The primary intent of this project is to remove Hazard Trees to improve safety along five National Forest Service system roads. The selected roads are open to the public and support access associated with emergency responses, law enforcement, private land access, contractors and general land management.
This project lies entirely within the 2021 Caldor Wildfire area on the Placerville Ranger District of the Eldorado National Forest. GBI is implementing this project under a Supplemental Project Agreement pursuant to a Master Stewardship Agreement between GBI and the U.S. Forest Service.
Cutting of Hazard Trees will adhere to the Eldorado NF Roadside Hazard Tree Mitigation Environmental Assessment and the associated Decision Notice signed by the Forest Supervisor on 4/24/2023. In addition, the project will adhere to the Region 5 Hazard Tree Identification and Mitigation (FHP Report #RO-22-01) utilizing the defined term of a standing tree as those with a structural defect that makes it likely to fail in whole or in part and if failure occurs; strike a target of high value.
Hazard trees can be defective from age, fire, disease, or other factors. No standing dead trees or other hazard trees will be retained where firefighter safety and fire control line production are prioritized (except for live stands within a Wildlife Protected Area Center). All dead trees 6.0 inches or greater in dbh that have the potential to strike the driving surface of the identified roads, including shoulders and turn-outs, are considered Hazard Trees taking into consideration height and lean. On steeper ground, i.e. greater than 35% slope, individual trees up to 1.5 x the individual tree’s height would be fell if deemed a hazard to the road taking into account tree lean and risk of tree falling/sliding onto the driving surface of the road. GBI or Forest Service personnel will make final decisions concerning whether any particular tree is a Hazard Tree when questions arise between Contractor and GBI/Forest Service.
Hazard Tree cutting and skidding, processing, decking and Machine Piling will be accomplished by using mechanized logging systems that include the use of feller bunchers, rubber-tired or track-mounted log skidders; log loaders, tree processors, tracked grapple machines, brush rake equipped tractors and timber fallers with chainsaws.
CALDOR FIRE HAZARD TREE REMOVAL PROJECT PHASE TWO ROADSIDE – RFB
CALDOR FIRE HAZARD TREE REMOVAL PROJECT PHASE TWO – SALE AREA MAP