Orr Springs Road Fuels Reduction Project

The Orr Springs Road Fuels Reduction Project, managed by Mendocino County under solicitation 2025-E0079, aims to establish emergency ingress and egress routes by creating a shaded fuel break extending 30 feet from the road edge. The project is divided into two alignments: Alignment 1 from Ukiah to Orr Springs and Alignment 2 from Comptche to Ukiah. The primary objectives are to improve road visibility for residents and emergency traffic, enhance forest health and resilience by removing excess fuel loads, and preserve biodiversity. This project is classified as a statutory exemption under California Public Resources Code Section 21080.49(b) as a defensible space fire clearance project for a public roadway serving a community of 30 or more dwelling units. Technical specifications require the removal of shrubs and trees with a diameter of 10 inches or less, measured at four and a half feet above the ground. Trees exceeding 10 inches in diameter must be pruned to 6 feet above the ground and 15 feet above the paved road surface. Work will be performed using manual and manual-mechanical methods to avoid ground disturbance, with cut materials dragged by hand to a chipper for on-site broadcasting or hauling. All operations must comply with Mendocino Department of Transportation traffic control requirements. Administrative oversight is provided by Christy Gard and Julia Krog, with the project located within the cities of Ukiah and Comptche in California.