Fire Fuel Protection Project Contract 3

This project, designated as Fire Fuel Protection Project Contract 3, is a vegetation management initiative by Caltrans District 6—Fresno/Bakersfield—to reduce wildfire fuel loads along the State Highway System within Kern, Tulare, and Fresno counties. Work will occur on designated segments of SR-5, SR-168, SR-178, SR-180, SR-190, and SR-198, focusing strictly on the Caltrans right-of-way. Activities include selective removal of dead, dying, diseased, and invasive vegetation, pruning of native trees to maintain an eight-foot vertical clearance, and breaking fuel continuity by spacing tree canopies at least ten feet apart. No soil disturbance, stump grinding, or clear-cutting is permitted, and native vegetation with varied age classes and densities must be preserved to maintain ecological function. Selected snags will be retained to support wildlife habitat, and all work must avoid impacting emergency access or infrastructure. The project is exempt from environmental review under CEQA Class 4 and 14 CCR 15300, and compliance is mandated with ANSI A-300 pruning standards, Caltrans Construction Specification 14-11.04 for dust control, and protections under the California and Federal Endangered Species Acts, including seasonal work restrictions to preserve nesting birds and Pacific fishers. Performance is limited to daytime hours only, with a complete prohibition on work between March 15 and July 15 for bird nesting season and between November 1 and May 31 in areas inhabited by the Pacific fisher. Tree pruning is strictly regulated: no topping, no removal of live branches over six inches in trunk diameter, and no crown pruning unless explicitly permitted by project designations such as PR, RD, CR, or Exclude from work. No work is permitted within 100 feet of any stream, and all activities must prevent bare mineral soil exposure. The state holds ultimate authority for inspection and acceptance of work at the project site, ensuring adherence to all environmental and operational standards. While the contract is forecasted for posting on January 12, 2026, no contract value, payment details, accounting codes, invoicing methods, or formal clause references are available. The point of contact for the project is David Arredondo, Senior Environmental Scientist, and submissions must be directed to the Office of Planning and Research in Sacramento, though no formal proposal deadline or submission format is specified. No socioeconomic set-asides,