California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP) Update

Vegetation management treatments are planned for up to 1,067 acres near Tuolumne City and Summerville High School in Tuolumne County, California, under the California Vegetation Treatment Program, with the primary objective of reducing wildland-urban interface fuels through a combination of mechanical, manual, prescribed burning, herbivory, and herbicide applications. The project is structured in two phases: Phase I involves herbicide application on 136 acres that were previously mechanically treated two years ago, while Phase II entails initial treatments on approximately 930 acres using mechanical and manual methods, followed by prescribed burning of accumulated fuel piles; maintenance treatments are expected to occur two to three years after the initial Phase II work is completed. All activities must adhere to the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program established under the CalVTP Program Environmental Impact Report (SCH# 2019012052), ensuring compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and maintaining residual tree spacing of 25 to 30 feet between stems while retaining chipped or masticated material on-site to promote soil health. Work is to be performed within specific land sections near Tuolumne City and Summerville, with inspection and acceptance conducted on-site by the Tuolumne County Resource Conservation District, the designated lead and responsible agency under CEQA. The project was approved on October 15, 2025, and is managed by Frank T. Lewicki, District Forester, with correspondence and oversight handled through the district’s office in Sonora, California. No contract value, pricing details, or specific procurement type are disclosed, and while project documentation is publicly accessible, there is no formal identification of contract clauses, evaluation factors, payment procedures, contracting officer representatives, or offeror certifications that would typically accompany a federal procurement.