range from gentle to extremely steep in parts of the northern portion. However, extremely steep slopes are limited and occur only in small sections of the project area. Aspect varies throughout. Mapped soil types include Diablo clay (2-9%, 9-15%, and 15-30% slopes), Diablo clay, eroded (15-30% slopes), Goulding clay loam (5-15% slopes), Goulding cobbly clay loam (5-15%, 15-30%, 30-50%, and 50-75% slopes), Haire clay loam (9-15% slopes), Raynor clay, seeped (2—15% slopes), and Sobrante loam (30-50% slopes). These soils are generally used for rangeland, forestry, grazing, and pasture. Three tributaries to the Petaluma River occur within the project area. Lichau and Carriger Creeks enter and exit the northern portion of the project area. Lynch Creek enters the upper third of the project area from the east and flows southwest, roughly parallel to the project corridor, before crossing into the project area again in the southern portion. Operational limitations for watercourses and wetlands will include establishment of a no-operation buffer. No vegetation removal or ground disturbance will occur within these buffers without clearance from a qualified Registered Professional Forester or qualified biologist confirming the absence of species listed under the Federal or State Endangered Species Act.

Petaluma

Sonoma

Citywide

Sonoma