TUD Ditch System Shaded Fuel Breaks

The Tuolumne Utilities District is implementing the TUD Ditch System Shaded Fuel Breaks project in Tuolumne County, California, specifically within the Sonora area including Eureka, Columbia, and Shaw's Flat. The project involves fuels reduction work along 12 miles of the district's ditch system to create a 50-foot shaded fuel break on both sides of the ditch. This initiative is designed to mitigate wildfire risk to the raw water supply and aligns with the priority areas identified in the district's 2025 Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan. The scope of work includes cutting, shredding, chipping, creating hand piles, and burning all brush greater than 12 inches. These activities are classified as minor alterations to land, water, and vegetation and specifically exclude the removal of healthy, mature, or scenic trees. The project is categorized under NAICS code 561730 and has been granted an environmental exemption under Class 4, Section 15304. Administrative oversight is managed by the Tuolumne Utilities District, with Don Perkins serving as General Manager and Eric Hall as Operations Director.