Lakehead Area Strategic Fuels Management Plan

8/3/2019 Lakehead Area Strategic Fuels Management Plan

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LAKEHEAD AREA STRATEGIC FUEL

REDUCTION PLAN

FOR PRIVATE LAND

March 2004

Prepared For: Lakehead Fire Safe Council

By: Western Shasta Resource Conservation District


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

II. INTRODUCTIONA. Introduction B. Statement of Need C. Goals and Objectives D. Methodology

III. SUPPORTING PLANS, ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIESA. National Fire Plan B. California Fire Plan C. Shasta County Fire Safe Council D. Shasta Trinity National Forest

E. Private Timber Production Zones F. Private Land Other G. Partners

IV. ANALYSIS OF FUEL INVENTORY AND CONDITIONSA. Recent History of Major Fires B. Agency Large Fire Databases C. Wildland Fire Environment

D. Fuel Inventory V. VALUES AT RISK

A. Residences and Major Structures B. Forest Land C. Fish and Wildlife

VI. FUEL TREATMENTSA. Introduction B. Shaded Fuelbreaks C Mechanical Treatment D Maintenance Treatment

VII. SOILS


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XII. STRATEGIC FUEL MANAGEMENT PLAN ACTION ITEMSA. Introduction

B. Potential Projects C. Construct Shaded Fuelbreaks D. Communities At Risk E Undeveloped Lots F. Community Evacuation Plan G. Fire Safety H. Fire Early Warning System I. Grant Funding Opportunities

XIII. REFERENCES

TABLES1. Fuel Model Types 2. Acres of Vegetation Type 3. Lakehead Fire Safe Area Roads 4. Funding Sources and Cost Share Programs 5. Proposed Fuelbreak Project Locations

APPENDIX AND MAPSAPPENDIX

A. GLOSSARY B. PROJECT TEAM

C. COMMUNITY FIRE SAFE FUEL REDUCTION GUIDELINES MAPS

LAKEHEAD FIRE SAFE COUNCIL AREA ZIP CODE 960511. GENERAL VEGETATION 2. FIRE HISTORY 3. FUEL MODELS 4. VALUE/HAZARD/RISK RATING

5. LAND OWNERSHIP 6. PLANTS AND WILDLIFE 7. SOILS 8. EXISTING ROADS 9. LOCATION OF PROPOSED FUELBREAK PROJECTS


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LAKEHEAD AREA STRATEGIC FUEL PLANI. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Wildfire plays a natural part in the evolution of vegetation in the 256,000-acrLakehead Fire Safe Council Area (LFSCA), located 26 miles north of Redding,California. Vegetation in the area is characterized by seven vegetation types: DouglaMixed Conifer Forest, Mixed Conifer, Ponderosa Pine, Canyon Live Oak WoodlandBlack Oak Woodland, Gray Pine Woodland, and Chaparral. Elevation ranges for thevegetation types are between 1,065 feet (lake shore) and 5,613 at Tombstone Mounta

Successful fire suppression activities combined with successful historic fuelmodification for the past eighty years have significantly increased the volume of vegetation across the landscape, resulting in High to Very High Fire Hazard Ratings the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CDF). The USDA ForestService (USFS) rates the LFSCA as an extreme wildfire zone.

The number and size of devastating wildfires impacting the western United Sover the past ten years resulted in the creation of a National Fire Plan for the U. S.Departments of Interior and Agriculture. Funding was made available through theNational Fire Plan, California Fire Plan and other agencies to assist local communitieand watershed groups in identifying/planning and implementing fuel reduction proje

The Lakehead Area Strategic Fuel Plan has been prepared by the WesternResource Conservation District under a grant through the Shasta County RAC from tUSFS Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000. The

community of Lakehead and surrounding rural residential areas have a population ofabout 556 permanent residences housing 1,220 permanent residents, and about 223seasonal/recreational residences spread throughout the LFSCA (U.S. 2000 census).There are also camping areas (public and private) and resorts.

The purpose of this plan is to identify and lay out a network for the constructof shaded fuelbreaks and other community activities that dovetail with fuel reductionplans of the USFS. These combined projects will be designed to increase protectionthose living in the area, protect values at risk, provide firefighter safety when contain

blaze, allow residents safe transportation routes away from a wildfire, and encouragemaintenance plan to protect and continue this fuel reduction plan.Prior to this plan, an inventory and location of the various fuel types was

completed for the area (Shasta Lake West Watershed Analysis, October 2000). Thiswas used to predict fire behavior in various vegetation types, and a fuel reduction plawas developed by the USFS to be implemented on public land. The intermingling o


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II. INTRODUCTION

A. INTRODUCTION In 2003 the Shasta County Resource Advisory Committee authorized the US

Forest Service through the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determinationof 2000, to award funding to the Western Shasta Resource Conservation District(WSRCD) to prepare a Strategic Fuel Reduction Plan for the Lakehead Area. This psupports the goals and objectives of the Shasta Lake West Watershed Analysis (USFOctober 2000), and the USFS Fuel Reduction Plan. WSRCD has completed otherstrategic fuels reduction plans in the district for the Lower Clear Creek Watershed, UClear Creek Watershed, Cottonwood Creek Watershed, Shingletown Ridge Area, ShWest Watershed, and Cow Creek Watershed.

The Lakehead community is located on the Sacramento River Arm of ShastaLake, in the Interstate 5 corridor, approximately 26 miles north of the City of ReddinCalifornia and 235 miles north of San Francisco. The Lakehead Area is part of the USacramento River Basin (Hydrologic Unit Code 18020112) and is an importantwatershed of the Sacramento River and Shasta Lake. The immediate watershed in wthe Lakehead area resides is called the Shasta Lake West Watershed (U.S.D.A. ForesService 2000).

The Lakehead Fire Safe Council covers an area about 25 miles long, whichaverages about 20 miles wide, and covers a total area of about 400 square miles orapproximately 256,000 acres. Access to the area is via Interstate 5. Access from thesouth is also available from Shasta Lake. Access from the west is available from sevForest Service roads.

The topography of this watershed is steep, with elevations from 1,065 to 5,61

feet, draining into Upper Sacramento River and flowing into Shasta Lake. The area remained relatively undeveloped over time and is a high quality water supply for theCentral Valley Project, which supplies water throughout the state.

The communities within the Lakehead Fire Safe Council Area are: LaMoineVollmers, Delta, Lakehead, Lakeshore, and Gilman Road area. With the presence ofShasta Lake National Recreation Area (NRA), the area is heavily used for recreationLand ownership is 56% public and 44% private. The USDA Forest Service (USFS)lies within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

Fuels reduction projects for the Lakehead community area are of high prioritbecause the area is:

Surrounded by the Shasta Trinity National Forest on all sides; Located near areas where major large fires have occurred to the north

east, and southwest of the community; and is


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Drainages in the watershed that were affected by the High Complex Fire inclCharlie Creek, Sugarloaf Creek, Big Backbone Creek, and Little Backbone Creek.

Charlie Creek serves as the domestic water supply for the City of Lakehead.

Ten recommendations were made in this USDA Forest Service report forresources other than riparian reserve management. The #1 recommendation is: accefire hazard risk on public lands located adjacent to the Lakehead urban interface. Inaddition, identify potential projects for fuels treatments to reduce the fuel hazard andof fire starts in the urban interface.

B. STATEMENT OF NEEDi. History

The following information has been excerpted from the Shasta Lake West Watershed Analysis, October 2000. This document was prepared by the USFS forecosystem recovery efforts in the Shasta Lake West Watershed.

Native American groups inhabited the LFSC area for thousands of years prioEuropean settlement. Native Americans hunted and gathered food and other suppliethe LFSCA. When the first fur trappers followed the Sacramento River in search of beaver they found the area populated by the nomtipom or Upper Sacramento RiveWintu. Most of the Wintu villages were located on terraces lining the Sacramento Rthat are now inundated by Shasta Lake. The Wintu traveled to the upland, forested aof the area to the west to collect acorns, gray pine nuts, buckeye, and other food and food materials. Tributary creeks were rich in suckers, and the Sacramento River wasource of salmon.

Although very little archaeological investigation has been conducted in theimmediate area, a major exception was the excavation of two large prehistoric villageDelta, commissioned in 1985 by the CalTrans relocation of Interstate 5. These sitesalong with two others at LaMoine and Pollard Flat resulted in establishment of aprehistoric chronology stretching over 5,000 years into the past. Dating techniques radiocarbon and obsidian hydration and differences in artifact types and prehistoricuse patterns led the investigators to divide prehistoric time in the area into three perioOnly the latest is associated with or temporally equivalent to the Wintu occupation.Earlier groups hunted on the slopes and ridge tops, fished in the creeks, and collected

large quantities of pine nuts from gray pine, camping where their pursuits took themThe past 150 years have brought many changes to the physical, biological, ahuman elements of the area. The Sacramento River trail was first explored in 1830 bHudsons Bay trapper Peter Skene Ogdon. The trail came to be known as the westbranch of the California-Oregon Trail. During the gold rush the route became a majomule trail and later a wagon road connecting Shasta and Yreka.


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Railroad, which was extended north from Redding in 1872. Settlements sprang up amany of the railroad stops such as Morley, Elmore, Pollack, Antlers, and Delta. Man

these sites are now under water.

ii. Previous Reports The Shasta Lake West Watershed Analysis was completed in October 2000

recommendations identified were in the areas of: Riparian Reserve Management andOther Resource Recommendations. Under Other Resource Recommendations applito the scope of this fuel reduction plan, the #1 priority was:

Assess fire hazard and risk on public lands located adjacent to the Lakehead interface. Identify potential projects for fuels treatments to reduce the fuel hazard anrisk of fire starts in the urban interface. An additional recommendation was to improfire suppression abilities and fire fighter safety by treating fuels along selected ridgelto minimize the spread of fire within and out of the watershed. Thinning activities shfocus on the reduction of both ground and vertical fuel ladders.

The Soil Survey of Shasta-Trinity National Forest Area, California was cfor soil information. Specific information was used from the General Soil Maps, andfrom individual soil mapping unit descriptions.

iii. ClimateThe Lakehead Area experiences extreme fire weather conditions, especially

May until September, when the high temperature frequently goes above 110 degreessustained periods. Frequent strong zonal north winds occur throughout the summer;lightning storms occur most years; and dry winds are common in the late summer anthroughout the fall.

Generally, the climate of the Lakehead FSC Area is seasonal and varies withelevation. The summers are hot and dry and winters are cool with moderate rainfall, snow above 4,000 feet elevation.

The average annual precipitation in the Sacramento River Basin varies from of 30 inches north of Mount Shasta City, to a high of 80 inches near High Mountain.

iv. Wildlife and Plants

Large ponderosa pine trees within one mile of Shasta Lake provide existing potential nest sites for bald eagles. Eagles are more likely to nest in trees that are locclose to water. Snags provide roosting sites for eagles, as well as habitat for cavitynesting birds.

Potential habitat for the long horned elderberry beetle may be present in theLakehead Area. Elderberry bushes are found within riparian zones of streams that b


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C. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PLAN

The purpose of this plan is to create a fuel reduction plan for the Lakehead aThis area consists of high fire risk properties clustered in the canyons with tributariesShasta Lake, and the developed areas around Shasta Lake. This plan was completedpartnership with CDF, USFS, Lakehead Fire Department, the Lakehead Fire Safe Co(LFSC), and any other businesses and agencies that have interest in or jurisdiction inLakehead vicinity.

The goals and objectives of this plan are to:

Provide for personal safety and minimize property loss Create a fire safe corridor along Interstate 5, the Union Pacific Railroad, and

Sacramento River from [Bridge Bay to LaMoine] Develop a citizen volunteer fire protection/inspector program Partner with USFS and private landowners on a strategic fuels reduction plan Develop neighborhood fuel reduction plans

Develop a community educational program to promote fire-safe standards anpractices for business owners and homeowners to reduce fuel build up on theproperties

Develop a chipping program to reduce community fuels Assist the Lakehead Volunteer Fire Company to up-grade their firefighting

equipment Invite Union Pacific Railroad, CalTrans, Sierra Pacific Industries, Shasta Cou

Road Department to partnership with the LFSC Protect ecological and landscape values to soils and to the environment Reduce volatile fuels on ridge lines, roads and large blocks of property Minimize the risk of fire starts Minimize wildfire from burning into the watershed Reduce fuels so that large trees or other valued landscape vegetation will be

spared Encourage safe burning practices for the reduction of fuels

Identify agency and landowner fire prevention responsibilities Encourage and maintain multi-agency and land owner responsibilities in theimplementation and maintenance of this plan

D. METHODOLOGYThe activities necessary for the development of the Lakehead Strategic Fuel


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Identify long term maintenance options for fuelbreaks Identify potential mechanical treatments and possible uses of excess fuels Develop a priority list of recommendations and potential funding sources Complete a draft fuel management plan for review by the TAC Present a draft fuel management plan to the community through the LFSC Incorporate recommendations and issue a final plan

III. SUPPORTING PLANS, ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES

A. NATIONAL FIRE PLANIn 2001 the Chief of the USDA Forest Service published a National Fire P

(U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2001), which is acohesive strategy for improving the resilience and sustainability of forests and grasslat risk, for conserving priority watersheds, species and biodiversity, reducing wildlanfire costs, losses and damages, and to better ensure public and firefighter safety. Toachieve these goals, work began to improve firefighting readiness, prevention throug

education, rehabilitation of watershed functions, hazardous fuel reduction, restorationcollaborative stewardship, monitoring jobs, and applied research and technology tranThe objective of the National Fire Plan is to describe actions that could restor

healthy, diverse, and resilient ecological systems to minimize the potential foruncharacteristically intense fires on a priority basis. Methods include removal of excessive vegetation and dead fuels through thinning, prescribed fire and other treatmmethods. The focus of the strategy is on restoring ecosystems that evolved withfrequently occurring, low intensity fires. These fires typically occurred at intervals of

between 1-35 years and served to reduce the growth of brush and other understoryvegetation while generally leaving larger, older trees intact. The report is based on thpremise that sustainable resources depend on healthy, properly functioning, resilientecosystems. The first priority for restoration is the millions of acres of already roadedmanaged landscapes that are in close proximity to communities. More information abthe National Fire Plan is available on the Internet at www.fireplan.gov.

B. THE CALIFORNIA FIRE PLANThe California Fire Plan has five strategic objectives: Create wildfire protection zones that reduce risks to citizens and firefight Assess all wildlands (not just the state responsibility areas) to identify hig

risk, high-value areas and develop information and determine who isresponsible, who is responding, and who is paying for wildland fireemergencies


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before unacceptable costs are incurred. Assets at risk are identified and include citizeand firefighter safety, watersheds, water, timber, wildlife, habitat, unique areas,

recreation, range structures, and air quality. Air quality is a factor because based on tannual average acres burned by wildfires from 1985-1994, CDF calculates wildfires almost 600,000 tons of air pollutants each year.

The safety and asset assessments in the plan enable fire service managers andstakeholders to set priorities for prefire management project work. Prefire managemeincludes a combination of fuels reduction, ignition management, fire-safe engineerinactivities and improvements to forest health to protect public and private assets. CDFfinds there is a direct relationship between reduced expenditures for prefire managem

and suppression and increased emergency fund expenditures, disaster funding, andprivate taxpayers expenditures and losses.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) is responsibfire suppression on privately-owned wildlands and provides emergency services undcooperative agreements with the counties.

In 2000 the State Board of Forestry and CDF completed a comprehensive upof the state fire plan for wildland fire protection in California. The overall goal of theplan is to reduce total costs and losses from wildland fire by protecting assets at risk through focused prefire management prescriptions and increasing initial attack succeCDFs statewide Initial Attack Fire Policy is to aggressively attack all wildfires, withgoal of containing 95% of all fire starts to 10 acres or less.

In the Lakehead Fire Safe Council Area (LFSCA), USFS shares responsibilitwildland fire protection with the Lakehead Volunteer Fire Company and Shasta CouFire Department (CDF) on all ownerships. CDF and the USFS have entered into acooperative agreement for dispatching and resource sharing on all wildland firesoccurring in the mutual threat zone near the I-5 corridor. In the I-5 corridor, fromBridge Bay north through Castle Crags State Park, the USFS responds to wildland fiand the Lakehead Volunteer Fire Company, in cooperation with Mountain Gate FireProtection District responds to structure and vehicle fires. The cooperative agreemenconjunction with the California Cooperative Fire Agreement on Wildland FireSuppression between CDF, USFS, NPS, and BLM, outlines the cooperative sharing resources for wildland fire suppression, since wildfires do not recognize political orownership boundaries.

In summary, USFS and CDF believe that cooperative fire protection, fuelsreduction, and fire prevention must be linked in order to have future success in dealinwith the wildfire problems within the Lakehead FSCA.

C. SHASTA COUNTY FIRE SAFE COUNCILThe Shasta County Fire Safe Council (SCFSC) was formed in May 2002 as


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educational exhibit housed in a trailer designed specifically for the purpose. The trawill be available for use by fire safe councils throughout the county for use at school

fairs, and other civic gatherings. For more information check out SCFSC on the webwww.shastacountyfiresafecouncil.org .

D. SHASTA TRINITY NATIONAL FORESTThe Forest Service administers about 194,312 acres or 56% of the Lakehead

Safe Council Area (See Map #5). These lands are managed as part of the NationalRecreation Area of the Shasta Trinity National Forest (STNF). A completed Fue

Analysis and Strategy provides a basis for managers to make decisions concerning

placement and priorities of fuels management projects. It is a unit level analysis meanfor forest level considerations. The report states it may also be used as a tool for projlevel planning.

The analysis characterizes the STNF in terms of hazard, risk and value. Hazadefined as fire behavior potential, which has implications for resource damage as wesuppression capability. Risk is the probability of a fire occurring based on local firehistory. Value refers to the monetary, ecological or political worth of a definable areathree values (hazard, risk and value) are quantified by a measure of low, moderate, ohigh through a combined use of scientific data and technical expertise, and displayedGIS map. The three are then combined in an overall rating.

The final step of this analysis prioritizes the forest in terms of critical fire danareas based on the hazard, risk and value ratings and management needs. These prioralign with the National Fire Plan and the Cohesive Strategy and will guide resourcemanagement considerations on the forest, such as natural fuels project priorities andidentification of essential road access for protection purposes. The national prioritieswildland-urban interface, readily accessible municipal watersheds, threatened andendangered species habitat, and maintenance of existing low risk Condition Class I a

E. PRIVATE TIMBER PRODUCTION ZONES About 77,384 acres or 22% of the Lakehead FSCA are owned by private for

landowners who manage the lands as Timber Production Zones (TPZs), which arerestricted to timber production and certain compatible uses (See Map #5). Sierra Pac

Industries is the largest commercial forest landowner in the watershed.Typically, all contractors and employees permitted on private forest land arerequired to make every effort and take all precautions necessary to prevent fires. Asufficient supply of hand tools are maintained on a job site at all times for fire fightinpurposes only. Tools include shovels, axes, saws, backpack pumps, and scraping tooEach forest worker, employee, or person permitted on private forest land is required


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Specific treatments are required for limbs and other woody debris (often callslash) created by harvest operations in order to minimize fire hazards in areas where

public has access. It can include piling and burning slash no later than April 1 of the following its creation, or within a specified period of time after fire season, or as justin the associated Timber Harvest Plan. Within 100 feet of the edge of the traveled suof public roads, and within 50 feet of the edge of the traveled surface of permanentprivate roads open for public use where permission to pass is not required, slash and trees knocked down by road construction or timber operations are typically lopped fofire hazard reduction, then piled and burned, chipped, buried or removed from the arLopping is defined as severing and spreading slash so that no part of it remains more

30 above the ground. All woody debris created by harvest operations greater than oinch (1) and less than eight inches (8) in diameter within 100 feet of permanentlylocated structures maintained for human habitation are removed or piled and burned.slash created between 100-200 feet of permanently located structures maintained forhuman habitation are usually lopped (cut) for fire hazard reduction, removed, chippepiled and burned. Lopping may be required between 200-500 feet from a structure ifunusual fire risk or hazard has been determined.

F. PRIVATE LAND OTHER Other private land in the watershed totals about 75,614 acres or 22% of the

Lakehead FSC Area (See Map #5). Private land use includes residences, businesses,recreation facilities in and around the communities of Lakehead, Lakeshore, Delta,Pollard Flat, Vollmers, and LaMoine, and the Gilman Road Area.

G. PARTNERSThe Lakehead Fire Safe Council was founded in 2001 by a group of homeow

who recognized the need to reduce the hazard of wildfire from around their communand homes. The LFSC Mission Statement is:

The goal of this council is to identify, define, and reduce the fire danger in our area. The Scope of this Lakehead Fire Safe Council (LFSC) will encompass all

Lakehead area residents including, but not limited to all 96051 zip code residents.The goals and objectives of LFSC follow:

Establish guidelines including:

1.

Development of Fire Safety education2. Identify local fire dangers and develop a community wildfireprotection plan

3. Develop and implement plans to reduce fire danger4. Develop evacuation procedures5. Continue expansion of guidelines for LFSC


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Shasta County Fire Safe Council (SCFSC), Shasta County Sheriffs Department, ShasCom, Shasta County Road Department, Lakehead Volunteer Fire Company, Shasta County Fire Department, Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI), Union Pacific Railroad, Shasta Lake Business Owners Association,

OBrien Mountain Homeowners Association, Salt Creek Special Use Group, Campbell Creek Special Use Group, Local water utility groups, Upper Sacramento River Exchange, The communities of: Lakehead, Lakeshore, Delta, Pollard Flat, Vollmers

LaMoine, and the Gilman Road Area.

IV. ANALYSIS OF FUEL INVENTORY AND CONDITIONS

A. RECENT HISTORY OF MAJOR FIRES The following fire history was supplied by Jim Harkabus, Chief of the Lakeh

Volunteer Fire Company. This information is based on his years of experience servion the Lakehead Volunteer Fire Company.

The Lakehead area has experienced two (2) major fires in the last 20 years, pnumerous smaller fires each year that were caught in their initial stages by aggressivesuppression or otherwise restrained by less than perfect fire weather conditions.

The Delta Fire, a 1,260 acre fire was started in the early afternoon on July 181985, about 4 miles north of Lakehead by an illegal campfire down by the river. Theblew up the canyon, jumping the freeway. The conditions were critical fire danger dulow humidity, a drought, and hot weather.

In Sept. 1999, a series of dry lightning strikes sparked numerous fires around

Lakehead area. Due to depleted fire suppression resources (local fire fighters were seother numerous major fires in the western United States), the fires were able to growbecame the High Complex Fire, and ultimately threaten the town of Lakehead.

The High Complex Fire was eventually contained at around 39,000 acres, afmassive fire suppression effort by over 1,000 personnel, including over 100 structureengines deployed to protect homes. One foot bridge and a water districts above grou


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In summary, with heavy fuel loading, hot temperatures, critically low humidiand strong north winds, a major wildfire potential exists in the Lakehead and norther

Shasta County area.

B. AGENCY LARGE FIRE DATABASESCDF and USFS maintain databases and GIS layers on large fires and fire star

within and around their Forest Protection Zones (FPZ). The CDF database also inclufires recorded within the NPS FPZ. Both databases include the year of fire start, largfires, and total fire acreage, but cause of fire is included only on CDF fire start data aUSFS large fire data.

USFS records were made only of those fires that received some type of firesuppression action; fires that had no suppression activity or that went out due to natucauses were not recorded. The CDF database is also historically incomplete because does not record large fires less than 300 acres and does not contain fire starts prior to1985.

C. WILDLAND FIRE ENVIRONMENTThe three major components of the wildland fire environment are fuels, weat

and topography (National Wildland Coordination Group, 1994). Weather is a majorfactor and local weather conditions are important in predicting how a fire will behave

Within the lower elevations of the Sacramento River Canyon the wind blowsthe north during the early part of the summer and from the south during the latter parthe summer; and in the western foothills, the wind trends up the canyons on the hillseast to west. In the valley the wind patterns push wildfire in a northerly or southerlydirection and westerly direction in the foothills. From a strategic standpoint, fire sprelower elevations can most likely be decreased by an east-west oriented fuelbreak or ato set up control lines. To hold valley fires from being pulled up through chimneys the canyons of the foothills, strategically placed fuelbreaks near the foothills orientednorth-south direction can help.

Topography can affect the direction and the rate of fire spread. Topographicfactors important to fire behavior are elevation, aspect, steepness and shape of the sloWhen fire crews are considering fire suppression methods, the topography is always

critical in determining the safest and most effective plan of attack. When accessible, lines are very important features from which to conduct fire suppression activities ancan be a strategic area from which to conduct fuels management activities.

Fuel factors that influence fire behavior are: fuel moisture, fuel loading, size,compactness, horizontal continuity, vertical continuity, and chemical content. (NatioWildfire Coordinating Group 1994)


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Size refers to the dimension of fuels, and compactness refers to the spacibetween fuel particles.

Continuity is defined as the proximity of fuels to each other, vertically orhorizontally, that governs the fires capability to spread and sustain itself

Chemical content in fuels can either retard or increase the rate of combusAll of these factors will influence the quantity of heat delivered, the duration, flamelength and the rate of spread of any given fire, and should be considered prior toconsidering pre-fire projects or initiating fire suppression activities.

D. FUEL INVENTORY

The Shasta-Trinity National Forest has developed a GIS layer that shows thein the LFSC area. The Forest Service also has a layer that shows Values, Hazard, anRisk. The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), made up of landowners and agencpersonnel, expressed concern that the inventory needed a Point Fire History (locationfire starts) added to facilitate the location of fuelbreaks and other pre-fire activities. TAC agreed to seek out data to show a comparison of past and present fuel conditionthe watershed.

Fuels are made up of the various components of vegetation, live and dead, thoccur on a given site. Fuels have been classified into four groups grasses, brush, timand slash. The differences in fire behavior among these groups are basically related tfuel load and its distribution among the fuel diameter-size classes. In 1972, 13mathematical fire behavior models or Fuel Models were developed by Rothermel (19to be utilized in fire behavior predictions and applications for every vegetation type.These Fuel Models represent the types of fuel most likely to support a wildfire.

TABLE 1 FUEL MODEL TYPES

Fuel Model Fuel ComplexGrass and Grass-Dominated

1 Short Grass (1 foot)2 Timber (grass and understory)3 Tall Grass (2.5 feet)

Chaparral and shrub fields

4 Chaparral (6 feet)5 Brush (2 feet)6 Dormant brush, hardwood slash7 Southern rough

Timber litter8 Closed timber litter


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The fuel models were designed to estimate fire behavior during severe fire haconditions when wildfires pose greater control problems and severely impact natural

resources. Fuel models are simply tools to help the user realistically estimate firebehavior. The criteria for choosing a fuel model includes the assumption that fire burthe fuel stratum best conditioned to support the fire. This means that situations will owhere one fuel model will represent the rate of spread most accurately, while anotherdepicts fire intensity. In other situations, two different fuel conditions may exist, so thspread of fire across the area must be weighed by the fraction of the area occupied beach fuel type.

Results of the Fuel InventoryThe USFS Fuel Model GIS layer (Map #3) shows that 85 percent of the area

in Fuel Model # 9 or #10, and 15 percent lies in Fuel Model # 6. Following is adescription of these three predominant fuel models.

Fuel Model #9 comprises 40% of the area. Model #9 is described byAnderson, 1982, as hardwood litter. Both long-needle conifer and hardwstands are typical. Closed stands of long-needled pine like ponderosa, Jeand red pines, or southern pine plantations are grouped in this model.

Fuel Model #10 comprises 45 % of the area. Model #10 is described byAnderson, 1982, as dead-down fuels include greater quantities of 3-inch larger limbwood resulting from overmaturity or natural events that createlarge load of dead material on the forest floor. Any forest type may beconsidered if heavy downed material is present.

Fuel Model #6 is prevalent in much of the rest of the area. It is describedAnderson, 1982, as dormant brush, hardwood slash. Fuel situations to bconsidered include intermediate stands of chamise, chaparral, and oak brMuch of the remaining area is covered in low elevation hardwoods, poisoak, and whiteleaf manzanita.

TABLE 2 ACRES OF VEGETATION TYPE Fuel Model/ Vegetation Type Total Acres

6 dormant brush, slash 52,0979 hardwood litter 138,924

10 overmature litter 156,289TOTAL 347,310

To understand the current fuel loading conditions, it is important to understanpast fuel loading conditions. Due to the historical fire regime, overall plant densities


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Whatever the cause of the fuel modification, the resulting danger from wildficritical. Map # 4, Value/Hazard/Risk Rating, graphically shows the breakdown of h

medium, and low rated areas. Those areas in the wildland urban interface are graphirepresented as the High rating areas.

V. VALUES AT RISK

A. RESIDENCES AND MAJOR STRUCTURES About 556 homes and 223 vacation/recreation homes make up the communi

Lakeshore, Lakehead, Delta, Pollard Flat, Vollmers, LaMoine, the Gilman Road

Neighborhood, and the surrounding area. Major structures include stores, post officemotels, school, and resorts and marinas. The year-round population is 1,225 residenIn summer, the population can swell to three times this number of people (personalcommunication with local business leaders).

LAKEHEAD VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY


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THE LIONS CLUB HALL

CANYON COMMUNITY CHURCH


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CANYON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL


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B. FOREST LAND Private timber production zones occupy about 77,384 acres in the higher

elevations in the area. These lands are operated and managed by commercial timbercompanies, which are regulated by the California Forest Practice Rules. The intent oForest Practice Act is to create and maintain an effective and comprehensive systemregulation and use of all timberlands so as to assure that: a) where feasible, theproductivity of timberlands is restored, enhanced and maintained; and b) the goal of maximum sustained production of high-quality timber products is achieved while givconsideration to values relating to recreation, watershed, wildlife, range, forage, fisheregional economic vitality, employment and aesthetic enjoyment.

C. FISH AND WILDLIFE The LFSCA has a typical distribution of wildlife species for Douglas-fir/mix

conifer/ponderosa pine/ gray pine forests, and California black oak woodlands of northern California. Elevation and exposure are primary influences on the distributithese forest habitats. Douglas-fir occurs on north and east slopes, especially at elevaover 3,000 feet, but Douglas-fir is also a component of mixed conifer forests where texposure is slightly warmer or elevations lower. The driest habitat types occur adjac

to Shasta Lake on south slopes. These areas are often vegetated by brushfields and gpine. Ponderosa pine also occurs in these areas, but is more prevalent on east and nofacing slopes. California black oak also occurs as a minor species in all four forest tThe California black oak is an important source of mast for wildlife. Mast is the fruioaks and other trees, particularly where considered food for wildlife and domesticlivestock.

The USFS report showed the High Complex Fire had a positive overall effecwildlife habitat conditions in the LFSCA. Decadent areas of chaparral were abundanprior to the fire due to approximately 80 years of successful fire exclusion. Someforested stands were decadent, affording cover but little to no palatable forage for wispecies inhabiting the watershed. The 1999 fires have resulted in a proliferation of eseral vegetation (grasses, forbs, shrubs, young trees) in the burned areas. The increaearly seral vegetation has, in turn, increased seral stage diversity throughout the burnarea.

The USFS report states the 1999 fires had a negative effect on late-seral forehabitats. Late-seral habitats with well developed conifer over stories were present insmall patches at high elevations in the area prior to the fire. Conifer mortality was hin late seral stands that were burned at moderate and high intensities.

Listed SpeciesThe extensive forest present in the LFSCA serves as habitat for several


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Fisheries

Shasta Lake has both a warm water and a cold water fishery. The warm watfishery is dominated by spotted bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, channel catfishand blue gill. The cold water is composed of rainbow trout, brown trout, and Chinoosalmon. Native species such as white sturgeon, Sacramento blackfish, hardhead minriffle sculpin, Sacramento sucker, and Sacramento squawfish are also present, but reclittle fishing pressure. Fish habitat for warm water species is limited by the lack of cand reservoir drawdown. Habitat for cold water species is considered good.

VI. FUEL TREATMENTS

A. INTRODUCTIONReducing fuel loads is one of the most effective elements of any fire preventi

and protection program. Although fire is an integral component of the LFSCA ecosymanaging fire by managing fuel loading is critical to maintaining communities, ranchforest land, grazing lands, riparian areas, and the overall health and function of the

watershed. The ability to implement fuel reduction projects typically comes down tosource of funds available, the cost of labor, the permitting process to implement theproject, and landowner cooperation.

B. SHADED FUELBREAKSShaded fuelbreaks are constructed to create defensible space where firefighte

can conduct relatively safe fire suppression activities. Shaded fuelbreaks may also swildfires progress enough to allow supplemental attack by firefighters. The main idbehind shaded fuelbreak construction is to break up fuel continuity to prevent a fire freaching the treetops, thus forcing the fire to stay on the ground where it can be moreeasily and safely extinguished. Shaded fuelbreaks may also be utilized to replaceflammable vegetation with less flammable vegetation that burns less intensely. A wedesigned shaded fuelbreak also provides an aesthetic setting for people and a desirabhabitat for wildlife, in addition to fuels reduction. The California Board of Forestry haddressed the needs to strengthen community fire defense systems, improve forest heand provide environmental protection. The Board rules allow a Registered ProfessioForester (RPF) to use a special silviculture prescription when constructing or maintaia community fuelbreak, exempts community fuelbreaks from an assessment of maxisustained production requirements and allows defensible space prescriptions to be usaround structures.

The WSRCD, through consultation with its agency partners, has developed t


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The edges of a fuelbreak are varied to create a mosaic or natural look. Wherepossible, fuelbreaks should compliment natural or man-made barriers such as

meadows, rock outcroppings, and roadways. A maintenance plan should be developed before construction of a fuelbreak.Although a fuelbreak can be constructed in a matter of a few weeks, maintenmust be conducted periodically to keep the fuelbreak functioning properly.

The establishment of a shaded fuelbreak can lead to erosion if not properlyconstructed. Short ground cover, such as grass, should be maintained throughthe fuelbreak to protect the soil from erosion.

Demonstration Fuelbreak at Canyon School

A properly treated area should consist of well-spaced vegetation with little or no grofuels and no understory brush. Tree crowns should be approximately 10-15 feet apaThe area should be characterized by an abundance of open space and have a park liklook after treatment.

In areas where privacy is a concern, islands of brush may be left in strategicpositions. CDF recommends that brush left in place be limited to islands having a


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In dealing with chaparral, a relatively new technique called crush and burncombines mechanical fuels treatment with burning. It is more effective in eliminatin

chaparral than a low-intensity prescribed burn, which has difficulty competing with thigh moisture content of live chaparral. In this method, the chaparral is mechanicallycrushed, then piled and burned. It is a good technique for areas adjacent to communiand to encourage chaparral regeneration in riparian zones.C. MECHANICAL TREATMENT

Using mechanized equipment for reducing fuels loads on suitable topographin certain fuel types can be very effective. Depending on the use of the equipment, itrequire environmental review and documentation. Using equipment to remove exce

vegetation may enable the landowner to process the debris to a level where it can bemarketed as a product for use in power generation. The debris then becomes labeled biomass or biofuels and is further explained in Section IX of this report.

Mechanical methods to remove fuels include, but are not limited to, the utilizof bulldozers with or without brush rakes, excavators, chainsaws or mechanized fallimachines, masticators, chippers, and grinders. Mechanical treatments are typicallyconducted on chaparral landscapes with some type of masticator, which grinds standbrush and reduces it to chips, which are typically left on the ground. Brush may also

mechanically removed and fed into a grinder for biomass production. Mechanicaltreatments are also utilized on industrial and non-industrial timberlands in which treethinned by mechanized tree cutting or falling machines. In most cases, stands of treethinned from below as a means to eliminate the fuels that can take a fire higher in theforest into the tree canopy (ladder fuels). However, stands of trees may also be thinnfrom above to eliminate crown continuity.

Mechanical treatments can be used successfully on stable ground up to 50%slope, but should only be conducted during dry periods when soils are not saturated minimize erosion and compaction. The drastic visual impacts should be considered planning projects so that all parties are aware of how the area will look when the prois completed. Initial planning should address mitigation for erosion potential, usingmeasures such as waterbars, ditching, and mulching in critical areas. Furthermore, thimpacts on wildlife and archaeological resources must be addressed.

Due to air quality concerns, the mechanical treatment method is becoming a acceptable method of fuel reduction in WUI areas despite its greater cost. Comparedprescribed fire, mechanical treatment involves less risk, produces less air pollutants, more aesthetically pleasing, and allows landowners to leave desirable vegetation.

Mechanical treatment will usually necessitate a cultural resource survey,CEQA/NEPA documentation, a Natural Diversity Database search, and the preparatiWater Quality documents. The cost of these safeguards must be figured into the budfor any projects using mechanical methods.


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The time frame for maintenance is typically two years, five years and ten yeaafter initial construction of the shaded fuelbreak. Treatment with livestock would nebe repeated more frequently (See #2 below).

Periodic maintenance of a fuelbreak sustains its effectiveness. Seeding thefuelbreak with annual grass cover immediately following its construction will help rebrush and conifer invasion, but only depending on grass cover will not eliminate invplants for an extended period of time. The species of grass must be selected with carmature stand of tall grass presents a flashy fuel hazard that may be almost bad as the sprouts.

Shade is another method for controlling the re-growth of vegetation. The sh

shaded fuelbreaks is a two-fold benefit. Not only does it make the fuelbreak moreaesthetically palatable, the shade also limits the re-growth of shade intolerant speciesmanzanita and toyon.

Following are several methods to maintain fuelbreaks:

1. Herbicides The use of herbicides is a very effective and inexpensive method of eliminat

unwanted vegetation, but there are many restrictions. Some herbicides are species

specific, which means they can be used to eliminate brush species and will not harm species. Manual treatment is also a very effective means to eliminate invadingvegetation, but is very labor intensive. The cost of fuelbreak maintenance must bebalanced with its degree of effectiveness.2. Herbivores

Herbivore (goat) grazing may be used as a means of maintaining fuelbreaks,goats will eat brush and weeds. Browse makes up about 60% of a goats diet, but onabout 10-15% of a cows diet.

Goats used for fuel load reduction are managed to remove dense understory,including brush, shrubs, forbs, and lower branches to remove ladder fuels. It may reqgiving goats supplements of protein or energy, depending on the class of goats used the time of year. The choice must be balanced on the type of soil, vegetation andlivestock analysis. Monitoring of the herbivore grazing is critical since over-grazing lead to erosion.

As goats work through an area they also work on the understory, old pine neand leaves, break lower branches, and split apart old downed branch material. Once area has been brushed by goats, it can be maintained as a living green belt. Fire coor containment with goats takes coordination of the stock owner, land steward, local patrol, professional fire abatement teams, CDF, DFG, and others.

According to a report published by the North Carolina Cooperative ExtensioService, grazing goats have been observed to select grass over clover, prefer browsin


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objective is to control the invasion of unwanted species and encourage perennial grato return. In a report published by Langston University, goats improve the cycling ofplant nutrients sequestered in brush and weeds, enabling the reestablishment of grassspecies. Portable electric fencing with solar energizers is used to control the goatsforaging area.

A Rule of Thumb for the cost of using goats for fuels reduction projects wfound in a report on the Internet. A minimum effective goat herd has 500 animals, wwill remove fuel from about 3 acres per day at a cost of $1.00 per day per goat. The includes the goats, portable fencing, a goat herder, water and all transportation and dasupervision.

Herbivores Used In Fuel Reduction

3. Converting Brush Land to Forest Land Brush land frequently occurs on soils that are best suited for growing brush.

exception to this are forest soils that have been burned, and have come back to brushBrushland soils are sloping to very steep loams and are gravelly, stony, or rocky. Thsoils are usually shallow to bedrock, and available water capacity is low or very low.

Vegetation is generally chaparral, which includes such species as chamise, Lemmonceanothus, buckbrush, toyon, poison-oak, whiteleaf manzanita, and westernmountainmahogany. There are few trees occurring on the sites, such as interior live and gray pine. At least 80 percent of the surface cover is woody vegetation.

Conversion from brushland to forest land will entail a thorough investigationthe site Soil depth type aspect and exposure will all determine the success or failu


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VII. SOILS

The soil report for the Shasta-Trinity National Forest is the source of soilinformation for the LFSCA. The following soils information is excerpted from thatreport. The General Soils Map for the LFSCA appears in Map #7.

Soil parent materials in the area can be characterized as either metamorphic rdeep alluvium, or sedimentary rocks (limestone). Soils overlying metamorphic rockgenerally shallow to moderately deep, and very gravelly; erosion potential is modera

low, often depending on slope. Soils overlying alluvium are deep, fine-textured andmostly unconsolidated; erosion potential is high to very high, again this is usually tieslope. Yearly precipitation totals in the area range from 50 to 70 inches, mostly as rathe lower elevations, and snow in the higher elevations.

When parts of the area were denuded of vegetation during the copper smeltinera, 1896 to 1919, extreme soil erosion occurred in those denuded areas. On the alluterraces the extent of the erosion was disastrous. Metamorphic surfaces experiencedaccelerated erosion and lost much of their topsoil. Alluvial surfaces also experiencedaccelerated surface erosion, but what is most striking is that they all eroded into anetwork of deep gullies. What had been a terrain of gently sloping terraces became landscape of steep-sided gullies up to 20 feet deep. The gullies continued to erode fmany years after smelting ended in 1910. Despite a massive effort to plug and dam gullies from 1910 to 1960, they are only beginning to stabilize today.

Fuels management activities located on unstable soils or on slopes greater thapercent can stimulate erosion processes or exacerbate existing erosion problems;therefore, prior to any fuels management activities, all soil types within any future prarea should be identified and evaluated to determine the erosion hazard. Projects shobe designed to prevent or minimize erosion by reducing soil disturbance, maintainingvegetation where appropriate, avoiding steep and unstable slopes if possible, andincorporating the use of grass seed or fire resistant vegetation as a means to provide stabilization. Detailed soil mapping information should be examined once projectboundaries have been established.

High intensity wildfire can also damage soil by incinerating roots and the hum

layer (organic portion of soils) that holds soils together and provides energy dissipatiIn addition, the loss of large areas of vegetation can reduce evapotranspiration andincrease peak flow, which can result in augmented erosion potential, adversely affectwatershed resources. Many life forms, including invertebrates of phylum Arthropodaare essential for cycling plant material and fixing atmospheric gases, are unknowingldestroyed. These invertebrates eventually re-establish their populations, but time is lo


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Low intensity prescribed fires in light to medium fuels seldom produce enouheat to significantly damage soil or increase the erosion potential within a givenwatershed. The chemical and physical properties of soil change dramatically after a hintensity fire. Loss of organic matter causes the soil structure to deteriorate, and bothwater-storing and transmitting properties of soils are reduced. The living tissues of microorganisms and plants can be damaged by fire if the temperatures are above 120degrees F (DeBano 1970).

VIII. ROADS FOR ACCESS

Roads are an essential part of any fire and fuels management plan, providingprincipal access to the communities, homes and wild places in the watershed (See M#8). Additionally, roads may offer a defensible space from which firefighters can condirect attack on wildfires and also provide strategic locations for roadside fuelbreaksRoadside fuelbreaks provide not only defensible space for firefighters, but also a safeescape route for residents in the event of a wildfire.

Roads in the LFSCA typically intersect the Interstate 5 corridor. The area can

reached from both the north and south along I 5, which is the major connectionthroughout the area. All roads are important for providing fire protection access. Thplan will not attempt to identify and map all paved or improved roads. Roads that arevital to future projects will be included in treatment options. Following is a list of dominant fire access roads.

TABLE 3 LAKEHEAD FIRE SAFE AREA ROADS

A. MAIN NORTH SOUTH ROADSInterstate 5.

B. ROADS GOING WEST FROM INTERSTATE 5Lakeshore DriveLower Salt Creek RoadGregory Creek RoadSugarloaf-Lakeshore RoadSugarloaf Lookout RoadDog Creek RoadSlate Creek RoadHighlands Lake RoadUpper Shotgun Road


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Sims RoadNorth Salt RoadGirard Ridge Road

D. OTHER ROADSDelta Point Lookout RoadRiverview DriveMammoth DriveChamise StreetDoney Street

Snowbird LanePollard FlatGibson RoadLittle Slate Creek RoadBear Flat Way

IX. BIOMASS ANALYSIS

For thousands of years, people have been taking advantage of the earthsvegetation, also called biomass, to meet their energy needs (www.epa.gov, 2002).Technologies for using biomass continue to improve and today biomass fuels can beconverted into alternative fuels (biofuels), such as ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, and aboiler fuel for use in industrial heating and power generation.

When used for generating electricity, biomass is typically burned to transformwater into steam, which is used to drive a turbine and attached generator (www.epa.g2002). Although a majority of the biomass market is associated with energy productbiomass offers a wide verity of uses such as fiber-reinforced composites, fiber-filledthermoplastics, high performance fiberboard, cement board, mulch for landscaping asoil amenities, smoke chips for curing and flavoring meat and bio-oils which are usedasphalt additives or adhesives. Potential markets continue to be explored and develoby the private sector, and the federal government has also demonstrated interest in thbiomass industry by the release of Executive Order 13134. On August 12, 1999,President Clinton released Executive Order 13134, designed to stimulate the creationearly adoption of technologies needed to make biobased products and bioenergy coscompetitive in the large national and international markets (www.bioproducts-bioenergy.gov, 1999).

The utilization and development of biomass technology offers many economand socioeconomic benefits. However, one of the most widely acknowledged benef


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production not only provides economic support at the local, state, and federal levels,also reduces the nations dependency of fossil fuels. The watershed also containsthousands of acres of brushland, which produce a significant amount of renewablebiomass, although only a small portion of the biomass produced from chaparrallandscapes is utilized for biofuels.

The potential for biomass production within the LFSCA is good given that thwatershed contains a substantial amount of raw material (brushland and forest landspecies). The closest wood-fired power plant is approximately 50 road miles away iAnderson, California. This is a 50-megawatt wood-fired power plant, WheelabratorShasta Energy, which utilizes one hundred semi truckloads (~1,400 bone dry tons) o

biomass each day, seven days/week, to produce electricity (Jolley 2002). There are owood-fired power plants in Shasta County, but this facility is the closest to the LakehFire Safe Area.

The feasibility of any biomass operation depends on the market price of biom(also commonly called hogged fuel or hog fuel if it is processed through a hammer hthe density or amount of fuel on the ground, and transportation costs. Processing cainclude harvesting and chipping or hogging and costs are directly correlated with thespecies, age, size and density of the vegetation being processed as well as the topogr

of the area. The transportation cost from the project area to the nearest wood fired poplant is directly related to the size of the vehicle, time needed for loading biomass, throad bed system and distance to the plant.

The price a power plant is willing to pay for a ton of biomass vs. the processand transportation costs determines the economic feasibility of an operation. Howevthe value of fuel reduction to the landowner should be included in this calculation todetermine the true feasibility of a biomass operation.

Harvesting is usually accomplished with an excavator and/or a bulldozer tracwhich is utilized to remove and pile the brush. Processing can be accomplished withhammer hog, tub grinder, drum chipper or some other type of industrial type chipperby the excavator or other mechanical means.

Biomass Collection in Action. Tubgrinder on right, conveyor movesbiomass into the van.


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commencement of any biomass operation in order to determine what permits might brequired and to estimate the cost and timing of obtaining the permits.

Although the biofuels industry is the most developed biomass market in nortCalifornia, other markets are currently in the developmental stage and may become acommercially viable option for biomass products in the future. These markets are fafrom becoming a significant force in the market place, but may provide alternativeutilization methods and future marketing opportunities.


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X. POTENTIAL COST SHARE FUNDING SOURCES

The following table is a list of cost share programs provided by the UniversitCalifornia, Cooperative Extension Service (UCCE).

TABLE 4 FUNDING SOURCES AND COST SHARE PROGRAMSProgram Goals Services Will Fund Agency Who LimitationEmergencyWatershedProtection

Helpssafeguardpeople andpropertyfollowingnaturaldisasters.

Technical andfinancialassistance

Up to 75% NRCS Publicagencies, non-profits,communitygroups

2Mn

EnvironmentalQualityIncentivesProgram

To addresssignificantnaturalresourceneeds andobjectives

Cost sharing,technical andeducationalassistance

Up to 75% setby localworkinggroup

NRCS,FSA

Agriculturalproducershavingsignificantnaturalresource needs

AupprMCap

HazardMitigationGrant Program

Hazardmitigation toreduce risk from futuredisasters

Cost share Up to 75% FEMA Agencies,governments,non-profits,tribes

FA

VegetationManagementProgram

To provideincentives forusing fire as atool to controlunwantedbrush, andother

vegetation,which createswildfirehazards?

Coversliability,conductsprescribedburn

Up to 90%cost share

CDF Landowners,individual orgroup

Apl

CaliforniaForestImprovementProgram

Forestry,watershed andriparianprotection andenhancement

Reforestation,site prep, landconservation,and fish &wildlifehabitat

improvements

75% up to$30,000 percontract,rehab afternaturaldisaster up to

90%

CDF Landowners Plash20fo

Additional funding sources include: California Department of Conservation , RCD Grant Assistance Program U. S. Forest Service, Forest Service Community and Private Land Fire

Assistance Grant Program


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XI. FUNDING FUELBREAK MAINTENANCE

Since grant funds are often obtained just to construct the fuelbreak, maintenaefforts are often left to the landowner. Unfortunately, some landowners do not have physical or financial means to do maintenance. If a fuelbreak is not properly maintainin its entirety, it will not provide adequate fire protection in the long run. Therefore, some situations it is often best for watershed groups and other conservation organizato seek funding for maintenance as a means to better ensure fire protection for a givearea. The Community Protection Plan was developed as a result of the USFS NationFire Plan. This plan provides grant funding for fuel reduction projects on private lan

In addition, many of the programs listed in Table 5 above also provide fundingopportunities for fuels reduction and maintenance. Future legislation, such as AB 19may also provide funding for fuels reduction projects.

California Assembly Bill AB 1983 was introduced by Assembly MemberDickerson on February 14, 2002. The bill would enact the California Fuel HazardReduction Act to be administered by the California Department of Forestry and FirProtection (CDF), in consultation with the Department of Food and Agriculture, toencourage the development of wildland fuel reduction practices. The bill wouldestablish the Fuel Hazard Reduction Fund in the State Treasury to fund the program.CDF would be authorized to spend up to 5% of the fund balance for programadministration and wildfire cost collection. The bill would authorize the allocation oto 10% of the fund balance to agencies and institutions each fiscal year for fuelmanagement research purposes. In addition, the bill would establish a cost-shareassistance program and would permit the director to fund up to 90% of the cost tocomplete an eligible wildland fuel reduction project. This bill would establish both tprocedure by which applicants may apply for assistance and the process used by thedirector to grant funds. The full text of the bill can be found at www.leginfo.ca.gov. Athis writing, the bill was not reintroduced at the next legislative session (2003-2004).

In addition, many private sector programs are available. Information on privasector funding can be found at the following Internet sites:

www.fdncenter.org www.ceres.ca.gov/foreststeward/funding.htmlwww.ice.ucdavis.edu/ www.teleport.com/~rivernet/general.htm www.tpl.org/tpl/about/ www.ufei.calpoly.edu/data/news/grants.html

Funding programs can assist in the development of shaded fuelbreaks, defensible spaaround structures, roadside fuel reduction, and community fire safe projects.


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may arise in the future, will be discussed in a separate section of this plan. A priorityof fuel reduction and maintenance projects was developed by the Project Team. Facconsidered in developing this list include:

Fire history for the area, both lightning caused and human caused fires. Heavy fuel loading conditions with closed canopies. Assets at risk. Common wind directions and speed. Roadsides overgrown with vegetation. Major topographical features important to fire control and weather patterns w

influence fire behavior. Road access for fire fighters.

B. POTENTIAL PROJECTS :After several meetings to review the assets at risk, fire safe practices, Shasta

Trinity National Forest plans and funding opportunities, the TAC recommended thefollowing action items.

Seek funding and/or agency support for the following: Maintain and refine Emergency Evacuation Plans for the area. Purchase aerial photos and GIS maps for the area, and seek useful satellite m Develop comprehensive road maps of the area to assist emergency response

agencies. Locate emergency Landing Zones for helicopters in the Salt Creek LaMoin

corridor. Locate and maintain at least 100 foot diameter areas. Develop a citizens alert system for residents and businesses to provide

notification in the event of an emergency. Reduce hazardous fuels along local roads, and request county grading and

maintenance to provide safe and efficient ingress and egress for citizens and fighters in the event of a Wildland fire.

Reimburse fire prevention inspectors for their expenses, or reward them for tefforts.

Assist residents unable to meet the challenge of reducing the fuel load on theproperty themselves.

C. CONSTRUCT SHADED FUELBREAKS:Sites for shaded fuelbreaks have been identified by citizens of the watershed

through the TAC. Locations of the proposed fuelbreaks are a combination of neighborhood protection and efforts to compartmentalize the fuels in the LFSCA (Se


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the road. This translates into 17 acres of roadside fuelbreak. Roadside clearing is alneeded along 1.4 miles of Mears Ridge Road, or about 34 acres of roadside fuelbreaCoordinate with Forest Service fuel reduction efforts within the campground, andimplement fuel reduction around the homes in the area.

Mears Ridge Road north of the intersection with Sims Road

Gibson Road : Along Gibson Road, which is about 3.0 miles to Pollard Flat, a fuelbproject is needed to clear along the road yielding about 72 acres of roadside fuelbrea

There are about 15 homes in the Highland Lakes area. Create a defensible fuprofile zone around the homes in the area. Work with landowners to create 72 acres roadside fuelbreak along 3 miles of Highland Lakes Road. Land along much of the is owned by a commercial timber company. An effort should be made to coordinateroadside fuel reduction efforts with a timber harvest plan. This tactic can be veryeffective in reducing the cost of the fuelbreak.


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The landowners should be encouraged to thin the forest behind the homes inDog Creek/Cavanaugh Canyon. Access is a three mile long narrow, winding, paveroad along the bottom of a steep canyon, with six private side roads about 0.1 miles Homeowners should create defensible space around their homes. About 72 acres of roadside fuelbreak is needed to provide adequate access for fire engines and escape fresidents in the event of a wildfire.

Vegetation along Dog Creek Road


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Delta homeowners have created a large green safety zone in their subdivisionshould be commended for it. The access road into town is 0.4 miles-long, with turnodown a steep bluff. The access road goes through a wooded area that should be thinto reduce the fire hazard to residents and firefighters. There are about 20 acres of timbered area to be thinned.

Access road into Delta/Vollmers

North Lakeshore area : This is north of Snowbird Lane to the end of Lakeshore DBuild on and enhance the power line fuelbreak put in place by PG& E. Implement freduction below the fuelbreak. This involves about 25 to 35 homes.

Create defensible fuel profile zones around homes to complement the roadsifuelbreak along Lakeshore Drive, see below for details. Defensible space will amouabout 0.75 acres per home.


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Vegetation in the North Lakeshore areaSnowbird Bird Lane area : This is north of Antlers, off Lakeshore Drive, near thetransfer site. These 20 homes are in very heavy brush, grass and conifer fuel load, wsingle overgrown dirt road for access and escape route. Snowbird Lane is 0.5 miles and Big Oak Lane and Ralphs Lane are each about 0.2 miles long. This will yield a24 acres of roadside shaded fuelbreak. Creation of defensible space around the housalso needed.

There is no safety zone for these residents if trapped. Thinning, a fuelbreak, safety zone/second escape route are needed for adequate protection from a wildfire. power lines offer some protection at this time, but it is not adequate.


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Vegetation along Snowbird Lane


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Lakehead - Riverview Drive area : This subdivision is located east of the freewathe Riverview Exit, and contains about 75 homes. Create about 38 acres of defensibspace around the homes. Riverview Drive is 1.6 miles from the freeway to the end, is in need of roadside clearing, which amounts to 38 acres of roadside fuelbreak. MaStreet in Lakehead is 0.3 miles long with four businesses, and Black Boulevard andMoody Avenue are 0.2 and 0.1 miles long. There is no opportunity to construct aroadside fuelbreak along either of these streets. There appears to be a lot of Scotchbroom in the area.

Riverview Drive north of Lakehead


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Main Street, Lakehead looking south


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Lakeshore:

Lakeshore Drive:Three miles of roadside clearing is needed from Beehive Lakeshore Campground to Street. This project will yield about 54 acres of roadside fuel reduction. From theAntlers freeway exit to the end of Lakeshore Drive is another 3.0 miles, and another acres of roadside fuel reduction.

Vegetation along Lakeshore Drive north of the Antlers freeway exit


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Lakeside Woods Subdivision : Create a fuelbreak, and implement thinning above homes, extending from Doney Creek past Riverview Dr. This involves about 150 ho

A firebreak and thinning are needed on the knoll above Mammoth Drive andStreet, as well as behind the homes on Chamise and Doney Streets. Several homes aor built against thick stands of brush & grass. Chamise Street has five homes, one hunder construction, one lot being cleared, and one vacant lot. Slate Street has threehomes, and one empty lot that has had some fuel reduction work. Mammoth Drive h24 homes, and one empty lot in need of fuel reduction. Oak Street has 20 homes, anfour empty lots, with one needing fuel reduction. Cedar Street has 38 homes, and twempty lots well maintained. Doney Street has ten homes. The knoll north of MammDrive and Slate Street figures into the defensible space for the Fire House and the LiHall, two empty lots and five homes. A three quarter mile, 7.6 acre peripheral fuelbrneeds to be constructed from Lakeshore Boulevard around the homes and connect wthe proposed Firehouse fuelbreak on the north and west.

Fuels behind the Lakehead Firehouse and Lions Hall


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Gregory Creek Drainage area : This area, off the Gregory Creek Exit east of thefreeway, has a great potential for a major fire driven by a north wind, coming from thGregory Creek Campground. Two narrow, single lane roads access Gregory Creek A(20 up-scale homes), making access for emergency vehicles very difficult, and escapvery dangerous. While a safety zone is available at the lake, residents would be cut othe fire began at the lake. Roadside clearance should be implemented along GregoryCreek Road, and include Claus Lane, Branch Road, Herman Way, Cordes Court, andZola Drive.

Zola Drive showing the narrow road and the brush encroachment


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Statton Road showing narrow road in steep terrain

Statton Road showing brush encroachment


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for ingress and egress. Access is imperative, so fuel reduction along Lower Salt CreRoad and Kamloop Road must be included as part of the project.

Lower Salt Creek Road showing the brush encroachment

Create a defensible fuel profile zone beginning at the shoreline, and thin fuelto and around homes. Establish fuel clearance along Lower Salt Creek Road andKamloop Road, totaling about 6 acres of fuelbreak. With the many homes in the arethis fuelbreak will take twice the normal amount of coordination.

Gilman Road / Old Mill Road: There are 15 to 20 homes located in this steep cawith a narrow single lane access and escape road.


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Create a defensible fuel profile zones around homes, and implement additional fuelreduction within the subdivision. Create a safety zone for residents as there is only a lane for access and escape. Construct 48 acres of roadside fuelbreaks along Old Mil

Road, Our Road, and Deerpark Avenue.

Old Mill Road showing the brush encroachment

Gilman Road / Top of The Hill, Waterman Road, and Hirz Mountain LookoutRoad: Another situation with single road access. This segment of Gilman Road hato 20 homes, Top of The Hill Road has two homes, Waterman Road has five to sixhomes, and Hirz Mountain Lookout Road has five to six homes also. All three roadnarrow single lane in steep terrain with no alternative escape route.


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Waterman Road Showing Brush Encroachment

Hirz Mountain Lookout Road showing narrow road in steep terrain


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Skyline Drive showing over grown condition


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Gilman Road U


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Gilman Road UMcCloud Bridge VSkyline Drive Subdivision W

OBrien Mountain Estates XPackers Bay - Northwoods YShasta Marina, Lakeview Marina,Holiday Harbor Marina, Packers BayMarina, and McCloud Arm Marina

Z Various locations not shown on themap

D. COMMUNITIES AT RISKThe National Fire Plan lists the following communities on the Federal Regist

Communities at Risk from wildfire: Gibson, Lakehead, Lakeshore, LaMoine, OBrieand Sims. Federal criteria stipulated the communities listed. The LFSC will requestDelta, Vollmers, Gregory Creek Area, and Pollard Flat be added to local lists of communities at risk.

E. UNDEVELOPED LOTSThere are many undeveloped lots scattered throughout the LFSC area. Manythese landowners live outside Shasta County. Fuel build-up on these vacant parcels dangerous for the rest of the homes in the area. It is the policy of the LFSC to findopportunities to aggressively work on reducing the fuel load on these undevelopedparcels, and seek funding to identify landowners of these properties, and work with tto get the fuel build-up on the parcel reduced to a safe level. LFSC will seek additiofunding to actively clean-up parcels of those landowners choosing not to voluntarily

reduce fuel levels on their property.

F. COMMUNITY EVACUATION PLANAt the time this report is being published, CDF and Shasta County Sheriffs

Department, working with WSRCD, have developed and distributed a communityemergency evacuation plan for Lakehead and the smaller hamlets throughout the areThis plan includes provision for people, pets, horses, and other livestock. In additiothe actual emergency evacuation plan, the process included community meetings to ginput from local residents. Local areas have been designated as fire safe areas forresidents to gather or get information in case of a wildfire or other emergency.

After considerable deliberation, the TAC decided to include refinement of thexisting area emergency evacuation plan as part of the Action Items of this Strategic Reduction Plan. It felt there were areas of the existing emergency evacuation plan th


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XIV REFERENCES


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XIV. REFERENCES

Anderson, Hal, Aids in Determining Fuel Models for Estimating Fire Behavior,U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Ogden, Utah, General Technical RepINT-122, 1982.

Andrews, Patricia L ., BehavePlus Fire Modeling System Version 1.00.00 , Decem2001.

Bull, Brian, NF Ag News Views, Using Goats for Vegetation Management, 200

Bureau of Land Management, Standards for Fire and Aviation Operations, 2002

California Department of Fish and Game. 1993 . Restoring Central Valley Streams: APlan For Action. Inland Fishery Division.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, California Fire Plan , Ma

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Fire and Resource AssessmProgram, (FRAP) 2002.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Shasta County Unit Fire Pla2002.

California Department of Water Resources, Sacramento Valley Westside TributaryWatershed Erosion Study, Executive Summary.), 1992.

California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, California Forest Practice Rules 2California Resources Department.

DeBano, L.F., and R.M. Rice, Fire in Vegetation Management : Its Effect on SoilAmerican Society of Civil Engineers, 1970.

Federal Register, Volume 66, Number 160, Friday, August 17, 2001.

Goats Unlimited, Goats Unlimited: Firebreaking with Meat Goats , 2002.

Hart, S. P., Langston University, Journal of Dairy Science, Recent Perspectives In Goats For Vegetation Management In The USA, 2001.


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The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, Executive Order 13134, Developin


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Promoting Biobased Products and Bioenergy . www.bioproducts-bioenergy.gov


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APPENDIX & MAPS

APPENDIX

A. GLOSSARYB. PROJECT TEAMC. COMMUNITY FIRE SAFE FUEL REDUCTION GUIDELINES

MAPS LAKEHEAD FIRE SAFE COUNCIL AREA ZIP CODE 960511. GENERAL VEGETATION2. FIRE HISTORY3. FUEL MODELS4. VALUE/HAZARD/RISK RATING5. LAND OWNERSHIP6. PLANTS & WILDLIFE7. SOILS8. EXISTING ROADS MAP9. LOCATION OF PROPOSED FUELBREAK PROJECTS


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B. PROJECT TEAM


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David Grey, Business Owner19990 Lakeshore DriveLakehead, CA 96051(530) 238-2575

Sharol Schaefer, LandownerP.O. Box 633Lakehead, CA 96051

(530) 238-2514Jim Harkabus, Landowner, Chief, Lakehead Volunteer Fire Company20754 Oak StreetLakehead, CA 96051(530) 238-2352

Kenn & Judy Taylor, Landowners, Lakehead Fire Safe Council20767 Mammoth Drive

Lakehead, CA 96051(530) 238-8661

Brad & Beth Best, Landowners, Lakehead Fire Safe Council20720 Doney StreetLakehead, CA 96051(530) 238-8516

Rich & Joy Artusy, Landowners, Lakehead Fire Safe Council20700 Chamise StreetLakehead, CA 96051(530) 238-2024

James Dee & Christine Duarte, Landowners20749 Waterman RoadLakehead, CA 96051

(530) 238-2138Marty & Nikki Howard, Business OwnersP.O. Box 133Lakehead, CA 96051(530)355 0436

Bryant Pace


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USDA Forest Service14225 Holiday RoadRedding, CA 96003(530) 242-5531

Doug WenhamCDF/SCFD875 Cypress AvenueRedding, CA 96001

Steve LoughreyUSDA Forest Service14225 Holiday RoadRedding, CA 96003(530) 242-5545

Mike WeaverCDF/SCFD

6103 Airport RoadRedding, CA 96002(530) 224-2440

Ivy WilliamsUSDA Forest Service14225 Holiday RoadRedding, CA 96003(530) 242-5543

Jack BramhallWSRCD, Assistant Project Manager6270 Parallel RoadAnderson, CA 96007(530) 365-7332 X 213

C. COMMUNITY FIRE SAFE FUEL REDUCTION GUIDELINES


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Documents

Lakehead Area Strategic Fuels Management Plan