U.S. Forest Service outlines multiple fuels-reduction, watershed and camera projects across Trinity County

U.S. Forest Service deputy district ranger Ben Sundahl gave the Trinity County Board of Supervisors a broad update on forest projects, fuels-reduction work, trail maintenance and fire readiness at the board's July 1 meeting.

Sundahl, who identified himself as "deputy district ranger for the Yolobah, Hayfork, Weeril and Big Bar Ranger Districts of the Shasta Trinity National Forest," said staff are returning to ranger-district designations for planning and provided project status updates. He reported the Big Ranch Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Project is in final scoping and expected to release a draft in early July, and said work is ongoing on the North Trinity County Community Risk Reduction Project and others now in the NEPA planning stage.

He listed projects that have been signed and are moving to implementation this summer: Coral Gulch Watershed Restoration Project, High End Palm Community Risk Reduction Project and the Barman project. He described coordination with partners including the Trinity County Resource Conservation District (RCD), Watershed Center and Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) to tie fuel breaks together and "connect the dots" to reduce opportunities for wildfire spread into communities.

Sundahl said the Musselor Hill Fuels Reduction Project has strong collaborative turnout and that the Forest Service will schedule an additional field trip with the Fish and Wildlife Service. He also described trail work and volunteer trail crews conducting maintenance in the Trinity Alps and noted Burt Ranch Campground is open for the first time in years after hazard tree mitigation worked with private landowners.

On suppression readiness Sundahl reported all local fire modules are fully staffed and had passed readiness reviews: "All of our modules are fully staffed," he said, while acknowledging staffing can change with injuries or illness. He noted the presence of additional engines and contracted equipment in Weaverville and Hayfork during red-flag periods. The Forest Service is increasing planning for prescribed fire and timber volume output and reported roughly 15,000 acres had been cleared by NEPA so far in the fiscal year.

Sundahl said the agency is expanding fire-camera coverage in the county. He reported recent green light from a tribe to place a camera on Ironside Mountain on an existing tower and that six cameras in partnership with Digital Path and PG&E were being installed, with two (Picopeak and Lime Dyke) expected to be operational imminently.

Board members thanked the Forest Service and raised questions about specific projects and local access. One supervisor asked for more detail on the Miner’sville boat ramp project's parking plans; Sundahl said he had not yet seen the DBW plan and would look into it. Sundahl also noted coordination with Trinity County to remove the Bailey Bridge at Forest Glen to allow heavy equipment access for fuels work and said staff would notify residents when removal is scheduled.

Sundahl closed by emphasizing the agency's collaboration with local partners and tribal groups as work progresses across the county.