Protecting Highway 108's Communities, Economies, and Watersheds Amendment 1 (SNC1837.1) (SCH 2026030288)

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy is amending grant agreement 1837 with Tuolumne County to provide additional funds for the Protecting Highway 108's Communities, Economies, and Watersheds project. This amendment authorizes the implementation of approximately 60 additional acres of fuelbreaks, contributing to a total project scope of between 339 and 594 acres of fuelbreaks in eastern Tuolumne County. The primary objective is to protect local infrastructure and communities from wildfire by creating anchor points for future forest management and improving access for fire-suppression activities. The work is integrated into the Social and Ecological Resilience Across the Landscape (SERAL) 2.0 plan and is conducted in partnership with the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite Stanislaus Solutions. The scope of work involves roadside thinning and the reduction of ground and ladder fuels up to 12 inches in diameter using a combination of mechanical mastication, hand-thinning, and pruning. Performance will take place at three specific locations within the Stanislaus National Forest: near Pinecrest along Highway 108 and Crabtree Road, along the east side of Highway 108 near Long Barn between Stoddard Spring and Sylvan Lodge, and on the southeast side of Highway 108 between Me-Wuk Village and Arastraville. The project is governed by a statutory CEQA exemption under Public Resources Code section 4799.05(d)(1). Key administrative contacts include Andy Fristensky of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and Caitlin Henry of Tuolumne County.