California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP) Update

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is providing funding to the San Luis Obispo County Fire Safe Council to implement forest health and restoration activities across State Responsibility Area lands in San Luis Obispo County. The scope of work is divided into two primary initiatives: the Cambria Reserves Restoration and Vegetation Treatment Project, which focuses on restoring the native Cambria Monterey Pine Forest on up to 104 acres, and the North Coastal San Luis Obispo County Regional Ecological Strategy for Improving Landscapes (SLO-RESIL), which covers treatments on up to 1,409 acres. These efforts aim to reduce fuel loads, promote watershed health, and provide wildfire prevention benefits to neighboring communities. Authorized treatment activities include fuel breaks and ecological restoration through manual piling, pile burning, invasive plant removal, mechanical treatments, prescribed burning, herbicide application, and prescribed herbivory. All activities must comply with the California Vegetation Treatment Project (CalVTP) Program Environmental Impact Report and CEQA guidelines. Specifically, projects must adhere to Public Resources Code section 4483 to avoid type conversion in chaparral and coastal sage scrub communities and remain consistent with Coastal Commission requirements. Project management involves coordination between CAL FIRE staff, the Upper Salinas-Las Tablas Resource Conservation District, and the San Luis Obispo County Fire Safe Council.