TUD Ditch System Shaded Fuel Breaks

The Tuolumne Utilities District is executing a wildfire risk mitigation project along a 12-mile stretch of its ditch system in Tuolumne County, California, to protect its raw water supply by establishing a 50-foot shaded fuel break on both sides of the ditch. The work involves mechanical treatment including cutting, shredding, and chipping of vegetation, followed by hand piling and prescribed burning of all brush exceeding 12 inches in diameter. This effort is authorized under a Class 4 Categorical Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA Section 15304), confirming that the activity constitutes a minor land alteration with no significant environmental impact, particularly avoiding the removal of healthy, mature, or scenic trees. The project has received a No Effect Determination from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and has satisfied all required state environmental filings, including the submission of a Notice of Exemption and associated fee payments totaling $103.98. The work is being performed by or under the direct oversight of TUD personnel, with Don Perkins, General Manager, serving as the approving official, and Eric Hall, Operations Director, acting as the lead contact. There is no formal contract value established, no standard federal procurement clauses applied, and no use of federal acquisition systems such as WAWF or federal accounting codes; all financial and administrative processes have been handled locally through OpenGov and county channels. The project is not subject to FAR requirements, nor does it involve small business set-asides, socioeconomic certifications, or federal contracting mechanisms. The place of performance is strictly within the ditch corridor near Eureka, Columbia, and Shaw’s Flat, with inspection and acceptance conducted on-site by the district. No delivery schedules, FOB terms, or packaging specifications are defined, and the procurement is structured as a local environmental implementation task rather than a competitively bid federal contract.