$55M Grant Fuels Stanislaus Forest Fire Prevention Efforts

Since 2022, the Stanislaus National Forest has been working on reducing fire risk by clearing out dense trees and brush on about half of its land, using a $55 million federal grant. Now, they have approval for a new plan to treat the remaining half of the forest. This plan includes selective logging, controlled burns, and other methods to manage the forest’s overly dense areas.

Forest Supervisor Jason Kuiken approved the new plan on July 31. He stated that it will help make the forest more resilient and reduce the risk of large wildfires that could threaten nearby communities.

The plan will need significant funding, but the exact amount is not yet determined. The project has support from a variety of groups, including environmentalists, the timber industry, tribal leaders, and local government officials. They all agree that the forest has become too crowded due to past policies of suppressing all fires and reduced logging since the 1990s.

The 2013 Rim Fire, which burned about 257,000 acres, highlighted the need for better forest management. This led to the formation of a coalition called Yosemite Stanislaus Solutions.

The forest work aims to protect recreational areas and the water supply for the San Joaquin Valley. Research suggests that reducing the number of trees could slightly increase water runoff, benefiting local cities and farms.

Environmentalists used to oppose logging because it removed large trees. However, this concern lessened after Sierra Pacific Industries adjusted its sawmills to handle smaller logs.

Controlled burns are planned for the fall to spring seasons when the risk of fire escape is low. These burns were historically done by the Me-Wuk people to help with hunting and plant growth, and today’s tribal leaders are involved in the plan.

The first phase of the plan covers about 245,000 acres in the Stanislaus River watershed and aims to be completed by 2030. The second phase, focusing on about 260,000 acres, mostly in the Tuolumne River watershed, is scheduled from 2025 to 2037, depending on funding.

The plans include logging small trees, controlled burns, and “mastication” (shredding brush and small trees) across various areas. They do not include wilderness areas or lands already affected by past fires.

Patrick Koepele, Executive Director of the Tuolumne River Trust, praised the draft plan, highlighting its importance for the health of the watershed and community protection. The Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center is also involved in these efforts.