Calaveras County Resource Conservation District is committed to keeping our communities safe. Approximately 400 acres in Valley Springs are being treated as part of the NorthWest Calaveras Fuel Reduction Project. Including mastication with heavy equipment and hand-work crews removing dangerous and hazardous fuel loads, treatments will reduce overgrown shrubs and spacing trees to create a more fire resistant landscape.  The goal of the project is to reduce materials that cause fires to burn too hot, too quickly. As California faces an increase in megafires, we aim to private landowners and communities by providing fuel-reduction practices on their land.

Awarded in 2022, the NorthWest Calaveras Fuel Reduction Project Fuel Break is funded by Cal Fire’s Wildlife Prevention Program. This grant program is designed to protect the homes, businesses and schools within the Valley Springs and Rancho Calaveras Communities.

Treatments under this project may include: Mechanical treatment of fuels (mastication), manual treatment (handwork), pile construction and burning, prescribed broadcast burning and prescribed grazing.

Treatment areas are chosen based on prescriptions created by a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) or a Certified Range Manager and with the final approval by landowners.

Due to the grant-funded nature of our organization, treatment is provided to private landowners at NO cost.

Treatment will occur outside of fire season; e.g., no work is permitted or will be limited on Red Flag Days.

 

Funding for this project provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s (CAL FIRE) Wildfire Prevention Grants Program.

The “NW Calaveras Fuel Reduction Project” is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.