SNF Public Scoping for Exchequer Restoration Project
Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 11:31 am
Sierra National Forest has initiated Public Scoping for the Exchequer Restoration Project
News Release
Media Contact: Iveth Hernandez
(559) 297-0706
Email: public_affairs@fs.fed.us
CLOVIS, CALIF., April, 2015– The High Sierra Ranger District of the Sierra National Forest (SNF) initiated scoping for the Exchequer Restoration Project (Project) on March 20th. The Project will be analyzed as an Environmental Impact Statement.
The Project has been developed with the Dinkey Collaborative as part of the Dinkey Landscape Restoration Project to encourage the collaborative, science-based ecosystem restoration of priority landscapes. The Project proposes to reduce hazardous fuels and restore ecological components, with specific consideration given to the California spotted owl within the Project area based on a landscape assessment conducted by an integrated group of SNF specialists and members of the Dinkey Collaborative.
The Project is located immediately east of Camp Fresno and Dinkey Ranger Station and west of Buck Meadow Campground and Nelson Mountain in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains, approximately 30 miles northeast of Fresno, CA. The Project area is located in T. 9 S., R. 25 E. Sections 32-34; T. 9 S., R. 26 E. Sections 31 and 34-36; T. 10 S., R. 25 E. Sections 3-4; 9-10; 15-16, 22, 27-29 and 34; T. 10 S. R. 26 E. Sections 1-3; 10-16; 21-24; 25-29; 34-36; T. 10 S., R. 27 E. Sections 5-8; 18-20; T. 11 S., R. 26 E. Section 1; and T. 11 S., R. 27 E. Section 6, MDBM.
The SNF is proposing to apply restoration treatments to the Exchequer Management Unit Group (MUG) including vegetation treatments (mechanical commercial thinning, ladder fuels), plantation treatments (reforestation, site preparation, herbicide use), treatment of watershed improvement needs, meadow and aspen restoration, fuels reduction (strategic roads treatments, prescribed fire, mastication, dozer piling), and hazard tree removal. The Project proposes to apply prescribed fire to the McKinley Grove MUG for beneficial ecological purposes. A Project-specific Forest Plan Amendment is being proposed in the eastern portion of the project area to use managed wildfire outside of a designated wilderness boundary. Actions are designed to move current conditions of the Project area closer to reference conditions. Design criteria would be incorporated into the Project design.
Comments, ideas, and concerns regarding this proposed action are important to the design and analysis of this project. The SNF requests your input as it relates to the proposed action and identification of any issues (point of discussion, debate, or dispute) about the anticipated effects from this proposed action. I also request that you respond in writing before April 20, 2015.
Written comments can be mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand delivered. Comments may be submitted to: Ray Porter, District Ranger, High Sierra Ranger District, P.O. Box 559, Prather, CA. 93651; Phone (559) 855-5355, Fax (559) 855-5375 during normal business hours. High Sierra Ranger District business hours are from 8am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday. Electronic comments, in acceptable plain text (.txt), rich text (.rtf), or Word (.doc) formats, may be submitted to comments-pacificsouthwest-sierra@fs.fed.us using subject: Exchequer Restoration Project.
A decision regarding this proposal is expected in February of 2016. Thank you for your interest and participation in the environmental analysis process. For more information on the project and/or to request a hard copy or CD of the proposed action, please contact the Project Leader, Jody Nickerson, by calling 559-297-0706 ext. 4943 or email request to jnickerson@fs.fed.us.
Detailed information of the Purpose and Need and Proposed Action for the Project is available upon request or online at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=46085
The Dinkey Collaborative is a diverse group of stakeholders working with the Forest Service to develop ecological restoration projects; membership is open to the public and more information can be found at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/sierra/dinkeycollaborative.