Document alpinecountyca_gov_doc_e5c1f0be96

717 Market Street, Suite 650 San Francisco, CA 94103 [PHONE REDACTED] www.panoramaenv.com Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan Draft Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration December 2020 February 2021 ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- www.panoramaenv.com Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan Draft Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration December 2020 February 2021 Prepared for: Alpine County Community Development Department 50 Diamond Valley Road Markleeville, CA 96120 [PHONE REDACTED] [EMAIL REDACTED] Prepared by: Panorama Environmental, Inc. 717 Market Street, Suite 650 San Francisco, CA 94103 [PHONE REDACTED] [EMAIL REDACTED] ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- TABLE OF CONTENTS Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 i Table of Contents List of Acronyms and Definitions iv Mitigated Negative Declaration MND-1 Project Summary MND-1 Findings MND-1 Environmental Determination MND-2 Mitigation Measures MND-3 1 Introduction 1-1 1.1 Introduction and Regulatory 1-1 1.2 Purpose of the Initial Study 1-1 1.3 Summary of Findings 1-2 1.4 Environmental Permits and 1-3 1.5 Document Organization 1-3 2 Environmental Checklist 2-1 2.1 Project Information 2-1 2.2 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected 2-2 2.3 Environmental Checklist and Impact Discussion 2-4 3 References 3-1 4 List of Preparers 4-1 List of Tables Table 1-1 Environmental Permits and Approvals 1-3 Table 2-1 Scenic Highways Within 1 Mile of PTAs 2-5 Table 2-2 Alpine County Area Designations for State and National Ambient Air Quality Standards 2-16 Table 2-3 Vegetation Communities Present in the Priority 2-22 Table 2-4 Special-status Plant Species with Potential to Occur in the PTAs 2-26 Table 2-5 Special-Status Wildlife Species with Potential to Occur in the PTAs 2-30 ---PAGE BREAK--- TABLE OF CONTENTS Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 ii Table 2-6 Cultural Resource Inventories and Resources within One Mile of the Priority PTAs 2-48 Table 2-7 Status of Mines and Quarries in Alpine County 2-78 Table 2-8 Alpine County Maximum Allowable Noise Exposure by Land Use 2-80 Table 2-9 Noise Generation Levels of Representative Equipment Used to Implement the WRMP 2-81 Table 2-10 Designated Responsibility Areas and Fire Hazard Severity Zones by PTA 2-99 Table 4-1 Consultant Team 4-1 List of Figures Figure 2-1 State Scenic Highways in Alpine County 2-6 Figure 2-2 Examples of Vegetation Thinning 2-9 List of Appendices Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan Biological Resources Assessment Report Cultural Resources Assessment Report Responses to Comments Comment Letters Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program Appendix F ---PAGE BREAK--- TABLE OF CONTENTS Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 iii This page is intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- LIST OF ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 iv List of Acronyms and Definitions A AB Assembly Bill APCO Air Pollution Control Officer B BLM Bureau of Land Management C CAAQS California Ambient Air Quality Standards Cal-IPC California Invasive Plant Council CAL FIRE California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection CARB California Air Resources Board CCIC Central California Information Center CDFW California Department of Fish and Wildlife CEQA California Environmental Quality Act CGS California Geological Survey CH4 methane California Natural Diversity Database CNPS California Native Plant Society CO carbon monoxide CO2 carbon dioxide CRHR California Register of Historic Resources CWPP Community Wildfire Protection Plan ---PAGE BREAK--- LIST OF ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 v CWHR California Wildlife Habitat Relationships D dB decibel dBA A-weighted decibel DTSC California Department of Toxic Substances Control E EAP Energy Action Plan EIR Environmental Impact Report ESA environmentally sensitive area F FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency FESA Federal Endangered Species Act FHSZ Fire Hazard Severity Zones FMMP Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program FRA Federal Responsibility Area FRAP CAL FIRE’s Fire and Resource Assessment Program G GBUAPCD Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District GBVAB Great Basin Valleys Air Basin GHG greenhouse gas H H2S hydrogen sulfide HFCs hydrofluorocarbons ---PAGE BREAK--- LIST OF ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 vi I IS/MND Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration K KMPUD Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District L Leq equivalent sound level LRA Local Responsibility Area Lmax maximum sound level LUST leaking underground storage tank M MBTA Migratory Bird Treaty Act MLD most likely descendant MM mitigation measure N N2O nitrous oxide NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standards NAHC Native American Heritage Commission NO2 nitrogen dioxide NRHP National Register of Historic Places P Pb lead PFCs perfluorocarbons PG&E Pacific Gas and Electric ---PAGE BREAK--- LIST OF ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 vii PM particulate matter PRC Public Resources Code PTA potential treatment area R Regional Water Quality Control Board S SF6 sulfur hexafluoride SIP State Implementation Plan SO2 sulfur dioxide SR- State Route SRA State Responsibility Area State Water Resources Control Board T TAC toxic air contaminant THPO Tribal Historic Preservation Officer TPZ Timberland Production Zone U U.S. United States USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency USFS U.S. Forest Service USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service USGS U.S. Geological Survey W ---PAGE BREAK--- LIST OF ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 viii WEAT worker environmental awareness training WRMP Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan WUI wildland urban interface ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-1 Mitigated Negative Declaration Project Summary Alpine County (County) proposes implementation of a Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan (WRMP) under a Fire Prevention Grant received from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). The purpose of the project is to enable the County to implement activities that address the risk of wildfire and that can reduce wildfires that could impact communities. The project considers the implementation of wildfire fuel management activities across Alpine County and identifies specific vegetation management activities that would occur in three high-priority locations. Project Proponent: Alpine County Community Development Department 50 Diamond Valley Road Markleeville, CA 96120 Location: Alpine County, California Findings An Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) has been prepared to assess the project’s potential effects on the environment and the significance of those effects. Based on the Initial Study, it has been determined that the proposed project would not have any significant effects on the environment once mitigation measures are implemented. This conclusion is supported by the following findings: 1. The proposed project would have no impact related to any of the following: Agriculture and Forestry; Land Use/Planning; Mineral Resources; Population and Housing; Public Services. 2. The proposed project would have a less-than-significant impact on the following: Aesthetics; Energy; Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Noise; Utilities and Service Systems. 3. Mitigation is required to reduce potentially significant impacts related to the following: Air Quality; Biological Resources; Cultural Resources; Geology and Soils; Hazards and Hazardous Materials; Hydrology and Water Quality; Recreation; Transportation; Tribal Cultural Resources; Wildfire; Mandatory Findings of Significance. Mitigation measures would reduce all significant impacts to a less-than-significant level, and Alpine County has agreed to implement all required mitigation. ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-2 The mitigation measures that will be implemented by the County to avoid or minimize environmental impacts are presented at the end of this Mitigated Negative Declaration. Environmental Determination On the basis of this initial evaluation: I find that the Project COULD NOT have a significant effect on the environment, and a NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. I find that although the Project could have a significant effect on the environment, there will not be a significant effect in this case because revisions in the project have been made by or agreed to by the project proponent. A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION will be prepared. I find that the Project MAY have a significant effect on the environment, and an ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required. I find that the Project MAY have a “potentially significant impact” or “potentially significant impact unless mitigated” impact on the environment, but at least one effect 1) has been adequately analyzed in an earlier document pursuant to applicable legal standards, and 2) has been addressed by mitigation measures based on the earlier analysis as described on attached sheets. An ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT is required, but it must analyze only the effects that remain to be addressed. I find that although the project could have a significant effect on the environment, because all potentially significant effects have been analyzed adequately in an earlier EIR or NEGATIVE DECLARATION pursuant to applicable standards, and have been avoided or mitigated pursuant to that earlier EIR or NEGATIVE DECLARATION, including revisions or mitigation measures that are imposed upon the project, nothing further is required. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-4 MM Biology-2: Worker Environmental Awareness Training Prior to implementation of vegetation-management activities within any PTA, the County or its contractor shall develop, and all workers participate in, a PTA-specific environmental awareness training provided by the qualified biologist. The training will identify the work limits of the specific PTA that will be treated. In addition, the training will include the following: 1) Alert the crew to all fenced and/or flagged environmentally sensitive areas and avoidance zones and instruct the crew to keep out of the area. 2) Inform the crew of the potential for special-status species to be encountered on site, where they are most likely to be found, which life forms are most likely to be encountered, and how the specific vegetation management activities implemented in the PTA could affect the species during vegetation-management activities. 3) Discuss the applicable mitigation measures from this IS/MND and any other applicable measures from other documents, such as permits, that have been incorporated into the project. 4) Inform crew of what to do if a sensitive species is encountered during vegetation-management activities. Specifically, crew shall be informed of the following actions: • If a special-status species enters the treatment area, all work shall stop within 100 feet of the species. Work may resume after the species have vacated the treatment area. • If vegetation treatment is planned to occur within big sagebrush scrub and dry montane meadow vegetation communities between April and October, crew shall stay alert for signs of ground-dwelling bumble bees and avoid treatment where ground-dwelling bees occur. Applicable Location(s): All PTAs. MM Biology-1: Pre-Construction Plant Survey Priority Project Treatment Areas (PTAs): Markleevillage, Manzanita, Bear Valley A qualified botanist shall conduct a pre-construction survey for special-status plants prior to any vegetation- treatment activities occurring in dry montane meadow vegetation communities and within ecotones along roadsides and at areas of transition between upland vegetation communities in all priority PTAs. The plant survey is required to occur during the plant blooming season within the year prior to treatment activities within the PTA. The qualified botanist will flag all special-status plant species for avoidance, and ESA fencing will be installed to protect the plant prior to commencement of vegetation-treatment activities. Non-Priority PTAs A qualified botanist shall conduct a pre-construction survey for special-status plants prior to any vegetation- treatment activities occurring in the PTAs. The plant survey is required to occur during the plant blooming season within the year prior to treatment activities within the PTA. The qualified botanist will flag all special-status plant species for avoidance, and ESA fencing will be installed to protect the plant prior to commencement of vegetation treatment activities. Applicable Location(s): All PTAs that include the applicable habitat described above. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: 1) Qualified botanist/biologist conducts pre-construction plant survey and flags special-status species, 2) County or contractor install fence to avoid the plant(s). • During Activity: Ensure that fenced plant populations are not disturbed during vegetation management activities. • After Activity: Remove fencing. ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-5 MM Biology-2: Worker Environmental Awareness Training Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: 1) County to prepare PTA-specific Worker Environmental Awareness Training and 2) crew receive to training from qualified biologist • During Activity: Training to be provided to any new crew members who begin working on the project after the initial training. • After Activity: None. MM Biology-3: Waters and Wetland Protection Zones Prior to implementation of vegetation-management activities within any PTA, the County or its contractor shall identify waterbodies and wetland protection zones and implement controls to minimize erosion and runoff in all drainage plans, in accordance with California Forest Practice Rules (Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Chapters 4, 4.5, and 10) (CAL FIRE 2017). Prior to project activity, the County will assign a qualified biologist to identify the locations of riparian habitat and waterbodies as well as corresponding 50-foot (minimum) setbacks (Waters and Wetland Protection Zones) for avoidance. Identification of riparian habitat/waterbodies/wetlands for avoidance will be in addition to and distinguished from any required vegetation-management activities boundary flagging. Waters and Wetland Protection Zones will be identified as appropriate on project maps. Appropriate runoff controls, such as berms, straw wattles, silt fencing, filtration systems, and sediment traps, will be implemented to control siltation and the potential discharge of pollutants. Waters and Wetland Protection Zones and appropriate runoff controls, such as berms, straw wattles, silt fencing, filtration systems, and sediment traps, will be implemented to protect riparian habitat and control siltation and the potential discharge of pollutants. Applicable Location(s): All PTA. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: 1) Conduct riparian zone survey, 2) clearly mark exclusion zone for all identified waterbodies, drainages, or wetlands prior to project implementation, and 3) install appropriate runoff controls. • During Activity: Ensure WRMP activities are conducted outside of exclusion zones and runoff controls are functional and undamaged. • After Activity: 1) Remove flags and markers and 2) remove runoff controls once soils on site are stabilized. MM Biology-4: Nesting Bird Surveys If vegetation-management activities occur between March 1 and August 31 on the east slope of Alpine County, and between April 1 and August 31 on the west slope of Alpine County, a qualified biologist shall conduct pre- activity surveys for active nests of special-status and MBTA-protected birds before the start of any project activities. Surveys for nesting raptors will be conducted in accordance with established CDFW raptor survey protocols. If active nests are found, the County will establish avoidance buffers around nests that are sufficient so that breeding is not likely to be disrupted or adversely affected by project activities. An avoidance buffer will constitute an area where project-related activities mechanized vegetation removal, pile burning, etc.) will not occur. Ground vegetation may be removed using non-mechanized hand tools if deemed by the biologist that no disturbance to nesting birds would occur. No treatment may be applied to the tree in which the nest occurs. Typical avoidance buffers during the nesting season will be 100 feet for nesting passerine birds and 500 feet for nesting raptors unless a qualified biologist determines that smaller buffers will be sufficient to avoid impacts on nesting raptors and/or other birds. Factors to be considered for determining buffer size will include the following: the presence of natural buffers provided by vegetation or topography; nest height; locations of foraging territory; ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-6 MM Biology-4: Nesting Bird Surveys and baseline levels of noise and human activity. A qualified biologist will monitor any active nests during vegetation-management activities, to ensure that the species is not being harmed or harassed by the noise or activity resulting from project-related activities. Buffers will be maintained until a qualified biologist has determined that young have fledged and are no longer reliant on the nest or parental care for survival. Applicable Location(s): All PTA. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: 1) Conduct pre-construction survey and 2) establish active nest buffers • During Activity: Maintain active nest buffers until the nest is no longer active. • After Activity: N/A MM Biology-5: Avoid Disturbance or Harm to Terrestrial Wildlife A qualified biologist shall conduct a pre-construction survey within the PTAs for all potentially occurring terrestrial special-status wildlife species. Nesting bird surveys will occur in accordance with MM Biology-4. Mammals. A qualified biologist shall conduct a pre-construction survey for special-status mammals identified in Table 2-5 Error! Reference source not found. of this IS/MND and active special-status mammal forms or dens within the PTA. For surveys in inaccessible areas, the surveying biologist shall use binoculars to scan any suitable denning substrate for potential individuals or forms/dens. The pre-construction survey shall be conducted no more than 14 days before the initiation of vegetation-treatment activities. If an active special- status mammal form/den is identified within the PTA, a 10-foot no-disturbance buffer shall be established around the form/den to avoid disturbance of the nesting/denning mammal until a qualified biologist determines that the young have dispersed. The extent of these buffers shall be determined by the biologist in coordination with CDFW, the County, and the public landowner (USFS, BLM, or State Parks, as applicable) and shall depend on the species identified, level of noise or vegetation-management activity disturbance, line-of-sight between the form/den and the disturbance, ambient levels of noise and other disturbances, and other topographical or artificial barriers. In addition to the establishment of buffers, other avoidance measures (determined during agency coordination) may be implemented. If any non-denning species are observed in the PTA, the species will be allowed to move out of harm’s way on its own. If needed, a qualified biologist will move the species to the nearest area of suitable habitat outside of the treatment area. If applicable, depending on the location and status of the species, agency approval will be obtained before any species is moved. If no active nests/dens are found during the preconstruction surveys, then no additional mitigation is required. Southern long-toed salamander. A qualified biologist shall conduct a pre-construction survey for southern long-toed salamander if vegetation treatment occurs between April 1 and June 1. The biologist shall survey all suitable potential larval ponds for salamander larvae and adjacent uplands for migrating salamander. All ponds shall be fenced and avoided in accordance with MM Biology-3. Fencing type and installation shall not restrict migration of long-toed salamander into uplands. Any migrating adults observed during pre-construction surveys shall be relocated to an area of suitable habitat out of harm’s way. Following preconstruction surveys and initiation of vegetation management activities, it is possible that wildlife species could subsequently enter or return to the treatment area. The following measures shall be implemented to avoid disturbance or harm to these species: • If any special-status species or other wildlife species are observed in the treatment area during vegetation- management activities, activities shall cease until the species is allowed to move out of harm’s way on its own accord. ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-7 MM Biology-5: Avoid Disturbance or Harm to Terrestrial Wildlife • If the species cannot be allowed to move out of harm’s way on its own accord, a qualified biologist shall move the species to the nearest area of suitable habitat outside of the treatment area. If applicable, depending on the location and status of the species, agency approval will be obtained before any species is moved. Applicable Location(s): All PTA. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: 1) Qualified biologist conducts pre-construction surveys and establishes buffers for active natal forms/dens and 2) species are relocated as necessary. • During Activity: Ensure that buffers around natal forms/dens are not disturbed during vegetation-management activities and 2) avoid species traveling through site. • After Activity: N/A MM Biology-6: Prescribed Burn Planning Prior to conducting prescribed burns within any PTA, the following planning activities must occur and the appropriate impact avoidance measures described below must be incorporated into the project-specific prescribed burn planning effort (refer to MM Hazards-3). Special-status plant species: To ensure that prescribed burn activities do not negatively impact special-status plant species, a qualified biologist shall review vegetation communities that occur within the footprint of the prescribed burn area and determine if any special-status plant species have potential to occur within the prescribed burn area. If special-status plant species have the potential to occur within the prescribed burn area, the biologist shall determine if the potentially occurring special-status plant(s) would be negatively affected by application of fire to the landscape. If the potentially occurring special-status plant(s) would be negatively affected by prescribed burn, the County shall either treat the entire PTA using mechanical and hand tool methods, while also implementing MM Biology-1, or complete the following steps to reduce the footprint of the prescribed burn area to avoid special-status plant species: 1. Conduct a pre-construction plant survey during the appropriate blooming season for each special-status plant that may occur within the PTA. 2. Determine if a prescribed burn can be completed while ensuring avoidance of all special-status plant species. 3. Modify the prescribed burn boundary within the project-specific Burn Plan (required in MM Hazards-3) to avoid the special-status plant(s). A pre-construction plant survey in accordance with MM Biology-1 shall be conducted in all areas where firelines and temporary access or staging will take place. Fireline, access, and staging activities shall avoid special-status plant species. Special-Status Wildlife: To ensure that prescribed burn activities do not negatively impact special-status wildlife species, a qualified biologist shall conduct a pre-construction survey for all potentially occurring wildlife within the footprint of the prescribed burn area. The pre-construction survey would occur no more than 14 days before the prescribed burn. If special-status wildlife is identified within the prescribed burn area, then the following buffers and additional impact avoidance measures shall be implemented, as applicable: Prescribed burns shall maintain the following buffers from various sensitive species and wildlife habitats: • Active bird nests shall be given species-appropriate buffers matching those outlined in MM Biology-4: - 100 feet for passerines - 500 feet for raptors such as accipiters, buteos, and eagles ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-8 MM Biology-6: Prescribed Burn Planning - A 10-foot buffer from forms, nests, or dens of Western white-tailed jackrabbit, American badger, Sierra marten, and Sierra Nevada mountain beaver - A 50-foot buffer from wolverine, West Coast DPS fisher, and Sierra Nevada red fox dens - A 20-foot buffer from occupied bat-roosting trees - A 20-foot buffer from ground-dwelling bee colonies - The listed buffer areas may be managed using other vegetation-management techniques following each burn mechanical or hand tool treatment) but are to remain completely undisturbed during prescribed fire events. Every reasonable attempt shall be made to maintain 0.25 to 0.5 acre (0.1 to 0.2 hectare) of unburned habitat for every 10 acres (4 hectares) of burned habitat 4 to 8 acres of retreat habitat are needed for a 160-acre burn, and 9 to 18 acres are needed for a 350-acre burn). Retreat areas shall be conserved randomly throughout the treatment area. These retreat areas may be naturally occurring areas such as rock formations, ponds, and other wetland/riparian areas, areas with a high density of burrows, and other areas not prone to burn, or these areas may be created and maintained using hand tools or water to create fire-breaks or wet- lines. • No more than 24 hours prior to conducting prescribed fires, visual surveys shall be conducted by walking transects throughout the proposed burn area in an attempt to locate individual special-status wildlife. With permission from CDFW and/or USFWS, a permitted biologist or biological monitor shall capture, transfer, and release in a safe area any special-status reptiles or amphibians deemed to be in danger of being harmed by the prescribed fire activities. If individuals are located during the pre-treatment surveys but escape capture, an area approximately 50 feet (15 meters) in diameter around the individual shall be protected from the burn. If necessary, individuals may be held in captivity in a pillowcase for less than 24 hours and may later be released near the point of capture after the burn has been completed. The numbers of special-status reptiles and amphibians encountered and transferred to safe areas or held in captivity during treatment shall be reported to USFWS and CDFW. • All vehicles involved with the site-specific burn shall be retained in a prearranged, marked parking area in a clearing as close to the main road as possible. At least one monitor shall ensure wildlife is clear from the parking area while vehicles are arriving and leaving. All vehicles must stay on designated roads, and if it is necessary for a vehicle to travel off the designated main road, a monitor shall precede the vehicle to clear wildlife from the pathway of the vehicle. Only biological monitors specifically authorized by the USFWS and CDFW to handle species listed on the federal or State Endangered Species Acts (normally, these shall be individuals holding a federal recovery permit for the species) shall be allowed to handle, transport, and relocate individuals of these species. • Immediately following each prescribed fire, the permittee shall search the affected post-treatment area to identify dead or injured individuals of all vertebrate taxa. Dead individuals of special-status species shall be collected and deposited at an approved repository. Injured individuals shall be handled only by a permittee authorized to capture and handle the species. The County shall ensure medical assistance is provided to injured animals by a certified wildlife veterinarian familiar with amphibian care. Sensitive Communities: To ensure that prescribed burn activities within non-priority PTAs do not result in substantial adverse effects to sensitive upland communities, prescribed burn planning efforts shall identify all sensitive natural communities within the PTAs, including the community rarity ranking, according to the most recent edition of CDFW’s Natural Community List. No prescribed burn is to be conducted within a sensitive community identified with a ranking of S1 (critically imperiled) or S2 (imperiled). Work may be completed within sensitive vegetation communities ranked S1 or S2 using mechanical or hand tools only and must include invasive- species controls identified in MM Biology-7 6 of this IS/MND. Applicable Location(s): All PTA. ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-9 MM Biology-6: Prescribed Burn Planning Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: Prepare project-specific prescribed burn planning efforts to include consideration of potentially occurring special-status plant and wildlife species, sensitive vegetation communities, and appropriate avoidance measures indicated in this measure. • During Activity: 1) Implement prescribed burn in accordance with the project-specific prescribed burn planning efforts and 2) maintain appropriate buffers. • After Activity: 1) Search the affected post-treatment area immediately following each prescribed fire. MM Biology-7: Invasive Species Control To prevent the accidental introduction or spread of invasive species in the project area during vegetation management activities, the following measures would be implemented: • Only certified noxious weed-free erosion control materials will be used. All straw material will be sterile and certified as weed-free prior to being used at the PTAs. • Contractor will wash all construction equipment prior to bringing it onto the job site. Inspection will ensure that equipment arrives on site free of mud and seed-bearing material. If the same contractor will be used for work within multiple PTAs, equipment must be washed between use at each PTA. • Seed-free mulch will be applied to areas of disturbed soils and de-vegetated slopes. Use of chipped or mulched native material will be applied whenever possible within sensitive natural communities. • The Environmental Awareness Training described under MM Biology-1 will include information on noxious weeds in the PTAs and instruction on how crew can reduce potential introduction of noxious weeds to the site. Applicable Location(s): All PTA. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: Ensure all equipment and materials are free of weeds and dried vegetation or mud. • During Activity: Use only certified weed-free straw and erosion-control products. • After Activity: Apply mulch as necessary. MM Cultural-1: Avoidance of Impacts to Cultural Resources The following measures shall be implemented during vegetation management activities within any PTA where cultural resources have been inventoried or recorded: • Prior to initiation of fuels management activities, a 100-foot radius surrounding each known cultural resource site shall be flagged by a qualified cultural resource specialist/archaeologist and designated as an environmentally sensitive area (ESA). • Treatment activities within the 100-foot ESA shall be limited to hand thinning. The ESA around site ALP-269 should be fully avoided, and no treatment activities will occur within the ESA. • Mechanical thinning, access roads, skid trails, and staging shall not be permitted within the ESA. All vehicle access shall avoid the ESA, and only foot traffic shall be allowed within the delineated ESA boundary. Pile burning shall not be conducted within the flagged ESA. Applicable Location(s): Any PTA where cultural resources are known to occur within the project boundary. ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-10 MM Cultural-1: Avoidance of Impacts to Cultural Resources Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: Flag a 100-foot ESA around all cultural resource sites within the PTA. • During Activity: Limit activities within the flagged ESA as appropriate. • After Activity: Remove flags. MM Cultural-2: Previously Unidentified Cultural Resources Cultural Resources Training All employees and contractors shall receive cultural resource training conducted by a qualified cultural resources specialist an archaeologist) prior to working in any PTA. The training shall address appropriate work practices necessary to effectively implement the mitigation measures (MM Cultural-1, and for historical resources, archaeological resources, tribal cultural resources, and human remains. The training shall address the potential for exposing subsurface resources, recognizing basic signs of a potential resource, understanding required procedures if a potential resource is identified, including reporting the resource to a qualified archaeologist or cultural resources specialist, and understanding all procedures required under Health and Safety Code § 7050.5 and PRC 5097.94, 5097.98, and 5097.99 for the discovery of human remains. Workers will be specifically instructed as to the following: • Leave all potential cultural resources historical resource, archaeological resource, tribal cultural resource, or human remains) where they are found. • Avoid all vehicle access within the boundary of an ESA. The training shall take place during the WEAT required in MM Biology-1. Procedures for Resource Discovery In the event that a previously unidentified cultural resource is discovered during implementation of an activity, all work within 100 feet of the discovery shall be halted. The resource shall be located, identified, and recorded in the updated California Department of Parks and Recreation 523 form detailing current conditions. Data regarding archaeological resources shall be shared with Native American tribes identified by the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) to be traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographic area of the PTA. A qualified cultural resource specialist/archaeologist shall inspect the discovery and determine whether further investigation is required. If the discovery can be avoided and no further impacts shall occur, the resource shall be documented on California State Department of Parks and Recreation cultural resource record forms and no further effort shall be required. If work must commence in the sensitive area, it must be performed as described in MM Cultural-1. Alternatively, the cultural resource specialist/archaeologist shall evaluate the resource and determine whether it is: • Eligible for the CRHR (and a historical resource for purposes of CEQA); • A unique archaeological resource as defined by CEQA; or • A potential tribal cultural resource (all archaeological resources could be a tribal cultural resource). If the cultural resources specialist/archaeologist determines that the resource could be a tribal cultural resource, he or she shall, within 48 hours of the discovery, notify each Native American tribe identified by the NAHC to be traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographic area of the project site of the discovery. A tribal monitor shall inspect the resource to determine whether it constitutes a tribal cultural resource. If the resource is determined not to be a unique archaeological resource, an historical resource, or a potential tribal cultural resource, work may commence in the area. If the resource meets the criteria for a historical resource, unique archaeological resource, and/or tribal cultural resource, work shall remain halted and the cultural resources specialist/archaeologist shall consult with the County staff regarding methods to ensure that no substantial adverse change would occur to the significance of ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-11 MM Cultural-2: Previously Unidentified Cultural Resources the resource pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5(b). The responding tribes shall be given an opportunity to participate in determining the appropriate mitigation methods for tribal cultural resources in consultation with the County. Avoidance of the area, or avoidance of impacts on the resource, is the preferred method of mitigation for impacts on cultural resources and shall be required unless there are other equally effective methods. Work may commence upon completion of evaluation, collection, recordation, and analysis, as approved by the qualified cultural resource specialist/archaeologist and tribal monitor, for tribal cultural resources. Applicable Location(s): Any PTA. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: Train employees and contractors how to recognize basic signs of a potential resource and implement the mitigation measures (MM Cultural-1 through MM Cultural-4). • During Activity: Cease activity if a cultural resource is uncovered, avoid resource if possible, and evaluate and determine whether the resource is eligible, unique, or could be a tribal cultural resource. If the resource could be a tribal cultural resource, notify Native American tribe identified by the NAHC to be traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographic area of the site. If the resource is not eligible, unique, and/or a tribal cultural resource, work may commence. If the resource is eligible, unique, and/or a tribal cultural resource, work remains halted and a method selected to ensure that adverse change to the resource does not occur. Preserve in place if possible. If not possible to preserve in place, and as deemed appropriate by the qualified cultural resource specialist/archaeologist and tribal monitor for tribal cultural resources, recover and record cultural materials. Once recovered and recorded, the activity can commence in this area. • After Activity: N/A MM Cultural-3: Pre-Activity Record Search and Surveys Prior to conducting any work in the non-priority PTAs identified in the WRMP that could disturb the ground surface or subsurface, an archival-records search at the Central California Information Center (CCIC) shall be completed. A pre-activity cultural-resources survey shall be conducted by a qualified archaeologist or cultural resources specialist within PTAs that have not been surveyed in the last 20 years. New resources noted during the field survey shall be recorded and mapped on appropriate California Department of Parks and Recreation 523 forms. In the case of a previously recorded resource, an updated California Department of Parks and Recreation 523 form detailing current condition shall be completed, as appropriate. Alternatively, the County may complete a Cultural Resources Sensitivity Study for non-priority PTAs. The Cultural Resources Sensitivity Study must be prepared by a qualified archaeologist. Project activities in locations identified in a cultural sensitivity study as areas of low sensitivity may occur without a cultural resources field survey as long as tribal outreach and worker training for the recognition of cultural resources are implemented. All other applicable components of MM Cultural-3, including the records search, consultation with Native American tribes, and treatment of resources in accordance with MM Cultural-1, shall apply. Any historical or archaeological resources located in the PTA (as identified in either previous surveys, in a discretionary records search, or during pre-activity surveys) shall be treated in accordance with MM Cultural-1. The County shall contact and consult with local Native American tribes identified by the Native American Heritage Commission and request input on Tribal Cultural Resources within the PTAs if any prehistoric resources are identified during pre-activity surveys. Applicable Location(s): All PTAs that have not been previously surveyed. ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-12 Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: N/A • During Activity: 1) Conduct archival-records search, 2) conduct pre-activity survey, 3) comply with MM Cultural- 1 for any known resources, and 4) consult with Native American tribes, if appropriate. • After Activity: Update California Department of Parks and Recreation 523 form, if appropriate. MM Cultural-4: Discovery of Human Remains If human remains and associated or unassociated funerary objects are exposed during implementation of vegetation-management activities, work within 50 feet of the discovery shall be halted and the find protected from further disturbance. The County Coroner or Medical Examiner shall be notified immediately and, in the event of the determination that the human remains are Native American remains, notification of the Native American Heritage Commission shall be undertaken to obtain a most likely descendant (MLD) (PRC § 5097.98) for treatment recommendations. The County and the MLD shall make all reasonable efforts to develop an agreement for the treatment of human remains and associated or unassociated funerary objects with appropriate dignity (CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5[d]). The agreement shall take into consideration the appropriate removal, recordation, analysis, custodianship, curation, and final disposition of the human remains and associated or unassociated funerary objects. Any findings shall be submitted in a report to the MLD and filed with the CCIC. Applicable Location(s): All PTAs, if applicable. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: N/A • During Activity: Avoid known location of human remains, cease activity if human remains are uncovered, appoint an MLD, protect human remains until a decision is reached. If avoidance is not possible, the County, a professional archaeologist, and an MLD shall be consulted and human remains and associated or unassociated funerary objects shall be removed from the location and relocated to selected location in accordance with the decision reached. Once remains are moved, then the activity can commence again in this area. • After Activity: N/A MM Geology-1: Erosion Control and Slope Stability Measures Erosion control measures shall be implemented to ensure WRMP activities do not result in erosion, loss of topsoil, or slope instability in areas where work could expose bare soils or create loss of root-soil matrix strength. The following erosion control measures shall be implemented on sites with loose or unstable soils, steep slopes (greater than 30 percent), or where a large percentage of the groundcover will be removed (leaving groundcover less than 70 percent). • Minimize areas to be disturbed to the greatest extent feasible. • Prior to conducting work in any given area that could result in erosion or slope instability vegetation removal or prescribed burns that could reduce the groundcover and expose soil), the area shall be inspected for existing signs of erosion or slope instability (e.g. rills, slumped soil). • Install approved, biodegradable erosion-control measures application of forest duff or mulches, straw bales, straw wattles or other erosion-control material, seeding, or planting of appropriate native plant species) and non-filament-based geotextiles coir, jute) when causing soil disturbance on moderate to steep (10 percent slope and greater) slopes. ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-13 MM Geology-1: Erosion Control and Slope Stability Measures • Avoid use of heavy equipment on slopes greater than 30 percent unless specialized equipment is used that does not impact slope stability. • Sediment control devices, if installed, shall be certified weed-free, as appropriate. • No substantial ground disturbing work use of heavy equipment, pulling large vegetation) shall occur during rain events and 48 hours after a rain event, defined as 0.5 inch of rain within a 48-hour or greater period, using the NOAA website as the official record for rain events. Once work is completed, the areas shall be inspected as needed and as accessible but at least annually until groundcover exceeds 70 percent or it is clear that significant erosion and slope destabilization are not occurring. At that time, erosion control and slope stability devices may be removed at the discretion of County staff. Applicable Location(s): Any PTAs where the ground is disturbed and soils are exposed through vegetation- management activities with measures specific to areas on steep slopes and sites with loose or unstable soils. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: Inspect areas prior to work to assess the potential for erosion and soil instability. • During Activity: Implement protection measures as needed to avoid or minimize erosion and slope destabilization. • After Activity: Conduct inspections as needed, depending on the size and nature of the work and the site, to ensure that erosion is not occurring and to remove any erosion-control devices once they are no longer needed. MM Geology-2: Firelines During Prescribed Burns The following measures shall be implemented during prescribed burns to reduce erosion from firelines: • Use existing barriers such as roads, trails, or wet lines as firelines. If new firelines must be established for a prescribed burn, firelines shall be restored as described below. • Restore firelines upon completion of the burn if they are not used again (unless they are existing roads, trails, or other permanent elements) within one year of use. Utilize erosion-control measures, such as sediment traps, during restoration to reduce sedimentation impacts. Rehabilitation methods may include use of a hydromulch with locally collected, genetically appropriate native species; pulling duff, litter, and cut material back over lines; and/or distribution of locally chipped fuels on the lines. • Design prescribed burn boundaries to avoid gullies and highly erodible soils to the fullest extent possible. Applicable Location(s): Sites within the identified PTAs suitable for prescribed burns. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: Determine firelines. • During Activity: Set up provisions as specified in the measure. • After Activity: Restore firelines that will no longer be used upon completion of work. ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-14 MM Hazards-1: Spill Prevention and Response The County shall, at a minimum, implement best management practices that address the following procedures related to the use of hazardous materials during WRMP implementation: • All workers shall be trained on the specific procedures for hazardous materials and emergency response and reporting procedures as an element of the required worker environmental training in MM Biology-1 prior to working in any PTA. • Vehicles and equipment will undergo daily inspection for leaks and spill containment procedures. • Secondary containment and spill rags will be used when fueling onsite. • Fuels and lubricating oils for vehicles and heavy equipment will not be stored or transferred within 100 feet of any waterbodies unless otherwise isolated from waterbodies by secondary containment. • Emergency spill supplies and equipment such as oil-absorbent material, tarps, and storage drums shall be available on site to respond in a timely manner if an incident should occur. • Proper disposal or management of contaminated soils and materials clean up materials) will be insured and reporting procedures implemented in accordance with applicable federal, State and local requirements. • “Topping-off” of fuel tanks will be discouraged. Applicable Location(s): Any PTA under the WRMP. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: N/A • During Activity: Implement appropriate best management practices that limit the potential for leaks and spills and clean up any inadvertent spills appropriately. • After Activity: N/A MM Hazards-2: Fire Prevention and Suppression Practices The County shall implement the following best management practices to prevent the ignition and spread of an unplanned fire during implementation of WRMP activities: • Smoking will not be permitted on site, except in barren areas that measure a minimum of 20 feet in diameter and are cleared to mineral soil. Under no circumstances will smoking be permitted during the fire season (approximately July through October) while employees are operating equipment or are walking or working in forested areas. • On-site idling of vehicles and vegetation-management equipment shall be minimized. • All personal vehicles or vegetation-management equipment shall be parked in appropriate parking areas at all times, not located near dry grass or vegetation, and off of main roads and potential evacuation routes, with adequate space for emergency response vehicles to pass. • All work crews shall maintain appropriate fire-suppression equipment extinguishers, shovels) in vehicles at each work site to suppress inadvertently ignited fires. • Activities that could cause sparks, such as use of mechanical equipment, are required to cease during extreme fire weather, including Red Flag Warning days and localized Public Safety Power Shut-Off events. Applicable Location(s): Any PTA. ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-15 MM Hazards-2: Fire Prevention and Suppression Practices Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: N/A • During Activity: 1) Smoking shall be limited to permitted areas only, 2) vehicle and equipment idling shall be minimized, 3) fire suppression equipment shall be available on site, and 4) activities that are associated with increase fire risk shall be restricted during high fire-danger conditions. • After Activity: N/A MM Hazards-3: Hazard Reduction for Stockpiling, Pile Burning, and Prescribed Burning The following measures shall be implemented to reduce hazards associated with pile and prescribed burning: • Contractor shall ensure it is an “approved burn day” announced daily by the CARB prior to pile burning and allowed by local fire agencies. • A Smoke Management Plan shall be prepared and implemented in accordance with GBUAPCD’s Rule 411 for any wildland vegetation-management burning projects greater than 1 acre in size. • A Burn Plan shall be prepared for each prescribed burn in compliance with GBUAPCD Rules 409 – Range Management Burning, 410 – Forest Management Burning, and 411 – Wildland Vegetation Management Burning. • Piles shall be burned or chipped prior to the fire season and within six months of treatment. • Piles shall not be burned during the fire season. • Pile burning shall only be allowed on days when fire is less likely to spread wind speeds are less than 15 mph). • Piles shall not be constructed in areas where burning cannot be safely controlled, such as bottoms of steep, vegetated hills. • Piles shall be set back at least 100 feet from public roads and trails to minimize risk to residents, recreationalists, and other users. • All requirements of the GBUAPCD shall be met, including any permit, notification, and reporting requirements. • Public notification shall be provided at least 24 hours in advance of a prescribed burn to individuals within one mile and at trailheads and access roads leading to the area proposed for burning. The public notification shall include current contact numbers to the appropriate burn coordinator. • Temporary signage shall be installed at intervals ahead of and adjacent to the prescribed burn indicating that a prescribed burn is in progress. Applicable Location(s): Wherever stockpiles of slash are made, where piles shall be burned, and where prescribed burns are proposed. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: Notify public, post signs, and obtain all permits and make all necessary notifications as required by GBUAPCD. • During Activity: Ensure that piles are located appropriately, ensure proper weather conditions during pile burning, and ensure signage is installed in locations in close proximity to all prescribed burns. • After Activity: Remove signage. ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-16 MM Recreation-1: Recreational Facilities Coordination Prior to planning vegetation-management activities in the Turtle Rock Park, Grover Hot Springs State Park, and Lake Alpine PTAs, the County shall identify the entity responsible for management of the recreational facility and coordinate implementation of WRMP activities to be completed outside of the peak recreation season. Any park or facility closures shall be posted in appropriate locations at the facility entrance and/or trailheads and provided on the facility or park webpages, if applicable. Applicable Location(s): Turtle Rock Park, Grover Hot Springs State Park, and Lake Alpine PTAs. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: N/A • During Activity: 1) Identify management entity, 2) schedule WRMP activities outside of peak recreation season, and 3) post park/facility closure information on site and online, if applicable. • After Activity: N/A MM TCR-1: Tribal Site Visit and Recommendations Prior to implementation of vegetation-management activities within the priority and non-priority PTAs, the County shall: • Arrange a site visit with the Washoe Tribe, and any other Native American tribe that expresses interest in consulting on the WRMP, to PTAs where resources occur within the PTA boundary. • Provide the opportunity for the Washoe Tribe, and any other interested Native American tribe, to contribute resource-specific recommendations for the treatment and/or avoidance of known resources to ensure tribal cultural resources are not adversely affected by the WRMP activities. • Incorporate resource-specific recommendations from tribes into project implementation plans. Applicable Location(s): All PTAs. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: 1) Arrange site visit with Washoe Tribe and additional Native American tribes, if appropriate, and 2) solicit recommendations for the treatment and/or avoidance of tribal cultural resources. • During Activity: Implement resource-specific recommendations for the treatment and/or avoidance of tribal cultural resources. • After Activity: N/A MM TCR-2: Tribal Outreach and Consultation Prior to conducting any work in the non-priority PTAs identified in the WRMP, the County shall contact local Native American tribes identified by the Native American Heritage Commission and/or the County’s AB 52 tribal contacts list and request input on PTA boundaries, specific avoidance areas, and any known Tribal Cultural Resources within the PTAs. For any Native American tribe that is interested in providing input on the development of PTA boundaries and/or specific treatment methods to be implemented, the County shall provide all results of record searches and field surveys conducted within or surrounding PTAs, if applicable. The County shall consult with any interested Native American tribe to ensure any impacts to tribal cultural resources are minimized to the greatest extent feasible, including arranging a site visit and implementing site-specific recommendations as required by MM TCR-1. ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-17 MM TCR-2: Tribal Outreach and Consultation Applicable Location(s): All non-priority PTAs. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: Contact Native American tribes, if appropriate. • During Activity: N/A • After Activity: N/A ---PAGE BREAK--- MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 MND-18 This page is intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- 1 INTRODUCTION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 1-1 1 Introduction 1.1 Introduction and Regulatory Guidance This Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) has been prepared by the Alpine County Community Development Department to evaluate the potential effects of implementing the Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan within its jurisdictional boundaries. This document has been prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.) and the State CEQA Guidelines (Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations section 15000 et seq.). An IS is prepared by a lead agency to determine if a project may have a significant effect on the environment (CEQA Guidelines Section 15063[a]) and thus to determine the appropriate environmental document. In accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15070, a “public agency shall prepare…a proposed negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration…when: the IS shows that there is no substantial evidence that the project may have a significant impact on the environment, or the IS identifies potentially significant effects but revisions to the project plans or proposal are agreed to by the applicant and such revisions would reduce potentially significant effects to a less-than-significant level.” In this circumstance, the lead agency prepares a written statement describing its reasons for concluding that the proposed project would not have a significant effect on the environment and, therefore, does not require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). By contrast, an EIR is required when the project may have a significant environmental impact that cannot clearly be reduced to a less- than-significant effect by adoption of mitigation or by revisions in the project design. 1.2 Purpose of the Initial Study As described in the environmental checklist (Chapter the proposed project would not result in significant environmental impacts after implementation of certain mitigation measures. This IS concludes that an MND is the appropriate document for compliance with the requirements of CEQA. Under CEQA, the lead agency is the public agency with primary responsibility over approval of the proposed project. Alpine County is the lead agency for the proposed project and has directed the preparation of an analysis that complies with CEQA. The purpose of this document is to present to decision-makers and the public the environmental consequences of implementing the proposed project. An IS is required in support of an MND and is attached to the MND. This disclosure document is being made available to the public for review and comment. The MND (with the attached IS) is available for a 30-day public review. ---PAGE BREAK--- 1 INTRODUCTION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 1-2 Comments should be addressed to: Zach Wood, Planner III Alpine County Community Development Department 50 Diamond Valley Road Markleeville, CA 96120 [EMAIL REDACTED] Phone: (530) 694-1371 After comments are received from the public and reviewing agencies, Alpine County may adopt the MND and approve the proposed project; undertake additional environmental studies or disapprove the project. If the project is approved, Alpine County may proceed with implementation of the project. 1.3 Summary of Findings Chapter 2 of this document contains the analysis and discussion of potential environmental impacts of the proposed project. Based on the issues evaluated in that chapter, it was determined that the proposed project would have no impact related to the following resource topics: • Agriculture and Forestry • Land Use and Planning • Mineral Resources • Population and Housing • Public Services Impacts of the proposed project for the following resource topics would be less than significant: • Aesthetics • Energy • Greenhouse Gas Emissions • Noise • Utilities and Service Systems Impacts of the proposed project for the following resource topics would be less than significant with the incorporation of the mitigation measures described in Chapter 2: • Air Quality • Biological Resources • Cultural Resources • Geology and Soils • Hazards and Hazardous Materials • Hydrology and Water Quality • Recreation • Transportation ---PAGE BREAK--- 1 INTRODUCTION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 1-3 • Tribal Cultural Resources • Wildfire • Mandatory Findings of Significance Mitigation measures would reduce all significant impacts to a less-than-significant level. Alpine County has agreed to implement all required mitigation. 1.4 Environmental Permits and Approvals The project would require approval from Alpine County. Other permits and approvals required for project implementation are identified in Table 1-1. Table 1-1 Environmental Permits and Approvals Permit/Approval Entity Reason Landowner right-of-entry agreement Private landowners Landowner approval is necessary for any project that occurs on private land. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Approval Bureau of Land Management United States Forest Service NEPA approval from the applicable agency is necessary for any project that occurs on federal land. 1.5 Document Organization This IS/MND is organized as follows: Chapter 1: Introduction. This chapter provides an introduction to the environmental review process. It describes the purpose and organization of this and presents a summary of findings. Chapter 2: Environmental Checklist. This chapter presents an analysis of a range of environmental resource topics identified in the CEQA Environmental Checklist and determines if each issue would result in no impact, a less-than-significant impact, a less-than-significant impact with mitigation incorporated, or a potentially significant impact. If any impacts were determined to be potentially significant, an EIR would be required. For this project, however, none of the impacts were determined to be significant after incorporation of recommended mitigation measures. Chapter 3: References. This chapter lists the references used in preparation of this IS/MND. Chapter 4: List of Preparers. This chapter identifies report preparers. ---PAGE BREAK--- 1 INTRODUCTION Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 1-4 This page is intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-1 2 Environmental Checklist 2.1 Project Information 1. Project Title Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan (WRMP) 2. Lead Agency Name and Address County of Alpine 3. Contact Person and Phone Number Debbie Burkett, Director Alpine County Community Development Department (530) 694-1361 4. Project Location Various locations in Alpine County. Refer to Table 3-1 in the WRMP for each project area’s boundaries. Priority Project Potential Treatment Areas (PTAs):  Markleevillage (Project  Manzanita (Project  Bear Valley (Project Non-Priority PTAs:  Grover Hot Springs (Project  Mesa Vista (Project  Hung-A-Lel-Ti (Project  Turtle Rock Park (Project  Bear Valley (Project  Manzanita (Project  Lake Alpine (Project #10)  Diamond Valley (Project #11)  Highway 89 (Project #12) 5. Project Sponsor’s Name and Address Alpine County Community Development Department 50 Diamond Valley Road Markleeville, CA 96120 ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-2 6. General Plan Designation and Zoning The PTAs are included within the Open Space, Rural Residential, Residential Low Density, and Residential Medium Density General Plan land use designations and within the following zoning districts: Residential Neighborhood, Planned Development, Agriculture, and Timber Preserve. 7. Description of Project The County proposes to adopt and implement a WRMP, prepared under a Fire Prevention Grant received from CAL FIRE. The WRMP was prepared to identify areas of highest wildfire risk within the County and to define vegetation and fuel- management activities to reduce risks. The plan identifies 12 projects, with three projects prioritized and described in detail. The three priority projects are addressed at a project level while the remaining nine projects as well as other fuel reduction activities (such as prescribed burning) are addressed at a programmatic level. Refer to attached Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan (Appendix A) for a detailed project description. 8. Surrounding Land Uses and Setting The WRMP area is located within Alpine County. The PTAs are adjacent to residential uses, agricultural uses, forest uses, and recreational uses. 9. Other Public Agencies Whose Approval is Required None. 10. Have California Native American tribes traditionally and culturally affiliated with the project area requested consultation pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.3.1? If so, is there a plan for consultation that includes, for example, the determination of significance of impacts to tribal cultural resources, procedures regarding confidentiality, etc.? The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California was consulted during the preparation of this Initial Study. Refer to Section 2.3.18 Tribal Cultural Resources. 2.2 Environmental Factors Potentially Affected Section 2.3 of this IS checklist evaluates the potential environmental impacts of the WRMP. Each environmental resource subsection includes an Environmental Setting and Discussion component. The Environmental Setting component summarizes the existing conditions at the regional, subregional, and local levels, as appropriate, and identifies applicable plans and technical information for the issue area. The Discussion component provides a detailed discussion of each environmental issue checklist question. The level of significance for each resource topic is determined by considering the predicted magnitude of the impact. Four levels of impact significance are evaluated in this IS checklist: ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-3 No Impact. The project would not have the impact described. The project may have a beneficial effect, but there is no potential for the project to create or add increment to the impact described. Less-Than-Significant Impact. The project would have the impact described, but the impact would not be significant. Mitigation is not required; however, the project applicant may choose to modify the project to avoid the impacts. Less Than Significant with Mitigation. The project would have the impact described, and the impact could be significant. One or more mitigation measures have been identified that will reduce the impact to a less-than-significant level. Significant and Unavoidable Impact. The project would have the impact described, and the impact could be significant. The impact cannot be reduced to a less-than-significant level by incorporating mitigation measures. An environmental impact report must be prepared for this project. Resource topics that would have no impact as a result of the project are not discussed beyond the resource checklist. The environmental factors checked below would be potentially affected by the project, but impacts would be mitigated to a less-than-significant level as indicated by the checklist on the following pages. Aesthetics Agricultural and Forestry Resources Air Quality Biological Resources Cultural Resources Energy Use Geology and Soils Greenhouse Gas Emissions Hazards and Hazardous Materials Hydrology and Water Quality Land Use and Planning Mineral Resources Noise Population and Housing Public Services Recreation Transportation Utilities and Service Systems Tribal Cultural Resources Wildfire Mandatory Findings of Significance ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-4 2.3 Environmental Checklist and Impact Discussion 2.3.1 Aesthetics Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 1. AESTHETICS. Except as provided in Public Resources Code Section 21099, would the project: a) Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ b) Substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a State scenic highway or designated scenic roadway? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ c) Substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of public views of the site and its surroundings? (Public views are those that are experienced from a publicly accessible vantage point). If the project is in an urbanized area, would the project conflict with applicable zoning and other regulations governing scenic quality? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ d) Create a new source of substantial light or glare that would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ Environmental Setting Open space and scenic vistas of valleys, mountains, and meadows are the dominant elements of the landscape scale character in Alpine County. The complex and diverse topographic conditions within Alpine County are characterized by high, rugged peaks and ridges, deep canyons, mountain meadows, and numerous streams and lakes. Elevations within Alpine County range from just over 4,500 feet to well over 11,000 feet above sea level. Elements of the built environment (structures, roads, and other man-made improvements) are present; however, these elements are clearly secondary to the dominant natural landscape. The WRMP addresses the entirety of Alpine County, which features low-density development in a few existing communities and large areas of undeveloped lands and natural areas. The Bear Valley priority PTA is located within the Bear Valley residential community and contains many structures in the wildland urban interface (WUI). The Manzanita priority PTA is located east of the Manzanita residential community in mostly open space. The Markleevillage priority PTA includes fuel-treatment activities within the Markleevillage neighborhood as well as in the open space areas east and south of residences. For each of the PTAs, scenic quality is generally considered high, and viewer sensitivity is also high. Several State scenic highways and scenic roadways are located within Alpine County. State Route (SR) 88 is an officially designated State scenic highway from the Amador County line ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-5 through Alpine County to the Nevada state line. SR-4 is an officially designated State scenic highway from the Calaveras County line to SR-89. The portion of SR-89 that travels through Alpine County is also an officially designated State scenic highway (Caltrans, 2019). Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway is a 61-mile stretch of SRs 4 and 89, in between the towns of Arnold in Calaveras County and Markleeville in Alpine County, California. The State scenic highways are shown in Figure 2-1and identified in Table 2-1. Element I, Section K of the Alpine County General Plan includes several policies designed to maintain and improve existing aesthetic resources in Alpine County which apply to these roadways (Alpine County, 2017). Table 2-1 Scenic Highways Within 1 Mile of PTAs Highway or Roadway Priority PTAs Within 1 Mile Non-Priority PTAs Within 1 Mile SR-4 Bear Valley Lake Alpine SR-88 Manzanita Mesa Vista Diamond Valley SR-89 Manzanita Markleevillage Turtle Rock Park Diamond Valley Highway 89 Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway Bear Valley Markleevillage Lake Alpine Source: (Caltrans, 2019) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-6 Figure 2-1 State Scenic Highways in Alpine County ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-7 Discussion a) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? Priority PTAs Alpine County features various natural landscapes and unique scenic vistas of valleys, mountains, and meadows. The East Fork of the Carson River, from Hangman’s Bridge crossing of SR-89 to the Nevada border, was designated as a State Scenic River in 1989 (Alpine County, 2017). The river is located approximately 1 mile east of the Markleevillage PTA. Mechanized equipment, work crews, and the post-project condition at the Markleevillage PTA likely would not be visible from this scenic vista, however, due to the distance, or if visible would only be viewable for a short period of time. Prescribed burning would not be implemented in the priority PTAs, but smoke may be temporarily visible from scenic vistas from pile burning at the Manzanita or Markleevillage priority PTAs. The visual impacts from implementation of the priority PTAs would not substantially affect scenic vistas because the PTAs would occur in relatively developed areas and would be similar to existing fuel management features and activities already in place within the county fuel breaks, unpaved fire access roads, and prescribed burn areas). Impacts would be less than significant. Non-Priority PTAs Fuel-treatment projects within the non-priority PTAs under the WRMP may be visible from scenic vistas throughout the County and would include views of equipment and work crews, vegetation and debris piles, prescribed and/or pile burning, and associated smoke. Upon completion of vegetation-management activities, the treated areas would still resemble a natural forest with removal of dead vegetation, ladder fuels, smaller trees, and understory. Vegetation management activities would not involve substantial tree removal; therefore, scenic views of landscapes, which typically include views of canopy vegetation, would not be substantially altered with implementation of the WRMP. Impacts would be less than significant. b) Would the project substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a State scenic highway or designated scenic roadway? As described in the environmental setting above, the officially designated State scenic highways SR-4, SR-88, and SR-89 and Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway are located within Alpine County. The Bear Valley PTA is directly adjacent to SR-4, the Manzanita PTA is located within 0.5-mile of SR-88, the Markleevillage PTA is within 0.5-mile of SR-89, and portions of the Manzanita PTA is directly adjacent to SR-89. Several of the non-priority PTAs are within the vicinity of State-designated scenic highways or roadways (as shown in Figure 2-1 and described in Table 2-1). Although priority and non-priority PTAs may be in proximity to scenic highways and roadways, in many cases, intervening topography or vegetation would block views of vegetation-management equipment and post-project conditions. Priority or non-priority PTAs that border scenic roadways would be visible to motorists traveling on scenic highways or roadways. Motorists could observe implementation of vegetation-management activities that occur very close to the roadway. Views of equipment, crew, and post-project conditions would be of short duration (only a few seconds to a few minutes when driving at highway speeds) as motorists pass by. The WRMP activities would be similar to existing fuel-treatment actions and ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-8 features within the County vegetation removal, pile burning, and fuel breaks) and would not include substantial removal of large trees over 10 inches in diameter). Following vegetation-management activities, the treatment areas would still resemble a natural forest, and impacts would not change the unity, intactness, or character of the landscape. Implementation of the WRMP would not substantially damage scenic resources within a scenic highway or scenic roadway. Impacts would be less than significant. c) Would the project substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of public views of the site and its surroundings? (Public views are those that are experienced from publicly accessible vantage point). If the project is in an urbanized area, would the project conflict with applicable zoning and other regulations governing scenic quality? Priority PTAs Overview Alpine County is characterized by steep terrain contrasted by valleys and meadows and, therefore, numerous public vantage points are dispersed throughout the county. Several rural residential communities are located in Bear Valley, Manzanita, and Markleeville, where residents utilize local roads and may be able to view the priority PTAs. Views of priority PTA implementation from public roadways would only be temporarily visible to motorists, and the work is consistent with similar fuel-treatment activities currently implemented in this region. Views of priority PTAs from recreational areas, hiking trails, roads, and scenic vistas may be experienced for longer durations but, similarly, views of work occurring is not out of character for the region and is perceived as temporary. During implementation of the WRMP activities, views of the three priority PTAs may include equipment, work crews, pile burning (only at Manzanita or Markleevillage PTAs), and smoke. Pile burning and smoke would only be visible for a short period of time. Large-scale prescribed fires would not be conducted in the three priority PTAs. Long-term impacts to public views after implementation of the priority PTAs would include altered landscapes following vegetation thinning and removal. Figure 2-2 provides an example of what priority PTAs may look like prior to and following vegetation-treatment activities. Similar fuel-reduction and vegetation-management projects have been conducted widely throughout the county, and the priority PTAs are small in comparison to the vast unaltered open space; therefore, the change in visual character as a result of the priority PTAs would not substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of public views of the priority PTAs. Over time, viewers adjust to any changes in vegetation density and appearance in their expectations of visual character. Impacts on visual quality and character both during and after implementation of vegetation management in the priority PTAs would be less than significant. The impacts to visual character and quality of public view is discussed in greater detail by region in the following sections. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-9 Figure 2-2 Examples of Vegetation Thinning Bear Valley PTA The Bear Valley PTA may be visible from nearby mountain peaks, including Bloods Ridge, Mattley Ridge, Sapps Hill, and Inspiration Point near Lake Alpine. The Bear Valley PTA is located approximately 2 miles southwest of Lake Alpine but would not be visible from the lake due to the distance, intervening topography, and tree cover between the two locations. The Alpine Bear Valley Mountain Resort, located approximately 1 mile north of the PTA, also attracts many visitors during the winter season. Only hand-thinning methods would be implemented at the Bear Valley PTA, and minor vegetation reduction and removal would not be noticeable from a distance post implementation. Manzanita PTA The Manzanita PTA may also be visible from nearby mountain peaks, including Hawkins Peak and Pickett Peak. Indian Creek Reservoir and campground is a popular recreational destination located approximately 2 miles east of the Manzanita PTA and likely would not afford a view of the site; however, even if the Manzanita PTA could be seen from this site, the views would consist solely of the tree canopy. Equipment would not likely be visible during implementation. Post implementation, the canopy could appear as somewhat thinned, but the overall character of the forested appearance would remain, minimizing perceived visual impact. Markleeville PTA Grover Hot Springs State Park is located approximately 1.5 miles from the Markleevillage PTA and attracts many visitors during the summer months. Motorists traveling on Hot Springs Road to reach Grover Hot Springs State Park may be able to view WRMP activities that contrast with the visual unity of the forest; however, views would only last a few seconds, and temporarily witnessing equipment, personnel, or pile burning is not out of character or unexpected within Prior to fuel thinning. After fuel thinning. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-10 the county. Post implementation, the canopy could appear as somewhat thinned, but the overall character of the forested appearance would remain, minimizing perceived visual impact. Non-Priority PTAs Depending on the location and proximity to public vantage points, fuel-treatment activities under the WRMP may be located within public view near the PTAs. Vegetation management activities may be visible from public vantage points surrounding the PTAs, but most impacts on public views would be temporary and only visible during implementation of the WRMP. Activities proposed under the WRMP include manual and mechanical vegetation-treatment methods, pile burning, and prescribed burning. Project equipment, work crews, debris piles, smoke, blackened ground, and reduced ground cover may be visible prior to, during, or following implementation of fuel-treatment activities; however, the activities proposed under the WRMP are similar to previous fuel-reduction projects conducted on U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land and are not unique to the existing landscape. Prescribed burns, if implemented, would only be used in Hung-A-Lel-Ti, Lake Alpine, Mesa Vista, and Turtle Rock Park PTAs and would not be visible to a large number of people due to the remote location. Prescribed fire would be managed and supervised by trained personnel to ensure that only ground-cover vegetation is burned, leaving the tree canopy unaltered. The blackened area resulting from prescribed fires would likely only be visible for one growing season. PTAs would be impacted on a small scale compared to the large areas of open space throughout the county; therefore, implementation of the WRMP would not substantially degrade the existing visual character of Alpine County. Substantial tree removal trees over 10 inches in diameter) would not occur under the WRMP and, after implementation of fuel treatment projects, the treated areas would still resemble the surrounding forested area, would appear natural, albeit with thinner vegetation, and would not be out of character for the region. Significant degradation of visual character and quality would not occur. Over time, viewers adjust to any changes in vegetation density and appearance in their expectations of visual character. Impacts would be less than significant. d) Would the project create a new source of substantial light or glare that would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area? Vegetation management activities in both the priority and non-priority PTAs would be performed typically during the day and would not require artificial lighting. Some activities could extend into the night where vehicle lighting to manage the activities may be used, but light would be temporary and limited to a few evenings. Glare from equipment needed to implement various WRMP activities is not anticipated. Implementation of the proposed activities would not create a new source of substantial light or glare. The impact would be less than significant. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-11 2.3.2 Agriculture and Forestry Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 2. AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY RESOURCES. In determining whether impacts to agricultural resources are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to the California Agricultural Land Evaluation and Site Assessment Model (1997) prepared by the California Dept. of Conservation as an optional model to use in assessing impacts on agriculture and farmland. In determining whether impacts to forest resources, including timberland, are significant environmental effects, lead agencies may refer to information compiled by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection regarding the state’s inventory of forest land, including the Forest and Range Assessment Project and the Forest Legacy Assessment project, and forest carbon measurement methodology provided in Forest Protocols adopted by the California Air Resources Board. Would the project: a) Convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance (Farmland), as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency, to non-agricultural use? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ b) Conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use, or a Williamson Act contract? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ c) Conflict with existing zoning for, or cause rezoning of, forest land (as defined in Public Resources Code section 12220[g]), timberland (as defined by Public Resources Code section 4526), or timberland zoned Timberland Production (as defined by Government Code section 51104[g])? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ d) Result in the loss of forest land or conversion of forest land to non-forest use? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ e) Involve other changes in the existing environment which, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland to non-agricultural use or conversion of forest land to non-forest use? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Environmental Setting Farmland is classified by the California Department of Conservation according to its ability to support crops or livestock. The most commonly used system for classifying agriculture in California is the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP). The FMMP categorizes farmland into five types: Prime Farmland; Farmland of Statewide Importance; Unique Farmland; Farmland of Local Importance; and Grazing Land. These designations are described in order of productivity, from the most productive to the least productive farmland. According to the FMMP, Alpine County does not include any designated Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, or Farmland of Local Importance (California Department of Conservation, 2016). The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (California Government Code 51200–51295), commonly known as the Williamson Act, provides incentives ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-12 to property owners (property tax reductions) to keep their lands in active agricultural production. Property owners sign contracts agreeing not to develop their properties for a period of at least ten years. Alpine County has yet to execute any Williamson Act contracts (California Department of Conservation, 2018). An approximate 580-acre parcel of land near the Manzanita community was entered into a Williamson Act contract in 2002 and remains active today. The parcel is located west of Highway 89 and intersects with the Manzanita PTA boundary. Section 12220(g) of the California Public Resources Code defines forest land as land that can support 10 percent native-tree cover of any species, including hardwoods, under natural conditions and that allows for management of one or more forest resources, including timber, aesthetics, fish and wildlife, biodiversity, water quality, recreation, and other public benefits. “Timberland” is land owned by the federal government and designated by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection as experimental forest land that is available for, and capable of, growing a crop of trees of a commercial species used to produce lumber and other forest products, including Christmas trees. Sections 51112 or 51113 of the California Public Resources Code defines “Timberland Production Zone" (TPZ) as land used for growing and harvesting timber and compatible uses. The County’s Zoning Ordinance contains provisions for TPZ. In accordance with County ordinance and State law, landowners can apply to have forested lands zoned TPZ if the lands meet certain specified requirements. Significant tax savings can be realized by landowners who apply and qualify for TPZ zoning. The USFS defines a forested area as "forest land" if it is at least one acre in size and at least 10 percent occupied by forest trees of any size or formerly having had such tree cover and not currently developed for non-forest use. Over 91 percent of Alpine county is located within national forests. Alpine County has considerable acreages of lands that meet the federal and State definitions of forest land. Open Space is the predominant land-use designation included in the Alpine County General Plan, which includes uses related to the wise use and protection of natural resources including, but not limited to, the protection or development of mineral resources, the growing or harvesting of forest products, ranch or farm-type agricultural production, protection of important wildlife and aquatic habitats, preservation of significant view corridors, and dispersed recreation such as hunting, fishing, hiking, cross-country skiing, and camping (Alpine County, 2017). Most known or suspected commercial timber lands are given an open space designation on the County’s Land Use Map. The Zoning Code (Alpine County Code, Title 18) includes Agriculture and Timber Preserve zoning designations that are consistent with the Alpine County General Plan land-use designations. The northern, western, and southern boundaries of the Bear Valley PTA are adjacent to land zoned as Agriculture. The entire Manzanita PTA is located on Agriculture-zoned land. The Markleevillage PTA also includes land zoned as Agriculture and Timber Preserve. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-13 Discussion a) Would the project convert Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance (Farmland), as shown on the maps prepared pursuant to the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the California Resources Agency, to non-agricultural use? As described above, Alpine County does not include any designated Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, Farmland of Statewide Importance, or Farmland of Local Importance; therefore, the WRMP would not be implemented within any of these land use areas. No impact would occur. b) Would the project conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use or a Williamson Act contract? Portions of Alpine County include lands zoned for agricultural use. An approximate 580-acre parcel of land included in an active Williamson Act contract overlaps with the Manzanita PTA boundary. Implementation of the WRMP would not involve any land-use changes, and the proposed fuel-treatment activities would comply with existing zoning regulations; therefore, no conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use or a Williamson Act contract would occur. The priority and non-priority PTAs are neither on nor adjacent to any land designated as a Williamson Act parcel (California Department of Conservation, 2018). No impact would occur. c) Would the project conflict with existing zoning for, or cause rezoning of, forest land (as defined in Public Resources Code section 12220[g]), timberland (as defined by Public Resources Code section 4526), or timberland zoned Timberland Production (as defined by Government Code section 51104[g])? Alpine County includes lands zoned for forest land and timberland that are subject to the requirements provided in the Alpine County Zoning Ordinance and General Plan. Fuel treatment activities under the WRMP may be implemented within forest land or timberland, and the Markleevillage PTA comprises land zoned as Timber Preserve. However, the WRMP would not involve rezoning nor conflict with the Alpine County General Plan or County Code provisions; therefore, no impact would occur. Rezoning to timberland would not be required to perform the vegetation-management work. Impacts would be less than significant. Should any of the wood removed as part of the WRMP be sold as a commercial product, it should be noted that the work may be subject to the Forest Practice Rules and may require the preparation of a Timber Harvest Plan with approval from CAL FIRE. d) Would the project result in the loss of forest land or conversion of forest land to non-forest use? The WRMP fuel-treatment activities involve the use of hand thinning along with mechanical mastication and prescribed burn where feasible. Trees would not be removed on a large scale, nor would clear cutting and full-scale timber harvest occur. Ground vegetation and ladder fuels would be removed to reduce the speed and intensity of fires and to restore the forest to a more fire resilient landscape. The WRMP implementation does not require any changes in land use; the use of the land following implementation of the WRMP would be the same as the existing land use. Treatment areas would remain forested following WRMP implementation, and no loss or conversion of forest land would occur; therefore, there would be no impact or potential to change a forest land to a non-forest use. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-14 e) Would the project involve other changes in the existing environment which, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland to non-agricultural use or conversion of forest land to non- forest use? As described above, the WRMP would involve thinning and removal of ground vegetation and ladders fuels within identified PTAs throughout Alpine County. The fuel-treatment activities would not conflict with existing zoning for agricultural use. No farmland is currently designated in Alpine County under the FMMP. Fuel treatment activities would not include substantial tree removal resulting in conversion of forest land. No impact would occur. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-15 2.3.3 Air Quality Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 3. AIR QUALITY. Where available, the significance criteria established by the applicable air quality management district or air pollution control district may be relied upon to make the following determinations. Would the project: a) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ b) Result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ c) Expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ d) Result in other emissions (such as those leading to odors) adversely affecting a substantial number of people? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ Environmental Setting Alpine County is located within the Great Basin Valleys Air Basin (GBVAB) under the jurisdiction of the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District (GBUAPCD). The GBVAB is north of the Mojave Desert and south of the Great Basin just along the Sierra Nevada on the eastern edge of California. Air quality within Alpine County is regulated by agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) at the federal and State levels, respectively, and locally by GBUAPCD. The GBUAPCD was established in 1974 with a joint-powers agreement between Alpine, Mono, and Inyo Counties. The GBUAPCD is responsible for enforcing federal, State, and local air quality regulations and ensuring that the GBVAB is in compliance with or moving towards compliance with federal and State air quality standards. Various air pollutants may adversely affect human or animal health, reduce visibility, damage property, and reduce the productivity or vigor of crops and natural vegetation. Several criteria air pollutants have been identified by the USEPA and CARB as being of concern both on a nationwide and statewide level: ozone; carbon monoxide (CO); nitrogen dioxide (NO2); sulfur dioxide (SO2); lead; and particulate matter (PM), which is subdivided into two classes based on particle size: PM equal to or less than 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10) and PM equal to or less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5). The USEPA and CARB also regulate toxic air contaminants (TACs), also known as hazardous air pollutants. A TAC is defined as an air pollutant that may cause or contribute to an increase in mortality or in serious illness, or that may pose a hazard to human health. Federal, State, and local plans, policies, laws, and regulations provide a framework for addressing aspects of air quality that would be affected by the WRMP. Health-based air quality ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-16 standards have been established for the criteria air pollutants by USEPA at the national level and by CARB at the State level; these standards are referred to as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and the California Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS), respectively. Alpine County is designated as a nonattainment area for State PM10 standards; however, the nonattainment designation was made for the whole GBUAPCD area. As noted in the Alpine County General Plan, none of the test sites used to make this determination are located in Alpine County. The predominant sources of PM10 pollution in Alpine County are from controlled burns and wildfires. Alpine County is either in attainment or unclassified for all other State and federal air quality standards (see Table 2-2 below). Due to the rural lifestyle, low population density, and limited industry, the County’s air quality is generally of good quality. Any prescribed burning or pile burning implemented under the WRMP would be subject to the GBUAPCD’s Smoke Management Program. The Smoke Management Program was developed in cooperation with the CARB, public and private land managers, and fire protection authorities for the purpose of minimizing adverse air quality impacts related to smoke from prescribed burning within the GBUAPCD’s jurisdictions. The GBUAPCD has regulations related to open outdoor fires and prescribed burning for agricultural operations, forest management, range management, and wildlands and wildland/urban interface areas. Smoke Management Plans are required for forest management and wildland vegetation management burning, and the requirements vary depending on the size of the burn or amount of material burned (GBUAPCD, 2001). Prescribed burning is only allowed on days when weather and/or fuel moisture conditions would not create a wildfire risk. “No burn” day determinations are declared by fire protection agencies and override permissive burn day determinations made by CARB. Table 2-2 Alpine County Area Designations for State and National Ambient Air Quality Standards Criteria Pollutant State Designation Federal Designation Ozone Unclassified Unclassified/attainment PM10 Nonattainment Unclassified PM2.5 Attainment Unclassified/attainment Carbon Monoxide (CO) Unclassified Unclassified/attainment Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Attainment Unclassified/attainment Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Attainment Unclassified/attainment Sulfates Attainment Lead (Pb) Attainment Unclassified/attainment Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Unclassified Visibility Reducing Particles Unclassified ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-17 Source: (CARB, 2018; CARB, 2019) Discussion a) Would the project conflict with or obstruct implementation of the applicable air quality plan? Four air quality plans have been developed for specific locations within the GBUAPCD boundaries (Owens Valley PM10 SIP, Mono Basin PM10 SIP, Coso PM10 SIP, Mammoth Lakes PM10 SIP); however, none of the plans include Alpine County. The WRMP would not conflict with or obstruct implementation of any air quality plans, and no impact would occur. b) Would the project result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of any criteria pollutant for which the project region is non-attainment under an applicable federal or state ambient air quality standard? Priority PTAs By nature, air pollution is largely a cumulative impact. The nonattainment status of regional pollutants is a result of past and present development in the GBVAB, and this regional impact is cumulative rather than being attributable to any one source. A project’s emissions may be individually limited but cumulatively considerable when taken in combination with past, present, and future development projects. As described above, the entire area within the boundary of the GBUAPCD has been designated as a nonattainment area for PM10 under the State air quality standards; however, none of the test sites used to make that determination are located in Alpine County. Vegetation-management- related activities would result in short-term PM10 emissions from site preparation, use of off- road equipment, vehicle and equipment exhaust emissions, and vehicle travel. Fugitive dust emissions are associated primarily with site preparation and vary as a function of soil silt content, soil moisture, wind speed, acreage of disturbance, and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on and off site. Only short-term, implementation-related activities and small-scale pile burning would produce PM10 emissions during implementation of the priority PTAs. Pile burning would not be implemented in the Bear Valley priority PTA. Dust and smoke emissions (typically, PM10, and PM2.5 emissions, respectively) would be short term and are expected to remain localized and dissipate within the immediate vicinity. Given the limited PM10 that could be generated by implementation of the WRMP in priority PTAs, since the work would not involve grading or significant ground disturbance, impacts would be less than significant. Pile burns would need to be performed in compliance with the GBUAPCD’s Smoke Management Program regulations, and a Smoke Management Plan may be required, depending on the amount of material anticipated to be burned for pile burns. The regulations and limitations are established to minimize smoke impacts on ambient air quality. PM2.5 emissions impacts from pile burning would be less than significant if all regulations are followed. Non-Priority PTAs The fuel treatment activities under the WRMP would generate short-term, intermittent PM10 and PM2.5 emissions from vegetation removal (mainly through use of equipment), pile burning, and/or prescribed burning. Prescribed burning would not occur in the three priority PTAs and is only considered for the Hung-A-Lel-Ti, Lake Alpine, Mesa Vista, and Turtle Rock Park PTAs. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-18 Because the GBVAB is a nonattainment area for PM10 under the State air quality standards, a significant contribution of PM10 emissions from implementation activities in combination with prescribed burning could result in a significant impact. The GBUAPCD has developed District Rules to reduce PM10 emissions within the basin. District Rule 401 includes provisions to reduce fugitive dust emissions from ground disturbance activities, and District Rule 404-A establishes limits to the amount of particulate matter discharge by pound per hour (GBUAPCD, 1981; GBUAPCD, 2006). At this time, the exact boundaries and extent of activities to be implemented in the non-priority PTAs have not been defined, but impacts are considered potentially significant for the purpose of this air quality assessment. To ensure impacts associated with vegetation-management-activity-related dust emissions would not be significant, MM Air Quality-1 would be implemented, which requires the application of the fugitive dust-control measures outlined in GBUAPCD’s Rule 401 to reduce potential impacts. By reducing heavily overgrown vegetation, the WRMP would reduce the incidence of catastrophic wildfires, thereby reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and increasing the carbon sequestration of forest areas. All prescribed burns in the PTAs, excluding the priority PTAs, would comply with the GBUAPCD Smoke Management Program. The WRMP would not result in a cumulatively considerable net increase of PM2.5, PM10 emissions or any criteria pollutants for which the GBVAB is in nonattainment. With implementation of MM Air Quality- 1, impacts would be less than significant. MM Air Quality-1: Fugitive Dust Control Measures The following fugitive dust control measures as outlined in the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District’s Rule 401 will be implemented during vegetation management activities. The County shall take reasonable precautions to prevent visible particulate matter from being airborne, under normal wind conditions, beyond the property from which the emission originates. Reasonable precautions include, but are not limited to: • Use, where possible, of water or chemicals for control of dust in vegetation management operations or the clearing of land; • Application of water, or suitable chemicals on unpaved roads, material stockpiles, and other surfaces that can give rise to airborne dusts; • Installation and use of hoods, fans, and fabric filters, to enclose and vent the handling of dusty materials. Adequate contaminant methods shall be employed during such handling operations; • Use of water, chemicals, chuting, venting, or other precautions to prevent particulate matter from becoming airborne in handling dusty materials to open stockpiles and mobile equipment; and • Maintenance of roadways in a clean condition. Applicable Location(s): Areas where vegetation is cleared. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: N/A • During Activity: Use water or chemicals when using heavy equipment on unpaved roads or in areas with exposed soils, apply water or suitable chemicals to dust-producing surfaces, adequately contain dusty materials, use precautions around dusty materials and mobile equipment, maintain roadways. • After Activity: N/A ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-19 c) Would the project expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations? Sensitive Receptors Some members of the population, including children, older adults, and persons with pre- existing respiratory or cardiovascular illness, are especially sensitive to air-pollutant emissions. Such people are given additional consideration when the impacts of projects on air quality are evaluated. At-risk land uses that are sensitive to poor air quality would include residences, schools, daycare centers, playgrounds, medical facilities, and nursing homes. Recreational land uses, such as parks, also are considered moderately sensitive to air pollution. Priority PTAs Residential communities and other sensitive receptors are scattered throughout Alpine County and may be located near or adjacent to priority PTAs. The Bear Valley and Markleevillage priority PTAs are located within residential communities. Residential land uses are directly adjacent to the Manzanita PTA. Residents in these areas may be exposed to pollutants during implementation of the fuel-treatment activities conducted under the projects. As described in impact statements a) and the WRMP would not conflict with an existing air quality plan and would not result in the cumulative increase in criteria pollutants. Emissions generated from the implementing of vegetation management at the priority PTAs would be short term and intermittent and are assumed to be implemented between 2022 to 2024. Emissions would vary depending on the project site and treatment methods used. The three priority PTA activities involve the use of hand tools and mechanical masticators (where appropriate) for thinning and pruning and chipping or pile burning for the treatment of slash and vegetation removed. No prescribed burns would be conducted. Pile burns would not be conducted in the Bear Valley priority PTA. If pile burning is required in the Manzanita or Markleevillage priority PTAs, it would generally occur outside of the peak recreation season; however, pile burns would emit smoke emissions that could impact nearby residents or other sensitive receptors. Implementation of MM Hazards-3 requires piles to be set back at least 100 feet from public roads and trails to minimize risk to residents, recreationalists, and other users. In accordance with District Open Burning Rules, piled material to be burned would be prepared so that it will burn with a minimum of smoke in accordance with the GBUAPCD’s Smoke Management Program regulations for open burning to limit the potential for smoke to drift and affect a sensitive population. Implementation of the vegetation-treatment activities in the priority PTAs would not result in long-term substantial pollutant concentrations that could impact sensitive populations as no emissions would occur after completion of the work. Substantial pollutant concentrations would not be generated during implementation of the fuel-treatment projects, and no significant impacts would occur to sensitive receptors near the priority PTAs with implementation of MM Hazards-3 and following all regulations related to pile burning. Non-Priority PTAs As described above, rural residential areas and sensitive receptors are scattered throughout Alpine County and may be located near PTAs. Diamond Valley, Turtle Rock Park, Grover Hot ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-20 Springs, Mesa Vista, and Lake Alpine are also located near residential areas and other sensitive receptors. Equipment and vehicles, pile burning, and prescribed burning may emit pollutants during vegetation-management activities; however, emissions would be temporary and minimized with implementation of MM Hazards-3 and through following GBUAPCD Smoke Management Program and Rules and Regulations for prescribed burning. Prescribed burns, if large enough to generate smoke that could impact sensitive receptors, would require the preparation of a Smoke Management Plan. The plan would include measures to minimize the amount of smoke that could drift and impact sensitive receptors. Many other limitations would be applicable to reduce smoke impacts on sensitive receptors, such as limiting prescribed burning to only certain weather and wind conditions. Smoke from prescribed burns would only last for a day or two. The WRMP would not result in long-term substantial pollutant concentrations; therefore, the WRMP would not expose sensitive receptors to substantial pollutant concentrations. The impact would be less than significant with implementation of mitigation. MM Hazards-3: Hazard Reduction for Stockpiling, Pile Burning, and Prescribed Burning Refer to Section 2.3.9: Hazards and Hazardous Materials d) Would the project result in other emissions (such as those leading to odors) adversely affecting a substantial number of people? The WRMP would result in short-term diesel exhaust emissions from on-site vegetation- management equipment. Particulate exhaust emissions from diesel-fueled engines (diesel PM) were identified as a TAC by the CARB in 1998. Exhaust from diesel equipment, as well as smoke from pile burning and prescribed burns proposed only in the non-priority Hung-A-Lel- Ti, Lake Alpine, Mesa Vista, and Turtle Rock Park PTAs, may emit odors during implementation of the WRMP. Due to the temporary nature of these emissions and the diffusion of diesel exhaust, nearby receptors would not likely be adversely affected by project- related diesel exhaust or resulting odors. Nearby residences could be subject to brief periods of the smell of smoke, similar to a campfire smell, but the duration of impact would be limited. These emissions would be localized and generally confined to the immediate area surrounding the PTA. Any minor odors emitted during projects under the WRMP would be typical of most construction sites and vegetation-management projects within Alpine County. The WRMP would not result in other emissions, including odors, affecting a substantial number of people. The impact would be less than significant. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-21 2.3.4 Biological Resources Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 4. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES. Would the project: a) Have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ b) Have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations or by the California Department of Fish and Game or US Fish and Wildlife Service? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ c) Have a substantial adverse effect on state or federally protected wetlands (including, but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ d) Interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ e) Conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ f) Conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, regional, or state habitat conservation plan? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Environmental Setting Vegetation Communities and Habitat Available in PTAs Vegetation communities and habitats present within the priority PTAs were inventoried during visits to the Manzanita, Markleevillage, and Bear Valley sites during the months of July and August 2020. A total of 890 acres of Alpine County were inventoried (Paulus, 2020).Vegetation community inventory methodology and figures identifying the location of vegetation communities within each priority PTA are provided in Appendix B. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-22 Vegetation communities within the non-priority PTAs were identified using CAL FIRE’s Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) vegetation layer. The FRAP vegetation layer is developed from various data sets representing the best available land-cover data for the State. Data from these various sources are then converted to California Wildlife Habitat Relationships1 (CWHR) habitat types. The FRAP vegetation layer is the most comprehensive data set of vegetation mapping available for the State. Vegetation communities identified using the FRAP vegetation layer provide a planning-level understanding of communities within the non- priority PTAs. Vegetation types within the PTAs provide the primary basis for developing characterizations of the habitats available for potentially occurring special-status plants and animals. Sensitive plant community occurrence was also inventoried in the priority PTAs and are denoted in Table 2-3 below with an asterisk. Sensitive communities are determined by the global and State rarity ranks for plant and animal species in the California Natural Diversity Database Table 2-3 Vegetation Communities Present in the Priority PTAs Community Name and CDFW Association Number Alliance Name and Primary Association Acreage in Priority PTA Manzanita Jeffrey pine forest Jeffrey pine 87.020.36 Pinus jeffreyi-Ceanothus cordulatus-Artemisia tridentata 146 Aspen forest Aspen grove (S3.2) 61.111.06* Populus tremuloides-Artemisia tridentata 1.5 Montane manzanita chaparral Greenleaf manzanita chaparral 37.303.02 Arctostaphylos patula-Quercus vacciniifolia 251 Big sagebrush scrub Mountain big sagebrush 35.111.00 Artemisia tridentata-Purshia tridentata 20.1 Montane riparian scrub Mountain alder thicket 61.210.00* Alnus incana-Salix spp. 4.3 Modoc-Great Basin riparian scrub Arroyo willow thicket 1 CWHR is a state-of-the-art information system that contains life history, geographic range, habitat relationships, and management information on 712 species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals known to occur in the state. CWHR products aid in understanding, conserving, and managing California's wildlife. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-23 Community Name and CDFW Association Number Alliance Name and Primary Association Acreage in Priority PTA 61.201.00 Salix lasiolepis-Prunus virginiana 22.1 Wet montane meadow (Narrow-leaved Sedge) 45.000.00 Carex angustata-herbaceous 0.5 Dry montane meadow Kentucky bluegrass turf 42.060.00 Poa pratensis-herbaceous 11.0 Markleevillage Jeffrey pine Forest Jeffrey pine 87.020.07 Pinus jeffreyi 65.4 87.020.21* Pinus jeffreyi-Purshia tridentata 123 Singleleaf piñon woodland Singleleaf pinyon 87.040.00 Pinus tridentata 3.0 Big sagebrush scrub Mountain big sagebrush 35.111.00 Artemisia tridentata-Purshia tridentata 30.1 Montane black cottonwood riparian forest Black Cottonwood 61.120.03* Populus trichocarpa-Pinus jeffreyi 12.2 Aspen riparian forest Aspen grove (S3.2) 61.111.09* Populus tremuloides-Pinus jeffreyi 10.2 61.111.20* Populus tremuloides-Poa pratensis 0.4 61.111.00* Populus tremuloides-Prunus virginiana 0.2 Modoc-Great Basin riparian scrub Arroyo willow thicket 61.201.00 Salix lasiolepis-Alnus incana-Salix spp. 3.0 Wet montane meadow (Narrow-leaved sedge) 45.000.00 Carex angustata-herbaceous 4.1 Dry montane meadow Kentucky bluegrass turf 42.060.00 Poa pratensis-herbaceous 8.6 45.106.00 Agrostis gigantea-Poa pratensis 4.0 Dry montane meadow Creeping ryegrass turf 41.080.01* Elymus triticoides-herbaceous 2.8 ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-24 Community Name and CDFW Association Number Alliance Name and Primary Association Acreage in Priority PTA Bear Valley Sierran mixed coniferous forest White fir 88.500.00 Abies concolor-Pinus jeffreyi-A.magnifica 40.6 Jeffrey pine forest Jeffrey pine 87.020.30 Pinus jeffreyi-Abies concolor 3.5 87.020.10* Pinus jeffreyi-Ceanothus cordulatus 7.4 Lodgepole pine forest Lodgepole pine 87.080.00 Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana 10.4 Aspen forest Aspen grove (S3.2) 61.111.04* Populus tremuloides-upland 1.9 61.111.16* P. rotundifolius 1.6 Mountain whitethorn chaparral Mountain whitethorn 37.209.00 Ceanothus cordulatus-Quercus vacciniifolia 16.9 Dry montane meadow (Arrowleaf balsamroot) - - Balsamorhiza sagitata-herbaceous 11.9 Mixed montane chaparral Bitter cherry shrubland 37.970.00 Prunus emarginata-Frangula purshiana-Salix spp. 0.4 Wet montane meadow Blue wildrye montane meadow 41.640.00* Elymus glaucus-herbaceous 0.3 Wet montane meadow Kentucky bluegrass turf 42.060.00 Poa pratensis-herbaceous 1.0 * Indicates plant communities that are designated “sensitive” as described before this table. Special-status Species with Potential to Occur in the PTAs Special-status species include those listed as endangered, threatened, rare, or proposed for listing by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) or California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and species with a California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Rank of 1 or 2. The following sources were reviewed to determine the potential for special-status plant and wildlife species to occur in the vicinity of the PTAs: • ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-25 • USFWS • CNPS CalFlora • California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) Lists of special-status plant and animal species that potentially could occur within the PTAs were compiled. Literature describing the life histories of each species was reviewed in order to highlight those species that potentially could use the habitats available at each priority PTA. Pedestrian inventories of the habitats potentially available within the non-priority PTAs have not been completed; therefore, species that have been recently identified and recorded within the last 15 years) are treated as though they may occur within the PTA. These species lists (Appendix B) were produced by reviewing regional data (CNPS 2001, 2020, CalFlora 2020, CDFW 2020a-d, Consortium of California Herbaria, 2020), regional floras (Baldwin, et al., 2012, Jepson Flora Project, 2020), reporting of biological resource surveys in preparation of local environmental documents (Cardo-Entrix, 2014, BLM, 2020), and personal communications with local agency biologists. July 2020 searches of the California Natural Diversity Database records (CDFW, 2020e-g) for nine quadrangles surrounding each project area were conducted, and results are shown in Table 2-4 and Table 2-5. Species with potential to occur are considered to be “special status” if they: • Have State or federal status as rare, threatened or endangered (CDFW 2020a, 2020c); • Are listed in the lists of special plants and wildlife (CDFW 2020b, 2020d); • Meet the definitions of rare or endangered wildlife species under the CEQA Guidelines; • are listed by CNPS in their inventory of sensitive California plants (CNPS 2001, 2020); or • Are included in the most recent sensitive plant lists or watch lists prepared by USFS, Stanislaus and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests (USFS, 2013), or Bureau of Land Management, Mother Lode Office, sensitive species lists (BLM, 2015). No plant species listed by USFWS as Endangered or Threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (FESA) are known to occur within 20 miles of the priority PTAs. State-listed plant species or species of special concern with potential to occur in a PTAs are listed in Table 2-4. Special-status wildlife with potential to occur in the PTAs are included in Table 2-5. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-26 Table 2-4 Special-status Plant Species with Potential to Occur in the PTAs Common Name Scientific Name Rank or Status1 Flowering Period Communities MV MZ BV CNPS Aquatic felt lichen Peltigera gowardii 4.2 S3 - Mixed montane chaparral Wet montane meadow √ Bolander’s candlemoss Bruchia bolanderi 4.2 S3 - Mountain alder thicket Arroyo willow thicket Wet montane meadow √ Broad-nerved hump moss Meesia uliginosa 2B.2 S3 - Mountain alder thicket Arroyo willow thicket Wet montane meadow √ Blandow’s bog moss Helodium blandowii 2B.3 S2 - Mountain alder thicket Arroyo willow thicket Wet montane meadow √ √ Upswept moonwort ascendens 2B.3 S2 Sporangia June–Sept Black cottonwood riparian forest Quaking aspen riparian forest Willow riparian scrub Wet montane meadow √ √ √ Scalloped moonwort crenulatum 2B.2 S3 Sporangia June–Sept Mixed montane chaparral Wet montane meadow √ √ Mingan moonwort minganense 2B.2 S3 Sporangia June–Sept Mixed montane chaparral Wet montane meadow √ √ Western goblin montanum 2B.1 S2 Sporangia June–Sept Mixed montane chaparral Wet montane meadow √ ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-27 Common Name Scientific Name Rank or Status1 Flowering Period Communities MV MZ BV CNPS Stebbins’ lomatium Lomatium stebbinsii 2B.3 S3 June–Aug Sierran mixed coniferous forest Jeffrey pine forest Aspen forest Mountain whitethorn chaparral Dry montane meadow √ Fiddleleaf hawksbeard Crepis runcinata2 2B.2 S3 July–Aug Dry montane meadow √ √ Subalpine crymophila 1B.3 S3 July–Aug Dry montane meadow (at lava cap habitat only) √ Tall draba Draba praealta 2B.3 S3 June–Aug Mixed montane chaparral Wet montane meadow √ Great Basin claytonia Claytonia umbellata 2B.3 S1 May–Aug Jeffrey pine forest Aspen grove √ √ Subalpine fireweed Epilobium howellii 4.3 S4 July–Aug Mountain alder thicket Arroyo willow thicket Wet montane meadow √ √ Marsh willowherb Epilobium palustre 2B.3 S2 July–Sept Mountain alder thicket Arroyo willow thicket Wet montane meadow √ √ Carson Valley monkeyflower carsonensis 1B.1 S1 April–June Greenleaf manzanita chaparral Big sagebrush scrub Disturbed/devegetated √ √ Jack’s wild buckwheat Eriogonum luteolum 1B.2 S1 July–Sept Jeffrey pine forest Aspen grove Disturbed/devegetated √ √ ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-28 Common Name Scientific Name Rank or Status1 Flowering Period Communities MV MZ BV CNPS Golden violet Viola purpurea ssp. aurea 2B.2 S2 April–June Jeffrey pine forest Singleleaf pinyon woodland Big sagebrush scrub Dry montane meadow √ √ Three-bracted onion Allium tribracteatum 1B.2 S2 March–May Dry montane meadow (at lava cap habitat only) √ Davy’s sedge Carex davyi 1B.3 S3 June–Sept Jeffrey pine forest Singleleaf pinyon woodland Big sagebrush scrub Dry montane meadow √ √ √ Porcupine sedge Carex hystericina 2B.1 S2 May–June Black cottonwood riparian forest Quaking aspen riparian forest Willow riparian scrub Wet montane meadow √ Liddon’s sedge Carex petasata 2B.3 S3 June–July Jeffrey pine forest Singleleaf pinyon woodland Big sagebrush scrub Dry montane meadow √ √ Western valley sedge Carex vallicola 2B.3 S2 July–Aug Jeffrey pine forest Singleleaf pinyon woodland Big sagebrush scrub Dry montane meadow √ √ ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-29 Common Name Scientific Name Rank or Status1 Flowering Period Communities MV MZ BV CNPS Water bulrush Schoenoplectus subterminalis 2B.3 S3 June–Sept Black cottonwood riparian forest Quaking aspen riparian forest Willow riparian scrub Wet montane meadow √ Mountain bentgrass Agrostis humilis 2B.3 S2 July–Aug Jeffrey pine forest Singleleaf pinyon woodland Big sagebrush scrub Dry montane meadow √ √ Robbins’ pondweed Potamogeton robbinsii 2B.3 S3 Aug–Sept Black cottonwood riparian forest Quaking aspen riparian forest Willow riparian scrub Wet montane meadow √ 1. Rank or status, by agency: CNPS = California Native Plant Society listings (CNPS, 2020) 1B = rare and endangered in California and elsewhere 2B = rare, threatened, or endangered in California, but more common elsewhere 4 = plants of limited distribution in California – watchlist species. Threat Code extensions: .1 = seriously endangered in California (over 80% of occurrences threatened/high degree and immediacy of threat) .2 = fairly endangered in California (20 to 80% of occurrences threatened) .3 = not very endangered in California 20% of occurrences threatened or no current threats known). = California Natural Diversity Data Base rankings (CDFW, 2020b) S1 = Critically Imperiled: often 5 or fewer populations, or steep rate of decline S2 = Imperiled: often 20 or fewer populations, steep decline, or very restricted range S3 = Vulnerable: often 80 or fewer populations, declining or restricted range S4 = Apparently Secure: uncommon but not rare in California 2. syn. Crepis runcinata ssp. hallii ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-30 Table 2-5 Special-Status Wildlife Species with Potential to Occur in the PTAs Taxonomic Group Species Status1 CDFW / State Ranking Communities MV MZ BV Insects Western bumblebee Bombus occidentalis Candidate/S1 Big sagebrush scrub Dry montane meadow √ √ Mono checkerspot butterfly editha monoensis S1/S2 Big sagebrush scrub Dry montane meadow √ √ Fish Mountain sucker Catostomus SCC/S3 Black cottonwood riparian forest Quaking aspen riparian forest Willow riparian scrub √ √ Mountain whitefish Prosopium williamsoni SSC/S3 Black cottonwood riparian forest Quaking aspen riparian forest Willow riparian scrub √ √ Amphibians Southern long-toed salamander macrodactylum sigillatum SSC/S3 Black cottonwood riparian forest Quaking aspen riparian forest Willow riparian scrub Wet montane meadow √ √ √ Birds Sharp-shinned hawk Accipiter striatus (nesting) WL/S4 Sierran mixed coniferous forest Jeffrey pine forest Lodgepole pine forest √ Willow flycatcher Empidonax traillii (nesting) Endangered/S1S2 Black cottonwood riparian forest Willow riparian scrub √ ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-31 Taxonomic Group Species Status1 CDFW / State Ranking Communities MV MZ BV Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus (nesting) Endangered/FP/S3 Jeffrey pine forest Black cottonwood riparian forest Quaking aspen riparian forest √ √ Osprey Pandion haliaetus (nesting) WL/S4 Sierran mixed coniferous forest Jeffrey pine forest Lodgepole pine forest √ Mammals Sierra Nevada mountain beaver Aplodontia rufa californica SSC/S2S3 Black cottonwood riparian forest Quaking aspen riparian forest Willow riparian scrub Wet montane meadow √ √ Western white-tailed jackrabbit Lepus townsendii townsendii SSC/S3? Jeffrey pine forest forms in singleleaf pinyon woodland forms in big sagebrush scrub √ √ American badger Taxidea taxus SSC/S3 Jeffrey pine forest burrows in singleleaf pinyon woodland burrows in big sagebrush scrub √ √ √ Sierra Nevada red fox Vulpes vulpes necator Threatened/S1 Jeffrey pine forest Singleleaf pinyon woodland burrows in big sagebrush scrub √ √ 1. Rank or status, by agency: CDFW = State of California under the California Endangered Species Act (CDFW, 2020d) SSC = Species of Special Concern WL = Watchlist species of limited distribution or recent decline State ranking = State Conservation Ranking as reported by CDFW (2020d) S3 = Vulnerable: often 80 or fewer populations, declining or restricted range S4 = Apparently Secure: uncommon but not rare in California ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-32 Discussion a) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect, either directly or through habitat modifications, on any species identified as a candidate, sensitive, or special-status species in local or regional plans, policies, or regulations, or by the California Department of Fish and Game or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Priority PTAs Plants Large populations of special-status plants were documented in upland habitats in the priority PTAs during the field inventory. The field inventory was not conducted during the plant blooming season; therefore, it is possible that additional special-status plant species occur in other habitats throughout the PTAs and were not observed due to the time of the inventory. Suitable habitat for special-status plant species occurs within the priority PTAs (Table 2-4). Special-status species may occur on the individual project sites within the PTAs where suitable habitat occurs, including where vegetation-treatment activities may be implemented or temporary access roads may be established. Small populations of special-status plant species may occur in dry montane meadow vegetation communities and ecotones—areas of transition between vegetation communities. Ecotones were documented along roadsides and at areas of transition between upland vegetation communities (Paulus, 2020). If a small population of special-status plants were to occur in an area where vegetation treatment occurs or where temporary access roads are established, the impact from equipment or crew trampling of a special-status plant could be significant. Due to the robust population of special-status plants in upland habitats, equipment or vegetation-treatment activities would not substantially impact the upland populations, and the impact would be less than significant (Paulus, 2020). However, the impact from disturbance of special-status plants within dry montane meadow vegetation communities as well as within ecotones along roadsides and at areas of transition between upland vegetation communities would be significant. MM Biology-1 requires that a pre-construction survey occur within dry montane meadow vegetation communities and within ecotones along roadsides and at areas of transition between upland vegetation communities in each priority PTA within one year prior to implementation of vegetation-management activities. The pre-construction survey must occur during the blooming season for plants that may occur within each PTA. Any special-status plant species observed during the pre-construction survey would be flagged, and the plant would be fenced off during vegetation-management activities to ensure the plant is avoided. If plants are senescent or not occurring in the year of proposed work, the population would not likely be impacted. Vegetation-treatment activities proposed in the priority PTAs would involve minimal soil disturbance that could impact seed banks. Measures to reduce erosion of topsoil, including minimization of soil disturbance, restriction of activities on steep slopes, and implementation of soil-stabilization measures are also included (MM Geology-1). MM Biology-2 requires worker training that would reduce the potential for direct impacts related to construction worker contact with special-status plant species to a less-than-significant level. The impact on special- status plants would be less than significant with mitigation. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-33 Special-status Wildlife Fish. Two special-status fish species have potential to occur within creeks that occur in the Manzanita and Markleevillage PTAs (Table 2-5). No habitat for special-status fish occurs in the Bear Valley PTA. Project activities would not directly impact special-status fish because no vegetation treatment is proposed to occur in waterbodies or within the riparian habitat adjacent to waters. Indirect impacts to fish may occur through reduced water quality from increased erosion and sedimentation of streams caused by vegetation removal. Water quality may also be affected by accidental releases of fuels or lubricants near waterbodies. MM Biology-3 requires establishment of protection zones around waters, including riparian habitat, and use of appropriate runoff controls. MM Geology-1 limits erosion-generating work practices and requires implementation of erosion-control measures to reduce erosion and sedimentation. MM Hazards-1 requires spill prevention and containment measures. Implementation of mitigation would ensure water quality within the creeks is not degraded and fish are not indirectly impacted by vegetation treatment activities. The impact would be less than significant with mitigation. Amphibians. The southern long-toed salamander has potential to occur in all three priority PTAs (Table 2-5). Adult southern long-toed salamanders live in burrows of small mammals or underground in loose, moist soil and heavy duff. They are visible and perhaps most vulnerable to direct impacts of forestry machinery and practices as they migrate above ground between habitats to reach nearby breeding ponds. Migration occurs during the period between snow/ice melt in early April and about June 1. Larval salamanders, which hatch from eggs in middle to late summer, may transform to terrestrial adults prior to winter or may remain in the pond as untransformed larvae for up to one year. Larval survivorship is dependent upon stable, productive pond conditions where crustaceans or tadpoles are present as prey (Paulus, 2020). Impacts to larval salamanders may occur if water quality within the ponds is degraded. If an impact occurred to salamanders, it would be significant. MM Biology-3 requires avoidance of ponds and use of runoff controls to avoid impacts to runoff into ponds. MM Hazards-1 requires the use of best management practices to reduce the potential for fuel or oil leaks or accidental releases and ensures proper clean-up procedures to avoid degradation of water quality in ponds. Possible impacts to the southern long-toed salamander could also occur from machinery-related mortality or injury to migrating individuals if adult salamanders are present during the time of vegetation treatment. MM Biology-5 requires that the County conduct pre- construction surveys for salamander within the ponds and uplands if work is to occur between April 1 and June 1. Migrating individuals would be relocated to nearby suitable habitat, if found. Impacts to southern long-toed salamanders would be less than significant with mitigation. Insects. Western bumble bee and Mono checkerspot butterfly have some potential to occur within the Markleevillage and Manzanita PTAs (Table 2-5). Neither species was observed during the field inventory; however, there is still potential for the species to occur. Bumble bees, if present, would occur at underground colony nest sites that may occur in upland habitats near wildflower pollen and nectar sources. Colonies, if present, would be active aboveground and ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-34 easily discoverable during the entire growing season (early April to late October). If vegetation treatment activities occur during this period and the colony were to fail due to WRMP activities, the impact would be significant. MM Biology-2 requires that the worker environmental awareness training (WEAT) inform crew to avoid ground-dwelling bee colonies if observed during vegetation-management activities. The impact would be less than significant with mitigation. Special-status and Migratory Birds. Four special-status bird species have some potential to occur within the priority PTAs. Willow flycatcher and bald eagle may nest in trees found in the Markleevillage and Manzanita PTAs. Sharp-shinned hawk and osprey may nest within the Bear Valley PTA. Migratory birds may also use the PTAs for foraging and nesting. Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) provisions prohibit direct destruction of nests or project activities that would indirectly threaten nesting success. Active nests are protected resources under Fish and Game Code Sections 3503, 3503.5, 3511, and 3513, and raptor nests may be protected from destruction even when inactive. On the east slope of Alpine County within Markleevillage and Manzanita), the breeding period for birds is March 1 through August 31 and on the west slope of Alpine County Bear Valley) is April 1 through August 31. Work initiated during the breeding period has the potential to cause nest destruction, nest abandonment, and/or mortality of young as a result of mechanized vegetation treatments as well as of standing tree, snag, or downed bole removal, regardless of habitat type. MM Biology-4 requires a pre-construction nesting bird survey prior to commencement of vegetation-treatment activities. Reduced activity buffers would be implemented around active nests, and work within the buffer zone would be completed using only non-mechanized hand tools until the nest is no longer active. Any tree that contains an active nest would not receive treatment until the nest is no longer active. Mammals. There is some potential for four special-status mammals to occur in the priority PTAs. Sierra Nevada Mountain beaver may occur within riparian habitats and perennial streams. Rapidly growing trees can generate substantial deadwood at their bases; however, project treatments that remove woody accumulations of mid-canopy willows and taller quaking aspen where they occur directly within the banks of perennial streams, or at springs and streamside willow patch habitat, could destroy occupied burrow systems or could increase predation upon mountain beavers due to loss of concealing cover. The impact would be significant. MM Biology-3 would ensure that riparian habitats are avoided during project vegetation management activities so that the impact remains less than significant. Western white-tailed jackrabbits and American badgers inhabit a variety of upland montane habitats in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, including big sagebrush scrub, singleleaf pinyon woodland, and Jeffrey pine forest, which provide a substantial shrub cover. One or more litters may be raised in shallowly depressed “form” nests during the period of May through July. Occupied forms would be most likely to be found in areas that support the densest sagebrush (Paulus, 2020). Project activities, including shrub canopy removal that occurs during the period ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-35 of May through July, have the potential to destroy occupied neonatal rabbit forms, resulting in injury or mortality of jackrabbits. American badgers are considered active all year; however, they spend long periods in resting torpor underground and also raise litters in underground dens (Paulus, 2020). The holes and excavated dirt piles created by badgers are large and conspicuous. Direct impacts to aboveground individuals would be unlikely due to their mobility, but badgers that are day- denning or raising litters in enlarged rodent burrows may be buried as an unintended consequence of mechanized vegetation clearing and piling. Any impacts to western white-tailed jackrabbits and American badgers would be potentially significant. MM Biology-5 requires a pre-construction survey for all potentially occurring special-status mammals, including Western white-tailed jackrabbit and American badger, and the avoidance of active forms and dens. The impact would be less than significant with mitigation. Sierra Nevada red fox are listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act and are considered to be very rare animals restricted to high elevations, generally much higher than the 5,700 feet average project elevation in the priority PTAs. records near the project area are from sightings from at least 45 years in the past; however, more recent collections road kills) from Mono County suggests that lower elevation habitats may be used in the Eastern Sierra Nevada. Sierra Nevada red fox may move through or forage within any of the available habitats within eastern Alpine County; however, den establishment would likely only occur at less fragmented upland scrub and wetland fringe areas, away from developed areas. It is possible that the poorly understood Sierra Nevada red fox sometimes uses enlarged rodent or coyote burrows. Direct impacts to the Sierra Nevada red fox from implementation of the WRMP are unlikely, given that the priority PTAs occur at a lower elevation than where the fox has been observed in Alpine County, and the PTAs on the east slope are located near more developed areas, such as Markleevillage and Sierra Pines. The impact would be less than significant. Non-Priority PTAs Plants WRMP activities completed within the non-priority PTAs have the potential to disturb special- status plant species through use of mechanical equipment, trampling by vehicle or crew, and application of prescribed fire. Sensitive plant surveys have not been completed within the non- priority PTAs and it is, therefore, assumed that special-status plant species may occur in all non- priority PTAs. WRMP activities that negatively impact the survival of special-status plant species would be a significant impact. MM Biology-1 requires that a pre-construction plant survey be completed within the treatment area and avoidance of all special-status plants. The impact would be less than significant with mitigation. Prescribed burning has varying effects on special-status plant species depending on the species, intensity, duration, and timing. Some species or their seedbanks could be killed by burning while others benefit. Prescribed fire can be a tool to reduce non-native species but can promote ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-36 the spread of invasive species (Keeley, Franklin, & D'Antonio, 2011; Rice & Smith, 2008). Control lines could also increase the abundance of invasive species in the line as well as adjacent areas. Prescribed burns that cause mortality of special-status plant species or allow for the introduction of invasive weeds that could negatively impact populations would be a significant impact. MM Biology-6 identifies specific consideration for special-status plant species, including an assessment of potentially occurring species, the potential for the species to be negatively impacted by fire, and the avoidance of plant populations that would be negatively impacted by fire. The procedure defined in MM Biology-6 must be followed when defining prescribed burning activities. The impact from prescribed fire would be less than significant with mitigation. Implementation of MMs Biology-1 and 5 would reduce WRMP potential impacts on special-status plants within non-priority PTAs to a less-than-significant level. Special-status Wildlife Table 4-2 within the WRMP includes the potentially occurring special-status wildlife species within Alpine County. Many of the species identified in the WRMP were identified in the nine U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) quadrangles surrounding all non-priority PTAs. Since vegetation community and habitat surveys have not been completed within the non-priority PTAs, all species identified in the WRMP that occur within roughly the same elevation as the non-priority projects are assumed to have potential to occur within the non-priority PTAs. Impacts from vegetation-management activities within the non-priority PTAs are anticipated to be similar to those described for the priority PTAs. Indirect impacts to fish species may occur due to reduced water quality as a result of vegetation removal that increases erosion. Water quality may also be affected by accidental releases of fuels or lubricants near waterbodies. MM Biology-3, Geology-1 and Hazards-1 would reduce the potential impact to fish by establishing protection zones around waters, use of appropriate runoff controls, and implementation of erosion-control measures to reduce erosion and sedimentation. The impact would be less than significant with mitigation. Special-status insects may also be impacted by direct disturbance of underground colonies as a result of mastication or vehicle travel if project activities occur where insects are present. MM Biology-2 requires all crew to attend a WEAT during which the crew will be instructed to be aware of and avoid potential ground-dwelling bee colonies. The impact would be less than significant with mitigation. Terrestrial wildlife, including amphibians and mammals identified in the WRMP, have potential to occur within non-priority PTAs and may be impacted by vegetation-management activities if wildlife are present during the time of vegetation treatment. MM Biology-5 includes specific measures to avoid impacts to terrestrial wildlife, including pre-construction surveys, avoidance buffers, and relocation of species, as appropriate. Relocation of species identified as endangered, threatened, or a candidate species on either the Endangered Species Act or California Endangered Species Act would only be completed following consultation with USFWS and/or CDFW, as is required by law. Possible impacts to amphibians, particularly larval salamanders, may occur if water quality is degraded. If an impact occurred to salamanders, it would be significant. MM Biology-3 requires avoidance of ponds and use of runoff controls to ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-37 avoid impacts to runoff into ponds. MM Biology-4 requires that the County conduct pre- construction surveys for salamander within the ponds and uplands. Migrating individuals would be relocated to nearby suitable habitat. MM Hazards-1 requires the use of best management practices to reduce the potential for fuel or oil leaks or accidental releases and ensures proper clean-up procedures to avoid degradation of water quality in ponds. MM Geology-1 limits erosion-generating work practices and requires implementation of erosion- control measures to reduce erosion and sedimentation. The impact would be less than significant with mitigation. Special-status bat species have potential to occur within the non-priority PTAs but are unlikely to be significantly impacted by project activities because the bat species that have potential to occur within PTAs typically roost in caves, mines, and abandoned buildings. Bats may use the PTAs for foraging but would not be affected by project activities because foraging typically occurs during dawn and dusk hours and would not occur at the same time as active vegetation- treatment activities. The impact would be less than significant. Prescribed burning may occur as vegetation treatment on non-priority PTAs. Prescribed burns have the potential to directly impact special-status wildlife species if prescribed burns cause the failure or destruction of an active nest, form, den, or other natal feature. MM Biology-7 requires completion of pre-construction surveys to determine the presence of special-status wildlife species within the burn footprint and the incorporation of specific prescribed-burn avoidance buffers into the planning of the burn. The impact would be less than significant with mitigation. Prescribed burns may also indirectly impact fish species by reducing water quality within streams and rivers. MM Biology-3 identifies required buffers around creeks and streams. MM Geology-1 requires implementation of sediment and erosion controls that would protect water quality. Buffers would ensure prescribed burn activities do not indirectly impact special-status fish. The impact would be less than significant with mitigation. MM Biology-1: Pre-Construction Plant Survey Priority Project Treatment Areas (PTAs): Markleevillage, Manzanita, Bear Valley A qualified botanist shall conduct a pre-construction survey for special-status plants prior to any vegetation- treatment activities occurring in dry montane meadow vegetation communities and within ecotones along roadsides and at areas of transition between upland vegetation communities in all priority PTAs. The plant survey is required to occur during the plant blooming season within the year prior to treatment activities within the PTA. The qualified botanist will flag all special-status plant species for avoidance, and ESA fencing will be installed to protect the plant prior to commencement of vegetation-treatment activities. Non-Priority PTAs A qualified botanist shall conduct a pre-construction survey for special-status plants prior to any vegetation- treatment activities occurring in the PTAs. The plant survey is required to occur during the plant blooming season within the year prior to treatment activities within the PTA. The qualified botanist will flag all special-status plant species for avoidance, and ESA fencing will be installed to protect the plant prior to commencement of vegetation treatment activities. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-38 Implementation of MMs Biology-2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, MM Hazards-1, and MM Geology-1 would reduce WRMP potential impacts on special-status wildlife within non-priority PTAs to a less- than-significant level. MM Biology-2: Worker Environmental Awareness Training Prior to implementation of vegetation-management activities within any PTA, the County or its contractor shall develop, and all workers participate in, a PTA-specific environmental awareness training provided by the qualified biologist. The training will identify the work limits of the specific PTA that will be treated. In addition, the training will include the following: 1) Alert the crew to all fenced and/or flagged environmentally sensitive areas and avoidance zones and instruct the crew to keep out of the area. 2) Inform the crew of the potential for special-status species to be encountered on site, where they are most likely to be found, which life forms are most likely to be encountered, and how the specific vegetation management activities implemented in the PTA could affect the species during vegetation-management activities. 3) Discuss the applicable mitigation measures from this IS/MND and any other applicable measures from other documents, such as permits, that have been incorporated into the project. 4) Inform crew of what to do if a sensitive species is encountered during vegetation-management activities. Specifically, crew shall be informed of the following actions: • If a special-status species enters the treatment area, all work shall stop within 100 feet of the species. Work may resume after the species have vacated the treatment area. • If vegetation treatment is planned to occur within big sagebrush scrub and dry montane meadow vegetation communities between April and October, crew shall stay alert for signs of ground-dwelling bumble bees and avoid treatment where ground-dwelling bees occur. Applicable Location(s): All PTAs. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: 1) County to prepare PTA-specific Worker Environmental Awareness Training and 2) crew receive to training from qualified biologist • During Activity: Training to be provided to any new crew members who begin working on the project after the initial training. • After Activity: None. Applicable Location(s): All PTAs that include the applicable habitat described above. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: 1) Qualified botanist/biologist conducts pre-construction plant survey and flags special-status species, 2) County or contractor install fence to avoid the plant(s). • During Activity: Ensure that fenced plant populations are not disturbed during vegetation management activities. • After Activity: Remove fencing. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-39 MM Biology-3: Waters and Wetland Protection Zones Prior to implementation of vegetation-management activities within any PTA, the County or its contractor shall identify waterbodies and wetland protection zones and implement controls to minimize erosion and runoff in all drainage plans, in accordance with California Forest Practice Rules (Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Chapters 4, 4.5, and 10) (CAL FIRE 2017). Prior to project activity, the County will assign a qualified biologist to identify the locations of riparian habitat and waterbodies as well as corresponding 50-foot (minimum) setbacks (Waters and Wetland Protection Zones) for avoidance. Identification of riparian habitat/waterbodies/wetlands for avoidance will be in addition to and distinguished from any required vegetation-management activities boundary flagging. Waters and Wetland Protection Zones will be identified as appropriate on project maps. Appropriate runoff controls, such as berms, straw wattles, silt fencing, filtration systems, and sediment traps, will be implemented to control siltation and the potential discharge of pollutants. Waters and Wetland Protection Zones and appropriate runoff controls, such as berms, straw wattles, silt fencing, filtration systems, and sediment traps, will be implemented to protect riparian habitat and control siltation and the potential discharge of pollutants. Applicable Location(s): All PTA. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: 1) Conduct riparian zone survey, 2) clearly mark exclusion zone for all identified waterbodies, drainages, or wetlands prior to project implementation, and 3) install appropriate runoff controls. • During Activity: Ensure WRMP activities are conducted outside of exclusion zones and runoff controls are functional and undamaged. • After Activity: 1) Remove flags and markers and 2) remove runoff controls once soils on site are stabilized. MM Biology-4: Nesting Bird Surveys If vegetation-management activities occur between March 1 and August 31 on the east slope of Alpine County, and between April 1 and August 31 on the west slope of Alpine County, a qualified biologist shall conduct pre- activity surveys for active nests of special-status and MBTA-protected birds before the start of any project activities. Surveys for nesting raptors will be conducted in accordance with established CDFW raptor survey protocols. If active nests are found, the County will establish avoidance buffers around nests that are sufficient so that breeding is not likely to be disrupted or adversely affected by project activities. An avoidance buffer will constitute an area where project-related activities mechanized vegetation removal, pile burning, etc.) will not occur. Ground vegetation may be removed using non-mechanized hand tools if deemed by the biologist that no disturbance to nesting birds would occur. No treatment may be applied to the tree in which the nest occurs. Typical avoidance buffers during the nesting season will be 100 feet for nesting passerine birds and 500 feet for nesting raptors unless a qualified biologist determines that smaller buffers will be sufficient to avoid impacts on nesting raptors and/or other birds. Factors to be considered for determining buffer size will include the following: the presence of natural buffers provided by vegetation or topography; nest height; locations of foraging territory; and baseline levels of noise and human activity. A qualified biologist will monitor any active nests during vegetation-management activities, to ensure that the species is not being harmed or harassed by the noise or activity resulting from project-related activities. Buffers will be maintained until a qualified biologist has determined that young have fledged and are no longer reliant on the nest or parental care for survival. Applicable Location(s): All PTA. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: 1) Conduct pre-construction survey and 2) establish active nest buffers • During Activity: Maintain active nest buffers until the nest is no longer active. • After Activity: N/A ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-40 MM Biology-5: Avoid Disturbance or Harm to Terrestrial Wildlife A qualified biologist shall conduct a pre-construction survey within the PTAs for all potentially occurring terrestrial special-status wildlife species. Nesting bird surveys will occur in accordance with MM Biology-4. Mammals. A qualified biologist shall conduct a pre-construction survey for special-status mammals identified in Table 2-5 of this IS/MND and active special-status mammal forms or dens within the PTA. For surveys in inaccessible areas, the surveying biologist shall use binoculars to scan any suitable denning substrate for potential individuals or forms/dens. The pre-construction survey shall be conducted no more than 14 days before the initiation of vegetation-treatment activities. If an active special-status mammal form/den is identified within the PTA, a 10-foot no-disturbance buffer shall be established around the form/den to avoid disturbance of the nesting/denning mammal until a qualified biologist determines that the young have dispersed. The extent of these buffers shall be determined by the biologist in coordination with CDFW, the County, and the public landowner (USFS, BLM, or State Parks, as applicable) and shall depend on the species identified, level of noise or vegetation-management activity disturbance, line-of-sight between the form/den and the disturbance, ambient levels of noise and other disturbances, and other topographical or artificial barriers. In addition to the establishment of buffers, other avoidance measures (determined during agency coordination) may be implemented. If any non-denning species are observed in the PTA, the species will be allowed to move out of harm’s way on its own. If needed, a qualified biologist will move the species to the nearest area of suitable habitat outside of the treatment area. If applicable, depending on the location and status of the species, agency approval will be obtained before any species is moved. If no active nests/dens are found during the preconstruction surveys, then no additional mitigation is required. Southern long-toed salamander. A qualified biologist shall conduct a pre-construction survey for southern long-toed salamander if vegetation treatment occurs between April 1 and June 1. The biologist shall survey all suitable potential larval ponds for salamander larvae and adjacent uplands for migrating salamander. All ponds shall be fenced and avoided in accordance with MM Biology-3. Fencing type and installation shall not restrict migration of long-toed salamander into uplands. Any migrating adults observed during pre-construction surveys shall be relocated to an area of suitable habitat out of harm’s way. Following preconstruction surveys and initiation of vegetation management activities, it is possible that wildlife species could subsequently enter or return to the treatment area. The following measures shall be implemented to avoid disturbance or harm to these species: • If any special-status species or other wildlife species are observed in the treatment area during vegetation- management activities, activities shall cease until the species is allowed to move out of harm’s way on its own accord. • If the species cannot be allowed to move out of harm’s way on its own accord, a qualified biologist shall move the species to the nearest area of suitable habitat outside of the treatment area. If applicable, depending on the location and status of the species, agency approval will be obtained before any species is moved. Applicable Location(s): All PTA. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: 1) Qualified biologist conducts pre-construction surveys and establishes buffers for active natal forms/dens and 2) species are relocated as necessary. • During Activity: Ensure that buffers around natal forms/dens are not disturbed during vegetation-management activities and 2) avoid species traveling through site. • After Activity: N/A ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-41 MM Biology-6: Prescribed Burn Planning Prior to conducting prescribed burns within any PTA, the following planning activities must occur and the appropriate impact avoidance measures described below must be incorporated into the project-specific prescribed burn planning effort (refer to MM Hazards-3). Special-status plant species: To ensure that prescribed burn activities do not negatively impact special-status plant species, a qualified biologist shall review vegetation communities that occur within the footprint of the prescribed burn area and determine if any special-status plant species have potential to occur within the prescribed burn area. If special-status plant species have the potential to occur within the prescribed burn area, the biologist shall determine if the potentially occurring special-status plant(s) would be negatively affected by application of fire to the landscape. If the potentially occurring special-status plant(s) would be negatively affected by prescribed burn, the County shall either treat the entire PTA using mechanical and hand tool methods, while also implementing MM Biology-1, or complete the following steps to reduce the footprint of the prescribed burn area to avoid special-status plant species: 1. Conduct a pre-construction plant survey during the appropriate blooming season for each special-status plant that may occur within the PTA. 2. Determine if a prescribed burn can be completed while ensuring avoidance of all special-status plant species. 3. Modify the prescribed burn boundary within the project-specific Burn Plan (required in MM Hazards-3) to avoid the special-status plant(s). A pre-construction plant survey in accordance with MM Biology-1 shall be conducted in all areas where firelines and temporary access or staging will take place. Fireline, access, and staging activities shall avoid special-status plant species. Special-Status Wildlife: To ensure that prescribed burn activities do not negatively impact special-status wildlife species, a qualified biologist shall conduct a pre-construction survey for all potentially occurring wildlife within the footprint of the prescribed burn area. The pre-construction survey would occur no more than 14 days before the prescribed burn. If special-status wildlife is identified within the prescribed burn area, then the following buffers and additional impact avoidance measures shall be implemented, as applicable: Prescribed burns shall maintain the following buffers from various sensitive species and wildlife habitats: • Active bird nests shall be given species-appropriate buffers matching those outlined in MM Biology-4: - 100 feet for passerines - 500 feet for raptors such as accipiters, buteos, and eagles - A 10-foot buffer from forms, nests, or dens of Western white-tailed jackrabbit, American badger, Sierra marten, and Sierra Nevada mountain beaver - A 50-foot buffer from wolverine, West Coast DPS fisher, and Sierra Nevada red fox dens - A 20-foot buffer from occupied bat-roosting trees - A 20-foot buffer from ground-dwelling bee colonies - The listed buffer areas may be managed using other vegetation-management techniques following each burn mechanical or hand tool treatment) but are to remain completely undisturbed during prescribed fire events. Every reasonable attempt shall be made to maintain 0.25 to 0.5 acre (0.1 to 0.2 hectare) of unburned habitat for every 10 acres (4 hectares) of burned habitat 4 to 8 acres of retreat habitat are needed for a 160-acre burn, and 9 to 18 acres are needed for a 350-acre burn). Retreat areas shall be conserved randomly throughout the treatment area. These retreat areas may be naturally occurring areas such as rock formations, ponds, and other wetland/riparian areas, areas with a high density of burrows, and other areas not prone to burn, or these areas may be created and maintained using hand tools or water to create fire-breaks or wet- lines. • No more than 24 hours prior to conducting prescribed fires, visual surveys shall be conducted by walking transects throughout the proposed burn area in an attempt to locate individual special-status wildlife. With ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-42 MM Biology-6: Prescribed Burn Planning permission from CDFW and/or USFWS, a permitted biologist or biological monitor shall capture, transfer, and release in a safe area any special-status reptiles or amphibians deemed to be in danger of being harmed by the prescribed fire activities. If individuals are located during the pre-treatment surveys but escape capture, an area approximately 50 feet (15 meters) in diameter around the individual shall be protected from the burn. If necessary, individuals may be held in captivity in a pillowcase for less than 24 hours and may later be released near the point of capture after the burn has been completed. The numbers of special-status reptiles and amphibians encountered and transferred to safe areas or held in captivity during treatment shall be reported to USFWS and CDFW. • All vehicles involved with the site-specific burn shall be retained in a prearranged, marked parking area in a clearing as close to the main road as possible. At least one monitor shall ensure wildlife is clear from the parking area while vehicles are arriving and leaving. All vehicles must stay on designated roads, and if it is necessary for a vehicle to travel off the designated main road, a monitor shall precede the vehicle to clear wildlife from the pathway of the vehicle. Only biological monitors specifically authorized by the USFWS and CDFW to handle species listed on the federal or State Endangered Species Acts (normally, these shall be individuals holding a federal recovery permit for the species) shall be allowed to handle, transport, and relocate individuals of these species. • Immediately following each prescribed fire, the permittee shall search the affected post-treatment area to identify dead or injured individuals of all vertebrate taxa. Dead individuals of special-status species shall be collected and deposited at an approved repository. Injured individuals shall be handled only by a permittee authorized to capture and handle the species. The County shall ensure medical assistance is provided to injured animals by a certified wildlife veterinarian familiar with amphibian care. Sensitive Communities: To ensure that prescribed burn activities within non-priority PTAs do not result in substantial adverse effects to sensitive upland communities, prescribed burn planning efforts shall identify all sensitive natural communities within the PTAs, including the community rarity ranking, according to the most recent edition of CDFW’s Natural Community List. No prescribed burn is to be conducted within a sensitive community identified with a ranking of S1 (critically imperiled) or S2 (imperiled). Work may be completed within sensitive vegetation communities ranked S1 or S2 using mechanical or hand tools only and must include invasive- species controls identified in MM Biology-7 6 of this IS/MND. Applicable Location(s): All PTA. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: Prepare project-specific prescribed burn planning efforts to include consideration of potentially occurring special-status plant and wildlife species, sensitive vegetation communities, and appropriate avoidance measures indicated in this measure. • During Activity: 1) Implement prescribed burn in accordance with the project-specific prescribed burn planning efforts and 2) maintain appropriate buffers. • After Activity: 1) Search the affected post-treatment area immediately following each prescribed fire. MM Geology-1: Erosion Control and Slope Stability Measures Refer to Section 2.3.7 Geology and Soils ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-43 b) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect on any riparian habitat or other sensitive natural community identified in local or regional plans, policies, regulations or by the California Department of Fish and Game or US Fish and Wildlife Service? Definition of Sensitive Natural Communities Fish and Game Code Section 1940 requires CDFW to develop and maintain a vegetation mapping standard for the State. Over half the vegetation communities in the State have been mapped through the Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program. Natural vegetation communities are evaluated by CDFW and are assigned global and State ranks based on rarity of and threats to these vegetation communities in California. Natural communities with ranks of S1 to S3 are considered sensitive natural communities to be addressed in the environmental review processes of CEQA and its equivalents. Sensitive natural communities are defined by CDFW as vegetation alliances with state ranks of S1–S3 (S1: critically imperiled; S2: imperiled; S3: vulnerable) as identified in the List of Vegetation Alliances and Associations (CDFG 2010) and subsequent updates. Additionally, all vegetation associations within the alliances with ranks of S1 to S3 are considered sensitive habitats. CEQA requires that impacts to sensitive natural communities be evaluated and mitigated to the extent feasible. Sensitive natural communities are communities that have a limited distribution and are often vulnerable to the environmental effects of projects. These communities may or may not contain special-status species or their habitats. For purposes of this assessment, sensitive natural communities are considered to include vegetation communities listed in and communities listed in the CDFW Natural Communities List (CDFW, 2020) with a rarity rank of S1 (critically imperiled), S2 (imperiled), or S3 (vulnerable). Priority PTAs A total of 12 sensitive natural communities, including riparian, wetland, meadow, and forest communities, have been inventoried within the boundaries of the priority PTAs (Table 2-3). The WRMP does not propose any activities within wetlands, watercourses, or associated riparian areas. Construction crew conducting vegetation removal or driving vehicles and equipment may inadvertently disturb wetland or riparian habitat if they are not aware that the habitat exists. The impact would be potentially significant. MM Biology-3 requires that all riparian and wetland habitat be identified and flagged for avoidance prior to commencement of project activities. MM Biology-2 requires all crew to receive worker environmental awareness training prior to completing project activities within any of the PTAs. The impact to riparian habitat within the priority PTAs would be less than significant with mitigation. Sensitive upland communities within the priority PTAs include Jeffrey pine forest and aspen forest alliances. All of the vegetation management techniques implemented under the WRMP could result in some form of habitat alteration. Alteration of habitats is anticipated to be temporary, given that vegetation management activities would often leave the rootstock in place and would not remove the seedbank present in topsoil. Impacts would be minor and would not result in substantial modification to habitats, including sensitive and non-sensitive ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-44 vegetation communities. Vegetation thinning, including mechanized removal of a substantial portion of the shrub layer anywhere within non-riparian sensitive communities, is very unlikely to change the overall extent of occurring sensitive communities unless new populations of invasive non-native plants are introduced (Paulus, 2020). The introduction of invasive plant species and subsequent loss of a sensitive upland community would be a significant impact. MM Biology-7 would reduce the potentially significant impact by avoiding introduction of weed seed, replacing disturbed soil, and application of mulch where necessary to cover disturbed soils. The impact to sensitive upland communities would be less than significant with implementation of mitigation. Non-Priority PTAs Sensitive communities, including riparian habitat, wetlands, and other sensitive upland vegetation communities, may occur within the boundaries of non-priority PTAs identified in the WRMP. WRMP activities include mechanical mastication) or hand thinning to remove ladder fuels and dead and dying trees. The WRMP also includes the construction of temporary overland access roads when adequate access does not exist. Implementation of WRMP activities is not planned within riparian and wetland communities but would likely occur within other CDFW-defined sensitive vegetation communities. Vegetation inventories have not been completed within the non-priority PTAs, and it is assumed that sensitive vegetation communities may occur within the non-priority PTAs. Implementation of WRMP activities involves selective removal of vegetation within a PTA and is not anticipated to substantially alter a vegetation community; however, activities could result in the loss of sensitive vegetation communities if invasive weed species are introduced to PTAs where disturbed soils may occur and invasive species are allowed to establish. The impact would be significant. MM Biology-7 requires implementation of invasive species controls, such as equipment washing, use of weed- free materials, and application of mulch to disturbed areas to reduce the potential spread of invasive weeds to the PTAs. The impact would be less than significant with mitigation. The WRMP also allows for use of prescribed burns in some PTAs. In addition to applying fire within a prescribed burn site, additional vegetation treatments would be necessary to ensure firelines are maintained and to ensure operational safety. Treatments may include, but are not limited to, mowing, mastication, chipping, falling of snags, and brushing of roads. Prescribed burns conducted under the WRMP are designed to improve ecosystem health and resiliency; however, prescribed burns have the potential to change vegetation communities through disturbance of a sensitive community and introduction of forest diseases and invasive species. The indirect impact from spread of invasive species and forest diseases caused by prescribed burns could be significant. A project-specific plan for prescribed burns would address characteristics of the land being treated (such as topography and vegetation type). MM Biology- 6 requires the prescribed burn planning effort to include a classification of vegetation communities according to Holland (1986) and Sawyer, et al., (2009) and determination of community status per CDFW and other applicable agencies, depending on the project. Sensitive vegetation communities identified with a ranking of S1 or S2 shall be avoided during the prescribed burn. Vegetation treatment within S1- or S2-ranked communities would be ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-45 completed using mechanical or hand tools only. MM Biology-7 would be required for work in any sensitive community to avoid the potential introduction of invasive species. The impact of prescribed burns would be less than significant with mitigation. MM Biology-7: Invasive Species Control To prevent the accidental introduction or spread of invasive species in the project area during vegetation management activities, the following measures would be implemented: • Only certified noxious weed-free erosion control materials will be used. All straw material will be sterile and certified as weed-free prior to being used at the PTAs. • Contractor will wash all construction equipment prior to bringing it onto the job site. Inspection will ensure that equipment arrives on site free of mud and seed-bearing material. If the same contractor will be used for work within multiple PTAs, equipment must be washed between use at each PTA. • Seed-free mulch will be applied to areas of disturbed soils and de-vegetated slopes. Use of chipped or mulched native material will be applied whenever possible within sensitive natural communities. • The Environmental Awareness Training described under MM Biology-1 will include information on noxious weeds in the PTAs and instruction on how crew can reduce potential introduction of noxious weeds to the site. Applicable Location(s): All PTA. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: Ensure all equipment and materials are free of weeds and dried vegetation or mud. • During Activity: Use only certified weed-free straw and erosion-control products. • After Activity: Apply mulch as necessary. c) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect on State or federally protected wetlands (including, but not limited to, marsh, vernal pool, coastal, etc.) through direct removal, filling, hydrological interruption, or other means? No project activities are proposed within a water body/water course; therefore, project-related activities would result in no direct fill or indirect temporary or permanent loss of State or federally protected wetlands. Equipment mobilization and staging areas for the proposed vegetation-removal activities would be located in disturbed area and uplands annual grassland and ruderal areas) such that these activities would not directly affect any State or federally protected wetlands. Project activities vegetation clearing and mastication) encroaching on aquatic features could result in indirect impacts on vegetation, degradation of water quality, and/or changes in hydrology. Project-related spills, worker errors, and soil erosion in or near aquatic features are other potential sources of indirect impacts on State or federally protected wetlands. Introduction of invasive species, dust, and settling of contaminants associated with vehicular emissions during project activities may also indirectly affect aquatic wetlands and resources. Indirect impacts could be significant. MM Biology-3 requires the establishment of Waters and Wetland Protection Zones. MM Biology-7 requires implementation of measures to avoid spread of invasive species to wetland and riparian habitats. The impact would be less than significant with mitigation. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-46 d) Would the project interfere substantially with the movement of any native resident or migratory fish or wildlife species or with established native resident or migratory wildlife corridors, or impede the use of native wildlife nursery sites? Wildlife movement corridors typically are associated with ridgelines, rivers, and creeks supporting riparian vegetation. WRMP activities are not proposed within riparian corridors, in creeks or rivers, or along ridgelines. The less developed PTAs, including Manzanita, Lake Alpine, Mesa Vista, Turtle Rock Park, and parts of Markleevillage, provide good cover for wildlife movement and foraging of many species. WRMP activities would reduce vegetative cover but would not remove vegetative cover completely. Mature trees would continue to provide cover in PTAs following vegetation-treatment activities. Adjacent, un-treated land would be available to wildlife and, thus, impacts to migration would be less than significant. WRMP activities would not involve erecting fences or other barriers around the boundary PTAs; however, MM Cultural-1 requires the use of fencing to delineate sensitive cultural resource areas. The fenced areas would be relatively small and would not significantly impede wildlife movement through the PTA. The WRMP would not interfere substantially with the movement or migration of species. No wildlife nursery sites occur in the PTAs. The impact would be less than significant. e) Would the project conflict with any local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources, such as a tree preservation policy or ordinance? and f) Would the project conflict with the provisions of an adopted Habitat Conservation Plan, Natural Community Conservation Plan, or other approved local, regional, or State habitat conservation plan? No tree preservation policy or ordinance applies to the project. No Habitat Conservation Plans, Natural Community Conservation Plans or other approved plans adopted to protect sensitive species or habitats apply to any of the PTAs. The WRMP would be consistent with the Alpine County General Plan and would not conflict with local policies or ordinances protecting biological resources. No impact would occur. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-47 2.3.5 Cultural Resources Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 5. CULTURAL RESOURCES. Would the project: a) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource pursuant to § 15064.5? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ b) Cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archaeological resource pursuant to § 15064.5? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ c) Disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of formal cemeteries? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ Environmental Setting Historical Context Alpine County has a uniquely rich historic and prehistoric heritage. The County lies within the traditional Washoe aboriginal lands and the mountains, and valleys of Alpine County have provided subsistence and spiritual sustenance to the Washoe for millennia. Euro-American travel through the County and its later settlement are equally of interest and importance to the people of Alpine County, for the County’s identity is closely related to these historic events. Tribal history within Alpine County and known resources are discussed further in Section 2.3.18 Tribal Cultural Resources. Historic roads, towns, and mining districts occur throughout the county; however, few historic settlements or structures are standing today. Several historic buildings have been moved from early sites to Markleeville. One of these is the Alpine Hotel, which stands as a landmark in the center of town. Most of the county’s historic town sites and trails are provided protection by open space land-use designation in the Alpine County General Plan (Alpine County, 2017). Methodology The cultural resources discussion and analysis is based on the assessment conducted by Great Basin Consulting Group to support the CEQA environmental review for the WRMP. A record search was conducted at the Central California Information Center (CCIC) of all previous cultural resource inventories and known archaeological and architectural resources within a one-mile radius of each of the identified priority PTAs. The record search request included GIS datasets for the cultural resource components, cultural resource reports and resources, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) General Land Office Records plats, and historic maps within a one- mile radius of each priority PTA. The CCIC results were returned on June 4, 2020. A similar search for supplemental information was requested from the BLM, Carson City District, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and USDA, Stanislaus National Forest, records. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-48 Approximately 890 acres were surveyed in a cultural resources field inventory to locate any known or previously unidentified cultural resources within the priority PTAs. The findings regarding located resources and evaluation of significance and eligibility for inclusion to the California Register of Historic Places (CRHR) and National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) are summarized below and described in detail in the Cultural Resources Assessment Report (Orvald & Drews, 2020). The report (excluding confidential information not available for public review) is attached to this document in Appendix C. Known Cultural Resources within Priority PTAs Between August 17 and 21, 2020, previously un-surveyed portions of the priority PTAs were surveyed for cultural resources, and previously recorded sites within the priority PTAs were re- visited. The previously recorded resources are described in Appendix C. Five new sites and two isolated artifacts were recorded during the survey. Table 2-6 summarizes the record search and survey results. Table 2-6 Cultural Resource Inventories and Resources within One Mile of the Priority PTAs PTA Previous Inventories mile Radius) Previous Inventories (PTA Boundary) Recorded Resources from Previous Inventories mile Radius) Recorded Resources from Previous Inventories (PTA Boundary) Resources Found During August 2020 Surveys (PTA Boundary) Manzanita 12 3 53 0 3 Markleevillage 27 7 80 7 4 Bear Valley 62 11 42 0 0 Source: (Orvald & Drews, 2020) None of the resources located within the Manzanita PTA and the Bear Valley PTA are considered eligible to the CRHR. Two previously recorded sites and one newly recorded site are considered eligible to the CRHR within the Markleevillage PTA. ALP-238/P-02-315 and ALP- 270/P-02-347 contain bedrock grinding features and a surface archaeological component. Alp6 is a lithic scatter with a historic component that may address important research questions. ALP- 269 consists of a disturbed milling station. While the site lacks integrity, it may be of cultural significance to the Washoe Tribe and is treated as a significant resource for purposes of this cultural resource impact analysis. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-49 Discussion a) Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource pursuant to § 15064.5? b) Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of an archaeological resource pursuant to § 15064.5? Priority PTAs Impacts on historical and archaeological resources from WRMP activities could occur primarily from any activity that could disturb the ground surface. Impacts could occur if a known or previously undiscovered significant archeological or historic resource is damaged or destroyed by any WRMP activities. Vegetation thinning and removal and use of heavy equipment, in particular, have some potential to damage, destroy, or disturb significant historical or archaeological resources. As listed in Table 2-6, numerous cultural resources have been inventoried and recorded within the boundaries of the priority PTAs. Two known archaeological resources within the Markleevillage PTA are considered eligible for listing in the CRHR. Damage, destruction, or disturbance of either of these two known resources would be considered a significant impact. Implementation of MM Cultural-1 requires a qualified archaeologist to flag a 100-foot radius around all known cultural resource sites, within which the WRMP activities would be limited to hand thinning. Mechanical thinning, pile burning, access roads, skid trails, and staging would not be conducted within the flagged boundaries. Pile burning would also not be conducted in the Bear Valley priority PTA. Furthermore, site ALP-269 is considered a significant resource to the Washoe Tribe and would be fully avoided per MM Cultural-1. No treatment activities will occur within the ESA around site ALP-269. Implementation of vegetation management activities has the potential to damage, destroy, or disturb previously undiscovered resources that may be present within the treatment area. Disturbance, damage, or destruction of any previously undiscovered resources could be considered a significant impact. If a previously unidentified resource is encountered during work, MM Cultural-2 would be implemented, requiring cessation of work within 100 feet of the resource, followed by an appropriate evaluation or avoidance of the cultural resource prior to commencement of work in the area. Impacts would be less than significant with implementation of mitigation. Non-Priority PTAs A record search and detailed evaluation of cultural resources was not conducted within the boundaries of the non-priority PTAs.2 Known and unknown significant cultural resources may 2 Non-priority PTAs include the following: Grover Hot Springs, Mesa Vista, Hung-A-Lel-Ti, Turtle Rock Park, Lake Alpine, Diamond Valley, and Highway 89. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-50 be located within the PTA boundaries. In addition to the activities described above under “Priority PTAs,” prescribed burning also has the potential to cause a significant impact on historical or archaeological resources. Prescribed burning, if implemented, would only occur in the Hung-A-Lel-Ti, Lake Alpine, Mesa Vista, and Turtle Rock Park PTAs. Prescribed burns may extend into areas where workers are not readily located, so incidental discovery by workers is not adequate to reduce potential impacts to cultural resources, particularly those that occur on the ground surface. Any disturbance to known or eligible cultural resources through vegetation removal, pile burning, or prescribed burning could result in a significant impact to the cultural resource. MM Cultural-3 requires a record search and a pre-activity survey or sensitivity analysis if the area has not been previously surveyed within the last 20 years, with the objective of determining the presence/absence of known cultural resource locations before any work commences. Any found resources are either to be avoided entirely or evaluated for eligibility for and, if eligible, handled in accordance with the measures described in MM Cultural-1. MM Cultural-2 requires crews to be trained how to recognize basic signs of a potential resource and implement the mitigation measures. Discovery of any previously unidentified cultural resources in the non-priority PTAs would also be handled according to MM Cultural-2 to ensure a significant impact to undiscovered resources would not occur. The impact would be less than significant with mitigation incorporated. MM Cultural-1: Avoidance of Impacts to Cultural Resources The following measures shall be implemented during vegetation management activities within any PTA where cultural resources have been inventoried or recorded: • Prior to initiation of fuels management activities, a 100-foot radius surrounding each known cultural resource site shall be flagged by a qualified cultural resource specialist/archaeologist and designated as an environmentally sensitive area (ESA). • Treatment activities within the 100-foot ESA shall be limited to hand thinning. The ESA around site ALP-269 should be fully avoided, and no treatment activities will occur within the ESA. • Mechanical thinning, access roads, skid trails, and staging shall not be permitted within the ESA. All vehicle access shall avoid the ESA, and only foot traffic shall be allowed within the delineated ESA boundary. Pile burning shall not be conducted within the flagged ESA. Applicable Location(s): Any PTA where cultural resources are known to occur within the project boundary. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: Flag a 100-foot ESA around all cultural resource sites within the PTA. • During Activity: Limit activities within the flagged ESA as appropriate. • After Activity: Remove flags. MM Cultural-2: Previously Unidentified Cultural Resources Cultural Resources Training All employees and contractors shall receive cultural resource training conducted by a qualified cultural resources specialist an archaeologist) prior to working in any PTA. The training shall address appropriate work practices necessary to effectively implement the mitigation measures (MM Cultural-1, and for historical resources, archaeological resources, tribal cultural resources, and human remains. The training shall address the ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-51 MM Cultural-2: Previously Unidentified Cultural Resources potential for exposing subsurface resources, recognizing basic signs of a potential resource, understanding required procedures if a potential resource is identified, including reporting the resource to a qualified archaeologist or cultural resources specialist, and understanding all procedures required under Health and Safety Code § 7050.5 and PRC 5097.94, 5097.98, and 5097.99 for the discovery of human remains. Workers will be specifically instructed as to the following: • Leave all potential cultural resources historical resource, archaeological resource, tribal cultural resource, or human remains) where they are found. • Avoid all vehicle access within the boundary of an ESA. The training shall take place during the WEAT required in MM Biology-1. Procedures for Resource Discovery In the event that a previously unidentified cultural resource is discovered during implementation of an activity, all work within 100 feet of the discovery shall be halted. The resource shall be located, identified, and recorded in the updated California Department of Parks and Recreation 523 form detailing current conditions. Data regarding archaeological resources shall be shared with Native American tribes identified by the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) to be traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographic area of the PTA. A qualified cultural resource specialist/archaeologist shall inspect the discovery and determine whether further investigation is required. If the discovery can be avoided and no further impacts shall occur, the resource shall be documented on California State Department of Parks and Recreation cultural resource record forms and no further effort shall be required. If work must commence in the sensitive area, it must be performed as described in MM Cultural-1. Alternatively, the cultural resource specialist/archaeologist shall evaluate the resource and determine whether it is: • Eligible for the CRHR (and a historical resource for purposes of CEQA); • A unique archaeological resource as defined by CEQA; or • A potential tribal cultural resource (all archaeological resources could be a tribal cultural resource). If the cultural resources specialist/archaeologist determines that the resource could be a tribal cultural resource, he or she shall, within 48 hours of the discovery, notify each Native American tribe identified by the NAHC to be traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographic area of the project site of the discovery. A tribal monitor shall inspect the resource to determine whether it constitutes a tribal cultural resource. If the resource is determined not to be a unique archaeological resource, an historical resource, or a potential tribal cultural resource, work may commence in the area. If the resource meets the criteria for a historical resource, unique archaeological resource, and/or tribal cultural resource, work shall remain halted and the cultural resources specialist/archaeologist shall consult with the County staff regarding methods to ensure that no substantial adverse change would occur to the significance of the resource pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5(b). The responding tribes shall be given an opportunity to participate in determining the appropriate mitigation methods for tribal cultural resources in consultation with the County. Avoidance of the area, or avoidance of impacts on the resource, is the preferred method of mitigation for impacts on cultural resources and shall be required unless there are other equally effective methods. Work may commence upon completion of evaluation, collection, recordation, and analysis, as approved by the qualified cultural resource specialist/archaeologist and tribal monitor, for tribal cultural resources. Applicable Location(s): Any PTA. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: Train employees and contractors how to recognize basic signs of a potential resource and implement the mitigation measures (MM Cultural-1 through MM Cultural-4). ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-52 MM Cultural-2: Previously Unidentified Cultural Resources • During Activity: Cease activity if a cultural resource is uncovered, avoid resource if possible, and evaluate and determine whether the resource is eligible, unique, or could be a tribal cultural resource. If the resource could be a tribal cultural resource, notify Native American tribe identified by the NAHC to be traditionally and culturally affiliated with the geographic area of the site. If the resource is not eligible, unique, and/or a tribal cultural resource, work may commence. If the resource is eligible, unique, and/or a tribal cultural resource, work remains halted and a method selected to ensure that adverse change to the resource does not occur. Preserve in place if possible. If not possible to preserve in place, and as deemed appropriate by the qualified cultural resource specialist/archaeologist and tribal monitor for tribal cultural resources, recover and record cultural materials. Once recovered and recorded, the activity can commence in this area. • After Activity: N/A MM Cultural-3: Pre-Activity Record Search and Surveys Prior to conducting any work in the non-priority PTAs identified in the WRMP that could disturb the ground surface or subsurface, an archival-records search at the Central California Information Center (CCIC) shall be completed. A pre-activity cultural-resources survey shall be conducted by a qualified archaeologist or cultural resources specialist within PTAs that have not been surveyed in the last 20 years. New resources noted during the field survey shall be recorded and mapped on appropriate California Department of Parks and Recreation 523 forms. In the case of a previously recorded resource, an updated California Department of Parks and Recreation 523 form detailing current condition shall be completed, as appropriate. Alternatively, the County may complete a Cultural Resources Sensitivity Study for non-priority PTAs. The Cultural Resources Sensitivity Study must be prepared by a qualified archaeologist. Project activities in locations identified in a cultural sensitivity study as areas of low sensitivity may occur without a cultural resources field survey as long as tribal outreach and worker training for the recognition of cultural resources are implemented. All other applicable components of MM Cultural-3, including the records search, consultation with Native American tribes, and treatment of resources in accordance with MM Cultural-1, shall apply. Any historical or archaeological resources located in the PTA (as identified in either previous surveys, in a discretionary records search, or during pre-activity surveys) shall be treated in accordance with MM Cultural-1. The County shall contact and consult with local Native American tribes identified by the Native American Heritage Commission and request input on Tribal Cultural Resources within the PTAs if any prehistoric resources are identified during pre-activity surveys. Applicable Location(s): All PTAs that have not been previously surveyed. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: N/A • During Activity: 1) Conduct archival-records search, 2) conduct pre-activity survey, 3) comply with MM Cultural- 1 for any known resources, and 4) consult with Native American tribes, if appropriate. • After Activity: Update California Department of Parks and Recreation 523 form, if appropriate. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-53 c) Would the project disturb any human remains, including those interred outside of formal cemeteries? No human remains have been previously encountered in the vicinity of the priority PTAs. Although considered unlikely, WRMP activities have the possibility of disturbing human remains within the PTAs, which would be a potentially significant impact. Vegetation removal using heavy equipment has at least some potential for encountering of human remains. If human remains are encountered, MM Cultural-4 requires work to halt within 50 feet of the discovery of human remains, and contact with the County Coroner’s office to be made, followed by the appointment of a most likely descendent to determine the appropriate course of action. The impact on human remains would be reduced to less than significant with implementation of mitigation. MM Cultural-4: Discovery of Human Remains If human remains and associated or unassociated funerary objects are exposed during implementation of vegetation-management activities, work within 50 feet of the discovery shall be halted and the find protected from further disturbance. The County Coroner or Medical Examiner shall be notified immediately and, in the event of the determination that the human remains are Native American remains, notification of the Native American Heritage Commission shall be undertaken to obtain a most likely descendant (MLD) (PRC § 5097.98) for treatment recommendations. The County and the MLD shall make all reasonable efforts to develop an agreement for the treatment of human remains and associated or unassociated funerary objects with appropriate dignity (CEQA Guidelines Section 15064.5[d]). The agreement shall take into consideration the appropriate removal, recordation, analysis, custodianship, curation, and final disposition of the human remains and associated or unassociated funerary objects. Any findings shall be submitted in a report to the MLD and filed with the CCIC. Applicable Location(s): All PTAs, if applicable. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: N/A • During Activity: Avoid known location of human remains, cease activity if human remains are uncovered, appoint an MLD, protect human remains until a decision is reached. If avoidance is not possible, the County, a professional archaeologist, and an MLD shall be consulted and human remains and associated or unassociated funerary objects shall be removed from the location and relocated to selected location in accordance with the decision reached. Once remains are moved, then the activity can commence again in this area. • After Activity: N/A ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-54 2.3.6 Energy Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 6. ENERGY. Would the project: a) Result in a potentially significant environmental impact due to wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources during project construction or operation? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ b) Conflict with or obstruct a State or local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ Environmental Setting Alpine County adopted the Energy Action Plan (EAP) in 2016, which serves as the County’s roadmap for achieving County-wide energy efficiency and renewable energy (Alpine County, 2016). The EAP focuses on three energy use sectors within the community—residential, non- residential, and municipal. The EAP includes goals and strategies that can be taken by residents, businesses, and public agencies to increase their energy efficiency, increase their generation and use of renewable energy, and reduce water waste. The two primary energy sources consumed by these community sectors are electricity, which is distributed by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Liberty Utilities, and Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District (KMPUD), and propane, which is supplied by several regional providers (Alpine County, 2016). Discussion a) Would the project result in a potentially significant environmental impact due to wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources during project construction or operation? Implementation of the WRMP would not result in a potentially significant environmental impact due to wasteful, inefficient, or unnecessary consumption of energy resources. The WRMP would not include the construction or operation of facilities that would require electricity from a regional or local utility provider. Proposed activities would include fuel usage for vehicles, trucks, hand-held machinery, and heavy-duty equipment to implement fuel treatments. The WRMP would not significantly increase consumption of energy in the region or state or result in inefficient energy use and would not include the construction of new facilities that would require energy. During implementation of the WRMP, the fuel-treatment activities would only require fuel for vehicles and equipment used by working crews. The impact would be less than significant. b) Would the project conflict with or obstruct a state or local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency? Alpine County’s EAP only evaluates energy consumed by residential and municipal operations; therefore, the goals included in the plan would not apply to activities included in the WRMP. The EAP does not restrict vegetation management activities within Alpine County, and ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-55 equipment and machinery used would comply with all State and local energy efficiency standards. The WRMP would not conflict with any State or local plan for renewable energy or energy efficiency. The impact would be less than significant. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-56 2.3.7 Geology and Soils Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 7. GEOLOGY AND SOILS. Would the project: a) Directly or indirectly cause potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving: i) Rupture of a known earthquake fault, as delineated on the most recent Alquist–Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the State Geologist for the area or based on other substantial evidence of a known fault? Refer to Division of Mines and Geology Special Publication 42. ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ ii) Strong seismic ground shaking? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ iii) Seismic-related ground failure, including liquefaction? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ iv) Landslides? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ b) Result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of topsoil? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ c) Be located on a geologic unit or soil that is unstable, or that would become unstable as a result of the project and, potentially result in on- or off-site landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence, liquefaction, or collapse? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ d) Be located on expansive soil, as defined in Table 18-1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1994), creating substantial direct or indirect risks to life or property? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ e) Have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative wastewater disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of wastewater? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ f) Directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Environmental Setting The Alquist-Priolo Act requires the California Geological Survey (CGS) to establish earthquake fault zones around the surface traces of active faults and to issue appropriate maps. CGS has identified earthquake fault zones in thirty-seven California counties. The various PTAs under ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-57 the WRMP are located within the Markleeville and Woodfords earthquake fault zones (California Geological Survey, 2020). The Genoa Fault, which extends along the eastern front of the Carson Range south of Alpine County, Nevada, into the northern reaches of Alpine County, has been identified as responsible for two large earthquakes measuring in the magnitude seven range during the past 1,000 years (Alpine County, 2018). Alpine County is located within the physiographic unit referred to as the Sierra Nevada Geomorphic Province (California Geological Survey, 2018). This province encompasses some well-known landmarks such as Yosemite Valley and Mt. Whitney and is bounded by the Great Valley to the west, the Great Basin to the east, the Mojave Desert to the south, and the Cascade Range to the north. The Sierra Nevada is composed chiefly of Mesozoic granitic rocks and Paleozoic and Mesozoic metamorphosed sedimentary and volcanic rocks (Bateman, 1986). The majority of Alpine County is comprised of volcanic rocks (California Geological Survey, 2010). The predominant soil types in the County include the Aiken series, Donica series, and Clallam series (USDA NRCS, 2020). The Aiken series is classified as clayey and consists of very deep, well-drained soils formed in material weathered from basic volcanic rocks (National Cooperative Soil Survey, 1997). Similarly, the Donica series consists of very deep, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in volcanic ash and alluvium derived from mixed volcanic rocks (National Cooperative Soil Survey, 2006a). The Clallam series consists of moderately deep to densic materials, and moderately well-drained soils formed in glacial till over very compact glacial till (National Cooperative Soil Survey, 2004). Liquefaction is a specialized form of ground failure caused by earthquake ground motion. It is a "quicksand" condition occurring in water-saturated, unconsolidated, relatively clay-free sands and silts caused by hydraulic pressure (from ground motion) forcing apart soil particles and forcing them into quicksand-like liquid suspension. Since Alpine County primarily consists of clayey soils, they are not considered highly susceptible to liquefaction. Discussion a) Would the project directly or indirectly cause potential substantial adverse effects, including the risk of loss, injury, or death involving: i. Rupture of a known earthquake fault, as delineated on the most recent Alquist–Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Map issued by the State Geologist for the area or based on other substantial evidence of a known fault? Refer to Division of Mines and Geology Special Publication 42; ii. Strong seismic ground shaking? iii. Seismic-related ground failure, including liquefaction? The PTAs cross known earthquake faults and are potentially at risk for strong seismic ground shaking or seismic-related ground failure. The Markleeville USGS 7.5-minute quadrangle, which includes the Markleeville (priority PTA), Turtle Rock Park, and Grover Hot Springs PTAs, is located within an Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone. The Woodfords USGS 7.5- minute quadrangle is also located within an Alquist–Priolo Earthquake Fault Zone and includes the Manzanita (priority PTA), Hung-a-Lel-Ti, Mesa Vista, and Diamond Valley PTAs (California Geological Survey, 2020). Fault rupture or seismic-related ground failure poses risks to workers; however, seismic ground shaking events are unpredictable, and the potential ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-58 occurrence of such events coinciding with WRMP activities is minimal. Implementation of the WRMP would not exacerbate existing or future seismic hazards by increasing the severity or likelihood of such hazards that would exist without the project. The WRMP involves implementation of various vegetation management activities and does not include any substantial new structures or operational activities that could create or exacerbate a ground- shaking risk to the surrounding populations. Implementation of the WRMP would not cause an increased risk of loss, injury, or death involving rupture of a known earthquake fault, strong seismic ground shaking, or seismic-related ground failure, including liquefaction. No impact would occur. iv. Landslides? Alteration of land with implementation of the WRMP may increase landslides, primarily through vegetation removal, which can weaken soil-matrix strength. Risk of landslide is greatest on steep slopes, which occur throughout the PTAs. In order to minimize risk of landslide, the WRMP defines use of mechanical equipment to be appropriate only on land with a slope less than 30 percent. In areas of slopes greater than 30 percent, where the greatest potential for landslide would occur, vegetation management activities would be limited to crews conducting thinning and pruning with chainsaws and hand tools. Refer to Impact c) for further analysis of the potential for the WRMP to increase landslide risk due to underlying unstable geologic units or soils. Impacts would be less than significant. b) Would the project result in substantial soil erosion or the loss of topsoil? Priority PTAs The priority PTAs are underlain by a variety of surficial soil units susceptible to erosion. The Manzanita PTA primarily consists of Dixmine-Toadtown soil, which is a very deep, well- drained, fine soil with medium to high runoff (National Cooperative Soil Survey, 2006b). The majority of the Markleevillage PTA is underlain by the Donica series and the Joecutt-Heenlake association, which consists of very deep, well-drained soils with high surface runoff (National Cooperative Soil Survey, 2006c). Implementation of the WRMP would include actions that could cause erosion and loss of topsoil through removal of vegetation covering slopes and exposing bare soil and through the removal of plants by the root systems that bind soil, particularly on slopes. Erosion could degrade soil nutrient levels, could reduce habitat sustainability, and could result in sedimentation, which could have an adverse impact on waters. No erosion and topsoil loss impacts would occur as a result of pile burning in the Manzanita or Markleevillage priority PTAs. Piles would be localized and relatively small in size and generally would not result in burn scars over any areas significant enough to result in increased erosion. Soil erosion and topsoil loss would be limited by implementing MM Geology-1, which includes standard construction practices and BMPs for erosion and sediment control. Impacts would be less than significant with mitigation. Non-Priority PTAs Vegetation management activities under the WRMP would result in ground disturbance of at least the top layer of soil, which could result in erosion and loss of topsoil. Prescribed burns ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-59 may be implemented in several non-priority PTAs (Mesa Vista, Hung-A-Lel-Ti, Turtle Rock Park and Lake Alpine) in addition to manual vegetation removal activities and pile burns. Prescribed burns would require fire lines that are linear areas clear of vegetation and wide enough to contain the fire to the intended burn area. Fire lines, if created only for the purpose of the prescribed burn, would result in additional denuded areas that are more prone to erosion. Prescribed burning would result in the removal of vegetation on the surface, increasing the potential for erosion in the burned area, particularly if performed near waterways and riparian corridors. Water-repellent soils can be created by moderate to severe fires (including prescribed burns). Storm water can then flow over the exposed soils and pick up silt and small soil particles, eroding the surface. Groundcover of less than 70 percent has been found to result in excessive runoff and erosion (Lang & McDonald, 2005). Prescribed burns that retain at least 70 percent of groundcover would not result in a significant impact. Prescribed burns in the PTAs could be sizable enough that the removal of vegetation and resultant exposed hydrophobic soil could result in a substantial increase in erosion and loss of topsoil, which would be a potentially significant impact. MM Geology-1 would minimize erosion and loss of topsoil in denuded areas by requiring use of erosion-control measures on moderate to steep (10 percent slope and greater) slopes and where groundcover would be reduced to less than 70 percent and prohibits substantial ground-disturbing activities during or following a rain event. MM Geology-2 requires use of existing facilities for fire lines, implementation of erosion-control measures during and after prescribed burns, follow-up inspections, and restoration actions for new fire lines. Impacts would be less than significant with mitigation. MM Geology-1: Erosion Control and Slope Stability Measures Erosion control measures shall be implemented to ensure WRMP activities do not result in erosion, loss of topsoil, or slope instability in areas where work could expose bare soils or create loss of root-soil matrix strength. The following erosion control measures shall be implemented on sites with loose or unstable soils, steep slopes (greater than 30 percent), or where a large percentage of the groundcover will be removed (leaving groundcover less than 70 percent). • Minimize areas to be disturbed to the greatest extent feasible. • Prior to conducting work in any given area that could result in erosion or slope instability vegetation removal or prescribed burns that could reduce the groundcover and expose soil), the area shall be inspected for existing signs of erosion or slope instability (e.g. rills, slumped soil). • Install approved, biodegradable erosion-control measures application of forest duff or mulches, straw bales, straw wattles or other erosion-control material, seeding, or planting of appropriate native plant species) and non-filament-based geotextiles coir, jute) when causing soil disturbance on moderate to steep (10 percent slope and greater) slopes. • Avoid use of heavy equipment on slopes greater than 30 percent unless specialized equipment is used that does not impact slope stability. • Sediment control devices, if installed, shall be certified weed-free, as appropriate. • No substantial ground disturbing work use of heavy equipment, pulling large vegetation) shall occur during rain events and 48 hours after a rain event, defined as 0.5 inch of rain within a 48-hour or greater period, using the NOAA website as the official record for rain events. Once work is completed, the areas shall be inspected as needed and as accessible but at least annually until groundcover exceeds 70 percent or it is clear that significant erosion and slope destabilization are not occurring. At that time, erosion control and slope stability devices may be removed at the discretion of County staff. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-60 MM Geology-1: Erosion Control and Slope Stability Measures Applicable Location(s): Any PTAs where the ground is disturbed and soils are exposed through vegetation- management activities with measures specific to areas on steep slopes and sites with loose or unstable soils. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: Inspect areas prior to work to assess the potential for erosion and soil instability. • During Activity: Implement protection measures as needed to avoid or minimize erosion and slope destabilization. • After Activity: Conduct inspections as needed, depending on the size and nature of the work and the site, to ensure that erosion is not occurring and to remove any erosion-control devices once they are no longer needed. MM Geology-2: Firelines During Prescribed Burns The following measures shall be implemented during prescribed burns to reduce erosion from firelines: • Use existing barriers such as roads, trails, or wet lines as firelines. If new firelines must be established for a prescribed burn, firelines shall be restored as described below. • Restore firelines upon completion of the burn if they are not used again (unless they are existing roads, trails, or other permanent elements) within one year of use. Utilize erosion-control measures, such as sediment traps, during restoration to reduce sedimentation impacts. Rehabilitation methods may include use of a hydromulch with locally collected, genetically appropriate native species; pulling duff, litter, and cut material back over lines; and/or distribution of locally chipped fuels on the lines. • Design prescribed burn boundaries to avoid gullies and highly erodible soils to the fullest extent possible. Applicable Location(s): Sites within the identified PTAs suitable for prescribed burns. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: Determine firelines. • During Activity: Set up provisions as specified in the measure. • After Activity: Restore firelines that will no longer be used upon completion of work. c) Would the project be located on a geologic unit or soil that is unstable, or that would become unstable as a result of the project, and potentially result in on- or off-site landslide, lateral spreading, subsidence, liquefaction, or collapse? As discussed under Impact Alpine County is underlain by primarily well-drained, clayey soils. Clay soils may be subject to instability (shrink and swell); however, implementation of the WRMP would not involve grading or substantial ground disturbance that could result in loss of stability of the geologic unit. Therefore, the WRMP would not result in lateral spreading, subsidence, liquefaction, or collapse. The proposed vegetation-management activities could alter vegetative cover, expose soils, and/or minimize soil root-matrix strength where vegetation management activities are conducted on slopes greater than 30 percent, which could induce landslides. MM Geology-1 requires application of erosion-control measures on PTAs with the highest potential for erosion or landslide, including sites with loose or unstable soils and steep slopes (greater than 30 percent), where a large percentage of the groundcover will be removed (leaving groundcover less than 70 percent). The potential increased risk of unstable soils or ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-61 landslides as a result of the WRMP would be reduced with implementation of MM Geology-1. Impacts would be less than significant with mitigation. d) Would the project be located on expansive soil, as defined in Table 18-1-B of the Uniform Building Code (1994), creating substantial direct or indirect risks to life or property? The WRMP would not include construction of habitable structures and, therefore, is not expected to create substantial risks to life or property. No impact would occur. e) Would the project have soils incapable of adequately supporting the use of septic tanks or alternative waste water disposal systems where sewers are not available for the disposal of waste water? The WRMP would not include the use of septic tanks or alternative wastewater disposal systems. No impact would occur. f) Would the project directly or indirectly destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature? Implementation of the WRMP would result in only limited ground disturbance, confined to surface-level activities involved in vegetation removal, pile burning, and prescribed burning. Pile burns would not be conducted in the Bear Valley priority PTA and prescribed burning would not occur in any of the priority PTAs. Paleontological resources are typically present below surface level in sedimentary rock formations. The likelihood of paleontological resources being present in the PTAs is considered very low as Alpine County’s geology is primarily igneous (volcanic) where paleontological resources are not known to exist. Few occurrences of paleontological resources have been documented in Alpine County (University of California Museum of Paleontology, 2020). Implementation of the WRMP would not unearth or destroy a unique paleontological resource or site or unique geologic feature. No impact would occur. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-62 2.3.8 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 8. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. Would the project: a) Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ b) Conflict with an applicable plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ Environmental Setting Certain gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, classified as GHGs, play a critical role in determining Earth’s surface temperature. A portion of the solar radiation that enters the atmosphere is absorbed by the Earth’s surface, and a smaller portion of this radiation is reflected toward space. This infrared radiation heat) is absorbed by GHGs within the atmosphere; therefore, infrared radiation released from Earth that otherwise would have escaped back into space is instead “trapped,” resulting in a warming of the atmosphere known as the “greenhouse effect.” GHG emissions associated with human activities are likely responsible for intensifying the greenhouse effect and have led to a trend of unnatural warming of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans, with corresponding effects on global circulation patterns and climate (IPCC, 2014). GHGs are present in the atmosphere naturally and can also be released by natural and anthropogenic (human-caused) sources. The GHGs that are widely accepted as the principal contributors to human-induced global climate change include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). Impacts of GHGs are borne globally as opposed to localized air-quality effects of criteria air pollutants and TACs. The quantity of GHGs that it takes ultimately to result in climate change is not known precisely; the quantity is enormous, and no single project alone would measurably contribute to a noticeable incremental change in the global average temperature, or to a global or local climate or to a microclimate. From the standpoint of CEQA, GHG-related effects to global climate change are inherently cumulative. Discussion a) Would the project generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the environment? The goal of the WRMP is to reduce wildfire risk in Alpine County and to protect important resources throughout the County. WRMP implementation would generate short-term GHG emissions related to the use of vehicles, mechanical equipment, pile burning, and prescribed burning. Pile burns would not be conducted in the Bear Valley priority PTA, and prescribed burning would not occur in any of the priority PTAs. GHG emissions generated by the WRMP activities would consist primarily of CO2. The project-related GHG emissions would be ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-63 temporary and would disperse quickly. Individual prescribed burns produce far less CO2 than a large wildland fire could generate. While vegetation-management activities related equipment, pile burns, and prescribed burns implemented under the WRMP would introduce some CO2 emissions, implementation of the WRMP would reduce the potential release of GHG emissions in the long term by reducing wildland fire hazards and reducing the potential intensity and severity should a wildland fire break out. The WRMP would not generate GHG emissions that may have a significant impact on the environment. Impacts would be less than significant. b) Would the project conflict with an applicable plan, policy or regulation adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases? Neither the County nor any other agency with jurisdiction over the WRMP area has adopted climate change or GHG reduction measures with which the WRMP would conflict. Alpine County has created community-wide and local-government-operations GHG inventories through the Green Communities project and is working towards adoption of a Climate Action Plan, which will recommend implementation measures to reduce GHG emissions (Alpine County, 2017). Implementation of the WRMP would not conflict with any applicable plan, policy, or regulation for the purpose of reducing GHG emissions. Impacts would be less than significant. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-64 2.3.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 9. HAZARDS AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. Would the project: a) Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ b) Create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials into the environment? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ c) Emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ d) Be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a significant hazard to the public or the environment? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ e) For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project result in a safety hazard or excessive noise for people residing or working in the project area? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ f) Impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ g) Expose people or structures, either directly or indirectly, to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ Environmental Setting The State Water Resources Control Board GeoTracker, and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) EnviroStor database were searched to identify toxic releases, hazardous waste, or other violations that could affect the PTAs under the WRMP. No active leaking underground storage tank (LUST) cleanup sites are located in Alpine County. As of April 2017, assessment and remedial actions are currently being implemented by the at an active cleanup site at Kirkwood Mountain Resort, where a pipe leaking gasoline was discovered. This site is not in close proximity to any of the PTAs. The Woodfords Sodium Hypochlorite Spill is an additional active cleanup site as of December 2018 and is ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-65 located approximately 0.7 mile north of the Manzanita PTA and 1 mile northwest of the Diamond Valley PTA. The Alpine County Hazardous Waste Management Plan identifies five specific sites in the County as possibly suitable for a future hazardous-waste facility. None of the PTAs are located in close proximity to these sites (Alpine County, 2017). The Alpine County Airport is the only public aviation facility in the county. The Caltrans Division of Aeronautics classifies the airport as a Limited Use Airport. Limited Use Airports serve recreational, training, military, and emergency uses and accommodate predominately single engine aircraft under 12,500 pounds. Alpine County Airport currently serves approximately 650 users annually (Alpine County, 2017). The Bear Valley Airport is located approximately 0.5 mile east of the Bear Valley PTA; however, this airport is not available for public use (Airnav.com, 2020). Alpine County has not adopted a formal emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan at this time. The Alpine County Fire Safe Council, in coordination with local law enforcement and volunteer fire agencies, has determined emergency egress routes and evacuation locations for the County (Alpine County, 2017). Hot Springs Road, routinely used by recreationists and residents to access Grover Hot Springs State Park, serves as an important access route for fire and emergency response providers and travels near the Markleevillage and Grover Hot Springs PTAs. Discussion a) Would the project create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through the routine transport, use, or disposal of hazardous materials? b) Would the project create a significant hazard to the public or the environment through reasonably foreseeable upset and accident conditions involving the release of hazardous materials into the environment? Vegetation management activities would involve the use of vehicles and equipment, which could result in the leakage or spillage of fuels. Spills could occur during fueling or at work sites during WRMP implementation. Improper cleanup or handling of fuels and other hazardous materials could result in impacts on workers, the public, or the environment. MM Hazards-1 requires the County to implement spill prevention and response best management practices during implementation of vegetation-management activities. These best management practices would ensure that hazardous materials are properly stored on site and that any accidental releases of hazardous materials would be properly controlled and quickly cleaned up. Impacts would be less than significant with mitigation. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-66 MM Hazards-1: Spill Prevention and Response The County shall, at a minimum, implement best management practices that address the following procedures related to the use of hazardous materials during WRMP implementation: • All workers shall be trained on the specific procedures for hazardous materials and emergency response and reporting procedures as an element of the required worker environmental training in MM Biology-1 prior to working in any PTA. • Vehicles and equipment will undergo daily inspection for leaks and spill containment procedures. • Secondary containment and spill rags will be used when fueling onsite. • Fuels and lubricating oils for vehicles and heavy equipment will not be stored or transferred within 100 feet of any waterbodies unless otherwise isolated from waterbodies by secondary containment. • Emergency spill supplies and equipment such as oil-absorbent material, tarps, and storage drums shall be available on site to respond in a timely manner if an incident should occur. • Proper disposal or management of contaminated soils and materials clean up materials) will be insured and reporting procedures implemented in accordance with applicable federal, State and local requirements. • “Topping-off” of fuel tanks will be discouraged. Applicable Location(s): Any PTA under the WRMP. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: N/A • During Activity: Implement appropriate best management practices that limit the potential for leaks and spills and clean up any inadvertent spills appropriately. • After Activity: N/A c) Emit hazardous emissions or handle hazardous or acutely hazardous materials, substances, or waste within one-quarter mile of an existing or proposed school? Priority PTAs The closest school to a priority PTA is Diamond Valley Elementary School, located approximately 0.37 mile east of the Manzanita PTA. No schools are located within 0.25 mile of a priority PTA. No impacts would occur with implementation of the priority PTAs. Non-Priority PTAs Diamond Valley Elementary School is located within 1,000 feet of the Diamond Valley PTA. No other PTAs are located within 0.25 mile of an existing or proposed school. The use of equipment for vegetation management activities within the PTAs could lead to fuel leaks and spills. Improper handling of hazardous materials and leaks and fuel spills from refueling at work sites could pose a significant hazard to the public or the environment. MM Hazards-1 requires the County to implement spill prevention and response best management practices, which would minimize the potential for leaks and spills and ensure proper handling of hazardous materials in the event of a spill or leak. Impacts associated with implementation of the WRMP at PTAs other than the priority PTAs would be less than significant with mitigation. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-67 d) Would the project be located on a site which is included on a list of hazardous materials sites compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5 and, as a result, would it create a significant hazard to the public or the environment? There are two active cleanup sites located in Alpine County, one at Kirkwood Mountain Resort and one at the Woodfords Maintenance Station. None of the PTAs are located on or in close enough proximity to these hazardous materials sites to result in an impact to workers or the public. No impact would occur. e) For a project located within an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project result in a safety hazard or excessive noise for people residing or working in the project area? Priority PTAs The closest public airport to a priority PTA is Alpine County Airport, located approximately 3 miles southeast of the Manzanita PTA and approximately 3.2 miles northeast of the Markleevillage PTA. The Bear Valley Airport is located approximately 0.5 mile east of the Bear Valley PTA; however, this airport is not available for public use (Airnav.com, 2020). No public airports are located within 2 miles of a priority PTA. No impacts would occur with implementation of the priority PTAs. Non-Priority PTAs The Alpine County Airport is located approximately 2 miles east of the Turtle Rock Park PTA. As stated in the Alpine County General Plan, the County airport receives very limited use and is located three miles from the nearest developed area; it is therefore not included as a significant noise-producing transportation facility in the County. Implementation of prescribed burns may occur within the non-priority PTAs, including Turtle Rock Park, Mesa Vista, Hung- A-Lel-Ti, and Lake Alpine PTAs. Prescribed burning and pile burning would be maintained at low intensities that would not generate sufficient smoke to affect visibility or air traffic. Impacts would be less than significant. f) Would the project impair implementation of or physically interfere with an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan? No emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan has been adopted by Alpine County. Implementation of vegetation-management projects under the WRMP would not include road closures or generate substantial traffic volumes that could create a hazard or slow the movement of vehicles. No impact would occur. g) Would the project expose people or structures, either directly or indirectly, to a significant risk of loss, injury or death involving wildland fires? Priority PTAs The purpose of the WRMP is, in large part, to reduce fuel loads and wildland-fire risks in Alpine County compared with the baseline conditions. Implementation of the WRMP would have beneficial effects with regard to reducing wildland fire risks or the size and spread of wildland fires, were one to break out. Performance of fuel treatment activities could increase risk of wildland fire ignition due to the use of vehicles and equipment that generate sparks or ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-68 heat. Certain parts of the county could be more susceptible to fire ignition and spread, such as areas on steep slopes, south-facing slopes, and areas where significant fuel is found dead trees and thick understories of weeds). Pile burns also have a higher potential for starting a wildfire were the burns to become uncontrolled. The ignition of any fire is considered a significant impact as it could turn into a wildfire. Most equipment uses renewable diesel fuel, minimizing the potential for ignition, but gasoline spills could be ignited, resulting in a wildfire. Any fuel spills would be handled according to the best management practices implemented in MM Hazards-1 to prevent wildfire ignition. Implementation of best management practices defined in MM Hazards-2 would also reduce the likelihood of a fire ignition and spread. Under MM Hazards-2, workers would not be permitted to smoke on site or during the fire season, fire suppression equipment shall be maintained on site, and activities that create increased risk of fire ignition would be restricted during high fire-danger conditions red flag warnings or during public safety power shut-off events). Pile burning would be conducted as part of the WRMP in the Manzanita and Markleevillage priority PTAs and all non-priority PTAs. Piles of vegetation would be created following manual and mechanical vegetation removal and allowed to dry prior to burning. The stockpiling of dry vegetative material has the potential to increase fire risks prior to burning because it is a concentrated source of flammable fuels. If a pile-burn event were to ignite a wildfire of any size or with potential for spread, the impact would be considered significant. MM Hazards-3 would ensure all pile burns would be conducted in accordance with Title 17 of the CCR and GBUAPCD’s Rule 411, which prohibits wildland vegetation management burning on “no burn” days as announced daily by the State Air Resources Board for the Inyo, Mono, and Alpine Counties or when such burning is prohibited by the Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO) (GBUAPCD, 2001) or a fire-management agency. A Smoke Management Plan would also be prepared and implemented with implementation of MM Hazards-3 in accordance with GBUAPCD’s Rule 411 and the Smoke Management Program for any wildland vegetation- management burning projects greater than 1 acre in size (including pile burns or prescribed burns). The Smoke Management Plan would require procedures for public notification and education, including appropriate signage at burn sites, and for reporting of public smoke complaints. Pile-burning events would be registered with GBUAPCD and include a completed Smoke Management Plan and Smoke Management Permit Application Form consistent with the requirements of CCR, Title 17. Compliance with the aforementioned regulations would minimize the effect, but impacts could remain significant. MM Hazards-3 requires pile burning to not occur on days with wind speeds over 15 mph and outside the fire season when vegetation is damp. Pile burning would only be performed under permits or with notification, as required, on allowable burn days. MM Hazards-3 also includes provisions for stockpiling that would reduce the likelihood of unintended ignition. Piles would also be constructed in areas of lowest risk for rapid fire spread, at least 100 feet away from the edge of public trails or roads and not at the base of slopes. Impacts would be less than significant with mitigation. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-69 Non-Priority PTAs The proposed WRMP activities would decrease the risk of extreme wildland fire behavior, slow the spread of a wildland fire, and aid in the suppression and control of a wildland fire. MM Hazards-2 and MM Hazards-3 (described above under Priority PTAs) would also be applied during WRMP implementation at the non-priority PTAs to reduce the risk of a wildfire ignition and uncontrolled spread. Prescribed burning would also be a potential fuel-treatment activity in Mesa Vista, Hung-A-Lel-Ti, Turtle Rock Park, and Lake Alpine PTAs. Like pile burns, prescribed burns also have some, although very minimal based on past experience, likelihood to become uncontrolled and potentially start a wildfire, which would be considered a significant impact. Uncontrolled fires could place firefighters and residents or other sensitive receptors outside of PTAs at risk of injury or death. Structures within and adjacent to PTAs could be placed at risk, as well. The impact from an escaped prescribed burn, although the chances of it occurring are exceedingly rare, would be significant. As previously described, per MM Hazards-3, all pile and prescribed burns would be conducted in accordance with CCR Title 17 and GBUAPCD’s Rule 411, which requires submittal of a Smoke Management Plan for any wildland vegetation-management burning projects greater than 1 acre in size. A Burn Plan would also be prepared for each prescribed burn to ensure compliance with GBUAPCD Rules 409 – Range Management Burning, 410 – Forest Management Burning, and 411 – Wildland Vegetation Management Burning. The Burn Plan would include, at minimum, the project objectives, contingency responses for when the fire is out of prescription with the smoke management plan, the fire prescription (including smoke management components), and a description of the personnel, organization, and equipment. Residents within the prescribed burn area may not be aware of the prescribed burn and, thus, could put themselves in harm’s way. Directly exposing the public to a wildfire event could result in a significant impact. MM Hazards-3 requires providing public notification to individuals within one mile and at trailheads and access roads leading to all areas proposed for burning at least 24 hours in advance of a prescribed burn. Signs would be placed at trailheads and access roads notifying the public of where burning would occur and while the prescribed burn is in progress. Impacts would be less than significant with implementation of mitigation. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-70 MM Hazards-2: Fire Prevention and Suppression Practices The County shall implement the following best management practices to prevent the ignition and spread of an unplanned fire during implementation of WRMP activities: • Smoking will not be permitted on site, except in barren areas that measure a minimum of 20 feet in diameter and are cleared to mineral soil. Under no circumstances will smoking be permitted during the fire season (approximately July through October) while employees are operating equipment or are walking or working in forested areas. • On-site idling of vehicles and vegetation-management equipment shall be minimized. • All personal vehicles or vegetation-management equipment shall be parked in appropriate parking areas at all times, not located near dry grass or vegetation, and off of main roads and potential evacuation routes, with adequate space for emergency response vehicles to pass. • All work crews shall maintain appropriate fire-suppression equipment extinguishers, shovels) in vehicles at each work site to suppress inadvertently ignited fires. • Activities that could cause sparks, such as use of mechanical equipment, are required to cease during extreme fire weather, including Red Flag Warning days and localized Public Safety Power Shut-Off events. Applicable Location(s): Any PTA. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: N/A • During Activity: 1) Smoking shall be limited to permitted areas only, 2) vehicle and equipment idling shall be minimized, 3) fire suppression equipment shall be available on site, and 4) activities that are associated with increase fire risk shall be restricted during high fire-danger conditions. • After Activity: N/A MM Hazards-3: Hazard Reduction for Stockpiling, Pile Burning, and Prescribed Burning The following measures shall be implemented to reduce hazards associated with pile and prescribed burning: • Contractor shall ensure it is an “approved burn day” announced daily by the CARB prior to pile burning and allowed by local fire agencies. • A Smoke Management Plan shall be prepared and implemented in accordance with GBUAPCD’s Rule 411 for any wildland vegetation-management burning projects greater than 1 acre in size. • A Burn Plan shall be prepared for each prescribed burn in compliance with GBUAPCD Rules 409 – Range Management Burning, 410 – Forest Management Burning, and 411 – Wildland Vegetation Management Burning. • Piles shall be burned or chipped prior to the fire season and within six months of treatment. • Piles shall not be burned during the fire season. • Pile burning shall only be allowed on days when fire is less likely to spread wind speeds are less than 15 mph). • Piles shall not be constructed in areas where burning cannot be safely controlled, such as bottoms of steep, vegetated hills. • Piles shall be set back at least 100 feet from public roads and trails to minimize risk to residents, recreationalists, and other users. • All requirements of the GBUAPCD shall be met, including any permit, notification, and reporting requirements. • Public notification shall be provided at least 24 hours in advance of a prescribed burn to individuals within one mile and at trailheads and access roads leading to the area proposed for burning. The public notification shall include current contact numbers to the appropriate burn coordinator. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-71 MM Hazards-3: Hazard Reduction for Stockpiling, Pile Burning, and Prescribed Burning • Temporary signage shall be installed at intervals ahead of and adjacent to the prescribed burn indicating that a prescribed burn is in progress. Applicable Location(s): Wherever stockpiles of slash are made, where piles shall be burned, and where prescribed burns are proposed. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: Notify public, post signs, and obtain all permits and make all necessary notifications as required by GBUAPCD. • During Activity: Ensure that piles are located appropriately, ensure proper weather conditions during pile burning, and ensure signage is installed in locations in close proximity to all prescribed burns. • After Activity: Remove signage. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-72 2.3.10 Hydrology and Water Quality Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 10. HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY. Would the project: a) Violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements or otherwise substantially degrade surface or groundwater quality? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ b) Substantially decrease groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with groundwater recharge such that the project may impede sustainable groundwater management of the basin? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ c) Substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river or through the addition of impervious surfaces, in a manner which would: i) result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or off-site; ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ ii) substantially increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in flooding on- or offsite; ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ iii) create or contribute runoff water which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted runoff; or ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ iv) impede or redirect flood flows? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ d) In flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche zones, risk release of pollutants due to project inundation? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ e) Conflict with or obstruct implementation of a water quality control plan or sustainable groundwater management plan? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Environmental Setting The State Regional Water Quality Control Boards assume primary responsibility for insuring maintenance of water quality in California. Western Alpine County is managed by the Central Valley and the eastern side is managed by the Lahontan Most rural residences in Alpine County are served by on-site wells and septic systems. Surface waters in the eastern slope of Alpine County have been adjudicated (Alpine County, 2017). Alpine County is located at the headwaters of five rivers and corresponding watersheds, which provide water to Western Nevada and California’s Central Valley – the Carson, Mokelumne, ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-73 Stanislaus, Truckee, and American. The Carson River Watershed is located east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada, and approximately 46 percent of the watershed is within Alpine County. The Stanislaus River Watershed encompasses approximately 1,075 square miles, and the Stanislaus River is one of the largest tributaries to the San Joaquin River. The American River Watershed includes the North, Middle, and South Forks of the American River. The South Fork, the only major tributary in Alpine County, drains approximately 804 square miles of watershed (Alpine Watershed Group, 2020). The Markleevillage priority PTA includes the area where Hot Springs Creek first converges with Spratt Creek and then with Pleasant Valley Creek. The name of the drainage changes to Markleeville Creek from the confluence with Pleasant Valley Creek. Markleeville Creek is recognized as a major tributary to East Fork Carson River. Scott Creek flows perennially at the Manzanita priority PTA, as do numerous isolated outflows from perennial springs. Surface flows at the Bear Valley priority PTA occur mainly after snow that has accumulated during the winter period begins to melt; therefore, surface flows are strictly seasonal or ephemeral in duration at this PTA (Paulus, 2020). The Alpine County General Plan estimates that the most reliable supplies of groundwater in Alpine County may be found in recent alluvial deposits. Areas important to groundwater recharge include coarse sand near stream deposits along mountain fronts and stream and river channels. The Carson River West Fork alluvial fan underlies the vicinity of Woodfords, Paynesville, and Fredericksburg. It is reported that not all appropriations are used in a given year and, therefore, groundwater extractions are nearly equal to supply (Alpine County, 2017). The entirety of Alpine County is not within the boundary of any 100-year floodplains, as indicated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps. The boundary of a 100-year floodplain is used to demarcate flood hazards and indicates the geographic area having a one-percent chance of being flooded in any given year. Alpine County is entirely within a Zone D flood hazard area. The Zone D designation is used for areas where there are possible but undetermined flood hazards as no analysis of flood hazards has been conducted (Alpine County, 2017; FEMA, 2020). Discussion a) Would the project violate any water quality standards or waste discharge requirements or otherwise substantially degrade surface or groundwater quality? Implementation of vegetation-management actions could result in some water quality impacts from sedimentation and siltation of waterbodies or waterways due primarily to erosion of exposed soils. Movement of surface soils could occur during the process of clearing vegetation through hand thinning, mechanical methods, and prescribed burn (excluding the priority PTAs). Any erosion or sedimentation of waterbodies that results in the violation of water quality standards or water discharge requirements would be a significant impact. MM Biology- 3 requires locations of riparian habitat and water bodies and corresponding 50-foot (minimum) setbacks (Waters and Wetland Protection Zones) to be identified and avoided during WRMP activities. Waters and Wetland Protection Zones and appropriate runoff controls, such as berms, ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-74 straw wattles, silt fencing, filtration systems, and sediment traps, would be implemented to protect riparian habitat and control siltation and the potential discharge of pollutants. The vegetation management activities included in the WRMP would not require grading of soil to create access roads as work crews can utilize existing roads and trails to access treatment areas. As described in the WRMP, site access would be achieved by creating skid trails in some locations, which include foot trails, or by using former trails that have grown over and can be cleared for access. Clearing of skid trails would not occur when soils are wet, and sensitive habitats, creeks, and wetlands would be avoided. The skid trails would not be graded or scraped. Skid trails would be rehabilitated following use, which involves decompacting soils, removing skid lines, distributing surrounding litter/duff back on site, and obscuring entrance points with brush. Vegetation clearance would occur by use of powered tools, machinery, and hand tools. No herbicides or other chemical treatments would be applied during the vegetation management activities. Fuel treatments conducted along steep slopes would be conducted by crews using handheld equipment rather than motorized machinery. This approach would reduce potential for erosion because steep gradients can accumulate sediment and debris that can mobilize, suddenly creating debris flows and severe scouring. Drainages within the priority PTAs were identified during biological surveys conducted in August 2020 and will be clearly marked for avoidance during implementation of the WRMP, per MM Biology-3. Crews may not be aware of riparian exclusion areas in the non-priority PTAs without proper surveying prior to conducting vegetation management activities. MM Biology-3 also requires identification and establishment of protection zones around water bodies, including riparian habitat, and use of appropriate runoff controls prior to implementing fuel treatments within any of the non-priority PTAs. Completion of these runoff controls and clearly marking exclusion areas will provide a buffer of land that separates soil disturbed by vegetation clearing and minimize the potential for surface runoff to transport sediment to a drainage and degrade water quality. Impacts would be less than significant with mitigation incorporated. MM Biology-3: Waters and Wetland Protection Zones Refer to Section 2.3.4: Biological Resources b) Would the project substantially decrease groundwater supplies or interfere substantially with groundwater recharge such that the project may impede sustainable groundwater management of the basin? Implementation of the WRMP would not involve extraction of groundwater or involve placement of impervious surfaces in an area designated for groundwater recharge. The fuel treatment activities would not result in expansion in the amount of impervious surfaces in the PTAs. The WRMP would provide beneficial impacts for forest and wildfire management and is not expected to interfere with groundwater recharge. The WRMP would not deplete ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-75 groundwater supplies and would not interfere substantially with groundwater recharge. No impact would occur. c) Would the project substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the site or area, including through the alteration of the course of a stream or river or through the addition of impervious surfaces, in a manner which would: a. result in substantial erosion or siltation on- or off site; The vegetation-management activities proposed in the WMRP would not substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the PTAs or alter the course of a stream or river. As discussed in Section 2.3.7 Geology and Soils, implementation of the WRMP would include actions that could cause erosion and loss of topsoil through removal of vegetation covering slopes and exposing bare soil and through the removal of plants by the root systems that bind soil, particularly on slopes. Soil erosion and topsoil loss would be limited by implementing MM Geology-1, which includes standard construction practices and BMPs for erosion and sediment control. Impacts would be less than significant with mitigation. b. substantially increase the rate or amount of surface runoff in a manner which would result in flooding on- or off site; As described above, vegetation-management activities proposed in the WMRP would not substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the PTAs or alter the course of a stream or river. Minor increases in surface-runoff rates after prescribed burns or pile burns (due to hydrophobic soils in burned areas) would be minimal. Impacts would be less than significant. c. create or contribute runoff water which would exceed the capacity of existing or planned stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted runoff; or The WRMP would not include any new developed land uses and would not require connection to or otherwise contribute to existing or planned stormwater drainage systems. Implementation of the WRMP would not contribute runoff that would exceed the capacity of existing stormwater drainage systems or provide substantial additional sources of polluted runoff. No impact would occur. d. impede or redirect flood flows? As described above, none of the PTAs are located within a 100-year floodplain, and no additions of impervious surfaces would occur as a result of WRMP implementation (Alpine County, 2017; FEMA, 2020). Additional hydrophobic soils would not be significant on a large scale due to other sources of infiltration throughout Alpine County and would not impede or redirect flood flows. No impact would occur. d) Would the project in flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche zones, risk release of pollutants due to project inundation? Alpine County does not include identified flood hazard, tsunami, or seiche zones. Implementation of the WRMP would not increase the potential or risk of release of pollutants due to inundation. No impact would occur. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-76 e) Would the project conflict with or obstruct implementation of a water quality control plan or sustainable groundwater management plan? The 2007 Alpine County Groundwater Management Plan identifies and addresses groundwater management needs at a local level. As discussed above under Impact the WRMP would not deplete groundwater supplies and would not interfere substantially with groundwater recharge. Vegetation-management activities would not result in conditions that would alter or contribute to conflicts with an applicable water-quality control plan or sustainable groundwater-management plan. Fuel treatments can lower the effects of a catastrophic wildfire on water quality, increasing the water temperature and creating the potential for subsequent rain to carry sediment from newly exposed soil into waterways. Implementation of the WRMP would not result in conflicts with implementation of a water quality control plan or sustainable groundwater management plan. No impact would occur. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-77 2.3.11 Land Use and Planning Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 11. LAND USE AND PLANNING. Would the project: a) Physically divide an established community? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ b) Cause a significant environmental impact due to a conflict with any land use plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Environmental Setting Alpine County is primarily a rural place, featuring many nearby public lands, outdoor recreation opportunities, agricultural lands, and small residential communities. The primary land use designation in Alpine County is Open Space (Alpine County, 2017). Alpine County is the least populated county in California, with approximately 1,200 full-time residents (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019). Alpine County is divided by the crest of the Sierra Nevada into east and west slope geographic regions. The Sierra crest becomes a significant boundary between east and west Alpine County during winter months, when SR- 4 connecting Bear Valley with Markleeville is closed, resulting in a minimum of three to four hours of travel time between the communities. The majority of the County’s population lives in only a few communities scattered throughout the east and west regions. The priority PTAs include 860 acres of privately owned land spanning three sites: Bear Valley, Manzanita, and Markleevillage. The Bear Valley site is located on the western edge of the Bear Valley residential community. The Manzanita site is located within open space land just outside of the Manzanita community. The Markleevillage site is located within the Markleevillage residential area and includes open space land on the eastern and western edges. Discussion a) Would the project physically divide an established community? Implementation of the WRMP does not include new development, and no changes in land use are needed for WRMP implementation. The fuel treatment projects involve vegetation management and do not involve construction of infrastructure that would physically divide an established community. No impact would occur. b) cause a significant environmental impact due to a conflict with any land use plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect? Implementation of the WRMP do not require changes in land use. The WRMP activities would not conflict with any land-use plan, policy, or regulation adopted for the purpose of avoiding or mitigating an environmental effect. No impact would occur. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-78 2.3.12 Mineral Resources Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 12. MINERAL RESOURCES. Would the project: a) Result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of value to the region and the residents of the state? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ b) Result in the loss of availability of a locally important mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific plan or other land use plan? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Environmental Setting According to the CGS Mineral Land Classification, no area within Alpine County is designated as a Mineral Resource Zone (California Department of Conservation, 2015). Five mines and quarry sites occur in Alpine County. Two mines are currently active, two are closed, and one is fully reclaimed. Table 2-7 provides the status and product details for each mine and quarry. Table 2-7 Status of Mines and Quarries in Alpine County Mine/Quarry Name Status Primary Product Diamond Valley Borrow Site Closed (reclamation in progress) Fill dirt Diamond Valley Boulder Site Reclaimed Dimension stone Fredericksburg Gravel Pit Idle (reclamation not started) Rock Gansberg Sand Active (reclamation in progress) Sand and gravel Merril Borrow Pit Active (reclamation not started) rock Source: (California Department of Conservation, 2016) Discussion a) Would the project result in the loss of availability of a known mineral resource that would be of value to the region and the residents of the state; or b) Result in the loss of availability of a locally important mineral resource recovery site delineated on a local general plan, specific plan or other land use plan? Various fuel-treatment activities would occur at surface level within the identified PTAs under the WRMP. Vegetation management and other activities associated with the WRMP would not preclude or inhibit the extraction of known, available high-quality mineral resources in Alpine County and would not result in obstruction of access to mineral resources within Alpine County. No impact would occur. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-79 2.3.13 Noise Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 13. NOISE. Would the project result in: a) Generation of a substantial temporary or permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the project in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or applicable standards of other agencies? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ b) Generation of excessive groundborne vibration or groundborne noise levels? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ c) For a project located within the vicinity of a private airstrip or an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ Environmental Setting Noise is defined as unwanted sound. Various noise descriptors are used to quantify the sound experience, dependent upon different time scales and perception. Sound is measured on a logarithmic scale of sound pressure level known as a decibel (dB). A sound level of zero dB corresponds to the minimum threshold of human hearing for those without hearing damage (Ray, 2013). The average threshold of hearing is close to 10 dB (Caltrans, 2009). USEPA has determined that over a 24-hour period, an equivalent continuous sound level (Leq) of 70 decibels, A-weighted value (dBA), will result in some hearing loss. Interference with activity and annoyance will not occur if exterior levels are maintained at an Leq of 55 dBA and interior levels at or below 45 dBA. Due to the lack of sizeable industrial operations, the county's small population, and topography, existing noise emissions in Alpine County are generally limited to transportation facilities and corridors. Recreation and tourism in the County create higher levels of noise at these facilities and corridors than would otherwise exist. The Alpine County airport presently receives very limited use and is located three miles from the nearest developed area. It is therefore not included as a significant noise producing transportation facility (Alpine County, 2017). The Alpine County Noise Ordinance (County Code §18.68.090) establishes noise compliance standards based on the Alpine County General Plan zoning designations (Table 2-8). However, §18.68.090(F) states: “Exemptions. Sound or noise from the following sources and activities are exempt from the requirements of this section: ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-80 1. Construction. Noise from construction activities between the hours of eight a.m. and six p.m. Monday through Friday; and between nine a.m. and three p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Construction noise that does not exceed the maximum sound levels allowed in this section is not subject to these time restrictions.” The noise compliance standards in Table 2-8 have been provided for informational purposes. Table 2-8 Alpine County Maximum Allowable Noise Exposure by Land Use Zone Maximum Leq Residential neighborhood (RN*) 65 dBA Residential estates (RE*) 60 dBA Institutional (INS) 70 dBA Planned development (PD) 70 dBA Commercial recreational (CR) 75 dBA Commercial 75 dBA Source: (Alpine County, 2009) Discussion a) Would the project result in generation of a substantial temporary or permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the project in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or applicable standards of other agencies? The WRMP would not generate or result in long-term noise levels in excess of existing conditions at the PTAs or vicinity. Noise generated during implementation of vegetation- management activities would be limited to short-term, temporary vegetation-management activities. Types of equipment that may be used to implement the WRMP activities and their corresponding noise levels is identified in Table 2-9. Nearby sensitive receptors include residents and recreationalists. The intensity of noise would be highest at adjacent residences and would diminish over distance to other residences; however, as stated in the WRMP, only hand tools would be used during activities that occur within 100 feet of homes or structures. The noise associated with fuel-treatment equipment (e.g. chainsaws) is not abnormal for the rural conditions of Alpine County and would be limited to short-term exposure. Vegetation management activities conducted under the WRMP could be considered “construction” as the work involves the same types of equipment and work. Vegetation management activities conducted during standard construction hours, therefore, would be exempt from the Alpine County Noise Ordinance and the noise-exposure limits defined in County Code §18.68.090. As described in the WRMP, implementation of vegetation- management activities would be conducted between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm, Monday through Friday, and between 9 am and 3 pm on Saturday and Sunday; therefore, implementation of the WRMP would be completed in accordance with the County’s Noise Ordinance. Impacts would be less than significant. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-81 Table 2-9 Noise Generation Levels of Representative Equipment Used to Implement the WRMP Technique Key Equipment/ Activity Noise Noise Levels at 50 Feet (dBA) Lmax Leq a Manual and mechanical Backhoe 78 74 Excavator 81 77 Skid steer with masticating head 79 75 Backhoe with masticating head 78 74 Tractor 84 80 Brushcutterb, c 78 74 Chainsaw 82 77 Power pole sawb, c 66 64 Hand toolsc, d 40 36 Hand toolsc, d 40 36 Excavator with masticating head 81 77 Chipperb, c 85 81 Pile burning Water pump (on fire engine) 81 78 Leaf blowerb 76 72 Livestock 35 Dog barking 100 - 125 Prescribed burning (pre-treatment, burn, and mop up) Fire engine (Wildland Type 3 or 6) 77 73 Water pump (on fire engine) 81 78 Skid steer 79 75 Tractor 84 80 Chainsaw 82 77 Power pole sawb, c 66 64 Leaf blowerb 76 72 Vehicle Travel Pickup truck 75 71 Notes: a The hourly Leq is based on the hourly use factor and Lmax. b The noise level at the operator/receptor to noise source is generally three feet for the purposes of determining the noise level at 50 feet. c A usage factor of 40 percent was assumed, similar to other equipment. d Chopping wood is used as a proxy for the upper limit of noise. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-82 b) Would the project result in generation of excessive groundborne vibration or groundborne noise levels? As described in the WRMP, implementation of fuel-treatment activities would generally not occur within 100 feet of homes or structures, and any activities that are proposed within this buffer would be executed exclusively with hand tools. The use of hand tools would not result in generation of groundborne vibration or groundborne noise levels. Mechanical equipment would be used at least 100 feet away from residences, and any associated groundborne vibration would dissipate before reaching the structure. Vibration from trucks and typical construction equipment dissipates below the damage threshold for sensitive structures within 10 feet (FTA, 2018). Any vibration experience from trucks passing by receptors would be very brief and periodic and would only occur during implementation of WRMP activities. Impacts would be less than significant. c) For a project located within the vicinity of a private airstrip or an airport land use plan or, where such a plan has not been adopted, within two miles of a public airport or public use airport, would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? Priority PTAs As discussed in Section 2.3.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials, no public airport is located within two miles of the Bear Valley, Manzanita, or Markleevillage priority PTAs. The Bear Valley Airport is located approximately 0.5 mile east of the Bear Valley PTA and is only available for limited private use (Airnav.com, 2020). No noise impacts related to worker exposure to airport noise would occur. Non-Priority PTAs The Alpine County Airport is located approximately 2 miles east of the Turtle Rock Park PTA. As stated in the Alpine County General Plan, the County airport receives very limited use and is located three miles from the nearest developed area; it is therefore not included as a significant noise-producing transportation facility in the county. Implementation of vegetation- management activities at the Turtle Rock Park PTA would not result in excessive noise for people residing or working in the PTA. Impacts would be less than significant. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-83 2.3.14 Population and Housing Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 14. POPULATION AND HOUSING. Would the project: a) Induce substantial unplanned population growth in an area, either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through extension of roads or other infrastructure)? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ b) Displace substantial numbers of existing people or housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Environmental Setting As described in Section 3.3.11 Land Use and Planning, Alpine County is located in a predominantly rural region of the state. Alpine County is the least populated county in California, with approximately 1,200 full-time residents ( (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019). The majority of the permanent residents in Alpine County live in the east region of the County, separated from the west region by the crest of the Sierra Nevada. Many residences within the county are vacation or second homes. Although the county’s permanent population is very low, peak population (including permanent and second-home residents, overnight visitors, and day visitors) is likely in the range of 10,000 to 20,000 persons. Peak populations occur during winter holidays and weekends, when the Bear Valley and Kirkwood resort areas are near capacity (Alpine County, 2017). The WRMP activities may be implemented within the identified PTAs in Alpine County. These areas feature high fire-hazard risk and/or are located near communities or other valuable resources. The three priority PTAs are located on privately owned lands in Alpine County. Portions of the Bear Valley and Markleevillage PTAs include residential areas. Discussion a) Would the project induce substantial unplanned population growth in an area, either directly (for example, by proposing new homes and businesses) or indirectly (for example, through extension of roads or other infrastructure); or b) Displace substantial numbers of existing people or housing, necessitating the construction of replacement housing elsewhere? The WRMP involves the implementation of vegetation-management activities in selected PTAs throughout Alpine County. The priority PTAs were determined through a wildfire-risk assessment that considered existing population and vegetation conditions. Vegetation- management activities would be implemented to protect existing homes and assets within the County from wildfire. The WRMP does not include construction of new homes or businesses and therefore would not directly or indirectly induce substantial unplanned population growth, nor would it displace housing or people. No impact would occur. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-84 2.3.15 Public Services Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 15. PUBLIC SERVICES. a) Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for any of the public services: Fire protection? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Police protection? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Schools? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Parks? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Other public facilities? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Environmental Setting Eastern Alpine Fire/Rescue and CAL FIRE provide fire-protection services to Alpine County. The Alpine County Fire Station #92 is located on Hot Springs Road in Markleeville, and the Bear Valley Fire Department is located on Bear Valley Road. The Alpine County Sheriff’s Department has a Bear Valley Substation Location and a Markleeville Department Location. Discussion a) Would the project result in substantial adverse physical impacts associated with the provision of new or physically altered governmental facilities, need for new or physically altered governmental facilities, the construction of which could cause significant environmental impacts, in order to maintain acceptable service ratios, response times or other performance objectives for any of the public services: Fire protection? Police protection? Schools? Parks? Other public facilities? The WRMP would not include construction of new housing or businesses that would increase population levels and result in an increased demand for public services. Implementation of vegetation-management projects would not affect emergency response times or other performance objectives. Due to the rural setting of Alpine County, pile burns occur frequently throughout the county and therefore would not alarm residents. Residents or recreationalists who witness a prescribed burn within a non-priority PTA could become alarmed if they are ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-85 unaware of the scheduled burn and proceed to notify emergency response personnel; however, prescribed burns would be attended by appropriate management personnel at all times and would reassure potentially alarmed individuals. The WRMP would not generate the need for construction of new or expansion of existing fire-protection facilities, police protection facilities, schools, parks, or other public facilities. Impacts would be less than significant. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-86 2.3.16 Recreation Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 16. RECREATION. a) Would the project increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ b) Does the project include recreational facilities or require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities which might have an adverse physical effect on the environment? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Environmental Setting Many local residents and travelers from outside of the area visit recreational areas within Alpine County during the summer and winter seasons. Recreational use is more limited at other times of the year and is primarily by local residents. During the summer months, large numbers of visitors visit the campgrounds, lakes, and trails near the PTAs. The popular summer tourist attraction, Grover’s Hot Springs State Park, and dispersed recreation sites near the Markleevillage PTA, can add hundreds of people to the community during peak season. Recreationalists also visit Lake Alpine during the summer season, which is located near the Lake Alpine PTA. During the winter, vehicular traffic is extremely high in the County with visitors passing through for winter recreation. The Bear Valley Resort, Bear Valley Cross Country, and the snow parks at Lake Alpine and Spicer Reservoir are popular destinations during winter months near the Bear Valley and Lake Alpine PTAs. Kirkwood Mountain resort is another popular winter resort located along SR-88. Discussion a) Would the project increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities such that substantial physical deterioration of the facility would occur or be accelerated? WRMP implementation would not increase the population in the PTAs. No new housing or permanent employment opportunities would be created. WRMP activities would include localized fuel-treatment projects, which would not create additional recreational demand that would increase the use of existing neighborhood and regional parks or other recreational facilities. No recreational facilities located near the Bear Valley, Manzanita, or Markleevillage priority PTAs would be impacted with implementation of the WRMP. Non-priority PTAs are located in Turtle Rock Park, Grover Hot Springs State Park, and Lake Alpine, which would be partially or fully closed to the public during vegetation-management activities. A significant impact could occur if recreationalists are unable to access these facilities during WRMP implementation. MM Recreation-1 requires the county and responsible management entities to coordinate implementation of vegetation-management activities to avoid the peak recreation ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-87 season and notify recreationalist of park closures. Substantial physical deterioration of these recreational facilities would not occur or be accelerated as a result of the WRMP. Impacts would be less than significant with implementation of mitigation. MM Recreation-1: Recreational Facilities Coordination Prior to planning vegetation-management activities in the Turtle Rock Park, Grover Hot Springs State Park, and Lake Alpine PTAs, the County shall identify the entity responsible for management of the recreational facility and coordinate implementation of WRMP activities to be completed outside of the peak recreation season. Any park or facility closures shall be posted in appropriate locations at the facility entrance and/or trailheads and provided on the facility or park webpages, if applicable. Applicable Location(s): Turtle Rock Park, Grover Hot Springs State Park, and Lake Alpine PTAs. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: N/A • During Activity: 1) Identify management entity, 2) schedule WRMP activities outside of peak recreation season, and 3) post park/facility closure information on site and online, if applicable. • After Activity: N/A b) Does the project include recreational facilities or require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities which might have an adverse physical effect on the environment? The WRMP includes fuel-treatment and vegetation-management activities to reduce wildfire risk in Alpine County. Implementation of the WRMP would not include creation of additional recreational demand that would require the construction or expansion of recreational facilities. Refer to impact statement a) above for a discussion of potential impacts for WRMP work that could occur in Turtle Rock Park, Grover Hot Springs State Park, and Lake Alpine areas. No impact would occur. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-88 2.3.17 Transportation Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 17. TRANSPORTATION. Would the project: a) Conflict with a program plan, ordinance or policy addressing the circulation system, including transit, roadway, bicycle and pedestrian facilities? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ b) Conflict or be inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines section 15064.3, subdivision ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ c) Substantially increase hazards due to a geometric design feature sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses farm equipment)? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ d) Result in inadequate emergency access? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ Environmental Setting The total WRMP area includes up to 1,500 acres of land throughout 10 PTAs within Alpine County. The priority PTAs include 860 acres of privately-owned land spanning three sites in the Bear Valley, Manzanita, and Markleevillage areas. SRs 4, 88 and 89, Hot Springs Road, and Diamond Valley Road provide primary regional access to the priority and non-priority PTAs. Intersections anticipated to be used to access PTAs from SR 4, 88, and 89 are identified in Table 2-10. Transportation within Alpine County is predominately automobile-oriented due to the rural setting and limited options for other modes of transportation. Weather-related road closures can occur in winter months. Traffic peaks occur in both the summer months, when all roadways are open, and the winter weekends due to the proximity to nearby resort communities such as Bear Valley and Kirkwood resorts (Alpine County, 2017). Table 2-10 State Route Intersections used to Serve the PTAs PTA Location State Route Intersections Potential Access Points to PTA 1 Markleevillage State Route 89 and Montgomery Street Private driveways or existing paved and unpaved spur roads from Hot Springs Road, Sawmill Road, Timber Lane, Ox Bow Road, Pinon Road, Pleasant Valley Road 2 and 9 Manzanita State Route 89 and Manzanita Lane State Route 89 and private driveways Private driveways or existing paved and unpaved spur roads from Manzanita Lane, Zellmer Lane, Hawkins Ranch Road, and State Route 89 ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-89 PTA Location State Route Intersections Potential Access Points to PTA 3 and 8 Bear Valley State Route 4 and Bear Valley Road State Route 4 and Immigrant Road All subdivision roads within the Bear Valley subdivision 4 Grover Hot Springs State Route 89 and Montgomery Street Shay Creek Road, Hot Springs Road, private driveways, and existing paved and unpaved spur roads from Hot Springs Road 5 Mesa Vista State Route 88 and Emigrant Trail Existing paved and unpaved spur roads and private driveways from Carson River Road, State Route 89, Emigrant Trail, Wade Road, Diamond View Road, California Road, Larson Canyon Road 6 Hung-A-Lel-Ti State Route 88 and Diamond Valley Road Existing unpaved spur roads and private driveways from Diamond Valley Road, Washoe Boulevard, Dutch Valley Road 7 Turtle Rock Park State Route 89 and Turtle Rock County Park Road Turtle Rock County Park Road and existing paved and unpaved spur roads or private driveways from Turtle Rock County Park Road 10 Lake Alpine State Route 4 and Silvertip Campground Road State Route 4 and West Lake Alpine Road State Route 4 and Lake Alpine Lodge driveway Existing paved and unpaved spur roads and private driveways from State Route 4, West Lake Alpine Road, Lake Alpine Campground Road, Slick Rock 4WD Trail, Silvertip Campground Road, and Harry Thompson Road 11 Diamond Valley State Route 89 and Diamond Valley Road Access directly off Diamond Valley Road 12 Highway 89 None Access directly off State Route 89 and private driveways spurring from State Route 89. No staging of vehicles or equipment would be allowed in the Highway 89 right-of-way, and at the time of the work, the designated point of turnoff from Highway 89 onto the properties would be identified. Discussion a) Conflict with a program plan, ordinance or policy addressing the circulation system, including transit, roadway, bicycle and pedestrian facilities? Implementation of the WRMP would involve conducting vegetation-management activities at the identified PTAs in Alpine County. The WRMP would not interfere with a plan, program, or policy directed at the circulation system. No impact would occur. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-90 b) Conflict or be inconsistent with CEQA Guidelines section 15064.3, subdivision Implementation of the WRMP would not introduce any new land uses or activities in the PTAs that would generate long-term increases in traffic volume. Potential traffic increases would be limited to intermittent travel to and from the PTAs over a limited period of time during WRMP implementation from 2021 to 2024. No impact would occur. c) Substantially increase hazards due to a geometric design feature sharp curves or dangerous intersections) or incompatible uses farm equipment)? Vegetation-management activities proposed in the WRMP include manual and mechanical treatment methods, pile burning, and prescribed burns, if implemented, in the non-priority Mesa Vista, Hung-A-Lel-Ti, Turtle Rock Park, and Lake Alpine PTAs to reduce wildfire risk in Alpine County. Pile burning would not be implemented in the Bear Valley priority PTA. Implementation of the WRMP would not change the existing design features of roads and highways in the PTA vicinity. The proposed fuel-treatment activities would not intentionally increase hazards due to a design feature or incompatible use. Slow-moving trucks or equipment entering and exiting the PTAs could pose a hazard to other vehicles traveling on the nearby roadways; however, proposed activities would be temporary, and access to the sites is from existing roadways with adequate line of site. Additionally, the contractor would be required by State law to obtain a transportation permit from Caltrans for any oversized or excessive load vehicles operated on State roadways. Motorists who witness pile burn or prescribed burn activities (if implemented in the non-priority Mesa Vista, Hung-A-Lel-Ti, Turtle Rock Park and Lake Alpine PTAs), while traveling along a road may become distracted by the smoke or slow down to observe the fire. Implementation of MM Hazards-3 would reduce potential impacts associated with motorists becoming distracted or slowing down to observe a burn event. MM Hazards-3 requires all pile burns to be conducted at least 100 feet from public roads, providing public notification to individuals within one mile and at trailheads and access roads leading to all areas proposed for burning at least 24 hours in advance of a prescribed burn, and posting signs ahead of and adjacent to the prescribed burn indicating that a prescribed burn is in progress. Impacts would be less than significant with mitigation. MM Hazards-3: Hazard Reduction for Stockpiling, Pile Burning, and Prescribed Burning Refer to Section 2.3.9: Hazards and Hazardous Materials d) Result in inadequate emergency access? No long-term street or lane closures would be needed, and no new roads would be constructed as part of the vegetation-management activities under the WRMP. Slow-moving trucks or equipment entering and exiting the PTAs could delay the movement of emergency vehicles. Trucks and equipment would typically pull to the side of the road when emergency vehicles use their sirens. Vehicle traffic increases would be short-term and intermittent and would only contribute a small percentage of the overall traffic. Vegetation-management-related vehicles and equipment could delay emergency response if they were parked in such a way that blocks main roads or prevents access for emergency-response vehicles. To ensure adequate ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-91 emergency response is maintained on main roads and highways, MM Hazards-2 would be implemented, requiring all personal vehicles or construction equipment to be parked in appropriate parking areas off of main roads and potential evacuation routes, with adequate space for emergency response vehicles to pass. The WRMP would not result in inadequate emergency access during project implementation. Impacts would be less than significant with mitigation incorporated. MM Hazards-2: Fire Prevention and Suppression Practices Refer to Section 2.3.9: Hazards and Hazardous Materials ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-92 2.3.18 Tribal Cultural Resources Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 18. TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES. a) Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resource, defined in Public Resources Code section 21074 as either a site, feature, place, cultural landscape that is geographically defined in terms of the size and scope of the landscape, sacred place, or object with cultural value to a California Native American tribe, and that is: i) Listed or eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources, or in a local register of historical resources as defined in Public Resources Code section 5020.1(k), or ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ ii) A resource determined by the lead agency, in its discretion and supported by substantial evidence, to be significant pursuant to criteria set forth in subdivision of Public Resources Code Section 5024.1. In applying the criteria set forth in subdivision of Public Resource Code Section 5024.1, the lead agency shall consider the significance of the resource to a California Native American tribe. ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ Environmental Setting Tribal cultural resources are defined in CEQA as a site, feature, place, cultural landscape, sacred place, or object with cultural value to a California Native American tribe, which may include non-unique archaeological resources previously subject to limited review under CEQA. Alpine County is located within the ethnographic territory of the Washoe Tribe. The NAHC was contacted to request a search of the Sacred Lands file for the vicinity of the priority PTAs and contact information for Native American tribes that may be traditionally or culturally affiliated with the geographic area of the priority PTAs. The NAHC replied that no Native American cultural resources were reported from the Sacred Lands file records search for the priority PTAs and provided a list of Native American contacts for Alpine County. Contacts included one representative from the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. The County provided formal notification of the decision to undertake the WRMP to the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, Ione Band of Miwok Indians, and Calaveras Band of Mi-Wuk Indians on May 28, 2020. The County received response from the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California and engaged in informal consultation during development of the WRMP. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-93 On October 12, 2020, the County sent a notification letter to the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO), Darrel Cruz, regarding the WRMP and an invitation to engage in formal consultation per Assembly Bill (AB 52). No tribes requested formal notice of information on implementation of the WRMP. The County has engaged in informal consultation with the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California during development of the WRMP. During an initial conversation with the Washoe Tribe’s THPO on August 12, 2020, tribal representatives expressed interest in resources of cultural importance near the Bear Valley PTA. These resources were determined to be located outside of the Bear Valley PTA boundary. Results of the cultural record search and survey were also provided to the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California on August 12, 2020. The Washoe Tribe and County representatives discussed cultural and tribal cultural resource mitigation on November 17, 2020, and mitigation measures were modified to reflect the discussion. During the conversation, the Washoe Tribe expressed their support for the WRMP goals and provided information about known archaeological sites in the non-priority PTAs. The Washoe Tribe expressed interest in participating in a site visit as well as the opportunity to provide recommendations to ensure tribal cultural resources are not adversely affected by the WRMP. On December 1, 2020, representatives of the Washoe Tribe and the County visited the Markleevillage archaeological resources sites. Recommendations from tribe representatives have been incorporated into project mitigation measures to ensure that tribal cultural resources are not significantly impacted during WRMP implementation. To facilitate cultural resource documentation, a record search was also conducted at the CCIC in July 2020, and portions of the priority PTAs were surveyed for cultural resources in August 2020. As described in Section 2.3.5 Cultural Resources, numerous cultural resources have been recorded within the priority PTA boundaries. None of the resources located within the Manzanita PTA and the Bear Valley PTA are considered eligible for the CRHR. Two previously recorded sites and one newly recorded site are considered eligible for the CRHR within the Markleevillage PTA. ALP-238/P-02-315 and ALP-270/P-02-347 contain bedrock grinding features and a surface archaeological component. Alp6 is a lithic scatter with a historic component that may address important research questions. ALP-269 consists of a disturbed milling station. While the site lacks integrity, it may be of cultural significance to the Washoe Tribe and is treated as a significant resource for purposes of this tribal cultural resource impact analysis. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-94 Discussion a) Would the project cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a tribal cultural resource, defined in Public Resources Code section 21074 as either a site, feature, place, cultural landscape that is geographically defined in terms of the size and scope of the landscape, sacred place, or object with cultural value to a California Native American tribe, and that is: i. Listed or eligible for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources, or in a local register of historical resources as defined in Public Resources Code section 5020.1(k), or ii. A resource determined by the lead agency, in its discretion and supported by substantial evidence, to be significant pursuant to criteria set forth in subdivision of Public Resources Code Section 5024.1. In applying the criteria set forth in subdivision of Public Resource Code Section 5024.1, the lead agency shall consider the significance of the resource to a California Native American tribe. Implementation of the WRMP has the potential to significantly impact known and previously undiscovered Native American archaeological resources through any activity that could disturb the ground surface or subsurface (refer to Impact Cultural Resources Any prehistoric resource discovered, as addressed in Impact Cultural Resources could be considered a tribal cultural resource as well. The County has consulted with the Washoe Tribe regarding WRMP. Through consultation with the Washoe Tribe, the County has determined that project activities have the potential to alter the tribal significance of known archaeological resources in Markleevillage. WRMP activities would not result in physical impacts to known cultural resources; however, vegetation- management activities could result in alteration of the tribal significance of known resources in Markleevillage, which would be considered a significant impact. MM TCR-1 requires the County to arrange a site visit with the Washoe Tribe to visit the archaeological sites within the Markleevillage PTA and allow the Tribe to provide resource-specific recommendations to ensure tribal cultural resources are not adversely affected by the WRMP. Implementation of the WRMP would result in less-than-significant impacts on previously discovered tribal cultural resources with implementation of MM TCR-1. The boundaries of the non-priority PTAs and location of specific treatment methods to be implemented in the non-priority PTAs have not yet been defined. The Washoe Tribe and other local tribes may be interested in providing input on the non-priority PTA details and/or tribal cultural resources near any of the non-priority PTAs, and if they are unable to do so, impacts could be significant. To reduce potential impacts to tribal resources within the non-priority PTAs, MM TCR-2 would be implemented. MM TCR-2 requires the County to contact local Native American tribes prior to implementing fuel treatment projects at the non-priority PTAs and to provide relevant information to any tribes that wish to receive information or consult. Upon initiating tribal outreach, any Native American tribes interested in consultation would be provided the opportunity to attend a site visit and provide resource-specific recommendations for the treatment and/or avoidance of known resources, per MM TCR-1, in both the non-priority and priority PTAs. With implementation of MM TCR-2 and MM TCR-1, implementation of the WRMP would result in less-than-significant impacts on tribal cultural resources in the non- priority PTAs. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-95 The vegetation-management activities have potential to damage, destroy, or disturb known or previously undiscovered resources that may be present within the PTAs. Disturbance, damage, or destruction of any resources could be considered a significant impact. Several mitigation measures are proposed to reduce impacts on CRHR-eligible resources to less than significant. MM Cultural-1 requires a qualified archaeologist to flag a 100-foot radius around all known cultural resource sites, where the WRMP activities would be limited to hand thinning only. If a previously unidentified resource is encountered during work, MM Cultural-2 would be implemented, requiring cessation of work within 100 feet of the resource, followed by an appropriate evaluation or avoidance of the cultural resource prior to commencement of work in the area. MM Cultural-2 also requires all employees and contractors to be trained how to recognize basic signs of a potential resource and implement the mitigation measures. MM Cultural-3 requires a record search and a pre-activity survey if the area has not been previously surveyed, with the objective of determining the presence/absence of known cultural resource locations before any work commences. Any found resources are either to be avoided entirely or evaluated for eligibility for and, if eligible, handled in accordance with the measures described in MM Cultural-1. If human remains are encountered during implementation of vegetation-management activities, MM Cultural-4 would be implemented, which requires work to halt within 50 feet of the discovery of human remains and contact with the County Coroner’s office to be made, followed by the appointment of an MLD to determine the appropriate course of action. Refer to Section 2.3.5 Cultural Resources for further details regarding mitigation requirements. Impacts on tribal cultural resources would be less than significant with implementation of mitigation. MM TCR-1: Tribal Site Visit and Recommendations Prior to implementation of vegetation-management activities within the priority and non-priority PTAs, the County shall: • Arrange a site visit with the Washoe Tribe, and any other Native American tribe that expresses interest in consulting on the WRMP, to PTAs where resources occur within the PTA boundary. • Provide the opportunity for the Washoe Tribe, and any other interested Native American tribe, to contribute resource-specific recommendations for the treatment and/or avoidance of known resources to ensure tribal cultural resources are not adversely affected by the WRMP activities. • Incorporate resource-specific recommendations from tribes into project implementation plans. Applicable Location(s): All PTAs. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: 1) Arrange site visit with Washoe Tribe and additional Native American tribes, if appropriate, and 2) solicit recommendations for the treatment and/or avoidance of tribal cultural resources. • During Activity: Implement resource-specific recommendations for the treatment and/or avoidance of tribal cultural resources. • After Activity: N/A ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-96 MM TCR-2: Tribal Outreach and Consultation Prior to conducting any work in the non-priority PTAs identified in the WRMP, the County shall contact local Native American tribes identified by the Native American Heritage Commission and/or the County’s AB 52 tribal contacts list and request input on PTA boundaries, specific avoidance areas, and any known Tribal Cultural Resources within the PTAs. For any Native American tribe that is interested in providing input on the development of PTA boundaries and/or specific treatment methods to be implemented, the County shall provide all results of record searches and field surveys conducted within or surrounding PTAs, if applicable. The County shall consult with any interested Native American tribe to ensure any impacts to tribal cultural resources are minimized to the greatest extent feasible, including arranging a site visit and implementing site-specific recommendations as required by MM TCR-1. Applicable Location(s): All non-priority PTAs. Performance Standards and Timing: • Before Activity: Contact Native American tribes, if appropriate. • During Activity: N/A • After Activity: N/A MM Cultural-1: Avoidance of Impacts to Cultural Resources See Section 2.3.5: Cultural Resources MM Cultural-2: Previously Unidentified Cultural Resources See Section 2.3.5: Cultural Resources MM Cultural-3: Pre-Activity Record Search and Surveys See Section 2.3.5: Cultural Resources MM Cultural-4: Discovery of Human Remains See Section 2.3.5: Cultural Resources ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-97 2.3.19 Utilities and Service Systems Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 19. UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS. Would the project: a) Require or result in the relocation or construction of new or expanded water, wastewater treatment or storm water drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunications facilities, the construction or relocation of which could cause significant environmental effects? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ b) Have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project and reasonably foreseeable future development during normal, dry and multiple dry years? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ c) Result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ d) Generate solid waste in excess of State or local standards, or in excess of the capacity of local infrastructure, or otherwise impair the attainment of solid waste reduction goals? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ e) Comply with federal, state, and local management and reduction statutes and regulations related to solid waste? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Environmental Setting Alpine County is primarily a rural place that features small, dispersed residential communities. The main population centers are located in the general Bear Valley, Kirkwood, Markleeville, and Woodfords areas. The Markleeville Public Utilities District provides wastewater collection and conveyance service to the unincorporated community of Markleeville. Domestic water service to Markleeville is provided by Markleeville Mutual Water Company, which is a small district with limited resources. Lake Alpine Water Company, a privately owned water utility, serves the Bear Valley area. The County’s Small Water System Program is responsible for the permitting, inspection, and monitoring of 39 small public water systems in Alpine County. Most rural residences in the County are served by on-site wells and septic systems (Alpine County, 2017). PG&E, Liberty Utilities, and KMPUD provide electricity to Alpine County. Alpine County has three distinct solid waste service providers: Douglas Disposal & Recycling Service (Markleeville and Woodfords areas); ACES Waste Services working with KMPUD (Kirkwood area); and Cal-Waste (Bear Valley area). ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-98 Discussion a) Require or result in the relocation or construction of new or expanded water, wastewater treatment or storm water drainage, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunications facilities, the construction or relocation of which could cause significant environmental effects? The WRMP would not be served by any stormwater, electric power, natural gas, or telecommunication facilities. The WRMP would not include any new development that would require relocation or construction of new or expanded municipal wastewater treatment, stormwater drainage, natural gas, or telecommunications facilities. Temporary restrooms for workers may be available during implementation of WRMP activities; however, the amount of wastewater generated by a small number of workers would not significantly contribute to the existing wastewater generation in Alpine County and relocation or expansion of wastewater treatment facilities would not be required. No impact would occur. b) Have sufficient water supplies available to serve the project and reasonably foreseeable future development during normal, dry and multiple dry years? Pile burning (excluding the Bear Valley priority PTA) and prescribed burning (excluding the priority PTAs) under the WRMP could involve the use of water as a suppression or contingency source. This increase in water consumption would be minimal compared to the quantity of water available in the County and would not substantially increase the volume of water used in the PTAs. Implementation of the Program would not necessitate the expansion of any water supplies or facilities. Impacts would be less than significant. c) Result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider which serves or may serve the project that it has adequate capacity to serve the project’s projected demand in addition to the provider’s existing commitments? Temporary restrooms may be available for workers during WRMP implementation; however, the amount of wastewater generated by the small number of workers on site at one time would not exceed existing wastewater treatment capacity. The sanitation contractor providing the portable restrooms would dispose of the waste at a sewage treatment plant in compliance with standards established by the Central Valley or Lahontan No impact would occur. d) Generate solid waste in excess of State or local standards, or in excess of the capacity of local infrastructure, or otherwise impair the attainment of solid waste reduction goals? No solid waste would be generated by the WRMP. No impact would occur. e) Comply with federal, State, and local management and reduction statutes and regulations related to solid waste? No solid waste would be generated by the WRMP. No impact would occur. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-99 2.3.20 Wildfire Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 20. WILDFIRE. If located in or near state responsibility areas or lands classified as very high fire hazard severity zones, would the project: a) Substantially impair an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ b) Due to slope, prevailing winds, and other factors, exacerbate wildfire risks, and thereby expose project occupants to, pollutant concentrations from a wildfire or the uncontrolled spread of a wildfire? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ c) Require the installation or maintenance of associated infrastructure (such as roads, fuel breaks, emergency water sources, power lines or other utilities) that may exacerbate fire risk or that may result in temporary or ongoing impacts to the environment? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ d) Expose people or structures to significant risks, including downslope or flooding or landslides, as a result of runoff, post-fire slope instability, or drainage changes? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ Environmental Setting Wildland fire is a dangerous threat in Alpine County. Wildfires tend to originate in lesser developed areas, which poses a difficult problem for fire suppression personnel. Natural lands tend to contain a denser variety of vegetation, providing more fuels to ignite and spread a fire. Fires can grow rapidly in these denser fuel environments. Firefighting personnel are usually located farther from lesser developed areas. The extended time it takes for fire suppression personnel to reach and react to a wildfire further complicates the effort to contain and extinguish the fire. The threat of wildland fire increases as winter snowpack melts, summer temperatures rise, and forest fuels become dry and susceptible to fire. The summer months of June, July, August, and September are traditionally the wildland fire season in Alpine County, but fire season can extend later into the year until precipitation arrives in the fall. The National Weather Service issues Fire Weather Watches and Red Flag Warnings up to three days in advance for instances of strong winds and low humidity or thunderstorms with abundant dry lightning. These critical fire weather conditions result in the rapid spread of wildfire, which can overwhelm initial fire suppression efforts. On average, eight to fifteen Red Flag Warnings are issued for Alpine County each year (Alpine County, 2018). There have been four major wildland fires in Alpine County in the last 20 years: the Indian Creek Fire in 1984 (17,000 acres total) near Indian Creek on the east slope of the Sierra Nevada east of Woodfords; a 1986 fire (3,000 acres total) near Fredericksburg to the north of the Indian Creek Fire; the Acorn Fire in ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-100 1987 (6,000 acres and destroyed 26 structures) near Woodfords; and the Washington Fire in June 2015 (17,790 acres). The California Public Resources Code (PRC) 4201-4204 and Govt. Code 51175-89 direct CAL FIRE to map areas of significant fire hazards based on fuels, terrain, weather, and other relevant factors. These zones, referred to as Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ), define the application of various mitigation strategies to reduce risk associated with wildland fires. CAL FIRE maintains FHSZ maps for State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) and Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs) based on new data, science, and technology. In such areas, CAL FIRE delineates three hazard ranges: Moderate, High, and Very High. The majority of Alpine County is designated as a Federal Responsibility Area (FRA); however, several SRAs and LRAs are also included in the County. The various SRAs are classified as Very High, High, or Moderate FHSZ. CAL FIRE has determined that Alpine County has no Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in LRAs (CAL FIRE, 2020). The responsibility area and associated FHSZ of each PTA are listed in Table 2-11. Several figures in the WRMP show the various fire hazards throughout the county. In Alpine County, CAL FIRE does not maintain a physical presence (fire station or engine); instead, they delegate their responsibilities to the federal agencies by virtue of a Cooperative Fire Agreement. This agreement allows CAL FIRE to trade wildfire responsibility in some private areas of California, such as Alpine County, for protection of federal lands elsewhere. Several PTAs are located within areas considered a wildland–urban interface (WUI). The WUI is a transition zone between human development and wildland areas that could be affected by wildland fire. Vegetation-management activities can prevent wildfires and protect disadvantaged communities, infrastructure, and forest resources within the WUI. The priority PTAs in Bear Valley, Manzanita, and Markleevillage are located in WUI areas, where vegetation-management activities are focused on protecting life and property. The Grover Hot Springs, Mesa Vista, Hung-A-Lel-Ti, and Diamond Valley PTAs are also in WUI zones, and fuel-reduction activities in these areas would improve WUI defense in the event of a wildfire. Table 2-11 Designated Responsibility Areas and Fire Hazard Severity Zones by PTA PTA Responsibility FHSZ Priority PTAs Bear Valley SRA Very High, High Manzanita SRA Very High, High Markleevillage SRA Very High Non-Priority PTAs Diamond Valley SRA High Grover Hot Springs SRA, LRA (Unincorporated) Very High ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-101 PTA Responsibility FHSZ Highway 89 FRA n/a Hung-A-Lel-Ti FRA n/a Lake Alpine FRA n/a Mesa Vista FRA, SRA Very High, High Turtle Rock Park SRA Very High Source: (CAL FIRE, 2020) Discussion a) Would the project substantially impair an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan? As previously discussed in Section 2.3.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Impact no emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan has been adopted by Alpine County; therefore, implementation of the WRMP would not impair an adopted emergency response plan or emergency evacuation plan. As stated in the WRMP, there would be no street or lane closures, and no new roads would be constructed as part of the WRMP activities. Additional potential impacts associated with emergency response and access are discussed in Section 2.3.17 Transportation, Impact No impact would occur. b) Would the project due to slope, prevailing winds, and other factors, exacerbate wildfire risks, and thereby expose project occupants to, pollutant concentrations from a wildfire or the uncontrolled spread of a wildfire? The purpose of the WRMP is to reduce fuel loads and wildland fire risks in Alpine County to protect the County’s population and valuable resources. Implementation of the WRMP would have beneficial effects with regard to reducing wildfire risks and the size and spread of potential wildfires. The WRMP would support the goals and objectives of strategic wildfire planning in the area, including the Alpine County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and the Alpine County Hazards Mitigation Plan. As described in Section 2.3.9 Hazards and Hazardous Materials, some activities could increase risks of wildland-fire ignition and spread during the actual performance of fuel-treatment activities, which require the use of vehicles and equipment that could ignite a fire through generation of sparks or heat. Certain parts of the county could be more susceptible to fire ignition and spread, such as areas on steep slopes, south-facing slopes, and areas where significant fuel is found dead trees and thick understories of weeds). Pile burns also have a higher potential for starting a wildfire were the burns to become uncontrolled (although likelihood is exceedingly small). Implementation of fire prevention and suppression best management practices defined in MM Hazards-2 would also reduce the likelihood of a fire ignition and spread. Under MM Hazards-2, workers would not be permitted to smoke on site or during the fire season, fire suppression equipment shall be maintained on site, and activities that create increase risk of fire ignition would be restricted during high fire-danger conditions. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-102 The stockpiling of dry, vegetative material for pile burning has the potential to increase fire risks prior to burning because it is a concentrated source of flammable fuels. If a pile burn event were to ignite a wildfire of any size or with potential for spread, the impact would be considered significant. Implementation of MM Hazards-3 would require all pile burns to be conducted in accordance with Title 17 of the CCR and GBUAPCD’s Rule 411, which prohibits wildland vegetation management burning on “no burn” days as announced daily by the CARB for Inyo, Mono, and Alpine Counties or when such burning is prohibited by the APCO (GBUAPCD, 2001). A Smoke Management Plan would also be prepared and implemented in accordance with GBUAPCD’s Rule 411 per MM Hazards-3 for any wildland vegetation- management burning projects greater than 1 acre in size (including pile burns or prescribed burns). MM Hazards-3 also stipulates that pile burns are only allowed on days when fire is less likely to spread wind speeds are less than 15 mph) and will not be constructed in areas where burning cannot be safely controlled, such as bottoms of steep, vegetated hills, and that all piles would be burned or chipped prior to the fire season and within six months of treatment. Implementation of the WRMP would not exacerbate wildfire risks and expose project occupants to pollutant concentrations from a wildfire or the uncontrolled spread of a wildfire. Impacts would be less than significant with mitigation. MM Hazards-3: Hazard Reduction for Stockpiling, Pile Burning, and Prescribed Burning Refer to Section 2.3.9: Hazards and Hazardous Materials c) Would the project require the installation or maintenance of associated infrastructure (such as roads, fuel breaks, emergency water sources, power lines or other utilities) that may exacerbate fire risk or that may result in temporary or ongoing impacts to the environment? Implementation of the WRMP would include conducting manual and mechanical vegetation management activities, pile burns (excluding the Bear Valley priority PTA), and prescribed burns (excluding the priority PTAs) in the identified PTAs in Alpine County. The WRMP would not require the installation or maintenance of associated infrastructure, and therefore, implementation of the WRMP would not exacerbate fire risk or result in temporary or ongoing impacts to the environment. No impact would occur. d) Would the project expose people or structures to significant risks, including downslope or flooding or landslides, as a result of runoff, post-fire slope instability, or drainage changes? As described in Section 2.3.7 Geology and Soils and Section 2.3.10 Hydrology and Water Quality, implementation of vegetation-management activities would minimally disrupt surficial soil and could result in erosion or slope instability, leading to landslide. Implementation of MM Geology-1 would minimize erosion and loss of topsoil in denuded areas by requiring use of erosion control and slope-stability measures, reducing the risk of landslide. Vegetation- management activities proposed in the WMRP would not substantially alter the existing drainage pattern of the PTAs and would not result in an addition of impervious surfaces. Minor increases in surface-runoff rates resulting from additional hydrophobic soils would not be ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-103 significant on a large scale due to other sources of infiltration throughout Alpine County and would not result in flooding. The WRMP would not include development that would expose people or structures to significant risks, including downslope or flooding or landslides, as a result of runoff, post-fire instability, or drainage changes. Impacts would be less than significant with implementation of mitigation. MM Geology-1: Erosion Control and Slope Stability Measures Refer to Section 2.3.7 Geology and Soils ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-104 2.3.21 Mandatory Findings of Significance Environmental Impacts Potentially Significant Impact Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated Less than Significant Impact No Impact 21. MANDATORY FINDINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE. a) Does the project have the potential to substantially degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, substantially reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory? ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐ b) Does the project have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable? ("Cumulatively considerable" means that the incremental effects of a project are considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects)? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ c) Does the project have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ Discussion a) Does the project have the potential to substantially degrade the quality of the environment, substantially reduce the habitat of a fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self- sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, substantially reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory? Implementation of the WRMP would not substantially reduce the habitat of fish or wildlife species, cause a fish or wildlife population to drop below self-sustaining levels, threaten to eliminate a plant or animal community, or substantially reduce the number or restrict the range of a rare or endangered plant or animal. Implementation of the mitigation measures presented in Section 2.3.4 Biological Resources would mitigate potential significant impacts that could substantially degrade the quality of the environment or impact biological resources. Mitigation measures presented in Section 2.3.5 Cultural Resources would ensure that the WRMP would not significantly affect previously undiscovered resources or eliminate important examples of the major periods of California history or prehistory. The biological and cultural resource mitigation measures are listed below. • MM Biology-1: Pre-construction Plant Survey • MM Biology-2: Worker Environmental Awareness Training ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-105 • MM Biology-3: Waters and Wetland Protection Zones • MM Biology-4: Nesting Bird Surveys • MM Biology-5: Avoid Disturbance or Harm to Terrestrial Wildlife • MM Biology-6: Prescribed Burn Planning • MM Biology-7: Invasive Species Control • MM Cultural-1: Avoidance of Impacts to Cultural Resources • MM Cultural-2: Previously Unidentified Cultural Resources • MM Cultural-3: Pre-Activity Record Search and Surveys • MM Cultural-4: Discovery of Human Remains Given the fact that potential impacts to biological and cultural resources would primarily occur during active vegetation-management activities (not long term) and that measures have been identified to reduce these temporary impacts, impacts would not be considered significant. Impacts would be less than significant with mitigation incorporated. b) Does the project have impacts that are individually limited, but cumulatively considerable? ("Cumulatively considerable" means that the incremental effects of a project are considerable when viewed in connection with the effects of past projects, the effects of other current projects, and the effects of probable future projects)? Many fuels-treatment projects have been implemented in Alpine County. The local organizations and federal agencies responsible for managing forest health projects throughout Alpine County are discussed in the WRMP. The temporary and intermittent nature of vegetation-management activities and negligible long-term effects would not result in significant impacts. Section 15064(h)(1) of CEQA Guidelines states that the lead agency shall consider whether a cumulative impact is significant and the incremental effects of a project are cumulatively considerable. The lead agency may determine that a project’s incremental contribution would be less-than-cumulatively considerable when one or more of the following occur: 1) the contribution would be rendered less than cumulatively considerable through implementation of mitigation measures; 2) the project would comply with the requirements of a previously approved plan or mitigation program that provides specific requirements that would avoid or substantially lessen the project’s cumulative effects; and/or 3) the project’s incremental effects would be so small that the environmental conditions would be essentially the same regardless of whether the project is implemented. The WRMP includes impacts that are mostly short term. Any effects, such as less than significant impacts on aesthetics, that persist following active treatment of a PTA are not expected to be cumulatively considerable when considering concurrent or future projects. Once a PTA has been treated under the WRMP, no additional vegetation-management activities would be required in the same area in the short term. Individual projects within PTAs would be treated sequentially and not concurrently. Other vegetation-management projects currently proposed in the county may occur adjacent to the PTAs proposed in the WRMP but are not anticipated to occur at the same time as implementation of priority or non-priority projects. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 ENVIRONMENTAL CHECKLIST Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 2-106 Potential impacts of the cumulative projects are not anticipated to be cumulatively considerable, based on the small scale and treatment methods that are anticipated to be implemented for the cumulative projects. There would be no significant cumulative effect. The WRMP is not growth inducing, would not result in further development, and would comply with all zoning and land-use designations. Potential impacts associated with the WRMP are primarily short term (vegetation-management activity related) and intermittent and would be mitigated to less-than-significant levels. There would be no long-term significant effects from the implementation of the WRMP. Therefore, the WRMP’s incremental contribution to cumulative conditions would be less than cumulatively considerable. c) Does the project have environmental effects which will cause substantial adverse effects on human beings, either directly or indirectly? Potential adverse effects to human beings would occur as a result of implementation of vegetation-management activities and use of equipment. Potential impacts would include effects to air quality and some minor increases in noise. These impacts would be short-term and would cease upon completion of the vegetation-management activities. The WRMP outcome would promote healthy forests that are less prone to catastrophic wildfires and would support the protection of WUI communities and resources at risk of wildfire throughout Alpine County. Potential adverse effects on human beings as a result of the WRMP would be less than significant. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 REFERENCES Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 3-1 3 References Airnav.com. (2020, September 10). Bear Valley Airport 73CA. Retrieved from Alpine County. (2009). Alpine County Code. Chapter 18.68 General Requirements and Exceptions. Alpine County. (2016, December Energy Action Plan. Prepared by Sierra Business Council. Alpine County. (2017, March). Alpine County General Plan. Alpine County. (2018). Alpine County Hazard Mitigation Plan. Alpine Watershed Group. (2020). Alpine County Watersheds. Retrieved from Bateman, P. C. (1986). Geologic Structure and History of the Sierra Nevada. UMR Journal - V. H. McNutt Colloquium Series: Vol. 1, Article 8, 121-131. CAL FIRE. (2020). Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer. Retrieved from California Department of Conservation. (2015). Mineral Lands Classification. Retrieved from California Department of Conservation. (2016). Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP). Retrieved from Important Farmland Maps: California Department of Conservation. (2016). Mines Online. Retrieved from California Department of Conservation. (2018). The Williamson Act Status Report 2016-17. California Geological Survey. (2010). Geologic Map of California. Retrieved from California Geological Survey. (2018). California Geomorphic Provinces. Retrieved from California Geological Survey. (2020). Official Maps of Earthquake Fault Zones. Caltrans. (2009, November). Technical Noise Supplement. Caltrans. (2019, August). Designated and Eligible State Scenic Highways. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 REFERENCES Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 3-2 CARB. (2018, October). Area Designations for National Ambient Air Quality Standards. CARB. (2019, August). Area Designations for State Ambient Air Quality Standards. CDFW. (2020, September California Sensitive Natural Communities. Retrieved October 20, 2020, from FEMA. (2020, April). FEMA National Flood Hazard Viewer. Retrieved from fema.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8b0adb51996444d4879338b55 29aa9cd FTA. (2018, September). Transit Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment Manual. GBUAPCD. (1981). Rule 404-A Particulate Matter. GBUAPCD. (2001, November Rule 411 Wildland Vegetation Management Burning in Wildland and Wildland/Urban Interface Areas. GBUAPCD. (2006). Rule 401 Fugitive Dust. IPCC. (2014). Climate Change 2014 Report Summary for Policymakers. Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Keeley, Franklin, & D'Antonio, C. (2011). Fire and Invasive Plants on California Landscapes. The Landscape Ecology of Fire, Ecological Studies 213, Chapter 8 in D. McKenzie et al. (eds.). Lang, & McDonald, G. W. (2005, January 14). Maintaining Groundcover to Reduce Erosion and Sustain Production. NSW Department of Primary Industries. National Cooperative Soil Survey. (1997). Aiken Series. National Cooperative Soil Survey. (2004). Clallam Series. Retrieved from National Cooperative Soil Survey. (2006a). Donica Series. Retrieved from National Cooperative Soil Survey. (2006b, October). Dixmine Series. Retrieved from National Cooperative Soil Survey. (2006c, December). Joecut Series. Retrieved from Orvald, & Drews, M. (2020, October). Cultural Resource Assessment for the Manzanita, Markleevillage & Bear Valley Wildland-Urban Interface Fuels Reduction Projects, Alpine County, California. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 REFERENCES Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 3-3 Paulus, J. (2020, October). Biological Assessment: Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan. Ray, E. F. (2013). Industrial Noise Series Part I: Fundamental of Environmental Sound. Rice, & Smith, J. (2008). Use of fire to manage populations of nonnative invasive plants. In K. Zouhar, J. K. Smith, S. Sutherland, & M. L. Brooks, Wildland fire in ecosystems: fire and nonnative invasive plants. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 6, 47-60. U.S. Census Bureau. (2019, July). QuickFacts. Alpine County, California. University of California Museum of Paleontology. (2020). UCMP Specimen Search. Retrieved from USDA NRCS. (2020, May). Web Soil Survey, Areas CA686, CA724, CA729, CA731. Retrieved from USEPA. (2020). San Francisco Bay Delta. Watersheds. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 LIST OF PREPARERS Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 4-1 4 List of Preparers This section lists those individuals who either prepared or participated in the preparation of this IS/MND. The following staff listed in Table 4-1 contributed to this IS/MND. Table 4-1 Consultant Team Contributor Agency/Affiliation Role/Resource Section Alpine County Community Development Department Debbie Burkett, Director Alpine County Contract oversight/project direction and definition/ document review Zach Wood, Planner III Alpine County County Project Manager/project direction and definition/document review Steering Committee Kris Hartnett Alpine Fire Safe Council Project direction and definition/document review Michael Barton Alpine Biomass Collaborative Project direction and definition/ document review Kellin Brown USFS Region 5 Project direction and definition/document review Annabelle Monti USFS Region 4 Project direction and definition/document review Terry Hughes East Alpine Fire & Rescue Project direction and definition/document review Mike Deacon CAL FIRE Amador El Dorado Unit Project direction and definition/document review Tribes Darrel Cruz, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California Tribal Consultation Consultant Team Tania Treis, Principal/Project Director Panorama Environmental, Inc. Quality Control/document review and revision for all IS sections Rita Wilke, Project Manager/Environmental Scientist Panorama Environmental, Inc. Project Management, Quality Control/document review and revision for all IS sections, Biological Resources Madeleine Jones, Environmental Planner Panorama Environmental, Inc. MND, Introduction, Draft IS sections, technical editing ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 LIST OF PREPARERS Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Draft Final IS/MND ● December 2020 February 2021 4-2 Contributor Agency/Affiliation Role/Resource Section James Paulus, Ph.D., Biologist/Botanist N/A Biological Resources Tucker Orvald Mike Drews Great Basin Consulting Group Cultural Resources, Tribal Cultural Resources ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDICES Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan Biological Resources Assessment Report Cultural Resources Assessment Report Response to Comments Comment Letters ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDIX A Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine County DraftWildfire Risk Mitigation Plan December 2020February 2021 ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- www.panoramaenv.com Alpine County DraftWildfire Risk Mitigation Plan December 2020February 2021 Prepared for: Alpine County Community Development Department 50 Diamond Valley Road Markleeville, CA 96120 [PHONE REDACTED] [EMAIL REDACTED] Prepared by: Scott Conway; Jason Moghaddas, RPF Spatial Informatics Group 2529 Yolanda Ct. Pleasanton, CA 94566 Tania Treis Panorama Environmental, Inc. 717 Market Street, Suite 650 San Francisco, CA 94103 [PHONE REDACTED] Cover Photo Credit: (Monti, 2020; Paulus, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- TABLE OF CONTENTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 i Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations v 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Background 1-1 1.2 Goals and Objectives 1-2 1.3 Scope of Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan 1-2 1.4 Existing Fuel Management Planning, Projects, and Regional Capabilities 1-4 1.5 Plan Development Process 1-6 2 Technical 2-1 2.1 Key Terms 2-1 2.2 Introduction 2-1 2.3 Fire Hazard Analysis 2-2 2.4 Susceptibility Analysis – HVRA Analysis 2-29 2.5 Wildfire Risk Assessment 2-36 3 Wildfire Risk Mitigation Projects 3-1 3.1 Development and Prioritization of Potential Projects 3-1 3.2 Projects Included in the WRMP by Tier 3-2 3.3 Environmental Review Considerations for Risk Mitigation Projects 3-20 4 Implementation Plan 4-1 4.1 Methods and Tools 4-1 4.2 Project 1: Markleevillage 4-6 4.3 Project 2: Manzanita 4-6 4.4 Project 3: Bear Valley 4-7 4.5 Environmental Considerations and Review 4-8 4.6 Estimated Cost and Funding Sources 4-1 4.7 Implementation of Other Projects Identified in the WRMP 4-6 5 Community Access Risk Assessment 5-1 5.1 Ingress/Egress and Community Evacuation Area Identification 5-1 5.2 Community Access Risk Report 5-5 ---PAGE BREAK--- TABLE OF CONTENTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 ii 6 References 6-1 List of Tables Table ES-1 HVRA Accounting for Alpine County 6 Table ES-2 Typical Vegetation Treatments 10 Table 2-1 Aspect Data for Alpine County by Percent 2-6 Table 2-2 Elevation Data for Alpine County by Percent 2-7 Table 2-3 Slope Data for Alpine County by Percent 2-8 Table 2-4 Land Cover Types within Alpine County Planning Areas 2-10 Table 2-5 Vegetation Condition Class Definitions 2-12 Table 2-6 Fuel Model Type by Percent 2-14 Table 2-7 Stand Heights by Percent 2-15 Table 2-8 Canopy Cover by Percent 2-16 Table 2-9 Canopy Bulk Density by Percent 2-17 Table 2-10 Canopy Base Height by Percent 2-18 Table 2-11 Spatial Distribution of Flame Length Classes 2-24 Table 2-12 Percent of Each Classification of Integrated Hazard 2-27 Table 2-13 HVRA Accounting for Alpine County 2-31 Table 2-14 Results of Surveys Determining Response to Wildfire 2-34 Table 2-15 Results of Surveys Determining Relative Importance 2-35 Table 2-16 Additional Filter by 2-38 Table 2-17 Additional Filter by Land Ownership 2-38 Table 2-18 Areas of Risk and Acres of Opportunity by Land Management or Ownership 2-50 Table 3-1 Projects Included in the Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan by Tier 3-4 Table 3-2 Options for Project Environmental Review under CEQA 3-20 Table 4-1 Personnel Needed to Implement Treatment Methods 4-5 Table 4-2 Potential Special Status Species Found in Alpine County 4-1 Table 4-3 Estimates of Cost by Treatment Types 4-1 Table 4-4 Potential Grant Opportunities for Fuel Management Projects 4-3 Table 4-5 Development of Future Projects 4-7 Table 4-6 Outreach Actions and Timing 4-9 Table 5-1 Safety Zone Rules for Safe Separation Distances 5-4 Table 5-2 Acreages of the Highest 50th Percentile Risk around Ingress and Egress Routes 5-5 List of Figures Figure 1-1 Land Ownership and Communities in Alpine County 1-3 Figure 1-2 Summary of WRMP Development Process 1-6 Figure 2-1 Components of Wildfire Risk Analysis 2-2 Figure 2-2 Fire Behavior Modeling Workflow 2-4 Figure 2-3 Aspect Data for Alpine County from 2-6 Figure 2-4 Elevation Data for Alpine County from LANDFIRE 2-7 Figure 2-5 Slope Data for Alpine County from LANDFIRE 2-8 Figure 2-6 Existing Vegetation Types in Alpine County 2-9 ---PAGE BREAK--- TABLE OF CONTENTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 iii Figure 2-7 Majority Vegetation Cover in Alpine County 2-9 Figure 2-8 Existing Vegetation Condition Classes 2-11 Figure 2-9 Fuel Load Model Types in Alpine County 2-14 Figure 2-10 Stand Heights in Alpine County 2-15 Figure 2-11 Canopy Cover in Alpine County 2-16 Figure 2-12 Canopy Bulk Density in Alpine County 2-17 Figure 2-13 Canopy Base Height 2-18 Figure 2-14 Surface Fire Behavior Characteristics Chart 2-22 Figure 2-15 Integrated Hazard Classification Chart 2-23 Figure 2-16 Modeled Flame in Alpine County 2-25 Figure 2-17 Modeled Fire Probability in Alpine County 2-26 Figure 2-18 Modeled Integrated Hazard for Alpine County 2-28 Figure 2-19 Location and Extent of HVRAs in Alpine County 2-32 Figure 2-20 HVRA Raster Layer Example for Bear Valley Planning Area 2-33 Figure 2-21 Countywide Areas of Moderate to Highest Wildfire Risk 2-40 Figure 2-22 Areas of Moderate to Highest Wildfire Risk for Markleeville 2-41 Figure 2-23 Opportunities in Alpine County for Prescribed Fire within the 2-42 Figure 2-24 Opportunities for Prescribed Fire in Markleeville within the HVRAs 2-43 Figure 2-25 Countywide Wildfire Risk Output After Workflow with Prescribed Fire Opportunities 2-44 Figure 2-26 Markleeville Wildfire Risk Output After Workflow with Prescribed Fire Opportunities 2-45 Figure 2-27 Bear Valley Wildfire Risk Output After Workflow with Prescribed Fire Opportunities 2-46 Figure 2-28 Kirkwood Wildfire Risk Output After Workflow with Prescribed Fire Opportunities 2-47 Figure 2-29 Woodfords Wildfire Risk Output After Workflow with Prescribed Fire Opportunities 2-48 Figure 2-30 Hung-A-Lel-Ti Wildfire Risk Output After Workflow with Prescribed Fire Opportunities 2-49 Figure 3-1 Index of Project Maps in WRMP 3-9 Figure 3-2 Mesa Vista Project Area (Tier 1, Project 5) 3-10 Figure 3-3 Hung-a-Lel-Ti Project Area (Tier 3, Project 3-11 Figure 3-4 Manzanita Project Area (Tier 1, Project 2 and Tier 3, Project 9) 3-12 Figure 3-5 Turtle Rock Park Project Area (Tier 3, Project 7) 3-13 Figure 3-6 Grover Hot Springs Project Area (Tier 2, Project 4) 3-14 Figure 3-7 Markleevillage Project Area (Tier 1, Project 1) 3-15 Figure 3-8 Bear Valley Project Area (Tier 1, Project 3) 3-16 Figure 3-9 Lake Alpine Project Area (Tier 3, Project 10) 3-17 Figure 3-10 Diamond Valley Project Area (Tier 3, Project 11) 3-18 Figure 3-11 Highway 89 Project Area (Tier 3, Project 12) 3-19 Figure 4-1 Rotary Masticator 4-2 Figure 4-2 Hand Thinning with Chainsaw 4-3 Figure 4-3 Pile Burn 4-4 Figure 5-1 Designated Safety Zones and Areas in Alpine County 5-2 Figure 5-2 Woodfords Area Designated Safety Zones 5-3 ---PAGE BREAK--- TABLE OF CONTENTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 iv Figure 5-3 Locations in Markleeville Where Highest Risk Overlaps with Emergency Access Routes and Safety 5-7 Figure 5-4 Locations in Bear Valley Where Highest Risk Overlaps with Emergency Access Routes and Safety 5-8 Figure 5-5 Locations in Hung-A-Lel-Ti Where Highest Risk Overlaps with Emergency Access Routes and Safety 5-9 List of Appendices Appendix A Community and Stakeholder Input Report Appendix B Current Conditions Report Appendix C Response Function Survey Appendix D Relative Importance Survey ---PAGE BREAK--- ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 v Acronyms and Abbreviations A ABC Alpine Biomass Collaborative AFSC Alpine Fire Safe Council B BLM Bureau of Land Management BRIC Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities C CAL FIRE California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection CalOES California Office of Emergency Services CalVTP California Vegetation Treatment Program CAR Community-at-Risk CCI California Climate Investments CEQA California Environmental Quality Act CWPP Community Wildfire Protection Plan D dbh diameter at breast height E EIR Environmental Impact Report F FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency FY Fiscal Year G GIS Geographic Information System ---PAGE BREAK--- ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 vi H HVRA High Valued Resources and Assets I Interagency Fuel Treatment Decision Support System IS/MND Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration L LANDFIRE Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools LHMP Local Hazard Mitigation Plan M MTT Minimum Travel Time N NEPA National Environmental Policy Act R RAWS Remote Automatic Weather Stations RPF Registered Professional Forester T THP Timber Harvest Plan U U.S. United States USFS United States Forest Service V VTP Vegetation Treatment Plan W WRMP Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan WUI wildland urban interface ---PAGE BREAK--- ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 vii This page is intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 ES-1 ES Executive Summary ES.1 Overview Alpine County applied for and was awarded a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Community Fire Prevention Grant in the amount of $223,756 to create the Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan (WRMP or plan). The goal of the WRMP is to reduce wildfire risk in Alpine County and to protect important resources throughout the County. The WRMP identifies up to 12 fuels reduction projects that can be implemented over the next 10 years, with three top priority projects to be implemented in the next two years. The WRMP is a County-wide effort that encompasses all communities within Alpine County. ES.2 Fire Behavior Modeling ES.1.1 Overview of Modeling Wildfire modeling is a field of computational science that uses numerical simulations to predict fire behavior. Wildfire modeling attempts to reproduce fire behavior characteristics like how quickly a fire can spread, in which directions it may spread, and how much heat it may generate given the conditions of the fuels, land, and predicted weather. Fire behavior modeling also looks at whether a fire would transition from the ground surface to tree crowns, which is much more dangerous. Once fire behavior is estimated through modeling, an assessment of fire hazards to surrounding life and property can be made and modifications can be made to the vegetation to reduce the exposure of important human values to that hazard, known as vegetation treatments or prescriptions. The factors that influence fire behavior serve as the key inputs in modeling efforts. These factors include: • Landscape: Topography factors influence wildfires. Orientation toward the sun, which influences the amount of energy received from the sun, and the slope (fire spreads faster uphill) influence fire behavior. Fire can accelerate in narrow canyons and it can be slowed down or stopped by barriers such as creeks and roads. • Fuels: Fuels include anything that can burn. In wildland areas, fuels are primarily comprised of vegetation. Dead trees with low moisture ignite more easily and burn faster than live trees with higher moisture. Leaf litter and dried twigs and branches also ignite easier and burn faster. • Weather: Weather influences fire through wind and moisture. Wind can increase the spread of fire in the direction of the wind, wind speed can accelerate spread, ---PAGE BREAK--- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 ES-2 and higher temperatures can result in a fire burning faster, as can low humidity and low precipitation. Outputs of fire behavior modeling can include different parameters, but for the WRMP, modeling focused on burn probability and fire intensity at 97th percentile weather (described further in Section 2.3). Burn probability is the likelihood that a wildfire will burn a given point or area over a specified period. Flame length can be used as a proxy for fire intensity, where flame length is the height of the flames, with taller flame indicating a higher intensity fire. Generally, if flame are less than 4 feet, then fire can be effectively controlled with professional suppression resources. Flame between 4 and 8 feet require multiple, more specific types and numbers of professionally trained firefighting resources and suppression success goes down. Flame greater than 8 feet generally prevent firefighters and resources from directly attacking the fire front because the fire is too intense. Many times, this scenario results in more land being burned and unfortunate effects on property and even life. Vegetation treatments should be identified to reduce undesirable fire intensities when flame exceed 4 feet, so that fire fighters have the highest probability of safely controlling a wildland fire under most weather conditions. ES.1.2 Model Used for WRMP Analysis The wildfire analysis for the WRMP was accomplished through development and implementation of a tailored, spatially dependent fire modeling framework that utilized industry standard probabilistic fire models designed specifically for land management. The modeling exercise was undertaken by Fire Ecologist, Scott Conway, of Spatial Informatics Group (SIG). The Interagency Fuel Treatment Decision Support System fire behavior modeling program was used to understand the existing fire hazard throughout Alpine County. utilizes two imbedded models, FlamMap and Minimum Travel Time. is a web-based application designed to make fuels treatment planning and analysis more efficient and effective. provides access to data and models through one simple user interface. is designed to address the planning needs of users with a variety of skills, backgrounds, and needs. A simple and intuitive interface provides the ability to model fire behavior across an area of interest under several weather conditions and to easily generate downloadable maps, graphs, and tables of model results. The application provides a step by step process for testing a variety of fuels treatment impacts (thin, clear cut, prescribed burn) on fire behavior and comparing results to determine the modeled treatment to best achieve desired results in terms of reduced fire behavior potential. It can be used at a variety of scales from local to landscape level (US Department of Interior, 2020). The methods chosen to model the fire behavior within and around Alpine County took advantage of several best in class, comprehensive datasets, modeling technologies, and systems to quantify the vegetation and fuels consistently and appropriately across the County. The modeling protocol was based off A Wildlife Risk Assessment Framework for Land and Resource ---PAGE BREAK--- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 ES-3 Managers (Scott, Thompson, & Calkin, 2013). The methodology was approved by the steering committee in November 2019. The modeling workflow is shown in Figure 2-2, included in Section 2.3.1. ES.1.3 Model Inputs The Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools (LANDFIRE) was used for the inputs for landscape and fuels, that is, topography and vegetation cover types. LANDFIRE is a shared program between the wildland fire management programs of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and U.S. Department of the Interior. The datasets in LANDFIRE for topography and vegetation are based on remote sensing data. For all topography, vegetation, and fuels analysis, the project took advantage of comprehensive, yet explicit (30-meter squared resolution) LANDFIRE data through The Remote Automatic Weather Stations (RAWS) provided the inputs for weather. The RAWS system is a network of automated weather stations run by the USFS and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and monitored by the National Interagency Fire Center, mainly to observe potential wildfire conditions (Desert Research Institute, 2020). This analysis utilized 97th percentile historical weather (average wind speed, average wind direction, dead and live fuel moistures) to analyze fire behavior. Percentiles are based on a scale of 0 to 100 and are used to sort and rank a collection of data. For wildfire, when values at the upper end of the scale occur, complex fires are expected, where initial attack may often fail. The 97th percentile is often termed “the worst-case scenario” (US Department of Interior, 2020). These are the days where weather conditions are greatest for wildfire ignition and spread. Modeling conditions at the 97th percentile fire weather for the County was chosen not to serve as an understanding of the very worst-case fire effects are, but to determine how the current vegetation and fuels environment react to what is considered a threshold for problem fires. Choosing percentile weather removes subjectivity and thus bias as the calculation is run directly from the data. This process is objective and has become the industry standard for everything from determining national fire danger ratings to, as in this case, estimating hazard. The team analyzed the weather outputs, compared them to their respective knowledge base, and determined they were indeed in the threshold range of problem fire weather for Alpine County. ES.1.4 Current Condition Modeling Results/Outputs Overview The results of the fire behavior modeling indicated that numerous areas throughout Alpine County could benefit from some form of vegetation treatment to reduce fire hazard, particularly within the eastern portion of the county. Fire Intensity Frontal fire intensity is a valid measure of forest fire behavior that is solely a physical attribute of the fire itself. It is defined as the energy output rate per unit length of fire front and is directly ---PAGE BREAK--- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 ES-4 related to flame size. Flame length was focused on to quantify fire intensity for this study because of the direct correlation to suppression resources and effectiveness. The (with FlamMap) model indicated approximately 20 percent of the county exhibited flame greater than 4 feet. Under current conditions, as modeled, Alpine County would likely exhibit high intensity fire in many areas and put some homes and infrastructure at risk because suppression resources would have trouble safely directly attacking the fire and direct suppression effectiveness might be limited during the first burn period. Fire Probability Fire probability quantifies the relative likelihood of a fire occurring under a fixed set of weather and fuel moisture conditions (US Department of Interior, 2020). Within the minimum travel time model, randomly located ignition points are used to simulate fires. Ignitions are only located and retained on burnable fuels, if an ignition is located on a non-burnable fuel it is discarded. The number of ignitions is determined by to most efficiently produce outputs for the user. Burn Probability = number of times burned / total number of ignitions The wildfire behavior modeling results indicated that the eastern portion of the County generally has much higher probabilities of fire occurrence than the west side. This condition is most likely due to the prevailing winds under the critical fire weather scenario and more continuous fuels that blanket the lower elevations of eastern Alpine County. Integrated Hazard The term “hazard” is used by the wildland fire community to define a variety of conditions or situations where damage to assets by fire is being evaluated. The integrated hazard combines fire intensity (determined by proxy with flame length) and burn probability. Burn probabilities were calculated using Minimum Travel Time in Figure 2-18, included in Section 2.3.5, highlights areas where there is a high fire intensity that overlaps with a high fire probability and thus, a high integrated hazard. Although some areas are considered low hazard, much of the area has elevated hazard numbers, which creates undesirable exposure to the surrounding homes and infrastructure. ES.2 Susceptibility Analysis – HVRA Analysis ES.2.1 Overview of HVRA Analysis Knowing where wildfires are probable and the intensity at which they might burn gives the critical information needed to understand and address possible impacts to High Valued Resources and Assets (HVRAs). HVRAs are valued elements of the man-made and natural environment. The identification and characterization of HVRAs in Alpine County was a time consuming but critical step in the risk assessment process. Three primary characteristics must ---PAGE BREAK--- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 ES-5 be determined for each HVRA identified: spatial extent (mapping), response to wildfire (benefit or loss), and relative importance (Scott, Thompson, & Calkin, 2013). ES.2.2 Methods Determination of Spatial Extent of HVRAs For use in wildfire risk calculations, spatial HVRA data must be in raster format. To effectively evaluate and apply any HVRA dataset, it is imperative to work with the spatial data in a geographic information system (GIS), and not solely rely on map products. The raster data should match the extent, cell size, and coordinate system of the fire modeling landscape. The compilation of HVRA data entails collecting data from various sources. A variety of regional or national data sources tend to be a good starting place when developing and accounting for HVRAs. Local data sources are often the most up-to-date and reflect local knowledge of the landscape. Local data can be used to refine the regional or national datasets. The spatial extent of HVRAs within Alpine County were defined using industry standard buffers based on the types of HVRA that occur in Alpine County. The location and spatial extent of HVRAs were reviewed by the steering committee and a select group of additional community stakeholders. Calculation of HVRA Response to Wildfire The response function framework requires quantifying the relationship between HVRA value and wildfire intensity (measured by flame length). HVRA response is related to fire intensity because it is the best fire characteristic available associated with fire effects. This approach quantifies net value change (NVC) to a given HVRA as the percentage change in the initial resource value resulting from a fire at a given intensity. Response functions address relative, rather than absolute change in resource or asset value and represent both beneficial and adverse effects to the HVRA (Scott, Thompson, & Calkin, 2013). The project steering committee and a select group of additional community stakeholders were invited to respond to a questionnaire regarding each HVRA’s response to wildfire. Survey responses were then reviewed during a steering committee meeting, during which all steering committee members agreed on each HVRA’s response to wildfire. The HVRA Wildfire Response Questionnaire is provided in Appendix C. Calculation of HVRA Relative Importance Balancing competing or conflicting land and resource management objectives is a significant challenge to land and resource management planners. It is also difficult to articulate quantitative weights establishing the relative importance of HVRAs. Relative importance helps understand risk in areas where multiple HVRAs overlap and allows for comparing risks across different spatial areas that house different HVRAs. Using relative importance scores allows for summarization and visualization of risks in a single metric. If assessment results are to ultimately be used for planning mitigation treatments and strategies, then prioritization decisions that integrate all HVRAs will still ultimately need to be made. Articulating relative ---PAGE BREAK--- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 ES-6 importance scores and how objectives are balanced makes this decision explicit rather than implicit and increases the overall transparency of decision processes (Marcot, 2012). The project steering committee and a select group of additional community stakeholders were invited to respond to a questionnaire regarding each HVRA’s relative importance. Survey responses were then reviewed during a steering committee meeting, during which all steering committee members developed a relative importance ranking of the HVRAs within the County. The Relative Importance Questionnaire is provided in Appendix D. ES.2.3 Results of HVRA Characterization Spatial Extent of HVRAs HVRA accounting began with the Alpine County GIS database and was augmented through collaboration with the project steering committee. Table ES-1 shows the HVRAs that were selected while Figure 2-19 (included in Section 2.4.3)shows locations and extent of each HVRA. Table ES-1 HVRA Accounting for Alpine County HVRA Category Buffer Extent Residential Structures 100 feet Education Facilities (Daycares/Schools) 100 feet Recreation Facilities – campgrounds, RV parks (non-ski areas) 25 feet Business and Public Structures 100 feet Places of Worship 100 feet Non-habitable Structures (barns/sheds) 100 feet Health and Elder Care Facilities 100 feet High Hazard Buildings 250 feet Airport/Helibase 250 feet Communication Infrastructure (cell towers, microwave towers, etc.) 200 feet Potable Water Storage tanks); Snow-making Infrastructure 100 feet Major/Minor Evacuation Corridors (ingress and egress routes) 300 feet Community Evacuation/Refuge/Safe Zones/ Areas 250 feet Cemeteries or Significant Resource Buildings/Areas 100 feet Watersheds of Special Significance 25 feet WUI Defense 0.25 mile Ski Area Terrain No Buffer ---PAGE BREAK--- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 ES-7 HVRA Calculated Response to Wildfire A total of six responses to the HVRA Response Function Questionnaire were received. Responses included an Alpine County resident, USFS staff, Alpine County staff, and CAL FIRE staff. Surveys limited responses to between negative 3 and positive 3 points and were then averaged across surveys. Results then went into risk calculation as the response function (RF) as a normalized value percent change. For example, negative 3.0 = 100% value loss where a positive 1.0 = 33% value gained. Response to wildfire survey results are shown in Table 2-14, provided in Section 2.4.3. HVRA Calculated Relative Importance A total of eight responses to the HVRA Relative Importance Questionnaire were received. Responses included an Alpine County resident, USFS staff, Alpine County staff, and CAL FIRE, Bear Valley Water District staff, and Fire Safe Council member. Each rating category had a potential ranking from 1-10; 10 being the highest score. The average score for all surveys by category is shown in Table 2-15 (provided in Section 2.4.3)and the total score is the sum of those averaged scores. ES.3 Wildfire Risk Assessment ES.3.1 Overview of Risk Assessment Wildfire risk is the compilation of the integrated hazards (fire likelihood and intensity) with the susceptibility of the HVRAs identified. Fire hazard outputs can be valuable when trying to understand the patterns of potentially high severity fire across large landscapes; however, these outputs often display an overwhelming amount of information. First, there may simply be too much hazard for an entity to deal given their available resources. Second, even if resources to reduce all fire intensities were available, then hazard provides little insight into where you should go first. A wildfire risk assessment can be extremely valuable for an entity that has limited resources to implement as it allows them to prioritize treatments. ES.3.2 Methods Methods of Determining Wildfire Risk Exposure Analysis of HVRAs Exposure analysis is the characterization of wildfire likelihood and intensity where HVRAs occur and was performed within a GIS using one of several geospatial techniques that identify or summarize the wildfire hazard characteristics of all pixels where an HVRA is mapped. Effects Analysis on HVRAs Effects analysis integrates wildfire hazard (likelihood and intensity) and HVRA vulnerability (exposure and susceptibility), producing a comprehensive measure of wildfire risk. Wildfire risk is quantified as the weighted expectation of net value change, where NVC is expressed in ---PAGE BREAK--- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 ES-8 relative terms on a percentage basis, as defined by expert-based loss/benefit functions (for example, complete loss = -100 percent). Methods for Project Development Based on Wildfire Risk Wildfire Risk Compilation Compiling the total negative net value change of each pixel within the study area in a GIS raster format is required to appropriately organize results of the effects analysis. The results highlight which pixels, compared to others, have the highest net value change and thus, the highest amount of risk to fire during extreme fire weather scenarios. This information, in and of itself, can highlight what areas should be focused on first for treatments provided scale limitations are considered. Opportunities for Treatment Compilation Areas or pixels that exhibit a positive value change to the effects of fire during extreme fire weather scenarios, could still benefit from treatment. In fact, these “opportunity” areas could have beneficial fire prescribed across many areas within the project area that would not only enhance the value of a particular HVRA, but also keep it and the surrounding area from moving towards conditions that would result in a modeled net value loss in the future as vegetation grows and fuels accumulate. These identified opportunity areas would most likely be treated with low intensity prescribed fire during times of the year when the potential for high severity fire is very low. Project Developer Even with the comprehensive and relatively high-fidelity risk and opportunity data across the project area, some additional filters and workflows were needed to improve results and further facilitate efficient and effective decision-making. Risk and opportunity data from the wildfire risk assessment were refined using a project-specific workflow. Additional filters by slope and by land ownership were used to further divide information into meaningful results. Section 2.5.3 presents the results of the risk calculations and processes. The results are presented in maps showing the areas of moderate, high, very high, and highest risk. ES.3.3 Results of Wildfire Risk Assessment Wildfire Risk Maps Although HVRAs are well distributed across the county, considerably more and higher risk is on the east side. County-wide risk is shown in Figure 2-21. This higher risk is mostly due to the higher fire probabilities shown and explained in Figure 2-17. To effectively evaluate and apply any risk and opportunity dataset, it is imperative to work with the spatial data in a GIS and not solely rely on map products. ---PAGE BREAK--- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 ES-9 Project Development Outputs Opportunities for Prescribed Fire Based on the wildfire risk assessment, areas of the HVRAs were opportunities to control and reduce fuels through prescribed fire were also identified. The suitability of an area for prescribed fire is assessed based on whether fire in that area would have a net positive outcome, such as areas of HVRAs where there were not structures, infrastructure, or any other features that could be negatively affected by fire. The suitability was estimated by calculating the net value change that is expected when a typical pixel in the area burns. Prescribed fire in these areas would serve to further protect the HVRAs that fall within the moderate to highest wildfire risk categories. Project Developer Workflow Results The project developer workflow and filters were applied to risk and opportunity outputs to help focus areas for project development coalesced by ownership and by treatment type to make the data actionable. Figure 2-25 shows that output County-wide and Figure 2-26 through Figure 2-30 zooms into each of the five planning areas for a view of what the processed wildfire risks with prescribed fire opportunities looks like at an appropriate scale to inform decisions. ES.4 Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ES.4.1 Development and Prioritization of Potential Projects The modeling efforts to assess wildfire risks across Alpine County assisted the team in defining where fire hazard areas occur, and which resources and assets are at moderate to highest risk. County staff and the steering committee were tapped for their knowledge of recently completed projects or projects underway in the County, as well as areas of particular concern based on their understanding of fire response and evacuation procedures, and on-the-ground conditions. The roster of projects focused on Markleeville, Woodfords, Hung-a-Lel-Ti, and Bear Valley. Project boundaries were drawn up based on parcels, and with the grouping of adjacent projects, a total of 12 total projects were identified. Once the projects were identified by geographic area, qualitative criteria were considered to prioritize the projects into three tiers (Tier 1 or highest priority, Tier 2 or moderate priority, and Tier 3 or lower priority), and to identify the three projects in Tier 1 that would move forward for detailed definition and environmental review. ES.4.2 Summary of Projects Table 3-1 provides an overview of the 12 projects and 23 subprojects that were identified for inclusion in this WRMP. The table is followed by maps depicting the locations of the projects. The project boundaries are largely based on parcel boundaries; however, preliminary project boundaries were delineated regardless of land ownership. The Tier 1 projects are carried forward with detailed implementation plans and environmental review, described in Chapter 5. Implementation of other projects in Tier 2 and Tier 3 would ---PAGE BREAK--- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 ES-10 require supplemental implementation plans in the future. The process for implementing the Tier 2 and Tier 3 projects, as well as prescribed burning across larger HVRA areas is described in Section 4.7. The three projects moving forward for detailed definition are Bear Valley, Manzanita, and Markleevillage. These projects were prioritized primarily because they provide protection to communities at the highest wildfire risk (Markleevillage in Markleeville); protects a larger community in combination with high wildfire risk (Manzanita community in Woodfords); and provides protection to a considerable number of higher density homes and infrastructure that can build off of existing work for greater benefit even though the overall wildfire risk is lower in this area (Bear Valley). ES.4.3 Types of Vegetation Management Treatments Areas with high fire hazard are mitigated through modifications to the live vegetation and removal of dead fuels onsite to reduce the risks. Fuels is the parameter for which the landowner has control, since neither weather nor topography can be altered. The modification of vegetation to reduce a fire’s potential is typically called a “method” or “treatment.” Several methods or treatments are available in vegetation management practice. Table ES-2 summarizes the methods available for implementation of the three Tier 1 projects that would also apply to the Tier 2 and Tier 3 projects identified in this plan. Other projects in this plan could also be implemented; however, would require an additional planning process to better define the projects and to conduct the environmental review. Table ES-2 Typical Vegetation Treatments Treatment Activity Description Method of Application Mechanical (Mastication) Use of motorized equipment to cut, uproot, crush/compact, or chop existing vegetation. Used on slopes from 0 to 30 percent only. Mastication, chipping, piling; often combined with pile burning (if allowed) Manual Treatment Use of hand tools and hand-operated power tools to cut, clear, or prune herbaceous or woody species. Hand pull and grub, thin, prune, hand pile; often combined with pile burning (if allowed) Pile Burn Use of fire to remove cut or dead vegetative material where chipping, hauling, or decomposition are not feasible. Piles can be constructed of dry vegetative material, covered, and burned. Hand pile, ignition devices Chapter 3 also identifies large areas of opportunity for prescribed fire across multiple land ownerships. Prescribed fire activities could be implemented in accordance with a pre-written plan (Burn Plan) that identifies land management goals and specific fire use strategies to safely achieve those goals, with prior approval by the applicable regulatory agencies. ---PAGE BREAK--- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 ES-11 ES.4.4 Environmental Review Implementation of the WRMP has the potential to impact environmental resources. Projects carried out or approved by the County that occur on private land would require review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Projects that the County completes on federal land Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service) would require review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in addition to CEQA review. Biological and cultural resource assessments are required to ensure that the WRMP projects do not significantly impact biological and cultural resources. General protection measures for biological and cultural resources are identified in the WRMP and would be applied to all projects, as appropriate. ES.4.5 Estimated Costs The cost of implementing the WRMP projects varies depending on the size of the project and treatment method used. From a cost perspective, prescribed burning is the most cost-effective way to treat large areas; however, prescribed burning can only be implemented under very specific weather, land development, and topography conditions. None of the Tier 1 projects propose prescribed burning. The cost of mastication is generally higher per acre than prescribed burning but lower than hand thinning methods. Mastication could be used as an alternative to prescribed burning and can also be used in areas where prescribed burning would not be possible. Estimated costs of each treatment type, as well as a list of potential funding sources are provided in Section 4.6 of the WRMP. ES.4.6 Future Project Implementation The WRMP includes defined activities that would occur during implementation of the Tier 1 projects. Extensive planning and public outreach has occurred in preparation of defining the Tier 1 projects. Future Tier 2 and Tier 3 projects would require additional definition of project boundaries, treatment methods, and public outreach. Environmental review would be required for future projects. The type and level of environmental review would be determined based on future project boundaries, land ownership, treatment methods, and potential environmental impacts. ES.5 Community Access Risk Assessment ES.5.1 Ingress/Egress Identification Alpine County’s population is focused in the five communities of Woodfords, Hung-A-Lel-Ti, Markleeville, Kirkwood, and Bear Valley. During the HRVA characterization and analysis, Alpine County officials helped identify and designate primary and secondary ingress and egress routes, and constraints to access for vulnerable communities. Grover Hot Springs, Shay Creek, and Markleevillage share Hot Springs Road as a single ingress/egress route; however, options for feasible secondary evacuation routes are constrained ---PAGE BREAK--- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 ES-12 by terrain and significant distances to a higher functional class route. Similarly, the Sherman Acres, Old and New Bear Valley subdivisions, and Bear Valley Mountain Resort have single access to the State highway system. All of the communities discussed above are surrounded by mountainous terrain. The most feasible secondary access alternatives would need to parallel the primary evacuation route, due to site constraints, and would not create safer evacuation conditions; therefore, vegetation management efforts along ingress and egress routes is especially important for adequate emergency response and evacuation. ES.5.3 Community Evacuation Areas Identification During the HRVA characterization and analysis, Alpine County officials and the Steering Committee helped identify community evacuation areas or refuge areas. Community evacuation areas are zones where emergency service vehicles and personnel can stage for an incident. These zones can also serve as a rendezvous point for the public or, potentially, a safety zone from fire when egress is compromised. Evacuation zones are even more important in areas where ingress/egress infrastructure is limited. The Hot Springs Road corridor, Sherman Acres, Old and New Bear Valley subdivisions, and Bear Valley Mountain Resort are lacking secondary access routes. Since establishing secondary ingress and egress to vulnerable communities is not feasible, establishment of pre- incident evacuation zones that meet minimum safe separation distances is recommended. Potential evacuation zones identified as HVRAs during the wildfire hazard and risk assessments include: • Turtle Rock Park; • Diamond Valley Elementary School; • Grover Hot Springs State Park; and • Bear Valley Library and parking lot. ES.5.4 Community Access Risk Report Analysis shows that about 832 acres surrounding major ingress and egress routes are at risk. This means that during a critical wildfire incident, portions of the major emergency routes do not have the appropriate clearance of vegetation and fuels around the road for traffic to safely pass if fire impacted those areas during critical fire weather. About 1,868 acres surrounding minor ingress and egress routes are shown to have at least some risk. Like major routes, this means that areas do not have sufficient vegetation and fuel clearance adjacent to routes so that traffic can safely pass. Finally, community evacuation areas might be vegetation and fuels free within the zone, but the WRMP fire hazard analysis shows that about 150 acres surrounding those areas exhibit high enough fire hazard that, during a critical wildfire incident, fire could compromise the effectiveness of those evacuation areas. Vegetation management efforts focused on treatment of the area surrounding major emergency routes and evacuation areas are recommended. ---PAGE BREAK--- 1 INTRODUCTION Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 1-1 1 Introduction 1.1 Background Fire Hazards and History in Alpine County Alpine County, located in the Sierra Nevada, is largely comprised of vast areas of undeveloped land across different topographies. Wildland fires within the wildland urban interface (WUI), where development is interspersed with wildlands, pose the greatest threat to lives and property. Four major wildfires have occurred in Alpine County since 1981. In 1984, the Indian Creek Fire burned approximately 6,000 acres of forest in Alpine County (17,000 acres total) near Indian Creek on the East Slope. In 1986, a fire burned 2,000-3,000 acres of wildland plus two structures near Fredericksburg and in 1987 the Acorn Fire burned 6,000 acres and 26 structures near Woodfords. In 2015, the Washington Fire consumed approximately 18,000 acres south of Markleeville and came within two miles of the town of Markleeville, prompting evacuations and significant coordinated response from local, State, and federal firefighting agencies. Fortunately, none of these fires resulted in loss of life (C.G. Celio & Sons Co., 2018). Grant for Fire Hazard Mitigation Planning CAL FIRE awarded $43 million in Local Fire Prevention Grants to various entities across the state in April 2019. These grants fund 66 local fire prevention projects. The Fire Prevention Grants are meant to enable local organizations, like fire safe councils, to implement activities that address the risk of wildfire and reduce wildfire potential to communities. The awarded projects all meet the goals and objectives of California’s Strategic Fire Plan adopted in 2018, as well as the recommendations of CAL FIRE’s “Community Wildfire Prevention & Mitigation Report” to Governor Gavin Newsom submitted in April 2019. Most of the award funding is provided by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for California Climate Investments (CCI). Fuels reduction projects to reduce the risk of wildland fire are a high priority in Alpine County and several have been undertaken or are ongoing, including neighborhood fire breaks and larger scale fuels reduction projects on federal lands. Approximately 1,780 residential units are in Alpine County; over 1,200 of these are in high or very high wildfire hazard severity zones (C.G. Celio & Sons Co., 2018). Key planning areas include Woodfords, Markleeville, Bear Valley, and Kirkwood. Community Wildfire Protection Plans have been defined for the east and west County. The Alpine Biomass Collaborative additionally, is an important collaborative group within the County to share information regarding ongoing fuels projects. In order to build off of the existing work underway and to expedite the County’s ability to protect its communities in the face of increasing catastrophic wildland fires across California, ---PAGE BREAK--- 1 INTRODUCTION Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 1-2 Alpine County applied for and was awarded a CAL FIRE Community Fire Prevention Grant in the amount of $223,756 to create the Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan. 1.2 Goals and Objectives The goal of the WRMP is to reduce wildfire risk in Alpine County and to protect important resources throughout the county. The objectives of the plan are to: • Assess the risks of fire within the WUI, • Identify opportunities to mitigate risks to protect communities through fuel treatments, and • Define up to three specific projects in enough detail to perform environmental review and prepare for funding and implementation. 1.3 Scope of Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan Overview The WRMP addresses the entirety of Alpine County, but through a defined process of wildfire risk assessment, focuses in on key areas where wildfire hazards generate risks to life, property, and important resources. Alpine County encompasses over 476,000 acres of land yet has the smallest population of any county in the state with just over 1,175 people per the 2010 census (U.S. Census Bureau, 2011). The planning effort to prepare the WRMP was agnostic to land ownership, but inherently focused on the WUI and the five major areas of population, where the greatest risks to life and property are located. Location Map of Planning Areas Figure 1-1 shows the land ownership across Alpine County. Approximately 95 percent of the land is in public ownership, with the vast majority managed by the United States Forest Service (USFS). Additional lands are focused on five key community areas, including Woodfords, Hung-a-Lel-Ti, Markleeville, Kirkwood, and Bear Valley. The United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) also manages a considerable amount of land abutting private land in the Woodfords and Markleeville areas. The population of the county is focused into the following five planning areas (C.G. Celio & Sons Co., 2018): • Woodfords Planning Area: There is a long history of wildfire in this area with the Woodfords community, with four major wildfires occurring since 1981. In 1984, the Indian Creek Fire burned approximately 6,000 acres near Indian Creek, only to be followed by a 2,000-acre fire near Fredericksburg in 1986 and then the Acorn Fire in 1987, which burned nearly 6,000 acres and twenty-six homes. Woodfords is ---PAGE BREAK--- 1 INTRODUCTION Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 1-3 Figure 1-1 Land Ownership and Communities in Alpine County ---PAGE BREAK--- 1 INTRODUCTION Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 1-4 listed on the Federal Register as a community threatened by wildfire. Eastern Alpine Fire and Rescue and the USFS provide wildland fire protection. • Hung-a-Lel-Ti Area: This community is near Woodfords and is the community of the Southern Band of the Washoe Tribe of Indians. Fire hazards are similar to those described for Woodfords. • Markleeville Planning Area: Some large wildfires have burned in this area, most recently the Washington Fire south of Markleeville, which consumed 18,000 acres, and fuel loadings remain high. The Washington Fire burned within 2 miles of the town of Markleeville, prompting evacuations and significant coordinated response from local, State, and federal firefighting agencies. Markleeville is listed on the Federal Register as a community threatened by wildfire. Eastern Alpine Fire and Rescue and the USFS provide wildland fire protection. • Bear Valley Planning Area: This area has little wildland interface issues given its elevation and relatively wet climate. Bear Valley is, however, listed on the Federal Register as a community at risk for wildfire. The community is geographically isolated from the rest of the County much of the year. Bear Valley provides its own fire protection. • Kirkwood Planning Area: This area has a small area of wildland interface, however, the assets at risk are significant due to the value of the homes and infrastructure. 1.4 Existing Fuel Management Planning, Projects, and Regional Capabilities Alpine Fire Safe Council The Alpine Fire Safe Council (AFSC) was established in 2003 through a cooperative effort of the Alpine County Board of Supervisors and the Alpine County Resource Advisory Committee. The mission of the AFSC is to provide community leadership, resources, and a forum to improve wildfire preparedness in Alpine County. The AFSC provides educational material to the community, facilitated the Fire Services Plan Ad-Hoc Committee that prepared the 2005 Eastern Alpine County Fire Services Plan, and encouraged various planning efforts at the County to support public safety and fire ordinances (C.G. Celio & Sons Co., 2018). In 2018, the AFSC published the Alpine County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), which served as a major reference and resource in preparation of this WRMP. The CWPP is a roadmap for the community to reduce wildfire hazards and risks. It outlines the risks and hazards and provides specific recommendations and projects to address risks. This WRMP built off the recommendations provided in the CWPP for fuel reduction projects. The AFSC has also implemented several fuel reduction projects throughout the County, including the Diamond Valley Road spur shaded fuelbreak in 2019 and Alpine Village projects in 2020. Additional AFSC efforts include coordinating a reflective address marker program to ---PAGE BREAK--- 1 INTRODUCTION Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 1-5 provide improved visibility and recognition for emergency personnel and advocating for fire safe development standards within the County. Alpine Biomass Collaborative The Alpine Biomass Collaborative (ABC), formerly known as the Alpine Biomass Committee, is a collaborative group in Alpine County whose mission statement is “Unifying partners to promote forest and watershed health, and local economic development.” The ABC believes that by improving forest and watershed health, the risk of catastrophic wildfire can be reduced, and the local economy will benefit by using local labor to implement these efforts. Historically, there has been little coordination between the different land managers and non-government organizations in Alpine County and the ABC recognizes the importance of coordinated planning efforts to ensure successful project outcomes (Alpine Biomass Collaborative, 2020). In 2016, the ABC received a $12,000 Capacity Building grant from the National Forest Foundation to begin forest and watershed health improvement efforts. The ABC does not conduct any projects on its own accord; its role is to help other organizations maximize the impact of their forest and watershed health projects. The ABC assists with facilitation between the National Park Service, BLM, USFS, Alpine Watershed Group, Hung-A-Lel-Ti Washoe Community, and other local and federal organizations. The ABC has received support from the Amador-Calaveras Consensus Group, the Sierra Institute, Calaveras Health Impact Product Solutions, and the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (Alpine Biomass Collaborative, 2020). US Forest Service Work and Other Federal Projects Alpine County includes four national forests managed by the USFS: Stanislaus, El Dorado, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, and Humboldt-Toiyabe, as well as other federally managed lands. Federal agencies such as the USFS and BLM implement forest planning and management projects throughout Alpine County. The BLM Carson City District has implemented several fuels treatment projects near the Markleeville and Turtle Rock Park communities along Highway 89. The projects, implemented between 1997-2011, include mechanical fuels treatment techniques and prescribed burning. One project is located along Hot Springs Road, north of Markleevillage, and another project is located along Poor Boy Road, south of Markleeville. Various smaller projects are located along the western edge of Indian Creek Reservoir, along Airport Road, and immediately south of Turtle Rock Park. The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest continues to implement within several active project areas, treating approximately 200 acres per year in Eastern Alpine County. These projects all have a fuels reduction and vegetation management emphasis, including hand thinning, mechanical thinning, and prescribed fire treatments. Active projects in the greater Markleeville area are: Manzanita Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project, Markleevillage Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project, Monitor Pass Habitat Improvement Project, and West Carson Watershed Habitat Improvement Project (USFS, 2010; USFS, 2013). ---PAGE BREAK--- 1 INTRODUCTION Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 1-6 1.5 Plan Development Process Plan Development Process This WRMP has been developed following the process shown in Figure 1-2. Phase I is described in detail in Chapter 2. Phase II is described in Chapters 3 and 4. A community access risk assessment was also performed, and the results are presented in Chapter 5. Figure 1-2 Summary of WRMP Development Process ---PAGE BREAK--- 1 INTRODUCTION Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 1-7 Roles of Steering Committee in Plan Development The County coordinated a steering committee of individuals to advise on WRMP development.1 The committee members included individuals from: • Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest – Carson Ranger District: Annabelle Monti • Stanislaus National Forest – Calaveras Ranger District: Kellin Brown • Alpine Fire Safe Council: Kris Hartnett • Alpine Biomass Collaborative: Michael Barton • Eastern Alpine Fire and Rescue: Terry Hughes • Alpine County Community Development Department: Zach Wood and Debbie Burkett • CAL FIRE Amador El Dorado Unit: Mike Deacon An initial kick-off meeting was held with the steering committee, as well as several check in points throughout Phase I and Phase II to receive feedback and to assist and direct the decision- making process as the development of the plan progressed. Community Participation WRMP Development Process The County prioritized community participation in the development of the WRMP. The County held two public workshops to obtain public input on the components of the plan and methodology for prioritizing projects. The first public meetings and workshops were held on February 25, 2020, in Markleeville and February 26, 2020 in Bear Valley. The meetings included a presentation to introduce the WRMP effort, to give an overview of existing activities, to introduce the methods of wildfire risk assessment being undertaken, and to identify the process by which projects will be determined. The meeting included a question and answers session and breakout stations where individuals could ask questions or provide input on specific aspects of the process. A second workshop was held on April 28, 2020 via videoconference. This workshop focused on presenting results of modeling with a focus on candidate project locations, prioritization, and next steps in the project implementation process. Appendix A includes the Community and Stakeholder Input Report. The County will also hold a CEQA workshop to inform the public of the potential impacts from implementation of the plan during the CEQA document public review period. 1 Matthew Hilden (Stanislaus National Forest – Calaveras Ranger District) and Brian Peters (Alpine County Community Development Department) participated in the WRMP preparation process but retired prior to the WRMP publication. ---PAGE BREAK--- 1 INTRODUCTION Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 1-8 Partnerships to Achieve Project Success The WRMP had been developed to consider wildfire risk across Alpine County, regardless of landowner. The County recognizes that projects to be implemented on private land require significant engagement and participation of private landowners. Section 3 of this WRMP identifies a list of candidate projects throughout Alpine County. Many of the candidate projects include privately owned land. Projects that include a majority of private land, including private subdivided lots, would not be viable without participation from the hundreds of property owners within the project boundaries. The County has a longstanding commitment to working with federal, State, and local government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private property owners to reduce wildfire risk and protect important resources throughout Alpine County. Non-governmental organizations, including the Alpine Fire Safe Council and Alpine Biomass Collaborative have been instrumental in communicating the WRMP goals and objectives to the public and cultivating support for the WRMP. Participation from all agencies, organizations, and the public is greatly appreciated. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-1 2 Technical Analyses 2.1 Key Terms Several key terms are used throughout this section. The following terms that are used in this guide are defined as follows (Scott, Thompson, & Calkin, 2013): • High Valued Resources and Assets (HVRAs): are simply valued elements of the manmade and natural environment. • Hazard: a physical situation with the potential to cause damage to HVRAs, resulting in loss or benefit • Risk: The likelihood, intensity, and susceptibility to effects of wildfires on HVRAs • Exposure analysis: an analysis that explores the potential spatial interactions of HVRAs with risk factors- fire likelihood and fire intensity- without considering how these factors affect HVRA value. • Effects analysis: explores the response of HVRAs to varying levels of these risk factors. Fire effects are often expressed as a percentage loss of value for a given intensity level. • Expected net value change: a measure of wildfire risk to resources and assets that forms the basis for the quantitative wildfire risk assessment process. 2.2 Introduction The fundamental need driving fuel treatment efforts, and pre-suppression fire management in general, is the need to reduce risk. Developing an optimal fuel treatment scenario can be initiated by developing a clear, baseline understanding of how wildfire risk is distributed across the landscape to be managed. The understanding of the wildfire risk is established by a quantitative, spatially explicit, landscape-scale wildfire risk assessment. A wildfire risk assessment most directly complements the larger goal of prioritizing fuel treatments by providing the means to quantitatively compare fuel treatment alternatives. There are three main components of wildfire risk: likelihood, intensity, and susceptibility to effects. Knowing where wildfires are probable and the intensity at which they might burn gives the critical information needed to understand and address possible impacts (effects) to HVRAs. Wildfire likelihood, intensity, and effects to HVRAs (susceptibility) may be integrated and quantified in a single expression of net value change, which can be translated into the overall risk while also highlighting opportunities were fire can safely be returned to the landscape without known unintended consequences. Figure 2-1 highlights the three key pieces of information needed before risk can be quantified. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-2 Figure 2-1 Components of Wildfire Risk Analysis Fire hazard analysis outputs can also serve as likelihood (fire probability) and intensity (flame length) risk analysis inputs. An additional analysis workflow is required to assess susceptibility to characterize wildfire risk, which begins with HVRA identification and characterization. Susceptibility is determined through several steps, including HRVA characterization, an exposure analysis, and an effects analysis. Finally, project development is determined from risk compilation, opportunity compilation, and the reduction of noise in the data to ultimately develop projects. Each step is described in the following sections. 2.3 Fire Hazard Analysis Method Overview Wildfire modeling is a field of computational science that uses numerical simulations to predict fire behavior. Wildfire modeling attempts to reproduce fire behavior characteristics like how quickly a fire can spread, in which directions it may spread, and how much heat it may generate given the conditions of the fuels, land, and predicted weather. Fire behavior modeling also looks at whether a fire would transition from the ground surface to tree crowns, which is much more dangerous. Once fire behavior is estimated through modeling, an assessment of fire hazards to surrounding life and property can be made in a risk assessment. The factors that influence fire behavior serve as the key inputs in modeling efforts. These factors include: • Landscape: Topography factors influence wildfires. Orientation toward the sun, which influences the amount of energy received from the sun, and the slope (fire spreads faster uphill) influence fire behavior. Fire can accelerate in narrow canyons and it can be slowed down or stopped by barriers such as creeks and roads. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-3 • Fuels: Fuels include anything that can burn. In wildland areas, fuels are primarily comprised of vegetation. Dead trees with low moisture ignite more easily and burn faster than live trees with higher moisture. Leaf litter and dried twigs and branches also ignite easier and burn faster. • Weather: Weather influences fire through wind and moisture. Wind can increase the spread of fire in the direction of the wind, wind speed can accelerate spread, and higher temperatures can result in a fire burning faster, as can low humidity and low precipitation. Outputs of fire behavior modeling can include different parameters, but for this project modeling focused on burn probability and fire intensity at 97th percentile weather (described below). Burn probability is the likelihood that a wildfire will burn a given point or area over a specified period. Flame length can be used as a proxy for fire intensity, where flame length is the height of the flames, with taller flame indicating a higher intensity fire. Generally, if flame are less than 4 feet, then fire can be effectively controlled with professional suppression resources. Flame between 4 and 8 feet require multiple, more specific types and numbers of professionally trained firefighting resources and suppression success goes down. Flame greater than 8 feet generally prevent firefighters and resources from directly attacking the fire front because the fire is too intense. Many times, this scenario results in more land being burned and unfortunate effects on property and even life. Vegetation treatments should be identified to reduce undesirable fire intensities when flame exceed 4 feet, so that fire fighters have the highest probability of safely controlling a wildland fire under most weather conditions. For Alpine County, this analysis was accomplished through development and implementation of a tailored, spatially dependent fire modeling framework that utilized industry standard probabilistic fire models designed specifically for land management. The modeling exercise was undertaken by Fire Ecologist, Scott Conway, of Spatial Informatics Group (SIG). The methods chosen to model the fire behavior within and around Alpine County took advantage of several best in class, comprehensive datasets, modeling technologies, and systems to quantify the vegetation and fuels consistently and appropriately across the County. The modeling protocol was based off A Wildlife Risk Assessment Framework for Land and Resource Managers (Scott, Thompson, & Calkin, 2013). The methodology was approved by the steering committee in November 2019. The modeling workflow is shown the figure, below. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-4 Figure 2-2 Fire Behavior Modeling Workflow Model Inputs Overview The Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools (LANDFIRE) was used for the inputs for landscape and fuels, that is, topography and vegetation cover types. LANDFIRE is a shared program between the wildland fire management programs of the USFS and U.S. Department of the Interior. The datasets in LANDFIRE for topography and vegetation are based on remote sensing data. For all topography, vegetation, and fuels analysis, the project took advantage of comprehensive, yet explicit (30-meter squared resolution) LANDFIRE data through the Interagency Fuel Treatment Decision Support System is a web-based application designed to make fuels treatment planning and analysis more efficient and effective. provides access to data and models through one simple user interface. It is available to all interested users, regardless of agency or organizational affiliation. is designed to address the planning needs of users with a variety of skills, backgrounds, and needs. A simple and intuitive interface provides the ability to model fire behavior across an area of interest under several weather conditions and to easily generate downloadable maps, graphs, and tables of model results. The application provides a step by step process for testing a variety of fuels treatment impacts (thin, clear cut, prescribed burn) on fire behavior and comparing results to determine the modeled treatment to best achieve desired results in terms of reduced fire behavior potential. It can be used at a variety of scales from local to landscape level (US Department of Interior, 2020). LANDFIRE is a shared program between the wildland fire management programs of the USFS and U.S. Department of the Interior, providing landscape scale geo-spatial products to support cross-boundary planning, management, and operations. LANDFIRE vegetation products describe the following elements: Existing Vegetation Type, Existing Vegetation Canopy Cover, ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-5 and Existing Vegetation Height. These layers are created using predictive landscape models based on extensive field-referenced data, satellite imagery and biophysical gradient layers using classification and regression trees. LANDFIRE fuel products describe the composition and characteristics of surface and canopy fuel, which provide consistent fuel information to support fire planning, analysis, and budgeting to evaluate fire management alternatives that supplement strategic and tactical planning for fire operations (LANDFIRE, 2020). Although there are other high-fidelity datasets that can augment or replace LANDFIRE data, there was no other data source that has recently and consistently mapped all Alpine County. Therefore, LANDFIRE is the primary data source for analysis. See Appendix B, the Alpine County Auto 97 Current Condition Report, for more in-depth and comprehensive analysis of the current conditions utilized from tools. Landscape Inputs from LANDFIRE Topography Alpine County is characterized by complex and diverse topographic conditions, including rugged peaks and ridges, deep canyons, mountain meadows, and numerous streams and lakes. Elevations range from just over 4,500 feet to well over 11,000 feet. These dynamic physical conditions create a variety of vegetation conditions. Aspect and elevation data from LANDFIRE are shown in the following figures. Vegetation Many vegetation types are found across Alpine County (Figure 2-6). The majority cover types and their distribution across Alpine County are presented in Figure 2-7. The land cover types found within the planning areas are identified in Table 2-4. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-6 Figure 2-3 Aspect Data for Alpine County from LANDFIRE Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) Table 2-1 Aspect Data for Alpine County by Percent Source: (US Department of Interior, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-7 Figure 2-4 Elevation Data for Alpine County from LANDFIRE Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) Table 2-2 Elevation Data for Alpine County by Percent Source: (US Department of Interior, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-8 Figure 2-5 Slope Data for Alpine County from LANDFIRE Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) Table 2-3 Slope Data for Alpine County by Percent Source: (US Department of Interior, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-9 Figure 2-6 Existing Vegetation Types in Alpine County Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) Figure 2-7 Majority Vegetation Cover in Alpine County ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-10 Table 2-4 Land Cover Types within Alpine County Planning Areas Planning Area Majority Vegetation Cover Type Burn Probability Integrated Hazard Woodfords Jeffrey Pine/ Montane Shrubland Higher Higher Hazard Hung-a-Lel-Ti Developed Moderate Middle Hazard Markleeville Jeffrey Pine Higher Higher Hazard Bear Valley Sierra Nevada Mixed Conifer/ Chamise Chaparral/ Lodgepole Pine/ Montane Meadow Lower Lower Hazard Kirkwood Red Fir Lowest Lower Hazard The vegetation cover types throughout Alpine County evolved with low, middle, and higher severity fire. Jeffrey pine is primarily associated with the Woodfords and Markleeville planning areas and Jeffrey pine cover types evolved with higher severity fire. Developed cover type evolved with middle severity hazard and is primarily associated with the Hung-a-Lel-Ti planning area. The Bear Valley planning area primarily features Sierra Nevada Mixed Conifer, Chamise Chaparral, Lodgepole Pine, and Montane Meadow vegetation cover type which have evolved with a lower severity fire. Red fir is primarily associated with the Kirkwood planning areas and evolved with lower severity fire. Fire suppression policies, however, have all but eliminated this periodic disturbance at low and mixed severities. The result is a departure from the historic and natural range of variation measured from reference conditions and has led to an unnatural and undesirable vegetation densities and accumulation of fuels in many areas. Vegetation condition class, shown on Figure 2-8 exhibit how much and where departure has occurred. Vegetation condition classes reflect the current conditions’ degree of departure from modeled reference conditions (Table 2-5). Vegetation condition class assessments measure departure in two main components of ecosystems: 1) fire regime (fire frequency and severity) and 2) associated vegetation. Managers can use the departure and condition class data to document possible changes to key ecosystem components (Schmidt, Menakis, Hardy, Hann, & Bunnell, 2002). Examples include vegetation characteristics (species composition, structural stage, stand age, canopy closure, and mosaic pattern); fuel composition; fire frequency, severity, and pattern; and other associated disturbances, such as insect and disease mortality, grazing, and drought. Common causes of departure include advanced succession, effective fire suppression, timber harvesting, livestock grazing, introduction and establishment of exotic plant species, and introduced insects and disease (Barrett, et al., 2010). The majority of Alpine County is in the vegetation condition class II.A at almost 370,000 acres (Figure 2-8). Vegetation class II.A indicates that the landscape is moderately departed from reference conditions and will have elevated vegetation densities and fuel accumulation that might exhibit undesirable fire intensities in many places across the county, including populated WUI communities. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-11 Figure 2-8 Existing Vegetation Condition Classes Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-12 Table 2-5 Vegetation Condition Class Definitions Condition Class Vegetation Departure from Reference Conditionsa Definition Class I.A 0-16% No or very low departure from reference conditions. The vegetation and fuels are within the natural range of variability and fire would behave and have similar effects as pre- settlement landscape fire. Class I.B 17-33% Low departure from reference conditions. The vegetation and fuels are departed from the natural range of variability and fire behavior would be elevated compared to pre- settlement fire. Class II.A 34-50% Moderate departure from reference conditions. The vegetation and fuels are moderately departed from the natural range of variability and fire behavior would be moderately elevated compared to pre-settlement fire. Class II.B 51-66% Moderate to high departure from reference conditions. The vegetation and fuels are moderately to highly departed from the natural range of variability and fire behavior would be elevated compared to pre-settlement fire. Class III.A 67-83% High departure from reference conditions. The vegetation and fuels are highly departed from the natural range of variability and fire behavior would be highly elevated compared to pre- settlement fire. Class III.B 84-100% Very high departure from reference conditions. The vegetation and fuels are significantly departed from the natural range of variability and fire behavior would be significantly elevated compared to pre-settlement fire Notes: a Reference conditions describe historical seral stages2, vegetation patterns, and fire regimes. Vegetation Condition Class used reference conditions to define pre-settlement landscapes. These became the baseline against which current conditions were compared. Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) Fuels Fuels are any materials that can burn from leaf litter to timber. Fuel characteristics include: • Subsurface fuels - roots, peat, and decomposed organic matter 2 Stages of secondary successional development of plant communities which occur during ecological succession from bare ground to the climax stage (USDA, 2012). ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-13 • Surface fuels - include needles, twigs, brush, leaves, small trees, and logging slash • Aerial fuels - include brush over 6 feet, leaves/needles on trees, etc. Air is able to circulate between the fuel and the ground. This allows the fire to burn at a rapid rate. The rate is dependent on the proximity to other aerial fuels, winds, and environment Fuels can be classified as light (grasses, forbs), medium (light brush and small trees), heavy (dense brush, timber, and hardwoods), and slash (residue on floor). Although fuel conditions in much of the county might exhibit moderate fire severities under a variety of weather conditions, approximately 50,000 acres have an undesirable mix of high surface fuel loads, dense canopies with a lot of bulk, and tall stands with short base heights that will most likely translate to higher severity fire under severe fire weather conditions (Idaho State University, 2020). The following figures and tables highlight the vegetation densities and fuel loads that exist across Alpine County. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-14 Figure 2-9 Fuel Load Model Types in Alpine County Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) Table 2-6 Fuel Model Type by Percent Source: (US Department of Interior, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-15 Figure 2-10 Stand Heights in Alpine County Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) Table 2-7 Stand Heights by Percent Source: (US Department of Interior, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-16 Figure 2-11 Canopy Cover in Alpine County Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) Table 2-8 Canopy Cover by Percent Source: (US Department of Interior, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-17 Figure 2-12 Canopy Bulk Density in Alpine County Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) Table 2-9 Canopy Bulk Density by Percent Source: (US Department of Interior, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-18 Figure 2-13 Canopy Base Height Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) Table 2-10 Canopy Base Height by Percent Source: (US Department of Interior, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-19 Weather Inputs from Remote Automated Weather System (RAWS) The Remote Automatic Weather Stations (RAWS) system is a network of automated weather stations run by the USFS and BLM and monitored by the National Interagency Fire Center, mainly to observe potential wildfire conditions (Desert Research Institute, 2020). This analysis utilized 97th percentile historical weather (average wind speed, average wind direction, dead and live fuel moistures) to analyze fire behavior. Percentiles are based on a scale of 0 to 100 and are used to sort and rank a collection of data. For wildfire, when values at the upper end of the scale occur, complex fires are expected, where initial attack may often fail. The 97th percentile is often termed “the worst-case scenario” (US Department of Interior, 2020). Modeling conditions at the 97th percentile fire weather for the County was chosen not to serve as an understanding of the very worst-case fire effects are, but to determine how the current vegetation and fuels environment react to what is considered a threshold for problem fires. Choosing percentile weather removes subjectivity and thus bias as the calculation is run directly from the data. This process is objective and has become the industry standard for everything from determining national fire danger ratings to, as in this case, estimating hazard. The team analyzed the weather outputs, compared them to their respective knowledge base, and determined they were indeed in the threshold range of problem fire weather for Alpine County. The data from RAWS is as follows: • Calculated 97th Percentile Model Weather Parameters: − Run Date: February 12, 2020 11:58:38 PM − Wind Type: Gridded Winds − Wind Speed: 14 mph − Wind Direction: 225 degrees − Crown Fire Method: Scott/Reinhardt − Foliar Moisture: 100 − Conditioning: On - Extreme – Northern Sierra Nevada − Conditioning start: 1300, August 11, 2012 − Conditioning end: 1500, August 17, 2012 − Station Name: Markleeville − Station Observation Start Date: May 13, 1985 − Station Observation End Date: October 4, 2016 − Station Elevation: 5,501 − Station Aspect: 8 − Station Latitude: 38.69 − Station Longitude: 119.77 • Fuel Moisture: − 1 Hour Fuel Moisture: 2 % − 10 Hour Fuel Moisture: 2 % − 100 Hour Moisture: 4 % − Live Herbaceous Moisture: 78 % ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-20 − Live Woody Moisture: 101 % Fire Model FlamMap Basic The fire model used was FlamMap Basic with Minimum Travel Time (MTT) embedded. FlamMap is a fire analysis desktop application that runs in a 64-bit Windows Operating System environment, or in this case, the system. It can simulate potential fire behavior characteristics (spread rate, flame length, fireline intensity, etc.), fire growth and spread, and conditional burn probabilities under constant environmental conditions (weather and fuel moisture) (USDA - U.S. Forest Service, 2020b). FlamMap Basic is a spatially dependent, deterministic model that incorporates several established fire model base algorithms including: • Rothermel's 1972 surface fire model • Van Wagner's 1977 crown fire initiation model • Rothermel's 1991 crown fire spread model • Nelson's 2000 dead fuel moisture model Outputs are generally in the form of raster maps of potential fire behavior characteristics (such as spread rate, flame length, fireline intensity, and crown fire activity) and environmental conditions (dead fuel moistures, mid-flame wind speeds, and solar irradiance) over an entire landscape. These raster maps show fire behavior and environmental conditions for one instant in time and can be viewed in FlamMap or exported for use in a GIS or word processor, or in this case packaged as an report. FlamMap Basic is an ideal model to use for pre and post fuel treatment evolution by “showing the expected change in fire behavior based on how the surface fuel models and/or canopy characteristics will change as a result of the fuel treatment” when all other variables remain constant 2020). The FlamMap Basic outputs, also known as Landscape Fire Behavior in are highlighted in Appendix B appendices for the current condition. Minimum Travel Time MTT is a spatially dependent, stochastic model that “computes fire growth between the cell corners, holding all environmental conditions constant in time (Finney, 2006; Stratton, 2009). Fire growth is computed under the same assumptions as FlamMap Basic fire behavior. It also enables end-users to create all the necessary results and files from multiple ignition simulations (burn probabilities, fire perimeters, flame length probabilities, fire size list). MTT results can be used both for fuel management planning and for single event fire propagation (spread and intensity)” (Kalabokidis, et al., 2013). The MTT outputs, also known as Landscape Burn Probability in are described in the results section. The combination or “integration” of two primary Landscape Burn Probability outputs, conditional flame length and fire probability, create “Integrated Hazard.” Integrated ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-21 Hazard helps to better understand exposure of assets by incorporating variability through the modeled ignition of thousands of fires. The inherent variability of stochastic models, however, makes it difficult to measure the absolute change in specific areas, and therefore, it is difficult successfully quantify effects of proposed treatments without additional information, like what FlamMap Basic provides. Scale Although the majority of the vegetation and fuel inputs are at a resolution of 30 square meters, this size of the analysis area, at 723 square miles, makes processing prohibitive to model at that same resolution. Instead, the scale of this analysis will transition to a 90 square meter pixel, or about 2 acres in size. The scale will still provide sufficient resolution to do county-wide analysis but will not be appropriate for making management decisions at or below 90 square meters. However, it is understood that coupling results with field verification and augmentation will maximize the effectiveness of this exercise. Outputs Fire Intensity Frontal fire intensity is a valid measure of forest fire behavior that is solely a physical attribute of the fire itself. It is defined as the energy output rate per unit length of fire front and is directly related to flame size. Numerically, it is equal to the product of net heat of combustion, quantity of fuel consumed in the active combustion zone, and a spreading fire's linear rate of advance. This concept of fire intensity provides a quantitative basis for fire description useful in evaluating the impact of fire on forest ecosystems (Alexander, 1982). Flame length was focused on to quantify fire intensity for this study because of the direct correlation to suppression resources and effectiveness. “The flame length of a spreading surface fire within the flaming front is measured from midway in the active flaming combustion zone to the average tip of the flames.” Figure 2-14 shows surface fire behavior fire characteristics (US Department of Interior, 2020). Generally, if flame are less than 4 feet, then fire can be effectively controlled with professional suppression resources. Flame between 4 and 8 feet require multiple, more specific types and numbers of professionally trained firefighting resources; suppression success goes down. Flame greater than 8 feet generally removes resources from directly attacking the fire front. When flame are modeled to exceed 4 feet, effort should be made to closely examine and prescribe treatment to reduce undesirable fire intensities. All proposed projects within the County should also be maintained after development such that, on average, flame remain below 4 feet when anthropogenic assets are in close proximity. Natural resource areas might be more nuanced where some pockets of higher fire behaviors are not only acceptable but desired when life and property cannot be threatened. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-22 Figure 2-14 Surface Fire Behavior Characteristics Chart ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-23 Fire Probability Fire probability quantifies the relative likelihood of a fire occurring under a fixed set of weather and fuel moisture conditions (US Department of Interior, 2020). Within the minimum travel time model, randomly located ignition points are used to simulate fires. Ignitions are only located and retained on burnable fuels, if an ignition is located on a non-burnable fuel it is discarded. The number of ignitions is determined by to most efficiently produce outputs for the user. Burn Probability = number of times burned / total number of ignitions For example, if the model ran 17,000 times and a pixel burned 1,462 times it would have burn probability of 0.086, (1,462/17,000 = 0.086). If a pixel burned 17,000 times in 17,000 fire simulations, it would have burn probability of 1.0, (17,000/17,000 = 1.0). If a pixel never burned during those 17,000 fire simulations, it would have a burn probability of 0 (0/17,000 = Integrated Hazard The term “hazard” is used by the wildland fire community to define a variety of conditions or situations where damage to assets by fire is being evaluated. Hazard is quantified and categorized in using the FlamMap and Minimum Travel Time models evaluating (US Department of Interior, 2020): • The probability of a fire occurring at a specific point under a specified set of conditions (burn probability) • The intensity at a specific point given a fire occurs (flame length) “Integrated Hazard” in then combines these two important measures into a single value that can be easily understood and mapped. Figure 2-15 shows the integrated hazard classification chart, where flame length classes are combined burn probability categories. Although high flame will always be correlated to higher hazard, the relative classification of burn probabilities means there is no absolute set of integrated hazard heuristics. The value results are relative to only the area analyzed. Figure 2-15 Integrated Hazard Classification Chart Source: DOI 2020 ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-24 Results of Wildfire Behavior Modeling Fire Intensity Figure 2-16 shows the predicted size and location of flame that could occur within Alpine County under existing conditions. Table 2-11 quantifies spatial distribution across a set of flame length classes. Approximately 20 percent of the county is exhibiting flame greater than 4 feet. It is apparent that under current conditions, as modeled, Alpine County would likely exhibit high intensity fire in many areas and put some homes and infrastructure at risk because suppression resources would have trouble safely directly attacking the fire and direct suppression effectiveness might be limited during the first burn period. Table 2-11 Spatial Distribution of Flame Length Classes Source: (US Department of Interior, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-25 Figure 2-16 Modeled Flame in Alpine County Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-26 Fire Probability Figure 2-17 shows where fires will most likely occur across the county. The eastern portion of the county generally has much higher probabilities than the west side. This condition is most likely due to the prevailing winds under the critical fire weather scenario and more continuous fuels that blanket the lower elevations of eastern Alpine County. Figure 2-17 Modeled Fire Probability in Alpine County Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-27 Integrated Hazard Current condition integrated hazard inputs were modeled with the weather with just over 70,000 random ignitions occurring within a burn period of 12 hours with a 20 percent spotting probability within the county and a buffered analysis extent. Figure 2-18 highlights areas where there is a high fire intensity that overlaps with a high fire probability. Although some areas are considered low hazard, much of the area has elevated hazard numbers, which creates undesirable exposure to the surrounding homes and infrastructure. Table 2-12 shows the percent of each class of integrated hazard. While the largest percentage of land is in the lowest and lower categories, the middle, higher, and highest areas still represent over 50,000 acres of land. Treating this much landscape would cost between $75 and $175 million, depending on the treatment methods used. Hazard outputs can be valuable when trying to understand the patterns of potentially high severity fire across large landscapes; however, these outputs often display an overwhelming amount of information. First, there may simply be too much hazard for an entity to deal given their available resources. Second, even if resources to reduce all fire intensities were available, then hazard provides little insight into where you should go first. The next step was to conduct the wildfire risk assessment. This risk assessment can be extremely valuable for an entity that has limited resources to implement as it allows them to prioritize treatments. Table 2-12 Percent of Each Classification of Integrated Hazard Source: (US Department of Interior, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-28 Figure 2-18 Modeled Integrated Hazard for Alpine County ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-29 2.4 Susceptibility Analysis – HVRA Analysis Introduction The identification and characterization of HVRAs in Alpine County was a time consuming but critical step in the risk assessment process. Three primary characteristics must be determined for each HVRA identified: spatial extent (mapping), response to wildfire (benefit or loss), and relative importance (Scott, Thompson, & Calkin, 2013). Methods Determination of Spatial Extent of HVRAs For use in wildfire risk calculations, spatial HVRA data must be in raster format. To effectively evaluate and apply any HVRA dataset, it is imperative to work with the spatial data in a GIS, and not solely rely on map products. The raster data should match the extent, cell size, and coordinate system of the fire modeling landscape. Any number of geoprocessing tasks are required, such as: converting feature class data (points, lines, or polygons) to raster format, re- sampling existing raster-format data to a different cell size, or re-projecting to a different coordinate system. Due to limitations on the spatial accuracy in HVRA mapping and fire modeling, it may be necessary to include a small buffer around point and line features to ensure they are adequately represented in the assessment. It may be undesirable for a point HVRA a communication site) to be mapped to a single grid cell, especially if the accuracy of the point is small compared to the cell size. Including a buffer size will increase the exposure of the HVRA to wildfire as measured by expected area burned, but otherwise the buffer simply increases the sample size for estimating fire behavior and effects (Scott, Thompson, & Calkin, 2013). The compilation of HVRA data entails collecting data from various sources. A variety of regional or national data sources tend to be a good starting place when developing and accounting for HVRAs. Local data sources are often the most up-to-date and reflect local knowledge of the landscape. Local data can be used to refine the regional or national datasets. The spatial extent of HVRAs within Alpine County were defined using industry standard buffers based on the types of HVRA that occur in Alpine County. The location and spatial extent of HVRAs were reviewed by the steering committee and a select group of additional community stakeholders. Calculation of HVRA Response to Wildfire The response function framework requires quantifying the relationship between HVRA value and wildfire intensity (measured by flame length). HVRA response is related to fire intensity because it is the best fire characteristic available associated with fire effects. This approach quantifies net value change (NVC) to a given HVRA as the percentage change in the initial resource value resulting from a fire at a given intensity. Response functions address relative, rather than absolute change in resource or asset value and represent both beneficial and adverse effects to the HVRA (Scott, Thompson, & Calkin, 2013). ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-30 The project steering committee and a select group of additional community stakeholders were invited to respond to a questionnaire regarding each HVRA’s response to wildfire. Survey responses were then reviewed during a steering committee meeting, during which all steering committee members agreed on each HVRA’s response to wildfire. The HVRA Wildfire Response Questionnaire is provided in Appendix C. Calculation of HVRA Relative Importance Balancing competing or conflicting land and resource management objectives is a significant challenge to land and resource management planners. It is also difficult to articulate quantitative weights establishing the relative importance of HVRAs. Understanding relative importance is not necessary when assessing wildfire risk to a single HVRA such as municipal watersheds or the WUI. It is only when attempting to combine the risk to multiple overlapping HVRAs, or when comparing risk among several HVRAs, that the issue of weighting arises. The task can be avoided altogether by assuming that each pixel of each HVRA is of equal value, or weight. With that assumption, however, over-mapping an HVRA will overstate its risk, and extensive HVRAs will always be shown to have greater effects than HVRAs that cover a small amount of land area. There are some major tradeoffs to consider before avoiding the step of articulating relative importance. Relative importance helps understand risk in areas where multiple HVRAs overlap and allows for comparing risks across different spatial areas that house different HVRAs. Using relative importance scores helps to address all these questions and allows for summarization and visualization of risks in a single metric. If assessment results are to ultimately be used for planning mitigation treatments and strategies, then prioritization decisions that integrate all HVRAs will still ultimately need to be made. Articulating relative importance scores and how objectives are balanced makes this decision explicit rather than implicit and increases the overall transparency of decision processes (Marcot, 2012). The project steering committee and a select group of additional community stakeholders were invited to respond to a questionnaire regarding each HVRA’s relative importance. Survey responses were then reviewed during a steering committee meeting, during which all steering committee members developed a relative importance ranking of the HVRAs within the county. The Relative Importance Questionnaire is provided in Appendix D. Results of HVRA Characterization Spatial Extent of HVRAs HVRA accounting begin with the Alpine County GIS database and was augmented through collaboration with the project steering committee. Table 2-13 shows the HVRAs that were selected while Figure 2-19 shows locations and extent of each HVRA. Figure 2-20 is a more detailed look at Bear Valley as an example of the specificity in the HVRA raster layer that was developed. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-31 Table 2-13 HVRA Accounting for Alpine County HVRA Category Buffer Extent Residential Structures 100 feet Education Facilities (Daycares/Schools) 100 feet Recreation Facilities – campgrounds, RV parks (non-ski areas) 25 feet Business and Public Structures 100 feet Places of Worship 100 feet Non-habitable Structures (barns/sheds) 100 feet Health and Elder Care Facilities 100 feet High Hazard Buildings 250 feet Airport/Helibase 250 feet Communication Infrastructure (cell towers, microwave towers, etc.) 200 feet Potable Water Storage tanks); Snow-making Infrastructure 100 feet Major/Minor Evacuation Corridors (ingress and egress routes) 300 feet Community Evacuation/Refuge/Safe Zones/ Areas 250 feet Cemeteries or Significant Resource Buildings/Areas 100 feet Watersheds of Special Significance 25 feet WUI Defense 0.25 mile Ski Area Terrain No Buffer ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-32 Figure 2-19 Location and Extent of HVRAs in Alpine County Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-33 Figure 2-20 HVRA Raster Layer Example for Bear Valley Planning Area Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-34 HVRA Calculated Response to Wildfire Response to wildfire survey results are shown in Table 2-14. A total of six responses to the HVRA Response Function Questionnaire were received. Responses included an Alpine County resident, USFS staff, Alpine County staff, and CAL FIRE staff. Surveys limited responses to between negative 3 and positive 3 points and were then averaged across surveys. Results then went into risk calculation as the response function (RF) as a normalized value percent change. For example, negative 3.0 = 100% value loss where a positive 1.0 = 33% value gained. The response function survey template is available as Appendix C. Table 2-14 Results of Surveys Determining Response to Wildfire HVRA Flame Length 0-2 feet Flame Length 2-4 feet Flame Length 4-6 feet Flame Length 6-8 feet Flame Length 8- 12 feet Flame Length 12+ feet Residential Structures Neg 1.17 Neg 2.17 Neg 2.67 Neg 3.00 Neg 3.00 Neg 3.00 Education Facilities (Daycare/Schools/Colleges) Neg 1.17 Neg 2.33 Neg 2.67 Neg 3.00 Neg 3.00 Neg 3.00 Recreational Facilities – Campgrounds, RV Parks (Non-ski Area) Neg 0.50 Neg 1.50 Neg 2.33 Neg 2.83 Neg 2.83 Neg 2.83 Business and Public Structures Neg 1.17 Neg 2.17 Neg 2.50 Neg 3.00 Neg 3.00 Neg 3.00 Places of Worship Neg 1.17 Neg 2.17 Neg 2.67 Neg 3.00 Neg 3.00 Neg 3.00 Non-Habitable/Unknown Structures (Barns/Sheds) Neg 0.67 Neg 1.83 Neg 2.50 Neg 2.83 Neg 2.83 Neg 3.00 Health and Elder Care Facilities Neg 1.33 Neg 2.67 Neg 2.67 Neg 3.00 Neg 3.00 Neg 3.00 High Hazard Buildings Neg 1.80 Neg 2.40 Neg 2.80 Neg 3.00 Neg 3.00 Neg 3.00 Airport/Helibase 0.00 Neg 0.67 Neg 2.00 Neg 2.83 Neg 3.00 Neg 3.00 Communication Infrastructure (Cell Towers, Microwave Towers, etc.) Neg 0.83 Neg 1.83 Neg 2.50 Neg 2.83 Neg 3.00 Neg 3.00 Potable Water Storage (E.g. Tanks); Snow Making Infrastructure Neg 0.17 Neg 1.33 Neg 2.33 Neg 2.83 Neg 3.00 Neg 3.00 Major Evacuation Corridors (Ingress and Egress Routes) Pos 0.40 0.00 Neg 1.40 Neg 1.80 Neg 2.40 Neg 2.80 Minor Evacuation Corridors (Ingress and Egress Routes) Post 0.50 Neg 0.17 Neg 1.33 Neg 1.83 Neg 2.50 Neg 2.83 ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-35 HVRA Flame Length 0-2 feet Flame Length 2-4 feet Flame Length 4-6 feet Flame Length 6-8 feet Flame Length 8- 12 feet Flame Length 12+ feet Community Evacuation/ Refuge/Safe Zones/Areas Neg 0.17 Neg 0.83 Neg 1.83 Neg 2.17 Neg 2.50 Neg 2.50 Cemeteries or Significant Resource Buildings/Areas Neg 0.50 Neg 1.33 Neg 2.17 Neg 2.67 Neg 3.00 Neg 3.00 Watersheds of Special Significance Pos 2.50 Pos 1.67 Pos 0.67 Neg 1.17 Neg 2.17 Neg 2.67 WUI Defense Pos 2.00 Pos 1.33 Neg 0.17 Neg 1.00 Neg 2.17 Neg 2.67 Ski Area Terrain Pos 1.50 Post 0.83 Neg 0.50 Neg 1.50 Neg 2.33 Neg 2.83 HVRA Calculated Relative Importance Relative Importance survey results are shown in Table 2-15. A total of eight responses to the HVRA Relative Importance Questionnaire were received. Responses included an Alpine County resident, USFS staff, Alpine County staff, and CAL FIRE, Bear Valley Water District staff, and Fire Safe Council member. Each rating category had a potential ranking from 1-10; 10 being the highest score. The average score for all surveys by category is shown below and the total score is the sum of those averaged scores. The relative importance survey template is available as Appendix D. Table 2-15 Results of Surveys Determining Relative Importance HVRA Uniqueness/Rarity/ Endemism Replaceability Safety/Critical Infrastructure Total Score Residential Structures 2.13 3.63 3.25 9.01 Education Facilities (Daycare/Schools/Colleges) 2.63 4.38 3.5 10.51 Recreational Facilities – Campgrounds, RV Parks (Non-ski Area) 3.25 3.63 2.38 9.26 Business and Public Structures 2.63 4.00 4.00 10.63 Places of Worship 2.13 3.67 2.71 8.51 Non Habitable/Unknown Structures (Barns/Sheds) 1.71 2.57 1.71 5.99 Health and Elder Care Facilities 2.17 4.00 4.14 10.31 High Hazard Buildings 3.00 3.83 3.33 10.16 Airport/Helibase 2.57 3.00 4.00 9.57 Communication Infrastructure (Cell Towers, Microwave Towers, etc.) 3.13 3.88 4.50 11.51 ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-36 HVRA Uniqueness/Rarity/ Endemism Replaceability Safety/Critical Infrastructure Total Score Potable Water Storage (E.g. Tanks); Snow Making Infrastructure 3.13 4.13 4.50 11.76 Major Evacuation Corridors (Ingress and Egress Routes) 3.13 4.00 4.25 11.38 Minor Evacuation Corridors (Ingress and Egress Routes) 2.88 3.13 3.88 9.89 Community Evacuation/ Refuge/Safe Zones/Areas 3.25 2.86 4.13 10.24 Cemeteries or Significant Resource Buildings/Areas 3.25 4.50 n/a 7.75 Watersheds of Special Significance 3.25 4.00 n/a 7.25 WUI Defense 5.00 5.00 n/a 10.00 Ski Area Terrain 3.14 4.00 n/a 7.14 2.5 Wildfire Risk Assessment Introduction Wildfire risk is the compilation of the integrated hazards (fire likelihood and intensity) with the susceptibility of the HVRAs identified. Methods Methods of Determining Wildfire Risk Exposure Analysis of HVRAs Exposure analysis is the characterization of wildfire likelihood and intensity where HVRAs occur and was performed within a GIS using one of several geospatial techniques that identify or summarize the wildfire hazard characteristics of all pixels where an HVRA is mapped. Equation 1 provides the formula that was used for calculating E(NVCj)k, the expected net value change or exposure to HVRA j on landscape pixel k. BPk is the probability of pixel k burning at what flame length class (CFLk) multiplied by RFjk the response function for HVRA j on pixel k. 𝐸(𝑁𝑉𝐶𝑗)𝑘= ∑𝐵𝑃𝑘∗𝐶𝐹𝐿𝑘∗𝑅𝐹𝑗𝑘 Equation 1 ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-37 Effects Analysis on HVRAs Effects analysis integrates wildfire hazard (likelihood and intensity) and HVRA vulnerability (exposure and susceptibility), producing a comprehensive measure of wildfire risk. Wildfire risk is quantified as the weighted expectation of net value change, where NVC is expressed in relative terms on a percentage basis, as defined by expert-based loss/benefit functions (for example, complete loss = -100 percent). Equation 2 displays how to calculate risk across HVRAs for a given landscape pixel k. Expected net value change across all HVRAs and the entire landscape can be derived through Equation 3. 𝐸(𝑁𝑉𝐶)𝑘= ∑𝐸(𝑁𝑉𝐶𝑗)𝑘 𝑗 ∗𝑅𝐼𝑗 𝐸(𝑁𝑉𝐶) = ∑𝐸(𝑁𝑉𝐶)𝑘 𝑘 Methods for Project Development Based on Wildfire Risk Wildfire Risk Compilation Compiling the total negative net value change of each pixel within the study area in a GIS raster format is required to appropriately organize results of the effects analysis. Considering each pixel of negative value is cumulative based on the above equations and is relative to other pixels within the project area, the results highlight which pixels, compared to others, have the highest net value change and thus, the highest amount of risk to fire during extreme fire weather scenarios. This information, in and of itself, can highlight what areas should be focused on first for treatments provided scale limitations are considered. Decisions on risk in areas less than 90- meter square area is not supported by this data and must be further evaluated with field visits. Opportunities for Treatment Compilation Areas or pixels that exhibit a positive value change to the effects of fire during extreme fire weather scenarios, could still benefit from treatment. In fact, these “opportunity” areas could have beneficial fire prescribed across many areas within the project area that would not only enhance the value of a particular HVRA, but also keep it and the surrounding area from moving towards conditions that would result in a modeled net value loss in the future as vegetation grows and fuels accumulate. These identified opportunity areas would most likely be treated with low intensity prescribed fire during times of the year when the potential for high severity fire is very low. It is understood that the more positive net value change value per pixel, the higher the opportunity which would translate to a higher priority implementation project area. Like the risk compilation, however, decisions on opportunity in areas less than a 90-meter square area is not supported by this data and should be further evaluated with field visits. Equation 2 Equation 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-38 Project Developer Even with the comprehensive and relatively high-fidelity risk and opportunity data across the project area, some additional filters and workflows were needed to improve results and further facilitate efficient and effective decision-making. Outputs from models that deal with a large amount of data may also produce additional meaningless information, often referred to as “noise,” which can negatively affect the results of a data analysis and skew conclusions. Risk and opportunity data from the wildfire risk assessment were refined using a project-specific workflow intended to better contrast useful data from the noise. Additional filters identified in Table 2-16 and Table 2-17 were used to further divide information into meaningful polygons. The following section presents the results of the risk calculations and processes. The results are presented in maps showing the areas of moderate, high, very high, and highest risk. Table 2-16 Additional Filter by Slope Slope Percent Break Explanation 0-35% All treatment methods available 35-75% Too steep for most mechanical treatment methods; majority of area can only be treated manually >75% Too steep for all mechanical and most manual treatment; aerial prescribed fire treatment only Table 2-17 Additional Filter by Land Ownership Ownership Group Notes United States Forest Service Designated by forest Humboldt-Toiyabe vs Stanislaus) and land designation wilderness) Bureau of Land Management Sierra Front Field Office Bureau of Indian Affairs Western Nevada Agency – Woodfords Community Alpine County n/a NGO/Service Districts/Pacific Gas & Electric Designated by entity State of California Designated by entity State parks) Private Individual parcels were lumped together unless they were > 2 acres ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-39 Results of Wildfire Risk Assessment Wildfire Risk Maps County-wide risk is shown in Figure 2-21. Although HVRAs are well distributed across the county, considerably more and higher risk is on the east side. This higher risk is mostly due to the higher fire probabilities shown and explained in Figure 2-17. Figure 2-22 is zoomed into the Markleeville area that highlights an area where risk exists at its highest while covering a relatively moderate amount of area. To effectively evaluate and apply any risk and opportunity dataset it is imperative to work with the spatial data in a GIS and not solely rely on map products. Project Development Outputs Opportunities for Prescribed Fire Based on the wildfire risk assessment, areas of the HVRAs were opportunities to control and reduce fuels through prescribed fire were also identified. The suitability of an area for prescribed fire is assessed based on whether fire in that area would have a net positive outcome, such as areas of HVRAs where there were not structures, infrastructure, or any other features that could be negatively affected by fire. The suitability was estimated by calculating the net value change that is expected when a typical pixel in the area burns. Figure 2-23 shows the additional areas within the overall HVRA areas where there is an opportunity to put prescribed fire on the landscape. Figure 2-24 highlights what the prescribed fire opportunities look like at a smaller scale in the Markleeville HVRA area. Prescribed fire in these areas would serve to further protect the HVRAs that fall within the moderate to highest wildfire risk categories. Project Developer Workflow Results The project developer workflow and filters were applied to risk and opportunity outputs to help focus areas for project development coalesced by ownership and by treatment type to make the data actionable. The following process was part of the workflow: • Remove the noise − Drop areas < 2 acres in size • Package by 25% risk categories • Break up by slope − < 35% − > = 35% & < 75% − 75% • Break up by ownership: USFS, BLM, Bureau of Indian Affairs, County, Non- Government Organization/Service District/PG&E, State, and Private Figure 2-25 shows that output County-wide and Figure 2-26 through Figure 2-30 zooms into each of the five planning areas for a view of what the processed wildfire risks with prescribed fire opportunities looks like at an appropriate scale to inform decisions. Table 2-18 lays out land ownership of risk and opportunity. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-40 Figure 2-21 Countywide Areas of Moderate to Highest Wildfire Risk Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-41 Figure 2-22 Areas of Moderate to Highest Wildfire Risk for Markleeville Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-42 Figure 2-23 Opportunities in Alpine County for Prescribed Fire within the HVRAs Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-43 Figure 2-24 Opportunities for Prescribed Fire in Markleeville within the HVRAs Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-44 Figure 2-25 Countywide Wildfire Risk Output After Workflow with Prescribed Fire Opportunities Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-45 Figure 2-26 Markleeville Wildfire Risk Output After Workflow with Prescribed Fire Opportunities Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-46 Figure 2-27 Bear Valley Wildfire Risk Output After Workflow with Prescribed Fire Opportunities Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-47 Figure 2-28 Kirkwood Wildfire Risk Output After Workflow with Prescribed Fire Opportunities Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-48 Figure 2-29 Woodfords Wildfire Risk Output After Workflow with Prescribed Fire Opportunities Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-49 Figure 2-30 Hung-A-Lel-Ti Wildfire Risk Output After Workflow with Prescribed Fire Opportunities Source: (LANDFIRE, 2020) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 TECHNICAL ANALYSES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 2-50 Table 2-18 Areas of Risk and Acres of Opportunity by Land Management or Ownership Ownership Group Acres of Risk Acres of Opportunity (including prescribed fire) United States Forest Service 2,087 10,455 Bureau of Land Management 378 137 Bureau of Indian Affairs 207 203 Alpine County 168 36 NGO/Service Districts/Pacific Gas & Electric 80 192 State of California 76 215 Private 2,598 3,957 Unknown 16 47 Totals 5,610 15,242 ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-1 3 Wildfire Risk Mitigation Projects 3.1 Development and Prioritization of Potential Projects The modeling efforts to assess wildfire risks across Alpine County assisted the team in defining where fire hazard areas occur, and which resources and assets are at moderate to highest risk. The information allowed the team to focus in on specific areas where projects could be developed to mitigate the risks. County staff and the steering committee were tapped for their knowledge of recently completed projects or projects underway in the County, as well as areas of particular concern based on their understanding of fire response and evacuation procedures, and on-the-ground conditions. The land ownerships with the majority of the acres at risk included lands managed by the USFS at 1,403 acres (Humboldt-Toiyabe NF = 1,155 acres; Stanislaus NF = 230 acres; Eldorado NF = 18 acres) and private land at 2,598 acres (see Table 5-2). Areas within USFS ownership at highest risk, primarily on the east side of the County, are already being treated or are planned for near- term treatment by the USFS (Annabelle Monti, pers. Comm., 2020). The roster of projects defined for the mitigation program, therefore, did not include lands within USFS ownership. The wildfire risk assessment also demonstrated that the Kirkwood planning area had the least risks of the five planning areas within the WUI, with few areas in moderate and very limited areas in high wildfire risk. The roster of projects, therefore, focused on Markleeville, Woodfords, Hung-a-Lel-Ti, and Bear Valley. Project boundaries were drawn up, based on parcels, for 23 projects with an additional three projects identified but not mapped. While 23 projects were identified, several are adjacent to each other and could be grouped into a single project. With the grouping of adjacent projects, a total of 12 total projects were identified. Once the projects were identified by geographic area, qualitative criteria were considered to prioritize the projects into three tiers (Tier 1 or highest priority, Tier 2 or moderate priority, and Tier 3 or lower priority), and to identify the three projects in Tier 1 that would move forward for detailed definition and environmental review. The criteria included: • Degree of wildfire risk • Project size and ability to implement • Land ownership and likelihood to obtain permission to perform work: Is the landowner likely to approve the work and interested in the projects • Feasibility of completing environmental review under existing constraints grant timeframe, grant funds) • Consistency with the CWPP: Is the project or area identified as a key area in the CWPP? ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-2 3.2 Projects Included in the WRMP by Tier Summary of All Projects Table 3-1 provides an overview of the 12 projects and 23 subprojects that were identified for inclusion in this WRMP. The table is followed by maps depicting the locations of the projects. The project boundaries are largely based on parcel boundaries; however, preliminary project boundaries were delineated regardless of land ownership. The Tier 1 projects are carried forward with detailed implementation plans and environmental review, described in Chapter 4. Implementation of other projects in Tier 2 and Tier 3 would require supplemental implementation plans in the future. The process for implementing the Tier 2 and Tier 3 projects, as well as prescribed burning across larger HVRA areas is described in Section 4.7. Summary of the Tier 1 Projects for Detailed Definition and Environmental Analysis The three projects moving forward for detailed definition are shown below. These projects were prioritized primarily because they provide protection to communities at the highest wildfire risk (Markleevillage in Markleeville); protects a larger community in combination with high wildfire risk (Manzanita community in Woodfords); and provides protection to a considerable number of higher density homes and infrastructure that can build off of existing work for greater benefit even though the overall wildfire risk is lower in this area (Bear Valley). The Grover Hot Springs area also ranked highly, as the first project under Tier 2. This project could also reasonably be developed in the future following additional definition and environmental review. Project 1: Markleevillage (Subprojects MV1, MV2, MV3, MV4, MV5, and MV6) Size: 300 acres Goal: WUI protection and evacuation corridor protection Benefits: Addressing the area with the highest wildfire risks in the County Land Ownership: Private CWPP Projects: Markleeville Priority 1, 3, and 4 ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-3 Project 2: Manzanita (Subprojects MV1, MV2, MV3, MV4, MV5, and MV6) Size: 430 acres Goal: WUI protection Benefits: Protection of the Manzanita community Land Ownership: Private CWPP Projects: Woodfords/Upper Manzanita Priority 1 Project 3: Bear Valley (Subproject BV1) Size: 130 acres Goal: WUI protection and defensible space Benefits: Community protection building on USFS, County, and resident work Land Ownership: Private CWPP Projects: Bear Valley Priority 1, 2, 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-4 Table 3-1 Projects Included in the Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan by Tier Project # Sub- Project ID Project Location and Summary Potential Treatment Types and Methods Estimated Project Size Landowner Type(s) Likelihood of Receiving Landowner Permission Anticipated Environmental Review 1 Environmental Review Considerations CWPP Consistency Public Private Tier 1 Priority Projects (Highest Priority) 1 MV1 Saw Mill Road Community protection south of Hot Springs Road and west of Pleasant Valley Road • WUI fuel treatment • Mechanical • Hand tools 118 acres No Yes -Single landowner Feasible CEQA – Portions are covered by CALVTP EIR Treatment of entire area may require additional CEQA review for work in meadow. CalVTP Project Specific Assessment could be used for all other areas. • Majority of the area is covered by the CalVTP EIR. Large meadow is excluded from VTP EIR treatment area. • Part of Markleeville Priority 3 – Land Co-op MV2 Pleasant Valley Road - East Defensible space and emergency access south of Hot Springs Road and east of Pleasant Valley Road • WUI fuel treatment • Mechanical • Hand tools 75 acres No Yes – Multiple landowners Multiple private landowners could be a challenge for conducting studies/surveys and project implementation CEQA – CalVTP Project Specific Assessment • CalVTP identifies fuel break opportunity near Pleasant Valley Road • Markleeville Priority 4 residential treatment MV3 Pleasant Valley Road - South Community protection for community east of Pleasant Valley Road • WUI fuel treatment • Fuel break • Mechanical • Hand tools 39 acres No Yes - Single landowner Feasible CEQA – CalVTP Project Specific Assessment • Entire area covered by the CalVTP EIR • No, not included with Priority 3 Co-op MV4 Hot Springs Road - West Emergency access protection on Hot Springs Road; community protection for community east of Pleasant Valley Road • WUI fuel treatment • Mechanical • Hand tools 47 acres No Yes - Single landowner Feasible CEQA – CalVTP Project Specific Assessment • Entire area covered by the CalVTP EIR • Markleeville Priority 1 and 3 MV5 Hot Springs Road to Markleeville (North) Emergency access protection north of Hot Springs Road west of Markleeville • WUI fuel treatment • Mechanical • Hand tools 10 acres No Yes – Single landowner Feasible CEQA – CalVTP Project Specific Assessment • Entire area covered by the CalVTP EIR • Markleeville Priority 1 and 3 MV6 Hot Springs Road to Markleeville (South) Emergency access protection south of Hot Springs Road west of Markleeville • WUI fuel treatment • Mechanical • Hand tools 7 acres No Yes – Single landowner Feasible CEQA – Portions are covered by CALVTP EIR Treatment of entire area requires additional CEQA review for work adjacent to Pleasant Valley Creek. CalVTP Project Specific Assessment could be used for all other areas. • CalVTP excludes the area adjacent to Pleasant Valley Creek • Markleeville Priority 1, not included in Priority 3 land co-op ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-5 Project # Sub- Project ID Project Location and Summary Potential Treatment Types and Methods Estimated Project Size Landowner Type(s) Likelihood of Receiving Landowner Permission Anticipated Environmental Review 1 Environmental Review Considerations CWPP Consistency Public Private 2 MZ1 Manzanita Emergency access protection along Highway 89 and community protection for Sierra Pines Mobile Home Park • WUI fuel reduction • Fuel breaks • Mechanical • Hand tools 658 acres No Yes – Single landowner Feasible CEQA – CalVTP Project Specific Assessment • CalVTP identifies fuel break opportunities along Randall Creek • CalVTP excludes some of the meadows in the area from treatment • Not included in Woodfords\Upper Manzanita Priority 1 project MZ2 Manzanita Community protection for Sierra Pines Mobile Home Park • WUI fuel reduction • Fuel breaks • Mechanical • Hand tools 71 acres No Yes – Single landowner Feasible CEQA – CalVTP Project Specific Assessment • Entire area covered by the CalVTP EIR • CalVTP identifies fuel break opportunities along Scott Creek and with topography in the area • No included in Woodfords\Upper Manzanita Priority 1 project MZ3 Manzanita Community protection for Sierra Pines Mobile Home Park • WUI fuel reduction • Fuel breaks • Mechanical • Hand tools 39 acres No Yes – Single landowner Feasible CEQA – CalVTP Project Specific Assessment • Entire area covered by the CalVTP EIR • CalVTP identifies fuel break opportunities along Scott Creek and with topography in the area • Woodfords\Upper Manzanita Priority 1 project MZ5 Manzanita Community protection for Sierra Pines Mobile Home Park • WUI fuel reduction • Fuel breaks • Mechanical • Hand tools 108 acres No Yes – Single landowner Feasible CEQA – CalVTP Project Specific Assessment • Entire area covered by the CalVTP EIR • CalVTP identifies fuel break opportunities within the parcel as well as just north of the northern property along existing fuel break • Woodfords\Upper Manzanita Priority 1 project 3 BV2 Bear Valley Defensible space and community protection for Bear Valley community; Emergency access to Highway 4 • Defensible space • WUI fuels reduction • Mechanical • Hand tools 130 acres No Yes – Multiple landowners Multiple private landowners could be a challenge for conducting studies/surveys and project implementation CEQA – project-specific CEQA document • The majority of the area is not covered by the CalVTP • Consistent with BV Projects 1,2,3 Tier 2 Priority Projects (Moderate Priority) 4 GHS1 Grover Hot Springs State Park Protection of Grover Hot Springs campground and emergency access protection on Hot Springs Road. • Ecological restoration • Fuel break • Mechanical • Hand tools • Prescribed burn 339 acres Yes – State of California No Feasible CEQA – CalVTP Project Specific Assessment • Entire area covered by the CalVTP EIR • Markleeville Priority 1 is roadway access treatments • Markleeville Priority 5 is alternate routes and evac sites like Grover Meadow pg 115 ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-6 Project # Sub- Project ID Project Location and Summary Potential Treatment Types and Methods Estimated Project Size Landowner Type(s) Likelihood of Receiving Landowner Permission Anticipated Environmental Review 1 Environmental Review Considerations CWPP Consistency Public Private GHS2 Shay Creek Subdivision Defensible space protection of the Shay Creek subdivision and emergency access on Hot Springs Road. • Ecological restoration • WUI fuel treatment • Mechanical • Hand tools 77 acres No Yes – Multiple landowners • Multiple private landowners could be a challenge for conducting studies/surveys and project implementation • CEQA – CalVTP Project Specific Assessment • Project could qualify for Class 4 Exemption (CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 Minor Alterations to Land) • Entire area covered by the CalVTP EIR • Assume Priority 1 roadway access treatments are consistent even if they don’t describe Shay Creek GHS3 Hot Springs Road near Shay Creek Road Emergency access protection on Hot Springs Road, east of Shay Creek Road. • WUI fuel treatment • Mechanical • Hand tools • Prescribed burn 8 acres Yes – State of California No Feasible CEQA – The project will require evaluation under a project-specific CEQA document. Project could qualify for Class 4 Exemption (CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 Minor Alterations to Land). • The area is not included in the CalVTP analysis area but the omission may be due to a mapping error. The case can be made for treating it as a CalVTP-covered area (within SRA) • Land use within the project boundary includes year- round workforce housing; therefore, the area is considered higher priority • Markleeville Priority 1 and 5 projects 5 MS1 Mesa Vista Community protection for Mesa Vista • WUI fuels reduction • Mechanical • Hand tools • Prescribed burn 66 acres No Yes -Washo Tribe Feasible • NEPA – Categorical Exclusion • CEQA – project-specific CEQA document necessary • Area not included in the CalVTP • BIA NEPA Categorical Exclusion2 available • Woodfords\Mesa Vista Brush Treatment- Priority 4, 100 ac MS2 Mesa Vista Community protection for Mesa Vista; Emergency access protection of Emigrant Trail and Highway 88 • WUI fuels reduction • Mechanical • Hand tools 282 acres Yes -BIA Yes -Washo Tribe Feasible • NEPA – Categorical Exclusion • CEQA – project-specific CEQA document necessary. • Area not included in the CalVTP • BIA NEPA Categorical Exclusion2 available • Woodfords\Mesa Vista Brush Treatment – Priority 4 100ac Tier 3 Priority Projects (Lower Priority) 6 HLT1 Hung-A-Lel-Ti Community protection for Hung- a-Lel-Ti and emergency access on Diamond Valley Road • WUI fuels reduction • Mechanical • Hand tools • Prescribed burn * 78 acres Yes -BIA No Feasible • NEPA – Categorical Exclusion • CEQA – project-specific CEQA document necessary. Project could qualify for Class 4 Exemption (CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 Minor Alterations to Land) • Area not included in the CalVTP • BIA NEPA Categorical Exclusion2 available • CEQA Class 4 Exemption may apply * Prescribed burn outside of 100’ buffer of structures • No recommended project ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-7 Project # Sub- Project ID Project Location and Summary Potential Treatment Types and Methods Estimated Project Size Landowner Type(s) Likelihood of Receiving Landowner Permission Anticipated Environmental Review 1 Environmental Review Considerations CWPP Consistency Public Private 7 TRP1 Turtle Rock Park Emergency access protection along Highway 89 • Ecological restoration • Mechanical • Hand tools • Prescribed burn 126 acres Yes – Alpine County No Feasible CEQA – CalVTP Project Specific Assessment • Majority of area covered by CalVTP EIR • Developed areas (parking lots) were excluded from CalVTP EIR treatable area • CalVTP identifies opportunity for fuelbreak on the western edge of the polygon extending west along Millberry Creek • No, pg 65 sect 8.3 recognizes BLM treatments adjacent to TRP 8 BV1 Bear Valley Defensible space and community protection for Bear Valley community at Bear Lake; Emergency access protection on Bear Valley Road • Defensible space • WUI fuels reduction • Mechanical • Hand tools 18 acres No Yes – Multiple landowners Feasible CEQA – project-specific CEQA document. Project could qualify for Class 4 Exemption (CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 Minor Alterations to Land) • None of the area is covered by the CalVTP • Multiple private landowners could be a challenge for conducting studies/surveys and project implementation • Consistent with BV Projects 1,2,3 BV3 Bear Valley Defensible space and community protection for Bear Valley community; Emergency access to Highway 4 • Defensible space • WUI fuels reduction • Mechanical • Hand tools 185 acres Yes – State or County Yes – Multiple landowners Feasible • CEQA – project-specific CEQA document using CalVTP. • Project could qualify for Class 4 Exemption (CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 Minor Alterations to Land) • Multiple private landowners could be a challenge for conducting studies/surveys and project implementation • CalVTP covers area along Creekside Drive • Consistent with BV Projects 1,2,3 9 MZ4 Manzanita Emergency access protection along Highway 89 and defensible space for Sierra Pines Mobile Home Park • WUI fuel reduction • Fuel breaks • Mechanical • Hand tools 17 acres No Yes - Single landowner Current landowner is not interested in wildfire mitigation projects on property at the time of WRMP development • CEQA – CalVTP Project Specific Assessment. • Project could qualify for Class 4 Exemption (CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 Minor Alterations to Land) • Entire area covered by the CalVTP EIR • CalVTP identifies fuel break opportunities along Scott Creek and with topography in the area • Woodfords\Upper Manzanita Priority 1 project MZ6 Manzanita Emergency access protection along Highway 89 and defensible space for Sierra Pines Mobile Home Park • WUI fuel reduction • Fuel breaks • Mechanical • Hand tools 79 acres No Yes – Multiple landowners Current landowners are generally not interested in wildfire mitigation projects on property at the time of WRMP development • CEQA – CalVTP Project Specific Assessment • Project could qualify for Class 4 Exemption (CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 Minor Alterations to Land) • Entire area covered by the CalVTP EIR • CalVTP identifies fuel break opportunities along Scott Creek • Multiple private landowners could be a challenge for conducting studies/surveys and project implementation • Woodfords\Upper Manzanita Priority 1 project • Identifies poor defensible space and difficult emergency access along Manzanita Lane and Hawkins Ranch Road 10 LA1 Lake Alpine Protection of recreational uses and emergency access • Ecological restoration • Mechanical • Hand tools • Prescribed burn 449 acres Yes – USFS Yes - PG&E Feasible NEPA – CE or EA CEQA – project-specific CEQA document necessary tiering off CalVTP • PG&E-owned land covered by CalVTP • NEPA required for work on USFS land • No CWPP project, reference on pg 133 to 2013 timber stand project ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-8 Project # Sub- Project ID Project Location and Summary Potential Treatment Types and Methods Estimated Project Size Landowner Type(s) Likelihood of Receiving Landowner Permission Anticipated Environmental Review 1 Environmental Review Considerations CWPP Consistency Public Private 11 DV1 Diamond Valley Triangle Protection of County services and Diamond Valley School • WUI fuel reduction • Fuel breaks • Mechanical • Hand tools 73 acres Yes – Alpine County No Feasible CEQA – project-specific CEQA document. • Alpine Fire Safe Council Phase 2 project. AFSC completed Phase 1 project to the west, adjacent to Highway 89. • Area is not covered by the CalVTP • Woodfords\Upper Manzanita Priority 2 project DV2 Washoe Cemetery Protection of cemetery, Woodfords residences, and County services • WUI fuel reduction • Ecological restoration • Fuel breaks • Mechanical • Hand tools • Prescribed burn 77 acres Yes – Alpine County, BIA No Feasible CEQA – CalVTP Project Specific Assessment • Entire area covered by the CalVTP EIR • Not specifically identified in CWPP but project consistent with Manzanita Fuels Treatment (Priority 1 Project) and Diamond Valley Triangle Fuels Treatment (Priority 2 Project) • CWPP identifies the area as a completed project 12 HWY1 Highway 89 North of Turtle Rock Park Emergency access protection along Highway 89 • Ecological restoration • Mechanical • Hand tools 36 acres No Yes Unknown CEQA – project-specific CEQA document • Area is not covered by the CalVTP • Not specifically identified in CWPP but project is consistent with goals for maintaining emergency access Notes: 1 CalVTP Project Specific Assessment - Assessment checklist would be completed to determine if the project is consistent with the CalVTP EIR. If the checklist indicates that there would be a potentially new or more severe impact, then additional CEQA review would be required. The checklist could be used to prepare tiered CEQA review with additional evaluation for areas of new or more severe impact. Public review and comment periods would be necessary in accordance with CEQA. See Section 3.3 for more details on the Cal VTP EIR and CEQA review. 2 Department of Interior Categorical Exclusion Hazardous Fuels Reduction; or Bureau of Indian Affairs Categorical Exclusion H. Forestry ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-9 Figure 3-1 Index of Project Maps in WRMP ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-10 Figure 3-2 Mesa Vista Project Area (Tier 1, Project 5) ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-11 Figure 3-3 Hung-a-Lel-Ti Project Area (Tier 3, Project 6) ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-12 Figure 3-4 Manzanita Project Area (Tier 1, Project 2 and Tier 3, Project 9) ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-13 Figure 3-5 Turtle Rock Park Project Area (Tier 3, Project 7) ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-14 Figure 3-6 Grover Hot Springs Project Area (Tier 2, Project 4) ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-15 Figure 3-7 Markleevillage Project Area (Tier 1, Project 1) ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-16 Figure 3-8 Bear Valley Project Area (Tier 1, Project 3) ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-17 Figure 3-9 Lake Alpine Project Area (Tier 3, Project 10) ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-18 Figure 3-10 Diamond Valley Project Area (Tier 3, Project 11) ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-19 Figure 3-11 Highway 89 Project Area (Tier 3, Project 12) ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-20 3.3 Environmental Review Considerations for Risk Mitigation Projects Projects undertaken by the County or utilizing State or federal funding sources will be subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or through the California Forest Practice Rules (Title 14CCR1038(i)). Table 3-2 summarizes the options for environmental review, depending on the project type, location, and environmental resources present. For projects where timber would be harvested and sold or bartered, the project review would be subject to the California Forest Practice Rules and a Timber Harvest Plan or Exemption. Other key avenues for review include under a currently certified Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (EIR) by CAL FIRE called the Vegetation Treatment Plan (VTP) EIR. This document was certified in December of 2019 and covers many different types of forest management and fuel reduction projects on public and private lands. The VTP EIR does not cover every area within Alpine County, but where the area is covered, a process has been laid out, known as a Project Specific Analysis, to identify how the project can be assessed and coverage documented. The VTP EIR includes mitigation, where if applicable, must be implemented to ensure coverage under the program. Other avenues, if utilizing State funding but if material will not be harvested, is to complete an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) or a project specific EIR under CEQA, with the County as the lead agency. The three Tier 1 projects defined in greater detail in Chapter 4 are all being addressed through a CEQA IS/MND, with the County as lead agency. Table 3-2 Options for Project Environmental Review under CEQA CEQA Vehicle Applicable Land Other Parameters to Determine Applicability CAL FIRE Forest Fire Prevention Exemption 1 Timberland in areas that are moderate, high, or very high CAL FIRE Hazard Severity Mapping 2 • Limited to maximum 300-acre area • Only trees <30 inches in diameter at stump height3 may be harvested • Trees between 30 – 36 inches in diameter at stump height3 may be removed for the purpose of road construction/reconstruction when no other feasible option exists for road activities • Notice of Exemption must be prepared, signed, and submitted by a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) • Work must be completed within 1 year of filing the exemption with CAL FIRE. If burning slash for disposal, burning must be completed within 2 years of filing the exemption. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-21 CEQA Vehicle Applicable Land Other Parameters to Determine Applicability Timber Harvest Plan (THP) CEQA Exemption5 Private timberland used for forest logging operations. • Prepared by RPFs • Notice of Intent to Harvest Timber (Notice of Intent) must be prepared by a RPF if: - any proposed Plan boundary lies within 300 feet of any property not owned by the Timberland owner - any Plan amendment that changes a Plan boundary so that the new boundary lies within three hundred (300) feet of property not owned by the Timberland owner, or - any Plan amendment changes the silvicultural method if a Notice of Intent was required for the Plan by condition or above or, - any overhead electrical power line, except a line from a transformer to a service panel, is present within the Plan area or within two hundred (200) feet outside the Plan boundary, or - any Plan amendment changes a Plan boundary so that any overhead electrical power line, except a line from a transformer to a service panel, is within the new boundary or is within two-hundred (200) feet outside the new Plan boundary. Modified THP Private timberland used for forest logging operations. • On an ownership of 160 acres, or a quarter (1/4) section or less of Timberland • No more than 70 percent of any existing tree canopy layer is to be harvested on parcels 40 acres or less, and not more than 50 percent on parcels 41-160 acres or a quarter (1/4) section • Clearcutting and shelterwood removal, as defined in 14 CCR 913.1(b) and [933.1(b) and and 953.1(b) and shall not be used Modified THP for Fuel Hazard Reduction Private timberland used for forest logging operations. • Project area not to exceed 2,500 acres • An average of at least 40 percent of the existing overstory tree canopy shall be retained • No operations shall occur in areas having average slopes greater than 50 percent based upon sample areas that are 20 acres in size, and no tractor operations in areas with high or extreme erosion hazard ratings California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP) EIR Project Specific Analysis Land identified as treatable area in the CalVTP 4 • Projects with new impacts that were not analyzed in the CalVTP EIR require additional CEQA review • Projects with more severe impacts than those analyzed in the CalVTP EIR require additional CEQA review ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECTS Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 3-22 CEQA Vehicle Applicable Land Other Parameters to Determine Applicability Limited Suspension of Requirements of CEQA pursuant to Governor’s Proclamation of a State of Emergency (October 20, 2015) 6 Land identified as high-hazard zone pursuant to Directive 1 of the Proclamation • Project must be necessary to protect public health and safety • Project involves removal of dead/dying trees that threaten residences, critical community infrastructure, roads and other excavation corridors • Work is completed in accordance with the Guidelines for High Hazard Zone Tree Removal 7 Senate Bill 901 Federal lands where NEPA review for projects to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire has been completed • CEQA would not apply to prescribed fire, thinning, or fuel reduction projects undertaken on federal lands to reduce the risk of high-severity wildfire • SB 901 exemption expires January 1, 2023 1. 2. hazard-severity-zones-maps/ 3. Diameter at stump height is measured at 8 inches above ground level 4. CalVTP Treatable Area: forestry.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=78782787ae4d459e8cb313141a5c41be 5. 14 CCR § 1031-1052. Timber Harvesting Plan: D48211DEBC02831C6D6C108E&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=Default&contextData=( sc.Default) 6. Governor’s October 30, 2015 Proclamation of a State of Emergency: 7. Guidelines for High Hazard Zone Tree Removal: http://www.fire.ca.gov/treetaskforce/downloads/Draft_Tree_Removal_Guidelines_3-1-16.pdf ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-1 4 Implementation Plan 4.1 Methods and Tools Overview The fuel treatment strategies to be implemented on the three, Tier 1 priority projects include a combination of fuel reduction methods depending on the location, facility access, slope, and types of vegetation. Based on these considerations, the County in consultation with a RPF, developed the approach to reducing fuel loads. Fuel treatment methods to be implemented include mastication and hand thinning. Pile burn may be implemented as a method of fuels disposal. The logging and selling of material are not currently proposed under any priority project. If logging were to be considered for future fuels reduction projects, the County would prepare a THP or THP Exemption with an RPF. All project activities would occur in a manner consistent with the California Forest Practice Rules. Each of the currently proposed treatment methods for the three priority projects are described here. Methods Mastication Mastication is the main type of mechanical treatment method that would be implemented under the project. Mastication is implemented using a mastication head attached to an excavator, small tractor, or other type of machine. The mastication head is used to chip or shred ladder fuels from brush and small trees (up to 12 inches diameter at breast height [dbh]) in place. Shredded material is either incorporated into the duff layer during operations, left on site, or reduced using a prescribed burn following post-treatment evaluation. Mastication is typically implemented in areas of high brush cover or that need ladder fuel treatment where biomass removal is not feasible. Mastication would be used for larger scale vegetation removal activities. Mastication requires heavy machinery and would only be implemented in areas of relatively flat, accessible ground. Operations with a traditional masticator generally would not occur on slopes over 30 percent. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-2 Figure 4-1 Rotary Masticator Photo source: (Spatial Informatics Group, 2020) Equipment used for mastication may include: • Excavator, small tractor, or similar machine • Mechanical mastication head • Chipper Hand Thinning Implementation of hand thinning treatment methods under the project would require the use of powered and non-powered hand tools. Powered hand thinning treatment is completed by an individual or teams using chainsaws, with cut material either chipped, hauled, or piled and burned. Chipping can be done using several types of machines that are both hand- or machine- fed. Hand thinning methods would be used for thinning stands of small-diameter trees and shrubs and for limbing trees up to a height of 10 feet above the ground surface. Hand thinning is typically used on trees up to 9 inches in diameter, but most effective for trees up to 6 inches in diameter or shrubs. Hand thinning treatments could be used in areas with up to 80 percent ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-3 slope. Hand thinning would be the only method implemented in treatment areas that occur within 100 feet of homes or structures. Hand tools would be brought to the project site and removed daily. Equipment used for hand thinning treatment methods may include: • Powered hand tools: brushcutters (metal blade), string trimmers (monofilament plastic line), chainsaws, power pole saws, hedge trimmers • Non-powered hand tools: loppers, hand pruners, hand saws, hatchets, pulaskis, machetes, brush hooks, brush axes Figure 4-2 Hand Thinning with Chainsaw Photo source: (Spatial Informatics Group, 2020) Pile Burn Pile burning may be used to remove cut or dead vegetative material where chipping, hauling, or decomposition are not feasible. Piles can be constructed of dry vegetative material, covered, and burned. Piles could vary in size from 5 to 10 feet in diameter and 4 to 6 feet in height. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-4 Figure 4-3 Pile Burn Photo source: (Spatial Informatics Group, 2020) Equipment used for pile burn activities may include: • Approved ignition devices • Fire hose/water truck • Hand tools Access and Staging/Landing Access to conduct project activities would be entirely from existing roads and trails and no street or lane closures would occur during project implementation. No new permanent access roads are included as part of the project to implement fuel treatment activities. In some cases, access to work sites would not be accessible directly from maintained trails and roads and would be achieved by creating temporary, overland access roads, which include foot trails or using former trails that have grown over and can be cleared for access. Sensitive habitats, creeks, and wetlands would be avoided. Clearing of temporary access roads would not occur when soils are wet. The temporary access roads would not be graded or scraped. Temporary ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-5 access roads would be rehabilitated following use, which involves decompacting soils, distributing surrounding litter/duff back on-site, and obscuring entrance points with brush. All existing roads within the project boundary may be used for project access. Staging activities would occur on treated land within the project boundary near an access point. Staging activities would include overnight storage of mechanical equipment, placement of material piles, and other specific actions for each project site. The expected size of staging areas for equipment storage would be relatively small and would be up to approximately 0.1-acre area. Product material piles would be left in place within the project boundary or adjacent to existing roads if eligible for a local chipping program. Product material would not be stored in wetlands, creeks, drainages, or associated riparian habitats. Erosion and drainage control would be installed as needed. Personnel to Complete Work Personnel needed to conduct project activities varies depending upon the project site, activities, treatment methods, and the timing of implementation. The work crew would arrive by van with equipment and supplies delivered by heavy truck. Work crews would be comprised of local personnel who commute to the project site daily. The number of workers by treatment method is summarized in Table 4-1. The scale of the project activities that would be completed would depend on landowner compliance, funding, and other resource availability. Up to 30 workers, not including additional required pile burn contingency resources, may be conducting fuel treatment activities at a single site. Table 4-1 Personnel Needed to Implement Treatment Methods Treatment Method Crew Size (Average) Crew Size (Minimum and Maximum) Mastication 5 2-10 Hand thinning 5 2-10 Pile burning 15 10-30 Timing Implementation of the activities outlined in the fuel treatment projects would begin after funding is secured. Construction would occur up to 7 days per week. Work activities would take place during daylight hours between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and between 9:00 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Activities would occur as weather and site conditions permit over the project implementation timeline. Project activities would likely be conducted June through October, due to limitations from the snow season, site access abilities, species protection requirements, permitting and/or landowner restrictions, and official fire season. Project activities would not occur on red flag warning days. The phasing of project activities will be based on weather conditions and contractor commitments to be determined as part of the contracting process. For purposes of evaluation it ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-6 is assumed that fuel treatment activities would occur sequentially on a single site over a period of five months (June-October) each year of 2022-2024, depending on project funding. Implementation of treatment activities may occur simultaneously at the various project areas, requiring several work crews to be operating at different project areas at the same time. 4.2 Project 1: Markleevillage Description and Location The Markleevillage project site includes fuel treatment on 300 acres south of Hot Springs Road along Sawmill Road and Pleasant Valley Road. Mastication and hand thinning fuel treatment methods would be implemented throughout the treatment area. Hand thinning only would be implemented in the central region of the site surrounding Pleasant Valley Road. Only hand tools would be used during activities that occur within 100 feet of homes or structures. Mastication would be conducted in most of the site with slopes up to 30 percent. Brush and trees less than 10 inches dbh would be mechanically masticated. All existing woody fuel would be masticated concurrently with treatment of standing fuel ladder vegetation. Steep inclusions over 30 percent would not be treated by mastication. All live and dead vegetation less than 10 inches dbh would be cut, as well as most dead trees over 10 inches dbh. Tree limbs would be removed up to a height of 10 feet above ground surface. Approximately 90 percent of the shrubs would be treated. Mastication may be implemented where feasible, materials could dispersed by lopping and scattering although the preference will be for small hand pile disposal through pile burning. Access and Personnel Main access roads to conduct the work would include Hot Springs Road, Pleasant Valley Road, and Sawmill Road. Staging would be within the project footprint. Given the size of the project, approximately 10 crew members are expected on-site but up to 30 may be needed while pile burning. Timing Timing for implementation would be as identified in Section 4.1.5. Work would likely occur in June to October, with a goal of commencing in 2022. 4.3 Project 2: Manzanita Description and Location The Manzanita project site includes fuel treatment on 460 acres of open space east of Manzanita Lane and south of Zellmer Lane. The fuel treatment activities would include mastication and hand thinning methods. Only hand tools would be used during activities that occur within 100 feet of homes or structures. Mastication would be conducted only in the northern portion of the ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-7 site in areas with slope up to 30 percent. Brush and trees less than 10 inches dbh would be mechanically masticated. All existing woody fuel would be masticated concurrently with treatment of standing fuel ladder vegetation. Steep inclusions over 30 percent would not be treated by mastication. All live and dead vegetation less than 10 inches dbh would be cut and as well as most dead trees over 10 dbh in diameter. Tree limbs would be removed up to a height of 10 feet above ground surface. Approximately 90 percent of the shrubs would be treated. Chipping may be implemented where feasible and materials could dispersed by lopping and scattering although the preference will be for small hand pile disposal through pile burning. Access and Personnel Access would occur via SR 89 and private driveways. Staging would be within the project footprint. Given the size of the project, approximately 10 crew members are expected on-site but up to 30 may be needed while pile burning. Timing Timing for implementation would be as identified in Section 4.1.5. Work would likely occur in June to October, with a goal of commencing in 2022 or 2023. 4.4 Project 3: Bear Valley Description and Location The Bear Valley project site includes fuel treatment on 130 acres surrounding Quaking Aspen Road, Bloods Ridge Road, and Alpine Way. The fuel treatment would include hand thinning methods within the entire 130-acre area. Fuel reduction activities will be targeted in areas where excess wildfire fuel buildup has occurred. Landscaping will not be altered during these fuel treatment activities. All live and dead target vegetation less than 10 inches dbh would be cut. Tree limbs would be removed up to a height of 10 feet above ground surface. Approximately 90 percent of the shrubs would be treated. Chipping may be implemented where feasible, otherwise materials will be dispersed by lopping and scattering. No pile burns would be conducted at the Bear Valley site. All work at the Bear Valley treatment area must be done by hand crews due to the slope and inaccessibility of the terrain. Access and Personnel Main access roads to conduct the work would include Bear Valley Road, Quaking Aspen Road, Bloods Ridge Road, and Immigrant Road/Alpine Way. Staging would be within the project footprint. Given the size of the project, approximately 10 crew members are expected on-site. Timing Timing for implementation would be as identified in Section 4.1.5. Work would likely occur in June to October, with a goal of commencing between 2022 and 2024. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-8 4.5 Environmental Considerations and Review Biological Resources Potential Concerns Biological resources may occur in any of the three project areas and could be negatively impacted by implementation of project activities. Key resources include potential special status plants, listed wildlife species, nesting birds, and aquatic or riparian habitats. Table 4-2 identifies the types of special status species known to occur in the region. Protection Measures Prior to implementation of the projects, biological field reconnaissance surveys would be conducted to gain a more complete understanding of the potential resources present and to develop project-specific measures to minimize or avoid impacts. Nesting birds may be the biggest concern. For all activities that could result in potential noise and other land disturbances that could affect nesting birds tree removal, mowing during nesting season, mastication, chipping), treatment sites should be surveyed to evaluate the potential for nesting birds. Trees should be removed outside the nesting season for migratory birds and raptors (typically March through August). If activities that could disturb nesting birds are performed during the nesting season (generally if work is performed from March 1 to August 30), then preconstruction nesting surveys would be performed and any active nests and a buffer area around the nest avoided until the young have fledged. If other species such as amphibians could occur in project areas, a biologist should be on-site to check areas prior to work and to ensure that any individuals found are avoided. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-1 Table 4-2 Potential Special Status Species Found in Alpine County Common Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Insects Western bumble bee Bombus occidentalis USFS sensitive SC Typically inhabit sandy soil, dunes, and grasslands between 0 and 9,000 feet elevation. Mono checkerspot butterfly editha monoensis USFS sensitive Found in relatively wet meadow and coniferous forest in the Eastern Sierra Nevada and western Great Basin. Fish Lahontan cutthroat trout clarkii henshawi FT Cool, well-oxygenated streams that are free of other salmonids. Elevation range between 5,250 and 9,300 feet. Mountain sucker Catostomus SSC Found in rivers in the Sierra Nevada from Mono County north to Lake Tahoe and Truckee River. Mountain whitefish Prosopium williamsoni SSC Found in rivers in Eastern Sierra Nevada from Mono County north to Lake Tahoe and Truckee River. Lahontan Lake tui chub Siphateles bicolor pectinifer SSC Found in the Lahontan Basin, including Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake. Amphibians Yosemite toad Anaxyrus canorus FT, USFS sensitive SSC Restricted to central high Sierra Nevada. Prefers mountain, alpine meadow, lodgepole pine, successional stages of mixed conifer, Jeffrey pine, and red fir typically at elevations between 4,000 to 11,200 feet. Sierra Nevada yellow- legged frog Rana sierrae FE, USFS sensitive ST, CDFW watchlist Associated with streams, lakes, and ponds in montane riparian, lodgepole pine, subalpine conifer, and wet meadows. Breeds in shallow water in low gradient perennial streams and lakes. Foothill yellow-legged frog Rana boylii USFS sensitive, BLM sensitive SC, SSC Found in usually subalpine to alpine ponds, streams, and adjacent meadows. Southern long-toed salamander macrodactylum sigillatum SSC Inhabit submerged shoreline areas of small lakes, seasonal ponds, and vernal pools. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-2 Common Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Northern leopard frog Lithobates pipiens SSC Found in a variety of aquatic habitats ranging from low elevation irrigation ditches to subalpine lakes. Birds Great gray owl Strix nebulosa USFS sensitive SE Found in mixed conifer or red fir forest habitat, in or on edges of meadows. Requires large diameter snags in a forest with high canopy closure. Willow flycatcher Empidonax traillii FE, USFS sensitive, BCC SE Found nesting in extensive willow riparian scrub stands, often near wet meadow habitat. Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Federally delisted, BLM sensitive, USFS sensitive, BCC SE, FP Typically found nesting in large trees, often pines, often within 1 mile of water. Northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis BLM sensitive, USFS sensitive SSC Found nesting in expansive stands of relatively closed coniferous forest in elevation ranging 1,000 to 10,800 feet. Black swift Cypseloides niger BCC SSC Typically nests near water on steep canyon walls, usually in close proximity to a waterfall. Yellow-headed blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus SSC Typically nests at lakeshores and other large freshwater emergent marsh habitats. May nest in open riparian delta habitat at lakes. Sharp-shinned hawk Accipiter striatus WL Found nesting in mixed coniferous or hardwood forest, sometimes in tree clumps in scrub habitat. American peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus anatum Federally delisted, BCC State delisted, FP Found nesting on cliffs and sometimes urban structures including high-rise buildings. Osprey Pandion haliaetus WL Nests in large trees; forages at aquatic and riverine habitats. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-3 Common Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Mammals Fisher – west coast DPS Pekania pennanti BLM sensitive, USFS sensitive ST, SSC Typically found in intermediate to large-tree stages of coniferous forests and deciduous-riparian areas with high percent canopy closure. This species uses cavities, snags, logs and rocky areas for cover and denning. This species requires large areas of mature dense forest. California wolverine Gulo gulo Proposed FT, USFS sensitive ST, FP Found in many remote habitats, particularly in high elevation Sierra Nevada and northern Coast Ranges. Sierra Nevada red fox Vulpes vulpes necator FC, USFS sensitive ST Typically inhabit forest and forest gaps in high elevation central Sierra Nevada. Recent sightings indicate may use lower elevations in Eastern Sierra Nevada. Sierra Nevada mountain beaver Aplodontia rufa californica SSC Found in burrow systems along streams in coniferous riparian forest with areas of dense scrub and understory herbs. Western white-tailed jackrabbit Lepus townsendii townsendii SSC Typical habitats include sagebrush scrub and open coniferous forest in elevations ranging 6,400-11,000 feet. Sierra marten Martes caurina sierrae USFS sensitive Found in closed-canopy forest with snags and downed tree boles, usually old growth coniferous, in the Cascades and Sierra Nevada ranges. Fringed myotis Myotis thysanodes BLM sensitive, USFS sensitive Typically found in roosts and nursery colonies in caves, mines, sometimes abandoned buildings, and forages over meadow, scrub vegetation or water. American badger Taxidea taxus SSC Found in a variety of relatively dry and open scrub, forest and grassland habitats. Spotted bat Euderma maculatum SSC Roost and natal colonies occur in crevices and caves; typically forages at lakeside and riverine habitats. Plants Hall’s meadow hawksbeard Crepis runcinate ssp. Halli 2B.2 Found in moist, alkaline valley bottoms at elevations between 375 – 2,100 feet. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-4 Common Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Mountain bent grass Agrostis humilis 2B.3 Typically found in open alpine slopes, subalpine meadows, and sometimes openings in coniferous forest Upswept moonwort ascendens USFS sensitive 2B.3 Found in seeps, moist meadows and shaded to open subalpine forest. Scalloped moonwort crenulatum USFS sensitive 2B.2 Typically found in seeps, moist and shaded stream margins. Mingan moonwort minganense USFS sensitive 2B.2 Found in seeps and moist soil at partly to deeply shaded forest and meadow margins. Davy’s sedge Carex davyi 1B.3 Found in meadows, often moist slopes in subalpine and upper montane coniferous forest. Porcupine sedge Carex hystericina 2B.1 Typically found within perennially wet soil at marshes and swamps. Mud sedge Carex limosa 2B.2 Found in bogs, including floating sphagnum bogs. Liddon’s sedge Carex petasata 2B.3 Found in upland broadleaf and coniferous forests, pinyon-juniper woodland, and meadows. Western valley sedge Carex vallicola 2B.3 Found in moist forested slopes and scrub at margins of meadows. Alpine dusty maidens Chaenactis douglasii var. alpina 2B.3 Typically found in alpine forest and meadows, and open areas including talus and crevices. Fell-fields claytonia Claytonia megarhiza 2B.3 Found in alpine boulder fields, rock crevices, and gravelly subalpine forest. Great Basin claytonia Claytonia umbellate 2B.3 Typically found in rocky subalpine coniferous forest, including talus and crevices. Fiddleleaf hawksbeard Crepis runcinata 2B.2 Found in moist meadow margin, usually alkaline clays. Subalpine crymophila 1B.3 Found in subalpine coniferous forest, often in volcanic soil in forest gaps and scree. Tahoe draba Draba asterophora USFS sensitive 1B.2 Typically found in alpine rocks and scree, and crevices. Tall draba Draba praealta 2B.3 Found in subalpine and alpine meadows and seeps. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-5 Common Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Scribner’s wheat grass Elymus scribneri 2B.3 Typically inhabit alpine fellfields and scree. Subalpine fireweed Epilobium howellii 4.3 Found near lake shores, wet meadows and seeps. Marsh willowherb Epilobium palustre 2B.3 Found near lake shores and marshy areas in wet meadows. Jack’s wild buckwheat Eriogonum luteolum var. saltuarium USFS sensitive 1B.2 Typically found in upland woodlands and coniferous forest, sandy soil, and sometimes disturbed habitat. Carson Valley monkeyflower carsonensis 1B.1 Typically found within sagebrush scrub and bitterbrush scrub, and often moist soil. Robbins’ pondweed Potamogeton robbinsii 2B.3 Found in perennial aquatic habitats, marshes, and lake margins. Water bulrush Schoenoplectus subterminalis 2B.3 Found within aquatic habitats at lake margins and bogs. Cream-flowered bladderwort Utricularia ochroleuca 2B.2 Typically found in bogs, wet meadows and seeps and in acidic habitat. Golden violet Viola purpurea ssp. aurea 2B.2 Found in pinyon-juniper woodland, sagebrush scrub, and often sandy habitats. Blandow’s bog moss Helodium blandowii USFS sensitive 2B.3 Typically found along lake shores and streambanks. Tahoe yellow cress Rorippa subumbellata USFS sensitive SE 1B.1 Typically found within sandy lake margins at Lake Tahoe. Galena Creek rockcress Arabis rigidissima var. demote USFS sensitive 1B.2 Typically found in partial shade in subalpine red fir or white pine forest. Bolander’s candlemoss Bruchia bolanderi USFS sensitive 4.2 Found in moist grassy areas, recently eroded banks of streams, trailside, and often shaded habitats. Blandow’s bog moss Helodium blandowii USFS sensitive 2B.3 Typically found along lake shores and streambanks. Broad-nerved hump moss Meesia uliginosa USFS sensitive 2B.2 Typically found along lake shores, streambanks, and wet meadows. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-6 Common Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Three-bracted onion Allium tribracteatum USFS sensitive 1B.2 Found in coniferous forest, meadows, often openings at ridgelines, and volcanic soil. Western goblin montanum USFS sensitive 2B.1 Found at least seasonally moist soil at seeps and streambanks in shaded forest. Male fern Dryopteris filix-mas 2B.3 Typically found in granite cliffs with deep crevices. Stebbins’ lomatium Lomatium stebbinsii USFS sensitive 1B.1 Found in openings at ridgelines in coniferous forest, volcanic soil, and often seasonally moist clay. Mollusks Great Basin rams-horn Helisoma newberryi USFS sensitive Found in mud substrate in large lakes and slow-flowing rivers. Lichens Aquatic felt lichen Peltigera gowardii USFS sensitive 4.2 Typically found in submerged rocks or streamside, possibly open sunny meadows. Bryophytes Holzinger’s orthotrichium moss Orthotrichium holzingeri 1B.3 Found within perennial streams, on shaded streamside rocks or in- stream boulders. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-7 Common Name Scientific Name Status General Habitat Description Notes: Potential species search based on and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) species lists for the Heenan Lake, Wolf Creek, Markleeville, Carson Pass, Pacific Valley, Ebbetts Pass, Carters Station, Freel Peak, Minden, South Lake Tahoe, Tamarack, Mokelumne Peak, Bear River Reservoir, Calaveras Dome, Boards Crossing, Liberty Hill, Donnell Lake, Spicer Meadows Reservoir, Pacific Valley, and Woodfords quadrangles. Abbreviations: Federal: USFWS listings under the Endangered Species Act FT: Federally listed as threatened FC-T: Federal candidate – threatened FE: Federally listed as endangered FC-E: Federal candidate – endangered FC: Federal candidate BCC = Birds of Conservation Concern State: California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) listings under the California Endangered Species Act ST: State listed as threatened SSC: CDFW Species of Special Concern SE: State listed as endangered FP: Fully Protected SC: State candidate California Native Plant Society (CNPS) listings 1B: Rare and endangered in California and elsewhere 2B: Rare, threatened or endangered in California, but more common elsewhere 4: Watchlist species of limited distribution Threat Code extensions: .1 – Seriously endangered in California (over 80% of occurrences threatened / high degree and immediacy of threat) .2 – Fairly endangered in California (20-80% of occurrences threatened) .3 – Not very endangered in California 20% of occ’s threatened or no current threats known. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-1 Cultural Resources Archaeological resources can be impacted by use of heavy equipment and any activity that results in ground disturbance. A cultural resources survey would be required prior to performing work, with identification of the appropriate measure to address and protect any resources discovered. Measures would likely include avoidance with an appropriate buffer given the resources or use of hand tools only, around the resource. Fire Protection and Safety While the purpose of the work is to reduce wildfire risks, conducting the work brings personnel and equipment into the WUI. Fire protection would be ensured through the requirement that all personnel are trained in fire protection safety and that they always maintain firefighting equipment on their person or vehicles. Special precautions would also apply, including obtaining the appropriate approvals, for pile burning. 4.6 Estimated Cost and Funding Sources Estimated Costs The following table summarizes estimates of costs by types of treatments. These costs are rough estimates based on input from a few different Bay Area jurisdictions that implement similar treatments in similar landscapes. These are only meant to be estimates and costs may deviate depending on individual site conditions, contracted labor, demand, and other factors. Table 4-3 Estimates of Cost by Treatment Types Treatment Type Estimated Costs per Acre Mastication and mechanical removal and pile burning $1,500 to $3,500 per acre Hand thinning $3,500 to $5,000 per acre Prescribed burning $1,500/acre Very rough estimates of costs per project are as follows, based on an average cost of $3,500 an acre per project. • Markleevillage: $1,050,000 • Manzanita: $1,610,000 • Bear Valley: $455,000 Costs presented here are not meant to be a binding bid price but a rough ballpark estimate. Pricing of actual work will be specific to the time and location of the work. Additionally, estimated treatment acreage within each project area includes acreage of existing roads, landscaped yards, maintained defensible space, and structures; the amount of actual acreage to be treated within each project is expected to be reduced during project implementation to avoid areas that would not receive treatment. Treatment of acreage on private property would be ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-2 determined in consultation with the landowner and documented through a memorandum of understanding or similar agreement. Actual costs should be determined by obtaining detailed estimates from prospective contractors. Potential Funding Sources Funding sources are available at the regional, State, and even federal level. Opportunities will likely vary by year, depending upon the financial conditions at the time of application. Most grants are competitive and have varying qualifications. A summary of grant programs available is provided in the table, below. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-3 Table 4-4 Potential Grant Opportunities for Fuel Management Projects Type of Grant Grant Issuing Agency Grant/Program Summary of Qualifying Projects Funding Applicable to Wildland Fire Planning and Fire Modeling/ Implementation CAL FIRE California Climate Investments (CCI) Fire Prevention Grant Program Qualifying projects and activities include those related to hazardous fuel reduction and removal of dead, dying, or diseased trees, fire prevention planning, and fire prevention education. Funding was eliminated for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-21 cycle. It may be available again in future years. Forest Management CAL FIRE California Forest Improvement Grant Program Projects are non-commercial operations typically used to modify sub-merchantable trees or ones with no commercial value. Technical and financial assistance for planning, reforestation and resource management investments that improve the quality and value of forestland. If a new Forest Management Plan is needed, then the program can provide cost share funding for its completion by a private Registered Professional Forester. Funding provided by the Wildfire Resiliency Program Block Grant (Prop 68). Competitive Grant Cost sharing 75/25 (90/10 under some circumstances); no cost sharing with any other federal grant for the same acreage/area (Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA, likely USFS). This is landowner cost sharing. Fuel Management CAL FIRE California Climate Investments (CCI) Forest Health Grant Program Qualifying projects must: Focus on large, landscape-scale forestlands composed of one or more landowners, which may cover multiple jurisdictions. Large landscapes usually mean sub- watersheds, firesheds, or larger logical management units. Maintain a net reduction of established greenhouse gas emissions levels as calculated by the California Air Resources Board's methodology and testing. Be designed to ensure the project benefits are as permanent as possible. Types of activities may include: Forest fuels reduction; Prescribed fire; Pest management; Reforestation; Biomass utilization; Conservation easements and/or land acquisition through the Forest Legacy Program; Research as a component, or stand-alone through the Forest Research Program. Competitive grant ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-4 Type of Grant Grant Issuing Agency Grant/Program Summary of Qualifying Projects Funding Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) and Implementation of Fuel Management Projects FEMA/Cal OES Hazard Mitigation Grant Program 404 Provides funding for long-term hazard mitigation measures following major disaster declarations. Funding is available to implement projects in accordance with State, territorial, federally recognized tribal, and local priorities. Subapplicants must be tribes, state agencies, tribal agencies, local governments (city, county, special districts), and some private nonprofits. Must have a FEMA-approved and locally-adopted LHMP or be part of Multi-Jusidictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Eligible planning activities include new or updates to plan, Safety Element, Community Wildfire and Flood Protection Plan, General Plan, Plan annex for climate adaptation, etc. Priority given to impacted counties with disaster declarations. Non- impacted counties can apply under Priority 3, Hazard Mitigation Planning, and Priority 4, Post Fire Mitigation Activities for the 2020 grant. A Cal OES/FEMA-approved LHMP is required prior to requesting funding for a wildland fire/veg management planning activity or implementation activity. Can also apply for LHMP funding. Note that implementation projects are preferred. Yes, 75/25 (monetary caps as well) LHMP and Implementation of Fuel Management Projects FEMA/Cal OES BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities) (previously called the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant) Provides funding to develop a new or updated FEMA-approved and locally-adopted LHMP, and implementation of hazard mitigation projects. Provides funds on an annual basis for hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of mitigation projects. FEMA provides funding for measures to reduce or eliminate overall risk from natural hazards. A Cal OES/FEMA-approved LHMP is required prior to requesting funding for a wildland fire/veg management planning activity or implementation activity. Can also apply for LHMP funding. Note that implementation projects are preferred. Yes, 75/25 ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-5 Type of Grant Grant Issuing Agency Grant/Program Summary of Qualifying Projects Funding Implementation of fuel management projects in CWPP California Fire Safe Council; State Fire Assistance Program; U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region Under the terms of Grant number 18-DG-11052012- 134 Projects must be in the wildland urban interface (WUI) and protecting an officially designated Community-at-Risk (CAR). Programs, projects, or activities must address areas identified and prioritized in a CWPP or equivalent document. Yes, 50/50 (monetary cap of $200k per org) ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-6 4.7 Implementation of Other Projects Identified in the WRMP Vegetation Treatment Methods The implementation for the three Tier 1 projects describes several methods and techniques that would also apply to the Tier 2 and Tier 3 projects identified in this plan. Other projects in this plan could also be implemented; however, would require an additional planning process to better define the projects and to conduct the environmental review. Chapter 3 also identifies large areas of opportunity for prescribed fire across multiple land ownerships. Prescribed fire is a land management tool that can be used to: • Restore fire to the landscape, simulating prior natural processes, • Reduce unnaturally high accumulations of vegetation, • Decrease the risk and severity of unwanted wildland fires in the future, • Lessen the potential loss of life and property, • Control many undesirable plant species, plant diseases, and pest insects, • Create and enhance wildlife habitat and increase availability of forage, • Promote the growth of native trees, wildflowers and other plants, and • Expose mineral-rich soil and recycle plant nutrients back to the soil. Prescribed fire activities could be implemented in accordance with a pre-written plan (Burn Plan) that identifies land management goals and specific fire use strategies to safely achieve those goals, with prior approval by the applicable regulatory agencies. Burn Plans address characteristics of the land being treated (like topography and vegetation type) and include carefully defined and required parameters to initiate a prescribed fire for temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation, and conditions for the dispersal of smoke. The Burn Plans also specify how the fire will be applied, by whom, and what fire control people and equipment must be on-scene before the burn can commence. After the Burn Plan is complete and conditions are right, a prescribed burn can proceed under the supervision of a qualified Burn Boss. Low intensity fire is skillfully applied to selectively burn fuels like dead wood, brush, forest understories, and grassland. Prescribed burning project may also require environmental review either under CEQA, NEPA, or both. Development of Future Projects Table 4-5 defines the general procedure the County would use to determine the prioritization, size and scope of future projects completed under the WRMP. Participation from private landowners is vital to the success of future projects, and is discussed in detail in Section 4.7.3. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-7 Table 4-5 Development of Future Projects Phase Description 1. Prioritize Future Projects The County will prioritize future projects based on wildfire risk as well as the level of property owner engagement and likely participation in the project activities. Private landowner participation is essential to the viability of many Tier 2 and Tier 3 projects because the majority of land to be treated occurs on privately owned parcels. If two projects have a similar level of wildfire risk, the amount of private landowner participation will influence the County’s prioritization of the projects. 2. Define Project Boundaries Project treatment areas and boundaries will be developed based on project funding, the vegetation type and density, and participation of landowners. 3. Complete Environmental Resource Surveys The County will hire experienced biological and cultural resource consultants to complete resource assessments within the project areas. Resource assessments will include records searches, literature reviews, agency and tribal consultation, and surveys of the project areas by personnel on foot. Right of entry to private parcels will be critical for completing this phase of project implementation. 4. Refine Project Boundaries to Avoid Environmentally Sensitive Areas The County will refine the project boundaries based on information obtained during the records searches, literature reviews, agency and tribal consultation, and surveys. Areas where resources may be negatively affected by project activities would be avoided during project implementation. 5. Define Location of Specific Treatment Methods within Project Boundary The County will develop a plan that identifies treatment methods to be used within the project boundary. Treatment methods will be determined in consideration of project- specific objectives, as well as site conditions, including topography, accessibility, vegetation community and habitat type, and residential density. The plan will be discussed with all participating landowners and agreements will be documented with a memorandum of understanding or similar agreement between the County and landowners. 6. Ensure Consistency with WRMP CEQA Documentation The County will complete an Initial Study checklist to determine if the impacts considered in the WRMP Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and required mitigation measures adequately address and mitigate impacts of the future project to a less than significant level. If the future project does not result in new effects or require new mitigation measures, the County can approve the activity as being within the scope of the project covered by the WRMP Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration and no new environmental document would be required (CEQA Guidelines, Section 15168). If the future project is not consistent with the WRMP Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration, then the County may consider other CEQA compliance options identified in Table 4-1 of this WRMP. Community Participation in Tier 2 and Tier 3 Projects Overview of Outreach Efforts The County completed significant outreach and coordination efforts with private landowners within the Tier 1 project boundaries. Private landowner participation was required to obtain right-of-entry onto private parcels to conduct biological and cultural resource surveys. Additional outreach will be necessary to coordinate project implementation on private land. Future Tier 2 and Tier 3 projects will require similar participation from private landowners, as ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-8 many of the Tier 2 and Tier 3 projects occur on private land. A volunteer community organizer will be identified for each project area. The community organizer will be responsible for assisting the County with organizing private landowner outreach to increase participation in the projects. The community organizer will be the point of contact for the County during the development of future projects within the Tier 2 and Tier 3 project areas. A community outreach procedure has been defined Table 4-6 and will be used to complete landowner outreach within Tier 2 and Tier 3 project areas. Landowner Participation During Environmental Review The County has prepared an environmental compliance document pursuant to CEQA for this WRMP. Biological and cultural resource surveys must be completed on all land that would be treated as part of the WRMP, as described in Phase 3 in Table 4-5. Surveys were completed for the Tier 1 projects during the preparation of the WRMP. Biological and cultural resource surveys would be required during the definition of future projects Tier 2 and Tier 3 projects). Private landowners must opt-in to future projects and agree to have their land surveyed for resources. The County and Steering Committee, particularly members from local non-governmental organizations, will be the main parties responsible for outreach to private landowners. The County has developed a Right of Entry Agreement and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sheet to help educate landowners about the project activities that would be conducted on private property during the environmental review phase of the project. Table 4-6 identifies the County’s outreach actions toward obtaining right-of-entry onto private landowners’ parcels and the timing of each action. The optimal time to conduct biological surveys within Alpine County is from late June to late August, depending on snow melt and late spring precipitation conditions. The timing in Table 4-6 is developed with the assumption that a target survey date is July 1. Landowner Participation in Definition of Treatment Methods The County would meet with landowners to discuss the potential treatment methods that landowners would approve for use on their property, as described in Phase 5 in Table 4-5. The goal of public outreach would be to obtain agreements with private landowners to complete vegetation treatment activities on 100 percent of the landowners’ parcel that opted into the environmental resource survey phase of the projects. Outreach for the purpose of defining the treatment methods could be completed at the same time as the environmental resource survey phase (Phase 3, described above). If landowner outreach for the purpose of defining treatment methods is completed after the environmental resource survey phase (Phase the County would conduct the outreach via community workshop or meeting, email or phone conversations, or one-on-one discussions with landowners. Treatment methods that are approved on each parcel would be documented through a memorandum of understanding or similar agreement between the County and landowner. ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 4-9 Table 4-6 Outreach Actions and Timing Action Responsibility Timing Environmental Review/Surveys Mail Right of Entry Agreement and FAQ Mail the outreach letter, FAQ and Right of Entry Agreement to landowners within the project boundary using first class mail. County January Activate Phone Trees Activate neighborhood phone trees within the project area communities to try to get landowner participation up to 80 percent. County and, Community Organizer, and Steering Committee May Target Specific Landowners Coordinate with Community Organizers, Steering Committee, and local non-governmental organizations Lean on Kris Hartnett, Michael Barton, and Terry Woodrow to spread the word to targeted landowners through the Alpine Fire Safe Council, Alpine Biomass Collaborative, and Bear Valley Residents Incorporated Homeowners Association. Steering Committee and Community Organizer May 15 -June 1 Certified Mail to Large Landowners Mail the Right of Entry Agreement and FAQ via certified mail to large landowners within project areas who are unresponsive to previous outreach attempts. County June 1 Definition of Treatment Methods per Parcel Community Workshop or Meeting The County will hold a community workshop with landowners within a specific project area to be treated. The workshop/meeting would be held in person or via web conference platform Zoom). Email and first class mail correspondence would be used to inform landowners of the workshop/meeting. County, Community Organizer, and Steering Committee Concurrently with outreach actions above, or prior to Phase 6 Targeted Phone Calls and Emails The County would conduct targeted outreach to landowners that were present at the Community Workshop/Meeting. One-on-one meetings may be necessary to discuss parcel-specific treatment methods. County, Community Organizer, and Steering Committee Concurrently with outreach actions above, or prior to Phase 6 ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 COMMUNITY ACCESS RISK ASSESSMENT Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 5-1 5 Community Access Risk Assessment 5.1 Ingress/Egress and Community Evacuation Area Identification Alpine County’s population is focused in the five communities of Woodfords, Hung-A-Lel-Ti, Markleeville, Kirkwood, and Bear Valley. During the HRVA characterization and analysis, Alpine County officials helped identify and designate primary ingress and egress routes, secondary ingress and egress routes, and community evacuation areas or refuge areas. As part of the risk assessment completed for the WRMP, the County reviewed constraints to access and adequate evacuation areas for vulnerable communities. Ingress/Egress Primary ingress and egress routes are generally major highways and roadways that can facilitate the movement of many emergency vehicles into an incident while moving much of the public out of harm’s way. Secondary routes are generally understood as alternate routes if primary routes become inundated with traffic or access is blocked. It should be noted that traffic flow modeling was not performed to determine ingress/egress capacity. Designation was performed by County staff with knowledge of the County highway and road system and what those routes could most likely support during an incident. Figure 5-1 highlights where ingress and egress routes have been designated by Alpine County officials. Figure 5-2 focuses on access in Woodfords as an example of what these emergency assets look like at a smaller scale. Grover Hot Springs, Shay Creek, and Markleevillage share Hot Springs Road as a single ingress/egress route; however, options for feasible secondary evacuation routes are constrained by terrain and significant distances to a higher functional class route. Similarly, the Sherman Acres, Old and New Bear Valley subdivisions, and Bear Valley Mountain Resort have single access to the State highway system. All of the communities discussed above are surrounded by mountainous terrain. The most feasible secondary access alternatives would need to parallel the primary evacuation route, due to site constraints, and would not create safer evacuation conditions. Since establishing secondary ingress and egress to vulnerable communities is not feasible, due to site constraints, the recommended mitigation action to provide emergency egress is to ensure adequate vegetation setbacks from roads are established and maintained. Vegetation management along access routes is discussed further in Section 5.2. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 COMMUNITY ACCESS RISK ASSESSMENT Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 5-2 Figure 5-1 Designated Safety Zones and Areas in Alpine County ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 COMMUNITY ACCESS RISK ASSESSMENT Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 5-3 Figure 5-2 Woodfords Area Designated Safety Zones ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 COMMUNITY ACCESS RISK ASSESSMENT Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 5-4 Community Evacuation Areas Community evacuation areas are zones where emergency service vehicles and personnel can stage for an incident. These zones can also serve as a rendezvous point for the public. There is a possibility these areas can be used as a safety zone from fire when egress is compromised; however, it is important to recognize that dynamic fire conditions may render these areas unsafe at times of an incident for some or all vehicles and people that occupy that space. Table 5-1 shows the latest safety zone rules from the Joint Fire Science Program (Butler, 2014). Table 5-1 Safety Zone Rules for Safe Separation Distances As an example of how the Safe Separation Distance calculation works on a community evacuation area, the Turtle Rock Park evacuation area, at almost 9 acres (with HVRA buffer), has flat slopes and surrounding vegetation heights of about less than 2 feet. Calculating with 97th percentile winds averaging 14 mph, the area could safely hold up to approximately 60 people and 30 vehicles if centered in the safety zone near one another. If winds increased or vegetation was higher at the time of the scenario, the amount of people that could safely take refuge there would be many fewer. Establishing evacuation zones is a critical component of a larger fire response strategy. These zones provide the public important pre-incident preparation information, ensure non-local emergency response units are using known and approved road systems during an emergency, and help focus limited fuel reduction resources on making and maintaining low severity fire conditions surrounding strategic roadways and safety zones. Evacuation zones are even more important in areas where ingress/egress infrastructure is limited. The Hot Springs Road corridor, Sherman Acres, Old and New Bear Valley subdivisions, and Bear Valley Mountain Resort are lacking secondary access routes. Since establishing secondary ingress and egress to vulnerable communities is not feasible, as stated above, establishment of pre-incident evacuation zones that meet the minimum safe separation distances is recommended. Potential evacuation zones identified as HVRAs during the wildfire hazard and risk assessments include: • Turtle Rock Park; • Diamond Valley Elementary School; ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 COMMUNITY ACCESS RISK ASSESSMENT Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 5-5 • Grover Hot Springs State Park; and • Bear Valley Library and parking lot. Vegetation conditions near the potential evacuation zones should be reviewed regularly by the County and appropriate safe separation distances should be maintained around the zones. 5.2 Community Access Risk Report Analysis shows that about 832 acres surrounding major ingress and egress routes are at risk. This means that during a critical wildfire incident, portions of the major emergency routes do not have the appropriate clearance of vegetation and fuels around the road for traffic to safely pass if fire impacted those areas during critical fire weather. About 1,868 acres surrounding minor ingress and egress routes are shown to have at least some risk. Like major routes, this means that areas do not have sufficient vegetation and fuel clearance adjacent to routes so that traffic can safely pass. Finally, community evacuation areas might be vegetation and fuels free within the zone, but analysis shows that about 150 acres surrounding those areas exhibit high enough fire hazard that, during a critical wildfire incident, fire could compromise the effectiveness of those evacuation areas. Vegetation management efforts focused on treatment of the area surrounding major emergency routes and evacuation areas are recommended. To triage the highest risk areas surrounding emergency routes and evacuation areas, Table 5-2 identifies the land ownership that is in the 50 percentile highest risk categories for a specified emergency access area. Table 5-2 Acreages of the Highest 50th Percentile Risk around Ingress and Egress Routes Land Ownership Major Emergency Routes Minor Emergency Routes Community Evacuation Areas Total United States Forest Service 21.2 acres 149.3 acres 2.5 acres 173.0 acres Bureau of Land Management 1.4 acres 303.3 acres 0 acres 304.7 acres Bureau of Indian Affairs 65.4 acres 0 acres 20.3 acres 85.7 acres Alpine County 22.3 acres 42.8 acres 21.4 acres 86.5 acres NGO/Service Districts/Pacific Gas & Electric 28.2 acres 6.8 acres 4.2 acres 39.2 acres State of California 3.4 acres 3.1 acres 0 acres 6.5 acres Private 285.6 acres 456.0 acres 16.4 acres 758.0 acres Unknown 0 acres 0 acres 0 acres 0 acres Totals 427.5 acres 961.3 acres 64.8 acres 1,453.6 acres ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 COMMUNITY ACCESS RISK ASSESSMENT Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 5-6 Figure 5-3 through Figure 5-5 show how areas of high wildfire risk overlap with emergency assets for the communities of Markleeville, Bear Valley, and Hung-A-Lel-Ti. Figure 5-3 to Figure 5-5 show example areas where the highest risk overlaps with emergency access routes and safety zones. 3 The Tier 1 Markleevillage project would partially address the fuel loading that occurs along Hot Springs Road. Additional fuels reduction along Hot Springs Road and other critical access routes within the county could be completed as future projects. Environmental review for these projects may be streamlined by using the CalVTP or CEQA Statutory4 or Categorical Exemptions.5 3 To effectively evaluate and apply the emergency access dataset it is imperative to work with the spatial data in a GIS and not solely rely on map products. 4 Section 15269(b) of the CEQA Guidelines specifies that the Emergency Projects exemption applies to “emergency repairs to publicly or privately-owned service facilities necessary to maintain service essential to the public health, safety or welfare.” Section 15269(c) of the CEQA Guidelines specifies that the CEQA statutory exemption for emergency projects exempts specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency, including where “fire or catastrophic risk mitigation or modifications to improve facility integrity are proposed for existing facilities in response to an emergency at a similar existing facility.“ Class 1 Categorical Exemption under Article 19 (Categorical Exemptions) of the State CEQA Guidelines. 5 15301 Existing Facilities. Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The types of “existing facilities” itemized below are not intended to be all-inclusive of the types of projects which might fall within Class 1. The key consideration is whether the project involves negligible or no expansion of use. 15301(c) consists of “Existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities (this includes road grading for the purpose of public safety, and other alterations such as the addition of bicycle facilities, including but not limited to bicycle parking, bicycle-share facilities and bicycle lanes, transit improvements such as bus lanes, pedestrian crossings, street trees, and other similar alterations that do not create additional automobile lanes). Under this exemption, maintenance of existing streets is authorized for the purpose of public safety. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 COMMUNITY ACCESS RISK ASSESSMENT Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 5-7 Figure 5-3 Locations in Markleeville Where Highest Risk Overlaps with Emergency Access Routes and Safety ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 COMMUNITY ACCESS RISK ASSESSMENT Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 5-8 Figure 5-4 Locations in Bear Valley Where Highest Risk Overlaps with Emergency Access Routes and Safety ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 COMMUNITY ACCESS RISK ASSESSMENT Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 5-9 Figure 5-5 Locations in Hung-A-Lel-Ti Where Highest Risk Overlaps with Emergency Access Routes and Safety ---PAGE BREAK--- 6 REFERENCES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 6-1 6 References Alexander, M. E. (1982). Calculating and interpreting forest fire intensities. Canadian Journal of Botany, 347-357. Alpine Biomass Collaborative. (2020). About Us. Retrieved from Barrett, Havlina, Jones, Hann, Frame, Hamilton, . . . Hutter, L. (2010). Interagency Fire Regime Condition Class Guidebook. Version 3.0. Butler, B. (2014). Wildland firefighter safety zones: a review of past science and summary of future needs. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 23, 295-308. C.G. Celio & Sons Co. (2018). Alpine County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Markleeville: Alpine County Fire Safe Council. Desert Research Institute. (2020, March RAWS USA Climate Archive. Retrieved from Finney, M. (2006). A computational method for optimizing fuel treatment locations. Fuels Management (pp. 28-30). Portland: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Reseach Station. Idaho State University. (2020). Retrieved from Geospatial Training and Analysis Cooperative Wildand Fires: http://geology.isu.edu/wapi/geostac/Field_Exercise/wildfire/fuel.htm Kalabokidis, Athanasis, Palaiologou, Vasilakos, Finney, & Ager, A. (2013). Minimum travel time algorithm for fire behavior and burn probability in a parallel computing environment. Advances in Forest Fire Research, 882-891. LANDFIRE. (2020, March LANDFIRE. Retrieved from www.landfire.gov Marcot, B. G. (2012). Recent advances in applying decision science to managing national forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 123-132. Monti, A. (2020). Photographs. Received via electronic mail. Paulus, J. (2020). Photographs. Received via electronic mail. Schmidt, K. Menakis, J. Hardy, C. Hann, W. & Bunnell, D. L. (2002). Development of coarse-scale spatial data for wildland fire and fuel management. Gen. Tech. Rep. ---PAGE BREAK--- 6 REFERENCES Alpine County ● Draft Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● December 2020February 2021 6-2 Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Scott, J. Thompson, M. & Calkin, a. D. (2013). A Wildfire Risk Assessment Framework for Land and Resource Management . Rocky Mountain Research Station: USDA and USFS. Spatial Informatics Group. (2020). Stratton, R. D. (2009). Guidebook on LANDFIRE fuels data acquisition, critique, modification, maintenance, and model calibration. Fort Collins, CO: USDA, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. U.S. Census Bureau. (2011, November Data dervied from Population Estimates, Census of Population and Housing, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, State and County Housing Unit Estimates, County Business Patterns, Nonemployer Statistics, Economic Census, Survey of Business Owners, Buil. Retrieved from State and County Quick Facts: 6003.html US Department of Interior. (2020, February 20). Interagency Fuel Treatment Decision Support System. Retrieved from USDA - U.S. Forest Service. (2020b, March FlamMap. Retrieved from Fire, Fuel, Smoke Science Program Rocky Mountain Research Station: firelab.org/project/flammap USDA. (2012, November). A Stage Is A Stage Is A Stage…Or Is It? Successional Stages, Structural Stages, Seral Stages. USFS. (2010). Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Project Archive. Retrieved from s?sortby=3&archive=1 USFS. (2013). Manzanita Fuels Reduction and Ecosystem Management Project. Retrieved from (2020). Wildland Fire Decision Support Tools. USGS. ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDICES Appendix A Community and Stakeholder Input Report Appendix B Current Conditions Report Appendix C Response Function Survey Appendix D Relative Importance Survey ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDIX A Community and Stakeholder Input Report ---PAGE BREAK--- 717 Market Street, Suite 650 San Francisco, CA 94103 [PHONE REDACTED] www.panoramaenv.com Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan Community and Stakeholder Input Report June 2020 ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- www.panoramaenv.com Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan Community and Stakeholder Input Report June 2020 Prepared for: Alpine County Community Development Department 50 Diamond Valley Road Markleeville, CA 96120 [PHONE REDACTED] [EMAIL REDACTED] Prepared by: Panorama Environmental, Inc. 717 Market Street, Suite 650 San Francisco, CA 94103 [PHONE REDACTED] [EMAIL REDACTED] ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- TABLE OF CONTENTS Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Community and Stakeholder Input Report ● June 2020 i Table of Contents 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Overview of the Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan 1 1.2 Purpose of this Community and Stakeholder Input Report 2 2 Outreach Process 3 2.1 Public Meetings/Workshops 3 2.2 Outreach Materials 4 3 Participants 5 3.1 Key Stakeholders 5 3.2 Stakeholder Map 5 4 Public and Stakeholder Input 7 4.1 Key Input 7 4.2 Integration of Input 8 List of Tables Table 1 Key Stakeholders 5 Table 2 Summary of Comments 7 List of Figures Figure 1 Stakeholder Map 6 List of Appendices Appendix A Public Workshop #1 Flyer Appendix B Information Sheets ---PAGE BREAK--- TABLE OF CONTENTS Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Community and Stakeholder Input Report ● June 2020 ii This page is intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- 1 INTRODUCTION Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Community and Stakeholder Input Report ● June 2020 1 1 Introduction 1.1 Overview of the Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan Alpine County is located between Mono, Tuolumne, and El Dorado counties in the Sierra Nevada in northern California. The northeastern boundary of Alpine County shares its border with the state of Nevada. Fuels reduction projects to reduce the risk of wildland fire are a high priority in Alpine County (County) and several have been undertaken or are ongoing, including neighborhood fire breaks and larger scale fuels reduction projects on federal lands. Approximately 1,780 residential units are in the County; over 1,200 of these are in high or very high wildfire hazard severity zones. Key planning areas include Woodford, Markleeville, Bear Valley, and Kirkwood. A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) was completed for the east and west slope communities in Alpine County in 2018. Alpine County has prepared a Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan (WRMP or plan), under a Fire Prevention Grant received from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). The WRMP is a county-wide plan that will build off existing fire hardening efforts in the County and expedite the process of implementing projects to protect communities. The purpose of the WRMP is to enable the County to implement activities that address the risk of wildfire and that can reduce wildfires that could impact communities. The WRMP was prepared by: • Identifying the important resources and assets within the County, • Identifying the high fire hazard areas using modeling techniques, and • Defining and prioritizing projects to implement that will protect the most at-risk resources. The County evaluated eight candidate fuel treatment projects during development of the WRMP. The Bear Valley, Manzanita, and Markleevillage project areas were identified as the top three priority fuel treatment projects and have been prioritized for environmental review in 2020-2021. The Bear Valley project would impact approximately 130 acres; the Manzanita project would impact approximately 430 acres; and the Markleevillage project would impact approximately 300 acres. Several types of fuel treatment methods may be implemented in the project areas, including mechanical methods, hand thinning, and prescribed burn. Fuel treatments implemented within each priority project area will be given a higher priority if they: • Are within initial attack areas of local fire stations or relevant air tanker bases, • Can be safely accessed via road, • Provide an enhancement of rate of fireline construction or fire-retardant penetration through the canopy, and ---PAGE BREAK--- 1 INTRODUCTION Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Community and Stakeholder Input Report ● June 2020 2 • Provide measurable direct and in-direct benefit to resources at risk such as structures, infrastructure, water resources, and other important features. Locating treatments where they may be utilized strategically during extended suppression efforts will also be considered. 1.2 Purpose of this Community and Stakeholder Input Report The County prepared a detailed Community and Stakeholder Public Involvement Plan (CSPIP) prior to preparing the WRMP. The CSPIP defined the procedures that the County would implement to provide community members, agencies, jurisdictions, organizations, and other stakeholders with a valuable opportunity to participate in the creation of the WRMP, particularly in the locations and types of treatments that were identified for the three projects, and the analysis of the WRMP through environmental review process. This Community and Stakeholder Input Report (CSIR or report) summarizes the public and stakeholder outreach that was conducted throughout development of the WRMP. This report includes a description of the public outreach process and activities, the participants, and the outreach materials. A summary of the comments and concerns raised during the WRMP public workshops and integration of public input is included in section 4. ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 OUTREACH PROCESS Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Community and Stakeholder Input Report ● June 2020 3 2 Outreach Process 2.1 Public Meetings/Workshops The County emphasized the importance of public involvement throughout the development of the WRMP and provided several opportunities for the public and key stakeholders to provide input. The County held two initial public workshops in February to introduce the public to the need for the WRMP, areas of wildfire risk, and how the WRMP would be developed. One meeting was held in Markleeville (eastern Alpine County) and one meeting was held in Bear Valley (western Alpine County) to ensure all interested parties had the opportunity to participate in the workshops and provide feedback. The County held an additional web-based public workshop in April via Zoom meeting to present the results of the planning effort. 2.1.1 Notification In order to involve the public in the development of the WRMP, appropriate notice of the public workshops was provided through several outreach methods. The County established an initial project mailing list with key stakeholders identified in the CSPIP. Notification postcards were distributed to all interested parties on the project mailing list to announce the public workshops for the WRMP. The postcards were generally mailed 2-3 weeks prior to each public workshop. The County included notification of the February and April public workshops online on the plan webpage. Prior to the second workshop in April, a reminder message was also sent via email to previous workshop attendees who signed up for the email list. 2.1.2 Workshop Format and Content The February public workshops included a presentation from the County followed by an open house where attendees could look at poster boards on various topics associated with wildland fire and ask questions. Online access to the workshops was also available through the virtual conferencing tool GoToMeeting. This discussion-based workshop format encouraged public participation and provided opportunities for feedback. The first public workshops in February provided an introduction to the public on the need for wildfire mitigation work and areas of wildfire risk (education on wildfire), the background on the grant, and why and how the WRMP would be developed. The second public workshop was held in April using an online web-meeting platform due to public health concerns and state-wide restrictions on public gatherings as a result of COVID-19. The April public workshop was held online via Zoom and included a virtual presentation with an open question and answer session at the end of the meeting. The April workshop summarized the candidate project locations, the results of the planning effort, and the three ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 OUTREACH PROCESS Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Community and Stakeholder Input Report ● June 2020 4 priority projects that the County identified. Discussion topics from the February and April public workshops are summarized in Section 4. 2.2 Outreach Materials The County prepared various public outreach materials to inform the public of the project and ways of participating in the project. Outreach materials are briefly described below and the printed outreach materials are provided in the appendices attached to this report. The following outreach materials were developed to inform and engage the public during the development of the WRMP and public workshops: • Project webpage. The County created a project webpage to provide information about the WRMP and public involvement opportunities. All outreach and informational materials were posted on the plan webpage. The WRMP webpage can be viewed here: http://www.alpinecountyca.gov/index.aspx?NID=504&ART=1744&ADMIN=1 • Public workshop #1 flyer (Appendix The County developed and distributed a notification flyer for the February public workshops. • Information sheets (Appendix The County developed two information sheets with key, concise information about the WRMP that were distributed during the public workshops. The first information sheet was developed and distributed for the February public workshops, and the second sheet was revised for the second public workshop in April. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 PARTICIPANTS Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Community and Stakeholder Input Report ● June 2020 5 3 Participants 3.1 Key Stakeholders The County identified key stakeholders who may be interested in the development of the WRMP when preparing the CSPIP. These stakeholders received the public workshop notification postcards and a reminder message via email prior to the April public workshop. The key stakeholders who participated in the public workshops are identified in Table 1. Table 1 Key Stakeholders Stakeholder Name Contact Name, Position CAL FIRE Amador El Dorado Unit Mike Deacon, Battalion Chief Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Mike Wilde, Fire Management Officer Bureau of Land Management Keith Barker, Fire Ecologist Alpine County Board of Supervisors Don Jardin, Supervisor District 1 Terry Woodrow – Vice Chair, Supervisor District 4 David Griffith, Supervisor District 5 Alpine County Fire Safe Council Kris Hartnett, Chair Alpine Biomass Collaborative Michael Barton Bear Valley Public Safety Tim Bottomley, Battalion Chief East Alpine Fire and Rescue Terry Hughes, Administrator 3.2 Stakeholder Map Upon identification of key stakeholders in the WRMP, the County developed a stakeholder map based on the locations of the stakeholders as well as participants from the public workshops (Figure The stakeholder map identifies the areas of the County where the majority of participants and commenters on the WRMP reside to determine key geographic areas of interest in the County. Data from the initial project mailing list and comment tracking sheet were used to develop the stakeholder map. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 PARTICIPANTS Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Community and Stakeholder Input Report ● June 2020 6 Figure 1 Stakeholder Map ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Community and Stakeholder Input Report ● June 2020 7 4 Public and Stakeholder Input 4.1 Key Input Workshop participants raised various questions and comments during the public workshops in February and April 2020. All comments received during the public workshops were documented in a web-based comment tracking system using Google Sheets. The comment tracking system was used to ensure that public and stakeholder comments were incorporated into the plan or environmental review. A total of 35 comments were received during the meetings. Several comments addressed the sources of funding for project implementation, landowner responsibilities and home hardening techniques, and methods used to identify and prioritize projects. Table 2 summarizes the questions and comments from the public workshops. Table 2 Summary of Comments Date Received Topic Comment Summary February Workshops 2/25/2020 Funding/Approval • Commenter expressed concern about other groups that may be applying for grants that could compete with Alpine County • Question about which grants will be used for the project implementation and impact with federal agencies • Commenter inquired about other uses of the grant funding 2/25/2020 Support Project • Comments supporting effort to evaluate projects at the landscape level and prioritize project areas • Support for Markeleevillage project 2/25/2020 WRMP Development • Question about how evacuation routes play into the WRMP development and factor into the prioritization • Various comments about future projects and prioritization • Commenter expressed interest in learning more about prescribed fire statistics in future plans and presentations 2/25/2020 Home Hardening • Questions about fuels treatment and home hardening techniques for individual landowners • Questions about funding for landowners 2/25/2020 Fire Modeling • Question regarding helicopters and fire suppression capabilities • Questions about wind and weather-related factors taken into consideration in fire hazard modeling • Questions about additional implications of the fire hazard and risk modeling results ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan ● Community and Stakeholder Input Report ● June 2020 8 Date Received Topic Comment Summary 2/25/2020 State Parks • Comments about current work and visitation in nearby State Parks 2/26/2020 Other Fuels Work • Comments that Caltrans has been doing a lot of roadside fuel reduction work state-wide • Commenter provided a recommendation to review the Bear Valley Stickers Report April Workshop 4/28/2020 Project Implementation • Several commenters inquired about project schedule and timing of environmental review • Commenter asked about process for acquiring landowner permission prior to project implementation 4/28/2020 WRMP Development • Commenter inquired about candidate project rankings 4/28/2020 Support Project • Several members of the public expressed gratitude for the project and the team’s efforts on the WRMP 4/28/2020 Other Fuels Work • Commenter asked about coordination with BLM and their fuels work in the area 4.2 Integration of Input Questions and comments received during the public workshops were addressed by the County during the workshops and documented for comment tracking purposes. The County’s public involvement effort allowed public input to be received and integrated during the development of the WRMP. All comments will be considered by the County Board when making a decision on whether to approve the WRMP. Additionally, all comments related to environmental concerns or California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) topics will be addressed in the CEQA document prepared for the WRMP. ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDICES Appendix A Public Workshop #1 Flyer Appendix B Information Sheets ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDIX A Public Workshop #1 Flyer ---PAGE BREAK--- For more information about the WRMP, please visit: http://www.alpinecountyca.gov/index.aspx?NID=504 Submit any questions or comments on the WRMP to: [EMAIL REDACTED] PUBLIC WORKSHOPS The County is holding workshops in February to introduce the public to the need for the WRMP, areas of wildfire risk, and how the WRMP is being developed. The February workshops will include two meetings, one in eastern Alpine County and one in Bear Valley. A single follow-up workshop will be held in April to present the results of the planning effort and up to three priority projects defined in the WRMP. Remote (web-based) access will be available for all workshops. Online attendees will be able to view and participate in the workshops on a computer, tablet, or mobile device. Visit the webpage below for more information about online meeting attendance. OVERVIEW Alpine County is preparing a Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan (WRMP) under a Fire Prevention Grant received from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). The WRMP will enable the County to implement activities that address the risk of wildfire and that can reduce wildfires that could impact communities. The top three priority on-the-ground fuel treatment projects will be identified. For each project, a general fuel treatment and an initial set of mechanical (saw-log removal, biomass removal, mastication, chipping, or hand thinning) or prescribed fire (under burning or pile burning) treatments will be defined in the WRMP. Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan (WRMP) PLAN HIGHLIGHTS The process of preparing the WRMP includes:  Identifying the important resources and assets within the County,  Identifying the high fire hazard areas using modeling techniques, and  Defining and prioritizing projects that will protect the most at-risk resources. February 25, 2020 Alpine County Administration Building 99 Water Street Markleeville 5:00 PM February 26, 2020 Bear Valley Library 367 Creekside Drive Bear Valley 4:00 PM ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDIX B Information Sheets ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan Information Sheet SUMMARY & OBJECTIVES Alpine County is preparing a Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan (WRMP) to reduce wildfire risk throughout the County. The WRMP is a County-wide effort that encompasses all communities within Alpine County. The goal of the WRMP is to reduce wildfire risks and protect important resources throughout the County. It will enable the County to implement activities that address the risk of wildfire and that can reduce wildfires that could impact communities. The WRMP will be prepared by:  Identifying the important resources and assets within the County,  Identifying the high fire hazard areas using modeling techniques, and  Defining and prioritizing projects to implement that will protect the most at-risk resources. WILDFIRE DEFINITIONS Hazard: A process, a phenomenon or a human activity that may cause loss of life, injury, or other health impacts, property damage, social and economic disruption, or environmental degradation. Wildfire hazard: Computed as potential fire behavior or fuel physical and chemical properties. Wildfire risk: The likelihood of wildfire occurring, associated fire behavior, and impacts of the fire. Risk mitigation: Risk mitigation is achieved when any of the wildfire risk parameters (likelihood, behavior and/or impacts) are reduced. For more information, please visit: http://www.alpinecountyca.gov/index.aspx?NID=504 Submit any questions or comments on the WRMP to: [EMAIL REDACTED] The WRMP will identify three priority fuel treatment projects based on the level of fire hazard and the risk to important resources within the County (see types of fuel treatment methods on the other side of this page). For each project, a general fuel treatment and an initial set of mechanical or pre- scribed fire treatments will be defined. ---PAGE BREAK--- NEXT STEPS The County will incorporate public and stakeholder feedback and use the results of the risk analysis assessment to identify the priority fuel treatment projects. A follow-up workshop will be held in April to present the results. Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan Information Sheet ASSETS & WILDFIRE RISK MODELING The County identified important resources, environmental concerns, and High Valued Resources and Assets (HVRAs) to protect in the WRMP. The County used data from LANDFIRE and the fire modeling tool FLAMMAP to model fire hazards, and then mapped the proximity of high fire hazard areas to important resources. The relative risk to any residents, infrastructure, or other assets within the County will be determined by combining outputs from the fire modeling and the economic and ecological values of each identified at-risk asset. The results of this risk assessment will help determine the priority projects that will be defined in the WRMP and possibly implemented. FUEL TREATMENT METHODS MECHANICAL  Used for larger scale vegetation removal projects and maintenance tasks  Requires heavy machinery  Only used in areas with a slope up to 35%  Two Main Types:  Mechanical thinning/ whole-tree harvest  Mastication HAND THINNING  Used for thinning stands of small- diameter trees and shrubs  Can be used in areas with up to 80% slope  Requires hand tools  Powered: chainsaws and brush cutters  Non-powered: loppers, hand saws PRESCRIBED BURN  Burning of ladder fuels in a predetermined area under the supervision of trained fire personnel CURRENT PLANNING EFFORTS Fuel reduction projects to reduce the risk of wildfire are a high priority in Alpine County and the WRMP will build off of established projects and plans in the County. Several fuel reduction projects have been undertaken or are ongoing throughout the County, including neighborhood fire breaks and larger scale fuels reduction projects on federal lands. Alpine Biomass Collaborative, U.S. Forest Service, and other organizations currently implement fuel reduction projects in Alpine County. ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan Priority Projects Alpine County is preparing a Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan (WRMP) to reduce wildfire risk throughout the county. The WRMP is a county-wide effort that encom- passes all communities within Alpine County. The goal of the WRMP is to reduce wildfire risks and protect important resources throughout the county. It will enable the County to implement activities that address the risk of wildfire and that can reduce wild- fires that could impact communities. Preparation of the WRMP includes:  Identifying important resources and assets within the county  Identifying the high fire hazard areas using modeling techniques  Defining and prioritizing projects to implement that will protect the most at-risk resources Three fuel treatment projects identi- fied in the WRMP have been priori- tized for environmental review in For more information, please visit: http://www.alpinecountyca.gov/index.aspx?NID=504 Submit any questions or comments on the WRMP to: [EMAIL REDACTED] 2020-2021. The projects were prioritized based on the level of fire hazard and risk to important resources and assets within Alpine County. The County will define fuel treatments for each proposed priority project in Spring 2020 and conduct the environmental review of the priority projects in Summer—Fall 2020. The priority project boundaries and types of fuel treatment methods that may be implemented in the project areas are described on the other side of this flyer. PROPOSED PRIORITY PROJECT LOCATIONS ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine County Wildfire Risk Mitigation Plan Priority Projects POTENTIAL FUEL TREATMENT METHODS Several fuel treatment methods may be imple- mented in the three priority project areas (right). All proposed treatment methods would be discussed with nearby landowners prior to implementation as part of the project definition. Mechanical:  Used for larger scale vegetation removal projects and maintenance tasks  Requires heavy machinery  Only used in areas with a slope up to 35%  Two Main Types:  Mechanical thinning/ whole-tree harvest  Mastication Hand Thinning:  Used for thinning stands of small-diameter trees and shrubs  Can be used in areas with up to 80% slope  Requires hand tools  Powered: chainsaws and brush cutters  Non-powered: loppers, hand saws Prescribed Burn:  Burning of ladder fuels or slash piles in a predetermined area under the supervision of trained fire personnel  Prescribed burn is not appropriate to implement in close proximity to residences ---PAGE BREAK--- APPENDIX B Current Conditions Report ---PAGE BREAK--- Report: Auto97th Landfire Version: LANDFIRE 2016 Landscape Name: AC_2016 Landscape Acres: 774,723 Prepared for: Scott Conway 10/6/2020, 11:02:12 AM ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 2 of 54 Model Parameters Run Name: AC_2016 - Auto97th Model Type: Landscape Fire Behavior Run Date: Jan 30, 2020 3:22:34 PM Wind Type: Gridded Winds Wind Speed: 14 mph Wind Direction: 225 deg Crown Fire Method: Scott/Reinhardt Foliar Moisture: 100 Conditioning: On - Extreme - Northern Sierra Nevada Conditioning start: , NaN/NaN/NaN Days conditioned: Conditioning start: 1300, 8/11/2012 Conditioning end:1500, 8/17/2012 Station Name: MARKLEEVILLE Station Observation Start Date: May 13, 1985 12:00:00 AM Station Observation End Date: Oct 4, 2016 12:00:00 AM Station Elevation: 5501 Station Aspect: 8 Station Latitude: 38.6849999 Station Longitude: [PHONE REDACTED] Fuel Model 1 Hr Fuel Moisture 10 Hr Fuel Moisture 100 Hr Fuel Moisture Live Herbaceous Fuel Moisture Live Woody Fuel Moisture All 2 2 4 78 101 ---PAGE BREAK--- Fuel Model (FBFM) Page 3 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Fuel Model (FBFM) Page 4 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Fuel Model (FBFM) Page 5 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Fuel Model (FBFM) Page 6 of 54 Fuel Model Pixel Count (freq) Acres In LCP Percent In LCP NB1 (91) 55163 12268 2 NB3 (93) 9392 2089 0 NB8 (98) 36399 8095 1 NB9 (99) 343258 76339 10 GR1 (101) 62005 13790 2 GR2 (102) 108524 24135 3 GR3 (103) 1960 436 0 GS1 (121) 39862 8865 1 GS2 (122) 1019306 226688 29 SH1 (141) 3302 734 0 SH2 (142) 92115 20486 3 SH3 (143) 14 3 0 SH4 (144) 6205 1380 0 SH5 (145) 86964 19340 2 SH7 (147) 182990 40696 5 TU1 (161) 331715 73772 10 TU2 (162) 1 0 0 TU5 (165) 377034 83850 11 TL1 (181) 3110 692 0 TL2 (182) 57381 12761 2 TL3 (183) 119214 26513 3 TL4 (184) 160409 35674 5 TL5 (185) 20577 4576 1 TL6 (186) 266424 59251 8 TL7 (187) 44653 9931 1 TL8 (188) 15514 3450 0 TL9 (189) 39955 8886 1 SB2 (202) 100 22 0 ---PAGE BREAK--- Canopy Cover Page 7 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Canopy Cover Page 8 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Canopy Cover Page 9 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Canopy Cover Page 10 of 54 Canopy Cover (percent) Pixel Count (freq) Acres In LCP Percent In LCP 0 (non-forested) 1726090 383874 50 >10 - 20 109902 24442 3 >20 - 30 294327 65457 8 >30 - 40 574707 127812 16 >40 - 50 612288 136170 18 >50 - 60 137332 30542 4 >60 - 70 27021 6009 1 >70 - 80 1879 418 0 ---PAGE BREAK--- Stand Height Page 11 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Stand Height Page 12 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Stand Height Page 13 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Stand Height Page 14 of 54 Stand Height (meters) Pixel Count (freq) Acres In LCP Percent In LCP 0 (non-forested) 1726090 383874 50 >0 - 5 79420 17663 2 >5 - 12.5 355430 79046 10 >12.5 - 27.5 1186934 263968 34 >27.5 - 50 135672 30173 4 ---PAGE BREAK--- Canopy Base Height Page 15 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Canopy Base Height Page 16 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Canopy Base Height Page 17 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Canopy Base Height Page 18 of 54 Canopy Base Height (meters) Pixel Count (freq) Acres In LCP Percent In LCP 0 (non-forested) 1726090 383874 50 >0 - 0.5 457662 101782 13 >0.5 - 1 659782 146732 19 >1 - 1.5 374634 83317 11 >1.5 - 2 157121 34943 5 >2 - 2.5 30045 6682 1 >2.5 - 3 7504 1669 0 >3 - 3.5 18127 4031 1 >3.5 - 4 1985 441 0 >4 - 10 50596 11252 1 ---PAGE BREAK--- Canopy Bulk Density Page 19 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Canopy Bulk Density Page 20 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Canopy Bulk Density Page 21 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Canopy Bulk Density Page 22 of 54 Canopy Bulk Density (kg/m^3) Pixel Count (freq) Acres In LCP Percent In LCP 0 (non-forested) 1726090 383874 50 >0 - .05 233868 52011 7 >.05 - .10 1392311 309643 40 >.10 - .15 113629 25271 3 >.15 - .20 12470 2773 0 >.20 - .25 5137 1142 0 >.25 - .30 20 4 0 >.30 - .35 18 4 0 >.35 - .40 3 1 0 ---PAGE BREAK--- Aspect Page 23 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Aspect Page 24 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Aspect Page 25 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Aspect Page 26 of 54 Aspect (degrees) Pixel Count (freq) Acres In LCP Percent In LCP Flat 165635 36836 5 338 - 22 388675 86439 11 23 - 67 (NE) 401336 89255 12 68 - 112 457953 101846 13 113 - 157 (SE) 415840 92481 12 158 - 202 362311 80576 10 203 - 247 (SW) 359756 80008 10 248 - 292 460085 102321 13 293 - 337 (NW) 471955 104960 14 ---PAGE BREAK--- Slope Page 27 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Slope Page 28 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Slope Page 29 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Slope Page 30 of 54 Slope (degrees) Pixel Count (freq) Acres In LCP Percent In LCP 0 86934 19334 2 >0 - 5 525433 116854 15 >5 - 10 599359 133294 17 >10 - 15 628477 139770 18 >15 - 20 572551 127332 16 >20 - 25 453255 100802 13 >25 - 30 325151 72312 9 >30 - 35 186822 41548 5 >35 - 40 73579 16364 2 >40 - 45 22344 4969 1 >45 9641 2144 0 ---PAGE BREAK--- Elevation Page 31 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Elevation Page 32 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Elevation Page 33 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Elevation Page 34 of 54 Elevation (feet) Pixel Count (freq) Acres In LCP Percent In LCP 3877 - 4643 196 44 0 4644 - 5410 265138 58965 8 5411 - 6177 373086 82972 11 6178 - 6943 614850 136739 18 6944 - 7710 668601 148693 19 7711 - 8477 798651 177616 23 8478 - 9244 511693 113798 15 9245 - 10010 186841 41552 5 10011 - 10777 58153 12933 2 10778 - 11546 6337 1409 0 ---PAGE BREAK--- Flame Length Page 35 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Flame Length Page 36 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Flame Length Page 37 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Flame Length Page 38 of 54 Flame Length (feet) Pixel Count (freq) Acres In LCP Percent In LCP Non-burnable 444212 98790 13 >0 - 1 591253 131492 17 >1 - 4 1124821 250154 32 >4 - 8 724736 161178 21 >8 - 11 123169 27392 4 >11 - 25 402831 89588 12 >25 72524 16129 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- Spread Rate Page 39 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Spread Rate Page 40 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Spread Rate Page 41 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Spread Rate Page 42 of 54 Rate of Spread (chains/hr) Pixel Count (freq) Acres In LCP Percent In LCP Non-burnable 444212 98790 13 >0 - 2 886310 197111 25 >2 - 5 447767 99581 13 >5 - 20 1002066 222854 29 >20 - 50 509198 113243 15 >50 - 150 179151 39842 5 >150 14842 3301 0 ---PAGE BREAK--- Intensity Page 43 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Intensity Page 44 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Intensity Page 45 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Intensity Page 46 of 54 Fireline Intensity (BTU/ft-sec) Pixel Count (freq) Acres In LCP Percent In LCP Non-burnable 444212 98790 13 >0 - 5 554791 123383 16 >5 - [PHONE REDACTED] 246629 32 >100 - 500 892306 198444 26 >500 - 1,000 139210 30960 4 >1,000 - 6,175 336389 74811 10 >6,175 7670 1706 0 ---PAGE BREAK--- Heat/Area Page 47 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Heat/Area Page 48 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Heat/Area Page 49 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Heat/Area Page 50 of 54 Heat per Unit Area (BTU/ft^2) Pixel Count (freq) Acres In LCP Percent In LCP Non-burnable 444212 98790 13 >0 - 300 842213 187304 24 >300 - 1,[PHONE REDACTED] 330287 43 >1,000 - 3,000 593536 131999 17 >3,000 - 6,000 114324 25425 3 >6,000 - 10,000 4040 898 0 >10,000 85 19 0 ---PAGE BREAK--- Crown Fire Page 51 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Crown Fire Page 52 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Crown Fire Page 53 of 54 ---PAGE BREAK--- Crown Fire Page 54 of 54 Crown Fire Activity Pixel Count (freq) Acres In LCP Percent In LCP Non-burnable 444212 98790 13 Surface Fire 2364604 525876 68 Passive Fire 672856 149640 19 Active Fire 1874 417 0