WILDFIRE MITIGATION PROJECTS
Over the past 22 years the Fire Safe Council Siskiyou County has been privileged to fiscal sponsor approximately 40 grants for various Fire Safe endeavors throughout Siskiyou County including but not limited to fuel reduction for ingress in egress, defensible space plus many educational outreach and training opportunities. This quarter we would like to feature three of our projects.
Dunsmuir Fuels Mitigation and CEQA
Project Description
The Dunsmuir Fuels Mitigation Project will reduce hazardous fuels in the Dunsmuir Wildland-Urban Interface in the City of Dunsmuir located in southern Siskiyou County. The project will seek environmental compliance on approximately 690 acres in the community with a subset of that area, approximately 183 acres, receiving on-the-ground fuel reduction treatments.
Only approximately 510 acres of the project area will need to obtain CEQA compliance. Landowner access agreements will not receive on-the-ground treatments through this grant, however, it will be in position to seek funding for treatments in the future.
Currently the CEQA document has been completed and is under review by CAL FIRE.
Landowner Entry Agreements have been obtained for about 20 percent of the parcels within the treatment area. A general archeological survey has been conducted on 349 acres (51 % of CEQA review area) and cursory survey completed on 382 acres (41 % of the CEQA review area).
If you are interested in defensible space being created at no cost to you on your property you may email or call the lead contact for this project.
Kristine Cloward, (Dunsmuir Fuels Mitigation Contractor)
VESTRA Resources, Inc.
kcloward@vestra.com
Tel: (530) 223-2585
Lake Shastina CEQA and Fuels Reduction Project
Project Description
The original Lake Shastina CEQA and Fuels Reduction Project’s primary purpose was to produce the CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) studies and final documents in the north portion of the proposed project area in order to be prepared for future large landscape-scale fuels mitigation in the Greater Lake Shastina area.
Treatment upon completion of the CEQA and NOE requirements will enable us to expand the treatment areas plus expedite implementation in order to improve fire protection for the Lake Shastina development. There is an anticipated 128 acres of fuels reduction in this area for approximately 200 feet on either side of the identified roads.
Project Update
After consulting CAL FIRE Foresters, we have moved from the CEQA process to a Vegetation Treatment Plan (VTP). This will allow more diverse use of the plan and the land in the future. Project Specific Analysis will include over 6,000 acres, exceeding the 197 acres originally respectively.
Shasta Valley RCD has been contracted as VTP/CEQA lead agency, which will expedite review and finalization of the CEQA document when complete,
If you are interested in defensible space being created at no cost to you on your property you may email or call our lead contractor for this project:
Kristine Cloward, (Lake Shastina Fuels Reduction Contractor)
VESTRA Resources, Inc.
kcloward@vestra.com
Tel: (530) 223-2585
Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG)
Project Description
The Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) project is a 5-year grant program and consists of 4 components (phases) that work together in tandem. These phases include: Conducting FREE wildfire home assessments to Siskiyou County residents; Complete Defensible Space work on approximately 500 homes; Identify and prioritize areas for fuel reduction and roadside fuel breaks to create safer ingress and egress for firefighters, emergency personnel, and residents; and, Coordinate, plan and execute community outreach events reaching 29 communities across the county.
History
In 2022, the Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County (FSCSC) and CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) began partnership to promote fire safety in Siskiyou County. The agency’s worked in conjunction on the Dunsmuir Pilot Program that completed home assessments, created defensible space around 40 homes, promoted the first Firewise community in Siskiyou County, and provided public outreach.
In 2024, the two agency’s are now working collaboratively on the CWDG Project for Fuels Reduction and the Defensible Space Program throughout Siskiyou County. The 5-year grant was obtained through the USDA Forest Service.
