Cottrell Ranch, LLC, “Butte Creek / Buck Mountain Forest Health Project” - Butte Creek Road Vegetation Management

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is providing funding to Cottrell Ranch, LLC for the Butte Creek / Buck Mountain Forest Health Project. This initiative focuses on implementing forest fuel reduction activities within the Butte Creek Ranch and Buck Mountain Ranch properties, specifically targeting the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) easement area along Butte Creek Road, also known as Hidden Valley Road, in Humboldt County. The primary objective is to establish a shaded fuel break to decrease wildfire severity, enhance fire resilience, and ensure safe ingress and egress routes for residents and firefighters. The scope of work involves the removal of shrubs, live conifers, and dead or dying trees from oak woodlands and overstocked stands. These activities will be executed using a variety of methods, including manual removal, chipping, mastication, and biomass removal via ground-based equipment. The project is governed by Public Resources Code Section 4799.05(d)(1) and has undergone environmental review under the NEPA Hazard Removal and Vegetation Management Programmatic Environmental Assessment, with a Determination of NEPA Adequacy signed on February 24, 2026.