Risk/Hazard Identification and Mitigation Project Worksheet

Description of Risk/Hazard: Describe in detail the risk or hazard that poses a threat to the community.

Vegetative Fuel and Topography: The Incline Village Unit 1 is characterized by a dense second growth stand of Jeffery pine and white fir, with some incense cedar and sugar pine, estimated at 200 square feet of basal area per acre. The brush understory is also dense on slopes 30-60% with a west-northwest aspect. The area has very high fuel loadings on steep slopes.

Worst Case Scenario / Hazard: Fire behavior would be most extreme with a human-caused ignition along the road or within the Ponderosa Ranch area and burning uphill. There are no structures uphill, so while the fire would be uncontrollable, it would not threaten structures. Property and lives would be threatened by a fire on the ridge pushed by downslope winds towards the Ponderosa Ranch. Topography would work in favor of fire suppression resources.

Priority Ranking: What is the priority ranking of this risk/hazard in relation to all others identified?

Worst case scenario fires would start below the community and burn uphill. Since there are no structures above the projects, the priority is the lowest(#7) for the NLTFPD. This project would protect these structures in downslope wind conditions.

Location: Describe or attach a map with sufficient detail to allow accurate ground location.

Behind and uphill of the Ponderosa Ranch and sewer treatment plant. See Figure 7-2

Recommended Mitigation Measures and Scope of Work: Present prescription and work specifications in sufficient detail to facilitate procurement of bids and quotes. For hazardous fuel removal projects include estimated volumes (tons/acre) of fuel removed and disposal plan.

Remove or thin brush understory to decrease fire intensity and reduce ladder fuels. Remove dead and down material. Spacing between remaining bushes should be 2-3 times the height of brush. A brush masticator could not be used on this project as the slopes are all above 30%. Aerial systems or other steep slope methods should be explored. Hand cut, pile, and burn. Use of herbicide could reduce sprouting of some species.

Create a fuel break 600 feet wide from Hwy 28 to Mill Creek. Thin from below, removing smaller trees and leaving larger ones to achieve the desired stocking rate of 80 to 100 square feet of basal area per acre.

*Prescribed fire could be used to reduce the brush understory, and desired where feasible to return fire to the landscape. It should only be applied in areas after thinning and slash pile burning are complete to maintain fire control within five years of pile burning.

Evaluation of the Extent to Which Completion of This Project Will Reduce the Fire Threat:

Treatment in this area will help contain human-caused ignitions below the project area, keeping fire from spreading uphill and becoming uncontrollable. It will also protect the private and commercial structures from a downslope fire event. Implementation of the prescribed treatments will reduce the competition among residual trees, increasing forest health and decreasing tree mortality. This will reduce the amount of accumulated dead and down material contributing to the fuel loadings on the forest floor.

If all of the recommendations in this report are implemented, there is still no guarantee that a devastating wildfire will not occur in the Incline area. However, community awareness and individual attention to fuels management on private property and fuel reduction on state, federal, and county property will help to achieve the highest level of wildfire safety possible.

Identification of Protected Species or Other Critical Resources: Describe any measures that must be taken to protect critical wildlife habitat, historic

Environmental compliance measures must be implemented before project initiation. Stream Environment Zones are located in the project area and must be protected, employing appropriate TRPA mitigation measures.

Some threatened and endangered species exist in the Tahoe Basin. Appropriate avoidance and mitigation measures should be employed during project implementation.

Compliance with cultural resource protection may also be necessary. Check with TRPA and the NVSHPO to ensure cultural resources are protected.

Post-project Rehabilitation: Present scope of work in sufficient detail to facilitate procurement of bids and quotes.

Rehabilitate any fire control lines, landings or disturbed areas. Rehabilitation will be minimal if only hand methods are used. Where soil has been disturbed, TRPA rehabilitation measures and Best Management Practices would apply. This could include reseeding or mulching areas if necessary.

Estimated Timeline:

Desirable time of year to complete:

April—December each year: Burning should occur during a period of cooler temperatures and moderate moisture (late fall) to allow for the best fuel consumption versus fire controllability ratio. Thinning and hand work could occur anytime conditions are dry enough to minimize soil disturbance, but preferably outside of extreme fire condition season. The south slope can be burned in late fall to achieve the desired results. The north slope could be thinned in two months. A cable yarder could remove most of material, or slash could be burned in the fall.

Estimated time required to complete project:

Depending on available resources the project could be completed in a 12 month time frame (one fall to the next).

Estimated Cost: Present an estimate of the total cost of project completion and the basis for the estimate presented. If the project can be subdivided into phases or various components, present an estimated cost for each.

Cable yarding is recommended, however, no costs for cable yarding were available. The costs below are a minimum based on currently accepted methods in the Tahoe Basin.

Biomass to be removed is approximately 44 tons / acre.

Project Maintenance Requirements:

Brush species will re-sprout readily, requiring frequent treatment every five years. Use of herbicide (Roundup painted on brush stumps) will prevent many of the shrubs from resprouting. Prescribed fire would be the preferred maintenance method every five to ten years.

Other Considerations: Describe any other considerations that must be taken into account to successfully complete this project such as permits, clearances, approvals, etc.

The NLTFPD should conduct a public education campaign to inform residents and businesses in the area of proposed actions and desired effects.

• TRPA - Permit
• NDF - Harvest Permit (N. slope)
• Air Quality Permit (Washoe County)
• NDF - Prescribed burn permit