Decision for Casa Diablo Maintenance Prescribed Burning Project

Decision for Casa Diablo Maintenance Prescribed Burning Project
Release Date: Sep 22, 2011 Bishop, CA
Contact(s): Nancy Upham

District Ranger Margaret Wood of the Inyo National Forest has made a decision to implement the Proposed Action for the Casa Diablo Maintenance Prescribed Burning Project. The decision is described in a Decision Memo and includes prescribed burning in the vicinity of the communities of Toms Place, Sunny Slopes, Crowley Lake, Swall Meadows, and others.

The project will implement low intensity prescribed burning in the understory of Jeffrey pine trees on approximately 50 percent of the land within the 10,000 acre project area managed by the Inyo National Forest. The purpose of this project is to manage vegetation so the potential for a high severity wildfire is reduced and wildfire defensible space is created around recreation developments and communities. The project was planned under the authorities outlined in 36 CFR 220.6(e)(6).

Implementation of the project will begin as soon as practical, likely during winter and spring of 2012. Prescribed burning will continue over the next several years, until the project is completed. U.S. Forest Service employees will notify the recreation residence associations, permittees, and concessionaires/hosts of the campgrounds before implementing treatments adjacent to their homes or facilities, and will work with them to coordinate as much as possible and keep disruption to a minimum.

For copies of the Decision Memo or other information regarding the implementation of this project please contact Sue Farley, Project Leader, at the Mammoth Ranger Station, 760-924-5535; or email sfarley@fs.fed.us. Electronic copies of the Decision Memo are available on the following website: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=34702.