Manton WUI Protection Project - Shasta Co (1838)

The Manton WUI Protection Project, managed by the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County, aims to establish a defendable perimeter around the Manton wildland-urban interface community in Southeast Shasta County, California. The primary objective is to mitigate the community's susceptibility to high-intensity wildfires and ensure the safety of ingress and egress routes. The project is authorized under a CEQA Class 4 exemption for minor alterations to land, as activities are conducted in previously disturbed areas. The scope of work involves treating 630 acres through three primary tasks: hand thinning and chipping of 310 acres across six strategic roadways and Forward Road to reduce ladder fuels; mastication of 120 acres to disrupt fuel continuity, specifically targeting the fuel wall south of Hazen Road; and herbicidal treatment of 200 acres to prevent the resprouting of invasive and native species. All herbicidal applications must be performed by licensed applicators using targeted spot or cut-stump treatments in compliance with California Department of Pesticide Regulation and County Agricultural Commissioner requirements. Operational requirements include strict adherence to CEQA Guidelines for inadvertent archaeological discoveries and mandatory tribal consultation or monitoring when working near known cultural resources. To protect riparian areas, watercourse flagging and buffers based on NWI inventory must be implemented. Project operations will be audited by RCDTC and RBFD personnel to ensure no additional ground disturbance occurs. The project is implemented over time rather than as a single intensive disturbance, focusing on various roadside rights-of-way, easements, and private landowner parcels adjacent to Hazen Road.