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Prepared for: Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team

Prepared by: Rich Adams, RPF #2741

(530) 581-5746, radams@parks.ca.gov

California State Parks

Bakersfield Dead Tree Removal

Washoe Meadows State Park

Lake Valley Fire Protection District

Vegetation Management Plan

Total Acres Planned: 10

Mechanical Acres: 5

Hand Crew Acres: 5

SEZ Acres: 3

Operations: Mechanical and Hand Crew.

Mechanized (tractor) tree removal, biomass removal, no burning (5 acres).

Hand Crew thin and pile for pile burning (5 acres).

Introduction

The purpose of the Bakersfield Dead Tree Removal project is to reduce hazardous forest fuels

and improve native forest composition and structure adjacent to residential structures and a school in Meyers, California . The project area targets dense stands of dead, dying and suppressed lodgepole pine trees. Trees to be removed shall be marked with paint or otherwise designated for removal by or under the supervision of a Registered Professional Forester (RPF). Tree removal and removal of forest biomass from upland areas and SEZ edge areas will be accomplished by mechanized equipment over relatively dry conditions to prevent soil impacts. Areas of SEZ that slope down towards the Upper Truckee River will be avoided by heavy equipment and will be thinned of hazardous fuels by a hand crew thinning trees and stacking slashpiles for burning.

Project Location and Access

Project area is located between the southeast boundary of Washoe Meadows State Park and the Upper Truckee River , adjacent the Meyers neighborhood and Bakersfield Street . The project area was strategically located to target dense stands of dead and dying trees located next to residential structures. Access to the project area by vehicle is from along Bakersfield Street in the Meyers neighborhood. The existing gate in the park fence will not be used due to resource concerns. A temporary locking cable gate mounted on posts will be installed and maintained by the contractor. Gate location will be designated by State Park Forester. Temporary landing will be installed and removed by the Contractor immediately inside the gate.

Forest Stand Conditions

The existing forest stands in the project area are composed of lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta ), Jeffrey pine ( P. jeffreyi ) and white fir ( Abies concolor ). Individual specimens of Sierra juniper ( Juniperus occidentalis ) and Incense cedar ( Calocedrus decurrens ) are also present. The lodgepole pine are arranged in mostly even-aged stand structures of variable ages up to approximately 130 years old. The Jeffrey pine and white fir are less common, and are generally crowded by dense lodgepole pine. Prior to the practice of fire suppression, the project area was likely very open due to frequent summer fires. Some willow ( Salix spp.) are present along the project boundaries in wet areas and will be avoided. Bark beetle activity over the last 20 years has resulted in high densities of dead trees, and a buildup of surface fuels. The stand structure and fuel loading could support rapid development of a crown fire during the summer fire season.

Watercourse, Lake and Stream Environment Zone

3 acres of the project area are classified as Stream Environment Zone (SEZ). No heavy equipment shall operate in SEZ or within 100 feet of the River. Tree removal in SEZ will be accomplished by hand felling, pile burning in non-wet areas at least 50 feet from the River, and some removal by end-lining or full suspension from edge areas, depending on specific Contractor equipment. Equipment operations shall take place over relatively dry soil conditions to prevent excessive soil disturbance. No equipment shall operate in areas of saturated soil. High soil moisture content shall warrant termination of operations and shall be determined by project manager. Any soil or topographic disturbance caused by operations shall be restored to natural topographic conditions, and re-vegetated if necessary with native vegetation. Final topographic and vegetative analysis shall be evaluated by State Park Forester. Best Management Practices (BMPs) shall be maintained and shall include protection of all existing drainage structures along access routes to and from the project area.

Wildlife

A State Park Wildlife Biologist has approved the project design and will be available as needed during project implementation. No known nesting sites for species of concern are in the project area, nor is the project within a required buffer distance from sensitive wildlife for limited operations. Birds of prey (raptors) are known to use areas of Washoe Meadows State Park . Project staff will be instructed to notify project manager of sighting of any bird of prey, and any nesting bird species. Project work shall be curtailed around any known or newly discovered nest, den or habitation site pending review by the wildlife biologist. The wildlife biologist assisted in developing the forest thinning prescription, including specifications for snags and surface woody debris.

Archaeology

A qualified Archaeologist will survey the project site and appropriate cultural review documentation will be completed. All known cultural resources shall be identified prior to start of project work. All sites shall be protected from ground disturbance activity. It is unknown if this project will discover any additional cultural resources. The District Archeologist shall monitor project operations and prescribe any additional protective measures for sites discovered. If evidence of potentially significant historical/archaeological resources are found (shell, burned animal bone or rock, concentration of bottle glass or ceramics, etc.), the District Archaeologist will be contacted and work will be suspended until identification and proper treatment are determined and implemented.

Goals and Objectives

The goal of this project is to protect life, property and the environment from the threat of catastrophic wildfire, and to improve native forest structure. Objectives are to thin trees and reduce height of surface fuels to reduce the risk of crown fire, reduce potential flame lengths of surface fire, increase average tree diameter, improve native forest structure, and provide for recruitment of future old-growth trees. Project shall maintain valuable components of wildlife habitat including large dead trees.

Values at Risk

The Meyers residential neighborhood and Meyers School are within 50 to 300 feet from the project area on the east side. Potential wildfire behavior in the current forest condition could produce rapid moving crown fire and numerous spot fires on nearby residential properties. Natural resources including vegetation, wildlife, soil, air and water are also values at risk to catastrophic wildfire.

Vegetation Management Prescription

Mechanical Areas:

Basal Area target: 80 to 150 sq. ft. per acre

Retain all trees greater than 30” DBH except hazards to human life or private property.

Remove all dead trees less than 24” DBH (not marked).

Mark for removal live trees 14” to 30” DBH to 20' spacing, favoring tree size, health, and seral tree species.

Thin live trees less than 14” DBH (not marked) to 20' spacing, favoring tree size, health and all Jeffrey pine and juniper.

Cleanup all surface fuels greater than 1” diameter except existing rotten logs at least partially decayed into the soil. Minimize the appearance of cut ends on logs to be retained.

Hand Crew Areas:

Basal Area target: 80 to 200 sq. ft. per acre

Retain all trees greater than 30” DBH except hazards to human life or private property.

Fell all dead trees less than 24” DBH (not marked), except trees that could fall into the River or other wet areas.

Mark for removal live trees greater than 14” DBH only if dying, or for crown separation from a large Jeffrey pine.

Thin live trees less than 14” DBH (not marked) to 10' spacing, favoring tree size, health, and Jeffrey pine.

Cleanup all surface fuels greater than 1” diameter up to 16” diameter by piling for burning.

Leave logs greater than 16” diameter: free of limbs and top, in full contact with ground surface, and left long as possible. Logs that intersect should be bucked only as needed to achieve full ground contact by all logs.

Existing rotten logs at least partially decayed into the soil should be left and protected.

Mechanical (Tractor) Operations (5 acres)

Project work shall be performed in accordance with Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Code of Ordinances Chapter 71 – Tree Removal and with Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board Basin Plan Section 5.13 Forest Management Activities. Project work will be implemented by a private contractor using private equipment.

Tree Removal:

Tree felling in SEZ areas shall be by hand felling only. Tree felling by tractor is permissible only from on upland areas.

Contractor will remove felled trees from 30 to 60 feet within SEZ areas by end-line whole-tree yarding or full suspension. Permissible equipment may include tractor-mounted winch or grapple loader with 30 feet reach. Contract bidders must carefully explain how this requirement will be met, in a written narrative attachment to their contract bid.

Fell all marked trees.

Fell all dead trees less than 24” DBH (not marked).

Thin live trees less than 14” DBH (not marked) to 20' spacing, favoring tree size, health and all Jeffrey pine and juniper.

Flush cut stumps to within 1 to 6” of ground level.

Transport all downed wood greater than 1” diameter to landing with heavy equipment as described in contractor's bid. Permissive equipment may include rubber-tired skidder or rubber-tired log forwarder. Contract bidders must carefully explain how this requirement will be met, in a written narrative attachment to their contract bid.

As part of any skidding operation, trees shall be whole-tree skidded butt-end first.

Leave and protect existing rotten logs at least partially decayed into the soil. Minimize the appearance of cut ends on logs to be retained.

Protect soils by avoiding wet areas and shutting down mechanical operations during periods of high soil moisture as determined by project manager.

Transportation of Biomass:

Haul all biomass including logs, firewood, wood chips and/or slash out of the park. All biomass will become the property of the contractor upon exit from State Park property.

Do not stack any burn piles and do not scatter woody debris or wood chips except minimal scatter in the landing as described below.

One landing area within the project will be used for processing of woody materials, and loading of log trucks, firewood trucks, chip trucks and/or other related service vehicles.

Vehicles will not operate during wet conditions and will not cause any soil rutting.

Best Management Practices (BMPs) shall be maintained and shall include protection of all existing drainage structures along access routes to and from the project area.

At termination of hauling activity, the designated landing area will be completely rehabilitated as described below.

Protection from Soil Compaction and Rutting:

All tractor routes and any soil or topographic disturbance caused by operations shall be restored to natural topographic conditions, and re-vegetated if necessary with native vegetation. Contract bidders must carefully explain how this requirement will be met, in a written narrative attachment to their contract bid.

Main tractor routes that service 1-acre areas or larger shall be ripped to prevent long-term compaction and shall be left smooth with the surrounding topography.

The landing shall be ripped to 12” depth, shall be left smooth with the surrounding topography and shall be covered with a 2 to 4” layer of wood chips or grinded wood mulch.

Hand Crew Follow-up:

Rake out ruts and berms in soil to less than 6 inches height across entire project.

Rake out linear tractor marks and log skid paths that may capture surface water.

Cover areas of bare soil with native forest litter material.

Repair pre-existing trail at crossing points to pre-project trail conditions.

Rake out all tractor marks and tire marks within 75 feet of roads and trails.

Repair any incidental damage to the park fence.

Bid Requirements / Bidder's Project Proposal:

Contract bidders must carefully explain how they propose to meet all requirements of this plan. A written narrative (Project Proposal) explanation much be attached to their submitted contract bid.

Project Proposal should be no longer than one page.

Bidders must describe all heavy equipment proposed for use on this project, and how it will be used to meet project requirements.

Bidders must describe landing size and landing operations.

Contract will be awarded based on both low cost (bid amount) and evaluation of bidder's Project Proposal to implement the work and meet all requirements.

Project Proposal must demonstrate that project work will protect the environment.

Evaluation of proposals will be preformed by representatives from California State Parks , Lake Valley Fire Protection District, and TRPA.

Hand Crew Operations (5 acres)

Hand Crew Tasks:

Thin live trees less than 14” DBH (not marked) to 10' spacing, favoring tree size, health, and Jeffrey pine.

Fell all dead trees less than 24” DBH (not marked), except leave any trees that could fall into the River or other wet areas.

Fell all marked trees.

Flush cut stumps to within 1 to 6 inches of ground level.

Apply borax to fresh cut stumps from live trees greater than 6” diameter.

Cleanup woody debris greater than 1” diameter up to 16” diameter by limbing, cutting into 4-foot lengths or less, and piling for burning.

Place piles at least 15 feet from residual trees, at least 50 feet from the Upper Truckee River , and outside of flagged exclusion zones in wet areas.

Piles should be 6' high and built tight to facilitate ignition in snow conditions.

Existing rotten logs at least partially decayed into the soil should be left and protected.

Crew Vehicles will park along Bakersfield Street and will not drive into the project area.

Pile Burning:

State Park staff will burn piles in accordance with a Smoke Management Plan approved by El Dorado County Air Quality Management District.

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See profiles and maps of the dead tree removal projects projects:

< Dead Tree Removal Project Introduction >

< East Meadow >

< Bakersfield >

< Dry Meadow >