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Mokelumne Hill Fuels Reduction Project

Progress of Fuels Reduction Project as of June 2024

A sign about the Mokelumne Hill Fuels Reduction Project funded by California Climate Investments and Cal Fire, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Moke Hill Progress - June 2024
Heavy machinery (bulldozer and excavator) on a grassy field under a blue sky, possibly on a construction or land clearing site.
Krisman's Equipment
Grassy field with trees, sunny day, image rotated 90 degrees to the right.
Before 1
Tall green grass with trees under a blue sky, rotated sideways.
Before 2
A sunny landscape with dry grass, trees, and a clear blue sky. (The image is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise.)
After View 1
Dry grassy area with trees under a clear blue sky. (Image is rotated.)
After View 2
A sunny forest landscape with dry grass and trees; image is rotated 90 degrees to the right.
After View 3
A sunny landscape with trees, dry grass, and a fallen, dead tree with red markings.
After View 4
A wooded area with a mix of trees, shadows, and dry grass under a bright sky.
After View 5
A clearing with dry foliage, surrounded by trees with a hill in the distance under a blue sky.
After View 6
Sunny landscape with trees, grass, and dry pine needles on the ground.
After View 7
A hilly landscape with dry grass and scattered trees under a clear sky.
After View 8
Aerial view of a hilly landscape, roads, trees, patches of grass, and a river.
Aerial View of completed work as of 6.2024
A sign about the Mokelumne Hill Fuels Reduction Project funded by California Climate Investments and Cal Fire, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Heavy machinery (bulldozer and excavator) on a grassy field under a blue sky, possibly on a construction or land clearing site.
Grassy field with trees, sunny day, image rotated 90 degrees to the right.
Tall green grass with trees under a blue sky, rotated sideways.
A sunny landscape with dry grass, trees, and a clear blue sky. (The image is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise.)
Dry grassy area with trees under a clear blue sky. (Image is rotated.)
A sunny forest landscape with dry grass and trees; image is rotated 90 degrees to the right.
A sunny landscape with trees, dry grass, and a fallen, dead tree with red markings.
A wooded area with a mix of trees, shadows, and dry grass under a bright sky.
A clearing with dry foliage, surrounded by trees with a hill in the distance under a blue sky.
Sunny landscape with trees, grass, and dry pine needles on the ground.
A hilly landscape with dry grass and scattered trees under a clear sky.
Aerial view of a hilly landscape, roads, trees, patches of grass, and a river.

This flammable fuels reduction project will provide fire prevention to Mokelumne Hill. There are live and dead fuels in the Mokelumne River Canyon and the busy state highway in the canyon exacerbates the potential of ignitions. Mokelumne Hill is a town of approximately 1,400 persons. The Treatment Influence Zone is 345 acres, and Project Influence Zone is 47,900 acres.

Project Goal:

The project goal is to minimize the threat of wildfire entering the town of Mokelumne Hill and the rangelands, Sierra foothills forest and WUI adjacent to the town proper. A fire entering a town like Mokelumne Hill would be disastrous. Most standing homes are at least 50 years old and built before modern fire prevention standards were established. There are a significant number of historic buildings in Mokelumne Hill that would not fend off fire well.

The Project will reduce the risk and the spread of fire ignition by rearranging dangerous ladder fuels and dead trees/debris to ground litter by mastication.

Project Funding:

Funding for this project provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s (CAL FIRE) Wildfire Prevention Grants Program.

Project Details:

  • 319 acres have been mapped and included.
  • Some land is excluded because it is too steep or requires special protections.
  • Includes dozens of private properties, Moke Hill Sanitary District lands and East Bay Municipal Utility District.
  • Large trees over 12” diameter will generally remain in the project area and limbed to a height of 10 feet.
  • Smaller trees will generally be thinned to a 30-foot spacing.
  • Trees and brush that are removed will be ground into mulch and spread on the soil to reduce erosion.
  • More than a dozen private contractors attended a pre-bid tour and 8 proposals were submitted.
  • Krisman Enterprises from Amador County was awarded the contract.
  • Work will begin as soon as soil conditions allow and continue in 2024 until fire hazards are assessed as prohibitive.
  • Involved landowners will be notified prior to work on their lands.

 

Contact Info:

Calaveras County Resource Conservation District

PO Box 1041  |  San Andreas, CA 95249

Project Manager:  Dan Liechty  (209) 419-1244

Registered Professional Forester:  Ed Struffenegger  (209) 304-2045

Executive Director:  Trina Walley  (209) 226-0039

 

Project Cost: $1,047,753.71

 

Moke Hill_NOE_filed_5GG21172.pdf

An Environmental Review Report is available to view in the office of the CCRCD.

May contain: chart, plot, map, atlas, and diagram
Moke Hill Fuels Reduction Project Map