Fuels Reduction Projects

We’re told that, for every dime spent on prevention, you save a dollar on suppression (i.e. the cost of fighting fires).  This means that by spending $274,511 in funding these preventive projects today, we could be saving nearly $ 2.5 million dollars in firefighting costs.

Columbia Hill Shaded Fuel Break 2004/2005

The Columbia Hill Fuel Break project was funded through a National Fire Plan Grant from the U.S. Forest Service. The project called for clearing 200 feet on both sides of Tyler Foote Road extending from the Columbia Hill School House to Snow Tent Springs. The fuel break spans seven miles and when completed will treat approxiamtely 262 acres.

With nearly 80 separate landowners in the project area, the Fire Safe Council of Nevada County first began contact with landowners in the Summer of 2003, many of whom live as far away as Maryland . Over the past year, FSCNC staff and contracted foresters have met with the 49 landowners who chose to participate in the program (which will provide for 200’ of clearing onto their land) including brush removal, as well as the removal of some timber (if the landowner wishes). Most of the revenue generated from the sale of timber has been donated to the FSCNC and will be placed into a long-term maintance fund for this project. On-the-ground work began in September of 2004. All timber removal and final hand clearing is expected to be completed by Spring of 2005, as soon as winter snow pack has melted.

The Fire Safe Council of Nevada County has been working on the Columbia Hill Fuel Break for the past two years.  This fall and CDF/CDC crews are assisting in the clearing the final 30 acres to complete the project.  This morning was the long-awaited burn day! As of November 28, 2005, three CDF/CDC crews are continuing to clear hazardous fuels along Cruzon Grade Road, on the Malakoff State Park.  We are grateful to CDF for all of their assistance in completing this project.

Columbia Hill Before Treatment

Columbia Hill After Treatment

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The Owl Creek Neighborhood Fuels Reduction project was funded with a Community Wildfire Prevention Grant from the Bureau of Land Management. The goal of the project was to clear brush back 30’ on both sides of the roadways in the Owl Creek neighborhood of Nevada County , located off of Jones Bar Road . There are 84 landowners in the project area which the FSCNC first contacted in early 2004. Agreements to participate in the project came back into the FSCNC office in great volumes. The FSCNC met with all participating landowners in the project to determine what work they would like to have completed on their property. This project was completed in June of 2004 and treated approximately 30 acres. The results of the project created safer evacuation routes for Owl Creek road residents and firefighters alike.

Owl Creek Before Treatment

Owl Creek After Treatment

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Snow Tent Springs Fuel Break Project 2005/2006

In 2002, the FSCNC received a grant from the U.S. Forest Service to complete a 400 foot wide shaded fuel break in the Columbia Hill area of North San Juan . With 49 of approximately 75 landowners in the area participating, the FSCNC was able to accomplish its goal and create a conceptually effective fuel break. This proposal will allow the FSCNC, in coordination with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the North San Juan Coordinated Resources Management Group, to work with the approximately 20 landowners in the 4.1 miles extending from just east of Snow Tent Springs, where the Columbia Hill project left off, to the town site of Graniteville in an effort to construct a 200’ wide fuel break.

This project will meet a proposed prescription of removing under story fuels while attempting to achieve a 10 foot crown spacing.

In order to reach the spacing prescription, timber harvest will be required on this project. The FSCNC will work with landowners who wish to have timber removed from their property and request that the revenue generated from merchantable timber be donated back to the FSCNC to be placed in a fund for future maintenance of the fuel break. In the previous stretch of the Columbia Hill Fuel Break, all but one landowner donated their timber revenue, placing over $20,000 into a maintenance fund for the prior stretch. By using the same approach with this stretch of the fuel break, the FSCNC believes that continual maintenance of the fuel break will be possible.

This project will treat 87.03 acres on the North San Juan Ridge.

Grant Amount: $67,500 - Funded by 06 USFS Community Protection Grants

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Graniteville Town Site Fuels Reduction Project 2005/2006

The private property within the 120 acre Graniteville townsite is surrounded by U.S. Forest Service land. The condition of this land is ripe for a fire, however the U.S. Forest Service has a number of projects planned in this area over the next five years. This project, in conjunction with planned Forest Service projects will give the residents of Graniteville an improved line of defense against an oncoming wildfire.

In the event of a fire, Graniteville residents depend upon their volunteer fire department, consisting of a refurbished fire engine and water tender, with all of the town's residents as their firefighters.

Lengthy response times, in addition to the amount of heavy fuels in the area and the topography of the town, puts the town in great danger of devastation from wildfire.

Landscape level fuels reduction in the area presents the opportunity to reduce the loss of lives, structures and acres during the next wildfire.

Grant Amount: $100,000 - Funded by 06 USFS Community Protection Grants

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Newspaper Articles about our Projects

• May 22, 2004 - Reducing Wildfire Fuels