PL-566 North Fire Break and Emergency Access Maintenance Project

This project would involve mastication of fuels along a ~4 mile ridgeline road segment of the North Fuel Break portion, mostly located in Rancho Canada Del Oro Open Space Preserve and small portions of Mt. Chual Open Space. Authority staff will conduct a pre-construction survey for any special status plant species and nesting birds. No vegetation in drainages will be removed, as the work is located along the ridgetop. An excavator with masticator attachment would grub woody fuels along both sides of the road for a distance of 20’ from the road edge (or less, depending on slope), as well as remove any vegetation that has grown in the road since the last maintenance cycle. A designated fire watch will follow the equipment with a fire extinguisher. After the initial mastication, a 6-person crew will reduce smaller fuels using chainsaws and other hand-equipment for the length of the project. This work is proposed for the spring, summer, and fall of 2026 with the possibility of additional work needed to be done in the spring and summer of 2027.