Growlersburg Fuels Reduction

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Amador-El Dorado Unit is planning a fuel reduction project in Georgetown, CA. The purpose of this project is to reduce the volume of flammable fuels (grass, brush and timber litter) and to discourage the caching of contraband by inmates around buildings and out-lying structures at CAL FIRE's Growlersburg Camp facility. The treatment area will cover approximately 80 acres and will be entirely on CAL FIRE land. A large portion of the proposed project area has been prescribed burned multiple times under CAL FIRE ownership. The project’s primary objective is to reduce accumulations of fuels as well as invasive species such as Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) and yellow star-thistle (Centaurea solstitialis). The dominant overstory consists of ponderosa pine with a few scattered gray pines, while the understory is a mix of live oak, California black oak and blue oak. The area has been extensively thinned and the dominant trees pruned up, however the depth of accumulations of tree litter, brush and grass are greater than desired and now present a fire hazard to both the existing conifer overstory and the CAL FIRE facility. Ongoing fuel reduction will consist of fire crews thinning and pruning trees, removing mature dead and diseased trees, pile building and burning, mastication, chipping, and broadcast burning. Existing roads and trails within the project area will be used as control lines of burn units to the greatest extent possible, however they will need to be augmented with some hand or dozer line construction. Total dozer line construction is expected to constitute less than 0.5 acres. The proposed project shall incorporate the use of low intensity backing fire techniques in order to maximize fuel consumption, while minimizing smoke production and the possibility of an escape. Black and blue oaks, trees with large cat faces, and larger trees which have the potential ability of carrying fire vertically into the canopy shall have handline constructed around them for additional protection. The Growlersburg Camp facility is located in the Georgetown Creek watershed (Calwater ID ver 2.25514.320502).