Camino-Pol lock P inesCurrent / Upcoming Activities

Winter 2020

Management Need Decades of fire suppression has led to major build up of brush and vegetation (known as fuels) that would burn intensely and potentially veer out of control under certain conditions. Fire can quickly move up the steep slopes in the South Fork American River Canyon, making wildfire control in the canyon very difficult. People, homes, recreational areas, structures, like the El Dorado Canal, and roads, like Highway 50, in this focus area drive the need for pro-active protection.

Several projects and activities are underway, including highly engaged fire safe councils, offering opportunities to plan and implement mutually beneficial projects for a resilient landscape.

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2. Learn more about the SOFAR Collaborative Everyone is welcome to join the SOFAR Collaborative!Individuals, businesses, agencies, and organizations that live, work, operate, manage forest or watershed lands, or assist in local sustainability of the environment, community and economy are working together. SOFAR partners coordinate projects and collaborate to make meaningful change on the SOFAR landscape.

3. Show Up!View the schedule for upcoming SOFAR meetings and focus area field tours

The Camino-Pollock Pines Focus Area strengthens coordinated partnerships and long-term stewardship to optimize forest management activities.

SettingThe area includes Badger Creek, Weber Creek, Highway 50, and local communities including Camino, Cedar Grove, Pollock Pines, Sly Park, Sierra Springs, and Rancho del Sol. Ownership is mixed - US Forest Service (USFS),

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Fire Adapted 50 – Phase 2: Camino Pollock Pines Fuel BreakProject Area // 2,165 acres. Activities // Fuel Treatments and forest vegetation improvement on ~2,000 acres of federal and nonfederal lands along the ridgeline above the South Fork American RiverStatus // Project under analysis (9/2019). NEPA Decision expected 2/2020. Project Leads // USFS, Georgetown RCD, CAL FIRE

http://sofarcohesivestrategy.org

• Resilient Landscapes • • Fire Adapted Communities •

• Safe and Effective Wildfire Response •

F o c u s A r e a

Fire Adapted 50 – Phase 3: Fuel BreakProject Area // Covering approximately 37.5 miles. Activities // 300-foot fuel buffer along Hwy 50 from Pollock Pines to Echo SummitStatus // Planning underway. Project Leads // USFS, CAL FIRE

Camp 5 / Flume 46Project Area // ~74 acres. Activities // Fuels reduction and vegetation management within 74 acres of EID parcels at Camp 5 and Flume 46 along El Dorado Canal. Treatments will help protect nearby communities and EID water conveyance infrastructure. Treatment area intersects with CAL FIRE and SPI fuels treatment activities.Status // CAL FIRE awarded $280,000 to EID; Treatments underway (2018-2019). Project Lead // EID

Sierra Springs CommunityProject Area // Area around homes and ~45 acres of roadside fuels reduction. Activities // Reduced fuels and created defensible space within the Sierra Springs Home OwnersAssociation (HOA) area. Reduced roadside fuels. Status // Federal grant award ($50,000) and grant from CA Conservation Corps (CCC). Project Leads // Sierra Springs Regional FSC

Weber Lake Vegetation ManagementProject Area // Approximately 377.5 acres. Activities // Reduce hazardous fuel vegetation along north side of Weber Reservoir.Status // Planning underway (2018-2019). Implementation expected to occur 2019-2021 Project Lead // EID

Since 2018, the SOFAR Collaborative has been working to implement projects to advance cohesive

strategy goals.

El Dorado Irrigation District (EID), Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI), several residential communities, and other private landowners. Vegetation transitions from oak grass woodland into lower montane conifer forest.

Focus Area Objectives

Current Activities

Camino-Pollock PinesF o c u s A r e a

SOFAR Watershed

• Return forests and wildland to a more natural, fire-resilient condition

• Reduce exposure of communities and infrastructure to the potentially devastating effects of wildfire; create defensible space around all structures

• Foster Fire-Adapted Communities where residents have the knowledge and skills to prepare and protect and homes and evacuate safely and effectively.

Fire Adapted 50Activities | A series of collaborative projects to reduce fuel in three phases: 1) Sly Park projects near Jenkinson Lake; 2) Camino-Pollock Pines Fuel Break; and 3) Hwy 50 Fuel Break. (More information provided below.)

Status | Phase 1 completed. Phases 2 and 3 in progress

Project Leads | CAL FIRE, USFS, El Dorado & Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs), SPI, EID, and Mule Deer Foundation

Fire Adapted 50 – Phase 1: Sly Park AreaActivities | Fuel treatments in the Sly Park Recreation Area around Jenkinson Lake (Total of 5,414 acres)

Status | Substantial fuels reduction around Jenkinson Lake completed. USFS Sly Park Fuels Reduction Project is under review (2019).

Project Leads | EID, SPI, USFS, CAL FIRE, RCDs, and Mule Deer Foundation

Major Partners | PG&E, Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD)

Weber Creek Drainage Fuel ReductionActivities | Reduce fuels and create shaded fuel breaks in high wildfire-risk areas: ~200 acres along ridgeline and roads, fuel breaks construction for ~180 acres from Starkes Grade Rd to the end of Lynx Trail, ~70 acres for evacuation access with fuel breaks in the HOA community of Rancho Del Sol

Status | $300,000+ awarded through CAL FIRE and CA Climate Investments (CCI) grant program.

Project Leads | Pollock Pines-Camino Fire Safe Council

Fire Adapted Community Educational ProgramsActivities | Local events like Community Wildfire Preparation Day attract 100+ attendees. Community FSCs regularly meet with a growing membership.

Status | Ongoing activities. Funding and coordination support from various entities including SOFAR member organizations.

Project Leads | Local FSCs; El Dorado County; El Dorado & Georgetown RCDs.