Upper Butte Creek Forest Health Project

The Upper Butte Creek Forest Health Project is a comprehensive restoration initiative managed by the Butte County Resource Conservation District, covering approximately 20,000 acres across Butte, Plumas, and Tehama counties in California. The project aims to restore biodiversity, meadow health, and natural forest composition while improving the regional transportation network and in-stream habitats. Key activities include manual and mechanical thinning, prescribed fire, post-wildfire reforestation with herbicide site preparation, and process-based restoration of meadows, riparian areas, and streams. Additionally, the project involves road route realignment, invasive plant management, and the establishment of strategic fuel breaks to enhance emergency response ingress and public egress. Mechanical treatments also include commercial logging and fuels reduction to provide economic support to local businesses and communities. The project is subject to strict environmental and regulatory standards, including the USFS 2012 National Best Management Practices for Water Quality Management. Operational constraints include specific mechanical equipment exclusion zones around water sources, ranging from 25 to 150 feet, and the prohibition of equipment crossing perennial streams. Riparian Conservation Areas are established with buffers up to 300 feet, requiring one-end suspension for timber removal where feasible. Regulatory compliance is managed through a Negative Declaration under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and NEPA review, with additional authorizations required from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board under the Clean Water Act and the Porter-Cologne Act. Certain construction phases, such as the Humbug Road realignment and Willow Creek Meadow restoration, must be executed under a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Permit.