The project is located on privately owned Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI)
timberlands in southern Shasta County, California, along Rock Creek Road
beginning at the intersection with Forwards Mill Road and extending
approximately 0.55 miles northeast to approximately 300 feet west of Carobe
Lake. The treatment area extends up to approximately 650 feet from the
roadway edge, where necessary to establish an effective shaded fuel break
while avoiding sensitive resources. The total treatment area will not exceed 30
acres. The project location is shown on the attached project map and can be
further identified by the applicable APNs, Township/Range/Section, and/or
geographic coordinates included in the project administrative record.
Existing vegetation consists primarily of mixed conifer forest with intermixed
hardwoods, dense brush fields, regenerating conifers, and accumulations of
dead and down woody material resulting from decades of fire exclusion and
previous disturbance. Surface and ladder fuels provide vertical fuel continuity
capable of supporting high-intensity wildfire and crown fire spread adjacent to
Rock Creek Road. Terrain consists of gently rolling to moderately steep forested
slopes typical of the Manton area with generally stable volcanic-derived soils.
Mechanical mastication will primarily target shrubs, brush, small trees, and ladder
fuels. Removal of trees will generally be limited to suppressed or nonmerchantable
conifers and hardwoods less than 10 inches DBH. Approximately
60-80 percent of understory vegetation within treatment areas may be reduced
while retaining healthy mature overstory trees to maintain canopy cover, longterm
forest health, wildlife habitat, and shaded fuel break characteristics.
The Rock Creek Road Fuel Break Project consists of mechanical fuels reduction
activities intended to reduce hazardous wildfire fuels and improve wildfire
resilience adjacent to Rock Creek Road within the Manton Wildland-Urban
Interface (WUI). Total Project area not to exceed 30 acres.
Project activities include:
Mechanical mastication of understory vegetation.
Removal of non-merchantable conifer and hardwood trees less than ten
(10) inches diameter at breast height (DBH).
Removal of brush, ladder fuels, and downed woody material.
Retention of healthy mature overstory trees to maintain a shaded fuel
break.
Distribution of masticated material across the treatment area with
average slash depths not exceeding twelve (12) inches.
Minor incidental use of existing access routes necessary to conduct
treatment activities.
No commercial timber harvest is proposed. No road construction, road
widening, grading, stream alteration, or permanent land conversion is proposed.
The project is intended to reduce wildfire intensity, improve firefighter access,
enhance secondary emergency ingress and egress for the Manton community,
and protect nearby residences, utility infrastructure, and forest resources.
Construction is anticipated to commence during Fall 2026.
Mandatory Project Design Features and Environmental Protection Measure
The following measures are mandatory components of project implementation
and shall be incorporated into all project activities. Compliance with these
measures is required to avoid or minimize potential impacts to biological,
cultural, water quality, and other environmental resources. Supporting biological
reviews, cultural resource reviews, Sierra Pacific Industries operational
requirements, applicable resource maps, and associated documentation shall
be maintained in the project administrative record:
Compliance with applicable California Forest Practice Rules.
Compliance with Sierra Pacific Industries operational requirements.
Mechanical operations shall occur only during suitable soil moisture
conditions to minimize rutting, compaction, and erosion.
Protection of Class I, II, and III watercourses in accordance with
applicable regulations.
Avoidance of wetlands, meadows, springs, and other sensitive habitats.
Retention of healthy overstory trees.
Immediate stabilization of disturbed soils where necessary.
Suspension of work if protected wildlife species or active nests are
encountered until appropriate resource protection measures are
implemented.
All applicable resource protection buffers identified during biological or
cultural resource review shall be flagged or otherwise identified in the
field prior to treatment.
Equipment shall remain outside excluded resource areas shown on
project maps.
Previously undiscovered cultural resources shall immediately halt work in
the vicinity until appropriately evaluated.
Prior to implementation, the project shall undergo an appropriate cultural
resources review consistent with applicable state and federal requirements, as
appropriate for project funding and permitting. Existing cultural resource
information, project maps, and available records shall be reviewed to identify
known cultural resources within or adjacent to the project area. Sierra Pacific
Industries resource protection requirements and any recommended avoidance
measures shall be incorporated into project implementation. Documentation of
the cultural resources review, applicable resource maps, and correspondence
shall be maintained in the project administrative record.
