Forest Service outlines fuel-reduction plans in Trinity County; 75,000 acres targeted and prescribed burns underway
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Summary
U.S. Forest Service District Ranger Tara Jones told the Trinity County Board that multiple community risk reduction projects are in planning or NEPA stages, about 75,000 acres are targeted across projects, and 825 acres have been treated with prescribed fire so far. Jones also flagged timber sales offered under emergency authority that are currently being litigated.
Tara Jones, district ranger for the West Side of the Shasta'Trinity National Forest, briefed the Trinity County Board of Supervisors on wildfire risk-reduction work on Jan. 6.
Jones said planning continues on the Big Ranch Community Risk Reduction Project (Big Bar to Burnt Ranch), with a target to sign documents by June. She described additional NEPA-led efforts for North Trinity County and the Junction City project and said the service is coordinating closely with Fish and Wildlife and National Marine Fisheries on scoping and prescriptions.
The ranger said a series of fuel breaks, manually treated areas and prescribed burns are underway across the county. She reported approximately 75,000 acres associated with the described projects and said 825 acres have been burned to date as part of prescribed-fire operations in multiple footprints.
Jones also described recent timber sales offered under emergency authority (Rainier and Long Canyon) that support treatment objectives; she noted that the use of emergency authority in some sales is the subject of ongoing litigation. Bowerman timber sale work is planned for next quarter and pre-bid materials for other harvests along Highway 3 are out.
On recreation and campgrounds, Jones said site cleanup, hazard-tree felling and camp improvements are in progress and that the Forest Service is working with county staff to rock a formerly native-surface road near Lake Forest Estates to reduce erosion and improve emergency access.
The ranger addressed staffing: a district deputy ranger vacancy is being recruited, and the forest is hosting regional fire-hire events to boost fall-fire staffing levels.
Why it matters: The projects Johnson described are part of multi-year forest-resiliency efforts with direct implications for road access, timber economics and community wildfire safety. Litigation over emergency authority introduces a legal risk to implementation timelines.
Next steps: Jones invited the board and community to ask about specific project maps and said the Forest Service will continue coordination with county departments and partner organizations.