Stony Gorge Hazardous Fuels Reduction

The Stony Gorge Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project (Project) is a 121-acre fuels reduction project in western Glenn County, California. As of January 2023, the project is approximately 95% complete.

The Stony Gorge Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project (Project) is a 121-acre fuels reduction project in a critical location in western Glenn County, California. The Project addresses the risk of wildfire, reduces wildfire potential, and increases community resiliency. The project consists of vegetation clearance to reduce wildfire intensity, rate of spread and creates a fuel break above Elk Creek should a fire start in the public areas of Stony Gorge Reservoir & Campgrounds.

The Project site is located east of the unincorporated community of Elk Creek; south of State Route 162 and directly north of the Stony Gorge Reservoir. The site is located approximately 1.5 hours north of Sacramento, west of I-5, and sits on the western side of the Sacramento Valley. Portions of sections 9 & 10 T20N, R3W, USGS 7.5’ Quadrangle Map: Elk Creek. Assessor Parcel Numbers: 021-190-019, 022-020-028 & 022-020-044. Lat 39.603; Lon: -122.532. The elevation of the site ranges from approximately 700 feet at its lowest point to approximately 1,100 feet at its highest point.

The objective was to remove invasive shrubs (including chaparral), brush and fallen trees. Mechanical treatment was utilized for most of the site (~100 acres) using a root rake or similar mechanized option. When mechanical operations were not feasible such as slopes greater than 40% or rocky terrain, manual / hand treatment was used; approximate 21 acres. Unhealthy or dead trees were removed; as well as previously fallen trees. Vegetation generated from operations was conservation burned. Once initial operations are completed; the following season spot spraying will be utilized as maintenance for the Project. Herbicide application will be utilized during this operation on any regrowth accumulated since the removal of invasive shrubs (including chaparral), brush and fallen trees; spot spray is anticipated to begin Spring 2023.

At the private landowner’s request, the Glenn County RCD coordinated the aerial seeding in order to help mitigate potential erosion as a result of the existing fuels reduction project where invasive shrubs (including chaparral) and brush were removed. Glenn County RCD partnered with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) as well as U.C. Cooperative Extension (UCCE) to determine a viable seed mix for the project site; the landowner made the final decision, and an annual grass seed mix was flown onto the project site on October 19, 2022 by Regenald Michaud Aviation, LLC.

To further mitigate erosion, straw was blown on the project site in October 2022. The straw will help with erosion control practices as well as stabilize bare soils.

Smoke production and Carbon emissions were mitigated by using conservation burn techniques as well as securing the required burn permit from Glenn County Air Pollution Control District. The residual biomaterial will be intergraded into the soil; subsequently increasing soil organic matter and Carbon sequester.

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CLAY & JOANNE GWIN