BUTTE COUNTY FOREST ADVISORY COMMITTEE · 9/24/2018 · Please identify who project partners are,...

BUTTE COUNTY FOREST ADVISORY COMMITTEE

September 24, 2018—5:00 P.M. Meeting

ITEM NO.

1.00 Call to order – Butte County Public Works Facility, 44 Bellarmine Ct, Chico, CA

2.00

Pledge of allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America

2.01

Roll Call – Members: Nick Repanich, Thad Walker, Teri Faulkner, Trish Puterbaugh, Dan Taverner, Peggy Moak Alternates: Vance Severin, Jim Shary, Bob Gage, Angel Gomez, Pete Moak Invited Guests: Russell Nickerson,(District Ranger, Almanor Ranger District, Lassen National Forest), David Brillenz (District Ranger, Feather River Ranger District (FRRD), Plumas National Forest), Clay Davis (NEPA Planner, FRRD) Laura Page (Congressman LaMalfa); Dennis Schmidt (Coordinating Committee, Public Works);

2.02 Self-introduction of Forest Advisory Committee Members, Alternates, Guests, and Public – 5 Min.

3.00

Consent Agenda

3.01

Review and approve minutes of 8-27-18 – 5 Min.

4.00

Agenda

4.01

Roads, Trails, Access, the MVUM and the Collaborative Process – Dave Brillenz, District Ranger - 30 Min. • Stakeholder Workshop • Timeline

4.02

Forest Projects Review – Current Quarter: Discussion & required FAC action for USFS projects affecting Butte County residents’ forest management, recreational, environmental, socio-economic interests(Chair)

- Plumas NF Feather River Ranger District, Clay Davis (District Planner): Report and Q & A on pending, proposed and modified projects, SOPA and Non-SOPA – 30 Min.

- Lassen NF Almanor Ranger District- Russell Nickerson (District Ranger): Report and Q & A on pending, proposed and modified projects, SOPA and Non-SOPA – 15 Min.

4.03 Letters of Support Requests: SNC Planning Grants – 10 Min.

• Northern California Regional Land Trust – Deer Creek Forest Management Plan • Butte County Fire Safe Council – Big Chico Creek Forest Health Management Plan • Plumas National Forest – Devils Gap Forest Health Project

4.04 Grants/Roads Updates: Public Works – 5 Min.

4.05 Stakeholder Workshop Planning – Roads and Trails New Business – Considerations for upcoming meeting agendas: Next meeting is October 22, 2018 - Chico, 5:00 PM • South Feather Water & Sewer District - Recreation and Water Projects • Fish & Wildlife • Bill Smith – Retired Forester – and panel on forest management

4.06 Public Comment (THE COMMITTEE IS PROHIBITED BY STATE LAW FROM TAKING ACTION ON ANY ITEM PRESENTED IF IT IS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA.)

Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program Proposition 1 & Proposition 68 Grant Program FY2018-2019

PRE-APPLICATION

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SNC Grant # 1137

Applicant Organization

Northern California Regional Land Trust

Project Name

Deer Creek Forest Improvement

Project Category

☐ Category One

On-the-ground site improvement or fee title acquisition. $1,000,000 limit.

☒ Category Two

Pre-project activities that are necessary for a specific, future on-the-ground project(s). $100,000 limit.

SNC Grant Request $ $74,000

Contact Information Please provide information below for both the primary contact related to the application and the representative who is authorized to apply for a grant and enter into a grant agreement on behalf of the applicant organization. Applicant Contact Name Authorized Representative Name

John Hunt Paul Kirk

Applicant Contact Title Authorized Representative Title

Conservation Director Interim Executive Director

Applicant Contact Phone Authorized Representative Phone

530-228-0155 530-864-0444

Applicant Contact Email Authorized Representative Email

[email protected] [email protected]

Applicant Contact Address Authorized Representative Address

580 Vallombrosa Ave., Chico, CA 95926 580 Vallombrosa Ave., Chico, CA 95926


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Project Summary Please provide a Project Summary of no more than five sentences including the project location, acreage, purpose, partners, and estimated cost. _________________________________________________________________________________

The Northern California Regional Land Trust (NCRLT) seeks funding for planning activities associated with forest stand improvement, fire-hazard reduction, and habitat management within NCRLT’s approximately 609-acre Deer Creek property (Property), purchased with funding provided by the California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

The Property is located in Section 25, Township 27N, Range 03E, Mount Diablo Base & Meridian, Tehama County, ranges from 3,000–3,800 feet in elevation, is bisected by Deer Creek, and is contiguous with Lassen National Forest lands upstream and downstream.

Vegetation within the Property is comprised of early successional mixed coniferous and ponderosa pine forest, broadleaf woodlands, scrub and rock outcrop inclusions, with montane riparian along Deer Creek.

Due to high public visitation rates, land use history, and vegetative conditions within and adjacent to the Property, we will work with a Registered Professional Forester (RFP) to evaluate stand conditions, ladder fuels, and prepare a vegetation management plan to conserve and enhance habitat conditions and recreational values of the Property. Cost to prepare the vegetation management plan, and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documentation required for implementation is estimated to be $74,000. __________________________________________________________________________________

Project Description Provide a brief overview of the project including why the project is a priority, project acreage, proposed treatments (Category One) or planning approach (Category Two), timeframe, and the expected natural resource and community benefits. If SNC would be funding only a portion of a larger project, please clearly identify how and where SNC funds would be used. Proposals for Category Two planning projects should describe both the planning effort and the specific potential future implementation project.

Provide a general overview only, no more than two pages. A more detailed Project Description will be required in the Full Application. _________________________________________________________________________________


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For the purposes of this planning effort, the Project area is delimited by the approximately 609-acre Property. The Project vicinity experiences relatively high visitation rates due to easy public access from State Highway 32, adjacent U.S. Forest Service campground, existing trails, proximal wilderness lands, and abundant hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking opportunities. Due to ever-increasing public use within and adjacent the Property, developing and implementing appropriate vegetation management prescriptions is a high-priority for NCRLT in order to address potential fire hazards, while conserving and enhancing the Property’s habitat conditions and recreational values.

It is expected this planning effort would be completed within 8 months. The planning approach will be initiated with compilation and review of existing spatial data and land use history within the Project vicinity. After initial review has been conducted, NCRLT resources staff will consult with RFP to survey on-site conditions. Following the on-site review, NCRLT will work with the RFP, in coordination with CDFW and WCB staff, to develop appropriate vegetation management alternatives [including a Forest Management Plan (FMP) and Cultural Resources Assessment (CRA) as necessary], cost-benefit analysis, budget, and identify sources to fund potential future implementation [e.g., NRCS cost-share assistance, California Forest Improvement Program, biomass/harvest/thinning returns (as appropriate), etc.].

CEQA documentation will be completed as required to implement future vegetation management activities and the Tehama County RCD would serve as the CEQA lead agency. Future implementation of the vegetation management activities on the Property would be contingent on additional funding.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Project Location and Map Following the upload link and instructions in the Welcome email, please upload:

1. A Project Location Map in .pdf format. For Category One grants the map should clearly delineate where SNC funds will be

used and, if the proposed SNC activities are part of a larger project, approximateboundaries of that larger project.

For Category Two grants the map should identify where pre-project activities will befocused and the potential location of the future implementation project.

2. Photographs of the project site - no more than 6. All photos must be labeled and compiledinto one .pdf document.

In addition, please list or succinctly describe the project location in the space below, including o the countyo nearby communities and public landso the watershed in which the project is located


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o any downstream beneficiaries of the project _________________________________________________________________________________

County: Tehama

Nearby communities and public lands: Butte Meadows, Lassen National Forest, Ishi Wilderness, and Tehama State Wildlife Area

Watershed: Deer Creek Watershed

Any downstream beneficiaries: Public Lands (Lassen National Forest, Ishi Wilderness)

__________________________________________________________________________________

Project Workplan and Schedule Please provide a general workplan with anticipated schedule and potential deliverables. Identify who may implement various project activities (i.e. grantee, federal agency, county). _________________________________________________________________________________

The following schedule describes the general order of Project activities.

Task 1 - Compile and review of existing spatial data and land use history within the Project vicinity: 1–2 months.

Task 2 - Survey of on-site conditions by RFP and NCRLT resources staff: 1 month.

Task 3 - Develop appropriate vegetation management alternatives [including THP and CRA, as necessary), cost-benefit analysis, budget, and identifying sources to fund potential future implementation: 3–4 months. Task 4 – Prepare required CEQA Documentation: 5–6 months, concurrent with Tasks 1–3. __________________________________________________________________________________


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Proposed Budget Please complete the general budget chart below with anticipated costs requested within the proposed SNC grant. Include staff time and all expenses directly related to the project as direct project costs (Management, Implementation, or Other). Administrative Overhead refers to shared overhead expenses and may not exceed 15% of the direct project costs. In the Additional Project Costs line include additional funds or in-kind from sources other than SNC directly invested into this specific project, within this workplan and time frame. These resources may be included as one lump sum or identified from different sources, if known. NOTE: In the event of an audit, projects with budgets that include administrative costs must be able to document the appropriateness of these expenses. A typical method for documenting administrative overhead expenses is a Cost Allocation Plan (CAP): a formal accounting plan used to calculate and document the method for recurring overhead costs. SNC strongly recommends that grantees consult with an accounting professional to develop an appropriate method for calculating an overhead rate and prepare a CAP. _________________________________________________________________________________


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Activity Anticipated Cost Project Management $6,000

Project Implementation $60,000

Other Click or tap here to enter text.

$

Administrative Overhead (no more than 15% of total project cost) $8,000

Total SNC Grant Request $74,000

Additional Project Costs (Funds or in-kind from sources other than SNC directly invested into this specific project, within this workplan and time frame) Click or tap here to enter text.

$

Total Project Cost $74,000

__________________________________________________________________________________


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Partners and Community Support Please identify who project partners are, if the project is part of a larger plan or collaborative effort (i.e. an Integrated Regional Watershed Management Plan, Community Wildfire Protection Plan, Forest Health Collaborative, etc.), and if there is known opposition to the project. _________________________________________________________________________________

Butte County RCD is a project partner. __________________________________________________________________________________

Land Ownership and Restrictions on Land Use Please identify all legal property owners and land managers within the project area, as well as any property easements or other restrictions that may impact the project.

Please note that the Full Application will require letters of support from all landowners. Category One applications will be required to include a draft land tenure agreement and acquisition projects will be required to include a willing seller letter. The grant agreement will require a formal land tenure agreement with all landowners giving permission for the project. SNC can provide sample land tenure agreements for private and public properties. _________________________________________________________________________________

NCRLT owns the Property in fee title. __________________________________________________________________________________

Environmental Compliance SNC requires that all projects comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) at the time the SNC Governing Board authorizes a grant. Since the complexity of CEQA compliance will vary depending on project activities, it is important to consult with SNC staff as early as possible to discuss which documents may be required in a full application. A project will only be eligible to submit a Full Application if SNC determines there is a reasonable expectation that CEQA compliance will be completed in sufficient time for Board consideration. In addition to CEQA, projects subject to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) must be NEPA compliant. Note: In the Full Application, projects not exempt from CEQA must identify the Lead Agency for CEQA and provide documentation from that Agency confirming intent to serve as Lead. Applicants may request that SNC serve as Lead Agency if there is no other organization with standing to serve as Lead, but this request must come during the Pre-Application process. _________________________________________________________________________________


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Brief Description of CEQA Status. If not exempt from CEQA, please identify the potential

Lead Agency or if applicant is requesting SNC serve as Lead Agency.

Planning activities associated with this Category Two grant proposal are exempt from CEQA. NCRLT will complete CEQA documentation as required for the future implementation of planned vegetation management activities. Butte County RCD would serve as Lead Agency.

Brief Description of NEPA Status, if applicable

Planning activities associated with this Category Two grant proposal are exempt from NEPA.

__________________________________________________________________________________


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Uploads Instructions and a link to SNC’s upload portal were included in the Welcome email. Please check the boxes below to confirm that the following uploads will be submitted. All uploads are limited to 5MB and the document name must include the project number. SNC appreciates if they are compiled into one pdf for uploading, but will accept separate documents.

☒ Completed Pre-Application form. The form may be uploaded in the existing Word document format or saved as a .pdf and compiled into one .pdf document with the map and photos.

☒ Project Location Map (.pdf format) For Category One grants the map should clearly delineate where SNC funds will be

used and, if the proposed SNC activities are part of a larger project, boundaries of that larger project.

For Category Two grants the map should identify where pre-project activities will be focused and the location of the potential future implementation project(s).

☒ Project site photos. Please upload no more than 6 photographs of the project site. Photos

must be labeled and placed into one .pdf document. The photo document may be combined with the map and Pre-Application form into one document.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Site Visits SNC will conduct site visits for all Category One Pre-Applications to provide a greater understanding of the project for SNC and assist in developing the project and the Full Application. Key participants include a representative from the applicant organization (required), technical expert(s) associated with the project, landowner(s), and appropriate SNC staff. All site visits will be limited to a maximum of two hours and may occur during inclement weather. It is important to have a confirmed site visit date set as soon as possible. SNC will contact applicants after submission of the Pre-Application to schedule a visit. SNC aims to complete all site visits before September 15, 2018.

__________________________________________________________________________________


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Considerations for a Future Full Application Please check the boxes below to confirm awareness of the following requirements if projects are deemed eligible to submit a Full Application. These are NOT requirements for the Pre-

Application.

☒ Under Proposition 1 and Proposition 68, applicants for Category One implementation projects are required to consult with the California Conservation Corps (CCC) and California Association of Local Conservation Corps (CALCC) to determine if it is feasible for the Corps to play a role in the project. Projects that only include planning or property acquisition are exempt from this requirement. The Corps have an email consultation process in place that takes five business days to complete. Please see the CCC website and CALCC website for more information about the process, or contact the CCC and CALCC at [email protected] and [email protected]. Applicants will be required to submit the email consultation as part of the Full Application.

☒ SNC strongly encourages Native American engagement with projects. In the Full

Application, all applicants will be required to demonstrate that appropriate Tribal representatives were notified of the project. SNC can assist applicants with identifying Native American Tribes whose ancestral homelands may be in the project areas and contact information for those Tribes.

☒ The Full Application will require letters of support from all landowners as well as a draft

copy of the proposed land tenure agreement for Category One projects. If the project is awarded, a signed formal land tenure agreement with all landowners giving permission for the project must be submitted before the grant agreement can be executed. SNC can provide sample land tenure agreements for private and public properties.

☒ The Lead Agency responsible for CEQA compliance must be identified in the Full

Application with documentation from that Agency confirming intent to serve as Lead. Applicants may request that SNC serve as Lead Agency if there is no other organization with standing to serve as Lead. This request must come during the Pre-Application process. The project will only be eligible to submit a Full Application if SNC determines there is a reasonable expectation that CEQA compliance will be completed in sufficient time for Board consideration.

☒ The full application will require a description of the long-term management and

sustainability of the project. Category One projects must be maintained for a minimum of ten years, and SNC must have permission to monitor the project site for 25 years.

☒ SNC will establish a GIS record of the project location. SNC staff will work with applicants

to develop or transfer GIS files.

https://ccc.ca.gov/what-we-do/natural-resource-management/proposition-1-water-bond/

http://calocalcorps.org/california-proposition-1-water-bond-2014/

mailto:[email protected]

https://web.archive.org/web/20170708054432/mailto:[email protected]

State Hwy 32

K-Line Acces Rd

Figure 1. Project Location and Vicinity MapDeer Creek, Tehama County, California

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Project Location

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Tehama County

Butte County

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Project Boundary

Public Land Survey: Section 25, T27N, R03E

USGS 7.5 Quad:Onion Butte

0.25 0 0.25

Miles

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Northern California Regional Land Trust A-1 SNC Watershed Improvement Program 580 Vallombrosa Ave. Deer Creek Property Pre-Application #1137 Chico, CA 95926 Tehama County, CA

Photo 1: View of Property looking west into the Deer Creek canyon. Mixed conifer forest and broadleaf

woodlands dominate the Property.

Date: 12/23/2015

Photo 2: Characteristic mixed conifer stand on north side of Deer Creek canyon.

Date: 04/29/2016


Photo 3: Small clearing in mixed conifer forest near north boundary of Property.

Date: 12/23/2015

Photo 4: Locked gate on dirt road spur off USFS Road 27N08 (K-Line) along north side of Deer Creek

controls unwarranted motorized vehicle access on the Property.

Date: 03/19/2016


Photo 5: Switchback on trail that leads to Lower Deer Creek Falls.

Date: 07/22/2016

Photo 6: Lower Deer Creek Falls at top of fish ladder that was replaced 2016-17.

Date: 10/07/2017


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SNC Grant # 1126


Butte County Fire Safe Council

Project Name

Big Chico Creek Forest Health Management Plan

Project Category

☐ Category One


☒ Category Two




Calli-Jane DeAnda Calli-Jane DeAnda


Executive Director Executive Director


530-877-0984 530-877-0984




5619 Black Olive Dr. Paradise Ca, 95969 5619 Black Olive Dr. Paradise Ca, 95969


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This landscape level project located in the rural northern Sierra Nevada mountains is in a mixed conifer forest in the Big Chico Creek Watershed. The project will develop a Forest Health Management Plan for 7,000 acres and will complete CEQA on 1,500 acres. The purpose of the project is to; 1. Protect water quality and improve water quantity 2. Prevent catastrophic wildfire 3. Restore forest ecosystems from overstocked conditions with forest thinning and prescribed fire. 4. Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions/ Improve Air Quality and Carbon Storage. Project partners include public and private landowners, local, state and federal land managers, non-profit organizations and local fire safe councils. The project will cost $100,000 and will leverage $10,000 in matching funds. __________________________________________________________________________________



Location The project area is in the Big Chico Creek Watershed bordered by Bidwell Park to the South and Lassen National Forest to the North. The project will take place on a total 7,000 acres of forested lands in the watershed. These properties are all critical areas which support the flow of Big Chico Creek. Wildfires in the area have devastated many thousands of acres of land including 15,647 acres burned in 1999 from the Musty Fires. The potential for a large, fuel driven fire to occur in these watersheds is very real. This project spatially contributes to large scale forest health efforts by the Bureau of Land Management and National Forest. Purpose The following purposes of the project will further the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) mission, program areas and align with the existing state planning priorities identified in Proposition 1, the SNC Strategic Plan, the SNC Watershed Improvement Program, the


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California Water Action Plan, Human Right to Water Policy and California Natural Resources Agency Safeguarding California Policy. Multiple benefits from this project include protecting the wildlife/plant habitat and historic/cultural resources. 1. Protect water quality and improve water quantity –The project will Improve quantity and quality of water throughout the year by increasing ground water recharge. 2.Prevent catastrophic wildfire –The project is located within a Cal Fire “Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone”. The presence of homes in the lower watershed in Chico increases the ignition potential and threat to Big Chico Creek. Reducing the risk of wildfires is essential to providing clean and abundant water to California. 3.Restore forest ecosystems from overstocked conditions with forest thinning – The project will lay the foundation for implementing watershed adaptation to reduce the impacts of climate changes on the ecosystems. Future forest thinning will reduce overstocked conifers and improve forest health. 4. Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions/ Improve Air Quality and Carbon Storage - The project will reduce potential greenhouse gas emissions and air quality impacts by reducing the threat of high intensity fire and its impacts including soil erosion and carbon release.

Planning Effort and Potential Future Implementation

The Big Chico Creek watershed is unique in that it is one of the only watersheds in Butte County which is not fragmented by small acreage subdivision. Rather it is owned by only a dozen large land owners in all. Furthermore the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve (BCCER) is a critical hub for restoration and forest health education. It exists as a learning laboratory for CSU Chico courses, K-12 students and the community members throughout the region. Planning for forest enhancement and water quality protection has been underway on the BCCER for the last twenty years. Students and faculty have contributed countless hours to water quality monitoring and ecological restoration in the form of surveys and hand thinning of overgrown vegetation. Since 2001 the BCCER has built an ecological enhancement program targeted on watershed health. This program has been formed by countless hours of community volunteers, CSU Chico student interns and Faculty advisors. Terra Fuego assisted in developing mapped units throughout the reserve for a multi-phase prescribed fire enhancement project. Most recently CAL FIRE’s vegetation management program Battalion Chief has taken a strong lead on helping the reserve prepare for large scale prescribed fire. In addition, CAL FIRE assisted in completing a 451 acre CEQA document to allow for prescribed fire and hazardous fuels reduction. The Butte County Fire Safe Council has been coordinating with the BCCER through its landscape level planning process as well. It is essential that the forest management plan and CEQA include the upper reaches of the Big Chico Creek Watershed. The upper reaches of the watershed is comprised of dense vegetation that is prone to catastrophic wildfire and general forest tree mortality. In order to achieve watershed health enhancement these areas must be treated and maintained.


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Future implementation of on the ground work is desperately needed to protect the ecological resources of the watershed. The Forest Management Plan will ultimately shape the direction of prioritized locations for CEQA and required prescribed treatments. However, there are general trends for future implementation that are anticipated. Due to the steep terrain and limited access primary treatments of fuels reduction will require hand thinning and pile burning. Areas that allow for mechanical access will receive mastication or chipping. Upon initial treatment prescribed broadcast burns will be used as the main tool for increased land management and watershed health. The ultimate goal will be to use prescribed fire as the primary treatment and maintenance treatments. __________________________________________________________________________________


1. A Project Location Map in .pdf format.

• For Category One grants the map should clearly delineate where SNC funds will be used and, if the proposed SNC activities are part of a larger project, approximate boundaries of that larger project.

• For Category Two grants the map should identify where pre-project activities will be focused and the potential location of the future implementation project.

2. Photographs of the project site - no more than 6. All photos must be labeled and compiled

into one .pdf document.

In addition, please list or succinctly describe the project location in the space below, including

o the county o nearby communities and public lands o the watershed in which the project is located o any downstream beneficiaries of the project

_________________________________________________________________________________

The project is located in Butte County. The project is adjacent to public lands owned by the Bureau of Land Management, and is located between three community areas: Forest Ranch to the east, Cohasset to the west and the City of Chico to the south. Downstream beneficiaries of the project include habitat and public recreation in Bidwell Park as well as agricultural and municipal users throughout the Sacramento River region and beyond.


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__________________________________________________________________________________


January 2019-June 2020

• Contract with Registered Professional Forester and archaeologist to complete Forest Management Plan and CEQA document.

• Project landowners approve the Forest Management Plan. • Partner with CEQA lead agency to complete CEQA process (Butte County Resource

Conservation District). • Apply for SNC funding to implement projects identified in the Forest Management Plan.

July 2020-July 2030 - Maintenance of Forest Management Plan by BCFSC, partners and landowners.

Objective Milestone Responsible Party

Timeline

Contracting for Registered Professional Forester (RPF) and Archaeologist

Board Approval and Contracts Signed

BCFSC January – May 2019

Archaeological Records Search, Surveys and Native American Notification

Archaeological Report Completed

BCRCD or BCFSC

May – October 2019

RPF Develops Forest Management Plan and Completes CEQA documents and submits them to lead

Forest Management Plan and CEQA Mitigated Negative

BCRCD or BCFSC

May – December 2019


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agency (Butte County RCD)

Deceleration (MND) Drafted

Management Plan Approved by partner landowners and BCFSC

Deliverable 1. Management Plan Complete

BCFSC, BCCER and Project Partners,

December 2019-February 2020

Lead agency holds public hearing and submits CEQA to state Clearing House

Deliverable 2. Completed CEQA Document

BCFSC, Project Partners,

February 2020

Apply for Proposition 1 or 86 funds for project implementation

Submit an application for project implementation

BCFSC April-June 2020

Administrative Tasks Contractor Invoices paid, grant funds requested and document expenditures

BCFSC January 2019-June 2020

Management, Monitoring and Tracking Performance Measures In-Kind Match

Project oversight, data gathered and entered into report format Forest Health education outreach with fire safe council volunteers

BCFSC and volunteers

January 2019-June 2020

Quarterly Reports Final Report

Reports submitted to SNC

BCFSC January 2019-June 2020


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__________________________________________________________________________________



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Other CEQA Lead Agency

$4,000


Total SNC Grant Request $100,000

Additional Project Costs (Funds or in-kind from sources other than SNC directly invested into this specific project, within this workplan and time frame) Education and outreach for forest health in project area with fire safe council volunteer time.

$10,000

Total Project Cost $110,000

__________________________________________________________________________________


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The project has community support and has been developed in consultation with Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, project landowners, BLM and CAL FIRE. The need for the project has been identified in the planning process of the Butte County Community Wildfire Protection Plan/Butte Unit (CWPP). The project has been designed at a landscape level to provide wider watershed protection. There is no known project opposition.

Project Partners:

A. The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve and project landowners will provide review, approval and maintenance of the Forest Health Management Plan over the next ten years.

B. The Butte County Fire Safe Council (BCFSC) will manage the project and work with the CEQA lead agency (Butte County Resource Conservation District) to complete the CEQA document and will apply for grant funding to the SNC for project implementation.

Anticipated Letters of Support Include:

• Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria • Forest Ranch Fire Safe Council • Forest Ranch Community Association • Butte County Air Quality Management District • Terra Fuego • California Deer Association • Stream Team • Sacramento River Preservation Trust • City of Chico • CAL FIRE • BLM • Sierra Pacific Industries • Sacramento River Watershed Program • USFS • Butte County Office of Emergency Management

__________________________________________________________________________________


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The project Forest Management Plan will take place on approximately 7,000 acres of conifer forest lands with the following ownership and parcel sizes:

Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve – 3,950 acres BLM – 480 acres The Grossman Trust – 2,282 acres Tichinin – 160 acres Schroeder – 287 acres Crane – 210 acres Mathews – 160 acres Bickley – 158 acres The CEQA document will be guided by the Forest Management Plan and is expected to produce 1,500 acres of CEQA for future project implementation. There is a conservation easement on the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve. __________________________________________________________________________________

Environmental Compliance SNC requires that all projects comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) at the time the SNC Governing Board authorizes a grant. Since the complexity of CEQA compliance will vary depending on project activities, it is important to consult with SNC staff as early as possible to discuss which documents may be required in a full application. A project will only be eligible to submit a Full Application if SNC determines there is a reasonable expectation that CEQA compliance will be completed in sufficient time for Board consideration. In addition to CEQA, projects subject to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) must be NEPA compliant. Note: In the Full Application, projects not exempt from CEQA must identify the Lead Agency for CEQA and provide documentation from that Agency confirming intent to serve as Lead.


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Applicants may request that SNC serve as Lead Agency if there is no other organization with standing to serve as Lead, but this request must come during the Pre-Application process. _________________________________________________________________________________

Brief Description of CEQA Status. If not exempt from CEQA, please identify the potential Lead Agency or if applicant is requesting SNC serve as Lead Agency.

The goal of the project is to complete CEQA on 1,500 acres in the project area. The only existing CEQA document in the project is for 451 acre of the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve.

Brief Description of NEPA Status, if applicable There is no existing NEPA, however, BLM lands adjacent to the reserve will have NEPA completed on them in the future by BLM which will add to the projects over all strength and scope.

__________________________________________________________________________________


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☒ Completed Pre-Application form. The form may be uploaded in the existing Word document format or saved as a .pdf and compiled into one .pdf document with the map and photos.

☒ Project Location Map (.pdf format) • For Category One grants the map should clearly delineate where SNC funds will be


• For Category Two grants the map should identify where pre-project activities will be focused and the location of the potential future implementation project(s).

☒ Project site photos. Please upload no more than 6 photographs of the project site. Photos


__________________________________________________________________________________


__________________________________________________________________________________


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Considerations for a Future Full Application Please check the boxes below to confirm awareness of the following requirements if projects are deemed eligible to submit a Full Application. These are NOT requirements for the Pre-Application.
















Big Chico Creek Forest Health Management PlanButte Co., CA, Scale 1:60,000

SNC Project AreaBig Chico Creek Ecological ReserveGrossman Family TrustPeter & Kim Tichinin

Hans & Dulcy SchroederJames CraneRoger MathewsSteven Bickley

Bureau of Land_ManagementButte Co. ParcelBig Chico CreekWatercourse

Í0 8,400 16,8004,200 Feet BCRCD 07252018

Photo: Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve looking South at Reserve Headquarters and Barn.

Photo: Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve looking North at Upper Watershed and the landowners Crane

and Mathews and Grossmans.

Photo: Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve stream monitoring team and aquatic life.

Photo: Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve student field trips featuring native cultural practices.

Photo: Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve Headquarters prescribed fire burn area done with native

cultural practices and CSU Chico students in Spring of 2018.

Photo: Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve-creek waters provide habitat and water to down-stream

users.


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SNC Grant # 1146


USDA Forest Service, Plumas National Forest, Feather River RD

Project Name

Devils Gap Forest Health Project

Project Category

☒ Category One


☐ Category Two




Clay R. Davis David B. Brillenz


District Planner Feather River District Ranger


530-532-8940 530-532-7410




875 Mitchell Ave., Oroville, CA 95965 875 Mitchell Ave., Oroville, CA 95965


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The Devils Gap project is in Plumas County, between the community of American House and Devils Gap on the Mooreville Ridge. The town of LaPorte California is about 3 miles northeast. We propose $1,009,450 of commercial and pre-commercial thinning, mastication, prescribed burning, planting, invasive weed control, trail maintenance, and road improvements to improve watershed conditions, reduce the risk of insect and disease-caused tree mortality, and accomplish fuels reduction and maintenance on about 400 acres, 2.5 miles of trail, and 6.7 miles of road. Activities such as contract officer representatives and prescribed burning would be project matching work in-kind while road improvements would be accomplished as part of the timber sale contract. __________________________________________________________________________________



Background

The 21N51 Road runs generally north from Quincy-LaPorte Road at American House to Devils Gap at the 21N16 Road (Mooreville Ridge). The 21N51 Road provides access for hunters, snowmobilers, campers, and other dispersed recreation opportunities. It provides additional emergency egress from Quincy-LaPorte Road by way of access to Mooreville Ridge. The southern extent is bounded by the Valley Creek Botanical Special Interest Area (SIA), which contains one of the few remaining examples of Sierra Nevada mixed conifer old growth forest in the Northern Sierra Nevada Mountains. In 2011, a 2.5-mile hiking trail was completed, providing access for hikers and nature enthusiasts.

The road passes through two California spotted owl (CSO) protected activity centers (PAC), a southern PAC that generally overlaps the SIA and another PAC closer to the northern terminus of the road.


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Most of the stands in the project area are in an overstocked condition and experienced an elevated level of tree mortality caused by bark beetles during the recent drought. Aerial detection surveys have identified an increase in tree mortality in response to the extremely dry water years of 2014 and 2015. Elevated levels of bark beetle-caused tree mortality in the project area, as well as the rest of the Sierra Nevada range, are strongly associated with periods of below normal precipitation and high stand density. This mortality combined with the existing high stand density has resulted in heavy fuel loading in some areas and a corresponding increase in the risk of stand replacing wildfire (Cluck and Woodruff 2018).

Agents/hosts observed during a site visit last year by zone entomologist, Danny Cluck included: recent scattered white fir mortality caused by the fir engraver beetle; ponderosa pine mortality caused by western pine beetle; mountain pine beetle-caused mortality of sugar pine, often associated with white pine blister rust; heterobasidion root disease in white fir; and true fir dwarf mistletoe in white fir (Cluck and Woodruff 2018).

Proposed Project Action and Description

The project proposes to use an ecosystem management strategy for Sierran mixed-conifer forests, GTR-220 (North et al. 2012) to reduce the risk of insect and disease-caused tree mortality through mechanical thinning. Fuels reduction and maintenance could be accomplished with mastication and/or biomass removal and prescribed burning. White fir would be removed in favor of retaining other tree species. The residual stands would be more open, increasing the amount of available soil moisture and sunlight for individual trees.

Management in the Valley Creek SIA will focus on protection of the area’s unique botanical and scenic values and vegetation management only to perpetuate old-growth characteristics. More recent data collected from the SIA shows that sugar pine and Douglas fir are now notably absent from the smaller size classes, despite their dominance in the overstory. In contrast, shade-tolerant species, such as white fir and incense cedar, are well represented across the full range of size classes (USDA Forest Service 2013).

Direction for California spotted owl is to continue to provide habitat conditions that support successful reproduction of CSO. Allowing for denser tree spacing and pockets of higher canopy cover may be desirable around potential wildlife trees, or on more mesic north-facing slopes. Target stand density is an average to be applied across the landscape and some variability is desired. Incorporating the concepts of GTR 220 (North et al. 2009) will address many of these issues and be consistent with regional ecosystem restoration goals.

Within the project area, we would follow hazard tree guidelines for Forest Service facilities and roads in the Pacific Southwest Region (Angwin et al. 2012), to identify and remove dead and dying trees with potential failure zones along the road.

Purpose of Action

The project area has become very dense, with a corresponding increase in white fir. With such a high density of white fire in the area, shade-intolerant and fire resilient species such as


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ponderosa pine and black oak have declined due to excessive competition for sunlight, water, and nutrients. These are not resilient forest conditions and will likely lead to unacceptable levels of tree mortality from bark beetles and disease or high severity wildfire (Cluck and Woodruff 2018). Over the past 100 years, the absence of frequent, low-intensity fire within the Valley Creek SIA has shifted the species composition of understory trees, and regeneration within stands is now dominated by shade-tolerant white fir and incense cedar. This shift in species composition is also0 apparent at a larger scale; the most recent vegetation mapping effort characterized only 198 acres (65 percent) of the Valley Creek SIA as Sierra mixed conifer forest, while the remaining 105 acres (35 percent) were classified as white fir forest (USDA Forest Service 2013). California spotted owl PAC in the project area share the dense understory, dominated by shade-tolerant species conditions of the surrounding habitat. The southern PAC overlaps many of the acres of the SIA. Many trees along the 21N51 Road are damaged and could fall into the roadway, posing a safety and access hazard to area residents, Forest Service personnel, contractors, special use permit holders, and the visiting public.

Need for Action

Improving the resilience of stands to future disturbance events through density, size class, and species composition management will be critical to maintaining a healthy forested landscape. In most cases thinning to a relative density of 25 – 40% (relative to the maximum Stand Density Index, or SDI) for a specific conifer species or for a weighted composition of conifer species will effectively reduce competition for limited water and nutrients and reduce the susceptibility to future bark beetle-caused tree mortality for many years (Cluck and Woodruff 2018).

Proactive, ecologically based management will be necessary to restore and maintain the late-successional forest within the Valley Creek SIA. Treatments should be selected to maintain and restore forest structure and species composition, reduce fuels, maintain sensitive wildlife and plant populations, recycle nutrients, and invigorate trees and understory plants. Identify areas surrounding the Valley Creek SIA that can be managed to reduce the potential spread of high-severity wildfire [or insect and disease infestation] into the SIA. Reduce the density of small trees along all perimeter roads (USDA Forest Service 2013).

When designing treatment unit intersections with PAC, limit treatment acres to those necessary to achieve strategic placement objectives. Mechanical treatments should be designed to maintain habitat structure and function in the PAC (USDA Forest Service 2004).

Incorporating the concepts of GTR 220 (North et al. 2009) is consistent with regional ecosystem restoration goals.


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Hazard tree guidelines provide a means to identify and abate hazard from trees that are likely to fail and cause injury to either people or property on Forest System roads or at Forest Service facilities (Angwin et al. 2012).

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1. A Project Location Map in .pdf format.

• For Category One grants the map should clearly delineate where SNC funds will be used and, if the proposed SNC activities are part of a larger project, approximate boundaries of that larger project.

• For Category Two grants the map should identify where pre-project activities will be focused and the potential location of the future implementation project.

2. Photographs of the project site - no more than 6. All photos must be labeled and compiled

into one .pdf document.

In addition, please list or succinctly describe the project location in the space below, including

o the county o nearby communities and public lands o the watershed in which the project is located o any downstream beneficiaries of the project

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The project is located on the Plumas National Forest in Plumas County, CA nearby the communities of American House and LaPorte. Lost Creek drains into the South Fork Feather River and eventually into Lake Oroville which provides water for about 60 million Californians. __________________________________________________________________________________



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Implementation would start with field season of 2019. Some activities would need to wait for completion of commercial thinning contracts before starting. Others could begin as soon as weather is appropriate. __________________________________________________________________________________



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Other Click or tap here to enter text.

$


Total SNC Grant Request $ 776,000

Additional Project Costs (Funds or in-kind from sources other than SNC directly invested into this specific project, within this workplan and time frame) Prescribed burning $100,000; road work $83,450, project management $50,000

$233,450

Total Project Cost $1,009,450

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We are asking SNC to serve as lead agency for CEQA; the FRRD Collaborative is participating in project planning; we will seek participation of Mooretown Rancheria as a service partner, if Mooretown Rancheria is available this project will provide thinning, masticating, and road decommissioning jobs for local tribal members; we have an agreement with Bureau of Indian Affairs to serve as contract officer for the service contracts with Native American businesses; road maintenance work would be accomplished as part of the commercial thinning contract; __________________________________________________________________________________



The project area is completely within the Plumas National Forest and 21N51 is a National Forest System road. __________________________________________________________________________________

Environmental Compliance SNC requires that all projects comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) at the time the SNC Governing Board authorizes a grant. Since the complexity of CEQA compliance will vary depending on project activities, it is important to consult with SNC staff as early as possible to discuss which documents may be required in a full application. A project will only be eligible to submit a Full Application if SNC determines there is a reasonable expectation that CEQA compliance will be completed in sufficient time for Board consideration. In addition to CEQA, projects subject to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) must be NEPA compliant.


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Note: In the Full Application, projects not exempt from CEQA must identify the Lead Agency for CEQA and provide documentation from that Agency confirming intent to serve as Lead. Applicants may request that SNC serve as Lead Agency if there is no other organization with standing to serve as Lead, but this request must come during the Pre-Application process. _________________________________________________________________________________

Brief Description of CEQA Status. If not exempt from CEQA, please identify the potential Lead Agency or if applicant is requesting SNC serve as Lead Agency.

Applicant is requesting SNC to serve as Lead Agency for CEQA.

Brief Description of NEPA Status, if applicable Project is an action categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or an environmental assessment (EA). The applicable category of actions is identified in agency procedures as projects to reduce the risk or extent of, or increase the resilience to, insect or disease infestation in areas designated under section 602 of HFRA, utilizing the CE in section 603 of HFRA 32.3(3). We expect to sign a decision memo for this project in August, 2018. Authorizing these activities under NEPA before the deadline for final applications.

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☐ Completed Pre-Application form. The form may be uploaded in the existing Word document format or saved as a .pdf and compiled into one .pdf document with the map and photos.

☐ Project Location Map (.pdf format) • For Category One grants the map should clearly delineate where SNC funds will be


• For Category Two grants the map should identify where pre-project activities will be focused and the location of the potential future implementation project(s).

☐ Project site photos. Please upload no more than 6 photographs of the project site. Photos


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Considerations for a Future Full Application Please check the boxes below to confirm awareness of the following requirements if projects are deemed eligible to submit a Full Application. These are NOT requirements for the Pre-Application.
















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