Andy Lovell of the Alpine Trails Association sent us this information about a major new restoration project in the Tahoe Area affected by the 2021 Tamarack Fire. We are posting it here, because it should be of interest to anyone involved in trail work and volunteering in the local wildernesses.
For the full document, including maps, images, tables and charts, use this link:
Scoping Document
Tamarack Restoration Project
CARSON RANGER DISTRICT
HUMBOLDT-TOIYABE NATIONAL FOREST
Alpine County, California
COMMENTS WELCOME
The Forest Service welcomes your comments on the Tamarack Restoration Project, located on the Carson Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. This project would focus on the restoration of priority areas within the area burned by the 2021 Tamarack Fire. The project is located within Alpine County, California, near the town of Markleeville. Figure 1 is a vicinity map of the project area. The District has tentatively determined that this proposed activity may be categorically excluded from further analysis and documentation in an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS) [36 CFR 220]. A proposed action may be categorically excluded only if there are no extraordinary circumstances related to the proposed action and the proposed action is within a category listed in section 32.1 or 32.2 of FHS 1909.1. This proposed action falls within 36 CFR 220.4(e)(6).
BACKGROUND The Tamarack fire was ignited on July 4, 2021, by a lightning strike in the nearby Mokelumne Wilderness. The wildfire eventually burned nearly 70,000 acres across Alpine County, California, and Douglas County, Nevada. Table 1 is a description of the acres burned in the Tamarack fire. The Tamarack fire was declared 100 percent contained on October 25, 2021.
Fuels Reduction
▪ Mechanical – 1,550 acres
▪ Mechanical work would consist of thinning of standing dead, dying, and declining trees. Trees that are already down will also be treated. This material may be masticated on site or brought to a decking location. Decks may be utilized for personal use fuelwood if material is viable. Material that is too degraded to be utilized as fuelwood would be chipped or treated by prescribed burning.
▪ Hand – 1,420 acres
▪ Handwork would consist of hand thinning of standing dead, declining or diseased trees up to 14” DBH. Brush would also be treated.
▪ Slash and activity fuels may be treated in the following ways:
• Hand piled and the piles would be burned
• Lopped and scattered
• Chipped ▪ Prescribed Fire – 3,000 acres
▪ Prescribed fire would be used to treat slash and material generated during implementation. Pile, broadcast, understory, and jackpot burning may be utilized.
• Reforestation ▪ Planting
– 350 acres
▪ Traditional reforestation techniques would be utilized to plant tree seedlings in areas cleared of standing dead trees. Planting would target approximately 125 trees per acre and would utilize current planting techniques to mimic naturally occurring regeneration including microsite planting which can be used to avoid planting seedlings in unnatural rows.
• Traditional reforestation techniques include utilizing spades, dibbles, and hodads to create a planting hole, placing a tree seedling into the prepared hole, and tamping the planting site to specifications.
▪ Aerial Seeding – 3,000 acres ▪ Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) would be utilized to aerially seed various tree species in areas inaccessible by traditional planting crews.
• Revegetation- Shrubs, grasses, and forbs
▪ Aerial seeding ▪ Seed mixes consisting of native shrubs, grass, and forbs will be spread via helicopter, fixed wing aircraft, or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in strategic areas not already recovering naturally. Seeded areas would be prioritized based on the current and predicted competition from non-native species, the desire to improve forage for pollinators and wildlife, and other habitat considerations.
▪ Hand seeding ▪ Hand seeding would consist of ground crews spreading seed via handheld seeding devices in drainages and other areas not easily accessed by aircraft.
The recovery process following a wildfire can take several years. The proposed treatments for this project are intended to assist natural recovery in areas more impacted by the Tamarack fire. It is anticipated that active management within the Tamarack fire area will continue into the future to assist and manage the recovery process in order to obtain the desired conditions on the landscape. An important component to fire recovery is promoting research to increase knowledge regarding the effects of large fires on the environment and hot to restore resilient forests following disturbances.
This project is anticipated to begin implementation in April of 2023. It is anticipated this project will be categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental
impact statement (EIS) or an environmental assessment (EA) when conditions of one of the categories identified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture are met. There categories can be found i 7CFR part 1b, or as identified in the Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 1909.15, section 31. To be categorically excluded there must not be extraordinary circumstances related to the decision that may result in a significant individual or cumulative effect on the quality of the human environment.
It is proposed this project may be categorically excluded from documentation in an EIS or EA as it is a routine activity with a category of exclusion and there are no extraordinary circumstances related to the decision that may result in a significant individual or cumulative effect on the quality of the human environment.
PROPOSED CATEGORY OF EXCLUSION
This decision qualifies for the following exclusion under 36 CFR 220.6(e)(11) – Post-fire rehabilitation activities, not to exceed 4,200 acres (such as tree planting, fence replacement, habitat restoration, heritage site restoration, repair of roads and trails, and repair of damage to minor facilities such as campgrounds), to repair or improve lands unlikely to recover to a management approved condition from wildland fire damage, or to repair minor facilities damaged by fire. Such activities:
(i) Shall be conducted consistent with Agency and Departmental procedures and applicable land and resource management plans;
(ii) Shall not include the use of herbicides or pesticides or the construction of new permanent roads or other new permanent infrastructure; and
(iii) Shall be completed within 3 years following a wildland fire.
How to Comment Comments, ideas, and concerns from the public are important to the design and analysis of this project. The comments provided will be utilized in the preparation of the Categorical Exclusion and in making the final decision. Comments should be specific, within the scope of the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the proposed action, and include supporting reasons to be considered. Written, facsimile, hand-delivered, oral, and electronic comments concerning this action will be accepted through November 17, 2022. Handwritten comments must be submitted to: District Ranger, Carson Ranger District, 1536 South Carson St. Carson City, Nevada 89701; facsimile 775-884-8199. Electronic comments may be submitted to https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=63042
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record for this project and will be available for public inspection and will be released if requested under the Freedom of Information Act. For further information, please contact Annabelle Monti, Forester and Project Manager at 775-771-1143 or anna.monti@usda.gov.