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 4 is characterized by an overstocked, dense forest stand dominated by Jeffery pine and white fir. Stocking levels are very high, estimated at 200 square feet of basal area per acre. The area inside of State Highway 431 has dense brush (bitter cherry 5-6’) with a tree component of Jeffery pine and white fir. Many trees are up to 85 feet in height. Slopes are southwest facing and steep, most all over 30%.

The portion of the unit managed by Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID) was treated by NLTFPD with prescribed fire, which effectively removed brush and some of litter. Dense forest stands increase competition for limited moisture and nutrients, especially during drought years resulting in bark beetles invasion in this area, increasing mortality in the last 10 years. There is a large amount of dead and down material on IVGID and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land in this area.

Worst Case Scenario / Hazard: This project area surrounds the Apollo Ct. area on three sides. A fire in these dense fuels would be very difficult to suppress and would threaten the neighborhood. The fuels are mostly uphill of the neighborhood, but in swirling or downslope winds a fire would be difficult to keep from the neighborhood.

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

Given the proximity to the subdivision, and the completion of recent fuels mitigation work in the prescription area, the whole area ranks as the #6 priority for the NLTFPD. It is critical to maintain the previous fuel treatment projects, not only for community safety but also for cost effectiveness of the project.

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

This project area surrounds the Apollo Court area on three sides. See Figure 7-5.

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 the 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.

The entire prescription area needs to be thinned to reduce fuel loadings and increase forest health. 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. Steep slopes require work be completed by hand or aerial systems. A cable yarder could be effective in treating part of this area. Remove or burn slash from the thinning operation.

*Prescribed fire could be used to maintain the effects of the previous treatment, 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.

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

Treating this area will enhance effects of the previous treatments. Not only will this treatment protect the community from fires moving downhill towards the neighborhoods, it will reduce the fire intensity immediately adjacent to the neighborhood. It may also help prevent a fire from escaping the neighborhood, reducing its rate of spread and aiding access during suppression efforts. Implementation of the prescription 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. Thinning will also increase the spacing between residual trees, allowing heat from a ground fire to escape through the canopy, lowering fire intensity and decreasing the ability of the stand to carry a crown fire.

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:

Hand work: May - December.

Burning: October - December.

Estimated time required to complete project:

24 months (working two seasons)

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 56 tons / acre

Project Maintenance Requirements:

After pile burning, a prescribed burn should be run through the area to reduce additional ground fuels and brush within five years of burning piles. Prescribed burn every 10 years after initial burn.

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

• TRPA Tree Removal plan
• USFS Approval on USFS land
• State (NDF) Timber Harvest Permit
• State (NDF) Stream Zone Permit
• Air Quality Permit (Washoe County)