Fuels Reduction Maintenance on the China Gulch Fuel Break

LANDOWNERS: SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW RIGHT OF ENTRY PERMIT INFORMATION

Zoom in on the map below to take a closer look at the project footprint in blue. The pink areas have had treatment completed during the 2022/23 winter.

Additional expansion to the fuel break will be taking place in Fall 2024.

Parcels in the map will be displayed in either:

• Green (denoting they have granted project access)
• Lighter green, with dark black background (access granted, but opted out of herbicide follow-up treatment)
• Red (denoting they have declined to grant access), or
• Gray (denoting that a response has not yet been received).

Project Information:

In 2019, WSRCD was contracted by Cal Fire to implement the China Gulch Fuel Break-- one of the Governor’s 35 highest priority emergency fuel break projects. WSRCD oversaw the implementation of fuel reduction work on approximately 300 acres of primarily private property to increase the fire resiliency of southwest Redding and Happy Valley. Due to the extremely short window to complete the emergency project, however, WSRCD was only able to complete a small amount of follow-up herbicide treatment on re-sprouting vegetation because the funding was not extended beyond June 2020.

Extending the life of a fuel break though maintenance is the best way to increase the original investment, as re-treating and existing fuel break is much more cost effective than creating a new one. In order to protect the investment that was put into the China Gulch Fuel Break, WSRCD has been actively pursuing grant funding to complete maintenance of the project. We are pleased to report that we have been recently awarded such a grant through Cal Fire’s Fire Prevention Grant Program.

This fall, WSRCD will be contracting a private hand crew to re-treat the footprint of the original China Gulch fuel break. The crew will cut and pile brush and ladder fuels that have regrown (manzanita, toyon, ceanothus, live oak, etc.), limb up new growth on larger diameter healthy trees, and remove additional dead standing vegetation that has succumbed to the persistent drought. Cal Fire crews will follow up and burn the piles when safe conditions allow. Cal Fire may also utilize additional resources such as National Guard and/or California Conservation Corps fire crews for this task. 

Once the hand crew work and piling burning is complete, WSRCD will monitor the fuel break to see how quickly re-sprouting is occurring throughout. Once WSRCD’s Licensed Herbicide Applicator determines that it is appropriate to begin follow-up spraying, WSRCD field staff will begin initial follow-up treatment on those properties that have authorized that to occur on their land. At least one year of herbicide treatment will occur and additional treatment will continue to occur as long as the grant funding allows.

If you have been contacted by WSRCD regarding a Right of Entry Permit for the project, you can fill out your information and upload the signed permit below. WSRCD will return the fully executed permit to you via email.

Please use the upload feature below to upload a PDF or image of your signed permit.

NOTE: Please only fill this out if you have recently received notification via mail from WSRCD.

China Gulch Fuels Reduction Project Phase II is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment– particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap and- Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California. For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at: www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.