Steep Terrain Fuels Treatment Demo

The USDA Forest Service, Cal Fire, and Sierra Pacific Industries in conjunction with the UC Cooperative Extension are sponsoring a hazardous fuels treatment demonstration (demo).  Focused on conventional and innovative technologies capable of operating on steep terrain (30% plus slope) the demo will be held on Sierra Pacific Industries managed lands near Ice House, California.  This demo will provide equipment vendors and contractors with an opportunity to demonstrate equipment and techniques that might not be currently utilized in northern California. Technology deployed will range from skid steer to excavator equipment, all equipped with mastication attachments to reduce brush and small trees to four inch minus woody material.  The demo will be convened over a five day period with target audiences invited to attend on June 8 and 9.  Equipment utilized will be observed for effectiveness, efficiency, cost, and resource impacts (e.g., soil disturbance, fire behavior).  Findings from the demo will be available Fall 2018.

The target audience for this demo includes fire agencies, natural resource managers, electric utilities, water conservation districts, homeowner associations, fire safe councils, county and city planning departments, fuels treatment contractors, and other stakeholders.

 

The Field Tour will be held on June 8th and 9th, 2018. Please REGISTER HERE to sign up for a time slot. Due to road conditions, group sizes will be limited. Please plan accordingly to meet at the Ice House Resort staging area. Hard hats will be provided, but please bring closed toed shoes and plenty of water.