North Bay Forest Improvement Program — Chelius

Approximately 26 acres are to be treated. The project consists of selective thinning, mastication, pruning, and follow up slash treatment within designated treatment units to reduce hazardous surface and ladder fuels, improve stand structure and growing conditions, and promote a more fire resilient forest condition. Treatments will primarily target dense small and intermediate sized trees, generally less than 10 inches DBH, including Douglas-fir, madrone, tanoak, and other hardwoods where removal will reduce competition, improve spacing, release desirable residual trees, and reduce horizontal and vertical fuel continuity. Within oak woodland areas, treatment will emphasize retention and release of healthy mature oaks and other desirable overstory trees. Competing Douglas-fir and overly dense groups of hardwood stems may be selectively removed to improve growing space, crown development, and stand structure. Selected large snags and larger down woody material may be retained where consistent with safety, habitat, and treatment objectives. Where terrain, access, and stand conditions are suitable, mastication equipment may be used to treat appropriately sized standing trees, brush, and woody residue. In hand treated areas, project generated slash may be lopped and scattered, piled for burning, chipped, or masticated in accordance with project specifications. The Registered Professional Forester will use professional judgment during implementation to adjust tree selection and treatment methods as necessary to account for actual stand conditions and to ensure work remains consistent with the approved project specifications, NBFIP requirements, and applicable resource protection measures. The purpose of the project is to reduce wildfire hazard, improve forest health and stand resilience, enhance oak woodland conditions, and create a more open and maintainable forest structure. The beneficiaries of the project include the landowner, adjacent properties, wildlife habitat, and the public through reduced wildfire risk and improved forest condition.