South Yuba Rim Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project

The South Yuba Rim project spans a 9,000+ acre planning landscape of private and BLM lands along the canyon rim. Phase 1 planning (FEMA-funded, now complete) assessed ~7,320 acres and built consensus through a steering committee that included YWI, Nevada County OES, CAL FIRE, North San Juan Fire Protection District, and Firewise Community representatives. Phase 2 brings two complementary funding sources to implement treatments, creating a connected network of fuel breaks protecting evacuation routes, critical infrastructure, and communities across the San Juan Ridge.

• Approximately 800 acres of strategic fuel break work funded through a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant (~$3.77M) administered by Nevada County OES and Cal OES.
• Highest-priority treatment areas selected by the steering committee — a linear, east-west treatment along the canyon rim creating shaded fuel breaks that reduce fire intensity and improve firefighter access.
• Treatment types include mastication, cut & pile, and cut & chip. Environmental review completed (CalVTP PSA/Addendum approved May 2025).
• Timeline: Implementation begins upon FEMA approval of Phase 1 deliverables (anticipated mid–late 2027).

Funding: $949,999.97 — CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention Grant, Agreement #5GG25128

• Secondary priorities that complement the FEMA treatment — feeder ridgelines and neighborhood evacuation routes that are additive to the canyon rim fuel breaks.
• 97 acres of mechanical mastication targeting dense shrubs, small trees, and surface fuels along priority fuel break corridors.
• 135 acres of hand thinning and pile burning in steep terrain and areas requiring precision treatment to protect sensitive resources.
• Protects 418 structures, the Pine Grove Reservoir (a critical community water supply), and a PG&E transmission line serving the region.
• Timeline: Cultural resource surveys underway May 2026 for areas west of Hwy 49; botanical surveys wrapping up across all parcels. Fuel break treatments beginning late 2026, complete by Feb 2029.

• Cultural resource surveys for the Phase 1 area (east of Hwy 49) are complete — 1,472 acres surveyed across 135 parcels, with 136 cultural resources recorded including bedrock mortars, historic ditches, mining features, and historic buildings. All resources will be avoided and protected during treatment.
• Cultural surveys for the CAL FIRE area (west of Hwy 49) are underway as of May 2026.
• Botanical surveys for special-status plants and sensitive natural communities are wrapping up across all parcels. Key findings include one sensitive natural community (wild grape shrubland), one potentially rare plant species, and two unique habitat areas.

• All participating landowners have signed Right of Entry agreements for surveys, allowing cultural and botanical resource survey crews to access their properties.
• By summer 2026, each landowner will receive an individualized treatment prescription tailored to their parcel's vegetation, terrain, and preferences.
• New implementation Right of Entry agreements will be coordinated through individual landowner meetings over the summer and fall of 2026.

• Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) funding supports collaborative planning with BLM for an additional ~1,800 acres of federal lands within the broader project area, on track for completion by mid-2027.
• Planning work includes environmental surveys, NEPA compliance, and project design to set the stage for future implementation funding.