Glenn County RCD - Forest Resilience

Recent wildfires, including the 2018 Ranch Fire and the 2020 August Complex Wildfire have decimated the Mendocino National Forest . Since 2018, 230,960 acres of the MNF-Glenn County has burned. In total, 86% of Glenn County’s forested land was burned from the August Complex alone.

The Mendocino National Forest Fuel Reduction Partnership: Smokey Project (Project) is a collaboration between the Mendocino National Forest (MNF), private landowners within the Forest and the Glenn County Resource Conservation District (RCD). The Smokey Project is Glenn County RCD's first Forest Health Project.

The overall Smokey Project is a landscape-scale land management project comprised of 7,059 acres of fuels reduction treatments and prescribed fire units, which will ultimately lead to healthy forest stands and prevent or reduce the devastation of wildfires as well as pest-related mortality.

This Project, focusing on 636 acres of mechanical thinning, was designed to create a more resilient landscape by working to 1) concentrate carbon storage in widely spaced and larger trees that are more resilient to wildfire, drought, and insect attacks and 2) reduce the likelihood of wildfire transition into the forest canopy. In addition to mechanical thinning, project design included prescribed fire to be used as well as restoration in meadow areas. The Project intent was also to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, strengthen the economy and improve public health and environment for the community to achieve California Climate Investment (CCI) goals.

In April 2020 the Glenn County RCD and the Mendocino National Forest entered into an agreement for the RCD to implement the project. Having NEPA completed in 2012 paved the way for the RCD to apply for grant funding. In March 2020 the Glenn County RCD received a CAL FIRE Forest Health (CCI) Grant. The Mendocino National Forest and the Tehama-Glenn Fire Safe Council both contributed match funds.

In June 2020, a Request for Proposals was released and in July 2020 the Paul Roen Company was selected as the most qualified proposal coming in under Glenn County RCD’s budget. The Paul Roen Company sub-contracted the project to Diversified Resources, Inc. The August Complex fire started in mid-August 2020 and containment was not reached until mid-November. During this time the fire and project area were monitored, with the fire ultimately impacting the project area. Implementation of the Smokey Project Began in October 2022. In total 239.67 acres where completed in 2022. Implementation continued in September 2023; the remaining 396 acres where completed in 2023. Through on-going communications and working closely with CAL FIRE, the MNF and Diversified Resources, Inc., the RCD was able to complete the project on time and within budget. Due to rapid regrowth in one area of the project, 52.5 acres of the project completed in 2022 were re-treated in 2023.

Glenn County RCD and partners will continue to monitor the project site through photo monitoring and GIS mapping and the Mendocino National Forest will continue to monitor the area for additional fire related impacts. The August Complex fires had a devastating impact on the forest and the success of this project has created a project template that can be used in other affected areas.

Glenn County RCD has historically partnered with U.S. Forest Service-MNF; however, in August 2023, the partners entered into its first Master Stewardship Agreement to bolster its collaboration for forest resiliency. This Project, in conjunction with the Alder Springs Forest Resilience Project, will be the first two projects implemented through the newly executed agreement.

Glenn County Resource Conservation District (RCD) will partner with the Mendocino National Forest (MNF) to implement the Corbin Creek Watershed Restoration - August Complex (Project). This Project will improve watershed health in this region by scaling up restoration from the 2020 August Complex Fire.

The Project will treat 6,200 acres of public land in the MNF through the establishment of strategic fuel breaks and fuels reduction. The Project boundary is the Corbin Creek (HUC 12) Watershed; the overall Project boundary is 28,000 acres in size. This watershed is Ranked 5 (Highest Level) by CAL FIRE Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) to Reduce Wildfire Risk to Forest Ecosystem Services.

Recent wildfires, including the 2018 Ranch Fire and the 2020 August Complex Fire have decimated the MNF. The Corbin Creek Watershed Restoration - August Complex project, will begin to restore the watersheds effected by these high intensity wildfire events. The watersheds this Project will help restore include the (HUC 6) Lower Sacramento and Norther California Coastal Watersheds. Strategic fuel breaks will be created within the Project boundary including: a primary fuel break along the Corbin Creek (HUC 12) watershed and a as secondary fuel breaks within the project boundary intended to contain and provide areas to suppress wildfires as well as prescribed fire planning. Overall, the Project includes 1,200 acres of strategic fuels breaks.

Fuels reduction will be provided in the southwest corner of the Project boundary. Glenn County RCD will treat the area with mastication, and the thinning of trees and brush under 12” dbh, including removal of drought mortality and diseased/infected trees. Overall, the Project includes mastication and thinning to 5,000 acres.

This area is uniquely positioned for fuels reduction and restoration. Tree mortality and Rapid Assessment of Vegetation Condition After Wildfire (RAVG) data indicates portions of the Project area was not as severely impacted by the August Complex as the majority of the Mendocino National Forest. With so much of Glenn County’s Forest having a severe burn scar, protecting the remaining areas from future high intensity wildfires is a priority.

The Corbin Creek Watershed (through Corbin Creek) is the headwaters and drains directly into the Eel River - a major river system in Northern California. The (Middle Fork) Eel River begins near the Project area through Lake Pillsbury eventually discharging near Fortuna approximately 200 miles from where it originated. The Eel River represents California's third largest watershed - the Norther California Coastal Watershed. The Project would restore watershed health to the Norther California Coastal Watershed and promote a healthier river system. Strategically placed within the Mendocino National Forest to reduce wildfire risks from catastrophic wildfire and improve wildfire resilience, this Project is directly north of the Snow Mountain Wilderness Area. The Corbin Creek Watershed Restoration - August Complex will protect the north side of Snow Mountain Wilderness Area from catastrophic wildfire.

Glenn County Resource Conservation District (RCD) will partner with small forested landowners within the Mendocino National Forest (MNF) to implement the Glenn County Small Landowner Forest Improvement Program. The Glenn County portion of the MNF footprint is unique in that it is almost entirely U.S. Forest Service Lands with no industrial timber operations. The forest footprint has limited private landowners; in total there are 84 properties that would be eligible for this program with an average size of 72 acres. While these properties are small in size, their need is great. Recent wildfires, including the 2018 Ranch Fire and the 2020 August Complex Wildfire have decimated the MNF including the small private landowners. Since 2018, 230,960 acres of the MNF-Glenn County has burned. In total, 86% of Glenn County’s forested land was burned from the August Complex alone. Nearly all small private forested lands were severely impacted by the August Complex. At an average size of 72 acres these areas do not have opportunities for funding; additionally, about ¼ of the eligible properties are below the 20-acre minimum threshold required for the California Forest Improvement Program. Glenn County RCD has been contacted by several forested landowners seeking assistance; up until this funding opportunity, Glenn County hasn’t been able to adequately assist these landowners. Glenn County RCD will connect with all small forested landowners in the county to provide Technical Assistance and to implement 850 acres of Forest Improvement Practices.

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